Conference Realignment Thread (Maryland & Rutgers join the Big Ten conference)

[trevdv]

So--just to be clear, mattcoldagelli, illinicb, and Illini87InClt-- you're OK with hearing the following in a couple years: "Welcome to Big Ten football; today's key conference matchup is between the Iowa Hawkeyes and Maryland Terrapins!"

[dgcrow]

Originally Posted by trevdv

So what do you suggest they do with the divisions? East and West? If so, then you would have to have either Indiana or Michigan in the east division, meaning longer flights more frequently. Or Ohio State in the west division, meaning traveling to Iowa and Nebraska (long trips) more frequently. Any way you slice it, these divisions would not provide easy travel if Rutgers and Maryland were to join. And IF they were to join, they would most definitely both be in the east division. I've never seen two new teams both go into the same division in a conference.

Colorado and Utah were both put in the South Division of the Pac 12 when they joined the conference.

[trevdv]

Originally Posted by dgcrow

Colorado and Utah were both put in the South Division of the Pac 12 when they joined the conference.

And now they both suck, so that worked out well...?

[mattcoldagelli]

Originally Posted by trevdv

So--just to be clear, mattcoldagelli, illinicb, and Illini87InClt-- you're OK with hearing the following in a couple years: "Welcome to Big Ten football; today's key conference matchup is between the Iowa Hawkeyes and Maryland Terrapins!"

Sure. Why not?

[jackman404]

Originally Posted by trevdv

So--just to be clear, mattcoldagelli, illinicb, and Illini87InClt-- you're OK with hearing the following in a couple years: "Welcome to Big Ten football; today's key conference matchup is between the Iowa Hawkeyes and Maryland Terrapins!"

Considering that hearing that means that the school I love was able to build a new research facility with all the money the tv markets brought in, yes I am perfectly fine hearing that.

[DrewD007]

Think they could go with a Northeast/Southwest alignment...

Northeast
Maryland
Michigan
Michigan State
Northwestern
Ohio State
Penn State
Rutgers

Southwest
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Minnesota
Nebraska
Purdue
Wisconsin

However, those divisions aren't very balanced at all, but you wouldn't really need cross-over rivals because most our preserved (aside from Illinois/Northwestern but I don't think people would be too crushed by that).

[GilThorpe]

the big football conferences seem set on going up to 16. to do so, the B1G is going to go after large TV markets. NY/NJ, DC/Balt, Atlanta and Charlotte are all pretty obvious choices.

[dgcrow]

Originally Posted by trevdv

And now they both suck, so that worked out well...?

I never implied it worked out well -- just correcting your erroneous statement.

[Illini87InClt]

Originally Posted by trevdv

So--just to be clear, mattcoldagelli, illinicb, and Illini87InClt-- you're OK with hearing the following in a couple years: "Welcome to Big Ten football; today's key conference matchup is between the Iowa Hawkeyes and Maryland Terrapins!"

I'm OK with that. I might not watch it on television because I'm not a fan of either team, but I am ok with the match-up. It's not much different than some of the current match-ups (Minnesota vs. Indiana, Indiana vs. Purdue). While I might not be tuned into the game, that doesn't mean that the Iowa and Maryland fans will not be watching.

[Illini87InClt]

Originally Posted by GilThorpe

the big football conferences seem set on going up to 16. to do so, the B1G is going to go after large TV markets. NY/NJ, DC/Balt, Atlanta and Charlotte are all pretty obvious choices.

The rumored pickups would help with the NY/NJ and DC/Balt. To get attention in Charlotte, the B1G would pretty much have to land UNC as the city has a strong slant toward the Heels.

[Joel Goodson]

Conference realignment is about money, money, money (e.g. BTN) and being able to control one's destiny. Once the ND ship sailed, the BIG felt it needed to make a move. Delany is an empire builder. The BIG is gonna become the Borg, like it or not (ESPN can suck it, LOL). Maryland and Rutgers are not the end game.

[jackman404]

Originally Posted by trevdv

And now they both suck, so that worked out well...?

The PAC-12 secured one of the most lucrative tv deals ever after this expansion. So yeah, I would say it "worked out well".

Stop looking at this from a fan's view and start looking at it from a school president's view. The extra tv money can do wonders for a school. Bigger conferences are great for tv deals because it leaves tv networks with less options to bid for, therefore bigger contracts.

[dgcrow]

Originally Posted by jackman404

The PAC-12 secured one of the most lucrative tv deals ever after this expansion. So yeah, I would say it "worked out well".

Stop looking at this from a fan's view and start looking at it from a school president's view. The extra tv money can do wonders for a school. Bigger conferences are great for tv deals because it leaves tv networks with less options to bid for, therefore bigger contracts.

Agreed. And from what I'm hearing out here on the West Coast, the PAC-12 is quite happy with the expansion.

[Sybok]

Sorry if this link has already been posted, but it really is fascinating that the B1G has the potential to pluck a charter member from the ACC. As for the quote, this is in regards to ND moving to the ACC.

