The Big Ten Presidents had some company at their meeting this afternoon

Submitted by ciszew on

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ap-bigten-expansion

I'm sure Jack Swarbrick wasn't just there from the free food.  4 1/2 hours seems like  a long time for a meet and greet. 

Added to that Orangebloods.com is reporting that the Irish board of directors is split 50/50 on whether or not to join the Big Ten FWIW. 

http://texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1091537

It is getting very interesting out there. 

psychomatt

June 6th, 2010 at 8:18 PM ^

... is looking like one of the major beneficiaries of this whole process. Can you imagine if they could pick up Nebraska, Kansas, Kansas St., Colorado, Missouri, Iowa St. and Boise St.? Add TCU, Utah, BYU and you have a pretty solid conference! Even without Nebraska and Missouri, it still would be a major step up.

Twisted Martini

June 6th, 2010 at 9:54 PM ^

I like the 16 team config, but I have to agree with the sentiment that Rutgers sucks.  Schiano has done a good job there recently but they have been a non-entity in football for like forever.  I haven't lived on the East Coast for a while, but I can't imagine that even in the Big Ten that they would get any headlines in NYC.  It is a Pro sports town plain and simple, as is Boston.

I like Maryland, ND, Neb, Mizzou and maybe Kansas or Pitt.  Viva Chaos!

Don

June 6th, 2010 at 9:57 PM ^

Yeah, I'm wondering what the typical Domer thinks of all this. Do they think they have to hold their nose to join us? Are they inundating Swarbrick with threats of violence if he decides to join? And is it the Notre Dame AD's decision alone, or does the ND administration make the decision? Irish?

the_white_tiger

June 6th, 2010 at 10:13 PM ^

Notre Dame, Nebraska, and Missouri seem like they could be able to push the BTN into being carried nationally. Even if it isn't, Nebraska and Notre Dame are two huge name schools and Missouri brings in STL and KC. Let's do this.

maizenbluenc

June 7th, 2010 at 6:47 AM ^

Yeah, I'd like to be able to save that $5 a month I pay just to get the BTN. And what sucks is even though the only channel in the sports and game tier I watch is the Big Ten Network - they probably get 10 cents or something, unlike in Big Ten territory where they get a dollar per household.

KidA2112

June 6th, 2010 at 10:39 PM ^

I wonder what will happen with the schedule when expansion is done. How many non-conf games will be scheduled. I don't like 4 non conf games as it is now.

cooler 517

June 6th, 2010 at 10:43 PM ^

I feel like ND, Missouri, Nebraska, and Pitt, are natural choices, and I like Kansas more than Syracuse even though they both bring about the same thing to the table

weasel3216

June 6th, 2010 at 11:09 PM ^

I really have no idea what they would do for revenue in the long term.  I would imagine that eventually ND would lose a lot of their "respect" amongst college football.  Remaining one of the few independents with three super conferences.  

Does anyone know what ND is planning to do if they don't join?

funkywolve

June 7th, 2010 at 1:23 AM ^

The SEC and Pac-10 don't seem interested in ND.  If the Big Ten goes to 16 teams and ND isn't one of them, the only 'BCS' conferences left are the Big East and ACC.  If the Big Ten sets the trend to go to 16 teams, the Big East will be a 'mid-major' football wise after all the dominoes fall. 

M2NASA

June 7th, 2010 at 11:17 AM ^

ND can stay independent as long as there's an all-Catholic non-football Big East composed of:

Notre Dame, Georgetown, Villanova, Marquette, Seton Hall, St. John's, Providence, DePaul

I still think they go to the Big Ten and join a pod of Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Purdue.