Big Ten expansion moves ahead

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<p>Link: [Tom</a> Izzo to visit Cleveland on Thursday; MSU players think coach is leaving - Sporting News staff reports - College Basketball - Sporting News](<a href=“http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/article/2010-06-10/tom-izzo-visit-cleveland-on-thursday-msu-players-think-coach-leaving]Tom”>http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/article/2010-06-10/tom-izzo-visit-cleveland-on-thursday-msu-players-think-coach-leaving)</p>

<p>Hope not, even though Cavs is owned by Dan Gilbert (A die-hard State alum)!!</p>

<p>I’ve always pray that the current bball & fball HCs of MSU & TOSU would stay forever!!
Certainly, with a big heart, same prayer did extend to Michigan as well…;p</p>

<p>So I just stumbled upon these links which show the profitability of men’s basketball programs. Kinda crazy that Duke basketball isn’t profitable.</p>

<p>[How</a> profitable is your favorite college basketball team? - Mar. 18, 2010](<a href=“http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/18/news/companies/basketball_profits/index.htm]How”>http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/18/news/companies/basketball_profits/index.htm)</p>

<p><a href=“moondogsports.com - This website is for sale! - moondogsports Resources and Information.”>Loading...;

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<p>Obviously Duke is using their basketball to offset ‘other’ costs than strictly basketball expenses. Clearly when many big programs are in the 4 to 7 million dollar range in expenses, Duke’s 13.9 million is off the charts.</p>

<p>“With one conference housing 6 of the 10 most storied football programs”</p>

<p>Alexandre, the way I see it, there are only 9 permanent members of the college football super-elite: Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Texas, N Dame, USC, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Nebraska. Who are you including as the 10th school?</p>

<p>I find the rumors of aTm going to the SEC very interesting because it would set dominoes in a whole new direction. Would Texas go to the Pac 16 with two replacement schools while Oklahoma and aTm join the SEC?</p>

<p>Also, it should be pointed out that the Pac 8 division of the Pac 16 is going to be weak. USC is the only top 15 program in it, and they have only been revived as a program by massive cheating.</p>

<p>Perhaps it’s time that the Big East and the Big 10 get creative together. </p>

<p>The Big East is a basketball power, first and foremost but in this football ‘driving the boat’ era they could be a much smaller and weaker conference very quickly. What to do?</p>

<ol>
<li> Cut a deal with the Big 10. Under the guise of a pre-conference basketball contract (think Big 10 versus Big East much like the current Big 10 / ACC agreement) put in some VERY important clauses.<br></li>
</ol>

<p>A. Both conferences agree that any member that plays Division 1 football MUST play a conference schedule in football. This gets ND running to the Big 10 in a New York minute. </p>

<p>B. The Big 10 agrees to accept a maximum of 2 schools to their conference for a set period of time. </p>

<ol>
<li> The Big East goes after two basketball strong programs starting with Kansas.<br></li>
</ol>

<p>What does the Big East get out of this? Their conference lives on and basketball is even strengthened by adding Kansas (which is soon to be dead meat in the Big 12 fallout). They also lose the embarrassment of ND using them as a cheap date every year. The downside is they (potentially) lose Pittsburgh - but they might have lost them anyway. Naturally, they would then have to go get a team to replace Pittsburgh (perhaps another basketball strong/football weak program). </p>

<p>What does the Big 10 get out of this? Notre Dame and (my guess) Pittsburgh. With Nebraska coming this would put the Big 10 at fourteen (14) teams for the time being.</p>

<p>One way around the increased travel expenses for these proposed 16-school conferences is that for sports other than football and basketball, the 8-school divisions could operate independently and have a championship at the end. So like for volleyball, soccer, etc, the 8 teams in the Pac Division of the “new” Pac 10 would play each other, and the 8 teams that are in Texas, AZ, OK, and Colorado would play other other. Then the winners of each division would play for the championship.</p>

