Delany to address media at 4
I didn't see this posted anywhere. Delany will address the media at 4.
http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/22868/big-ten-brass-meets-a…
@ESPN_BigTen is supposed to update on Twitter (that's Rittenberg).
UPDATE: Rittenberg article: http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/news/story?id=5258111
Rittenberg blog: http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/12974/expansion-hot-topic-as-b…
It was scheduled.
Maybe the meeting wasn't called specifically to address expansion. The article doesn't make it clear. It's hard to understand why they'd meet on a Sunday, though. Semi-abort on the emergency part.
no action taken? lame.
This is like a soap opera. As the bcs turns.
And as our stomachs churn...
I just wish something would happen instead of us just sitting here speculating.
Does their decision change the buy-out numbers or timeline? If yes, then don't they have a bargaining chip? If not, who the bell cares what their answer is? This whole thing is moving faster than logic. It is clear though that the B10 brass are going to go as slow as necessary to do this 'right'.
Yeah. I am watching softball on espn and it just scrolled on the bottom line that nu and mu have been extended invites. Nobody knows what is happening and a load of bs is floating around
seriously. i feel like an idiot being so enthralled with everything and trusting what ESPN is telling me - I do recall a certain Les Miles to Michigan fiasco. However, I can't stop getting excited. Goddammit.
I would be very surprised if this is true. Also, no mention on ESPN's website.
Yes. It is on the NCAA tab on the bottomline. I also flipped to espnu and Joe schad was on "reporting" his source said that nu and mu have been offered. I don't believe anything from espn after the Les miles fiasco.
Thanks. And, yeah, ESPN has been a step behind throughout this process so it just surprises me they would have this news first.
Yeah it's weird because Rittenberg hasn't said anything. But the bottom line says that NU and MU have been offered and Pac 10 is going to offer those 6.
Two tweets from Schad:
RT @TeddyGreenstein: Jim Delany: "The timeline could be affected." In other words, it will be affected.
RT @ESPN_BigTen: MSU president Simon says no action taken on expansion.
And from rittenberg:
RT @ESPN_BigTen: MSU president Simon says no action taken on expansion.
Big Ten presidents can vote on expansion electronically. Don't need to be in same place.
Can you provide the link to the "NU and MO invited" reference on espn.com? Probably right in front of my face, but still can't find it. Thanks.
It's only on ESPN on TV. Not on the website.
Not on espn.com. I just saw it flash on the bottom line while watching Arizona vs. Tennessee softball.
Whenever ESPN breaks news (on TV at least) about college football, assume the opposite until it is confirmed by a more reliable source.
Per the St. Louis Dispatch:
"The Big Ten has not made any invitations to join the conference and is sticking with its plan of a thorough study of expansion before acting, Michigan State president Lou Anna K. Simon said today after a four-hour meeting with other conference presidents and commissioner Jim Delany."
Full story:
http://interact.stltoday.com/blogzone/tiger-tracker/tiger-tracker/2010/…
I'm just getting ready for the announcement:
"Just kidding - we're kicking Michigan State out."
Per Joe Schad (ESPN) via Twitter.
Also per ESPN, Pac 10 commish gets approval to "move ahead" with expansion (whatever that really means).
"Today we met today to put the Big Ten back in the spotlight. We were not happy that the Big 12 tried to take the expansion spotlight away, so, we met today to get the latest headline. Oh, and as for progress. No, we all sat around the table and just played Jenga. It was a blast." -J.Delany
"President Simon wanted to play Jenga Max, but I told her to stop being ridiculous. This is the Big Ten. We only play Traditional Jenga. Maybe drunk Jenga, but that's it."
could be outside looking in after this round of musical chairs is over? It would really, really suck for them to lose BCS status in football and for KU basketball to be without major conference affiliation.
They'll do what the Big East did a few years back and raid the Mountain West.
Utah, BYU, TCU, UNLV, Air Force, Wyoming, Colorado State, and add Boise State
But Kansas bball will still be hurt a lot.
Kansas will become Memphis.
Think of the Big East basketball-onlies like Georgetown and Villanova. When schools like SU go Big Ten or ACC, the basketball-onlies left will become another Atlantic 10. Georgetown not being relevant makes me smile.
Kentucky has called dibs on being the new Memphis. See the soon-to-be-vacated 35-3 season.
This is getting downright annoying. Either let a school or in don't - stop teasing us every six weeks.
This sounds like the Demar Dorsey/Adrian Witty rant from earlier this week. "Stop recruiting guys that the admissions department isn't going to rubber stamp."
@ChipBrownOB (of Orangebloods.com) says that an AD has told him the B10 is trying to work things out with Notre Dame before addressing Nebraska/Missouri.
Also (and it's all over the internet) the Pac 10 commish now has authority to hand out expansion invites without going back to school presidents.
This feels like it's going to get dirty really quickly.
