Around the Big Ten

[iam416]

Hanni:

I agree with you that things are generally as they appear. I also agree that this move should be viewed on its own merits. The merits, IMO, are fairly clear. They're "filler" adds for football at the expense of B10 tradition. Financially, I think Maryland makes sense and I think Rutgers is a bit of gamble. I think the B10 synergies + Maryland will work out to something considerably above pro rata. I'm not sure about Rutgers, though the upside is higher than Maryland.

On the whole, I don't like the move as it stands. At this point, my hope is that the B10 is on its way to 16 and divisional realignment that will put OSU and M back in the same division. If it's OSU/M/MSU/PSU + 4 shitball expansion teams, I could deal with that.

As for the "evil genius" -- I agree with your points there, too. BUT, I don't think is an evil genius type situation. I think it's fairly apparent that the B10 is looking to go beyond 14. Whether it will work out or not, I haven't a clue. But if that is their goal, it's fair to assume assume some sort of plan to achieve those ends. I don't think the B10 would wing it. They may fail, and fail miserably. But I don't think they're shooting from the cuff on this.

[Hannibal]

Hanni:

On the whole, I don't like the move as it stands. At this point, my hope is that the B10 is on its way to 16 and divisional realignment that will put OSU and M back in the same division. If it's OSU/M/MSU/PSU + 4 shitball expansion teams, I could deal with that.

I could deal with that too. Maybe even like it. What makes me worry is that even by adding two shitty teams in the East, the B1G still didn't go back to East-West. Further additions, if people's speculations are right, are more likely to be in the East. Not ND or Texas. I think that the long term inevitable result is not that we'll be back together, but that the rivalry will be further deemphasized, and moved to mid-October in the hopes that we will meet in the CCG each year.

[iam416]

That's my biggest concern, Hanni. At this point, I'm all for whatever keeps M and PSU on OSU's schedule every year. Those are the two home games I don't miss. The others are virtually interchangeable.

At 16, I could still see OSU and M split with 1 protected game. At 20, which seems like utter pie-in-the-sky nonsense, OSU and M will be reunited. Frankly, the most logical thing to do at 16 is to keep all rivalries intra-divsional, have no protected games and play 2 inter-divisional games a year (for 9 total conference games). You'd at least get to see the "West" for a home-home every 8 years.

But, when it comes to divisional alignment and scheduling, I have zero faith in the B10 based on long, 100% track record of failure.

[iam416]

You know, the thing about a M/MSU/PSU/OSU/expansion teams division that makes sense is $$$$$$. Rutgers is the big gamble, right? You need to gin up interest in Rutgers football ASAP. And there's no better vehicle for doing that than having them play the 3 big kahunas every season. Same with Maryland.

So, wait -- I have a sliver of hope if it goes to 16 because I know that the B10 is $$$$ driven!

[hack]

When it does go wrong, IMO it won't be because it wasn't thought out. They have a strategy and they've thought it out. Obviously they think it's going to work. Surely they've thought about the fact that tradition is an intangible but valuable asset that sets this sport apart. They're prepared to risk it. Wisely or unwisely? You and I probably agree on the answer, but these are human beings and as such they have a need to justify their own existence. That's why CEOs make stupid acquisitions, why armies march on foreign capitals, etc. It sucks, but that's a downside of humanity we're not gonna escape from. So, yeah -- I'm with talent. Let's hope that they accidentally get it right down the road.

[hack]

I'm all for 20. Stick PSU and somebody else (Indiana, Northwestern) with all the other new teams. Have two divisions: The Real Big Ten and The New Big Ten. We can ignore the other division save for twice a year and the CCG. The CCG would be a better and more interesting game that way, we can have the traditional matchups, and just enough newness.

[iam416]

Some posts from the main Maryland board watching the announcement on BTN (apparently Raycom is horrible -- well, not apparently -- have you ever watched one of those 12:30 games on Saturday -- so blurry you can barely make out the players):

I'M WATCHING THIS ON MY PHONE!!! IN HD!!!!11!1111!!!one

The production values are so, so, so much better than Raycom Sports. This is like when the alien spaceship landed in Close Encounters. I'm in awe, and getting more excited by the minute.

also, very weird watching a professional level broadcast produced by our home conference...

I swear the ACCN films from the television studios at Eastern Middle School.
This is ridiculous.

Btw, on Big Ten money: Northwestern recently announced plans for a new $220 million athletic complex. Northwestern. Quarter billion dollars. NORTHWESTERN.
http://www.schoolconstructionnews.com/articles/2012/09/19/northwestern-university-announces-new-athletics-complex
Michigan is building a $40 million indoor rowing center. Indoor rowing center. For women’s crew. Indoor rowing center for $40 million. In which women will row. Indoors.

I would hire Gerry Dinardo or Glenn mason as our HC right now just based on this BTN performance

Indiana renovated their football stadium...Indiana!

When this is done, on what channel can I find the ACC's rebuttal?

