FWIW - Conference expansion

[615dawg]

I have a friend in administration at the University of Pittsburgh that has told me that they are in the process of forming a committee to look at joining the Big Ten.

Says that obviously the Big Ten would want to add Notre Dame and get to 12, but that's just not going to happen. Nothing new, but he thinks that unless its Notre Dame, the Big Ten will expand by five, raiding the Big East (Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Connecticut and Rutgers) and taking Iowa State from the Big 12.

 

[Tito Cheeseburger Jr]

[No message]

 

[patdog]

nm

 

[615dawg]

Honestly I have no idea, but Iowa State is being mentioned in every scenario. My personal opinion is that it adds a well respected land grant institution with a lot of research monies. While adding the Big East schools gets more exposure in the TV markets, who else would you add? West Virginia is a possibility, but honestly, its a wash between them and ISU.

Another working theory that makes sense is that there has to be some Western expansion to keep Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois and Wisconsin on board. Iowa State is in the Big 12 but clearly in Big Ten country, much like Georgia Tech down there. I suppose Missouri or Nebraska would be legitimate candidates, but Missouri will not leave without Kansas and I highly doubt Nebraska would be interested. Iowa State makes a lot of sense, they would have to commit to resurging their baseball program. There is a lot of pressure on Wisconsin now to add baseball, and a counterpart at Syracuse has told me that is part of what they are looking at.

 

[jacksonreb1]

rest of the world has. if they don't get into the conference now (big 10) then they are going to be royally screwed in the long run. they've been irrelevant for 15-20 yrs already and the day of the independent is over.

 

[bomanishus]

as a 'better fit' for the Big 10 than the SEC?

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

[No message]

 

[dosequisdawg]

Interestingly, I have a friend in athletic administration at Mizzou who seemsvery confident MU is getting an invite.Very little specific info was given as to why this is the prevailing thought, but it's what was said. This person is under the impression that the Big 10 will expand to at least 14, basically implying that Mizzou would not be the 12th team but could be in the 14-16 mix. I can say with almost 100% confidence it does not matter whathappens to Kansas, Mizzou will do what's best for Mizzou. It's also interestingyou mention Iowa State, because it seems if 2 are taken from the Big 12Mizzou and Nebraska would seem to make the most sense.

 

[jakldawg]

isn't threatened by them being in the Big East in every single sport they play except football (we all know what makes most of the money, but still.)

 

[missouridawg]

I've been reading Mizzou's name being mentioned to the Big 10 for the past several years now...

 

[mstateglfr]

They are the MSU of the Midwest. Seriously, its eery how similar the athletics are in terms of size relative to conference, success, etc.

 

[patdog]

if the Big 10 offer hadn't been an all-or-nothing invite. And I still think Notre Dame might consider joing the Big 10 now if they can keep their football TV contract. Which I don't see why they couldn't. Just don't let them share in the revenue from the regular Big 10 contract, except as the visiting team in their away games and don't let the rest of the Big 10 share in the Notre Dame contract except as the visiting team in their home games.

 

[dosequisdawg]

ya, me too. this talk is nothing new for MU but this is by far the most realistic it's ever been.