Chicago Breaking Sports Ex-ACC commissioner Corrigan 'flabbergasted' about Maryland, Big Ten
...
"They play the games that the ACC plays -- they play soccer, they play lacrosse -- it makes sense for them to find a league that played the same games. Does anybody in the Big Ten play lacrosse?" said Corrigan, a Baltimore native who played and coached the sport at Virginia. "Of course it saddens me. I'm actually shocked by this. I'm absolutely blown away."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...,4153161.story

[IlliniKat91]

OSU, PSU, and Michigan all play lacrosse. Maryland would make four (does anyone know if Rutgers has a team, too?). Lacrosse, while gaining traction, still isn't a huge, national sport. That's not going to change regardless of the conference they join. It'll be like the B1G hockey schools: they'll look elsewhere to schedule lacrosse games until the rest of the conference catches up.

[Dan]

Potential television windfall driving Big Ten's latest expansion efforts

According to a television executive familiar with the Northeast corridor, the move could ultimately be worth as much as $200 million annually for the Big Ten in cable subscription fees. This is a Pollyannaish figure that's unlikely to ever materialize, but it shows the scope of the potential value. The interesting part, considering the current cable climate, is that the potential move also comes with considerable risk.

There are an estimated 15 million available households in the New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington D.C. markets. If the Big Ten Network got on basic cable in all those places, which is an enormous long shot, the per-household figure by the time Rutgers and Maryland joined the league would project in the neighborhood of $1.25 per month. That would equate to about $200 million per year.

Pete Thamel

[UIUC1867]

Originally Posted by Joel Goodson

The BIG is gonna become the Borg

Maybe we could have two divisions called the Bjorn and the Trekkie. :laugh:

[Joel Goodson]

Originally Posted by IlliniKat91

OSU, PSU, and Michigan all play lacrosse. Maryland would make four (does anyone know if Rutgers has a team, too?). Lacrosse, while gaining traction, still isn't a huge, national sport. That's not going to change regardless of the conference they join. It'll be like the B1G hockey schools: they'll look elsewhere to schedule lacrosse games until the rest of the conference catches up.

It's an East Coast sport. If the Terps join the party, their lacrosse program is going to be run as a psuedo-independent. Collateral damage. They will adapt and be fine.

[IlliniKat91]

Originally Posted by Joel Goodson

It's an East Coast sport. If the Terps join the party, their lacrosse program is going to be run as a psuedo-independent. Collateral damage. They will adapt and be fine.

I know it's a mainly East Coast sport, however, it is gaining traction across the Midwest. (And I only brought up the B1G lacrosse teams in response to the ex-ACC commish who wanted to know if any of our schools played the sport.) There are quiet a few high schools (mostly situated in wealthy districts or with big-time boosters) in Chicagoland that have lacrosse teams. Those kids are one day going to want to go to schools with lacrosse programs.

Not saying it happens because Maryland comes into the B1G, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it become a serious point of interest among non-revenue sports in the next 20 years or so.

[Sybok]

Considering the Northwestern women's lacrosse team has won 7 NCAA championships recently, I think that it would be premature to think that Maryland would have to operate as a pseudo-independent.

[Joel Goodson]

Originally Posted by IlliniKat91

I know it's a mainly East Coast sport, however, it is gaining traction across the Midwest. (And I only brought up the B1G lacrosse teams in response to the ex-ACC commish who wanted to know if any of our schools played the sport.) There are quiet a few high schools (mostly situated in wealthy districts or with big-time boosters) in Chicagoland that have lacrosse teams. Those kids are one day going to want to go to schools with lacrosse programs.

Not saying it happens because Maryland comes into the B1G, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it become a serious point of interest among non-revenue sports in the next 20 years or so.

Yeah, no doubt (I live in one of those school districts). Lacrosse has been an IHSA official sport for 1-2 years now? Definitely becoming more widespread in the 'burbs. No clue about elsewhere.

I think 20 years is a reasonable estimate for fielding at least 11-12 conference teams. As Title IX (in concert w/85 football rides) is a huge obstacle to non-revenue mens sports, lacrosse will probably get more traction as a women's sport initially.

[Joel Goodson]

Originally Posted by Sybok

Considering the Northwestern women's lacrosse team has won 7 NCAA championships recently, I think that it would be premature to think that Maryland would have to operate as a pseudo-independent.

Sorry, should have made it clear that I was thinking of men's lacrosse.

[trevdv]

Originally Posted by UIUC1867

Maybe we could have two divisions called the Bjorn and the Trekkie. :laugh:

New tactic: send Duke and North Carolina e-mails with the subject: "you will be assimilated!"

[trevdv]

I've said this once before, but I'd like to make sure that everyone hears this loud and clear: can we STOP talking about how Maryland is a good or bad addition to the B1G when only referencing their current record in a sport? So what if the Terps stink at football right now? By the time 2017 rolls around, they may be competing for a conference title. No need to read into the Maryland/B1G discussion by bringing up their record in a sport.

[illinicb]

Originally Posted by trevdv

So--just to be clear, mattcoldagelli, illinicb, and Illini87InClt-- you're OK with hearing the following in a couple years: "Welcome to Big Ten football; today's key conference matchup is between the Iowa Hawkeyes and Maryland Terrapins!"

No. If it is a key matchup, that means Iowa is good and I HATE when IOWA is good.