Maryland
Lock this thread right now.
Lock this thread right now. That's the perfect comment.
Agree 100%
I thought that tweet was a robdelany-esque joke when I first saw it.
We already have enough FBS bottom feeders in this damn conference (looking at you, GopherQuest), we should be focused on regaining top tier standing with the ESS EEE SEE and PAC8-10-12 instead of adding to the misery that will be PSU for the next decade.
EDIT: I would also like to take the time to remind everyone that NO ONE in the state of New York cares about Rutgers. The TV market is consumed by the Jets, Giants, Bills, Knicks, Nets, Yankees, Mets, Devils, Islanders, and Rangers. There are more Michigan fans than Rutgers fans in New York.
The world looks better through maize mirror tint.
I agree, but you can take the
I agree, but you can take the Bills, Devils, and Islanders out of that conversation. Nobody cares about those three in metropolitan New York which is the market the B1G is trying to reach. On the other hand, while this is a terrible idea it would be nice to have Michigan play in Jersey every few years so I could more easily see them live.
Yahoo! Sports story link
Yahoo’s Dan Wetzel has a story that Delaney is in concentrated talks with them today. Summating: money in the form of cable viewers is all they bring to the table.
Maryland's, Rutgers' potential move to Big Ten looms as risky gamble for conference (link)
Delaney has said repeatedly
Delaney has said repeatedly for years that he would like to expand the B1G into areas of the country that are growing demographically. This does that.
M'Dog
Markusr2007. I'm writing that
Markusr2007. I'm writing that down under Upvotes 4 life, lol
How many times have you been on the freeway and had someone fly by you at 100 mph then end up 2 cars ahead of you at the off ramp? What's the point? -Mark Harmon
What?
please no, no more expansion, we have the right number now
that would be a turrible fit
that would be a turrible fit
Actually
From a financial standpoint, they bring ALOT to the table.
New Jersey and Maryland has a combined population of 15 million, and are two of the richest states in the nation. They have fertile recruiting grounds, and have very good academic credentials. Maryland alone has valuable ties to D.C., and research expenditures.
Since they're the dominant in state school with no other competition, the minute they join, they would most likely bring more to the table in terms of money than Northwestern, Indiana, Iowa, Purdue, Michigan State, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. They would also bring two states rich in football talent only behind Ohio. Pennslyvania, Illinois, and Michigan, not to mention GREAT basketball talent.
Football wise, yeah lackluster, but long term they have all the prerequisites to be a good program. They just didn't have something like the Big Ten Network that could properly monetize that potential.
What
What is the basis for this idea that by adding new school X we somehow automatically turn every location from Ohio to new school X into Big Ten fan territory. If we add Central Florida, I think it would make zero difference in the ability of B1G schools to recruit Florida. Adding Rutgers wasn't going to allow the B1G to "capture" the NYC market because no one there cares about Rutgers.
Does anyone in the mid-atlantic care about Maryland athletics? (that's a serious question, i just don't know)
The beltway area cares about
The beltway area cares about Maryland...Rutgers and the NYC market I'm unsure of
PSU has more fans in Md than Md
Even with the tire fire I'd be willing to make a small wager there are more PSU fans in Maryland than Terp fans. PSU also has a very strong following in NJ.
I don't think Rutgers or Maryland bring anything to the Big Ten.
If the Big Ten wants to Poach an ACC school it should be Va Tech
Uh
VA Tech has bad academics and don't even bring their entire state. Not to mention the Virginia legislature won't let them leave.
Tech does not have bad
Tech does not have bad academics. And as far as football goes, they dominate the state the way Michigan dominates Michigan- anyone who doesn't have an allegience by virtue of actually having gone to one of those schools roots for Tech. Maryland doesn't bring "its own house" because they play second fiddle to the Ravens...and always will. At least Tech doesn't have to compete with that.
Don't quote laws to us. We carry swords.
-Pompeius Magnus
Tech
Tech has much worst academics compared to Virginia. Basically they're the MSU to Virginias Michigan, only with a longer win streak.
They're one Beamer retire and bad hire away from being relegated to obscurity. No need for the B1G to invite them and take that risk, since again they don't even carry their own state.
This
UVA would be the better fit of the Virginia schools. Better Academics and more than just football (not that their football program is elite).
Uh.....no
Compared to UVA every public school has terrible academics. VA Tech is one of the best engineering schools in the country and beats Michigan in that manner. Sure, some of their other programs are not top notch, but it is an engineering school, it should not be judged on the basis of its poly sci degree.
