Big Ten hires firm to research potential expansion candidates
Texas not among the 15 schools named.
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/badgers/84822917.html
February 20th, 2010 at 8:51 PM ^
I knew Texas was not a reality. I knew it was a ridiculous premise from the start.
February 20th, 2010 at 9:06 PM ^
I agree that Texas potentially not being on there is big (although I don't believe it, I'm sure they'd at least look into it before dismissing the possibility) but you didn't even mention that Alvarez said it could be MULTIPLE teams that get invited. I'm sure that this will be linked by everyone that's ever considered the B10 really becoming a superconference by going to 14 or 16 teams.
Insanity.
February 20th, 2010 at 9:11 PM ^
It's not a ridiculous premise. It is ridiculous if the Big Ten doesn't consider high quality schools regardless of location. The Big Ten is the number one conference for revenue and population. Most any school in the country would have to at least consider an invitation.
If the conference ends up with a low level BCS or God forbid a MAC caliber school, then this expansion will be a failure.
I am hoping that Barry Alvarez is playing the Big Ten's cards close to the vest.
February 20th, 2010 at 9:43 PM ^
But "Frank the Tank" gave them 60% of the possible mutual interest points!
Texas coming to the Big 10 will happen the day Bo climbs out of his grave to act as Fielding Yost's offensive coordinator at the title game of the "December Madness" 128 team college football playoff against Ohio State coached by Woody Hayes in 2031.
In other words, I don't think it's likely.
February 20th, 2010 at 10:42 PM ^
That is what I thought all along
February 20th, 2010 at 11:38 PM ^
If you're sifting candidates from the Pitts, Rutgers and Missouri's of the world then yeah, get a research firm. Even Jim Delany doesn't need a consultant to tell him Texas would be a powerhouse addition.
February 20th, 2010 at 8:56 PM ^
1. Pitt
2. Rutgers
3. Syracuse
4. Iowa State
5. Cincinnati
6. Missou
7. Colorado
8. Notre Dame
9. Maryland
10. Nebraska
11. Louisville
12. Miami (NTM)
13. Buffalo
14. Kentucky
15. UConn
Is I Bigtiem Failure?
February 20th, 2010 at 9:02 PM ^
I don't think that Iowa State, Cincinnati, Miami (OH), or Buffalo would make the top 15.
I think that there's absolutely no way that we'd take a MAC (or MAC-level) team. Then Cincinnati would be out because they're a Tier III school and we've already locked down the state of Ohio with OSU. They wouldn't bring in any more revenue and would just decrease how much all of the other schools got.
As for ISU, they have the same problem of not expanding the footprint and their athletics are pretty bad. They add nothing except for being a 12th team.
February 20th, 2010 at 9:11 PM ^
There are 15 teams on the list. Who else do you suggest? Do you think teams like USC and Florida are on the list? They seem even more implausible.
February 20th, 2010 at 9:18 PM ^
I'd tell you but right now I'm working on a very long diary entry about all of this kind of stuff and how it could affect the rest of the college football world. Since I don't want to reveal any of my information until later I'll just say that I do believe that there are other better possibilities to replace those teams on your list with and I'm currently working on figuring out what would happen to the other conferences should be pluck any of those teams from their current abodes.
February 20th, 2010 at 9:35 PM ^
Okee Doke
February 20th, 2010 at 11:48 PM ^
Ain't happening. BTW, you must be kidding! Miami and Buffalo are MAC schools. If they are on the list then why not Kent State? Or Central? As for Iowa State, have you ever been to Ames? Makes West Lafayette look like Paris.
Add:
Virginia
North Carolina (yes!)
And...wait for it...
Georgia Tech
All top drawer schools. Great potential Big Ten Network markets all.
February 20th, 2010 at 11:54 PM ^
Then why would we target Georgia Tech? Texas is much better athletically and has the same (if not fewer) geographical problems. The same goes for North Carolina, and I doubt we'd target Virginia based on their athletics period (and they aren't exactly a great geographic fit either).
February 21st, 2010 at 12:09 AM ^
We just don't need to pay a research firm to tell us they're a good fit. Some things are self evident. As for geography, I believe that is a secondary concern. What matters most in the the Big 10 is competitive athletics (remember, the Big 10 is the conference of Indiana, Minnesota and Northwestern so the bar is not so high as to eliminate Virginia or GT), academic prestige, research power and media markets.
February 20th, 2010 at 10:06 PM ^
...You guys are taking into account the non-football considerations. I agree on principle that almost any school approached by the B10 will definetly seriously consider the posibility, but I think you can rule out some of those on that list. Academics as well as college basketball all factor into this decision. I can tell you that Syracuse is more than likely off that list. They are a long established private school basically controlled by an entrenched group of wealthy alumni, and believe me when I say that they take their history and basketball as serious as we take our history and football. Considering they currently have the largest basketball seating capacity in the country, ticket revenue for these events is vital to their sports program, and I think it is folly to underestimate the pull that Jim Boeheim could have in nixing any movement. He would definetly view movement to the B10 as an extreme downgrade in stature and affect recruiting. Add this to the current... underachieving nature... of their football program I seriously doubt Syracuse will be an eventuality. I think that almost any team on the list from bascially 11 on down is a reach.
