Big Ten Expansion

Yesterday Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delaney told the press that the conference was going to start looking into expanding to 12 teams. I believe this is a good idea for a few reasons. Even if it does turn the league into another Big 12….but it will stay the Big Ten. Please don’t get confused. Some will argue that it should then change its name….but it wont for tradition sake. If they do change though I want a vote between the Big Dozen, the Big Midwest, or my personal favorite, 12. Yeah, just the number.

Anyways, here are the reasons why it’s a good idea to expand:

1. It will allow for a championship game at the end of the football season: Does anyone remember when the Ohio St. vs. Michigan game was? Yeah, I don’t either. The problem with the Big Ten season is it ends so much earlier than other leagues. Some might remember the Purdue vs. Indiana game that came a week later, but that was still a long time ago. Teams can go up to a month before they play their bowl game, and then they get smoked because they haven’t played in so long. Or because the talent isn’t there, but for the sake of this reason we will go with the time off explanation. Not only will it allow a game to be played closer to when the bowls are actually played, but it will bring in additional revenue for the conference as well. I have heard upwards of 5 to 7 million more. That’s not minimum wage. Find a team. Find one now!

2. It could lead to a playoff system down the road: This one is a little far fetched, but I heard it on local sports talk this morning and its solid. Think about this. The SEC, the Big 12 (the real one, not what the Big Ten is becoming….I know, its confusing), and the Big Ten all have a team that goes undefeated. You don’t think there would be some sort of riot by the conference that doesn’t get in that championship game. Well there would be. And if Michigan St. is involved couches might be turned over and lit on fire. The playoff system isn’t why the Big Ten will expand, but for my own selfish reasons, it’s the reason why I want it to.

Those main reasons are why I want expansion, and I am sure the Big Ten has more, but I think the most fun thing to argue about is the teams that could be added. I am solely basing this off of football and basketball. I am sure these fine institutions have great….gymnastics programs, but football and basketball are the big ones for me. Don’t like it, write your own blog.

Here are the teams I see as potential additions to the Big Ten starting with who I want the least to who I want the most:

Missouri: What reason would the Big Ten want Missouri....I dont know either. But they are supposedly interested. Too bad I am not.

West Virginia: They wont give a team a natural rival, which is what I am biggest on. On the other hand, they are normally good in football and basketball, so that makes them enticing. Plus, if Rich Rod sticks around for another few years at Michigan, there would be the million stories about that connection. Another reason I don’t want this school. The Rich Rod part could be a mute point though if Michigan continues to stink.

Side note: Rich Rodriguez will be gone after the 2010 season unless he changes. He has come into Ann Arbor with a black cloud over him. Scandal from recruiting, too many hours working players out, and on and on. I dont like him personally either. Even though I have never met him.

Iowa St.: Gives Iowa a natural rival. But, they are horrible in football year in and year out, and they are average in basketball. Obviously things can change, but I want teams that are solid coming in, not ones that need to build to get there. Iowa St. will be mentioned quite a bit more though as this process moves on. It does make sense.

Cincinnati: Very good in basketball, very good in football, and even though Brian Kelly is leaving for Notre Dame, their new coach, Butch Jones, comes from the Kelly pedigree and will keep that program going. Also gives a natural in-state rival to Ohio St. I am just not sure if they are big enough to be in the Big Ten.

Notre Dame: This makes the most sense. It made the most sense in 1999 when the Big Ten offered for them to come into the league. Plus, Brian Kelly knows how to recruit in Michigan, so that would make things interesting. But, they have their NBC deal and its not even worth wasting time writing about them because they think they are too big for a conference. If they were smart, they would come in, but I don’t think they are.

Pittsburgh: This is my choice to enter the Big Ten. Gives a natural rival to Penn St in football. Brings a solid basketball program. Brings Dave Wannstadt and his horrible stache to the league. I think very highly of Jamie Dixon as Pitt's men's basketball coach. Izzo against Dixon, that would be great. But, I don’t know why they would leave the Big East. If I was the Big 10 I would try and get them. I just have this vision of Penn St. rolling into Pitt to play. That game would be enormous. And I hope it snows.

Side note #2: Is there anything better than watching a football game from home with it snowing at the actual game? I dont think there is. Fumbles become more of the game. People are sliding all over the place. Its great! I think it would be fun to play in too.

So now lets break down the divisions as if Pitt is the team. Pitt has got to be the team! Bring the STACHE of Wannstadt! Sorry....got carried away. We will name these the East and the West for lack of a better way of doing it.

West

Minnesota

Iowa

Illinois

Wisconsin

Northwestern

Indiana

East

Michigan

Ohio St.

Michigan St.

Pittsburgh

Penn St.

Purdue

Arguments against these divisions: Really the only argument you could make is Purdue moving to the West and flip flopping with Indiana, or somehow combining where Purdue and Indiana are in the same division. Also, the East looks a lot stronger than the West based on history, but hopefully it will pan out. Finally, these divisions are only for football. Go back to everyone against everyone in basketball. No need for divisions.

Of course this whole argument could be a waste of time. They have looked to expand 6 times in the last 20 years, and have done it once. The reason why I think it will happen is Barry Alvarez wants it to happen. The guy was such a good coach at Wisconsin. He has the respect of the entire league. Listen to Barry and if Barry says he wants another team than it shall be so. And if he wants to change the name of the Big Ten to just 12, then they should do that too.

Mad Man Maurice