Big Ten pushing again to add another team

[ChicosBailBonds]

The funniest irony is the top 5 targets include four Big East schools, which of course the Little Ten fans thumb their noses at as inferior.


http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=4735336

Maybe it would help them in hoops, where they still trail in all indexes in terms of conference ratings this year.    

[Tugg Speedman]

What are the top 5 targets?  The only school mentioned in the article is ND.

Maybe they should bring back U of Chicago!

[Benny B]

If you're a football school in the BE, why would you want go to a conference with perennial powerhouses in Ohio State, Penn State, & Michigan (aside from recent years) when you can stay in the BE and not have any standout programs in the way of the annual BCS bid (which pays just the same as it would in the BT).

If you're a basketball school in the BE, you'd have to be insane to consider leaving.

I'm sure the BT will try to poach a BE or other BCS school, but my guess is that if they realistically want 12 teams, they're going to have to look at the MAC (i.e. Northern Illinois).

[Hards Alumni]

If you're a football school in the BE, why would you want go to a conference with perennial powerhouses in Ohio State, Penn State, & Michigan (aside from recent years) when you can stay in the BE and not have any standout programs in the way of the annual BCS bid (which pays just the same as it would in the BT).

If you're a basketball school in the BE, you'd have to be insane to consider leaving.

I'm sure the BT will try to poach a BE or other BCS school, but my guess is that if they realistically want 12 teams, they're going to have to look at the MAC (i.e. Northern Illinois).

If I had to guess, they would go Big 12 and try to grab Missouri or Iowa State.

You join the Big 10 because it is a revenue COW for football.

[wyoMUfan]

Boise State would KILL to get in the BIGTEN.
It'd never happen though

[Ellenson Guerrero]

As has been discussed many times on this site, Missouri is by far the most logical choice for the BT to expand. Boise State? NIU? cmon...

[muarmy81]

So if they do get another school added will they finally change the name of the conference to more accurately describe their conference?

[ChicosBailBonds]

What are the top 5 targets?  The only school mentioned in the article is ND.

Maybe they should bring back U of Chicago!

Notre Dame, Rutgers, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Missouri.  Some talk of Nebraska as well.

[VegasWarrior77]

So if they do get another school added will they finally change the name of the conference to more accurately describe their conference?

+1
Would they change it to Big Twelve II?

[chapman]

Mizzou to Big Ten
Arkansas to Big 12
Memphis to SEC

Big Ten gets a team that makes sense and that wants to be there, Big 12 gets an adequate replacement that seems to want to be there, and SEC gets another school that plays sports but has no academic standards.  Everyone's happy.  Then again, I guess Vanderbilt is the biggest oddball in the SEC because they have academic standards, so maybe the Big Ten should just take them.

[MUeng]

florida and georgia have pretty darn good academics, check it out

[syscokid]

chapman your post is right on! except i believe it will be either mizzou or iowa st. i agree, what will the new name be? with all that excellent tradition in the big 10, do you re-name the conference? lol. you have to at least redo the logo which has an 11 "hidden" in it. it would be insane to have 12 teams and call it the big 10. how bout the Great Midwest! bring it back baby! lol

[Skatastrophy]

Why not Louisville?  It seems to make as much sense geographically as Missouri.

[Hards Alumni]

Why not Louisville?  It seems to make as much sense geographically as Missouri.

I believe that if you can FIND Louisville on a map, you are admitted.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I believe that if you can FIND Louisville on a map, you are admitted.

The standards aren't even that high.

The Big Ten will thump their chests that they need a big market or a big academics due to their land grant research status.  They would love ND, I don't see it. 

I believe it will be Rutgers or Missouri.  Getting into the East Coast by New York would be huge for the Big Ten...and Rutgers could compete well in the Big Ten since they are so soft in so many sports.   

[MUSF]

I believe that if you can FIND Louisville on a map, you are admitted.

A team on the western side of Big Ten terrirtory makes the most sense.  They could divide into two divisions looking something like this.

EAST
Penn St
Ohio St
Michigan
Michigan St
Indiana
Purdue
WEST
Northwestern
Illinois
Wisconsin
Iowa
Minnesota
Nebraska/Missouri

[bma725]

Why not Louisville?  It seems to make as much sense geographically as Missouri.

Simple, academics.  They simply won't consider any schools that aren't a part of the Association of American Universities.  When you look at that list and factor in who plays high D1 sports and might be willing to move, there isn't a whole lot to choose from.  Essentially you're left with the 5 usual suspects:  Iowa State, Pitt, Rutgers, Missouri, and Syracuse.

They were willing in the past to waive that requirement for Notre Dame because of it's historical standing as an academic institution, but they wouldn't do it for anyone else.

[spiral97]

So then I wonder, if one of those big east teams were to move to the dark side, who would replace them?  Presuming we keep it at 16 teams of course.

[ChicosBailBonds]

So then I wonder, if one of those big east teams were to move to the dark side, who would replace them?  Presuming we keep it at 16 teams of course.

You might see the Big East conference break up, or you could see Memphis come in.  Other options would be someone like East Carolina.  They would need to replace a football school.

[GOMU1104]

So then I wonder, if one of those big east teams were to move to the dark side, who would replace them?  Presuming we keep it at 16 teams of course.

Memphis

[spiral97]

Unfortunately, Memphis makes sense.  I was also wondering if BC might consider coming back.  Not sure I'd foresee the conference breaking up quite yet.

I'm almost surprised that there isn't a conference driven initiative to try and get the b-ball only schools to add football.  The major hurdle for that seems to be funding and you'd think the conference might consider incentivizing it with an offer of some portion of those funds - for the greater good of the conference.  Granted they'd have to convince 4 of the 7 teams that don't have football to add it to make the 12 team ideal so it is a long shot but even getting 1 or 2 additions would be a big start in the right direction.

On a light note, if we got Oral Roberts (who are also nicknamed the Golden Eagles) to join, would that be enough to get Marquette to change our names once again? 

[MUSF]

If we added Oral Roberts, I think I would actually become physically ill.

In fact just the suggestion made me throw up in my mouth a little bit.

[muhoosier260]

No way Oral Roberts joins the Big East. As much as I dislike the scum that Memphis represents, if they can stay relevant post-Calipari, then thats fine with me. Memphis wouldn't be my first choice, but if it means keeping a 16 team conference, then go for it.

[chapman]

So then I wonder, if one of those big east teams were to move to the dark side, who would replace them?  Presuming we keep it at 16 teams of course.

They could always take Temple back, so long as they promise to win more than one game in football every two or three years.

[bma725]

Unfortunately, Memphis makes sense.  I was also wondering if BC might consider coming back.  Not sure I'd foresee the conference breaking up quite yet.

I'm almost surprised that there isn't a conference driven initiative to try and get the b-ball only schools to add football.  The major hurdle for that seems to be funding and you'd think the conference might consider incentivizing it with an offer of some portion of those funds - for the greater good of the conference.  Granted they'd have to convince 4 of the 7 teams that don't have football to add it to make the 12 team ideal so it is a long shot but even getting 1 or 2 additions would be a big start in the right direction.

The problem is, none of the b-ball only schools are ones that can really look at adding football just because of the amount of money required.  Even if they were to give some money, it still wouldn't be enough.  Look at who the b-ball only schools are: MU, DePaul, Providence, Seton Hall, St. John's, Georgetown, Villanova.  It's all the smaller, private, religious institutions.  The only one that could really afford to be D1 would be Gtown.  Otherwise, they just can't afford it.

Especially in this day and age where even D2 football is too expensive for some schools, adding D1 seems an impossibility.