A Boilermaker's perspective on expansion

 It seems like so many people are talking about the Big Ten going from eleven teams to twelve lately. The popular conception sees us expanding to reach into the New York market or anywhere else that would increase the Big Ten Network's footprint. There are a lot of team names being bandied about for our potential newest member. There is even a section dedicated to the Big Ten's Wikipedia page about our look for a new school. The names mentioned on there include:

• Notre Dame
• UConn
• Rutgers
• Syracuse
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• Pitt
• West Virginia
• Iowa State
• Maryland
• Kentucky
• Louisville

Other names that have been tossed out there from sites such as The Rivalry Esq. include

• Boise State
• TCU
• Utah
• Air Force
• Cincinnati
• Central Michigan

So, here we are with these and many other potential new members just waiting around to be invited to join our conference right? Wrong. First let us whittle this list down quite a bit by introducing two Big Ten bylaws. First any new member of the conference would have to be in a state that already borders a present member. So there goes Boise State, TCU, Utah, Air Force, Nebraska, and UConn. Our second bylaw is that all members of the Big Ten must be members of the Association of American Universities. So that leaves us with these guys: Iowa State, Maryland, Missouri, Rutgers, and Syracuse. Now obviously any bylaw can be repealed or changed in order to allow the other universities in. I will be looking at each school in three main sports; Football, Men's Basketball, and Women's Basketball. 

Iowa State

via upload.wikimedia.org

I know they got a new logo, but come on! This is a tornado cardinal! Way cooler.

Football

Well, they are bowling this year. But lets face it life has been rough for the Cyclones on the gridiron. With an overall record of 476-556-46 they have had little success I suppose you could say. They have had some shining spots in their history though, such as a 5 year span in which they went to 4 bowls (2000-2005). They have a stadium capacity of 55,000, with plans of expansion in the near future. As mentioned before they are going to a bowl after being led to a surprisingly good year by first year coach Paul Rhodes. So this could be a program on the rise in the future.

Men's Basketball

In basketball Iowa State has seen more success. Having seen some very good showings earlier in this decade winning the Big 12 conference twice and appearing in the tourney three times ('00, '01, '05) and were seeded as high as number 2. In 2000 they reached the Elite Eight which seems to be their highest accomplishment. They appear to have a pretty strong fan base as well.

Women's Basketball

The Cyclones seem o be pretty successful in women's ball. They have an overall winning record and in the past decade have been to the tournament 7 times. In that span of time they have reached the Sweet Sixteen twice and the Elite Eight once and were seeded as high as number two. They even have pretty high attendance for women's basketball.

Assorted

As for other sports Iowa State does not have a baseball team, what appears to be a very successful track and field program, their wrestling team has captured 8 national titles and is coached by an Olympic gold medalist, and they have a strong volleyball program with a dedicated following. ISU was ranked number 85 in the nation academically by US News and World report. They have strong programs in engineering and agriculture. These attributes fit in well with the other land grant school in the Big Ten. As far as fan expansion if they joined the Big Ten would finally have a stranglehold on the state of Iowa. With its bustling metropolises this could only be a boon to the league. In all seriousness though, it would be a small time market to say the least.

Maryland

via upload.wikimedia.org

Not a turtle

Football

The Terps are pretty storied football program. They even have a "national title" under their belt. Under current coach Ralph Friedgen they saw a lot of success earlier this decade. This year they closed out with a 2-10 record but earlier in the decade they were ranked as high as number 3 according to some of the robo-computers. Since then it's been middling years with a few bad years tossed in. They did have a brush with our Boilers in the 2006 season, spanking us in the Champ Sports Bowl.

Men's Basketball

This is a pretty darn good basketball program. Since 1994 they have missed the Big Dance only 3 times. In that span they have been to the Final Four twice and won a national championship in 2002 against our favorite rivals. This year they aren't ranked but when has that stopped anyone from doing well in the tournament. They seem to have a pretty dedicated fan base as well.

