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

[Knight Commission]

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.

Whatever the reason it worked. NJ is a big market in its own right.  By the way NJ is not the armpit of the country (as someone who has lived there...and Wisconsin).

[ChicosBailBonds]

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.

In my mind, the demise of the Big East started years ago when Penn State was not taken as a member.  That was the beginning of the end.  It would have likely allowed Syracuse to remain a powerful foil and program.  People forget that Syracuse was a solid football school, but they have literally fallen off the planet the last 10 to 15 years.  It's unfortunate where things are and MU not having football is certainly a killer.

[MerrittsMustache]

In my mind, the demise of the Big East started years ago when Penn State was not taken as a member.  That was the beginning of the end.  It would have likely allowed Syracuse to remain a powerful foil and program.  People forget that Syracuse was a solid football school, but they have literally fallen off the planet the last 10 to 15 years.  It's unfortunate where things are and MU not having football is certainly a killer.

Wait, Syracuse University is no longer a part of planet Earth?!? Is there just a big crater in upstate NY now?

[Dish]

In my mind, the demise of the Big East started years ago when Penn State was not taken as a member.  That was the beginning of the end.  It would have likely allowed Syracuse to remain a powerful foil and program.  People forget that Syracuse was a solid football school, but they have literally fallen off the planet the last 10 to 15 years.  It's unfortunate where things are and MU not having football is certainly a killer.

That's a rough fall. Syracuse to Conference Milky Way?

[mu03eng]

This move, liked or not does a lot of things
-Kills any chance that PSU was going to be booted from the B1G, if that was even a possibility in the first place.
-Maintains the B1G's academic dominance, poo poo it all you want but it is part of B1G's brand identity.  Based on their athletic performances to date it's one of the things that differentiates them from say the Big 12
-The 1.7% stat is great for reporting, but if you put Rutgers up against Penn State, Ohio State, or Michigan and I guarantee that number is much bigger just based on the number of alumni in NYC and New Jersey alone.
-Raids the ACC forcing them to add a member of less quality, potentially weakening them, leading to hope that ND will join the B1G
-Moves the B1G into television markets where the demographics are growing instead of shrinking like it is in the midwest
-Opens up the DC market for both basketball and football

The quality of the teams is debatable but then again everyone said TAMU would get killed in the SEC and look how that turned out this year.

[GGGG]

I don't think this move on its own weakens the ACC.  It's one school out of 14.  They actually don't *have* to add anyone.  Its what this move opens doors to that may weaken the ACC.

[mu03eng]

I don't think this move on its own weakens the ACC.  It's one school out of 14.  They actually don't *have* to add anyone.  Its what this move opens doors to that may weaken the ACC.

Agreed. Its the first step in the chain of causation.  At the end of the day for various reasons the SEC and B1G are the only two conferences that are nearly untouchable.  So both conferences want to avoid fights with each other and keep the rest of the "kids" distracted by fighting over the scrapes.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Replacement for Maryland, all are Big East schools.  No surprise.   ACC talking to USF, Cincinnati, Louisville, UCONN for replacement of Maryland.

[Skatastrophy]

Let's go USF!!

[MU B2002]

I don't think this move on its own weakens the ACC.  It's one school out of 14.  They actually don't *have* to add anyone.  Its what this move opens doors to that may weaken the ACC.

Like Florida State trying to leave to go to the SEC.

[AirPunches]

Looks like the ACC is starting to worry and this won't end well for them I don't think. I bet they wish they would have taken West Virginia when they had the chance.

[honkytonk]

In my mind, the demise of the Big East started years ago when Penn State was not taken as a member.  That was the beginning of the end.  It would have likely allowed Syracuse to remain a powerful foil and program.  People forget that Syracuse was a solid football school, but they have literally fallen off the planet the last 10 to 15 years.  It's unfortunate where things are and MU not having football is certainly a killer.