VPISU is a better school than they get credit for
But their engineering school doesn't come close to Michigan's.
... And you have much worst
... And you have much worst grammar.
Exactly.
Plus they compete with Georgetown and GWU for fans in an are of the country that does not care about college sports. Granted, those schools don't have D1 football teams, but in that area it is all about the redskins and the NFL. They have a tiny stadium that they never come close to filling. This is like bringing in a worse version of Northwestern. I am glad Northwestern is part of the conference, but would not invite them again.
Exactly.
Plus they compete with Georgetown and GWU for fans in an are of the country that does not care about college sports. Granted, those schools don't have D1 football teams, but in that area it is all about the redskins and the NFL. They have a tiny stadium that they never come close to filling. This is like bringing in a worse version of Northwestern. I am glad Northwestern is part of the conference, but would not invite them again.
It doesn't
It doesn' matter if it's a pro town as long as enough people want them on basic cable. Case in point Minnesota and Indiana both have pro franchises that are much more popular than their college products, yet they are on basic cable.
Plus, Maryland and New Jersey immediately become top 6 in term of high school football talent along with Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Illinois. They produce far more talent than Minnesota, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, or Nebraska.
Yeah, but
Nobody watches them or cares about them. I live in that market, they are not even on TV. Granted, they are a basketball school. But even for basketball their ratings and attendance are way down.
Yeah I agree
Nobody really watches them. But at least they have potential to become better, especially with the B1G's resources. Which is more than can be said of a lot of schools.
And even if they don't become that much better, at least they'll help the bottom line and the B1G will most likely have better talent coming in :)
Not a home run, but long term wise... not a bad bet.
You don't
You don't need to be dominant. Just enough to get on basic cable. As flagship schools in each state with 38 thousand students at Maryland and 56 thousand students at Rutgers, I think they'll have enough pull despite their mediocre athletics. B1G alumni can fill any gaps.
Also, the main objective is the state of Maryland and New Jersey. New York and D.C. is just extra gravy.
Alot
Is not a word. Your comment is negated
I have a Fandom Endurance III merit badge
This times a million
Thanks
Thanks, too late to fix
You can't fix it because it
You can't fix it because it has been replied to.
not just "douchey" MGoBlog user, but now TRUSTED MGoBlog user
This is the Rutgers argument
This is the Rutgers argument all over again. There is nobody watching Maryland football, it wouldn't matter if they played their games on the White House lawn. Nobody anywhere is upping their cable package to watch that team.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/colleges/2011/maryland-footb...
As of 2010: 39k fans per game, stadium is 72.5% full. And they bring more to the table than WISCONSIN? Uh, if you say so.
IGotARashMan
this comment
Is hilarious in hindsight
www.get2formaizenblue.blogspot.com
For all of your obscure college wrestling blog needs
Again
It doesn't matter if 0 people watch Maryland football outside of Maryland, AS LONG AS ENOUGH IN STATE PEOPLE WATCH the B1G to put them on basic cable. With the other B1G alumni living in Maryland, along with Maryland hoops being popular, they will put the Big Ten Network on basic cable.
But yeah Wisconsin might be a stretch. My mistake.
I can't speak to DC or
I can't speak to DC or Maryland demographics. I can say that if there are enough B1G alums there now, they would already have the BTN (if they don't currently). BTN is already on the basic cable package in NYC, and it's because we have a zillion B1G alums here.
Literally in the last week Edsall begged more fans to go to Maryland games. I think "DO NOT WANT" is the only sensible reaction.
IGotARashMan
BTN is part of my basic cable package in Fairfax
on Verizon
Yup. And, if I recall
Yup. And, if I recall correctly it was part of a $5 a month package on Comcast.
Yes, I live in Maryland and
Yes, I live in Maryland and have that.
So Maryland joining the B1G saves me $5 a month (potentially), and allows me to see Michignan close to home once every four years or so.
Um, OK. Sounds good for selfish reasons. But there's not much more than that.
M'Dog
On basic cable on Verizon in
On basic cable on Verizon in Howard County, MD as well.
LOL
The Big Ten Network is NOT on basic cable in New York. Even if there is, it's a very small percentage. And there is a huge difference between having B1G alums demanding the BTN on basic cable in Maryland, and the alums of the dominant instate school demanding the BTN.
