Big Ten to "aggressively" look at 12th team
From the only main-stream blogger worth reading:
"Speaking to Wisconsin's athletic board on Friday, Alvarez, the former longtime Badgers football coach, said the conference already has investigated possibilities for expansion "from all over the country." And though he places no timetable on the search, Alvarez thinks conference commissioner Jim Delany will respond to a group of athletic directors and coaches who want expansion."I know Alvarez is a guy who doesn't back down from something like this. So, let's hope there is more meat to this bone we're being thrown here. Could we see another run at Notre Dame, with the new regime coming into South Bend?
As hopeful as I am that Alvarez isn't just running his mouth, there aren't too many viable options out there. Who are you going to invite? Boise State would be a ridiculous choice, with the travel issues and obvious lack of any history in that program. A Mountain West team, like TCU? I'm not sure the Lone Star State is the right place to go for the Big Ten. That would leave out Houston, too.
I'd say a MAC team, but adding that conference to the mix would be just as embarrassing as a MWC or C-USA team. Temple will become a hot rumor, for sure. However, the Owls are still recovering from the Big East years. If Temple runs off a string of MAC titles, then I'd say go for it. But it's just not logical, right now.
So, who's left? What about a servi--wait a minute! That's it! The Big Ten will pursue a service academy! My early bet is Navy -- Army is still even behind Temple's progress, and Air Force is comfy where it is. But the Midshipmen have been able to show sustained success, have recently played well against the Big Ten (Ohio State '09), and are conspicuously within range of the Big Ten.
Chew on that while you're out Christmas shopping this weekend.
5 Commented on this story:
Navy is one of the more original suggestions I've heard. I like it, but is it really feasible to include them in the BigTen from a culture standpoint? I know that's kind a bullshit philosophical question, but it was the first thing that popped into my head.
IMO Rutgers would be a much better fit than Temple; people at least go to Rutgers games. In addition, they bring in a TV market and have no compelling reason (i.e. basketball excellence like Syracuse) to stay in the Big East.
I think the Big East is going to try its hardest to keep the league together. I wouldn't be surprised to see the BE sway towards what the Big Ten is doing. If the BT gets 12 teams, and a championship game, look for the BE to follow in the next decade or so.
missouri would be a great fit, imo
Remember the Big Ten is an academic conference, unlike all the other "sports only" conferences. So that pretty much leaves out almost every MAC and Big East team. It also rules out the milatary academies. So unless it is Notre Dumb, the Big Ten is most likely going to poach someone from another conference like Nebraska or Virginia.
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