Maryland to big ten official

Submitted by ak47 on

Don't have a non-insider link but according to sources in MD the UMD board of regents voted today to join the big ten.  On the bright side of all of this maybe they will rename the divisions, so that might be something.  Here is the link if you are interested http://maryland.247sports.com/Article/Source-Maryland-to-the-Big-10-102…

Update: Brett Mcmurphy reporting vote to join as well and tomvh retweeted it so that counts as official for me.

Also for people hating on MD, besides bringing the baltimore/dc metro market which is the 4th largest in the country, it also brings aau membership, the third most wins in acc basketball behind only unc and duke, elite lacrosse and soccer teams on both the mens and womens side, access to the best basketball recruitng hotbed in the country, a football team that has been to the bcs more than michigan state (I just thought that was funny) and other benefits.  While its football program probably tops out at mediocare so does most of the big ten, and honestly most bcs football schools in general, I'm not happy about the move for personal reason but if the big ten wants to keep expanding there aren't really a lot of better viable options than Maryland.

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Wolverine Devotee

November 19th, 2012 at 10:54 AM ^

Positives-

  • New team for Michigan to play in all sports
  • Michigan alums and fans in the DC-Baltimore area can take over Byrd Stadium
  • B1G Lacrosse Conference will most likely be formed with Michigan, ohio, PSU and MD. MD is a national powerhouse in lacrosse.
  • More power to an already stacked basketball conference
  • Turtles!

Negatives-

  • It's maryland
  • UNIFORMZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
  • Better attendance at HS football games in TX than maryland football
  • Awful football team
  • No hockey team 

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: 31528

nmumike

November 19th, 2012 at 10:54 AM ^

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/65679/maryland-regents-approve-big-ten-move

 

The University of Maryland Board of Regents unanimously approved a move to the Big Ten on Monday, a source tells ESPN colleague Brett McMurphy.

An official announcement is expected at 4 p.m. ET at the school's campus in College Park, Md.

Maryland must officially apply for Big Ten membership, and needs a yes vote by at least nine of the 12 Big Ten presidents/chancellors (80 percent required) for admission. This is basically a formality.

Joined: 10/28/2010

MGoPoints: 4617

TartanAlex

November 19th, 2012 at 10:58 AM ^

Of course it's about money. Adding Maryland and Rutgers brings another 15 million people into the Big Ten "footprint". That's worth quite a lot when the next TV contracts are signed.

Maryland doesn't really "bring" the DC market since the Dc market is a) dominated by the Redskins and b) Virginia Tech is probably second there. After Va Tech it becomes pretty fractured with "exiles" from state schools across the country bringing their thing to the party and, incidentally, making DC one of the best places in America to watch college football.

Still, Maryland has room for growth. So, obviously, does Rutgers. And, anyway, if you're going to be expanding (which I'd rather was not the case) who else is left to add that doesn't involve adding someone from the other side of the country? At least Maryland-Rutgers is contiguous and all that jazz.

Maryland doesn't feel like it gets enough respect in the ACC. It won't get any more in the Big10 but at least it will make more money. So it makes some sense from their perspective.

The obvious thing now is to move to a nine game conference schedule and eliminate protected crossovers. If that means not playing for the Jug every year then so be it. A shame but let's not pretend that this would be the end of Michigan football.

Simple east/west divisions would be the best thing: UM, Sparty, OSU, Penn State, Rutgers, Indiana, Maryland in the east. Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Northwestern, Purdue, Minnesota in the other.

Argue about which of Purdue/Indiana goes west. Am fine with whatever choice you make. But for sake of argument our opposite-division games could, for the sake of illustration, go like this:

Year 1: Wisconsin, Northwestern, Illinois

Year 2: Minnesota, Nebraska, Purdue

Year 3: Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois

Year 4: Northwestern, Nebraska, Minnesota

Year 5: Purdue, Iowa, Illinois

Year 6: Wisconsin, Miinnesota, Nebraska,

Year 7: Iowa, Purdue, Northwestern

Year 8: Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota

Year 9: Wisconsin, Purdue, Iowa

Year 10: Northwestern, Illinois, Nebraska

Over ten years that gives you a minimum of four games vs each opponent. Not ideal but better than the SEC's "let's meet once in a blue moon and pretend we're in the same conference set up".

 

Joined: 01/23/2010

MGoPoints: 161

chitownblue2

November 19th, 2012 at 10:59 AM ^

I don't like this, but my opposition to Maryland is much smaller than my opposition to Rutgers.

I mostly loathe 14-team conferences. We will play teams in the opposite division...basically never. The basketball schedule gets further imbalanced...it sucks.

