Source: Maryland (and Rutgers) to Big Ten is 'pretty serious'

[GGGG]

Of course they do. Just like Syracuse and Pitt feel betrayed that BC went to the ACC. It's easy to rail on about being left behind right up until Jim Delany shows up on your doorstep with bags of cash. Both meet the significant B1G criteria and provide significant television markets. If the league does decide to expand, those two certainly make more sense than ISU, Kansas, or Duke.

I don't think you understand what I am saying.  It's not a betrayal issue...its an issue where there is a state governing board for higher education, similar to the UW Board of Regents, and/or state legislators would make life very difficult for UNC or UVA to leave.  That's the reason Oklahoma State is tethered to Oklahoma...why Texas Tech is with Texas...

A&M got to the SEC because pretty much anyone who was in a position of power at the time was an A&M alum.

[Aughnanure]

For what it is worth.  Darren Rovell, ESPNs business guy, wrote that Maryland and Rutgers would have to add at least 17% to revenues for current B1G schools to earn the same amount of money.  He questions if that would be possible, at the moment; uncertain about the long-run effect as well.

But they will, first off, because they just bring MORE games. More products to sell. And who watches Maryland v Illinois? People in Maryland and Illinois! These are two huge state schools that are the singular dominant collegiate force in their respective states. I don't get how this is bad for TV.

[brewcity77]

But they will, first off, because they just bring MORE games. More products to sell. And who watches Maryland v Illinois? People in Maryland and Illinois! These are two huge state schools that are the singular dominant collegiate force in their respective states. I don't get how this is bad for TV.

Which by default also means people in DC and Chicago, two top-10 media markets. Maryland certainly makes more sense than some of the schools that have been mentioned in the past couple years. For me the question is more who joins them if they come, because I can't see the B1G going for just one school. Rutgers seems the hot name, though personally I think Georgia Tech might make more sense.

[Aughnanure]

Which by default also means people in DC and Chicago, two top-10 media markets. Maryland certainly makes more sense than some of the schools that have been mentioned in the past couple years. For me the question is more who joins them if they come, because I can't see the B1G going for just one school. Rutgers seems the hot name, though personally I think Georgia Tech might make more sense.

Still 2 more spots to 16.

[brewcity77]

Still 2 more spots to 16.

True, but they can go two-by-two (hands of blue?). Add Maryland and Rutgers or Ga Tech now, then two more when they settle on the others they want. Would allow for two seven-team football divisions, though it would definitely mean some rivals rarely see each other (unless they go to a 10-game league schedule).

I still just don't see Rutgers. Do they really deliver NYC? Because Jersey is the armpit of the country, need more than just the state to justify it, I'd think.

[Dawson Rental]

Both North Carolina and Virginia have issues with other public universities being "left behind."  Furthermore, I really doubt North Carolina would be interested.

I agree.  If North Carolina had any inclination (and the ability) to leave, I really think that they'd be in the SEC right now, instead of Missouri.  Virginia is the reason that Virginia Tech got into the ACC when they did.

[Warriors10]

True, but they can go two-by-two (hands of blue?). Add Maryland and Rutgers or Ga Tech now, then two more when they settle on the others they want. Would allow for two seven-team football divisions, though it would definitely mean some rivals rarely see each other (unless they go to a 10-game league schedule).

I still just don't see Rutgers. Do they really deliver NYC? Because Jersey is the armpit of the country, need more than just the state to justify it, I'd think.

Andy Katz tweeted earlier that during Rutgers football games, only 1.7% of NYC TV market has the game on.  It is obviously worse for basketball, etc.  Judge that number how you want, but that isn't really "delivering" NYC to the B1G

[bilsu]

I think the only thing we can hope for is that  also Clemson and Florida St. jump to Big 12.

[AirPunches]

I think the only thing we can hope for is that  alos Clemson and Florida St. jump to Big 12.

Would that sequence of events put the Big East in better shape than the ACC? Would Clemson and Florida State to the Big 12 and Maryland and let's say Georgia Tech (instead of Rutgers) to the B1G be a good thing for the Big East? Or would the Big East still get poached?

