Big 10 (11) to expand, Missouri willing to listen

[33girl]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Pitt's a tough case, since it doesn't open up any new markets for the conference, and they have bad blood with PSU over scheduling issues (and general fanbase issues - from what I know, PSU was douchey in the whole thing).

Do you mean about the Pitt/Penn State game being no longer? I thought it was the conference in general who was douchey about them fitting it in the schedule, not PSU specifically. I don't know, everyone thought the world would come to an end when that game went away but it didn't.

[kddani]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Do you mean about the Pitt/Penn State game being no longer? I thought it was the conference in general who was douchey about them fitting it in the schedule, not PSU specifically. I don't know, everyone thought the world would come to an end when that game went away but it didn't.

Oh no. It's is PSU/JoePa, specifically. Zero to do with the conferences. Supposedly the only condition he would do it in would be 2 home games for PSU and 1 home game for Pitt.

[TSteven]

Big Ten evaluating expansion to 12 teams
By RICK GANO
AP Sports Writer
7:06 p.m. CST, December 15, 2009

Exert on Mizzou to Big Eleven

University of Missouri spokeswoman Mary Jo Banken said the school hasn't been contacted by the Big Ten.

"Should there be an official inquiry or invitation, we would evaluate it based on what is in the best interest of MU, athletically and academically," she said in an e-mail.

Don Walsworth, a major donor to Missouri's sports programs who was a member of the board that governs the university until earlier this year, said that, aside from a Big Ten television contract that allows more revenue sharing than the Big 12 deal, it makes little sense for Missouri to jump conferences.

The school's position in the geographic middle of the conference allows easy, relatively inexpensive travel, Walsworth said. Leaving behind rivals such as Kansas and big-time opponents like Texas would upset fans.

"I think that they would be a little bit miffed if we had to start those traditions over again," Walsworth said. "I like to play Oklahoma, I like to play Texas."

The closest thing Missouri has to a Big Ten rival is Illinois, which the Tigers play every year in football and basketball.

But the schools have said their annual football game in St. Louis will end after 2010, and many fans from both schools - Walsworth among them - say the rivalry doesn't amount to much.

[Ghostwriter]

Charlotte just announced a unanimous decision by their Trustees to start football in 2013. Hmmm maybe the Big Eleven should just wait for this to happen and add them at this time. The conspiracy theorist in me wonders if there is a connection.

Seriously - How about West Virginia?

[kddani]

Originally Posted by Ghostwriter

How about West Virginia?

Their academics are not even close to up to snuff.

[Ghostwriter]

Originally Posted by kddani

Their academics are not even close to up to snuff.

Maybe but they party like hell and sell out every game. Athletically they would be a very good fit.

I really do not see much difference academically between WVU and many of the schools being considered. Notre Dame would be the exception but they do not appear interested.

[kddani]

Originally Posted by Ghostwriter

Maybe but they party like hell and sell out every game. Athletically they would be a very good fit.

I really do not see much difference academically between WVU and many of the schools being considered. Notre Dame would be the exception but they do not appear interested.

I don't disagree that they would make a good fit athletically, but the Big 10 has made a big deal about its academics for quite awhile now. [BTW, WVU doesn't sell out every game (for instance, when Pitt played them this year there were a number of empty seats), but I will agree that they do travel well.]

I don't know enough about Mizzou, but Pitt, Rutgers and Syracuse are much more on par with the Big 10 academically as being major research universities that are much better known academically. Just the quickest number I found, in 2006-2007, WVU admitted 92% of applicants. For fall 2009, Pitt's admitted 58%. Of course, that analysis could go on and on, but WVU would be hard pressed to argue it was on par with the other schools academically.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by Ghostwriter

Charlotte just announced a unanimous decision by their Trustees to start football in 2013. Hmmm maybe the Big Eleven should just wait for this to happen and add them at this time. The conspiracy theorist in me wonders if there is a connection.

Pretttttttttttty sure the Big Ten isn't holding its breath for a Tier 4 school that doesn't really have any major-sports cachet.

Seriously - How about West Virginia?

Other than Mizzou/Nebraska, there's almost zero chance the Big Ten trustees allow the conference to pull in any school lower than say top 75 academically (Pitt, Cuse and Rutgers all fit this definition, while Mizzou is ~100). WVU would be hard-pressed to be top 200. Significant difference.

[Ghostwriter]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Other than Mizzou/Nebraska, there's almost zero chance the Big Ten trustees allow the conference to pull in any school lower than say top 75 academically (Pitt, Cuse and Rutgers all fit this definition, while Mizzou is ~100). WVU would be hard-pressed to be top 200. Significant difference.

I have no real ox to gore in this but I really see virtually no difference between WVU's academics and MO or Nebraska's. I just cannot image either Pitt, Syracuse or Rutgers even being remotely considered for entrance. They simply do not draw and do not travel well. Maybe Iowa State but only because Iowa's is already there and ready made as a rival. Of course, Notre Dame is the only real fit. In the end it will be about athletics and $$$ and not about academics.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by Ghostwriter

Of course, Notre Dame is the only real fit. In the end it will be about athletics and $$$ and not about academics.

Do you really understand the Big 10? West Virginia will never get in.