Women's Basketball

They appear to be a pretty good team. Last year they were a number on seed in the tournament and have been to the ladies big dance 17 times. In 2006 they won the national championship. This year they are back in the top 25 and seeking more success in the tournament.

Assorted

Maryland is a powerhouse for lacrosse and has seen modern success in women's field hockey and men's soccer. Academically Maryland is a high ranking power. They are well respected the world over. Adding them to the Big Ten would also give the conference a bigger footprint in the DC area which is always a plus. They are also a land grant school which suits the Big Ten just fine.

Missouri

via upload.wikimedia.org

Football

A growing program it would seem under head coach Gary Pinkel, Mizzou has seen success in the past few years in football. Since 2005 they have posted a winning record each season including a 12-2 year in 2007. They have featured an exciting offense and were part of the QB explosion that occurred in the Big 12 last year. Historically they have gone to 27 bowl games so they have a precedent set for success. In '07 and '08 they won the Big 12 North division but failed to capture the Big 12 championship either time. They currently have 12 players in the NFL as well. Faurot Field is also a good looking football stadium and it is scheduled to expand in the future on its 71,000 person capacity. All in all this is a program that seems to be a rising star in college football.

Men's Basketball

This is a storied basketball program indeed. According to Street and Smith's they are the 38th ranked program of all time in NCAA basketball. They have reached the Elite Eight a few times, with trips in 1976, 1994, 2002, and 2009. In the past decade they have been to the NCAA tournament 5 times and won last years Big 12 conference tourney. Their current head coach is Mike Anderson and he has turned the program around from the last couple of years of Quin Snyder's tenure. They currently sit at 10-3 and seem to be bound for the post season again.

Women's Basketball

I have had trouble finding info on the Tiger's women's team. I know they are currently 9-2 in play this year. So I guess they can't be too bad...

Assorted

This is probably they best team to integrate into the Big Ten. They already have a presence with their rivalry with Illinois (Braggin' Right/Arch Rivalry) and are a well known land grant institution. They are the premiere university in the state as well and would give us a good in to the St. Louis and Kansas City markets. In addition to all of that they have stated their interest in our league publicly within the past few months. For what reason I couldn't tell since their history and other rivalries all lie within the Big 12. But if they are willing I think they fit quite well.

Rutgers

via upload.wikimedia.org

Football

The "Birthplace of College Football" is not exactly a powerhouse to behold. Historically this has been a laughingstock of a football institution. Currently they are coached by Greg Schiano who has seen limited success during his tenure leading the 2005 Scarlet Knights to their first winning record since 1992. Then in 2006 they finished 11-2 and won their first bowl ever. Coach Schiano has led his Knights to a winning record ever since then and they won the St. Petersburg bowl this season.

Men's Basketball

Let's just say that they aren't one of the powerhouses everyone talks about in the Big East. Since 2001 they have finished with exactly 3 winning seasons. This includes their NIT runner-up season in 2003-04. They haven't been to the Big Dance since 1991 and they last had a legitimately good year in... 1976. So maybe they wouldn't add too much to our basketball résumé.

Women's Basketball

Rutgers has seen a lot of success in the past decade in women's b-ball. From 2005-2008 they were a very strong program. This includes a Big East title run and a national runner up title. This year they have hit a bit of a downturn but perhaps they will turn it around to return to national prominence.

Assorted

This is not your "typical" Big Ten school. Sure they are a land grant institute with a large research component. But they are way out there on the east coast and have a real Ivy League kind of feel. Penn State may have seemed like a real outsider back in 1991 but I think Rutgers is just not a Big Ten kind of university. That isn't to say they wouldn't have anything to bring to the table, but they have no history to bring them here and no reason to leave the Big East.

