Big Ten Expansion? CUSA Impact?

[Cheesesteak]

If the Big Ten eventually expands (adds Rutgers, for example) and the Big East needs a replacement (wants Memphis, for example) how would CUSA react? Replacement for (potentially) lost CUSA team?


Big Ten Network has conference thinking expansion — again

By Randy Peterson, Des Moines Register - July 25, 2007

The creation of the Big Ten Network means conference officials likely will discuss expansion again, Commissioner Jim Delany said Wednesday.
"I think we need to look at it in the next year," he said during a wide-ranging interview with Register reporters.

Adding a 12th team likely will be revisited because of the network, which is scheduled to launch Aug. 30, Delany said. An additional big-name university in a large television market means more exposure for the network and its sponsors.

"It changes to some extent how you think about it," Delany said of expansion. "The broader (the network) is distributed, the more value (expansion) has.

"We have eight states. With expansion, you could have nine."

Said Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz: "If it makes sense — if the right institution was interested — I think there would be consideration given."

The conference looked toward Notre Dame when exploring expanding to 12 teams in 1999 but the Irish chose to remain a football independent.

"There was great value there," Delany said of Notre Dame's national appeal. "There aren't many universities that produce that kind of value."

Rutgers and Syracuse could be universities at whom the Big Ten looks.

"Wherever," Delany said when asked about specifics. "With the network — there's a different element. It changes the dynamics."

In football, a 12th university could mean two divisions and a postseason playoff.

"Any television executive would do whatever they could to be able to air a game like the Big Ten championship," said Mark Silverman, Big Ten Network president. "It would be worth a considerable amount of value.

"Fans would take to something of that nature if it were in the best interest of the conference."

Coaches think otherwise, said Ferentz.

"I've not met anybody in coaching that really enjoys it," Ferentz said of the divisional playoff format.

"There's a lot of downside to it, in my opinion."

Among the concerns are playing an additional game and the potential of missing out on a BCS bowl if you lose the conference title game.

But expansion could also result in a large conference without divisions.

"I'm agnostic," Delany said. "I could live with two divisions and a championship game, but I think that has a tendency to devalue the season-ending game and have a negative impact on your losing team in season-ending games.

"I don't want us to tear ourselves apart over the structure of football for the sake of expansion."

Nor does Ferentz.

"If it makes sense — if the right institution was interested — I think there would be consideration given," he said.

Delany cautioned against rushing to add a 12th school.

"You have to build a network that has value first," Delany said. "You don't expand it until you have it built.

"Until we have a fully distributed network in the eight states, then you have a value and then you can look at expansion.

"Every time you make a major adjustment in the Big Ten, there's a gestation period. You have to allow one set of efforts to settle in, and then catch a breath."

[LonghornFan68]

What the hell would they call it? The Big 10 plus 2? It's already the Big 10/11. I can't imagine college football without the Big 10. So the name has to stay. [/u]

[DiamondM75]

What the hell would they call it? The Big 10 plus 2? It's already the Big 10/11. I can't imagine college football without the Big 10. So the name has to stay. [/u]

The Big 10 et. al.

[Cheesesteak]

No matter how many teams the Big Ten Conference has it will always be called the Big Ten Conference.

[davish75]

Why not SMU?

We bring not only Dallas, but Texas to be part of their conference. We would have massive crowds and be able to be competitive with Big 12 school for players.

If only we still had Lamar Hunt to lead such an effort.

[jtstang]

We would have massive crowds ...

?

[mrydel]

No matter how many teams the Big Ten Conference has it will always be called the Big Ten Conference.

Apparently the Commissioner would need to drop his pants to count to 11.

[EastStang]

They have been holding that slot for Notre Dame. If they change that opinion, the options would be in this order: Missouri, Pitt, and Iowa State. Note the Big XII is the most likely to take a hit. If the Big XII loses a team in the north who will they raid? Will they go after SMU, TCU, Rice or Houston? Will they go after Tulsa? Will they go after Arkansas or Memphis? Or go west to Colorado State or Air Force or BYU or Boise?

