And no, TCU makes no sense...Mainly because the conference doesn't need another purple team.
My vote it Mizzou or Pitt. Joe Paterno went up a few hundred points in my book when he said "There's some pressure, I would suppose, to maybe go back to Notre Dame and ask again. Which I would not be happy with. I think they've had their chance."
Expansion anyone??
43 comments:
Well, I think it should be a team that expands our regional footprint so Missouri, Syracuse, or Rutgers seem like good candidates to me. West Virginia would also make some sense.
I worry that Missouri would turn us down though, and I can't imagine the laughter we would face in that situation. WVU on the other hand would jump into bed with the Big Ten before we could untie our shoes.
In the end my vote would be for Syracuse. Good academic ranking. Great basketball. And we could always hope their football team comes around.
My vote would be fore Missouri but with that being said I doubt they would join because their conference is already pretty prestigious.
So I would have to go with either Pitt or Syracuse, with Syracuse getting the nod because I think they would be a pretty great fit. And their football team has shown brief flashes of being semi good. At least good enough to keep up with and beat IU most years. And we all like IU losing!
Gotta be Pitt. Syracuse seems to far away. Cincinnati and WVU don't have the academic prestige. I don't see any big 12 teams leaving, though Mizzou and ISU would make sense.
I think Pitt would be a good match (for the most part) academically and athletically. Syracuse would be way too far for the other sports that already have small budgets. I remember a few years ago that Marshall was considered but I'm not sure I know enough about them. Just to add to the discussion, what about a long shot team like Miami, Ohio? They were down a little this year but usually have it together, otherwise.
I'd like to think they would pull in a team from a state near to exisiting schools, so maybe even SIU, Toledo, or C. Michigan to increase and/or encourage somewhat natural rivalries.
The Big Ten should contract to 10 teams be removing IU.
WVU isn't strong enough academically. They are a Tier 3 school per US News rankings. All current Big Ten schools are Tier 1.
First reaction is "No expansion." But if the Big 10 wants to chase the dollar signs of a football championship and is heading in that direction anyway...
Back when Penn State was let into the conference, one of the loudest dissenters was none other than Bobby Knight. The General wasn't so much against expansion as he was about logistics, and keeping the Big 10 a decidedly "Midwest" league. Knight's suggestion was Iowa State, which does make a little sense-- they are the northernmost Big 12 member and seem a bit out of place in that league, their biggest rival is University of Iowa, they have good academics, and fit quite nicely into the Big 10's regional footprint. And lest we think Knight was looking to pad his win-loss record with some patsy at that time, let the record show that then-ISU hoops coach Johnny Orr was usually good for 20 victories a year. Fast forward to today's teams, Iowa State hoops is currently competitive, and the football program is heading to their first bowl in a long while.
Pittsburgh is an excellent institution with an enviable athletic tradition, no doubt. But--and I can't believe I'd ever agree with this guy on anything-- maybe Bobby Knight was on to something here.
ISU to Big 10; Utah to the Big 12
Pitt or Mizzou do make the most sense. I thought WV would also be a good fit but apparently their academics are not up to snuff. Iowa St would also be a good one to throw in.
I just hope they don't go with Rutgers...They are too far east IMO. I'd rather keep it closer to the Midwest.
I read about someone arguing for Vanderbilt!? I think Louisville is the best fit though.
Believe we would only add schools in the AAU, which would eliminate Cincy and WVU.
I think Pitt or Mizzou are the only ones that make 100% sense with tradition, quality, size, and location.
I'd love to see expansion given the right team. While some worry it is nothing more then chasing the dollar, I think the conference championship game would be great not only from dollar wise, but getting the teams ready for the next level.
I consider this the "first round" of the playoffs. If you can't win the conference championship, you don't deserve a BCS bowl bid.
I also like the added exposure. For years, Michigan and aOSU were a championship game, with the winner going to the Rose Bowl. We didn't need another game to make the Big Ten relevant. Now we limp into the bowls. The Buckeye's were going to the Rose bowl regardless of the Mich. game. Iowa had a great season but with an injured QB they probably aren't a top 10 team. Personally, I feel this adds to the idea that the big ten can't complete anymore. Showcasing the 2 best teams will keep the nation talking about quality football in the first week of Dec.
