Eagles Should Contemplate Move To Big Ten
August 14th, 2011 at 4:19 PM ^
At least they fit better than most teams being mentioned. That being said no expansion beyond 12 is the best expansion.
August 14th, 2011 at 4:48 PM ^
Now many will question why the Big Ten would want BC. I actually think we would be a prime target. We bring Boston, one of the greatest sports markets in the country. We also bring terrific academics that will fit with other Big Ten schools such as Northwestern and Michigan. BC also offers good, solid football and basketball programs, as well as the greatest hockey program in the country (although I doubt we would leave Hockey East.) I think that if the Big Ten does decide to expand, BC would be one of the first programs that they approach.
yikes...
1) Boston/NE cares about as much about BC as NYC does about Cuse.
2) BC is a fine private school, but are religiously affiliated and not quite on the level of NW/M. Aside from the religious ball & chain, a fine fit.
3) greatest hockey program in the country? riiiiight. save that shit for NoDak/Minny/BU/Wisc/Michigan fans.
4) one of the 1st programs? was BC approached by the B10 at all 2 years ago? OK, then.
August 15th, 2011 at 11:21 AM ^
1) I don't know the region, so can't comment on how much folks in the region follow BC. I would think that the large Catholic contingent there would at least somewhat follow BC by default as far as college athletics go, similar to (but not to the extent of) Chicago folks and notre dame. However, Boston did always seem like more of a pro sports town to me. But like I said, I'm not from the region.
2) What does religious affiliation have to do with anything? As another commenter noted, that hasn't kept notre dame out of the conversation. In addition, BC is a fine academic institution. None of the Big Ten schools - including Michigan - are on the level of Northwestern in terms of overall academic reputation. And because USNWR is an easy benchmark, it should be noted that Michigan is rated #29 overall and BC is rated #31 overall. Not exactly what I'd call a significant gap. Also, if you're calling out BC for not being on the level of NW and UM, you'd basically have to disqualify the rest of the conference. Also also, Nebraska.
3) NoDak, Michigan, BU, Minny and Wisco fans will disagree, but you have to admit that BC is in the conversation. I'd expect that opinions would be extremely biased. It'd be like asking 6 fans of Alabama, Texas, Michigan, notre dame, ohio state, and USC what the greatest college football program in the country is. You'd probably get 6 different answers.
4) Honestly, do you actually know who the Big Ten approached 2 years ago? No, and neither do the rest of us. For all we know, BC was a candidate. Seriously, if Rutgers was a potential conference expansion candidate, why NOT BC? Because they're religious, are rated a few spots lower than NW and Michigan (and above every other team in the conference), and arguably do NOT have the greatest hockey program in the country?
August 15th, 2011 at 1:00 PM ^
Myeh. The two occasions I've been to BC (both for UVA games which admittedly probably doesn't fire up the alumni as much as maybe Notre Dame or UConn would) the atmosphere was at first decidedly meh and the second time, for basketball, totally nonexistent. Plus, the local FSD-type channel once pre-empted a BC-UVA basketball game - an ACC tournament game mind you - for some shitty-ass Red Sox preseason show. I don't think BC would "carry the Boston TV market" the way people might expect.
August 15th, 2011 at 3:52 PM ^
I actually agree with both of you that BC is not a good fit in the Big Ten. However, I just could not let stand the superficial rationale for why they wouldn't fit.
I think there is an academic component, although it would point more toward the research aspect. Just saying they're not as good as UM/NW doesn't hold water.
Criticizing their hockey program is just silly.
And, while I can't see BC at the top of the list, it's an impossibility to say who was and who was not approached about candidacy to the Big Ten two years ago, Nebraska excepted, obvsly. If there was that much buzz about Rutgers, another school with questionable ability to bring in a major NE TV market and mediocre-at-best football/basketball programs and no other major sport to offer (read: ice hockey), why NOT BC?
August 14th, 2011 at 4:50 PM ^
Should be noted that that was pretty much just a front-paged diary and the actual BCI guys prefer the ACC. Like me with UVA, they tend to believe BC would wither and regress in the Big Ten, while the ACC offers better competitive opportunities.
August 14th, 2011 at 4:59 PM ^
"HOLY CRAP! Everyone who's good is getting swallowed up by a superconference and we're gonna be left holding our shit with 3 MAC schools and Duke football andholycrapholycrapwhatarewegonnado?!?"
August 14th, 2011 at 7:19 PM ^
I like how their poll at the end of the article is 65% pro-B10, should the opportunity arise.
August 14th, 2011 at 7:19 PM ^
I only pressed Save once!
August 14th, 2011 at 10:13 PM ^
pictureofattendanceataccchampionshipgame.jpg
August 14th, 2011 at 11:15 PM ^
I've been a proponent of BC to the Big 10 for quite some time. I'd like to see them in the league, should the B1G expand again.
@ Michigan Arrogance: Notre Dame is a private Catholic school and it hasn't kept them from the conversation for ages.
August 15th, 2011 at 3:06 PM ^
Private, religious affiliation is not an issue for ND. It certainly is for BC.
In the east, 9/10 catholics follow ND.
3) NoDak, Michigan, BU, Minny and Wisco fans will disagree, but you have to admit that BC is in the conversation. I'd expect that opinions would be extremely biased. It'd be like asking 6 fans of Alabama, Texas, Michigan, notre dame, ohio state, and USC what the greatest college football program in the country is. You'd probably get 6 different answers.
my point precisely, and better stated than I could have asked for.
4) The B10 has stated that they are looking for large state flaghip Us. Which Rutgers, Neb, Mizzou is. Pitt not so much, but they have other factors as well.
August 15th, 2011 at 3:55 PM ^
The B10 has stated that they are looking for large state flaghip Us
If this is, indeed, the case, it's news to me. Didn't realize they had made that intention known.
August 15th, 2011 at 4:17 PM ^
that was their rationale for PSU & Neb (partly).
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