Syracuse

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Football

There is a lot of history in the Orange football program. Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Art Monk, Marvin Harrison, and Donovan McNabb all wore the uniform for Syracuse. They count the 1959 National Championship and have won 4 conference titles. Unfortunately none of that has stopped them from being pretty bad the past few years. This year they hitched their wagon to the Greg Paulus show and that got them... 4 wins. Well that's better than the 3 the year before!

Men's Basketball

Here is the bread and butter of why Syracuse would be invited to the Big Ten. In this decade we have seen the Orange become an annual contender and power in basketball. Since 2000 they have missed the post season only twice, have won 2 Big East titles, been to the Sweet Sixteen 4 times and won the national title in 2003. So all in all this is a pretty good team that would add to the Big Ten's power in basketball.

Women's Basketball

I didn't find any history of this program. They stand at 12-0 currently and seem like they must be pretty good.

Assorted

They are a big time power in lacrosse and have no baseball team on campus. I have to say this is another school that doesn't have a true Big Ten feel. They are in the same vein as Northwestern but they are in New York. This would be the deciding factor in pursuing them as a team though. The Big Ten Network desperately seeks to establish itself in the New York market and this would be the team that would provide the in for them. The only problem is there is nothing to bring this team to our conference. Leaving the Big East could cost their basketball team some of that Big Bad East luster and they have no rivals that are located here. Plus their mascot is an anthropomorphic orange for God's sake.

via hoopedia.nba.com

Terrifying!

Also Rans

As for the other teams people always bring up, let's talk about them a little. Notre Dame will never join the Big Ten. If we really wanted them we should have done it in either the early part of last century or in the 1990's. So we should all just forget about it. They don't want us and let's be honest, we don't need them. Recently both Texas and Nebraska have been talked up as potential members. Let's face facts though, these teams have no reason to join with us anymore and they are just way too far away to viable options. Finally we have Pitt. Pitt would offer a very interesting option. Not only would their addition solidify the Big Ten's hold on the state of Pennsylvania but we could introduce a true rival for Penn State to play annually. Aside from all that they aren't a bad school at all either.

via www.logoshak.com

I certainly don't want them

Academics

As well all know the Big Ten prides itself upon being not only a premier athletic conference but also being an academic powerhouse. The institutions that already make up our conference are all viewed as very strong academically. This emphasis is very evident by having the bylaw about being part of the Association of American Universities. First let’s take a look at each Big Ten school and their academics.

Illinois: Ranked 9th among public universities by US News & World Report and 39th among universities nationally. Some specific rankings are: Engineering 4th, Accounting 2nd, and their College of Business is 12th.

Indiana: Ranked 71st by the US News & World Report nationally. They were once Time magazine’s number one university and in a 2005 issue of Newsweek they were called the “hottest big state school.” Their education, law, medicine, and business programs are all considered top tier in the US.

Iowa: Also ranked 71st by USN&WR and the 28th best public university according to them. Their law program is ranked 26th, medicine 7th, and pharmacy 16th.

Michigan: Ranked 27th nationally by USN&WR and consistently considered one of the best schools in the country. They led the nation in Fullbright Scholars in the 90’s and 00’s and have had 26 Rhodes Scholars walk their halls. 70% of their majors are ranked in the top ten nationally.

Michigan State: Another school ranked 71st nationally and 80th in the world by a university study conducted in China. Their programs in elementary education, secondary education, and Industrial and Organizational Psychology have been ranked number 1 for 14 straight years. Their nuclear physics program is also number 2 nationally.

Minnesota: Ranked 61st nationally they have a strong research component. They have the 3rd best pharmacy program in the nation and chemical engineering program is ranked 4th.

Northwestern: The academic bastion of our conference is ranked 12th nationally and has an acceptance rate of only 26.2%. In medicine research they are ranked 20th, business is 3rd, and law is 10th.

Ohio State: Ranked 53rd in the nation and among the top 150 universities in the world. They have several programs ranked in the top 20 nationally but none in the top ten. They are considered an up and coming university in US News.