[bilsu]

Would that sequence of events put the Big East in better shape than the ACC? Would Clemson and Florida State to the Big 12 and Maryland and let's say Georgia Tech (instead of Rutgers) to the B1G be a good thing for the Big East? Or would the Big East still get poached?

Probably not, but it would give me some satisfaction.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Just thought I'd post up the list of viable B1G members. People may not want to admit it, but AAU membership is a must. It just is.

It HAS been important.

With every dollar that comes in, it becomes less and less important.

IF the Big10 wants to maximize revenue (they do), they are eventually going to add a non-aau school.

It might not be today, or tomorrow, but it's going to happen.

I know there are a ton of politics involved, but there is one thing that ends all of the debates. $.

[MerrittsMustache]

Andy Katz tweeted earlier that during Rutgers football games, only 1.7% of NYC TV market has the game on.  It is obviously worse for basketball, etc.  Judge that number how you want, but that isn't really "delivering" NYC to the B1G

True but all of NYC would tune in to watch Rutgers if they were playing the likes of Minnesota, Purdue and Iowa!

That was obviously said sarcastically but there are actual B10 people who believe that.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Andy Katz tweeted earlier that during Rutgers football games, only 1.7% of NYC TV market has the game on.  It is obviously worse for basketball, etc.  Judge that number how you want, but that isn't really "delivering" NYC to the B1G

Fair point, then again look at the competition.  One wonders if playing Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Penn State or the other powers on the football side would raise those ratings. More than likely....yes.  Playing Cincinnati, Louisville, South Florida, Houston, etc, is ever going to get those ratings going.  That will be a different scenario against the blue bloods of football in the Big Ten.  Also note that the Big Ten has a ton of alumni in the New York area that are not watching Rutgers vs Cincinnati for good reasons.  You can bet those Michigan alum are going to watch Michigan vs Rutgers.

[LAZER]

Fair point, then again look at the competition.  One wonders if playing Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Penn State or the other powers on the football side would raise those ratings. More than likely....yes.  Playing Cincinnati, Louisville, South Florida, Houston, etc, is ever going to get those ratings going.  That will be a different scenario against the blue bloods of football in the Big Ten.  Also note that the Big Ten has a ton of alumni in the New York area that are not watching Rutgers vs Cincinnati for good reasons.  You can bet those Michigan alum are going to watch Michigan vs Rutgers.

Those Michigan alums are watching Michigan no matter who they play.  They won't be watching Rutgers vs Indiana though.

[ChicosBailBonds]

This is the kind of stuff that happens consistently at research institutions that are not captured in a stadium of 80,000 but impact our lives all the times.  Athletics will always get the coverage and the publicity, but there are some amazing things happening daily that we all take for granted.

I plucked this one out of today's news but there are literally stories like this on a daily basis in the world of medicine, technology, design, engineering, etc.

http://www.technologyreview.com/news/507481/fabrication-trick-offers-fivefold-leap-in-hard-disk-capacity/

[WarhawkWarrior]

Missouri and Notre Dame were the perfect fits for the Big 10.  Even Syracuse.  Rutgers and Maryland, really?

[Aughnanure]

Missouri and Notre Dame were the perfect fits for the Big 10.  Even Syracuse.  Rutgers and Maryland, really?

Why do people not get Maryland and Rutgers? They're perfect. Penn St has always kind of been the awkward outlier, now you give them a real potential rival in Rutgers (Penn St is HUGE in South Jersey). Maryland is solid all-around (except their finances) and is literally the ONLY college football team in the DMV area.

[GGGG]

State College, PA is closer to both Rutgers and Maryland than it is to any Big Ten school.  The Big Ten clearly wants Notre Dame, but not sure what is that much different between Maryland and Missouri.

[Hards Alumni]

This is the kind of stuff that happens consistently at research institutions that are not captured in a stadium of 80,000 but impact our lives all the times.  Athletics will always get the coverage and the publicity, but there are some amazing things happening daily that we all take for granted.

I plucked this one out of today's news but there are literally stories like this on a daily basis in the world of medicine, technology, design, engineering, etc.

http://www.technologyreview.com/news/507481/fabrication-trick-offers-fivefold-leap-in-hard-disk-capacity/

+1

[Groin_pull]

It HAS been important.

