Pittsburgh to join Big Ten?

[Golden Shaka]

http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/83245077.html

I'm not sure if this has much truth to it.  I didn't even think it was going to be considered for another year or so

[ChicosBailBonds]

Pitt fans say nothing happening this week

[TheButlerDidIt]

I heard this blurb cited on WSSP this morning on their 15-minute news updates:

http://benmaller.com/archives/2010/02/01/source-pitt-headed-to-big-10/

[GGGG]

Pitt fans say nothing happening this week

There is a big, department wide staff meeting set for later this week.  Their SID put this out on Twitter just a few hours ago:

http://twitter.com/PittBorghetti/status/8481753217

IMO, this is happening folks.

[wyoMUfan]

I would assume it it is true, we should be more concerned about who is replacing them in the BigEast.
Memphis is the first name that came to mind, but maybe a team from the A10 like Xavier. I hesitate to even say Memphis, but with Calipari gone it might not be a bad fit and a potentially even swap.

[Golden Shaka]

Yah I work in the Northwestern Athletic Department and I'm hearing that there is a definite possibility of this happening.

[KipsBayEagle]

Memphis is an even swap basketball wise, a downgrade football wise, and a quantum leap backwards academically. 

[TheButlerDidIt]

It would never be Xavier, it'd have to be a football school. They'd probably raid Conference USA again for at least one football school. Who knows, maybe they'd start cutting bait on some of the non-football members earlier than expected

[KipsBayEagle]

Delaware could be an interesting potential replacement.

[TheButlerDidIt]

They aren't D-I football yet, are they?

[Pakuni]

There is a big, department wide staff meeting set for later this week.  Their SID put this out on Twitter just a few hours ago:

http://twitter.com/PittBorghetti/status/8481753217

IMO, this is happening folks.

Isn't this what their SID put out?

"Now hear this: rumors on Internet message boards should be read for amusement purposes only, and not consumed as responsible journalism."

I wouldn't exactly call it a denial, but neither does it sound anything close to a confirmation, implied or otherwise.

[GGGG]

Isn't this what their SID put out?

"Now hear this: rumors on Internet message boards should be read for amusement purposes only, and not consumed as responsible journalism."

I wouldn't exactly call it a denial, but neither does it sound anything close to a confirmation, implied or otherwise.

If you are the Pitt SID, and there is nothing to the story, you would likely issue a stronger denial wouldn't you?

[mr.MUskie]

If you are the Pitt SID, and there is nothing to the story, you would likely issue a stronger denial wouldn't you?

What's stronger and more official than Twitter?

[GGGG]

What's stronger and more official than Twitter?

Nothing's quicker.

[maxpower773]

Even if they were to join the Big Ten, it doesn't make any sense.  It doesn't expand tv markets for the conference and I doubt Penn State and Ohio State would like another school in the middle of them to take their basketball and football recruits that they can almost already dominate within their own states (at least for those that want to play in the big ten).

[ATWizJr]

If Pitt goes, give Rhody a look.  Makes for a nice weekend schedule of PC then URI.  Schools are 30 miles apart.

[wyoMUfan]

Yeah, I agree in thinking they would want a football replacement as well.
I say give someone a chance out of the MVC, University of Northern Iowa
Rumors of Nova going full fledged DI w/ football so losing Pitt and not replacing with a DI football program wouldn't hurt if Villanova took their spot on the field and brought in a basketball only

[MU in Miami]

If Pitt leaves for the little 10, would that have any effect on our position with 2010 recruit, Mo Walker?  Any reason why he has not pulled the trigger yet?

[ChicosBailBonds]

Even if they were to join the Big Ten, it doesn't make any sense.  It doesn't expand tv markets for the conference and I doubt Penn State and Ohio State would like another school in the middle of them to take their basketball and football recruits that they can almost already dominate within their own states (at least for those that want to play in the big ten).

