Maryland to the big ten rumors

Submitted by ak47 on

So the maryland sports board I read has been chirping about talks between Maryland the big ten.  Anybody hear about any of these rumors from the big side?  Since minnesota isn't beating nebraska i figured I could ask.

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CWoodson

November 17th, 2012 at 7:33 PM ^

Thanks for the link. This still blows my mind. The Big Ten is "itchy" (per the article) for two schools with no fans but a big "footprint." The BTN is already on every TV in NYC - it's part of the standard Verizon package here. Rutgers doesn't change that. I've wasted too much time in bars in this city, and I've literally never 1) seen any Rutgers gear or 2) heard "Turn on the Rutgers game." I'm sure they're big in central NJ. Everyone involved with the B1G should be against expansion for expansion's sake. These schools aren't just not near Nebraska's level - they're not near Minnesota's. FEAR THE FOOTPRINT

Joined: 09/15/2009

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polometer

November 17th, 2012 at 5:10 PM ^

Sports wise they would be a big pick up for basketball competition.  On the football field they have a loooooooooong way to go to catch up to an average Big Ten school.  However, having them in the conference would help bring in more Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvannia recruits to the conference.

 

I think eventually the NCAA is going to fall into four super-conferences: the Big Ten, S.E.C., PAC, and one other.  Eventually I will see the Big Ten needing/being able to add two more schools to the conference.  This could be a reasonable step in that direction.

Joined: 10/08/2011

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skwasha

November 17th, 2012 at 6:06 PM ^

I'm not advocating for adding them... but to take issue with them on their quality as a school seems a somewhat specious argument. US News (yes, yes, only one measure, blah blah) has them at #58... Ohio is at #56 and 6 other Big 10 unis rank lower than them. Notably, our newest member Nebraska checking in at #101. Oh by the way, Maryland is an AAU member... something the rest of the conference shares... except for Nebraska.

Again, I'm not trying to justify taking them by any means. Personally, I don't think they bring *that* much. But again, knocking them on academic grounds seems pretty weak.

Joined: 10/09/2010

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mzdmv

November 17th, 2012 at 5:14 PM ^

MD and Rutgers are in talks according to ESPN.

I like MD, brings in the DC market and consistently solid sports teams, Rutgers we already went over back during the Great Expansion Season of 2011

Joined: 09/22/2010

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TTUwolverine

November 17th, 2012 at 5:18 PM ^

WTF?  Maryland at least brings basketball.  Rutgers brings nothing to the table... and don't even pretend that they are a ticket to the New York market.  Nobody gives a flying fuck about Rutgers in NYC.

Joined: 04/13/2009

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Magnus

November 17th, 2012 at 5:32 PM ^

Rutgers has had a pretty decent football program for the past several years, and they're recruiting pretty well.  I think they could potentially strike up a decent rivalry with Penn State because of the proximity of PA and NJ, partly because they recruit a lot of the same players.

I'm not a fan of bringing in Maryland or Rutgers, but there's a hint of potential there for football relevance.

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I Like Burgers

November 17th, 2012 at 6:18 PM ^

Rutgers dumped a shit ton of money into their football program when they were on a relatively small Big East budget.  If you give them some BTN money, plus money from a big new Big Ten TV contract, who knows what they might turn themselves into?  

Throw Michigan, MSU, Penn State, Ohio State, Maryland, Rutgers, Indiana/Purdue into a division, call it the Big Ten East, and that would be a bunch of fun games every fall.

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The Wolf

November 17th, 2012 at 7:32 PM ^

I was having very similar thoughts as well.  They have been a decent program for the past couple years, and they are in a relatively fertile recruiting area.  With the addition of the B1G money and the "prestige" of a B1G school, maybe Rutgers starts winning a few more recruiting battles for players who may otherwise look south (thinking ACC - UVA, VaTech, etc.)?

Joined: 02/02/2011

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m1jjb00

November 17th, 2012 at 5:20 PM ^

Maryland football gets very little coverage and buzz around here.  More basketball, however.  I don't know generally, but our cable provider already offers BTN as part of its sports package. For me, the real advantage is a game or two to see that's not a long drive.  Otherwise, the only advantage is no ACC games on ABC.

Joined: 11/21/2009

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not TOM BRADY

November 17th, 2012 at 5:23 PM ^

The B1G needs to expand. I like Maryland, but hate the Rutgers thing in my opinion they wasted an opportunity, and should have gone after Pitt, before they committed to the ACC. I wouldn't mind going south and trying to pick up Oklahoma and Oklahoma St.

Joined: 06/02/2012

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Argyle

November 17th, 2012 at 5:24 PM ^

I have nothing against Maryland except for a perhaps irrational and unfair dislike for it. But really, do we really need more second tier teams in the conference? At least Pitt would be in a traditional B1G state. If ND isn't joining, then why pursue additional members?

Joined: 09/26/2009

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