Big10 Pausing Expansion for 12-18 Months
Obviously its probably not wise to expand for the sake of expanding but they are clearly running the risk that another conference might dictate its future. My guess is they know Texas isn't coming so they are waiting to hear from ND. If ND joins in a year then my guess is they will look at Missouri and the Big East teams. Hopefully we don't get left standing when the music stops.
just edit your main post?
I'm perfectly content with 12 teams, especially if the 12th is Nebraska. Let the Pac 16 deal happen, see if other teams react and expand, then act accordingly later down the line. Maybe ND joins, maybe not. We'll see
plus one
I agree. I don't know about everyone else, but I kind of got a little defensive when the Nebraska announcement was made. I kind of felt like, "Who do these guys think they are, walking into our conference like that?" I don't want the Big Ten that I grew up with to go away forever. I'm also not at all crazy about adding Mizzou, Rutgers, or Maryland, they kind of seem like cheap door prizes.
to dance when the Big 19 plays the music and not vice-versa. ND needs to listen to what Lou Holtz sais yesterday,
something intelligent??
The consensus seems to be that we are waiting to see how the other conferences expand and then acting accordingly, but personally, I think we should wait several more years. I didn't want to expand at all, but I will admit that is mostly because I'm afraid The Game will suffer as a result. That aside, I think Nebraska is a fantastic pick-up and we should leave it at that for the time being.
We've seen already that 16-team conferences don't tend to work well, and I don't see any point in trying it again ourselves when, at minimum, the Pac-10 is going to try it for us. If we're going to expand, we need to do it right and make it stick like we always have. We already know 12 with divisions and a championship game works good, so we've moved to it. If 16 by some miracle works, then we'll worry about sniping another 4 teams later. In the mean time, let's just let Nebraska make itself at home and call it an expansion period.
I think this article misstates what Delany said (and Michigan State's president reiterated in her press conference). The way I understood it, they both were asked where things go from here and if the conference would continue to expand. And, they both responded that the conference has done the studies and given itself a 12-18 month window to pursue expansion opportunities and that they would continue to pursue opportunities as they presented themselves. I think the Michigan State president (sorry, just don't want to look her up right now) actually said something along the lines of "we have 12-18 months to do this and we have 2/3 of our time left to go and we're very excited about the next potential opportunity." I may be wrong, but I didn't take from it that they're going to sit tight for 12-18 months.
i call BS. I wouldn't be surprised if this is just some lame attempt to quiet down the insider posters aka Chip and PurpleBookCat. Delaney most likely is in negotiations with both ND and Texas. If aTm jumps to the SEC, be ready for Texas to join the Big Ten.
but PurpleBookCat is playing for the good guys. He's intentioanlly only revealing information that helps the Big 10, and intentionally keeping everything else to himself. I wouldn't even be surprised when everything has settled if it comes out that PBC had contact with Delany or someone close to him and was told what to reveal. Chip Brown on the other hand is being played like a fool and doesn't even know it. Texas is feeding him information to mask what they are really doing.
well i'd say that removes almost any doubt that the pac16 is gonna happen soon. very soon
... it's more like a pause for 12-18 hours.
This weekend is the time for the dream scenario: the Big Ten gets Notre Dame and Texas. Unless Texas is getting a priority distribution from the Pac 10, it seems to me they'd make way more being one of 14.
It may come down to whether Texas can politically leave A&M and Tech to themselves (maybe with a promise to still schedule them). Baylor, who cares?
At that point, Notre Dame would never have a better chance to join. I'd give them 48 hours, or tell them their next window is in 48 years.
You only want the ones who act like they don't want you. Like women, like football.
i hope you leave room for the fact that there are some women who actually don't want you.
I want to be excited about Texas (with or without A&M) but I fear that they will never be satisfied with anything less then pereferential treatment. Texas is only a prize if they agree to be equal partners in the B10 and the penaly clause makes it virtually impossible to leave.
ND would be as welcome an addition and as beneficial as N. I hate they passed on us twice and are hesitant now however I see no lose scenario with ND in the conference and ND needs to be priotity 1A or 1B.
Bottom line-I see no reason to second guess Jim Delaney in this thing and have great faith in his leadershp-we seem to be very fortunate in this regard.
I think the Big Ten sits and watches the Big 12 dissolve next week. If we don't get Texas, and we are publically not taking Mizzou, but the Pac Ten gets to 15 then looks for a 16 ... then it the clear path for the Big Ten is easterly.
So then Delany threatens the heck out of the Big East, who give ND the ultimatum (if they already haven't). We pick up ND in 2012. So, were left with either one or three more.
- or -
ND refuses -- dreams about a non-revenue catholic league -- and Delany pulls the trigger on (at least one, most likely two) Big East team(s). This end games for ND. They have to join because both the Big Ten and the Pac Ten are going to 16, and the SEC and ACC are sure to follow (meaning a BCS bowl bid has to be earned in a BCS bowl conference).
Mizzou was given an extra week (most likely because it is reported their invite hinges on either ND or Texas opting into the Big Ten). The there is the Maryland rumor. (I don't have a sense of how staunchly the Terps are tied to teh ACC.) I think Mizzou or Maryland is #13 or #15. (My guess is Mizzou, but I could see the SEC picking up Mizzou as well.)
I like the delay. Let the dust settle a little before moving on. I am not a fan of 16-team conferences. It is only a conference in name only. Other than Notre Dame and Texas, there is not another team out there that can expand the BTN's footprint and revenue enough to make adding that team worth it to the others. Nebraska brings a great football tradition and the ability for a Conference Championship Game.
If Texas and ND want to join, by all means we'll take them, but going to 14 or 16 without those two teams would be taking money away from the current 12. I doubt Delany will do that. 12 teams works, no need to expand further unless there's some real potential to make more tv money.