Mizzou won't come - they have had success in the Big 12 and they fit over there. Pitt or Iowa State sort of make sense, as does Louisville. From a sports view, I think I would want Pitt or Louisville. Iowa State doesn't give the Big 11 much, other than the chance to have a championship game. But, it would be an automatic rivalry with Iowa, so maybe.
Personally, I would like to get rid of Northwestern and go back to 10.
My personal vote would be Pitt or Mizzou. I think Mizzou is gettable - the big 12 is dominated by the south division, and I believe they don't have as fair of a revenue-sharing plan as the big 10, so I think a lot of the big 12 north teams have been getting hosed over the years due to the south's dominance. Mizzou also brings in the St. Louis media market and fairly decent athletics. The drawback would be their academic ranking (would be the lowest in the Big 10).
Iowa State is a good school, but they don't bring much if anything in the way of athletics, except for wrestling. They have a huge rivalry with Iowa, but they take care of that already with non-conference games each year. If we're looking to add another IU-level football program, that's what ISU would bring.
Pitt brings in a real rival for Penn State, plus good level football and basketball programs. And they would also increase the head coach mustache factor.
Universtiy of Delaware. Its a great engeering school, leader in marine bio. Desginers of the new armor for Humvee's. Ravid fan base. Coach with the shades for football to go along wit mustache, visor, hat.
I look at it academically first and athletically second. The US N&WR has three big ten teams tied for 71 and that's our lowest ranking. While not a perfect rating system, it gives a pretty good idea what's what overall. We also have University of Chicago in our research alliance, and a new school must have that as well.
That makes my vote for Pitt. Ranked 56, so strong academically, and a pretty good research institution as well. Plus they've got athletics that are at least middle of the road.
Mizzou would be my third choice after Vanderbilt.
-Louisville isn't strong enough academically.
-Northwestern is a founding member of the Bit Ten. And they are actually stronger than IU with respect to academics and football. Drop IU!
Given the choice between a championship game or getting two BCS slots on a regular basis, I'll take the BCS slots. Having a championship game today with schools like Cincy, BSU, TCU, & Utah regularly going unbeaten likely means we'll get one BCS berth. Any financial gain with a championship game are likely lost with only sending one school to a BCS bowl.
If we had to add, I think it has to make geographical sense. In that case Mizzou, Iowa State, or Pittsburgh are good choices. I agree with JoePa, Notre Dame had their chance. They are going to need us way more than we'll ever need them when NBC changes their mind and gets a deal with a conference.
Good breakdown, explaining why some make more or less sense than others, over at MGoBlog yesterday:
http://mgoblog.com/content/big-ten-expansion-grid-judgment
What's up w/ Rutgers? Not an attractive campus and can you imagine going to games with these DB's...
http://www.barstoolsports.com/article/new_jersey_freakshows/1958/
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t165/ihateyourfashion/Mannequin_071708_62.jpg
or the cast of "Jersey Shore", no thanks.
http://www.mtv.com/onair/jersey_shore/photos/cast/all_0132.jpg
Not a big fan of the Cuse either.
I'm for Nebraska, Mizzou or Pitt. Keep the B10 a Midwest conference. If we have to go East, make it BC.
I'd put money on Louisville based on the ease of leaving their current conference.
http://badideabluejeans.blogspot.com/2009/12/whos-number-12.html
Hey Jake S, I'm from Jersey. Believe it or not, despite your stellar research and that of other geniuses like yourself, it's not all Camaros and mullets.
Louisville is no where near good enough academically to join the Big Ten. It would never happen.
Mizzou and Pitt are the obvious favorites, and Mizzou would be my choice from those two. I would be okay with either, though.
I don't really understand the Rutgers/Syracuse/UCONN nominations. None of them are going to dominate the NY market and they're just so far east. I'd rather the Big Ten invite a better and closer school like Virginia Tech (yes, I realize that's not going to happen) than Syracuse or Rutgers.
