Hypothetical: Best fit for 12th Big 10 team?

[exhawg]

I don't think so. It would be available for the game to be hosted in the east, where New York and NE residents could attend. The problem for the Big-10 is that the only indoor facilities (presuming you want the CCG in an indoor facility) are already in the heart of Big-10 country. The three places I can think of right now would be the HHH Baggy Dome in Minneapolis, the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, and Ford Field in Detroit. These are all pro-football facilities, so availability in early December becomes and issue. Also, these are all 500+ miles away from the fans and Big-10 alum in New York and Pennsylvania, who would also want to attend a game. The addition of the Carrier Dome provides a place to have the CCG alternate from east to west every year for market exposure and accessibility.

No offense, but no way are there more Big 10 fans in NY and NE than the Midwest. The Big 10 is a Midwest Conference and the championship game should be played in the Midwest. BTW isn't the Big 10 HQ in Indy? The MAC championship game is in Detroit and there are no scheduling problems. If the game is on a Saturday it wouldn't affect the Colts at all. Indy is basically in the middle of Big 10 country and would be the easiest trip for everyone. You talk like you wouldn't want the game in the heart of Big 10 country, WTF?

 

[Buckeye Maniac]

I don't think any team should be added to the Big 10, but if they were to add another team I would want Pitt. They have been in the conference before and I think they would make the best addition.

 

[exhawg]

I don't think any team should be added to the Big 10, but if they were to add another team I would want Pitt. They have been in the conference before and I think they would make the best addition.

Pitt is going to a BCS bowl this year. Somehow. :p

 

[ScarletArrow]

Miami (Oh) would have the best chance b/c of academics and thier ability to beat existing BigTen doormats.

 

[PalmettoBuckeye]

I vote for Syracuse. They would be another team in the eastern half of our conference and would give Penn State another natural rivalry game along with us. They would help strengthen our conference in Baketball and would not take anything away from a football standpoint. The division of the conference could look like this:

East
Ohio State
Michigan
Penn State
Syracuse
Indiana
Michigan State

West
Wisconsin
Iowa
Purdue
Northwestern
Minnesota
Illinois

 

[harrydangler]

Miami (Oh) would have the best chance b/c of academics and thier ability to beat existing BigTen doormats.

I wonder how another Big Ten school in Ohio would affect our recruiting...I would assume not much but I'm sure Miami's stock would shoot through the roof with a lot of local 3-4 star talent that don't go to tOSU.

 

[AKAK]

Well- and I think the 12th is less likely than some people think.. but the Big Ten AD's would tell you that the most likely candidates are WVU and Pitt in no particular order.... especially now with the Big East Melting down....

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

They would help strengthen our conference in Baketball and would not take anything away from a football standpoint.

god dammit leave my basketball in the big east




ok. rant over

 

[KevinBuck]

Pitt or Notre Dame (maybe WV) are the only ones that make sense geographically, though Syracuse does have the Great Lakes-state connection; but I agree with an earlier poster that the ideal would be to drop one team and go back to Ten.

I've always felt the team to go should be Iowa: they're the one team in a non-Great Lakes state, they don't have an outstanding recent athletic history outside of wrestling and a couple of football seasons, and their biggest rival is in the Big12. Send Iowa to the B12, send Baylor to some mid-major, then the numbers (10/12) work again.

Of course, never gonna happen, but that's what I'd do...

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

...I would want Pitt. They have been in the conference before ...

Uh, no...Pittsburgh has never been a member of the Big Ten. In fact, up until they joined the Big Least in 1991, they were independent since they started playing football in 1890.

 

[jthardy]

A 12th team makes sense to make the big 10/11 more competitive with other conferences. Notre Dame is the wisest choice given there current situation. They and the conference would benefit by having ND in.

 

[RugbyBuck]

Vanderbilt

 

[OilerBuck]

I know this'll never happen...but I'd rather just kill Northwestern. 85% of the time they are in the bottom half of the league in Basketball and Football. They have an academic elitist attitude and most of all...THEY WEAR PURPLE! Take the Big 1T1en back to 10!

 

[RugbyBuck]

Wasn't NW an original member of the conference?

 

[buckeyegrad]

Miami (Oh) would have the best chance b/c of academics and thier ability to beat existing BigTen doormats.

With all due respect to Miami (OH), it is laughable to consider them Big Ten quality in terms of academics. Academically, the Big Ten (which is actually 12 schools) is primarily known for excellent research, professional schools, and graduate programs. The programs in these areas are recognized nationally as some of the best. Miami just doesn't stack up in these areas. If you consider the best athletic and academic fit for the Big 10, you have to go with Syracuse, Missouri, or Notre Dame IMO.

As of now, the schools of the Big 10 would divide into three tiers of excellence for academics:

Tier 1 (recognized nationally as being among the best in all areas of academics)
University of Chicago
Michigan
Northwestern
Wisconsin

Tier 2 (recognized nationally as being great research institutions)
Minnesota
Illinois
Ohio State
Penn State

Tier 3 (recognized for being great in particular areas of research)
Purdue
Michigan State
Indiana
Iowa