<p>Rutgers brings a fine academci tradition in a large market area. The WBB team recently won an NCAA title–something no B10 team has done recently if ever. RU football is solid. RU men’s bball is weak now but has been strong in the past. Just need a new coach and a better facility one of whic is already being planned (and probably the other too). The NJ/NY market is so massive and full of B10 grads you only need a slice to have add considerable viewership. I think there is an untapped market for big-time college sports. All they have had is slivers like the Ivy League and schools with modest programs.</p>
<p>Pitt adds nothing in demographics nor does Syracuse which is way too isolated.</p>
<p>“Honestly though, there is no way the Big Ten would ever contact Nebraska. It’s just not that great of an academic institution.”</p>
<p>Novi, seriously, the lil’ 11 is an athletic conference, known more for its choking in big games then academics right now. Too good for Nebraska? Even using flawed, not quick to change USNWR rankings, The lil’ 11 has 5 top 50 schools, the remaining 6 are outside looking in. The ACC, with only one more school, has 7 top 50 schools, with only 5 looking in. Check the arrogance at the door, the lil’ 11 is in a declining part of the country and it will only slip further. Heck, the ACC is mostly in the supposedly “dumb” South and where does Warren Buffett live? Toyota hands Detroit an epic scandal on a silver platter and last I checked, Honda and Hyundai are reaping the rewards.</p>
<p>“Toyota hands Detroit an epic scandal on a silver platter and last I checked, Honda and Hyundai are reaping the rewards.”</p>
<p>What does this have anything to do with this discussion? Look, I’m just stating the facts pure and simple as I see them. If you don’t like them, that’s tough.</p>
<p>Bottom of the ACC too weak? Maryland the same rank as Choke State U, Clemson ahead of Purdue, Minnesota, Indiana, MSU and Virginia Tech are the same rank. Wow, Iowa beats out FSU! </p>
<p>I think something else is weak, like your argument.</p>
<p>Again, if you can’t (like a lot of Midwesterners) think long term and realize that your schools will be eventually hurt by the regions decline, then keep on the same Not Invented Here course…A lot of banks have payed back TARP money, where is GM’s restitution?</p>
<p>"Again, if you can’t (like a lot of Midwesterners) think long term and realize that your schools will be eventually hurt by the regions decline, then keep on the same Not Invented </p>
<p>Once again, what does the above have to do with the overall quality of the schools? The whole country is in general decline. Not just the midwest. </p>
<p>“A lot of banks have payed back TARP money, where is GM’s restitution?”</p>
<p>By the way this article from the LA Times indicates:</p>
<p>Gm To Pay Off Loans Early
The automaker says it could be out of debt to the U.S. and Canadian governments by June.
November 17, 2009|Ken Bensinger
Borrowing a page from the playbooks of Bank of America and Goldman Sachs, General Motors Co. is moving to repay its federal loans early.</p>
<p>So perhaps you need to think more “long term” in your views as well.</p>
<p>I remember the Midwest being written off in the early 80’s and most of it came back stronger within 10 years. Chicago, Minny, Indy, Columbus/Cinci have remained strong economic anchors–much stornger than any group of southern cities. Madison and Ann Arbor are two tech hotbeds adding a new dynamic element to the Midwest eco base.</p>
<p>At least the midwest had FAR less to do with the economic problems than NYC and environs and the corrupt people who work in the banking industry.</p>
<p>I seem to recall the banks got bailed out first. Give GM time and they’ll pay it all off. I agree with you Barrons. Wall St. scr*wed this country way worse than any Midwest concern.</p>
<p>Even some Cornellians considered jumping ship last year!! lol
Big Red bolts the Ivy?! Interesting to say the least, but I doubt it will happen though…</p>
<p>Texas was courted by the Pac-10 when the old SWC dissolved. Stanford objected.</p>
<p>Pac-10 should go back and add Colorado and Texas (add the Denver and Texas media markets). I’m sure Colorado and Texas would rather play games in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle versus Iowa City and Chambana. Pac-10 has more prestige than the Big Te(leve)n.</p>
<p>Chicago is not in the Big Ten anymore. It’s hard to believe, but it was at one time.
Too bad schools have to be in the same conference for all sports!</p>
<p>^^ Yeah, but the Maroons will have their say on the expansion issue as well. The new member(s) should automatically qualify for the CIC membership which provides invaluable resources to ANY university on this planet. The Big Ten sports conference is still very much tied to our academic consortium I believe, one can’t seperate from the other in terms of overall functionality. So, for that lucky new member, welcome to the Big Ten & the CIC!! :)</p>
Pac-10 has more prestige than the Big Te(leve)n.</p>