Pac-10 raids Big 12
Big Ten takes some leftovers
SEC raids ACC
Big Ten and ACC raid Big East
Big 12 raids Mountain West
I wouldn't even be surprised to see B10 stop at 12 teams (or no more than 14) if they get ND. Fewer teams will better preserve rivalries, allow for maximim non-conference games (probably a big ND stickcing point) and result in fewer mouths to feed.
You know, there was a story that ran recently saying the B10 and Pac 10 are trying not to hurt each other's expansion plans because of their longstanding relationship and the Rose Bowl. I would not put it past the conferences to actually be working together on some level, such as B10 helping Pac 10 get Texas in exchange for Pac 10 helping B10 get ND. All it would take is B10 to help break up B12 and USC and Stanford to refuse to guarantee ND will be on their schedules post expansion.
Someone better interview everyone and write a book about this whole process after it;s over.
the money on the table is much more important to everyone than the Rose Bowl. I don't buy it. This is about the future of the conference, in all sports, for the foreseeable future.
No, but think about it for a minute. If the Pac 10 and B10 work together to tank the B12 and grab the available elite teams (TX, OK, ND, NE), that will nudge these conferences back up there with the SEC and restore the Rose Bowl fully as THE bowl for decades to come.
And let's face it, the worst possible outcome for either conference would be to see TX and OK go to the SEC. That needs to be avoided at all costs.
I get it. I just don't think that the Rose Bowl is the source of a conspiracy to destroy the B12.
That is a side benefit. The conspiracy (and I wouldn't even call it that) is that the SEC has moved ahead of everyone else over the past decade and this would be an opportunity for the Pac 10 and B10 to retake and maybe even pass the SEC. The Pac 10 and B10 have had a very strong relationship for decades. I can see them working together so long as it benefits both.
to the SEC will never happen. Texas actually cares about academics.
Well, Vandy is a better school than Texas, and Florida is on the same level (both UF and UT are #47 according to USNews). Georgia is #58. Let's not pretend that the B12 is a good academic conference. UT and A&M are the only schools in the top 75. Ok State and TT are considered Tier 3 colleges by USNews. I don't know if any other SEC schools are Tier 3. I don't think Texas to the SEC will happen, but I don't think it's just because of academics. They want to be in a conference with only a few other top teams (Oklahoma, USC, Oregon), not Alabama, LSU, Florida, Georgia, and a few other teams that are occasionally near the top of the conference (Ole Miss, Arkansas).
Yeah - top to bottom, the Big 12 is far and away the poorest academic major conference.
Chitown is there any data available to back that claim up? Is the B12 worse then the SEC? If not for Vanderbilt I always percieved the SEC as the academic equivalent to PORKY'S.
Yes. It's called "The US News and World Report University Rankings".
Vanderbilt is far better than any school in either conference. Florida is better than any school in either conference other than Vandy. Texas is third, but not much better than Georgia. Oklahomas State, TTU, and Kansas state are embarassingly bad schools (Tier 3).
Indiana is the lowest ranked Big Ten member at #71.
Nebraska is #96, Missouri is #121.
If you add Missouri, then all that "we won't add second-tier universities" talk from today is b.s.
I don't deny that. We'd be adding the two worst academic schools in the conference by a longshot.
Both of whom, Mizzou in particular, would get large bumps from joining the Big10.
I worded my first post incorrectly.
The whole state of Texas views itself as its own identity. The state has a sense of arrogance about it. Texas wouldn't fit well in the SEC because of cultural reasons. Also, why would Texas choose to join the weakest academic conference courting them, instead of joining the P10 or B10. Academics will have a say in Texas's decision.
Texas will likely join the Pac10 if they take all the Texas schools, or B10 if Texas and A&M get the O.K. to go together.
to do with the actual teams in the SEC. I really doubt they care too much who is in the SEC talent wise. UT values academics and doing things the right way. The culture around Texas doesn't fit in with the SEC, which they view as a cutthroat/scummy conference. Texas legislature will axe Texas to the SEC before they even get wind of it.
ND joins the Big 10 only to avoid getting shutout at the BCS. It won't be the 12th team, but it will be the 16th team. If the Big 10 takes only 1 or 2 more members, ND will figure it can survive as an independent via Big East sponsorship. Psychomatt's scenario is off the the equilitbrium path.
That assumes ND is willing to sit around to see if the B10 goes to 16. By that time, the way things are moving, it might be a bit late. The B10 and Pac 10 will be full at 16 and the B12 will be dead. Notre Dame will be left out in the cold unless they would rather join the ACC for far less money or the SEC with nonexistent academic standards. I am assuming they will not want to join Conference USA or the MAC.
If Big East football folds, there are still 8 Catholic schools left in a Big East all-sports conference that Notre Dame will have a home in.
If they can stay as part of the BCS, they can remain independent for football and have a home for its other sports.