<p>Crazy how all this turmoil would have been avoided if Notre Dame had merely said “yes” to the numerous offers from the Big 10 over the years.</p>

<p>Also, I wish the Big 10 would go after Kansas instead of Missouri.</p>

<p>[Orangebloods.com</a> - Source: Nebraska regents clear path to Big Ten](<a href=“http://texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1092612]Orangebloods.com”>http://texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1092612)</p>

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It’ll be interesting to see what happens. I think A&M would like to play in the SEC vs. Pac-16 inland division. I wonder about the power of Texas politics to make sure UT, aTm, TTU stick together.</p>

<p>If aTm leaves for the SEC, I can see the whole Pac-16 unraveling.<br>
aTm and UT are meeting today, and we’ll see what rumors come out about their intentions.</p>

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Actually, that’s how the Pac-10 commish got the original Pac-8 schools to agree to expansion to Pac-16. The original group keeps their ties and division winner has auto invite to BCS…Pac-10 gets what they want…maintain BCS and Rose Bowl, no conference championship, more potential revenue with inland division, television network…it’s genius if Larry Scott can pull off his plan.</p>

<p>If Clemson, Miami, and/or FSU go to the SEC, the ACC might want to make a play for Vanderbilt. And if Georgetown got serious about football, it would fit nicely in what would be an an interesting conference with first-rate academics and great basketball…its mediocre football wouldn’t be such a disaster because the remaining schools are mostly in regions where football isn’t huge anyway.</p>

<p>I hope this super conference thing dies in a couple years. </p>

<p>Yes a play off would be nice, but only 4 divisions? Too short. If they can preserve some of the bowls for the lower teams, then it might be ok. But, in my opinion, when you lay out the pros and the cons for super conferences, the cons outweigh the pros, at least from a fans stand point.</p>

<p>“Alexandre, the way I see it, there are only 9 permanent members of the college football super-elite: Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Texas, N Dame, USC, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Nebraska. Who are you including as the 10th school?”</p>

<p>I agree Schmaltz. I would not add a 10th to that group from a historic context, although in the modern era, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami and Tennessee would all make the cut.</p>

<p>Some positives regarding to UNL:</p>

<p>[UNL</a> | Nebraska Innovation Campus | Master Plan Summary Report](<a href=“http://innovate.unl.edu/20091120masterplan.shtml]UNL”>http://innovate.unl.edu/20091120masterplan.shtml)</p>

<p>[University</a> of Nebraska Administration - Campaign for Nebraska to raise $1.2 billion for NU](<a href=“http://nebraska.edu/media-resource-center/news-releases/1470-campaign-for-nebraska-to-raise-12-billion-for-nu.html]University”>http://nebraska.edu/media-resource-center/news-releases/1470-campaign-for-nebraska-to-raise-12-billion-for-nu.html)</p>

<p>Someone emailed this to me, thought it was funny. Though it deals mostly with UT and A&M, it brings up the B10 and this whole expansion thing. </p>

<p>======================================================
Somewhere, on a campus far, far away, there is a sorority named Chi Iota Ioata. XII for short. They are often called “Big XII” because they are one of the most popular sororities on campus.</p>

<p>The hottest and most popular girl on campus is the social chair in XII. Her name is Teacup Austin, and she pulls the strings in XII. Last year she thought she was a shoo-in for homecoming queen, but some Southern Belle ho named Alli somehow won it instead.</p>

<p>This has got Teacup thinking that maybe XII is dragging her down. After all, she’s the richest, hottest, most stylish girl on campus. Boys don’t choose her – she chooses them. Lately she’s been feeling like she could do better. If she does stay in XII, she shouldn’t have to pay full dues any more. And she should have control of more of the party budget. And they should make her President for life. Duh!</p>

<p>So she’s been thinking about joining another sorority, or maybe just becoming a GDI. Her rep for throwing kickin’ parties is so good she might just do better on her own.</p>