Hey J. Money,
I was going to say "Lighten up Francis", but I'll recant.
Why the thin skin and rip bro? Bad day? No need to support your state. I've been to Rahway and Brunswick too many times to count and being from Boston, I don't hang my R's like everyone would have you think, so I can relate.
Considering the lightheartedness of BS, my postings we're meant to be TIC. It's hard to "Read" context so I apologize for adding to the false NJ stereotype and offending my Boiler brother.
I'll be sure to add a disclaimer from now on.
Oh yeah. Lighten up Francis :)
Boiler Up!
Jake S.
Purdue 96'
If any of your homos calls me Francis, I'll kill you.
(Jake, we're showing our age here, you realize.)
Hold on, I've got to put my bag phone down.
With regard to age, we could say things like TA Tom's (Penny Beer night), Sneaky Pete's, Beeper's (2 Dollar pitchers.), Groggies, The Winking Lizzard (Schooner's), Seattle Beanery, Herbie Dove, La Bamba, etc. etc.
I could go on and on and no one would know.....
I miss Beepers!
J - don't you have a mullet and a Camaro?
whoa whoa whoa.
Is La Bamba's closed? I haven't been back in two years, but certainly the king of post bar grub is still going strong.
And for the faction of fans looking to contract, the best way to do that without too many feelings getting hurt would be to convince the Big XII to become the Big XIV by taking Iowa off our hands (for all the same reasons we would be interested in ISU) and adding TCU to their south division.
I think La Bamba's is gone, yes.
As is Garcias... and my all-time favorite, Alfano's and their stuffed breadsticks.
Wow, I had forgotten about Alfano's. $8 plus tip for two of their breadsticks and what seems like 2 gallons of coke. Soooo good.
I'm slipping into a depression over the loss of La Bamba's. I'm also shocked, cuz the Ohio State campus one is doing fine, and it's never as busy as the one in the village was when I was last there.
The campus Bamba has closed.
For the adventurous, there's still a Bamba out near the Tippecanoe Mall.
Also, The Wabash Yacht Club (Stacks) in Chauncey Mall has closed.
This info valid as of August 09, YMMV.
I never set foot in Wabash Yacht Club. Mainly because I wasn't a greek.
La Bamba is closed on campus. The nearest one is way out by the mall. It's OK, there is Qdoba for a late night burrito. Plus, there is Lovshack. As someone who has been here long enough to see both, it is better this way.
As for expansion, I say Notre Dame or bust. It is the only school with the academics, location, and athletics to fit in with the Big Ten. The schools that fit with athletics have nothing to contribute academically, and vice versa. Beyond ND, I have to agree with Ryan, Virginia Tech is probably the next best fit. Pitt would be next in line in my mind.
Wabash Yacht Club was replaced by Five Guys. If you don't know, it is the best burger place ever. If you haven't been to one, stop by next visit to campus. I promise, you will not regret it.
Sorry for the double post, but people need to know.
Good ridance to Stacks - J. I was greek and never went in the place, it wasn't so much the greeks but the meathead greeks that made it unbearable.
That's a shame about Bambas, that's where I learned most of my kitchen spanish.
I think as much as people like Mizzou, isn't it on the far side of the state from STL - negating the argument for keeping things geographically close.
John, bite your tongue about Five Guys being the best burger ever. It's good, but you threw down quite a gauntlet there.
XXX is better...in Indy, Bub's is better...and on a grander scale, nothing compares to Burger Habit (in Santa Barbara) or In 'N Out.
For truly great burgers, go West, young man, not East.
Louisville.
I second the burger remarks from b-dowd.... I've bee in Tejas for two years and have had some of the best burgers of my life here.
When Purdue is in the regional finals in Houston next March, you'll all have to come visit and I'll take you out for a few.
ATL, yes, somewhat. St. Louis is on the MO/IL border, Columbia is farther into the state, not such a close drive from most of the Big Ten schools (not even Illinois).
I've read and digested the posts on mgoblog about this, so I'll combine that with the thoughts above and give my epinion.
Who I want, damn the torpedoes: Texas.
