Big Ten expansion
Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany told the Des Moines Register that adding a 12th team will be considered due to the new Big Ten TV Network.
The targets are mostly likely Pitt, Rutgers and Syracuse. Pitt would bring Pittsburgh and bridge the gap from Cleveland to Pittsburgh as far as drawing TV viewers. Rutgers,, in theory would bring New York City and New Jersey and possibly bridge the gap from Penn State to NYC, but that is debatable. Syracuse is the state university of New York state.
All 3 have positives and negatives, but the real problem would be the Big Ten having a championship game. Does the OSU-Michigan game go away every season or do they both get in the same division so they could play every year, but then the Big Ten would never have Ohio State and Michigan in the title game.
But when it comes to TV and money tradition usually dies. Just ask fans of the great Oklahoma-Nebraska games. That no longer is an every year occasion.
Possible divisions
East
Ohio State
Michigan
Michigan State
Penn State
Indiana
Pitt/Rutgers/Syracuse
West
Minnesota
Illinois
Northwestern
Iowa
Wisconsin
Purdue
OR
North
Minnesota
Michigan
Michigan State
Wisconsin
Penn State
Northwestern
South
Ohio State
Indiana
Purdue
Iowa
Illinois
Pitt/Rutgers/Syracuse
July 26th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
There's nothing quite like "higher education." 12 universities, and they'll still call it the Big Ten Conference. These clever geniuses really think outside the box. These are the same people that would vote for a resolution declaring that a baker's dozen has 15 eggs.
July 26th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
Pitt might be okay I guess but Syracuse and Rutgers would be terrible. The only way expansion might be an actual improvement for fans is if they could add Notre Dame. That "West" division looks atrocious.
July 26th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
There is no mention of Pitt in the story. Would the Big Ten want Pitt? Even more crucial, would Pitt want them?
July 26th, 2007 at 7:02 pm
There is no mention of Pitt in the story. Would the Big Ten want Pitt? More crucial, would Pitt want the Big Ten?
July 27th, 2007 at 8:24 am
What about Mizzou or Iowa State? Think about it, greater expansion in recruiting in Texas. I don't like the fact that they would think about looking at Cuse, Pitt or Rutgers. It would be nice for basketball, however football is the major money maker.
As far as a new conference name…I like Great MidWest Conference.
July 27th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Hey, how 'bout the gall of Delany trying to force cable systems to take that crappy channel by calling it a "national" network instead of a regional network. And then trying to charge the cable systems an arm and a leg to make it required programming on the basic tier. If the Big Ten Network is a national network, then Topeka is the Nation's Capital.
July 28th, 2007 at 8:03 am
This is interesting, but will you be posting any stories about Herman's Hermits? I think they are on tour again and playing in Akron soon.
July 29th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
I can understand Pittsburgh being proposed, because Pennsylvania has only one conference member as of now. But, what about Ohio, where the same situation exists. Cincinnati would be the logical choice, especially if they agreed to move their home games to Paul Brown Stadium. Probably the biggest opposition to a second Big Ten school in Ohio would come from Columbus. JMO.
July 31st, 2007 at 11:14 am
I think larger problem comes from dividing the conference into two respectable divisions, I would think that Michigan and Ohio State would most certainly have to be in opposing confrenences, this mainly due to revenues from the championchip game…in regards to the name of the conference I hope it stays the same the Big 10 conference has too much tradition to change the name.
July 31st, 2007 at 12:21 pm
Use the north/south divisions but swap PSU and Iowa
July 31st, 2007 at 2:52 pm
That's complete nonsense, Shafer. The Big 10 had ten teams. Then it had 11 teams. Then it will have 12 teams. Too much tradition to change the name? What tradition? Ten schools from 1950-1990. Penn State joined in 1990. So there's now been 17 years with 11 schools. If there are 12 schools, then it goes way beyond idiocy to maintain the name as it is. Which is precisely why they'll probably keep the name as it is.
August 1st, 2007 at 3:52 pm
Maybe they could change it to the Big 11 once they go to 12 teams.
March 11th, 2008 at 6:02 am
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