The fact that the BE didnt vote Ped State into the conference was NOT the downfall of the BE. For starters, Ped State wanted equal revenue sharing in basketball and a sweatheart deal in football. That is why they were not accepted. Also, the admins from that era have stated publicly (years later) that they always wanted to be part of the Big 10. Had they moved to the BE, it would have only been a temporary home anyways. They just took Maryland and will soon take Rutgers. If Ped State was a BE school, they would have been long gone before those two.

And the thing that sucks about losing Syracuse, aside from the fact that their fans buy more tickets than any fanbase for the BE tournament, is that their new head coach is turning their football program around. A strong Syracuse football program most definitely would have helped the BE. Unfortunately, they had a horrible coach that they didnt fire soon enough and he drove it into the ground. Now that they are on the upswing, they are proprty of whatever will be left of the ACC.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I'll throw in another for you.  The new members, Houston, Boise State, etc...in their contracts it calls for a minimum revenue number from the television contract.  They can leave the conference WITHOUT PENALTY if those numbers are not achieved.

[honkytonk]

I'll throw in another for you.  The new members, Houston, Boise State, etc...in their contracts it calls for a minimum revenue number from the television contract.  They can leave the conference WITHOUT PENALTY if those numbers are not achieved.

So what? Where are they going to go? MWC? The BE will still likely have a much more lucrative contract that that conference. What is their break even point to offset travel costs and bowl tie-ins? They are guaranteed at least several million dollars, they should stick with the BE. This is all about money, after all.

[honkytonk]

Another note....

Who would have thought that a conference called the Big East would not field an all-sports member from the states of New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts?    Yet...field football teams from Texas, Idaho and California....

Ugh.

[ChicosBailBonds]

The fact that the BE didnt vote Ped State into the conference was NOT the downfall of the BE. For starters, Ped State wanted equal revenue sharing in basketball and a sweatheart deal in football. That is why they were not accepted. Also, the admins from that era have stated publicly (years later) that they always wanted to be part of the Big 10. Had they moved to the BE, it would have only been a temporary home anyways. They just took Maryland and will soon take Rutgers. If Ped State was a BE school, they would have been long gone before those two.

And the thing that sucks about losing Syracuse, aside from the fact that their fans buy more tickets than any fanbase for the BE tournament, is that their new head coach is turning their football program around. A strong Syracuse football program most definitely would have helped the BE. Unfortunately, they had a horrible coach that they didnt fire soon enough and he drove it into the ground. Now that they are on the upswing, they are proprty of whatever will be left of the ACC.

Just my opinion, but the BE had a dominant program right in their midst and didn't take them in because they were stuck in basketball mode still.  Yes, it would have cost money and probably an unequal share, but the solidification of the Big East along with Miami, Va. Tech, Pittsburgh, Boston College, Syracuse and WVU is a very nice football conference. 

I think some people at Penn State have some memory problems (strike that, we know they do based on their issues with the sexual issues).  In the early 80's Penn State applied to be a member and the Big East said no.  PSU may have wanted to be in the Big Ten, but they actually applied as a member of the Big East.

Paterno wanted to create the EASTERN CONFERENCE and the issue was that the Big East schools, mostly basketball only, didn't want to go for it because the league had just started as a basketball conference.  Of course later, the Big East added Miami, Va Tech, etc to create the football portion of the conference, but the original EASTERN CONF that Paterno proposed was going to be quite a conference on it's own with roots in the east.  Instead, the Big East schools said no and offered only a basketball membership which PSU declined.

In 2009, Mike Tranghese admitted the biggest mistake the Big East conference made was not asking Penn State to join.   

Former Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese told the New York Times in a 2009 interview that not inviting Penn State was the Big East's "one major mistake." In fact, Tranghese recalled to the Times a post-vote meeting with founding commissioner Dave Gavitt, who died Saturday. "We will rue the day over this decision," Tranghese said he told Gavitt.

"You look back on it, and the whole of college athletics would be changed now," Tranghese told the Times.

