Big 10 Expansion creates ripples

[jocoshock]

Barking Carnival's take is that Missouri might bolt, blowing up the Big 12. (I don't think they're serious about Texas leaving)

http://barkingcarnival.fantake.com/2...ter-for-texas/

FWIW, a Michigan alumni co-worker says it is going to be most likely Pittsburgh that B10(+1) is going after to add.

What is being talked about in the KC area by the local media is that schools that appear to be candidates include: Missouri, Syracuse, Rutgers, Pitt, Notre Dame and Nebraska.

There has been talk for years in this area about many Mizzou alums desire to joing the Big 10. Alumni in eastern Missouri would definitely favor it because of the natural rivalry with Illinois.

There is also talk that MU is fed up with the dominance of the Texas teams in the B12, and that it affects their chances for TV coverage and bowl games. The threat of MU leaving if asked is considered very real in this area.

[ShockTalk]

I believe Mizzu plays Illinois in football and basketball most every year anyway. Papa Joe has come out strongly against the Big 10 asking ND again. From an athletics stand point, I don't see Rutgers, but both they or Syracuse would be big money markets. Nebraska moving would surprise me, but I have no reasons to strongly support going or staying. Pitt makes the most sense to me for several reasons. Don't know if the Big 10 would want them, but Memphis probably wants them.

[ShockTalk]

ShockTalk: It is my opinion that multiple plans exist wtih the WSU ADept that looks at different scenarios in the case the MoVal experiences some type of critical movement with its membership. Additionally, I see nothing wrong about positioning WSU to take advantage of those changes and do what's best for the school, athletic department, and fans. That is simply good business sense (and cents).

I totally agree with you. I'd like to see a shake up if WSU could get with the right schools. I just don't see them heading east.

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

Pitt is definitely the favorite amomg many to be the one invited. Many of those doubt Pitt leaves Big East. They expect that when this starts to happen, the Big East boot or whatever those non-football schools, allowing them to form own conference.

Mizzou, based on rumors, wants out of Big 12.

Memphis, based on rumors, wants in BCS conference. ANY one will do.

[jocoshock]

I believe Mizzu plays Illinois in football and basketball most every year anyway. Papa Joe has come out strongly against the Big 10 asking ND again. From an athletics stand point, I don't see Rutgers, but both they or Syracuse would be big money markets. Nebraska moving would surprise me, but I have no reasons to strongly support going or staying. Pitt makes the most sense to me for several reasons. Don't know if the Big 10 would want them, but Memphis probably wants them.

Soren Petro, on 810WHB is a Syracuse alum, and he said today that the Syracuse or Rutgers providing a big draw, people and TV wise is a fallacy. Nobody in the New York/New Jersey area gives a flip about either school, or college sports in general. Today was the first time I heard anything about Nebraska. I would consider them a long shot. Good for football, a non event for basketball. Pitt and Mizzou seem like the mostly to me, but that is just my opinion. I'm sure others would consider ND a good choice as well.

[GoShockers89]

Memphis is an embarrassment, academically speaking, and would never be invited by the Big 10. Northwestern, Michigan and the other elite academic institutions would not allow it. As things stand, Michigan State is the only "toilet" academic prestige member, and that's the way it will remain whether they expand or not.

Notre Dame is of course the most logical choice, but I doubt they will go for it. After the Irish, I would guess they would accept Nebraska, MAYBE Pitt, probably not Mizzou, and no one after that.

[Ixiah]

Not sure if this rule is still around - there used to be a requirement that would prevent schools like Texas and Memphis from joining the Big 10.

current Big Ten rules require teams to come from states that are home to or else border current members

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/309140-the-perfect-darkhorse-candidate-for-big-ten-expansion-texas

[tw805]

If, and I mean if, Missouri is offered a shot at the Big 10, I think they will take it. Here are my (purely opinion) reasons:

1. The Big 12 has been a visibility disaster for every school that is not Texas, Texas A&M, Nebraska, and/or Oklahoma. They structured the league such that every action requires some sort of super-majority, and it has effectively prevented them from negotiating a fair national TV deal. If you notice, the Big 10 has a rotation of game matchups, much like the MVC, so that crap teams that no one wants to see still get on ESPN during the 11:00 slot. In the Big 12, none of the teams I listed will sign on to such an agreement because it will eat into the TV time they would otherwise receive, and there is no possiblity of an override thanks to the voting process.

