Michigan, athletic director Bill Martin 'open-minded' about Big Ten expansion
Michigan athletic director Bill Martin said he would be "open-minded" in whether he would support an expansion of the Big Ten Conference.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Michigan athletic director Bill Martin said Tuesday the school is "open-minded" about Big Ten expansion.
“It’ll be up to the president," Martin said. "I think we’d all be open-minded about it. And, again, I think it gets back to the right fit that does make sense."
In a statement Tuesday, the Big Ten acknowledged its Council of Presidents and Chancellors discussed adding a 12th member during its winter meetings last week.
The Big Ten grew from 10 to 11 schools with the addition of Penn State in 1990. Since then, the conference has explored expansion 3 times - in 1993, '98 and 2003 - without adding a team. Notre Dame turned down an invitation to join the league in 1999.
"The (council) believes that the timing is right for the conference to once again conduct a thorough evaluation of options for conference structure and expansion," the statement said. "As a result, the commissioner was asked to provide recommendations for consideration by the (council) over the next 12 to 18 months."
Martin, who announced his retirement earlier this fall effective next September, said no specific schools have been discussed.
"You kind of take a look at large geographic areas, where would you want to be, what makes sense, what makes sense from an academic fit?" Martin said. "I think college presidents who would ultimately make a decision on any expansion are as concerned about the academic fit as well as the athletic fit."
Still, the driving force behind expansion appears to be football.
The Big Ten has received 2 BCS bids in 7 of the last 8 years, but the conference has seen its reputation nosedive nationally. By adding a 12th team, the Big Ten could split into 2 divisions and host a playoff.
That game would present a financial windfall and keep the conference relevant in early December, when the SEC, Big 12 and ACC currently host conference title games.
In a statement, Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said he favors "exploring all options to make the league stronger."
"We should be proactive in examining the college athletic landscape and I'm pleased that our conference is looking for ways to make the Big Ten better," Rodriguez said. "I am behind the decision to expand if it fits with the ideals of our conference."
Among the schools that might interest the Big Ten are:
• Notre Dame: Makes the most sense from a geographical and practical standpoint. The biggest holdup in the past appears to have been money, as in the Irish have their own TV contract for football with NBC. That payout is significant (at least $9 million per year through 2015), but joining the Big Ten may make sense now thanks to the Big Ten Network, a conference playoff and growing BCS revenue.
• Pittsburgh: Ranked 56th in U.S. News & World Report’s 2010 list of best colleges, Pitt has enjoyed plenty of success in both football and basketball. More over, the Panthers provide a natural rival for Penn State and would stand to gain by leaving a Big East Conference that’s dangerously approaching mid-major status in football.
• Rutgers: Another school that might jump at the chance to leave the Big East, Rutgers hasn’t had as much on-field success as Pitt, though the football program has seen recent upgrades. Adding Rutgers or Syracuse, a school that would give the Big Ten another basketball power, also would give the conference a commanding East Coast presence.
• Missouri: Another geographical fit that would strengthen Big Ten ties in the St. Louis market, Missouri would make for a balanced divisional lineup along either east-west or north-south boundaries. The Tigers have fielded strong football and basketball programs, but would rank last in the Big Ten academically (102nd), behind fellow Big 12 candidate Iowa State (88). Missouri chancellor Brady Deaton indicated the school would listen to any expansion overtures.
Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
Comments
michael
Thu, Dec 17, 2009 : 8:20 p.m.
schools south of the mason dixon will always have an advantage athletically. i didn't know the big 11 claimed to have an advantage academically. if the academic story is compelling, sell it. lead with your strength. ND is always welcome in my conference. -a conflicted wolverine/spartan parent.
walker101
Thu, Dec 17, 2009 : 9:38 a.m.
How about concentrating on getting a wining record?
OkBlue
Wed, Dec 16, 2009 : 6:45 p.m.
I also think the NCAA should force Norte Dame's hand and make them join a conference. When the TV contract dries up, they will be scrambling to join one then.
OkBlue
Wed, Dec 16, 2009 : 6:43 p.m.
Martin is a lemming. If Delaney said I'm against expansion, Martin would say me too. If Delaney said he was for a playoff, Martin would say we're ready.
aatrueblue
Wed, Dec 16, 2009 : 8:28 a.m.
How about adding Boston College since Notre Dame wasn't interested? It would expand the market out East.
chosen1
Wed, Dec 16, 2009 : 6:44 a.m.
To those who keep stating that the potential new school has to be academically strong, I advise you to go read the big ten conference's official statement. Academics is not going to be a key point to adding a new school. I would like to see them add Pitt or West Virginia
uminks
Wed, Dec 16, 2009 : 2:42 a.m.
ND will never join. Only logical choice would be Pitt. UM and OSU will need to be in the same division. It would also prevent some teams from winning the conference without playing the top teams...which happens with our current stupid round robin schedule!
bigblue
Wed, Dec 16, 2009 : 1:28 a.m.
lol@theo. the lions still would probally lose a game in the big 10. but anyway. syracuse would never leave big east b-ball. just ain't gonna happen. notre dame ain't lookin to join a conference eiher. i mean why would they. they have their own t.v. network for cryin out loud. if you don't live in the midwest you have to have direct t.v. to get the big 10 network so that is not going to entice n.d. to join. rutgers would just be another bottom feeder. so that leaves pitt. which in my opinion makes the most since. right location and already has a natural rivalary with penn st. it is time for the big 10 to join the 21st century and add a 12th team.
schristie
Wed, Dec 16, 2009 : 12:32 a.m.