[LonghornFan68]

They have been holding that slot for Notre Dame. If they change that opinion, the options would be in this order: Missouri, Pitt, and Iowa State. Note the Big XII is the most likely to take a hit. If the Big XII loses a team in the north who will they raid? Will they go after SMU, TCU, Rice or Houston? Will they go after Tulsa? Will they go after Arkansas or Memphis? Or go west to Colorado State or Air Force or BYU or Boise?

SMU - not likely, not enough draw (no offense)
TCU - Pretty likely due to their recent success
Rice - see SMU
Houston - doubtful, it'd be like adding another Baylor
Tulsa - maybe, but we already have 2 Oklahoma schools
Arkansas - can't imagine the Pigs would leave the SEC.
Memphis - would be a good pick-up, both in terms of football and basketball exposure
Colorado St - can't see that happening
Air Force - doubtful
BYU - more likely than Air Force
Boise - would be dumb... one year of success does not equate to increased value.

I think TCU or Memphis would be good pick-ups.

[PK]

...nevermind...

[Cheesesteak]

EastStang -

I think that the Big Ten (assuming ND says no privately again) would go after a Big East team like Rutgers or Syracuse (mentioned in the article).

* Pitt doesn't bring much - Penn State is the dominant program in PA.
* Iowa State - Adds few TV sets.
* Missouri - A good candidate (in between St. Louis and Kansas City)

Rutgers (NJ and NYC Metro) and Syracuse (upstate NY with NYC Metro interest) could bring the largest additional TV audiences to the Big Ten.

An important factor to the Big Ten could be membership in the Association of American Universities - Iowa State, Rutgers, Syracuse and Missouri are all members...side note --- Rice, Texas A&M and UT are also members.

http://www.aau.edu/aau/members.html

[MustangIcon]

They have been holding that slot for Notre Dame. If they change that opinion, the options would be in this order: Missouri, Pitt, and Iowa State. Note the Big XII is the most likely to take a hit. If the Big XII loses a team in the north who will they raid? Will they go after SMU, TCU, Rice or Houston? Will they go after Tulsa? Will they go after Arkansas or Memphis? Or go west to Colorado State or Air Force or BYU or Boise?

SMU - not likely, not enough draw (no offense)
TCU - Pretty likely due to their recent success
Rice - see SMU
Houston - doubtful, it'd be like adding another Baylor
Tulsa - maybe, but we already have 2 Oklahoma schools
Arkansas - can't imagine the Pigs would leave the SEC.
Memphis - would be a good pick-up, both in terms of football and basketball exposure
Colorado St - can't see that happening
Air Force - doubtful
BYU - more likely than Air Force
Boise - would be dumb... one year of success does not equate to increased value.

I think TCU or Memphis would be good pick-ups.

Memphis is pretty far east as opposed to the rest of the teams in conference. To me TCU would seem like a very logical choice.

However, I cannot see why you wouldn't also see Houston as a viable option from that list. Bowl games in 3 of the last 4 seasons since Art Briles came on board. Last season beat Oklahoma St. at home, lost by 1 at Miami, lost by a TD to South Carolina in the Liberty Bowl (which I'm sure was practically a home game for S. Carolina). I frankly think they would wax Baylor. Now think if they joined the Big 12, had packed stadiums for every home game, increased media exposure, increased athletics budget, and all the other perks of being in a BCS conference. Their recruiting would have to improve from what it is now I would imagine. I don't see UH competeing for the Big XII crown soon if they joined, but I could very easily see them have Texas Tech like success and certainly not doormat status like Baylor. Just my 2 cents. Not to mention, they play in HOUSTON mwhich is the 4th largest city in the country and is full of alums from every team in the Big 12 South. Seems like it would be a great choice to add to the conference unless people think Arkansas would leave the SEC, which I don't think they would.

[CalallenStang]

Big 10 might also go after Louisville...

[J.T.supporta]

What it all boils down to is position in other sports, not just football.

The Big 10 will most likely pull out of the Big East, being that the BE has been the conference to take teams from.

This wont happen for a few years though.

[CA Mustang]

Boise - would be dumb... one year of success does not equate to increased value.

Actually, BSU has been winning for quite awhile. http://cfreference.net/cfr/show/1078