LSAClassOf2000

November 19th, 2012 at 1:27 PM ^

In one sense, it is sort of a shame that the Big East let the window of exclusivity on the negotiations for a new television deal pass, because I wonder if that would have made Rutgers think about this longer. I have to believe that the prospect of being relegated to Piscataway Public Access drove some of this for Rutgers, and indeed, the prospect of the NYC/NJ market for the Big Ten, as other have mentioned, driving subscription fees over $1 per subscriber potentially.

It could also be part of Connecticuit's master plan to rule the ACC Atlantic Division - after all, their 4-6 record would place them right into Maryland's spot in the division, and they can work their way up from there, right?

Then again, to be fair, Rutgers has devoted quite a bit of time and effort to being, for example, 9-1 in the Big East, and I suppose if they want to attempt a move to "the next level" - as they perceive it apparently - and have their shot somewhere, that makes sense for them. Part of me thinks this is Rutgers making a "career decision" with the invite from the Big Ten, if you will, but also, I think the potential revenue stream helps out a somewhat strapped Rutgers athletic department too, so there is that as well.

Der Alte

November 19th, 2012 at 1:43 PM ^

My respect for the University of Maryland increased greatly after watching the recent Joe Namath documentary. Apparently Joe applied to that UM, where he would undoubtedly have been a star football player. Despite an almost-certain shot in the arm to its football program, UM concluded Joe's academic credentials were insufficient for admission. Joe then went down to Alabama, where such considerations posed no barrier to his enrollment and, I suggest, no barrier to his continued academic eligibility.

Welcome both that UM and Rutgers.

M-Dog

November 19th, 2012 at 1:58 PM ^

I get what's in it for Maryland and Rutgers.  I'm not sure what's in it for the B1G.

If Maryland and Rutgers are such a strong compelling presence in the DC/Baltimore and JY/NJ markets, why hasn't that helped the ACC or Big East more?

Put it this way, if the ACC and Big East did not already have MD and Rutgers, how much do you think it would help them to add those teams now?  Very little.

 

Common Wisdom

November 19th, 2012 at 6:21 PM ^

They are not just adding these teams.

They are adding the left half of the largest TV market in the country; the right half of the fourth largest TV market in the country and top half of the ninth largest TV market in the country to TBN.  (The left half of the fourth largest market is already secured by PSU.)  They are adding the attention of Metro Washington DC and the Greater New York area, by creating a presence in the Nation's Capital and the World's Financial Center.  They are adding the two wealthiest states in the Union to the B1G footprint.

You're Michigan Man, I know you can begin to view these additions from a business standpoint.

M-Dog

November 19th, 2012 at 2:03 PM ^

Man, I hate to be on the wrong side of the mirror on this.

As much as we try to hold the integrity and academic standards of the Big Ten over the other conferences as the example of "doing it the right way", we are the conference that is most in the wrong on this issue.  

We are doing this purley to scrape more $$ off the table, tradition and integrity be damned.  We hold NO moral high ground over the SEC anymore.  They cheat and we're whores.  Welcome to "college" football 2012.

 

 

maizeonblueaction

November 19th, 2012 at 2:34 PM ^

I don't really think we needed to expand at this point, as it seemed like most reasonable options were off the table, and if we were going to, I think we could have done better. However, academically, it's a neutral, as our lowest school academically that isn't a recent addition is MSU at 75 nationally or so, and both Maryland and Rutgers preserve that, as well as having decent research budgets, etc. Athletically, New Jersey actually no longer has any pro teams in the state, and Rutgers is the biggest game in town now (not saying much, I know), but if they get better/play better opponents, maybe they'll make this good. Maryland seems to be on the upswing in basketball again, and who knows with football. With secondary sports like soccer and lacrosse, they'd jump to the top of the conference automatically.

Another hidden benefit is that with Maryland leaving, other schools like FSU and Clemson might want to jump the ACC, which could send it into a tailspin, leaving certain members the B1G might actually want like UNC/Duke/UVA/GT open and unattached, which could be strategic. Then again, it might just stop where it is for now, and it just seems weird.

TheGeneral

November 19th, 2012 at 2:51 PM ^

Well, I've had my share of whining for the day. Thanks board I don't know where I'd get incessant whining without you.
A good school joined the conference and everyone knew expansion was coming, that seems worthy of a good 600 cry baby posts. No wonder mods quit.