Joined: 06/03/2009

MGoPoints: 7178

ak47

November 19th, 2012 at 11:12 AM ^

remember that part where you said more money? there you go.  National relevance is all about money, look at what oregon has been able to do because of nike money, oklahoma state is relevant again partly because t boon pickens money, the big ten needs to stay ahead in the money race to stay competitive, its a bad thing but it is the truth

Joined: 05/05/2011

MGoPoints: 33614

chitownblue2

November 19th, 2012 at 11:32 AM ^

I see the appeal of Maryland. They're the 3rd winningest team in NCAA basketball history. They are nationally elite in soccer for both genders, lacrosse for both genders, and basketball for both genders.

I just won't want a 14 team conference, due to never playing anyone on the other side. And I'd rather give up Maryland altogether than get them AND Rutgers.

Joined: 06/03/2009

MGoPoints: 7178

M-Wolverine

November 19th, 2012 at 1:43 PM ^

By what definition of "winningest"?  Because I must be missing something.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_teams_with_the_highest_winning_per…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_teams_with_the_most_victories_in_N…

 


Years Coach Seasons Overall Record Conference Record !
2011-12 to - Mark Turgeon 2 17-15 (.531) ACC: 6-10 (.375)
1989-90 to 2010-11 Gary Williams 22 461-252 (.647) ACC: 194-157 (.553)
1986-87 to 1988-89 Bob Wade 3 36-50 (.419) -
1969-70 to 1985-86 Lefty Driesell 17 348-159 (.686) ACC: 122-100 (.550)
1967-68 to 1968-69 Frank Fellows 2 16-34 (.320) ACC: 6-22 (.214)
1950-51 to 1966-67 Bud Millikan 17 243-182 (.572) SC/ACC: 130-109 (.544)
1947-48 to 1949-50 Flucie Stewart 3 27-50 (.351) SC: 22-27 (.468)
1923-24 to 1946-47 H. Burton Shipley 24 253-218 (.537) SC: 124-91 (.577)
Totals 8 Coaches 90 1401-960 (.593)

SC/ACC: 604- 566 (.516)

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland_Terrapins_men's_basketball

Joined: 10/04/2009

MGoPoints: 42190

ChopBlock

November 19th, 2012 at 10:59 AM ^

Assumptions:

1) Michigan and Ohio must play every single year. Both universities will throw a shitfit if this doesn't happen. Rivalries of the greatest importance are protected, while lesser rivalries (say the Old Brass Spittoon) get axed.

2) You don't want Nebraska and Rutgers/Maryland in the same division. It's already a really long way from Lincoln to Happy Valley.

3) Rutgers will be in the same division as Maryland, for the sake of a natural rivalry.

4) We'll go to a 9-game conference schedule, but will still eliminate protected crossover games.

5) Despite largely geographical divisions, necessitated by the huge East-West spread of the conference, Delaney will not simply refer to the divisions as "east" and "west"

Division the First:

Rutgers

Maryland

Penn State

Ohio

Michigan

Michigan State

Illinois

Division the Second:

Indiana

Purdue

Northwestern

Minnesota

Iowa

Nebraska

Wisconsin

 

I don't like it, but I think it's the best that they could do. Illinois doesn't, AFAIK, have a very intense rivalry with Northwestern, despite being from the same state, so of the four Illinois-Indiana state members, they're the most expendable. The East would be a bit stronger than the West, but that will be mitigated by the effects of PSU's sanctions starting in a year or two.

Joined: 12/11/2011

MGoPoints: 2912

Vasav

November 19th, 2012 at 11:13 AM ^

I love it, but I don't see it happening. I think that the Michigan schools go West and the Indiana schools go East for "competitive balance." And then Michigan-Ohio is a "protected" game.

Of course it's stupid. But this whole conference expansion thing is stupid. The Big Ten is about to become no different from anybody else.

Joined: 12/13/2009

MGoPoints: 19215

willywill9

November 19th, 2012 at 11:01 AM ^

According to wikipedia, Maryland really has no rivalries.  They've played Penn State 37 times and lost 35 of those games.  1 win, and i think 1 tie.

Ouch. Time to reinvent that rivalry.

Joined: 09/22/2008

MGoPoints: 13162

Ernis

November 19th, 2012 at 11:04 AM ^

 

I

The despot's heel is on thy shore,
Maryland!*
His torch is at thy temple door,
Maryland!
Avenge the patriotic gore
That flecked the streets of Baltimore,
And be the battle queen of yore,
Maryland! My Maryland!

II

Hark to an exiled son's appeal,
Maryland!
My mother State! to thee I kneel,
Maryland!
For life and death, for woe and weal,
Thy peerless chivalry reveal,
And gird thy beauteous limbs with steel,
Maryland! My Maryland!

