The Big 10/11 to consider expanding.

[NWLB]

OK, lets assume Notre Dame has been mentioned, debated, and eliminated, then declares its not interested anyway.

Now having said that, whose likely to fit the announced idea of a 12th team in a major TV market?

Secondary to that, should and would the B10/11/12 go to divisions and play a title game?

Pitt, Mazzou, WVU, Louisville, etc..... What works and why?

[Lord_Byron]

Good question.

The Big 10/11 is run by the university presidents who decide on new members. If one looks at what happened in the '90s when they invited Penn State, the ADs were generally against it from principally a travel point of view. However, the presidents determined that adding anothe major land-grant research university was in the best interest of the conference.

Fast forward to 2007, my assumption is that this still holds true. I would think that the only conference that they'd be able to poach from would be the Big East. Other conferences within their footprint are too solid. SO that says they are pretty much limited to Pitt, Rutgers, West Virginia. Of those, I don't think they'd take WVU. That leaves either Pitt or Rutgers.

[NWLB]

Rutgers is the flavor of the moment. But Pitt is closer geographically, and would seem to fit the academic profile better. Plus an in-state rival for Penn State would do well on TV.

[BGDrew]

But Pitt doesn't really add a new TV market that Penn State doesn't already have. If Rutgers had continued success they could be New York's football team. Also, Tony Soprano is an alumnus...do you want to make Tony Soprano angry?

[tekekini]

OK, lets assume Notre Dame has been mentioned, debated, and eliminated, then declares its not interested anyway.

Now having said that, whose likely to fit the announced idea of a 12th team in a major TV market?

Secondary to that, should and would the B10/11/12 go to divisions and play a title game?

Pitt, Mazzou, WVU, Louisville, etc..... What works and why?

This is all BS because Delaney wants to do this for the wrong reasons, to expand the Big Ten Network's profits. Last time I checked his primary focus is the big ten?

He wants to add Rutgers because Jersey would be a big TV market for the network.

If we were going to do it for the right reasons, then WVu would work they are a powerhouse in football and not too bad in bball. Pitt and Louisville are also god options I would think. Hell I wouldn't mind adding WVU and Louisville and dropping Minnesota and Purdue but that will never ever happen. That is just wishful thinking on my part. But reality I would say Pitt, WVU or UL would be best to be added.

And to answer your other question yes they would split into an east/west have a title game to be aired on big ten network. OSU and UM would both be in the east because neither would want to play each other twice if they were in different divisions (regular season and title game) so it will be Wisconsins vs. OSU/UM every year for the big ten title (just like it is now)

So this really solves nothing other than getting more people to demand having the big ten network. It is a sham and I no longer like Delaney as the commish of the Big Ten. He must go.

[tekekini]

But Pitt doesn't really add a new TV market that Penn State doesn't already have. If Rutgers had continued success they could be New York's football team. Also, Tony Soprano is an alumnus...do you want to make Tony Soprano angry?

Pitt would fit nicely because of a natural rivalry with PSU

[NWLB]

The Big Ten Network is starting to become an interesting game of chicken. I had thought there wasn't much they could do to screw the idea up. Now if they fail to get what they want from cable networks, they are screwed for awhile.

On the other hand, this could be an early example of what drives cable to different formats in terms of selection options.

[Jacobs4Heisman]

But Pitt doesn't really add a new TV market that Penn State doesn't already have.

To be honest, since I've moved to Pittsburgh, I've heard more about PSU than Pitt and I've seen almost as much PSU gear...And I drive through the U of Pitt twice every weekday. So you're absolutely correct in that regard.

Still, Pittsburgh would "fit" pretty well in the B11. Decent academic school, great football area for both fan interest and recruiting, and competitive in both major sports.

[h2oville rocket]

Pitt and Louisville are also god options

I would take one of these two- don't want to tick the Big Guy off.

[FalconTurf]

They want TV markets for their network? It seems so wrong on so many levels unless we are talking about a professional league.

Gotta be east coast. Rutgers pulls NJ/NYC which is huge. I gotta believe someone in a major east coast market whether it makes sense to Minni or WisconSIN is another issue beyond MONEY.

[Falconfreak90]

Delaney is an ass....always has been. Personally, I don't care what the Big Can't Count does. It's all about the money with that gang.

[MarkL]

I just don't see the Big 10 expanding. There's always been a bit of talk on different forums across the country of the Big 10 taking in team number 12 - Pitt, WVU, Mizzou, Iowa State, Kentucky, Louisville (depends what year because now Iowa State and Kentucky are out but Rutgers in in) and making a Big 10 east and a Big 10 west. I've seen this talk for years and years and I really don't think it will ever happen because the Big 10 is happy as is with all of their profits and that's fine with me.

[Warthog]

Delaney is an ass....

Since you brought that up... I heard someone interview Delaney on the radio last week. He was talking mostly about the Big Ten network and how it will get exposure for some smaller sports. He continued by saying something like 'The Big Ten conference has won national titles in football, basketball, foosball, tiddlywinks, hockey, snowboarding, ...' Whoa, hold the phone, wait a second. When did the Big Ten start playing hockey? Yes, there are schools from the Big Ten that play hockey. But the Big Ten itself does not include hockey. I thought he was way out of line trying to take credit for the accomplishments of the CCHA and say they are the accomplishments of the Big Ten. He owes the CCHA (and that other hockey conference that Minny is in) a HUGE apology.

[Schadenfreude]

That leaves either Pitt or Rutgers.

I say Rutgers. That would be the best choice. It's a decent school in the Big Ten mold and it reaches two huge markets in a new state.

It doesn't matter that they aren't very good at football. They'll learn.

[eRichFalcon]

Financially I think Rutgers makes the most sense, as everyone else has mentioned with the TV markets. Geographically, I think WVU and Pitt are basically a draw, which I would give to WVU, on the probable ability of their football program to be competitive in the Big 12 v.2.0

That being said, who's to say the B-11 wants them, and for that matter, that any of the schools in question necessarily want to go to the conference....