Maryland to the big ten rumors

Submitted by ak47 on

So the maryland sports board I read has been chirping about talks between Maryland the big ten.  Anybody hear about any of these rumors from the big side?  Since minnesota isn't beating nebraska i figured I could ask.

CleverMichigan…

November 17th, 2012 at 7:28 PM ^

I thought that tweet was a robdelany-esque joke when I first saw it.

We already have enough FBS bottom feeders in this damn conference (looking at you, GopherQuest), we should be focused on regaining top tier standing with the ESS EEE SEE and PAC8-10-12 instead of adding to the misery that will be PSU for the next decade. 

EDIT: I would also like to take the time to remind everyone that NO ONE in the state of New York cares about Rutgers. The TV market is consumed by the Jets, Giants, Bills, Knicks, Nets, Yankees, Mets, Devils, Islanders, and Rangers. There are more Michigan fans than Rutgers fans in New York. 

Mlaw2010

November 17th, 2012 at 9:34 PM ^

I agree, but you can take the Bills, Devils, and Islanders out of that conversation. Nobody cares about those three in metropolitan New York which is the market the B1G is trying to reach. On the other hand, while this is a terrible idea it would be nice to have Michigan play in Jersey every few years so I could more easily see them live.

Geary_maize

November 17th, 2012 at 5:48 PM ^

From a financial standpoint, they bring ALOT to the table.

New Jersey and Maryland has a combined population of 15 million, and are two of the richest states in the nation. They have fertile recruiting grounds, and have very good academic credentials. Maryland alone has valuable ties to D.C., and research expenditures.

Since they're the dominant in state school with no other competition, the minute they join, they would most likely bring more to the table in terms of money than Northwestern, Indiana, Iowa, Purdue, Michigan State, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. They would also bring two states rich in football talent only behind Ohio. Pennslyvania, Illinois, and Michigan, not to mention GREAT basketball talent.

Football wise, yeah lackluster, but long term they have all the prerequisites to be a good program. They just didn't have something like the Big Ten Network that could properly monetize that potential.

FGB

November 17th, 2012 at 6:16 PM ^

What is the basis for this idea that by adding new school X we somehow automatically turn every location from Ohio to new school X into Big Ten fan territory.   If we add Central Florida, I think it would make zero difference in the ability of B1G schools to recruit Florida.  Adding Rutgers wasn't going to allow the B1G to "capture" the NYC market because no one there cares about Rutgers. 

Does anyone in the mid-atlantic care about Maryland athletics? (that's a serious question, i just don't know)

 

Belisarius

November 17th, 2012 at 7:48 PM ^

Tech does not have bad academics. And as far as football goes, they dominate the state the way Michigan dominates Michigan- anyone who doesn't have an allegience by virtue of actually having gone to one of those schools roots for Tech. Maryland doesn't bring "its own house" because they play second fiddle to the Ravens...and always will. At least Tech doesn't have to compete with that.

Geary_maize

November 17th, 2012 at 7:57 PM ^

Tech has much worst academics compared to Virginia. Basically they're the MSU to Virginias Michigan, only with a longer win streak. 

They're one Beamer retire and bad hire away from being relegated to obscurity. No need for the B1G to invite them and take that risk, since again they don't even carry their own state.

vablue

November 17th, 2012 at 10:13 PM ^

Compared to UVA every public school has terrible academics. VA Tech is one of the best engineering schools in the country and beats Michigan in that manner. Sure, some of their other programs are not top notch, but it is an engineering school, it should not be judged on the basis of its poly sci degree.

vablue

November 17th, 2012 at 10:18 PM ^

Plus they compete with Georgetown and GWU for fans in an are of the country that does not care about college sports. Granted, those schools don't have D1 football teams, but in that area it is all about the redskins and the NFL. They have a tiny stadium that they never come close to filling. This is like bringing in a worse version of Northwestern. I am glad Northwestern is part of the conference, but would not invite them again.

vablue

November 17th, 2012 at 10:18 PM ^

Plus they compete with Georgetown and GWU for fans in an are of the country that does not care about college sports. Granted, those schools don't have D1 football teams, but in that area it is all about the redskins and the NFL. They have a tiny stadium that they never come close to filling. This is like bringing in a worse version of Northwestern. I am glad Northwestern is part of the conference, but would not invite them again.

Geary_maize

November 17th, 2012 at 11:14 PM ^

It doesn' matter if it's a pro town as long as enough people want them on basic cable. Case in point Minnesota and Indiana both have pro franchises that are much more popular than their college products, yet they are on basic cable.

Plus, Maryland and New Jersey immediately become top 6 in term of high school  football talent along with Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Illinois. They produce far more talent than Minnesota, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, or Nebraska. 

Geary_maize

November 17th, 2012 at 11:50 PM ^

Nobody really watches them. But at least they have potential to become better, especially with the B1G's resources. Which is more than can be said of a lot of schools.

And even if they don't become that much better, at least they'll help the bottom line and the B1G will most likely have better talent coming in :)

Not a home run, but long term wise... not a bad bet.

Geary_maize

November 17th, 2012 at 6:25 PM ^

You don't need to be dominant. Just enough to get on basic cable. As flagship schools in each state with 38 thousand students at Maryland and 56 thousand students at Rutgers, I think they'll have enough pull despite their mediocre athletics. B1G alumni can fill any gaps.

Also, the main objective is the state of Maryland and New Jersey. New York and D.C. is just extra gravy.