What made the Big East's decision shortsided, both Tranghese and Crouthamel realized, was its basis on basketball instead of football. "A lot of the directors felt it was a basketball league," Tranghese told the Times, and Penn State's underdeveloped basketball program didn't pass muster.

[ChicosBailBonds]

So what? Where are they going to go? MWC? The BE will still likely have a much more lucrative contract that that conference. What is their break even point to offset travel costs and bowl tie-ins? They are guaranteed at least several million dollars, they should stick with the BE. This is all about money, after all.

You would be surprised at their options right now, and without the penalty it makes those options every bit as attractive. 

[honkytonk]

Just my opinion, but the BE had a dominant program right in their midst and didn't take them in because they were stuck in basketball mode still.  Yes, it would have cost money and probably an unequal share, but the solidification of the Big East along with Miami, Va. Tech, Pittsburgh, Boston College, Syracuse and WVU is a very nice football conference.  

I think some people at Penn State have some memory problems (strike that, we know they do based on their issues with the sexual issues).  In the early 80's Penn State applied to be a member and the Big East said no.  PSU may have wanted to be in the Big Ten, but they actually applied as a member of the Big East.

Paterno wanted to create the EASTERN CONFERENCE and the issue was that the Big East schools, mostly basketball only, didn't want to go for it because the league had just started as a basketball conference.  Of course later, the Big East added Miami, Va Tech, etc to create the football portion of the conference, but the original EASTERN CONF that Paterno proposed was going to be quite a conference on it's own with roots in the east.  Instead, the Big East schools said no and offered only a basketball membership which PSU declined.

In 2009, Mike Tranghese admitted the biggest mistake the Big East conference made was not asking Penn State to join.    

Former Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese told the New York Times in a 2009 interview that not inviting Penn State was the Big East's "one major mistake." In fact, Tranghese recalled to the Times a post-vote meeting with founding commissioner Dave Gavitt, who died Saturday. "We will rue the day over this decision," Tranghese said he told Gavitt.

"You look back on it, and the whole of college athletics would be changed now," Tranghese told the Times.

What made the Big East's decision shortsided, both Tranghese and Crouthamel realized, was its basis on basketball instead of football. "A lot of the directors felt it was a basketball league," Tranghese told the Times, and Penn State's underdeveloped basketball program didn't pass muster.

Yes, I am aware of all that you wrote. So you are telling me the BE would have been a formidable football conference had they accepted Ped State with a sweatheart deal? Of course. Ped State, Miami, VTech and Syracuse would have been a great conference. But why do you think that they would have stayed in the BE to this day? Look at their game day atmosphere....which one is unlike the others? Which university ( a state flagship) is unlike the others? You damn well know Ped State would have ended up in the B10 regardless of whether or not they joined the BE. And yes, there are academic administrators (not athletic department personnel) that said their goal all along was to get to the B10. Again, one university's mission would have been unlike all the others....

[ChicosBailBonds]

Yes, I am aware of all that you wrote. So you are telling me the BE would have been a formidable football conference had they accepted Ped State with a sweatheart deal? Of course. Ped State, Miami, VTech and Syracuse would have been a great conference. But why do you think that they would have stayed in the BE to this day? Look at their game day atmosphere....which one is unlike the others? Which university ( a state flagship) is unlike the others? You damn well know Ped State would have ended up in the B10 regardless of whether or not they joined the BE. And yes, there are academic administrators (not athletic department personnel) that said their goal all along was to get to the B10. Again, one university's mission would have been unlike all the others....

Tranghese said it best "we will rue this day".

I think the conjecture is that if the conference got it going early on and established themselves as a top conference, then it becomes the poacher in times like this and not the poachee.  Football is king, but the conference has gone with a basketball mentality.  So, I don't know that PSU would have ended up in the Big Ten.  If that conference that was proposed became a juggernaut and PSU was regularly winning it and playing in major bowl games we don't know what would have happened.  Considering it was Paterno's idea, I have a tough time thinking Paterno would leave for another conference and abandon his own idea. 

