ESPN's 'lowball' offer triggered the BTN, Big Ten expansion
July 2, 2011 11:03 AM
The conventional Big Ten expansion timeline begins Dec. 15, 2009, when the conference released a statement calling for a "thorough evaluation of options."
But uncovering the true origin of Nebraska joining the Big Ten -- which becomes official Friday -- requires a trip in the way-back machine and involves champagne and bruised egos.
The date: April 30, 2004. That's when a posse of ESPN executives, led by Mark Shapiro, John Wildhack, Loren Matthews and Chuck Gerber, met with conference honchos at Big Ten headquarters in Park Ridge.
Teddy Greenstein
But uncovering the true origin of Nebraska joining the Big Ten -- which becomes official Friday -- requires a trip in the way-back machine and involves champagne and bruised egos.
The date: April 30, 2004. That's when a posse of ESPN executives, led by Mark Shapiro, John Wildhack, Loren Matthews and Chuck Gerber, met with conference honchos at Big Ten headquarters in Park Ridge.
Teddy Greenstein
Filed under: Nebraska Cornhuskers