CWoodson

November 17th, 2012 at 7:25 PM ^

This is the Rutgers argument all over again. There is nobody watching Maryland football, it wouldn't matter if they played their games on the White House lawn. Nobody anywhere is upping their cable package to watch that team.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/colleges/2011/maryland-foot…

As of 2010: 39k fans per game, stadium is 72.5% full. And they bring more to the table than WISCONSIN? Uh, if you say so.

Geary_maize

November 17th, 2012 at 7:41 PM ^

It doesn't matter if 0 people watch Maryland football outside of Maryland, AS LONG AS ENOUGH IN STATE PEOPLE WATCH the B1G to put them on basic cable. With the other B1G alumni living in Maryland, along with Maryland hoops being popular, they will put the Big Ten Network on basic cable. 

But yeah Wisconsin might be a stretch. My mistake.

CWoodson

November 17th, 2012 at 7:56 PM ^

I can't speak to DC or Maryland demographics. I can say that if there are enough B1G alums there now, they would already have the BTN (if they don't currently). BTN is already on the basic cable package in NYC, and it's because we have a zillion B1G alums here.

Literally in the last week Edsall begged more fans to go to Maryland games. I think "DO NOT WANT" is the only sensible reaction.

M-Dog

November 18th, 2012 at 10:25 PM ^

Yes, I live in Maryland and have that.

So Maryland joining the B1G saves me $5 a month (potentially), and allows me to see Michignan close to home once every four years or so.  

Um, OK.  Sounds good for selfish reasons.  But there's not much more than that.

Geary_maize

November 17th, 2012 at 8:07 PM ^

The Big Ten Network is NOT on basic cable in New York. Even if there is, it's a very small percentage. And there is a huge difference between having B1G alums demanding the BTN on basic cable in Maryland, and the alums of the dominant instate school demanding the BTN.

 

The only sensible reaction is "DO SOME THINKING"

CWoodson

November 17th, 2012 at 8:26 PM ^

You can't make this argument with someone who actually gets basic cable in NYC. I have the basic Verizon package (one of only two options in the city along with Time Warner) and get BTN. So you're just making things up.

Maybe all of NJ and MD will DEMAND watching games on TV that they certainly won't attend in person. Unlike you, I won't speculate on things I know nothing about. But as you're talking out of your ass re: NYC cable, I'm assuming everything else you've said is pulled out of thin air as well.

Geary_maize

November 17th, 2012 at 8:33 PM ^

How come all my friends in New York need to get the digital sports tier.

You're fine to doubt me. Doesn't change facts, and if the money loving Delaney is going ahead with the move, and that means he's looked at it seriously from a financial perspective. I at least try to use logic and facts. You refuse to look at the numbers.

CWoodson

November 17th, 2012 at 8:43 PM ^

If that's actually true, then I'm assuming Time Warner doesn't have it in their basic package. That seems plausible - they're the other cable option in NYC. I find it hard to believe a school with next-to-no NYC fanbase changes that, but it's possible. This is not an opinion: Michigan has more fans in this city than Rutgers, and it's not close.

I don't think Delaney is an idiot. I firmly believe that he has a master plan here, and if we're doomed to expand, hopefully it involves schools like UNC, Duke, Georgia Tech, UVA, etc. at some stage. I just don't agree that adding two schools with crappy football programs, athletic departments that are losing money, and fundamentally tiny fanbases is the right next step.

Ask your friends what football fans who live in MD and NJ watch on the weekend. I'm willing to bet their answers will involve a lot of "Giants, Jets, Ravens, Skins" and next to no "Rutgers and Maryland." This is an NFL region.

Geary_maize

November 17th, 2012 at 8:52 PM ^

this article if you haven't already: http://thequad.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/19/the-geography-of-college-fo…

Even if the figures are off, Rutgers still has more fans in New York than the next 3 combined. It makes complete sense. They're located right outside of NY, they have a student population of 56,000, and a lot of them go on to work in New York.

But even if they don't bring New York, they bring New Jersey, with a population of 9 million. That alone is a lot of cable sets. New York should be gravy.

I agree though, that UNC and UVA are better fits than either. Too bad they won't leave the ACC, or their state governments won't let them.

Mich Mash

November 17th, 2012 at 9:36 PM ^

...on Maryland.  You make a compelling case for bringing Maryland to the B1G, but is the gain Maryland brings the B1G worth the downside of bringing some other marginal school with them, such as Rutgers.  And overall, does Maryland really bring enough to the table to expand to 14 schools and water down the conference even more?  At 14 schools, we'd have two mini conferences.  We'd add a guaranteed annual contest with either Maryland or Rutgers and lose a game with a historical B!G opponent.  Fine, we'll see less of Purdue, Illinois or Indiana, but we'll also see less of Wisconsin and Penn State.  IMHE, stick to the 12 we have.  Nebraska was a great addition, everything else (minus Notre Dame) is meh.

Geary_maize

November 17th, 2012 at 10:02 PM ^

I actually think Rutgers brings at least as much to the table as Maryland. New Jersey has 3 million more people in their state than Maryland, and have by far the most fans in New York city than any other team thanks to their 56 thousand student population. They've always have had great high school talent, and in fact is equal or slightly better than the state of Michigan in terms for 4 star talent according to rivals. 

It's the same with Maryland. They have a populous and rich state, along with great high school football. If anything, the two states will up the level of talent in the Big 10, even if it's not by much. Not to mention some of the richest basketball recruiting grounds in the nation.

We'll also be going to 9 games soon. Sure it'll suck not playing our midwest brethren, but think of the recruiting advantages! At least one away game in New Jersey or Maryland each year, or every 2 years has to help us alot. And if the money loving Delaney approves of this move, you KNOW he's looking to make a profit.