<p>One of XII’s rival sororities is Beta Iota Omicron, BIO. They’re the oldest campus sorority and their house is on the North side of campus, away from the rest of Greek Row. They have a lot of old-money girls and they’re very prestigious, but these days BIO has developed a bland image. They’re seen as boring and old-fashioned. Hell, their last pledge was the frumpiest dresser on campus, Penny.</p>

<p>But now they’re getting tired of sitting on it all the time and being ignored. They need some new blood and honestly maybe they need to put out a little more. Another problem is that there aren’t many fraternity houses on their side of campus. They need a way to meet more South-campus boys so they convince them to come over for mixers.</p>

<p>Well, with Teacup seeming a little unhappy in XII, BIO saw an opportunity for a major coup that could accomplish all their goals at once. Teacup had been chatting them up for a while and who knows, maybe it could be a match. They invited Teacup over with high hopes – but she thought they were too boring. A little chubby and pale, to be honest.</p>

<p>Next Teacup got invited to hang out with PAK, a hip sorority where all the California blondes hang out. So Teacup went to the beach and drank some Mai Tais with PAK, and she loved it. Now THOSE are her kind of girls. Some of them are smart, but they’re also not scared to flash their boobs. Teacup is even thinking she might even make a sex tape, like that Sunny slut from Arizona. That should get her some more attention, right?</p>

<p>Meanwhile, after Teacup snubbed them, BIO started hanging out with XII sisters Tigger and Corny. Really they fit in a lot better with BIO than Teacup does. They’re still cuter than most of the BIO sisters, and their Daddies have some money, especially Corny’s. Corny and Tigger like being hotter than most of their sorority sisters for a change. They’re very tired of that beyatch Teacup and everyone toadying to her, and anyway they’re annoyed with always getting stuck living in the back of the house.</p>

<p>And when word drifted back to the XII house and into Teacup Austin’s ears, it caused the proverbial feces to strike rotating airfoils. It’s one thing for Teacup to flirt with other sororities, but it’s quite another for those chicks in the back of the house to be doing it. Some sisters are more equal than other sisters, after all!</p>

<p>So Teacup calls a meeting and gets XII to issue a warning to her two rebels: make a choice, BIO or us. Oh and by the way, Tigger you should lose the food baby, and Corny, what’s up with the stringy hair?</p>

<p>But Corny and Tigger aren’t too worried about it. They know that XII can only have their fall formal and crown a sorority queen if they have enough members, and they know that XII can’t get two other girls as cool as they are. If XII kicks them out Teacup will probably still be sorority queen, but she won’t get to have a big ceremony. Teacup won’t like that.</p>

<p>Now three of the other girls in XII are hard core Teacup suckups: Sooner Norman, her little sister Pokey, and Lubby. Sooner is the second in charge, and Teacup’s main frenemy. Pokey and Lubby just follow behind
and don’t say much. Nobody really cares that much one way or the other about Pokey and Lubby, but if they’re cute enough and if Teacup wants them to come along, that’s okay with PAK.</p>

<p>On the edge of Teacup’s posse is Bailey, an unpopular girl who some say only got into XII because she’s a legacy. She wants SO bad to be one of the cool girls, but she knows Teacup doesn’t care about her one way or the other. She’s afraid if the sorority splits that Teacup won’t get her invited to the new one.</p>

<p>But she has an ace in the hole – her rich Daddy. He’s telling Bailey-Bear not to cry, he’ll take care of her and she’ll a PAK bid if Teacup goes.</p>

<p>XII also has a crunchy granola girl named Buffy. Of course PAK wants Buffy to come with Teacup. They love her natural good looks and laid-back personality. Plus, a couple of the PAK girls are bi and they’re thinking Buffy is too. Buffy’s into it and hoping for a PAK bid, but that Bailey chick’s rich Daddy might screw it up for her.</p>

