Is it though? The same type of decisions were/are being made by the other conferences. Just at a different level.
No, but the CIC research network is only schools in the Big Ten ( plus the former Big Ten member U of Chicago ). And the Ivy League gets it's name from the football conference. Beforehand, as far as I know, there wasn't any formal name for that group of schools.
The B1G's CIC received 3.5 billion from the federal government in 2006, so yeah I'd say it's a pretty big deal. Just read the CIC may let john Hopkins join since they are joining the B1G in lacrosse
I understand the desire for some to take college out of college football, but it's frankly not a realistic standpoint.
well we are playing them again starting next year and I foresee an annual game moving forward. This first set is only slated for a 4 game series but it's good for the state and fans I think.
going back to the whole purpose of expansion... money....Pitt adds literally nothing. They have no fans. No new TV markets. Nothing recruiting wise the conference doesn't already have. Nothing.
It's been said on here before but the B1G prints money, their last move was so money driven I doubt they make another money move. The last 2 to join will be to appease other members, Pitt and Virginia to make our east coast section happy.
Expansion for the B1G has been, and will continue to be based on two things: 1. Extending it's footprint into big TV markets 2. Research dollars
At least they've changed the colors. For awhile there they were rocking navy blue helmets with royal blue jerseys.
I'm not sure how their religious overtones would go with the conference though. I feel like that's been an issue for the B1G in the past.
Yeah, but NYC has tons of transplants from B1G schools, which helped create the demand for the BTN. Boston might as well, I don't know, but two of the biggest alumni groups in NYC are Michigan and Penn State.
Here's a little bit on the research aspect of the B1G. You can see why Virginia and UNC are targets. http://mup.asu.edu/Rankings-I/2013_Top25_Natl.xls When you add in Johns Hopkins and Chicago, the B1G has 10 of the top 25.
I don't disagree at all. That doesn't men the B1G doesn't want to try and the the network on some cable tier in the 7th largest TV market in the US.
That's a good point. What would bother me the most about that is that they wouldn't be adjacent to another B1G state. I like my maps clean and tidy, what can I say?
In expansion talks it matters mostly to the Big Ten due to the high academic profile of their original members and to some of the original Pac Ten schools(Stanford, Cal, Ucla, USC). The ACC has some very highly rated academic schools but would not make it an issue if say Kentucky wanted to join Texas talks like academics are a big deal in conference but that is just their ego. If Texas really cared about their conference's academics then they wouldn't remain in the worst academic league in the power 5. I think they make a big deal out of the SEC academics because the SEC is considered a lower tier academic wise and yet Texas would not be top dog if the made that move. They would play second fiddle to Vandy and would be on an even level with Florida instead of being the clear top academic school in their conference.
People bring up Houston smu and byu all the time. Never gonna happen even though the market is there.
I think you underestimate BYU and their Mormon following, plus they actually play good football and basketball.
Texas would have no problem playing second fiddle academically to great academic schools. Perception is reality and the perception is the deep south is a backwards place with second rate schools. I think its horseshit personally but the perception lies with the academic community (namely professors) and they lump me in that group anyways. Its been said before that it would be harder to recruit top flight professors in the SEC. Who knows if its even true.
I just want to see UC (Cincinnati) wallow in mid major mediocrity for the rest of time. Fuck that school and all of their idiotic fans
not at all but dipshits in dallas have vowed not to change their stance on no sunday games. plus thats just ridiculous for wvu
It's about 500 more miles more for WVU to fly to Provo than Lubbock, or about an hour extra in flight. Is that really a deal breaker? Then when it comes to Sunday games, the Big 12 would have all the power, so tell them to play on Sundays or forfeit.
Oliver Luck did a masterful job getting that deal done. Whats even more ridiculous is that we didn't hire him as AD after that process.
they had no choice the SEC was better for them but for whatever reason that didnt happen. just give us nebraska and mizzou back and end all of this crazy talk
The SEC never even entertained the thought of inviting WVU. They bring absolutely nothing to the table in the greater scheme of things, and y'all gave them a lifeline when they were about to drown. Louisville made so much more sense on every level, and they literally fell into the ACC's lap.