They are carving one side out of a cardboard box at ACC Headquarters so Swofford can pretend to be on television

Well now that they will be turning it over to UMD, the quality of this telecast will go down a little.
I hope the big ten doesn't rescind the invite when they see us.

Purdue has a potential presidential candidate as their president. We have a guy that looks and talks like my dry cleaner.
Yes, i know he's smart and his story is one of admiration, but he needs rosetta stone x 34394839th x Nth degree

[Hannibal]

The Maryland reaction seems to be "yeah this kinda sucks, but the money is definitely good". In that case, they are right. There is no risk at all to the conference's new additions. They will instantly get a big windfall of annual cash.

[entropy]

Big Ten football schedule could move to 9 games, hoops slate could expand to 20


Jim Delany has expanded the Big Ten once again, and with that, conference schedules for football and basketball could begin to increase as well.

After announcing the addition of Maryland to the league Monday, Big Ten commissioner said during a national teleconference that the league's conference football schedule could increase to nine games, and the league's basketball slate could jump up to as many as 20 contests for each team.

"I think more games is on the table," Delany said. "One of the reasons we stayed at 11 (members) and stayed at 12 is because we love to play each other more, not less."

Maryland will join the Big Ten in 2014, and according to an ESPN.com report, Rutgers is expected to follow Tuesday with an announcement that it will become the league's 14th member.

The Big Ten currently features an eight-game conference football schedule, allowing members the opportunity to schedule four non-conference games during the early portion of the season.

The league has discussed the idea of increasing its football schedule, but most of that seemed to fade away when the conference announced a short-lived scheduling collaboration with the Pac-12.

That pact is now dead, and it appears to move to increase the conference's football schedule is back on the rise.

"We have a great conference made up of not only great institutions, but integrated rivalries in integrated markets," Delany said. "We're going into new markets that are not integrated. We're going to build integrated rivalries, we're going to create experiences and we're going to collaborate academically.

"But to do that, it may require more games. Our fans want to see these games. Maryland fans may not be used to Northwestern, they may not be used to Iowa, or Ohio State or Michigan, but I think when we bring those schools (to Maryland) and let (Maryland's) fan base and alumni get exposed to (the Big Ten), I think (it's going to be positive)."

ESPN.com reported Monday that both Maryland and Rutgers are expected to join the Leaders Division, and Illinois will then join Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Nebraska and Iowa in the Legends Division.

As far as basketball scheduling goes, the league currently operates on an 18-game schedule, but Delany said the conference's recent expansion could see as many as 20 games, maybe more.

He admitted that, as a rule, coaches prefer to play fewer conference games, while commissioners always want more.

At some point, he says, there will be a compromise.

"I think there's probably a compromise in the middle," Delany said. "I hope we play more games. But I have a lot to do with the bowl scheduling and nothing to do with the non-conference scheduling.

"We'll figure it out. I like more, not less. I know coaches feel like it's a very challenging league, but I just believe when we play each other more it's healthy and good, when we play each other less, it's not as good."

[hack]

The Maryland reaction seems to be "yeah this kinda sucks, but the money is definitely good". In that case, they are right. There is no risk at all to the conference's new additions. They will instantly get a big windfall of annual cash.

Sounds to me more like ``I can't believe they took us and hopefully they won't have buyer's remorse''. Just expressed with a lot more hipster panache.

[Hannibal]

Here is who the Big Ten should target in the next round of exansions to get into new markets:

1. University of Toronto -- gets you into the lucrative Ontario market
2. South Florida -- makes the entire state of Florida part of your blueprint!
3. Tulane University -- not as lucrative from a TV standpoint, but it helps recruiting tremendously if you are in Louisiana
4. University of Houston -- Houston is a huge city. Just think of how much money the Big Ten would make if everyone in that metropolitan area was paying $1.25 per month!
5. San Diego State -- awesome addition both from a recruiting standpoint and a TV sets standpoint.
6. TCU -- To lock up the Dallas/FW market.
7. Duke -- don't tell me you're not salivating over the thought of plundering the research triangle!
8. Boston College -- They have been such an awesome addition for the ACC. Just look at how they pack the stadium for their conference chamiponship games. When I reflect on why the Big Ten is such a poor conference and the ACC makes billions of dollars per year, I think that it can all be traced back to the moment that the ACC snagged Boston College and locked up that lucrative northeast market.

[THE_WIZARD_]

How about Anchorage. Alaska?

[Hannibal]

How about Anchorage. Alaska?

If you are going to expand outside of the continental US, you need to be more ambitious than that. I'm thinking some place like Kuala Lampur, Mumbai, or Tokyo. If you thought expansion into NYC was big, just wait until the entire country of India is paying for the BTN!

[THE_WIZARD_]

How about Nepal? We could have the B1G CCG on the top of Everest!

[hack]

In all seriousness, there's no room in the Big Ten for Duke/UNC. As a fan of college basketball as well as college football, I may end up resenting the plundering of the ACC for ruining that as much as anything else. College basketball is much better off with a solid ACC and the UNC/Duke rivalry.