First change name to MidWest 12 Secondly, dividing the 12 teams North-South would be best. If we got Notre Dame, then the North would be Michigan, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Michigan State, NWestern, and Minnesota South would be Ohio State, Penn State, Iowa, Purdue, Illinois and Indiana If we got Pitt or Missouri then either of those schools go to the south and Iowa slides to the north- simple. Only rivalry broken would be Ohio State-Michigan but then both teams have something to earn and look forward to when they do play especially in a championship game.
michboy40
Tue, Dec 15, 2009 : 11:52 p.m.
I say we make it the Big 14! Let's get Pitt, Missouri, and Cincy! Why have 12 teams and call it the big ten...that's stupid! At least with 14 teams, the name would match. Or we could go with the "Midwest 12"
braggslaw
Tue, Dec 15, 2009 : 11:13 p.m.
The big 10 needs a 12th team to be relevant.
djhutch
Tue, Dec 15, 2009 : 10:38 p.m.
Why must there be expansion?? I want to keep the UM-OSU game what it always has been--the biggest game of the year and the last one. This will destroy that.
TXteacher
Tue, Dec 15, 2009 : 10:08 p.m.
81Wolverine-ND's rating on NBC have never been higher. They aren't splitting money with any conference anytime soon. They may not be good, but they pull huge ratings on NBC.
InsideTheHall
Tue, Dec 15, 2009 : 9:19 p.m.
Vanderbilt is a quality academic institution qualified to be in the Big Ten.
Marvin Face
Tue, Dec 15, 2009 : 9:15 p.m.
@GoBlue209: That's what the Southwest Conference said, too. Gone. Also, I didn't learn the interwebz on AOL so what does "lolz" mean.
chimarathon
Tue, Dec 15, 2009 : 9:02 p.m.
"Syracuse, though it doesn't have quite the academic cache internationally." Then how is Michigan State in the BT? There's no way SU would leave the Big East. Why go from one of the top two basketball conferences to a non-factor conference? Big East has six teams in the top 25. Big Ten...3, one of which is ridiculously over-rated (Purdue). And football wise, they'd get their a** handed to them (except maybe by Michigan, that would be a good game).
GoBlue2009
Tue, Dec 15, 2009 : 9 p.m.
@Marvin Face: Yeah...Iowa, Minnesota, and Penn State aren't leaving, lolz. The Big Ten has the best combination of academics and athletics in the country, no one wants to leave it.
Marvin Face
Tue, Dec 15, 2009 : 8:40 p.m.
Hey Big Ten, I would worry less about gaining Missouri or Pitt or whomever and worry more about losing Iowa and/or Minnesota to the Big 12 or Penn State to the ACC. News flash: The Big Ten is nothing special and it is hanging together by a tenuous thread.
azwolverine
Tue, Dec 15, 2009 : 7:42 p.m.
81, I still think ND would be the best, most natural fit for the Big Ten. They already play four Big Ten teams every year and are in the Big Ten's geographic area, not to mention that they are a big name with great academics. They are the one team that the BT is totally familiar with and could step right in and have rivalries right from the start. Would they join? Who knows for sure, but it couldn't hurt to ask...again. The next best choice, imo, is Pitt. They are close in proximity, good academically, and have quality football and basketball teams. It would also be fun to see them renew their rivalry with PSU.
81wolverine
Tue, Dec 15, 2009 : 6:51 p.m.
Notre Dame would make the most sense from an academic and geographic point of view. Also, they draw a lot of fan interest. Also, they're an independent, so they have no other conference ties to break. The big sticking point would be their football TV contract with NBC. But, that's due for renewal, and ND's recent slide could be the Big Ten's foot in the door.
uroutathome
Tue, Dec 15, 2009 : 6:32 p.m.
Hey Big Ten members: Let's add CMU and Toldeo to the Conference. They both beat Big Ten schools on the grid iron in the last two years. That is how far the mighty have fallen.
uroutathome
Tue, Dec 15, 2009 : 6:22 p.m.
The Big Ten/Eleven has become the Big Joke! Today's press conference confirmed the Big Ten Commish will get back on his knees and plead for Notre Dame to join. I'm with Bo on this one, "To h@ll with Notre Dame"! Tradition has always held this conference back. While the SEC and Big XII get stronger every year, we become more irrelevant. Cincinnati will never be considered due to acedemics. Syracuse will never get their noses out of the air to leave Big East basketball. At best, the conference will get Iowa State as a 12th team. Whopty do! The conference remain a joke and get crushed every bowl season by better conference schools.
Macabre Sunset
Tue, Dec 15, 2009 : 4:54 p.m.
The conference presidents would likely require an AAU affiliation. I agree that the candidates are these four, maybe adding Syracuse, though it doesn't have quite the academic cache internationally. Notre Dame would probably be invited to the AAU as part of this process if it were to accept, as it's certainly strong enough academically. To me, Pitt and Rutgers are the only viable candidates.
market gunner
Tue, Dec 15, 2009 : 4:44 p.m.
would love to see cincinatti just because i want osu to finally have an in-state rival. i like the idea of a big ten north/south. memphis, probably a reach. virginia would have the acedemics. dare i say west virginia?! just thinking aloud