Big East Raided: Worst Case Scenario

[Wade for President]

You lost me at Kent State.

Hilarious

[Aughnanure]

I am not buying that the Big 10 would leap to taking 5 teams. The Conference is too conservative to make that leap. I think one team will eventually go. A 16 team conference is too big for basketball, and probably football.

The best fits in my opinion would be:
1. ND--but they will likely not be inteersted, as they think they are the cat's meow in the world
2. Pitt--they would be a good fit
3. Missouri--Would bring great rivalry with Illinois and Iowa; although I wonder if they think their football could compete

The one that would be a great addition but would likely never happen would be Kansas. Great basketball, and emeging football.

Please tell me what is 'emerging' about Kansas football. Just fired their coach for abuses, has never won even the Big 12 North in its weakest of years, and only one season of above .500 play in the north.

[brewcity77]

Please tell me what is 'emerging' about Kansas football. Just fired their coach for abuses, has never won even the Big 12 North in its weakest of years, and only one season of above .500 play in the north.

All true, but I took them to three national championships in EA's NCAA game...surely that counts for something.

[goodgreatgrand]

This just in...

"Paul Tagliabue, the Commissioner of the NFL from 1989 until 2006, will serve as a Special Advisor to the BIG EAST Conference to provide strategic advice on future television arrangements and other priority matters, BIG EAST Commissioner John Marinatto announced."

http://www.bigeast.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=19400&ATCLID=204933535

Not sure what it means though.... Maybe "How do we go about dissolving the football side of the conference?"

[goodgreatgrand]

Notre Dame supposedly out of expansion talks (based on today's meetings and rumors)

"They haven't been in the mix for awhile,'' said the source. who did say that Big Ten expansion of three or five teams was very possible.

"According to the source, Notre Dame is fairly confident that it can remain as a full independent in football and remain connected to the Big East--even a smaller all Catholic version of the Big East--which would protect not only basketball, but all of its other non-revenue producing sports."

http://www.boston.com/sports/colleges/extras/colleges_blog/2010/04/notre_dame_not.html

[Big Papi]

Forget worst case.  Best case scenario is that we add 4 more schools with football programs and create our own network.  Can we raid the ACC and SEC?  Would Boston College and Virginia Tech come back?  What about adding a Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Tennessee?  Memphis?

http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/21610/marinatto-time-to-think-outside-the-box

[Ready2Fly]

Actually, that makes some sense, we could nab Vandy and the SEC could take Memphis. It seems to be a better fit for both anyway.

[brewcity77]

One thought I just add, would we want to add a Maryland or Vanderbilt? I know they have appeal, but both are AAU schools. If the Big Ten is expanding, they will make AAU membership a priority. Schools like Boston College, UCF, and Memphis give us what we need without being potential Big Ten targets.

[AlumKCof93]

From the Big 10's perspective, I don't see how it makes sense to add 5 schools (I can't believe one of their main goals is to "take down the Big East").

Growing up in Chicago, I always rooted for the Bihg 10 b/c it was the big regional conference made up of schools I would consider attending. If it adds 5 schools including Rutgers, UConn, it would lose its regional focus, dilute its football, and have to split its revenue exponentially.

From the Big 10's perspective, it seems to me that adding ND, Mizzou and Pitt makes the most sense.  It keeps its regional focus, adds quality schools, and doesn't result in the need for other conferences to respond in a major way.  By adding these schools, the Big 10 b/c the premier conference in the country and doesn't necessarily disrupt the overall conference landscape. 

[M@RQUETTEW@RRIORS]

From the Big 10's perspective, I don't see how it makes sense to add 5 schools (I can't believe one of their main goals is to "take down the Big East").

Growing up in Chicago, I always rooted for the Bihg 10 b/c it was the big regional conference made up of schools I would consider attending. If it adds 5 schools including Rutgers, UConn, it would lose its regional focus, dilute its football, and have to split its revenue exponentially.

From the Big 10's perspective, it seems to me that adding ND, Mizzou and Pitt makes the most sense.  It keeps its regional focus, adds quality schools, and doesn't result in the need for other conferences to respond in a major way.  By adding these schools, the Big 10 b/c the premier conference in the country and doesn't necessarily disrupt the overall conference landscape. 

In what sense are they the premier conference if this happens?  In football they would still be the SECs be-atch.  In bball they get better.  Premier?  maybe based on $$ and size alone.

[AlumKCof93]

What's more important - size and money or current success in football?  The success in football could change any year, the size and money would not.

[M@RQUETTEW@RRIORS]

What's more important - size and money or current success in football?  The success in football could change any year, the size and money would not.

How long do you consider "current"?

I have a distinct feeling that if the Big Ten doesnt do better in football soon that networks revenue will also drop.(just like ND)  Especially if other conferences follow suit and create their own networks.

[AlumKCof93]

Maybe that's why the Big 10 is looking to expand now.  But I don't think that will happen as Big 10 football has a huge following from its member schools.  And I don't think other conferences are capable of developing their own channel - the only one that would be is SEC and they have such a lucrative deal with ESPN that I don't know that it makes sense for them to do it.  One of the reasons why the SEC has improved so much is their night games on ESPN have improved recruiting so much.  Kids want to play on ESPN, not the Big 10 network.

[mu_eyeballs]

The Big Ten getting bigger is all (or mostly) about cash...I was listening to sports radio yesterday in Columbus and the host was making the point that the Big 10 network brings in $0.70/subscriber in big 10 areas/states and only $0.10/subscriber outside the big 10 area.  They want to target bigger TV markets to bump their revenue...that is why I think Pitt only is invited unless they plan to raid 3 or 5 teams...they want UConn or Rutgers so they can get the NYC market.