Comments on: Big Ten Expansion: Is 14 the magic number?

By: sentry cash boxes

sentry cash boxes — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 22:44:40 +0000

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By: SAS

SAS — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 07:35:09 +0000

First of all, conference expansion doesn’t work like this. The conferences don’t work in concert with each other so that the national picture makes better sense to the observer. It’s not a matter of this conference could take these two teams, then this conference can take these, that conference gets these–and it all works out beautifully… Conferences work independently, for their own self interest. And that means for the best financial deal.

As for your choices… The Big Ten is composed of very strong research universities. This is true of EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL. West Virginia would not qualify in either measure–academically or in research. And even if it did qualify, do you think the wealthiest conference in college sports would aim to expand into–of all places–the West Virginia market? You almost couldn’t think of a less lucrative market to expand into. Maybe Wyoming or North Dakota would be worse markets. And do you think the primary motivation is to get a rival for Penn State? The motivation is cash in the way of TV viewers.

While Pitt qualifies academically, a new candidate has to offer the ability for a new TV audience for the BTN to get access to. That means a large school in a new, untapped market. Pitt’s market is already covered by Penn State. So Pitt doesn’t do anything for the Big Ten in terms of earnings.

Personally, I don’t think Syracuse in upstate NY captures much in the way of the New York market. Also, while a good school, Syracuse is smaller than a typical Big Ten school, it’s private, and it does just a tiny fraction of research of Big Ten schools. It’s also not a football power these days, and that’s the sport that earns the biggest money. It’s not an ideal fit.

I also don’t think UConn captures the Boston market–and the academics are not a slam dunk either. And again, they’re not a football powerhouse.

By: Derrick Williams

Derrick Williams — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:53:05 +0000

This article, by Andy Staples, shows what I believe to be the best allignment solution yet!

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/andy_staples/02/16/conference-realignment/index.html

If there’s one thing I do want the Feds to fix, it’s College football.
This plan would make me very happy indeed.

By: RY

RY — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:17:50 +0000

that is progressive thinking PaJo. Get your facts straight, Penn State never wanted to join the Big East back in the 80′s. Joe Paterno wanted to start and all sport Eastern conference and Pitt decided to stay with the Big East to start their football conference, which Pitt was a member for basketball only at the time. Joe has held it against Pitt since then because the Pitt decision started the demise of Paterno’s plan. He has since taken a stand to only offer 2 for 1 home games if Pitt wants to restart the football rivalry. It’s amazing the power of one man robbing a great tradition from 100,000′s of people. And PSU is stuck with the forced rivalry with Michigan State. While Paterno uses the excuse that Tim Curley and Fran Ganter make those decisions (they don’t do anything without the old man’s blessing) and that they have to appease fans that want the team to play near Philly and other schools like Alabama, Notre Dame, and Nebraska to the schedule. Meanwhile, we are forced to belive that Michigan State is our rival because we are land grant schools? Are you kidding me? FYI, Ohio State and Michigan do not view PSU as their rival. Not even their 2nd biggest rivals in the Big Ten.

By: PaJo

PaJo — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:37:13 +0000

The Big Ten should not invite Pitt !! Other than adding the 12th school needed to hold a conference championship, including Pitt gets the conference nothing as far as TV market expansion. Hey, when PSU wanted to join the Big East during the 80s, Pitt wouldn’t allow it, so now, the favor should be returned. The Big Ten should invite Rutgers, Missouri, or Syracuse. Anyone but Pitt !!