Why: Because they're strong both academically and athletically, and there would be nothing like showing the entire collegiate world who the boss is. (Texas has a very, very nice financial deal in the Big 12, and there is no one out there who would be nearly as good of a replacement for them, not even ND.)
Also, the Big Ten would finally get some "home" bowl games. Every Texas bowl would want a piece of the Big Ten.
However, the chances of that happening are zero.
Who I think would be neat: Vanderbilt.
Why: Academically strong, basically the Northwestern of the SEC. Also, they're in the SEC. Sorry, bitches, no championship game for you right now. You'll need to replace them. (Of course that would be easy enough.) Surprisingly strong athletics, particularly in sports where the Big Ten needs help, like baseball. Expands the conference and gives us a "home" bowl, kind of. Plus we could beat them in football regularly.
But it won't happen. We won't be taking an SEC member (although Vanderbilt would be the one most likely to be offered and also listen) and most likely not a school from a state farther from the existing footprint. (UK is closer and might listen, athletics are actually strong, but academics are not, and besides there are NCAA violations practically around the corner and I don't think we want any part of that.)
Who I think we will get: Pitt.
Why: From what I've read, the Big Ten has a strong preference for schools in or near the existing Big Ten area who are AAU members. It has been mentioned second-hand that neither of those are fixed criteria, but hell, the Big Ten is actually considering expansion, I doubt they're going to push the limits.
Pitt doesn't add geography and in fact takes away a bit ... but then Notre Dame would have done the same and they were always at the top of the list in the past. (I do not think they will be considered this time. If so, why even bother leaking anything? They'd just check with ND, tell the Big East the Irish are gone, and do it.) They've got the academics for sure and the athletics somewhat, the Pitt-Penn State rivalry will be resurrected (hey JoePa, you can actually play Pitt again!), and the location will work very well for non-revenue sports: again, this being the Big Ten, I think that's more important than most people realize. Pitt and Penn State become travel partners and the other sports can manage pretty well.
The location is the only catch. East and West divisions get a bit jumbled because there are five natural East teams (UM, MSU, OSU, Pitt, Penn State). Michigan will want both MSU and OSU for rivalry purposes, which means someone else will get split up unless they go for the rivals-dominating-divisions thing that worked so well in the ACC. (Why else would Miami and Florida State be in opposite divisions? Why would UNC, NC State, and Duke not be together?)
Picking, say, Missouri would make the West easier because we and IU would then be in the East. Iowa State would be an even better geographic match, they are an AAU member, and their overall athletic program isn't so bad, but for some reason they don't seem to get a lot of attention.
Then there's the University of Toronto ... want to expand into a big TV market? It's hard to get bigger than Toronto ... and road trips could go through Windsor ...
Folks, we should really be hoping for a team east of Ohio for the divisional breakdowns. Do we really want to be in a division with OSU, Michigan, and Penn State? Or would we rather be in the west, with IU in the east as a permanent cross division rival? In scenario number two we'd always miss at least one of the big three on the football schedule and often two of them.
Scenario one might well be the end of Boiler bowl games. Especially if the powers that be move to require winning seasons to play in the post-season (as opposed to 6-6 being good enough)
One more thing: EDSBS has also weighed in which points out two things.
1: Big Ten. Money. We haz it.
2: Where are you on this list? Would you like to move up?
Vanderbilt says Yes plz. Ole Miss and Mississippi State do not count. Pitt and Missouri could also use better deals, as, in fact, could Notre Dame. (Ha. Too late. TOO LATE.)
Texas, on the other hand, scoffs at us.
If you ever can't figure out the answer always, always follow the money. Pitt = small television
Rutgers = large television market
It will be Rutgers
Ah yes, H-town's burgers fill your heart with joy and your arteries with cholesterol. Goode's, Barnaby's, hell even Beck's replace my distant memories of burritos as big as my head.
Why add another lackluster team to the Big 10? We've already slipped to the 3rd best conference...why add to it!?!
Missouri - No
Rutgers - LOL!, NO!
ND - No, we want colleges, not glorified high schools.
Pitt - Maybe
Louisville - Maybe
My Picks:
Kentucky
TCU
Syracuse
WVU
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