<p>But her saving grace just may be Agatha. Aggie is a real hot farmer’s daughter and she’s got a very outgoing personality. She’s very comfortable in her skin and doesn’t much care what others think of her. Most everyone loves her or at least thinks she’s fun to hang out with – except Teacup. And she in turn hates Teacup with the passion of all the rest put together. Everything everyone else hates about Teacup, Aggie REEEEALLLY hates about Teacup.</p>

<p>Aggie also really doesn’t care to become a Cali slut. She just doesn’t have much in common with them. She thinks of herself as a classy Texas gal, but in truth she has a redneck edge when she gets a buzz. She feels much more comfortable with the Southern Belles in Mu Omicron Omicron and she’s hoping MOO will give her a bid. Buffy and Bailey hope that happens too, so they can both have a spot in PAK!</p>

<p>Now Aggie’s favorite thing ever is to F with Teacup. She loves Teacup’s annual tea-sipping party just because she might have an opportunity to ruin it for her. And she knows that if Teacup and her posse bolt for PAK, and she doesn’t go, she might not get invited to Teacup’s party any more.</p>

<p>But, let’s face it. There’s only so much toadying Aggie is willing to do just to get the chance to mess with Teacup every year. Aggie is no Lubby or Pokey. Going to Teacup’s annual tea party isn’t worth all that
sucking up, not to mention hanging out with those obnoxious Cali girls in PAK.</p>

<p>And there are LOTS of cool chicks in MOO who throw kickin’ parties every year. MOO is maybe the most popular sorority on campus and they get more girls crowned homecoming queen than any other – in fact the last three all came from MOO: Alli, Flora, and Aggie’s friend Louisa.</p>

<p>Aggie also hears good things about some other MOO sisters, such as Missy, Audrey and Georgia. There’s a girl named Tennille who’s a little more redneck than the others, but let Aggie pound a few Lone Stars and that’s right up her alley anyway.</p>

<p>Aggie also hears that MOO might bid a couple of other girls she knows: a really hot slutty one named Tally who has big fake boobs and wears skimpy cowgirl outfits, and a cute little Asian chick with librarian glasses named Gitty who lives in a funky urban loft and can help them pass all the tests. Though Gitty’s nerdy enough that she might rather have a bid from BIO.</p>

<p>And the BEST thing about MOO is that they know tons of cool boys. And with the guys she knows in the frat houses near XII, Aggie would be a great fit. Really, when she thinks about it, MOO is sounding pretty good to Aggie!</p>

<p>==========================================</p>

<p>Kind of funny story, I think it originated on A&M’s Scout blog or something.</p>

<p>^^ that was awesome, thanks for sharing</p>

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<p>I agree. I would want Kansas before Missouri too. </p>

<p>The two sub-division might work in some sports but would be a detriment in others. Take golf. The value of a 16 team Pac 10 in golf is 16 teams showing up in Scottsdale for a conference final (with everyone competing). Heck, I’d pay money to go out and watch that. Also think of it from a recruiting advantage. UWash, Wash St. Oregon, Oregon State can tell their golf recruits that they are getting out of the rain and playing in Arizona and Texas while Colorado (for example) is telling kids that they will be playing at UCLA, Stanford and Cal during their time there. Big advantage to not muck up.</p>

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<p>I was surprised that Duke’s overall revenue is so (relatively) low. Indiana, Marquette, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas, Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Minnesota, UNC, and Wisconsin all have higher base revenues than Duke. I guess a lot of that is due to the fact that Duke plays in such a small arena.</p>

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<p>Yup. That and Duke gives a healthy number of Cameron’s best seats to students, thus reducing revenue. I for one consider that a really good move.</p>

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<p>The major programs, like Kansas, Kentucky and Louisville, were in the 8 to 9 million dollar range, so I’m guessing that Duke probably accounted for expenses differently than the other major programs.</p>

<p>Notre Dame needs to put their pride aside and join the Big Ten for the sake of pragmatism.</p>