Big Ten officials to media: Stop asking about expansion
A bit of clarity arrived by email from the Big Ten Conference today.
The message: The Big Ten Conference is solid at 12 teams and there are no plans to expand. So, please, if you would, stop asking about it.
The message arrived as rumors of expansion and change in the SEC and the ACC swirl.
From the release:
"In response to a number of recent media inquiries received by several Big Ten Presidents and Chancellors regarding the likelihood of further expansion by the Big Ten, the COP/C would like to reiterate that it will not be actively engaged in conference expansion at this time, or at any time in the foreseeable future."
The release also included a quote from Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany. "We said that we will continue to monitor the landscape, but we have closed down active expansion and have no plans to seek new members."
Nebraska officially joined the Big Ten in July. The Cornhuskers will play their first game against Michgan at Michigan Stadium as members of the Big Ten on Nov. 19.
The addition of Nebraska allowed the Big Ten to create the six-team Legends and Leaders divisions and announce that by 2017 each football team will play a nine-game conference schedule. The inaugural Big Ten Football Championship game is scheduled for Dec. 3 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Comments
Tru2Blu76
Fri, Aug 19, 2011 : 6:58 p.m.
Slow news day. The topic I wish the BIG 10 and all other college conferences would address is; providing uniform, reasonably priced tv coverage for college football games (and / or providing that same coverage online). Q. Since all college athletic conferences are the same in the way they're structured and run, why don't they all get together and form a consortium to deal with TV and online "providers?" The Big Ten Network is based on the idea that the conference has to compete in all things, including providing tv coverage for fans. Just having the BSC games after the season ends overlooks the fact that FANS want to see that SEASON's games.
David Vande Bunte
Fri, Aug 19, 2011 : 7:08 p.m.
The Big Ten Network does show live football games during the season, so I am not sure I understand your complaint...Do you not have the Big Ten Network, so might not have known that? On any given Saturday during the season, Big Ten teams appear on BTN, ABC, E$PN and/or E$PN2. Further, for games not on cable, or out of regional coverage areas, you can watch the games live on your PC for 15 bucks a month or 120 bucks for the entire year which is a LOT cheaper than that NFL Sunday Ticket would cost you. Am I just misunderstanding your question?
David Vande Bunte
Fri, Aug 19, 2011 : 5:45 p.m.
"In response to a number of recent media inquiries received by several Big Ten Presidents and Chancellors regarding the likelihood of further expansion by the Big Ten, the COP/C would like to reiterate that it will not be actively engaged in conference expansion at this time, or at any time in the foreseeable future." By that they mean "unless Notre Dame gets its head out of its butt and wants to join" As long as the Irish insist on their independence, the B1G will not be active in expanding...but the second Notre Dame were to contact the B1G inquiring about joining, the B1G would most certainly be active.
DonAZ
Fri, Aug 19, 2011 : 6:26 p.m.
First, I agree with DVB ... Notre Dame is the gorgeous girl the Big 10 is drooling over. I'm of two minds on that -- on the one hand ND's brand image and draw is undeniable. On the other hand ... I don't like ND. I like them better with Brian Kelly ... but still ... Second, if (a) the SEC goes to 14 or 16 along with (b) the Big 12 collapsing, then (c) the Big 10 will definitely to keep pace. We're heading for two or three "super-conferences" with a handful of also-rans (Big East, ACC ... and all the other acronyms: MWC, WAC, CUSA, etc.) My opinion ... worth the paper it's printed on ... and note that there ain't no paper involved here. :-)