MGoSurvey Results: Big Ten Expansion

Yesterday I posted a link to a short survey about your opinions on Big Ten expansion here: http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/big-ten-expansion-survey I got a great response. So great, in fact, that it overloaded my free account on SurveyMonkey. So, rather than pay $20 per month, I'm just going to report the responses of the first 100 participants. Without further adieu... Question 1: Should the Big Ten expand at all beyond 11 teams? - Absolutely not 1.1% - No, the B10 should get rid of a member 2.1% - Yes, to 12 members 44.2% - 1 more, but only if it's ND 15.8% - 1 more, but only if it's NOT ND 1.1% - Yes, to 14 members 9.5% - Yes, to 16 members 12.6% - Doesn't matter how many, expansion is crucial 13.7% Summary: About 60% only want 12 teams, with the rest wanting more or are indifferent. Only a couple wanted 11 or fewer. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Question 2: Preference to join the B10 by institution [Note: 1=Would hate to have them. 4=Desperately want them] - Notre Dame 3.48 (1=1.0% 2=3.1% 3=42.9% 4=53.1%) - Rutgers 1.54 (1=52.1% 2=42.7% 3=4.2% 4=1.0%) - Pitt 2.86 (1=3.1% 2=26.8% 3=51.5% 4=18.6%) - Syracuse 2.10 (1=19.4% 2=53.8% 3=24.7% 4=2.2%) - UConn 1.93 (1=29.2% 2=49.0% 3=21.9% 4=0%) - Maryland 1.68 (1=42.3% 2=47.4% 3=10.3% 4=0%) - UVA 2.01 (1=33.0% 2=37.1% 3=25.8% 4=4.1%) - Texas 3.37 (1=5.0% 2=14.0% 3=20.0% 4=61.0%) - Texas A&M 2.27 (1=25.3% 2=32.3% 3=32.3% 4=10.1%) - Nebraska 3.05 (1=5.2% 2=14.4% 3=50.5% 4=29.9%) - Mizzou 2.53 (1=8.2% 2=37.8% 3=46.9% 4=7.1%) - Oklahoma 2.78 (1=14.4% 2=22.7% 3=33.0% 4=29.9%) - Iowa State 1.32 (1=73.5% 2=21.4% 3=5.1% 4=0%) - Kansas 1.94 (1=33.7% 2=39.8% 3=25.5% 4=1.0%) Summary: More people are more adamant about Texas joining than ND, although the average is slightly higher for ND. Oft-mentioned Rutgers is oft-hated here. Nebraska is close behind UT and ND, with the Big 12 doing well overall. Except for last-place finisher ISU ---------------------------------------------------------------- Question 3: In general, if the B10 were to expand where do you prefer the new members come from? - Primarily Big East 8.0% - Primarily ACC 2.0% - Some combination of East Coast 7.0% - Only Midwestern schools 16.0% - Notre Dame only 14.0% - Primarily Big 12 22.0% - Mixture of schools from outside the Midwest 28.0% - Doesn't matter, I don't want expansion 3.0% Summary: Reinforces Question 2. Only 17% are interested in just Big East schools (supposed mother lode of tv markets). ---------------------------------------------------------------- Question 4: What importance should the following have in Big Ten expansion? [Note: 1=Strongly Agree. 4=Strongly Disagree] - Increase viewership for major sports 3.28 - New TV Markets 3.09 - Lock Down Midwest's best schools in 1 conf 3.11 - Increase financial situation for members 3.20 - Increase academic profile of B10 3.30 - Increase research opportunities for members 3.18 - Ability to have football championship game 3.18 - Ability to split football into divisions 2.46 - Increased possibility of B10 hockey conf 2.86 - Increase basketball profile of conf 2.97 - Increase overall athletic profile of conf 3.40 - Domination of other conferences 3.14 - Force other conferences to expand 1.69 - N/A don't want the B10 to expand 1.33 Summary: Nothing too interesting here that I can pick out. Slight preference for increasing the athletic profile over increasing the academic profile, but they're both high priorities. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Question 5: Would you like to see other BCS conferences expand in response to the Big Ten? - Yes 34.4% - No 65.6% ---------------------------------------------------------------- Question 6: Which B10 member would you like to see leave if the tables were turned? [Note: 1=No, keep in B10. 4=Would love to see them leave] - Illinois 1.63 (1=56.8% 2=27.4% 3=11.6% 4=4.2%) - Indiana 1.99 (1=47.4% 2=17.9% 3=23.2% 4=11.6%) - Iowa 1.35 (1=74.5% 2=18.1% 3=5.3% 4=2.1%) - Michigan 1.06 (1=97.9% 2=0% 3=0% 4=2.1%) - Michigan State 1.60 (1=72.6% 2=7.4% 3=7.4% 4=12.6%) - Minnesota 1.67 (1=56.4% 2=24.5% 3=14.9% 4=4.3%) - Northwestern 1.84 (1=53.1% 2=17.7% 3=20.8% 4=8.3%) - Ohio State 1.15 (1=93.8% 2=2.1% 3=0% 4=4.2%) - Penn State 1.28 (1=84.2% 2=8.4% 3=2.1% 4=5.3%) - Purdue 1.81 (1=50.0% 2=24.5% 3=20.2% 4=5.3%) - Wisconsin 1.19 (1=85.3% 2=12.6% 3=0% 4=2.1%) Summary: We don't really want to see anyone leave, but forced to choose - Indiana. Wonder if that'll change if they become good at basketball again. Our view of core Big Ten seems to be UM, OSU, Wisconsin, then Penn State. 2 people want UM to leave the Big Ten. In all cases, the most people selected '1'. So, those are the results! Comments? I think I'll try to do more of these in future weeks.