Around the Big Ten

[hack]

Heads must roll. Lots of them.

[entropy]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20120703/SPORTS/707039883

Should the BIG kick out PSU?

[Dr. Strangelove]

In a word: no

In two words: hell no

And it didn't take too long for the Nebraska media to make themselves at home and anoint themselves as the conference moral watchdog.

[entropy]

I do believe the BIG should do something... It does stand for something, right?

But I would agree with the no. But something should be done..

As for the neb media.. I believe this article is as much about an opinion as it is web hits.

[madootra]

I think the idea is worth, at least, a discussion. If it's proven that the University's most influential people, intentionally hid this to save a fucking football program....then....in a word....yes. Hell yes.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Kicking them out would harm everyone in the conference, not just PSU. And they would immediately be picked up by someone else like the ACC. In the end, the B1G would probably be hurt more by them going than they would.

Placing conference sanctions upon the program would be more productive if it's proven to be true that the university was working to bury these crimes in order to save the football program embarrassment.

[madootra]

I'm not certain of any measurable harm that wouldn't be easily offset....and who gives a fuck if the ACC picks them up?
And outside of a very narrow possibility that in "football", there may be some disturbance, do you really believe the BIG would be hurt by not having PSU around anymore? In what way? Other sports? Nope. Academically? Nope. Public Relations? Nope.

[drok]

The B1G would definitely be hurt financially. The loss of the championship game alone would be significant from a financial sense.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Right off the bat you lose the championship game unless you find another 12th team. Good luck finding someone who's as valuable as Penn State. Notre Dame is a pipe dream that's not happening.

Then, the BTN immediately gets taken off basic cable everywhere in PA and other places in the northeast. Losing Penn State wouldn't be like losing 1/12 of our tv sets; it would be closer to 20-25%.

Recruiting in PA has almost certainly been better since PSU joined. That would go away

You're talking about eliminating a school that has one of the three largest fanbases in the conference. You could arguably say THE largest. Their alumni association counts more members than Michigan. And you think the Big10 would suffer no impact if they were to be given the boot?

[Paul L]

Dear Lord, how did the Big10 survive before 1993??

[Dr. Strangelove]

Dear Lord, how did the Big10 survive before 1993??

I didn't say the Big10 would immediately collapse without them...

But to act as if the Big10 wouldn't be hurt by losing them is simply misguided and foolish.

I know a number of the traditionalists here who resent a "non-Midwest" presence in the conference would be pleased to see them go, even before this scandal.

[madootra]

Paul has it right........

I din't say it wouldn't be painless.......but it certainly doesn't take the discussion off the table. I think it's an idea worth having a debate about. To simply say, "No way" isn't surprising considering the University choice you follow. Money, resultant from football, is the one true God.

[Dr. Strangelove]

In this case voting expulsion probably does more harm to the conference than the offending school, who would immediately land on its feet elsewhere. So if the point is to punish Penn State then I'd have to say that expulsion is a pretty big failure. Levying sanctions within the framework of the conference makes more sense.

If the point is to posture and feel good about yourself and boast to everyone about how much integrity and class and dignity you've got then hey, have at it.

[madootra]

You seem to feel that doing something simply because it's the right thing to do, is somehow a mockable offense. Hey, have at it.
If having a discussion, which is what I'm endorsing; that leads to a consensus among the University presidents....over and above a fragile framework of "What's good for football", that it may be best for the Conference.......I won't argue. To dismiss that possibility as somehow, without question, an absolute "No", is at best, shortsighted.

[whodean]

Prosecute the individuals that broke the law, beyond that folks are getting carried away.