Around the Big Ten

[WM Wolverine]

Need to 'understand' how the CIC works, basically it works by two (or 3) universities teaming up and receiving a grant for research money (while working together) opposed in favor of another sole university. It helps UofM, Wisky, etc. receive research money it otherwise wouldn't...

It's a significant part of expansion and the 'academic' requirements for the B10 but it can be overstated at times too. It's a factor that's important along with a handful of others.

[iam416]

Kansas to the B10 is picking up a little steam in the twitterverse and such.

I really don't expect an avlanche of moves in the next few weeks. I think this plays itself out over the next 18-24 months.

[WM Wolverine]

I expect the heat to turn up intensely this summer close to the deadline for teams to enter conferences for '14 (end of June?). Ditto for the deadline for '15...

I think you want a year or two of 'ratings' and such to showcase the new programs before taking the media rights to market.

[hack]

Is there a deadline, or a de facto one based on schedulemaking etc?

[WM Wolverine]

I believe its the end of June; June 31st which the month or two before then is when you expect things like this to really heat up...

If they don't let their conference know their intentions of leaving at that point, they are obligated to stay another year or the price to leave early is even higher. Money solves this issue.

[Whitley]

That's not shared or scalable revenue though, or anything that's going to generate advertising dollars, is it?

Duke is the big mystery to me, which I've mentioned before and will never mention again for fear of upsetting Paul...

Well the all the Big Ten schools (and UoC) have research cooperation agreements. And that does include a pooling of resources to a certain degree as well. Most that is individual but if you include Rutgers and Maryland and assume that the two schools not listed have 50 million in medical research then you are talking about 2.636 BILLION in dollars of research there. And we are just talking medical research here there are other lucrative places to research as well.

We are probably talking in the tens of billions in research here when combining ALL research. At 20 billion even if only 5% of those monies combined you are still talking 1 billion dollars flowing through the universities as collaborative research and that does not count any potential patents as well. If divided equally that is coming to a shade over 71 million/a year (split 14 ways). That is why TPTB in the Big Ten are emphasizing academics and AAU membership.

[geo weidl]

Now you have me really confused Whitley.

1 My understanding originally of forming these conferences (mini leagues) such as b1g, sec, pac10 and so on was primarily based on geographic location (travel), size of school (more funds available for sports teams) and standard of academics for athletic purposes. That is not the case now. Generating revenue is top of the list.

2 From what I understand there are entities within each university that solicite funds by means of donations, functions and government grants for various research in that university. Now what I believe you are saying these funds are shared?

3. Who decides and dsitributes these research funds amongst the schools? What does delaney get out of it?

Bottom line from what I am reading that there is more at stake than just the athletic end of it for these universities to join and form these super conferences.

[iam416]

Some really good stuff, Whitley.

I'll say this -- perception matters to these guys. Delaney and the B10 very much cares about being the world's best collection of research universities, bar none. He also cares about being a footbal joke.

Slive, IMO, cares, too. I think he and the SEC would love to improve their academic image as well as their hoops reputation. That's why I think they'd love to get North Carolina.

[hack]

OK, but that's not profits, that's money for research. Sure, it sounds like a factor. But I've been around universities enough to have a very difficult time believing that outside sources of money for research is as important as the pure profits raked in by the athletics.

[Ghengis Jon]

I've got a pair of Capital One Bowl tickets for sale, section 309, aisle seating. Between the 45-50 yard line, plus prepaid parking next to the stadium in Lot A. If anyone is interested, you can have them at cost as I will be putting them out on stubhub if no takers here. Send me a PM or via email. Thanks! Jon

[lineygoblue]

dang ... i wish i was taking a Florida vacation around that time. I used to live in the Orlando area ...

[THE_WIZARD_]

Why would anyone want to go see the Cap One Bowl...there will be a murder on the field...

Sick Fuckers

[Whitley]

Now you have me really confused Whitley.

1 My understanding originally of forming these conferences (mini leagues) such as b1g, sec, pac10 and so on was primarily based on geographic location (travel), size of school (more funds available for sports teams) and standard of academics for athletic purposes. That is not the case now. Generating revenue is top of the list.

2 From what I understand there are entities within each university that solicite funds by means of donations, functions and government grants for various research in that university. Now what I believe you are saying these funds are shared?

3. Who decides and dsitributes these research funds amongst the schools? What does delaney get out of it?

Bottom line from what I am reading that there is more at stake than just the athletic end of it for these universities to join and form these super conferences.

1) That is correct.

2) What makes the BIG Ten (and UoC right now) unique is that they really encourage research partnerships and sharing of research among the universities. While that is not uncommon (I think) with universities in the same state (Michigan, Michigan State and Wayne State have established a research triangle in Michigan a few years ago), it is a bit more uncommon within a power conference. This makes for more partnerships within research. However, I would imagine the vast majority is still within the university (which is why i put the figure at 95%) itself.

While the research dollars might go to one university--I can see where other researchers on the same project get money as well that goes to their university. And these funds would be pooled together. That is why the Big Ten is so adamant about getting schools with their academics in order (and have AAU status). Remember the Nebraska president said without AAU status they would not have been considered for Big 10 admission.

It is not as sexy as being a very good sports university, but in the long term the academics going to be what sustains the conference. I suspect that is one reason that Jim Delany and company are willing to wait and see if any other schools (like Virigina Tech?) might be able to attain that status. It is also a reason that Florida State (and possibly Miami, Fla.) are right now non starters. Time is on the big ten side here. Even with a weakened ACC, the SEC is kind of limited in expansion choices. North Carolina is going to continue to get more northernized (like VA is rihgt now) over the coming years.

Also it should be noted that Kansas and Missouri are talked about losing their AAU status in the coming years. The crazy political dealings down in Kansas are really hurting their chances and possibly their AAU status.

3) Delaney does not control over the research funds or how they are shared (if they are). That is probably why Delaney is now suggesting that the conference reinvest the monies made from the BTN back into the Athletic Departments. And that will be an enormous amount of money. the Big Ten said to Maryland that they are projecting their slice to be $47 million in 2017 when the TV contracts expire. IF that is the case it could really mean the Big Ten ADs could be self sustaining.

[Whitley]

Given all of that I think these are the next 4 targets for the B10:

1) Virginia
2) UNC
3) Duke
4) Georgia Tech

[lineygoblue]

Michigan at Georgia Tech in November .... hmmmm

Virginia - meh. I don't see what they add.

UNC - in football, they're another Illinois/Purdue/Northwestern. Basketball, along with Duke,... they make the B1G the best basketball conference in the world.

Duke - football, .. another Indiana. Basketball, .. another Indiana.