2. See the voting rules described above and apply them to the bowl system. Every other football conference votes to put themselves in a slot-system that forces the bowls to take the conference finishers in a descending order. The Big 12's nonsense allows a 6-6 Iowa State to go to a better bowl than an 8-4 Missouri, because the bowl is allowed to cherry pick the Big 12.

3. The St. Louis metro area is not really Big 12 country. The Missouri-Illinois game is played in St. Louis for a reason, and you get more Big 10 people in St. Louis than Big 12. Just on population alone, that area would be more important to Mizzou than Kansas City.

4. The Big 12 as a basketball conference hasn't been great. Until this year at least. The exposure hasn't been there top to bottom either, for the same reasons as in football.



It appears that I have far too much time on my hands.

[91 mascot]

Pittsburgh, Missouri, etc...

This whole thing reminds me a few years ago when the National League asked the Royals to join them - they said no and have been in last place for years - they missed the playing the cubs and cardinals and a regular basis

To me - pittsburgh is already in a good conference - Missouri wants out - hell who wouldn't think they could win in the Big 10 - that conference is horrible - the rest of the blog was funny - Texas people are so full of themselves - they have everything in the BIG 12 and still think they deserve more - one bad recruiting year or alot of kids going pro in one year will bring them back to reality.

just my 2 cents worth

P.S. If i was the big 12 - i would swap Arkansas for Missouri in a heartbeat

[GoShockers89]

TCU stands to be a potential big winner if anything actually happens. Their football program is peaking at just the right time for them to slither into the SEC or Big 12 to fill an opening.

I have a feeling 10 years from now those conferences will view that move similarly to how we view the UE acceptance.

[60Shock]

This is a fascinating topic, but I don't really see how "one" school joining the Big 10/11/ (or whatever it is called now) is going to change the MVC. Seriously doubt if any MVC school is going to be invited at the present time to fill the gap in either the Big 12, Big East, or Conference USA.

I predict it will take the ultra, ultra conservative powers at WSU another 10 to 20 years to make up their minds to conduct a study as to whether it is going to be essential to re-instate football. And that will probably only be after CU, SIU, MS, NI, and IS have departed the conference for greener pastures. The greener pastures being the future expansions of the BCS conferences expansion to 20-24 schools, each.

[kcshocker11]

If Mo bolts Arkansas will be offered to join the big 12, I think they would be stupid to leave the SEC.

[rrshock]

If Mo bolts Arkansas will be offered to join the big 12, I think they would be stupid to leave the SEC.

I agree. It makes more sense for them to stay in the SEC. They chose to go to the SEC and get away from the SWC schools like the Texas portion of the Big 12. Why would they want to go back? Plus the SEC is THE football conference in this country.

If Missouri leaves, which I would guess they are definitely one of only 2 options (Pitt the other) being seriously considered for the Big 10, then I see Okie St being shifted to the North and TCU added to the South, like should have happened to begin with instead of Baylor. I think that Mizzou would leave in a heart beat for the Big 10. It makes sense geographically for them and would get them away from the Texas conference that they play in now.

I think the reason for all the other conference shake up talks is this: The talk of expanding the NCAA tourney to 96 would allow for the extra auto-qualifiers from conferences to be added without eliminating at-large bids. If the Big East splits, like many believe will happen, then that would add another auto bid. If something happens that causes some of the MVC schools to leave and take some schools from another conference and form a new one, then that would be another automatic bid as well.

All I know is that WSU needs to put itself in a position that would make it favorable to a new conference forming. I know football will cost alot, and some argue that it will take away from the other programs, but at the same time it has the potential to add to some as well. Many football players are also baseball players (Toby Gerhart from Stanford for example). And also alot of football players run track in the spring time. I was told once by the former track coach at WSU that many of the sprinting records were actually set by guys that were at WSU on Football scholarships.

[wsushox1]

TCU won't be added to the south, it just doesn't make sense

[vbird53]

Quick thought:

Big Ten pulls Mizzou, Iowa St., and Nebraska
Pac 10 pulls Colorado (and Utah).
Old Southwest Conference is reconstructed.

KU and K State are left in the middle thinking "wtf just happened!"