I think off that list the school I like the most would be Nebraska followed by Pitt (based on the fact that the purpose of expanding is adding new markets, and Pitt would only add a small portion of an established Pennsylvania market)
February 20th, 2010 at 10:53 PM ^
I can come up with a reason why every single team on that list isn't a perfect fit. That's not the point. I'm just looking for alternatives.
If the B11 were scouting pipe dreams, Texas would be on that list. This leads me to believe they are being practical, thus I put some less attractive (but would jump at the opportunity) schools on the list.
Virginia? Do they have sports?
February 20th, 2010 at 11:09 PM ^
Great school (UVa). Academics are extremely solid (Law, medical and undergrad are all top notch), football fanbase is rabid (they are called the Wahoos) and they play lacrosse at a high level (groan). I think with a jump to a more prestigious conference their football team could be contenders again, and their basketball team... would fit.
February 20th, 2010 at 9:03 PM ^
This shit just got real.
February 20th, 2010 at 9:05 PM ^
Phew...I was afraid Delany might be out on a sailboat when Texas calls. At least we won't have to worry about that.
February 20th, 2010 at 11:52 PM ^
It's OK to make a joke or two at our guys expense. Whoever negged you is an ass.
February 20th, 2010 at 9:07 PM ^
Seems to be a good idea...can't hurt to do even more research..especially from an outside perspective. As long as it doesn't drag out too long, using all your resources is a good thing. This decision will (obviously) impact the conference, not to mention other conferences, greatly.
February 20th, 2010 at 9:08 PM ^
According to the B10, they look into expansion every 5 years or so. Does anybody remember if the last time they looked into expanding they also hired a firm or not? If they didn't, then that really helps to legitimize the idea that this time it's for real.
Did they hire a firm when they went after PSU?
February 20th, 2010 at 9:13 PM ^
I don't think they did hire any consultants. The last time was a few years ago when ND made their last serious refusal.
February 20th, 2010 at 9:12 PM ^
There are tons of guys here that would do that for free.
Seriously, it's for real and should touch off a new round of conference expansion/realignment. If the Big 10 poaches a Big East team, shit could get really messy--including a very breathless bid for them to pick up ND and keep the football conference together.
ND is actually a pretty good choice for the Big East. They could work out a super sweetheart deal for revenue, keep the NBC contract, and have five non-conference games to keep a schedule with the academies and USC. Just thought of that.
February 20th, 2010 at 10:32 PM ^
Notre Dame has yearly games with Michigan, MSU, Navy, Purdue, and USC. They would lose all room to diversify their schedule if they join the Big East. Besides, the only reason the Big East plays 7 conference games is because there's only eight teams.
February 20th, 2010 at 10:41 PM ^
I definitely don't think ND is planning on joining anyone. I'm just wondering if the prospect of the Big East folding in football may be enough to make them use ND's membership in other sports to leverage them into a conference should Pitt or Rutgers (especially Pitt) leave.
Again, I don't think it's remotely likely now, but weird shit happens when people feel left out--like BC ending up in the ACC.
February 20th, 2010 at 9:12 PM ^
Out of the schools that are a real possibilty, im only cool with 3 of them. Notre Dame, Nebraska, and Pitt. Maybe Kentucky if they got good at football.
February 20th, 2010 at 11:57 PM ^
They're generally opposed to giving up independence.
February 21st, 2010 at 12:19 AM ^
Except in every sport that isn't football.
While I agree with what you're saying, I barely consider ND independent since it's just one sport that they're being so "cool" and "nonconformist" in. Essentially, ND pisses me off.
February 21st, 2010 at 10:57 AM ^
I would consider Louisville before Kentucky.
February 21st, 2010 at 12:50 PM ^
The Big Ten won't. Louisville is a commuter school with dreadful academics. (Not that UK's are great, but they're a little better.)
February 21st, 2010 at 1:53 AM ^
They talked about academics. They talked about size. They talked about size of their arenas. They talked about attendance. They talked about the populace in that specific area.They need a firm to do this? Why not set up a collaborative "firm" within necessary departments across the Big Ten? The resources certainly exist in some of the better academic institutions in the country (sure, the OSU and MSU representatives will probably be smashing their heads together in the corner, but whatever) especially since the information the B10 is looking for seems to only require Google to dig up.
February 21st, 2010 at 12:58 PM ^
OK...
Given that there probably aren't people on the B10 staff that worry about this sort of thing (since expansion doesn't come around very often)...
1) You could hire some people and build a temporary department for expansion candidates
2) You could hire an outside firm to do the research for you
#2 is almost always going to be the cheaper option.