With every dollar that comes in, it becomes less and less important.

IF the Big10 wants to maximize revenue (they do), they are eventually going to add a non-aau school.

It might not be today, or tomorrow, but it's going to happen.

I know there are a ton of politics involved, but there is one thing that ends all of the debates. $.

[Groin_pull]

Believe it or not there are other factors to be weighed in any school additions and conference movement. The Big Ten also has academic and institutional requirements that need to be met before accepting a new member. It's just not only TV exposure, recruiting and such. Penn State had to fix/ address some of those before their entry and so did Nebraska.
Paying their current conference exit fee and changing the logo on their basketball floor isn't all that needs to be done. The Big Ten are high level academic institutions and their presidents will have to be sold on the applicants total abilities to belong in the conference.

Can we PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stop this bullish*t that academics will play any role in these moves? Just stop it. I'm begging. This is about dollars. Period. End of story.

And by the way, those two Big 10 schools currently on probation...are they Leaders or Legends? 

[brewcity77]

Can we PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stop this bullish*t that academics will play any role in these moves? Just stop it. I'm begging. This is about dollars. Period. End of story.

And by the way, those two Big 10 schools currently on probation...are they Leaders or Legends? 

No. Because it's not BS. I think people underestimate the arrogance of the B1G. They are convinced they are the best conference in the country. They turn up their noses at non-AAU members. Adding Maryland and Rutgers gets them to 14. They can still add Kansas and Georgia Tech, both of whom would likely jump at the invitation and are both AAU members.

You can pout and whine that it doesn't matter all you like, but then why are 13/14 B1G schools AAU members and why have they not admitted any non-AAU members? And I know everyone will point at ND...but let's be honest, if they had joined the B1G, they'd have been rushed through the AAU acceptance process faster than you can say Touchdown Jesus.

It matters to one conference because they in their arrogance think they can have it all. Thus far, they have been able to do just that. Why do you think they would change their core values midstream when they haven't had to so far?

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

You can pout and whine that it doesn't matter all you like, but then why are 13/14 B1G schools AAU members and why have they not admitted any non-AAU members?

Why didn't the Big10 go to 16 teams years ago?

$.

I know the AAU thing is important, but let's not pretend like it's the ultimate deal-breaker.

Conferences are evolving quickly in ways we never imagined. Why? Yep. $

[Groin_pull]

No. Because it's not BS. I think people underestimate the arrogance of the B1G. They are convinced they are the best conference in the country. They turn up their noses at non-AAU members. Adding Maryland and Rutgers gets them to 14. They can still add Kansas and Georgia Tech, both of whom would likely jump at the invitation and are both AAU members.

You can pout and whine that it doesn't matter all you like, but then why are 13/14 B1G schools AAU members and why have they not admitted any non-AAU members? And I know everyone will point at ND...but let's be honest, if they had joined the B1G, they'd have been rushed through the AAU acceptance process faster than you can say Touchdown Jesus.

It matters to one conference because they in their arrogance think they can have it all. Thus far, they have been able to do just that. Why do you think they would change their core values midstream when they haven't had to so far?

I think we're in general agreement on this. I definitely DON'T underestimate the arrogance of the Big 10. (That's why I love watching them get their collective as*es kicked every bowl season)

However....core values???? Are you kidding? What makes you think they have any values at all? How many Legends and Leaders have been on probation over the years? Puh-leze, they're no different than any other BCS conference. Their pious b.s. is disgusting.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Can we PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stop this bullish*t that academics will play any role in these moves? Just stop it. I'm begging. This is about dollars. Period. End of story.

And by the way, those two Big 10 schools currently on probation...are they Leaders or Legends? 

You are ignoring reality if you don't think the Big Ten puts an ENORMOUS value on the type of schools they are adding....they want markets, alumni base, ratings, and yes...academics.  All of the above.  If not, they would go in and grab a Louisville, or Cincinnati, or UCONN....they haven't and they won't despite those schools delivering everything but the academics.  It's key for them.  You can point to probations or whatever all you want, those schools go above and beyond just athletics...that is one piece, but not the sole piece.  It is why 13 of their 14 schools are AAU members and that will not change moving forward.