Sure it does, it allows them to have a championship game.  The Big Ten has taken a big hit in football for awhile now.  They have fallen considerably in the last 7 or 8 years.  This was the first year they had a winning bowl record in ages.  They have been blown out in the top BCS bowl games.  They routinely finish 4th or 5th in the power ratings.  And their biggest issue is no championship game. So their season ends the last week of October or first week of November and they are totally media silent for the next three weeks while the SEC and Big 12 are still playing.  Plus the revenue for that championship game is huge.

It makes a lot of sense to go to 12 teams.  14 is another story, but who knows what they have in mind.

[rocky_warrior]

Didn't we already have this thread?  Like twice this weekend?  Seems like Deja Vu

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=17702.0

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=17706.0

[Pakuni]

Sure it does, it allows them to have a championship game.  The Big Ten has taken a big hit in football for awhile now.  They have fallen considerably in the last 7 or 8 years.  This was the first year they had a winning bowl record in ages.  They have been blown out in the top BCS bowl games.  They routinely finish 4th or 5th in the power ratings.  And their biggest issue is no championship game. So their season ends the last week of October or first week of November and they are totally media silent for the next three weeks while the SEC and Big 12 are still playing.  Plus the revenue for that championship game is huge.

It makes a lot of sense to go to 12 teams.  14 is another story, but who knows what they have in mind.

It makes a lot of sense for the Big Televen to go to 12 teams, though I'm not sure Pitt would be the best choice (they'd obviously prefer Notre Dame and perhaps Mizzou, but perhaps no interest from Mizzou).

What I don't get is how this helps Pitt, at least competitively. I'm sure from the standpoint of putting fannies in seats at Heinz, Ohio State, Iowa and Michigan are far more attractive than Louisville, Rutgers and South Florida.
But in the Big East, Pitt is competing for a BCS Bowl every year. In the Big Televen, they'll be competing for an Champs Sports Bowl.
On the basketball side, there's no gain either financially or competitively.


I'm sure smarter people than I (yes, there are a few) have crunched the numbers and figure there's a strong financial incentive here, but I think Pitt takes a big risk in going from a perennial contender to a perennial also-ran.

[mu-rara]

If Pitt leaves for the little 10, would that have any effect on our position with 2010 recruit, Mo Walker?  Any reason why he has not pulled the trigger yet?

Pitt would probably blow out Oconomowoc and Watertown.  Maybe even compete with Wisconsin Lutheran.

[Litehouse]

The only reason I see this making sense for Pitt to switch is stability.  They don't want to be left without a chair when the music stops if either Syracuse or Rutgers jump.

[maxpower773]

Sure it does, it allows them to have a championship game.  The Big Ten has taken a big hit in football for awhile now.  They have fallen considerably in the last 7 or 8 years.  This was the first year they had a winning bowl record in ages.  They have been blown out in the top BCS bowl games.  They routinely finish 4th or 5th in the power ratings.  And their biggest issue is no championship game. So their season ends the last week of October or first week of November and they are totally media silent for the next three weeks while the SEC and Big 12 are still playing.  Plus the revenue for that championship game is huge.

It makes a lot of sense to go to 12 teams.  14 is another story, but who knows what they have in mind.

See what Pakuni said.

I don't mean going up to one more team for the big ten, I mean for Pitt and why not add a different team.  It doesn't matter if it's pitt or whoever, another team is another team and that will bring them to 12. I'm say it makes no sense to ad Pitt. It doesn't help pitt and it only helps the big ten to get to 12 teams, no increase in tv markets and no expansion of recruiting base.  I think they should add another team, just one that would make more sense.

[avid1010]

Pitt would probably blow out Oconomowoc and Watertown.  Maybe even compete with Wisconsin Lutheran.

A shout-out to my former conference.  God, it's been a long time.

I think if Pitt. leaves the BEAST Dixon will feel slighted.  Perhaps the AD will take the time to gain Dixon's acceptance, but essentially they're going against his strong wishes, and for a man who has a lot of schools that would love to see him on their bench, I'll be interested to see how this all plays out.