[Mutaman]

Whatever the reason it worked. NJ is a big market in its own right.  By the way NJ is not the armpit of the country (as someone who has lived there...and Wisconsin).

Jersey's what you drive through on your way from NYC to the Midwest. Its pretty bad. Rutgers? I just wasn't made for these times.

[GGGG]

Tranghese said it best "we will rue this day".

I think the conjecture is that if the conference got it going early on and established themselves as a top conference, then it becomes the poacher in times like this and not the poachee.  Football is king, but the conference has gone with a basketball mentality.  So, I don't know that PSU would have ended up in the Big Ten.  If that conference that was proposed became a juggernaut and PSU was regularly winning it and playing in major bowl games we don't know what would have happened.  Considering it was Paterno's idea, I have a tough time thinking Paterno would leave for another conference and abandon his own idea. 

I don't think there is a chance that PSU goes to the B10 if they were in the BE.  PSU is a traditional eastern school even now.  It is an outlier in the B10 conference in a number of ways.  BC, Syracuse, Rutgers, BC, Miami, Virginia Tech, Pitt...and possibly Maryland, is a formidable eastern conference.

[honkytonk]

Tranghese said it best "we will rue this day".

I think the conjecture is that if the conference got it going early on and established themselves as a top conference, then it becomes the poacher in times like this and not the poachee.  Football is king, but the conference has gone with a basketball mentality.  So, I don't know that PSU would have ended up in the Big Ten.  If that conference that was proposed became a juggernaut and PSU was regularly winning it and playing in major bowl games we don't know what would have happened.  Considering it was Paterno's idea, I have a tough time thinking Paterno would leave for another conference and abandon his own idea. 

Miami was very successful in the BE and still left for the ACC. VTech left the BE immediately after the Mike Vick era. Why do you think accomplishment on the field would trump money? Mizzou didnt join the SEC because it thought it could win championships. Rutgers doesnt have a chance in hell of ever winning anything. Even if Ped State were still part of the BE, the markets the conference would hypothetically represent (Miami, Philly(?), NYC and Boston still wouldnt care. Those markets have never cared for college football and never will in the future. But you are telling me that if Ped State was part of an eastern football conference that the demographics would massively change? Oh really? Just because Joe Fucking Paterno wanted an eastern football conference doesnt mean jack. Besides, at the very least, he always wanted the B10 to expand eastward. Well, they just did that and added Maryland and Rutgers. Ped State can now have eastern rivalries.

[GGGG]

Miami was very successful in the BE and still left for the ACC. VTech left the BE immediately after the Mike Vick era.

You realize that with PSU in the mix, that the BE is entirely a different conference right?  The money is a lot more, and I really do wonder if Miami leaves in that case.

[honkytonk]

I don't think there is a chance that PSU goes to the B10 if they were in the BE.  PSU is a traditional eastern school even now.  It is an outlier in the B10 conference in a number of ways.  BC, Syracuse, Rutgers, BC, Miami, Virginia Tech, Pitt...and possibly Maryland, is a formidable eastern conference.

So....does the state of New Jersey and Western Pennsylvania offer enough high school talent on a regular basis to feed all of those programs? NO! I know Don Bosco has a ton of D1 players every year, but the NE sucks when it comes to cultivating D1 talent.

Why do you think Miami can have no fanbase yet still bring in great classes? Could it be that there are over 150 D1 caliber football players within a 2 hour driving radius of the campus? Do you know that Texas high schools complete the equivalent of 5 football seasons compared to all schools in the states that comprise the NE (as well as many other parts of the country)?

[GGGG]

So....does the state of New Jersey and Western Pennsylvania offer enough high school talent on a regular basis to feed all of those programs? NO!

Calm down dude.  If PSU, Miami and Va Tech are in a conference, that is three of the top 20 programs over the past decade.