Sporting News on BT Expansion

[Too Long in the Wasteland]

Good article on the rumors that were reported a few days ago. I agree that there was probably something there. Its pretty obvious that ND is the big prize. But Delaney is smart to have Nebraska as a plan B. It puts more pressure on the irish, and if nd does blow him off, Nebraska is not too shabby a prize instead.

What will look sad is that after all this posturing, if Delaney winds up landing Rutgers or some other big east school he'll look like a chump.

 

[gophmeister]

I love how the one guy uses the phrase "nuclear option" in regards to adding teams from the Big East. I honestly don't like any of the teams from the Big East. Pitt is the only acceptable candidate as far as football and academics go. The knock against them to me is they play in Heinz Field. But they have football history -- Dan Marino, Tony Dorsett, a National Championship in my lifetime and Penn St really needs a true rival. Rutgers does have some potential, but come on. Although it might be fun to see Purdue Pete and the Scarlet Knight duke it out on the sidelines.

 

[gophmeister]

Oh and if Pitt were added, we coudl call the game the "World's Biggest Cat Fight."

 

[SelectionSunday]

One thing for which I am very confident: Jim Delany (re: the Big Ten) will not end up looking like a chump. The Big Ten Network has been a smashing success despite initial heavy criticism from those who thought it would bomb. Am confident he'll be make good decisions for the Big Ten, including not letting Notre Dame call all the shots if it's interested in joining the Big Ten.

I'm a traditionalist like a lot of folks and would prefer the Big Ten stick with no more than 12 schools, but I understand the need to do this "while the gettin' is good." As others have said, the Big Ten is easily the most prestigious & powerful conference in the country (always has been & likely always will be), and they need to stay out in front of all the expansion that's sure to occur. Delany should take the lead. ... he's the commissioner of the most desirable conference in the land.

 

[GopherinPhilly]

I just don't see the need to get to 16 right now...if we added ND, NE and Mizzou for the 2012 season...we still have the ability to go after Pitt and Rutgers/Cuse for the 2014 season.

If the nuclear option of grabbing 3 Big East teams is not taken...the Big East will be ripe for the pickens in 4 years...plus we may find better fruit if Texas doesn't have a home...regardless of what they say publicly...if the Big Ten hadn't put a moritorium on expansion after adding Penn St....I think NE, Texas and one other Big 12 school would be in the Big Ten right now...

Lets say ND says no, and I think they will...what if we add Ne, Texas, Mizzou, Pitt and Rutgers? BTN would be a billion dollar enterprise within 5 years and able to bid on non-big ten events like the college world series, hockey finals and other NCAA championship programming...