The only sensible reaction is "DO SOME THINKING"
You can't make this argument
You can't make this argument with someone who actually gets basic cable in NYC. I have the basic Verizon package (one of only two options in the city along with Time Warner) and get BTN. So you're just making things up.
Maybe all of NJ and MD will DEMAND watching games on TV that they certainly won't attend in person. Unlike you, I won't speculate on things I know nothing about. But as you're talking out of your ass re: NYC cable, I'm assuming everything else you've said is pulled out of thin air as well.
IGotARashMan
Then
How come all my friends in New York need to get the digital sports tier.
You're fine to doubt me. Doesn't change facts, and if the money loving Delaney is going ahead with the move, and that means he's looked at it seriously from a financial perspective. I at least try to use logic and facts. You refuse to look at the numbers.
If that's actually true, then
If that's actually true, then I'm assuming Time Warner doesn't have it in their basic package. That seems plausible - they're the other cable option in NYC. I find it hard to believe a school with next-to-no NYC fanbase changes that, but it's possible. This is not an opinion: Michigan has more fans in this city than Rutgers, and it's not close.
I don't think Delaney is an idiot. I firmly believe that he has a master plan here, and if we're doomed to expand, hopefully it involves schools like UNC, Duke, Georgia Tech, UVA, etc. at some stage. I just don't agree that adding two schools with crappy football programs, athletic departments that are losing money, and fundamentally tiny fanbases is the right next step.
Ask your friends what football fans who live in MD and NJ watch on the weekend. I'm willing to bet their answers will involve a lot of "Giants, Jets, Ravens, Skins" and next to no "Rutgers and Maryland." This is an NFL region.
IGotARashMan
Look at
this article if you haven't already: http://thequad.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/19/the-geography-of-college-football-fans-and-realignment-chaos/
Even if the figures are off, Rutgers still has more fans in New York than the next 3 combined. It makes complete sense. They're located right outside of NY, they have a student population of 56,000, and a lot of them go on to work in New York.
But even if they don't bring New York, they bring New Jersey, with a population of 9 million. That alone is a lot of cable sets. New York should be gravy.
I agree though, that UNC and UVA are better fits than either. Too bad they won't leave the ACC, or their state governments won't let them.
Why not add UC Irvine then
if the only goal is to get the BTN on basic cable in a state with a lot of B1G alumni. Or Texas-San Antonio?
Don't be ridiculous.
If the B1G goes to Texas, it's UTEP or bust.
IGotARashMan
Ooohhh, this man dreams big.
Ooohhh, this man dreams big.
Don't quote laws to us. We carry swords.
-Pompeius Magnus
Uh
You need the alums of the dominant in state school demanding the BTN on basic cable for it to happen. UC Irvine doesn't have anything near enough fans to have California put the BTN on basic cable. Maryland and Rutgers does for their states.
Very interesting take...
...on Maryland. You make a compelling case for bringing Maryland to the B1G, but is the gain Maryland brings the B1G worth the downside of bringing some other marginal school with them, such as Rutgers. And overall, does Maryland really bring enough to the table to expand to 14 schools and water down the conference even more? At 14 schools, we'd have two mini conferences. We'd add a guaranteed annual contest with either Maryland or Rutgers and lose a game with a historical B!G opponent. Fine, we'll see less of Purdue, Illinois or Indiana, but we'll also see less of Wisconsin and Penn State. IMHE, stick to the 12 we have. Nebraska was a great addition, everything else (minus Notre Dame) is meh.
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Actually
I actually think Rutgers brings at least as much to the table as Maryland. New Jersey has 3 million more people in their state than Maryland, and have by far the most fans in New York city than any other team thanks to their 56 thousand student population. They've always have had great high school talent, and in fact is equal or slightly better than the state of Michigan in terms for 4 star talent according to rivals.
It's the same with Maryland. They have a populous and rich state, along with great high school football. If anything, the two states will up the level of talent in the Big 10, even if it's not by much. Not to mention some of the richest basketball recruiting grounds in the nation.
We'll also be going to 9 games soon. Sure it'll suck not playing our midwest brethren, but think of the recruiting advantages! At least one away game in New Jersey or Maryland each year, or every 2 years has to help us alot. And if the money loving Delaney approves of this move, you KNOW he's looking to make a profit.
crab cakes
crab cakes have no place in the B1G picture
"Oh, the usual. I bowl. Drive around. The occasional acid flashback." -The Dude
