Adding PITT will give the Big Ten access to all those markets? The Beltway and Philly crowd has just been waiting with baited breath for PITT??? I was unaware that Pitt had such a large following along the eastern seaboard.
Actually...
Mizzou gives you two top 35 TV markets in St. Louis and Kansas City. There are some Illinois fans in St. Louis, but it is a MIzzou town -- anyone who has ever been there on a Saturday in the fall could tell you that.
It would also expand the Big Ten's geographic footprint to include Missouri. There are no real divisions of allegiance in Missouri when it comes to college football -- nearly the entire state (save a few fans here and there) supports Mizzou.
C'mon man...think about this stuff before you say it.
For those who don't know, this was to be a "rebuilding" year for Mizzou. They lost a Heisman finalist QB and two first round draft picks, and were still within one quarter of winning the Big 12 North.
And oh yeah...the Missouri basketball team went to the Elite Eight last year, won the Big 12 tourney, and just picked up a top 15 recruiting class. There's that.
Regarding Nebraska's football "tradition" as of late, let's look at the last three years...
They beat Missouri this year to win the North. Mizzou's performance in that game was pathetic, but they STILL led going into the fourth quarter. Let's look at Nebraska's record and scores against Mizzou in the last three years:
'09-'10: Mizzou (8-4): 12, NU (9-4): 27
'08-'09: Mizzou (10-4): 52, NU (9-4): 17
'07-'08: Mizzou (12-2): 41, NU (5-7): 6
Not so fast on all the "Nebraska is a football juggernaut" talk.
If Mizzou joined the Big Ten today, it would have the 3rd best recruiting class in the conference according to Rivals.com.
Think about that.
Forgot to mention the point about Pitt...
How does Pitt get a "2" in footprint and market??? The Big 10 Network already HAS the Pittsburgh market -- you said that yourself! Penn State is just a few miles down the road. If ever there were cause for a "1" rating, this is it.
It also might be worth noting that this is at least SEEMS like the kind of blind, northeastern bias that makes some Mizzou fans want to join the Big Ten and dish out a few reality checks on the court/field.
Mizzou grad here. I stumbled across your blog when strolling through the Interweb looking for any and all information regarding Mizzou's possible move to the Big 10. I would say the current climate of Mizzou fans is about 60/40 against moving to the Big 10. However, I'd say the majority of that 60% is casting judgment based on nostalgia and fear of change. I myself am currently in limbo; I see both potential benefits ($ and a more equitable bowl selection) and pitfalls (loss of fertile Texas football recruiting ground and nostalgic rivalries). I am on the fence, and I think a lot of Mizzou fans are too.
A few things about your "points" given to Mizzou and Pitt. I'm sure I'll be accused of homerism, but you've undervalued Mizzou in two areas. First, academia. Missouri, as an academic institution, is not on par with Michigan or Northwestern. But it houses (arguably at very least) the best journalism in the country, and after the COC bump, it's on par with most of the Big 10. I think it deserves a "2" here.
Second, your rating of "1" for Mizzou basketball is laughable. Mizzou won the Big 12 Tournament last year. They went to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tourney. They have the dubiuos honor of winning the most NCAA tournament games in history having never been to a Final Four. Most importantly, they have a Top 15 recruiting class in the nation next year. Your placement of Mizzou's BB program on par with Rutgers' "nonentity" of a program is absurd.
Just a couple points. We're all interested to see how it plays out.
M-I-Z, Z-O-U
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