MGoAero

December 16th, 2009 at 1:31 PM ^

How many Pitt or Mizzou football fans have you met outside of their immediate geographic areas? Now, how many Nebraska fans have you met anywhere in the country? Nebraska's got a monster fan base. That's why I disagree with Brian's table from yesterday's post that gives them a 1/3 on footprint and market. Then think about this: which of those three teams would you actually be EXCITED to have join the Big 10? Would you be excited to play Pitt, Mizzou, or Nebraska more? I think Nebraska wins in a slam-dunk. They make more and more sense the more I think about it.

Joined: 03/16/2009

MGoPoints: 887

Blue in Yarmouth

December 16th, 2009 at 1:37 PM ^

As a Canadian, I am not familiar with all these rules that keep going around the blog as to a schools worthiness to join the big 10. So in my ignorance, I can only make my decision based on who I would LIKE to see play my beloved Wolverines on a regular basis. With that being the only criteria I have at my disposal, I would agree with you that Nebraska would be my preference. Remember though, I know nothing about the rules and financial implications of such a massive decision.

Joined: 02/18/2009

MGoPoints: 6522

BleedingBlue

December 16th, 2009 at 1:58 PM ^

Can you please quantify EXCITEMENT in terms of money generated for the conference? Seriously though, I see your point about the potential for a couple of games a year to get some national hype (vs. Mich and OSU...maybe PSU). PITT vs. PSU would get quite a bit of hype. MIZZOU and ILL play every year already and no one cares, so Mizzou might create the least amount of national attention. For real, though, getting back to your argument *everyone gets the hell out of Nebraska as soon as they can after they graduate*. It is brutal there unless you are a farmer or Warren Buffet. That is why there are more Nebraska people spread out around the country. However, that does not mean that the absolute number of Nebraska fans is greater than the number of Pitt or Mizzou fans.

Joined: 07/25/2008

MGoPoints: 2165

Simi Maquoketa

December 16th, 2009 at 2:11 PM ^

Yes, now I've heard everything. It's simple. You go out with an Excitometer and measure the levels of adrenaline when you axe people who they'd rather watch teams like Michigan, OSU, and all the rest play. Of all the teams being discussed, Nebraska would be at the high end, Pitt would register right above SNORE. No one gives two shits about Pittsburgh football outside of Pittsburgh. At least with Rutgers, you can make an argument for capturing the New York media market and the state of New Jersey. Nebraska brings more prestige and tradition to the table than the other schools combined. And people do not "get the hell out" of Nebraska. But since you made that statement, and are one of the guys who is so big on "quantifying" stuff--I'm going to have to ask you to prove it. A link, or some other "quantifying" source would be nice. Nebraska's population was about 1.5 mill 20 years ago, now it's roughly 1.8 mill. I would think that if everybody "gets the hell out"--we'd see a decrease in those numbers. Look, you don't have to take these Nebraska suggestions so personally. it's no big deal if you want Pitt or Rutgers--that's probably who is going to get in. But Nebraska is a much better and bigger name than most of the others being tossed out there.

Joined: 12/03/2009

MGoPoints: 4

MGoAero

December 16th, 2009 at 2:43 PM ^

I think I would contest your argument that Pitt-PSU would get quite a bit of hype. I, for one, wouldn't care any more than any other in-state rivalry where one team holds a definite advantage. Getting back to Nebraska, even if your statement that 'everyone leaves Nebraska' is true, well then that would be an even bigger argument for including them, since geographic dispersion would be a good thing for growing Big Ten football! If Nebraska fans are subscribing to the BTN in Oregon, then great! Oh, and your statement is effectively null anyway because Nebraska leads the nation in consecutive sold-out games, going back to the early '60s. Appparently there are some people left in the state to attend the games every year...

Joined: 03/16/2009

MGoPoints: 887

double blue

December 16th, 2009 at 1:54 PM ^

a few years back i went to a halloween party in a prison uniform holding a football wearing a red hat with a white N on it. everyone knew what i was. i don't think that's what we want in the big ten- well, of course, sparty is trying real hard to prove that wrong, but for now i think a convict school is one we prefer to do with out.

Joined: 09/03/2009

MGoPoints: 4332

spartyNO

December 16th, 2009 at 6:09 PM ^

Make it happen, please. Aim high Big Ten, don't settle for fucking Iowa State or Syracuse if you're really serious about expanding. From a football standpoint it is the best option. They have the tradition and they appear to be on their way back, along with a die-hard fanbase. And within the Big Ten, Nebraska would automatically have a rivalry with Iowa AND they could schedule Oklahoma every year out-of-conference.

Joined: 07/16/2008

MGoPoints: 5

goblueclassof03

December 16th, 2009 at 3:06 PM ^

Nebraska's football program may be more notable, but Mizzou has a lot to offer. Nebraska might have a larger fan base, but I question whether it's significantly larger than Mizzou's. Having grown up in Missouri, Mizzou's fan base stretches from KC to St. Louis. There are no other Missouri schools competing for athletic recognition. Academically, Mizzou and Nebraska are at the same disadvantage, though Mizzou does have some strong programs (I think their journalism school is one of the best, at least used to be). Mizzou may also more easily adapt, since Illinois is one of Mizzou's big rivals. I do believe, though, that the KU-Mizzou rivalry is the oldest college rivalry west of the Mississippi.

Joined: 03/12/2009

MGoPoints: 604

WolvinLA2

December 16th, 2009 at 3:16 PM ^

Although Nebraska is a small state, they love their football there, and they have other competitive sports as well. Nebraska seems to be like more of a Big Ten school than Pitt, too, all midwest and what-not. Especially if Nebraska gets good again, it would be a great addition to the conference.

Joined: 11/13/2009

MGoPoints: 58191

CrouchingTiger

December 16th, 2009 at 5:12 PM ^

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.

Joined: 12/16/2009

MGoPoints: 6

CrouchingTiger

December 16th, 2009 at 5:19 PM ^

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.

Joined: 12/16/2009

MGoPoints: 6

ChalmersE

December 16th, 2009 at 5:58 PM ^

one follows Husker football and little else. In Pennsylvania, Pitt shares allegiance with the Steelers, the Pirates, the Phillies, Penn State, the Penguins, the Eagles, etc. In Missouri, MU shares the state with the Cards, the Rams, the Royals, the Chiefs, the Blues, etc. Essentially Nebraska football is a religion for the state; not so for the other options.

Joined: 11/19/2008

MGoPoints: 5196