Shocking: Agree with Rosenberg (against Big 10 Expansion)
I don't know if this is a first, but I actually agree with a full article written by Michael Rosenberg. Today's Freep has a piece by him against Big 10 expansion. (Link: http://www.freep.com/article/20110922/COL22/109220460/Michael-Rosenberg-Big-Ten-better-off-only-12-teams.)
I too am basically against expansion. Every team we add is one more team to split the revenue pie stream with. I particularly don't care for expansion outside of the Big 10 footprint. Unless a school is in our geographic footprint, student demographic, and fits with our culture, I can't see adding more teams and ending up with a "super-conference."
The one clear exception is Notre Dame, but that horse has been beat to death. I'm trying to think of other major schools in our area who have a decent history, size, academics, etc., and not many come to mind. I suppose Iowa State might qualify in addition to ND.
What I wouldn't want to see happen is to add a directional state university MAC Snack, or a city commuter school (Pittsburgh, Cincinnati) and I'd want a team that has a strong football team. We went through this before (in adding Nebraska.) Honestly, Nebraska and Penn State are a bit far physically, but they do fit the Big 10 profile well.
However, to flirt with schools yet further away than Penn State and Nebraska makes absolutely no sense to me. The Pac 10, SEC, ACC, Big East, and others can do what they want. I think the Big 10 is a great conference as it is now constituted. Short of adding ND, and possibly Iowa State, it is lunacy to consider further expansion.
September 22nd, 2011 at 1:03 PM ^
Looking at revenue, in addition to football, academics, & geographic footprint, it is hard to see anyone out there (other than ND, obv.,) it makes sense to add. From the revenue and potential fan base side of things, maybe you add ND & Pitt, but I could see this knocking out ISU & Mizzou. I also could see the population and fan base making Kansas & Kansas State unattractive.
This is changing topics slightly, but I see water rights and availability as a huge plus in coming decades for most of the states in the Big Ten footprint. Every state with Big ten schools (with the exception of Iowa and Nebraska) has Great Lakes access, and this will be very important. Issues with water in California, Colorado, and Texas are going to be very nasty in coming years. Negotiating who gets what water and who pays for it in California when 100 year leases start to end in the next few years will be fascinating. Just to say, I wouldn't bank on the "Rust Belt" having population and economic decline endlessly. Businesses (and population) depending on cheap and plentiful water will have a significant incentive to operate in the Great Lakes area. The point is that the Big Ten is very well situated for the future.
September 22nd, 2011 at 1:59 PM ^
I'm not so sure about this. We depend on areas that produce food too, but we don't need a critical mass of five-stars living there to grow it.
September 22nd, 2011 at 5:05 PM ^
Nebraska has its own Great Lake, but its underground.
September 22nd, 2011 at 2:03 PM ^
I want a playoff. And if it takes four megaconferences each having championship games to produce an 8-team playoff, that's what it takes.
It certainly does seem to be the "in" thing right now for the MSM to rail against expansion, though. I love it when the self-righteous piss and moan about things over which they have no control. As for Rosenpuke, I don't mind getting the short version second hand, but I would never actually click on to one of his stories, at the freep or at SI.
September 22nd, 2011 at 2:39 PM ^
I'm glad we didn't expand.
I don't want ND or Texas. Those schools are just, well, what they are, and proud of it, as DeLoss Dodds says. Prima Donna and her obnoxious Texas buddy in an old Cadillac with horns as a hood ornament (actually, I'm not opposed to the car, just the occupants).
What Oklahoma, Kansas and Mizzou should really do is re-form the Big 8 with Baylor or Texas Tech the replacement for Nebraska.
Let Texas walk around with its network stuck into its shorts in an attempt to impress ND with its apparent dick size, and let them try to join another conference. I'm sure it would be a coup for C-USA.
And I never want a college football playoff. Ever. The BCS is ruining college football, as is clearly apparent, and a playoff system would only make it worse. Bring back the old bowl system.
September 22nd, 2011 at 10:22 PM ^
As I indicated previously, the only "available" schools that could possibly be considered as a fit for the Big Ten based on their fan base (financial contributions) are Texas (with the ESPN baggage), ND (been there, tired of asking) or OKLA (not academically eligable).
What may happen sometime in the distant future, will be to add quality schools from the SEC or ACC. As the population moves South, so will the eventually loyalties to the Southern schools. I am a huge U of M fan, because I attended the University. However, because of out of state tuition rates (and in state benefits), my children are attending Florida. Eventually, the fan base of the Big 10 may diminish. So, adding schools such as Florida, Maryland, Georgia or Virginia may make sense at some point in time.