It’s a slow week around in sports. None of the 87 bowls games have begun, college basketball has died down due to finals and there’s certainly some Tiger fatigue in effect. So the glimmer of light that is the news about the Big Ten’s possible expansion a few years down the road has given just about everyone a chance to chime in. (Your truly included, of course.)
Here’s the conference’s official statement. The money sentence:
If and when such discussions become necessary the Council of Presidents/Chancellor has instructed Commissioner James E. Delany to inform the Chair of the COP/C, Michigan State University President Lou Anna K. Simon, and then to notify the commissioner of the affected conference(s).
Basketball Prospectus’ John Gasaway, he of the dramatic Twitter photo, tackled the subject yesterday and, like CHJ, looked at it from the hoops perspective. His best line, which I completely agree with.
Boston College, a 146-year-old Jesuit university located in the heart of New England, still looks odd to me as a member of the ACC.
Gasaway also looks into the issues that could come with the bitching of how divisions should be aligned and how schedules should be doled out.
Apparently, Missouri is quietly pleading from the corner to be slipped an invitation notice from the Big Ten if the Big East doesn’t put one out on its curb to be picked up. Its chancellor is openly coming out and asking for some consideration. Quick analysis: I might like this move the best out of all of them. But who would then jettison another conference to go to the Big 12? What makes the most sense to me is TCU. Then you could have Boise State fill TCU’s spot in the Mountain West. Just an idea.
The Dagger looked at the prime candidates, if you want a refresher.
The Columbus Post-Dispatch’s Rob Oller gives a pretty even-keeled point of view in favor of expansion. But he doesn’t offer much insight into what school would work best.
The Chicago Tribune tried to read as much into the 288-word release from the Big Ten as it possibly could.
It’s all a guessing game right now. The Big Ten will treat its search for a new member with as much obfuscation as it possibly can. There’s been chatter that “If Pitt doesn’t join, this won’t happen.” The same has been said about Missouri, Notre Dame and Syracuse.
Notre Dame is a pipe dream, as its already in the middle of its television deal. What do Syracuse, Missouri and Pittsburgh bring in terms of money? That’s what is driving this bus. Will the Big Ten see a significant increase in revenue from any of these schools? Stewart Mandel says said chosen school would have to bring in more than $20 million per year to legitimize the choice. He thinks Nebraska (and that seems WEIRD) would be the easiest choice to fit the money mold.
More and more, I don’t think the Big Ten gets this done, but if it does go through, my guesses.
1) Missouri
2) Pittsburgh
3) Cincinnati
4) Nebraska
5) Memphis