III

Thou wilt not cower in the dust,
Maryland!
Thy beaming sword shall never rust,
Maryland!
Remember Carroll's sacred trust,
Remember Howard's warlike thrust,-
And all thy slumberers with the just,
Maryland! My Maryland!

IV

Come! 'tis the red dawn of the day,
Maryland!
Come with thy panoplied array,
Maryland!
With Ringgold's spirit for the fray,
With Watson's blood at Monterey,
With fearless Lowe and dashing May,
Maryland! My Maryland!

V

Come! for thy shield is bright and strong,
Maryland!
Come! for thy dalliance does thee wrong,
Maryland!
Come to thine own anointed throng,
Stalking with Liberty along,
And chaunt thy dauntless slogan song,
Maryland! My Maryland!

VI

Dear Mother! burst the tyrant's chain,
Maryland!
Virginia should not call in vain,
Maryland!
She meets her sisters on the plain-
"Sic semper!" 'tis the proud refrain
That baffles minions back amain,
Arise in majesty again,
Maryland! My Maryland!

VII

I see the blush upon thy cheek,
Maryland!
For thou wast ever bravely meek,
Maryland!
But lo! there surges forth a shriek,
From hill to hill, from creek to creek-
Potomac calls to Chesapeake,
Maryland! My Maryland!

VIII

Thou wilt not yield the Vandal toll,
Maryland!
Thou wilt not crook to his control,
Maryland!
Better the fire upon thee roll,
Better the blade, the shot, the bowl,
Than crucifixion of the soul,
Maryland! My Maryland!

IX

I hear the distant thunder-hum,
Maryland!
The Old Line's bugle, fife, and drum,
Maryland!
She is not dead, nor deaf, nor dumb-
Huzza! she spurns the Northern scum!
She breathes! she burns! she'll come! she'll come!
Maryland! My Maryland!

Joined: 09/23/2008

MGoPoints: 11442

NFG

November 19th, 2012 at 11:07 AM ^

I think the logic behind Maryland wanting to join the BIG TEN is the revenue sharing with the BIG TEN network. They see schools like Indiana, Purdue and Minnesota that compare to their football program, and see that they still get millions in revenue sharing to compensate for poor attendance at home games, or lack of a bowl game. This is their best way to stay competitive fiscally with other programs, and fund the rest of their athletic department. Also, they can pitch to their huge fan base and geographical residents, to come to the home games against UofM, NEB, OSU and PSU a lot easier than FSU, VT and Miami.

Joined: 04/24/2012

MGoPoints: 47985

Vasav

November 19th, 2012 at 11:07 AM ^

I think if we have to expand that nobody makes more sense than Maryland. But the only good I can see from this is if Michigan and Ohio get put in the same division. I don't think that's going to happen.

Joined: 12/13/2009

MGoPoints: 19215

bronxblue

November 19th, 2012 at 11:08 AM ^

I've never had a problem with Maryland joining the Big 10.  It's a decent enough school with a strong research base, has good connections in the region and chock-full of alumni, and fits into the culture of the conference pretty well.  I presume Rutgers will join as well and that could get interesting, but the ACC is a conference that doesn't benefit Maryland that much (with the power being farther south), so they might as well switch over.

And while Maryland hasn't been great in football the past couple of years, they are no worse than Indiana, Minnesota, or Illinois.  And the basketball team is usually pretty solid.  

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171032

Moonlight Graham

November 19th, 2012 at 11:10 AM ^

that the B1G could have gotten to 16 by adding Missouri, ND, Pitt and Syracuse but Delaney snoozed a now frankly, Swarbrick got the best of him. The ACC got three tradition-laden football/basketball schools and Missouri inexplicably takes a chunk out of the B1G's natural geographic footprint, and now we're left with two mediocre-at-best programs, TV markets be damned. 

Getting to 16 might cause us to slum it even more. I suppose adding Kansas would be a good basketball move and get us to 15, but I'm nervous about who #16 might be. UVa/VaTech would probably be most logical but I've always been intrigued with Kansas ... maybe we need to go to 20 and call it Big Ten East Big Ten West FTW.

Joined: 09/12/2011

MGoPoints: 7559

ak47

November 19th, 2012 at 11:16 AM ^

since when is mizzou a better addition? smaller tv market, worse academics, about the same relevancy as md in football, and lacks an elite basketball history.  Not to mention it is longer in travel distance for most schools than md is.  why are people pining over losing mizzou and pitt? those teams add nothing md doesn't and in some cases add less.  I don't want expansion for expansion sake but seriously the schools you guys are throwing out makes no sense

Joined: 05/05/2011

MGoPoints: 33614

MDwolverine

November 19th, 2012 at 11:11 AM ^

I know its hard to get excited about MD right now, but I think the long-term potential of UMD in the B1G has great upside.

