My choice for the 12 team in the Big-11 is~~

[Rupturedduck]

West Virginia, however would they desert the Big-east ?????????

[GatorGrad]

I heard that there is little chance that the Big Ten would take WVU...

[Blue Hen]

My choice -

Mt. Union college

[buckeyejim]

West Virginia, however would they desert the Big-east ?????????

Would West Virginia leave a conference who's existance is consistantly being debated for a conference that's been in the football business for 110 years?

Would West Virginia leave a conference where the payout each year is about half of what schools in the Big Ten and SEC get?

West Virginia would bolt the Big East for membership in the Big Ten, the ACC or the Southeastern Conference in a heartbeat.

[GatorGrad]

WVU would bolt, I am pretty sure. But I don't think that the Big Ten wants them.

[jeff4bucks]

Mount Union might even do well in the big 10!

[Seven]

What do any of these universities mentioned bring to the table? Does WVU, or Pitt or Syracuse or Missouri add to the prestige of the B10? New York is all about Notre Dame. I think most New Yorkers couldn't find Syracuse on a map. No disrespect intended to Pitt or any of the others mentioned, but they just don't make people sit up and take notice. Really, how many B10 coaches would honestly lose sleep over suddenly having Pitt on the schedule every year, or Syracuse? Forget it's the B10. What if the B12 were looking to expand and posters were talking about Purdue or Minnesota? Would that get the juices flowing? Of course not. WVU is pretty good right now,but they haven't been good consistently over long periods of time. JMO, but there is only one school that should even be considered, and that is Notre Dame. Dome or none is the way I see it. The addition of PSU was a good one, IMO, because PSU is considered, in many ways, a national program, as is Michigan and tOSU. Notre Dame brings that as well. Although down right now, (as much as I love that), they will be back. They are geographically and traditionally compatable. Sorry for the length of this post, but, my 2 cents, it's domers or no one. A major drawback to ND is that most of the B10 is made up of state funded research universities with strong advanced degree programs. While no expert, I believe I read some where that ND is very strong in its regular curriculum, it is not so in its graduate courses. This is something that will sway the only voters that matter, the U presidents. I don't know the status of any of the other schools mentioned. We know that Syracuse has a fairly decent BB program, but what about all of the other sports? And lastly, I am against anything that diminished the OSU-UM game at the end of the B10 season. To have to play that game just to get to the championship game doesn't work for me. Having them in opposite divisions where they "might" play for the championship doesn't work for me. Playing them twice in the same season doesn't work for me. So I say all of that to say this. ND or no one. Even if they join, don't play a CCG. Better yet, just leave things the way they are.

[EvilVodka]

And lastly, I am against anything that diminished the OSU-UM game at the end of the B10 season. To have to play that game just to get to the championship game doesn't work for me. Having them in opposite divisions where they "might" play for the championship doesn't work for me. Playing them twice in the same season doesn't work for me. So I say all of that to say this. ND or no one. Even if they join, don't play a CCG. Better yet, just leave things the way they are.

I'd bet hard $$$ that ND isn't interested at all...they've just renewed efforts to stay independent...they're not coming

And while you have strong sentiment in your argument, I think the allure of another TV market, one which could possibly push into the east, is what's going to drive the expansion...

I think Rutgers is gonna have a great year and get invited

[buckeyejim]

I'd bet hard $$$ that ND isn't interested at all...they've just renewed efforts to stay independent...they're not coming

And while you have strong sentiment in your argument, I think the allure of another TV market, one which could possibly push into the east, is what's going to drive the expansion...

I think Rutgers is gonna have a great year and get invited


Rutgers might bring in the New York City viewers but then again Rutgers has NEVER produced high TV rating in the past so I'm not sure they would even if they were playing Ohio State, Michigan or Penn State.

My opinion is that, just like in 1999, the Big Ten will formally invite Notre Dame and, just like in 1999, Notre Dame will turn the Big Ten down and the conference membership will remain at 11.

[Seven]

I'd bet hard $$$ that ND isn't interested at all...they've just renewed efforts to stay independent...they're not coming

And while you have strong sentiment in your argument, I think the allure of another TV market, one which could possibly push into the east, is what's going to drive the expansion...

I think Rutgers is gonna have a great year and get invited


I have no doubt that you are correct in that ND has no interest in joining the B10. I believe that if asked, they will decline. JMO that they are the only ones who [I]should [I]be invited. As to the Rutgers invitation, in my lifetime, other than last year, i seriously cannot recall Rutgers even being [I]decent[I], much less competitive. Again, no disrespect to Rutgers, I know it is a good university, but I just don't see them in the B10. As a Buckeye, we are relatively centrally located, so road-tripping to the different campuses is really no big deal, but can you imagine Wisconsin or Iowa fans road tripping out to Joisey?

I also understand that it is all about money, so anything is possible.

[EvilVodka]

Rutgers might bring in the New York City viewers but then again Rutgers has NEVER produced high TV rating in the past so I'm not sure they would even if they were playing Ohio State, Michigan or Penn State.

My opinion is that, just like in 1999, the Big Ten will formally invite Notre Dame and, just like in 1999, Notre Dame will turn the Big Ten down and the conference membership will remain at 11.

1st off...we're talking the Big 10 network here, solely for Big 10 fans in that area of the country...the rest of the nation doesn't care about Indiana vs. Purdue, Minnesota vs. Iowa, Illinois vs. Northwestern....thats why this debate about expansion is happening in the first place...the bigger games will most likely be on major networks, like ABC or ESPN...Rutgers is in the perfect market and thats why they would be chosen ahead of someone like Nebraska, who has had several highly rated games, but brings nothing in terms of market value

2nd...you can't truly believe that Jim Delaney and co. are that stupid that they really think ND is gonna join? they'll probably send a discrete message, something like "in or out?", "yes or no?", "this is your last chance", and then of course ND will decline and Jim Delaney and co. will consult with the head of the BTN, and they'll evaluate candidates, probably Syracuse, Rutgers, Pitt, Missouri, and Nebraska, and decide that Rutgers brings the greatest potential market value, at which time the presidents will vote

[EvilVodka]

As to the Rutgers invitation, in my lifetime, other than last year, i seriously cannot recall Rutgers even being [I]decent[I], much less competitive. Again, no disrespect to Rutgers, I know it is a good university, but I just don't see them in the B10. As a Buckeye, we are relatively centrally located, so road-tripping to the different campuses is really no big deal, but can you imagine Wisconsin or Iowa fans road tripping out to Joisey?

Schiano has steered this program in the right direction...let Penn State have an eastern buddy :cool:

[Jim]

An attempt at getting either Nebraska or Pittsburgh. Huskers have a major tradition and Pittsburgh is in a heavily populated region and the rivalry vs. Penn State could resume. Plus Pennsylvania and Ohio have a competitive itch with one antoher anyway.