Is the Big 10 Bluffing?

[WSGJ]

Has anyone considered the Big 10 itself leaked some misinformation to pressure ND?

http://www.sportingnews.com/college-foo ... nsion-more

[davidpaul123]

good post. that would turn out to be an interesting senario.

[NickSMU17]

they aren't

[huskerpony]

No, they aren't. Missouri leaked the information.


Here's about the best breakdown of what is going on that I have heard anywhere--as a disclaimer, the writer they are talking to is a guy I played highschool ball with:

http://www.1620thezone.com/play_window. ... Id=4649734


This fits pretty much with what I have heard from the inside--Osborne wants Texas to make some concessions on a number of things. Texas isn't biting, and Nebraska is going to walk.

[CalallenStang]

Osborne wants Texas to make some concessions on a number of things. Texas isn't biting, and Nebraska is going to walk.

I've been hearing this for a good two or three years now.

[West Coast Johnny]

Yes, there is a very big element of bluff to the Big 10 expansion. They want ND. But ND doesn't want to loose football independence. So the big 10 decimates the Big East by addign Rutgers, Uconn, Syracuse, etal. Now, ND is in a tough place because their conference is falling apart.

However, ND can call the bluff by not joining the Big 10. The Big East is still an OK basketball conference without the football schools. Or ND can fold their cards and join the Big 10. My guess is that they will join. I think there is enough writing on the wall that the days of ND being both relevent and independent are over.

Why else would the Big 10 want Rutgers? They have no nationwide appeal. They aren't even a major north-eastern regional team. As an athletic program, they have achieved nothing in the last 150 years. They are another mouth to feed for the Big 10. As for the New York city market - they are barely a paragraph in the newspapers every sunday. Ask anyone from Iowa City to State College PA - no one is excited for their first road trip to Piss-cataway.

[Dutch]

i understand that tenured administration at ND may think their stuff doesn't stink and that they can return to relevance while staying independent, but you would think that the boosters would see otherwise.

[CalallenStang]

i understand that tenured administration at ND may think their stuff doesn't stink and that they can return to relevance while staying independent, but you would think that the boosters would see otherwise.

their boosters are more out of touch with reality than their administration is

[East Coast Mustang]

Intersting scenario I read about on ESPN recently was that the Big East could force ND's hand and kick them out for other sports, hoping they'll join the Big Ten for all sports and the Big Ten will stay content at 12, and thus not raid the Big East.

[CalallenStang]

Intersting scenario I read about on ESPN recently was that the Big East could force ND's hand and kick them out for other sports, hoping they'll join the Big Ten for all sports and the Big Ten will stay content at 12, and thus not raid the Big East.

Yes, I believe UConn's football coach was the one that suggested that. What I read into that was that UConn will not be a target for Big Ten expansion.

[NickSMU17]

i understand that tenured administration at ND may think their stuff doesn't stink and that they can return to relevance while staying independent, but you would think that the boosters would see otherwise.

their boosters are more out of touch with reality than their administration is

Very true....in fact I think the admin knows whats coming and is just trying to soften the blow by continuing to deny rumors. This is until it accepts and tells alumni we tried as hard as we could...

[Samurai Stang]

Intersting scenario I read about on ESPN recently was that the Big East could force ND's hand and kick them out for other sports, hoping they'll join the Big Ten for all sports and the Big Ten will stay content at 12, and thus not raid the Big East.

Yes, I believe UConn's football coach was the one that suggested that. What I read into that was that UConn will not be a target for Big Ten expansion.

UConn may soon feel compelled to court the ACC with West Virginia.

[Bergermeister]

senario

[CalallenStang]

senario

I don't know if he will c his mistake.