With the financial support of the B1G money and Kevin Plank (UA CEO), they will have the resources to improve facilities and upgrade their coaching staff (Plank is not a fan of Edsall).

If that's the case, there is solid local talent for MD to recruit an this DC/Bmore area loves the Terps and the support will be there.

When you factor in the academic requirements the B1G is expanding under an the belief that 16-team super conferences are going to happen, this isn't a bad move long-term.

Just the 2 cents of a MD resident

Joined: 02/05/2011

MGoPoints: 1327

ChalmersE

November 19th, 2012 at 11:15 AM ^

Answering some of the Maryland questions posed earlier:  two more big name Maryland football players are Randy White and Dick Modzelewski.  The basketball program had 11 straight NCAA appearances ending in 2004 and have appeared three times since.  With the exception of Sparty and Ohio, that probably is as good or better than everyone else in the B1G.

Joined: 11/19/2008

MGoPoints: 5196

detrocks

November 19th, 2012 at 11:16 AM ^

While I don't think that the B10 needed to expand, I'm not as troubled as others on this board with the addition of Rutgers.    

The football program has been pretty decent since Schiano took over.   They've won 9+ games in 3 out of the last 4 seasons and 8+ in 6 out of the last 7 seasons.   Their last couple of recruiting classes have been top 30ish quality and it seems like there's a fair amount of HS talent to draw from in NJ.  

They recently completed a renovation of their football stadium.  Their attendance hasn't been great but it's still higher than a couple of B10 teams and one would think that replacing teams like Syracuse, Connecticut and USF with Michigan, OSU, PSU, etc. might help drive that up a little bit.

As a football program, they're not at the level of Michigan, OSU, PSU, Neb, Wisky level, but I'd say they on par with MSU, Iowa (current season notwithstanding), NW and certainly better than Ilinois, Purdue, Indiana, and Minnesota.  Academically, they're in line with most of the B10 (#68 based on US News). 

Now is adding another mid-tier player a good thing?   Maybe not, but at least Rutgers has the potential to morph into something more.    The stability and money of the B10 could elevate the program, while also bringing the B10 into NJ (which has the 9th largest population in the US-- more than IN, IA, MN, NE, WI). 

Joined: 08/18/2010

MGoPoints: 936

Needs

November 19th, 2012 at 11:21 AM ^

This constitutes a huge bailout of the Rutgers Athletic Department, which currently takes more money from student fees than almost any school in the nation (at the same time the university as a whole has been placed under pretty stark austerity measures, including departments giving up a lot of support staff and office phones). Now, they'll actually sell tickets in that newly renovated stadium when OSU, Michigan, Penn State, Nebraska, Wisconsin, etc., come to town as opposed to all the distant schools with minimal fanbases in the new Big East.

In terms of crowd composition, Rutgers is about to become Northwestern East.

Joined: 08/05/2008

MGoPoints: 11632

WilmotCt

November 19th, 2012 at 11:18 AM ^

I am so confused by this - I just don't get it. When we as Michigan fans cheer the "bright side" as being the renaming of divisions, you know that we got majorly sold.

Joined: 10/18/2012

MGoPoints: 93

Drbogue

November 19th, 2012 at 11:22 AM ^

"Also for people hating on MD, besides bringing the baltimore/dc metro market which is the 4th largest in the country"

Um, why do we care? We have the largest and most active alumni population in the country. The mid-Atlantic is the WORST market for college football. Having lived in DC for 6 years, NOBODY CARES about college football. It's all NFL. I live in South Florida and have seen every Michigan game from my couch (DirectTV) for the past 4 years. Expanding the conference does not help Michigan, it only helps Maryland. Why not just have 1 giant conference? Everybody shares everyone's revenue. Just exclude ND.

As for basketball, I think the Big Ten is doing just fine thank you.

Joined: 07/22/2011

MGoPoints: 3715

Bluestreak

November 19th, 2012 at 11:36 AM ^

I like the idea of having to compete with Ohio twice a year. Ohio and Michigan are the two best teams in the conference in most years and they should naturally compete for the title game  every year. Any other alignment will make the other rather lopsided unless you have Penn and Nebraska in the other division. Ideally, I'd like something like this. Have one protected rivalry game from other division

 

Division the First:

Rutgers

Maryland

Northwestern

Peen State

Michigan

Michigan State

Illinois

Division the Second:

Indiana

Purdue

Ohio

Minnesota

Iowa

Nebraska

Wisconsin

Joined: 09/26/2010

MGoPoints: 1956