Penn State: The Nittany Lions are ranked 47th nationally. They have a similar academic profile to Ohio State.

Purdue: We all know the story about our favorite university. 61st nationally but number one in our hearts, Purdue has strong programs in engineering, agriculture, and business.

Wisconsin: Bucky is ranked 39th nationally in USN&WR. They are 12th in education, 15th in engineering, 35th in law, and 13th in primary care medicine they are another strong academic member.

Everyone in the Big Ten is also considered a “Public Ivy” except for our own beloved Purdue. So it’s obvious that academics are important to us and people respect our schools attempts at being the top in their fields. Our potential members will need to share this emphasis obviously so let’s take a look at their rankings to see where they stack up.

Iowa State: 88th

Maryland: 53rd

Missouri: 102nd

Rutgers: 24th

Syracuse: 58th

What about non bylaw allowed schools that have been lobbied for?

Nebraska: 96th

Texas: 47th

Pitt: 56th

So obviously the best choice according to these rankings would be Rutgers with the worst being Missouri. I don’t know how respected the USN&WR rankings are anymore so put as much faith into these rankings as you feel like. I feel like if we wanted to ensure nobody ridiculed us for forsaking our values we would need to ensure our new member is ranked any lower than any current member

Reasoning

Now the question becomes... why? Why do we want this so badly? Why would any of these teams even return our calls? They already belong to conferences that offer them many amenities. Well the addition of one team (or even 3) allows us to introduce divisions and a conference championship in football. Then for basketball we would be able to bring more teams to the Big Dance every year. As for why they should join forces with us I have to say it would be a step up from the Big East for any team almost. The Big 12 is a harder sell to leave but bowl positioning and better overall competition in basketball could sell some teams to come on over. In addition he Big Ten Network allows for teams to obtain greater exposure.

via www.bigtennetwork.com

The driving force behind expansion? It certainly looks like it.

Another Path?

There is one other option nobody seems to be talking about. What if we actually became the Big Ten again? We could eliminate a team and do the same thing that we want to with another new one. Two five team divisions would be just as good as two six member ones. This would mean less teams to split bowl loot with and perhaps even a stronger conference overall. The question becomes who we eliminate. I say the new guy is one that get's the boot. I will admit Penn State is a strong football program but basketball is still not their not their forte. They also have a tough time finding a rival in the Big Ten, and they are pretty far away for some teams. If it isn't them then I guess Michigan State would be next on the chopping board. They are the second youngest team in the league (gaining membership in 1950 mind you).  This could be a big loss though since they are a good basketball team and typically a decent football team.

via www.logoshak.com

Expendable?

Conclusions

The future will be a Big Ten that features 12 teams at the very least. If that is the case I think the best scenario for the league would be to get Missouri to cross the line. They offer some amount of premade Big Ten culture with their Illinois rivalry and are a big school with big markets attached. If this is indeed what happens we would most likely see a Big Ten East featuring: Penn State, Ohio State, Indiana, Purdue, Michigan, and Michigan State and a Big Ten West featuring : Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois and Northwestern. As a Boiler fan I can't say I would like that line up too much since we would be in the deadlier of the two divisions. Alternatively a Big Ten North featuring: Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Northwestern, and Iowa and a Big Ten South with: Illinois, Indiana, Purdue, Missouri, Ohio State, and Penn State is a possibility. But what is we took this to the realm of fantasy. What if we became say, the Big 14? We could add Missouri, Syracuse, and Iowa State to have a gigantic impact on the NCAA. Or what if we dumped the bylaws? What if we were a league with Missouri, Kentucky, and Pitt? We could be the end all be all force in athletics. Obviously this will never happen but it is indeed nice to dream.

In conclusion, if we are going to do this let's do it right. Get a good university and stay true to our roots Commissioner Delany.  

via i.a.cnn.net

Please don't f--- this up