Big Ten to explore expansion
AP
CHICAGO (AP) -- The Big Ten might be getting bigger.
The league said Tuesday it will explore options over the next 12 to 18 months for expansion. Big Ten presidents and chancellors decided this month that the timing is right to study adding a 12th school.
The Big Ten also looked at expansion in 1993, 1998 and 2003. Penn State was the last team to join in 1990, and Notre Dame rejected an offer in 1999.
The league, whose offices are in suburban Chicago, said no action on expansion is expected soon. It said it hopes to gather information before engaging in formal discussions with any schools.
The conference actually has 11 football teams, despite its name.
"About every five years the Big Ten Conference explores the possibility of expansion," Illinois athletic Ron Guenther said in an e-mail to the AP. "Any expansion of the conference would obviously have to be a good fit academically, geographically and financially. If the Big Ten does make a change, I hope it will be as successful as the addition of Penn State."
Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez last week told the university's board that he thinks the conference is serious about adding a 12th team, though Delany as recently as March called expansion a "back-burner" issue.
As Penny Lane would say, "its all happening!" The Big Ten is going to look at expanding again and I have a perfect candidate for such an addition, the Nebraska Cornhuskers. It only took one second for it to become painfully obvious that as far as the head honchos are concerned Nebraska is about as welcome in the Big 12 power structure as Pete Rose at a MLB Hall of Fame mixer. Aside from the JerryWorld Screwjob, the Big 12 is also toying with the idea of having the championship game in Dallas every year, thus taking away the cold weather advantage North teams enjoy in K.C. and Denver.
So like many wacko Nebraska fans I have chastised in the past I have now warmed the idea of moving to the Big Ten. We'd have a great new rival in Michigan (whole stole half our 97 Championship). Plus we could set up a yearly non-conference bout with Oklahoma. Then the Big 12 can find a new defacto North Champ whipping boy. Turner Gill can deal with that mess.
I guess that would prompt a TCU move into the Big XII? If not TCU then maybe Colorado State?
ReplyDeleteThe best thing I have heard about this is on the Texas boards saying UT bolts to the Pac 10 taking aTm with. But back to the real world, TCU is the best choice, if not them then Houston/Rice or (please no) New Mexico. Colorado State would be a terrible choice.
ReplyDeleteIt couldn't be TCU. That would force Okie State to the North and they wouldn't deal with not playing OU every year. I think Utah and BYU would be frontrunners but I would think Colorado State or Boise State would be more likely.
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