Even though by Stating the Irish have "had their chance," Paterno wants the league to look east, as in Big East. He recommends adding Syracuse, Pitt, or Rutgers to the conference. Paterno wants to see the Big Ten pick up the New York market, which would argue against Pitt. Rutgers has to like its chances in the Big East more than in in the Big Ten. As for Syracuse, well, at this point, you couldn't blame them if they decided to join Temple in the MAC. So there's no school out there that makes sense as a twelfth Big Ten Team, right?
Well, what about Louisville? The Cardinals have already shown they want to be a big player in football, moving up from Conference USA to the Big East. Louisville obviously wouldn't add the New York media market, but it is one of the top 50 TV markets, and more importantly, it would give the conference a presence in the South.
Of course, as long as Delany's on the job, expansion and a championship game aren't forthcoming. But if it ever should happen, I've already got a response to the inevitable "now the Big Ten really can't count" crackbacks: Just tell everybody the conference has switched to base 12.
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I have asked myself forever why the big 10 doesn't add one more school to make it 12 and have a conference title game. I guess it makes way too much sense for it to ever happen. All it would do is bring more money and media attention to a conference that is falling behind the sec and big 12. hell they could even split michigan and osu into divisions and have the chance to see them two play a second time in a title game every few years. there are ample places to have a title game in the great lakes region. also a team winning a conference title game adds bcs brownie points. why not do this? louisville would be a good fit, also could very well stick a cincinatti in there and they could compete with most of the big 10 schools from time to time. the idea of rutgers and pitt would be just as well, syracuse could lose 12 games in any conference. then they could change the name of the conference to the GLC or maybe the "little" 12 would be a better fit.
One thing to remember about potential Big Ten expansion is that the conference presidents would never approve a new school that is not part of the Association of American Universities, an organization of the leading research universities in the country. All eleven current Big Ten schools are AAU members. So look for any future members to come from those ranks, too. Pitt and Rutgers and Syracuse are members, but not Louisville or Cincinnati (another school that would seem to make sense athletically). I think we're more likely to see the Big Ten poach a school like Missouri or Iowa State than go with Louisville or Cincy. They wouldn't get the New York market with one of those schools, but the SEC did okay when it added "smaller market" schools Arkansas and South Carolina.
JoePa and PSU wanted to be Independent but couldn't make it on it's own. So they joined the Big 10. They made their choice. Don't blame ND for not joining the Big 10, Joe. It just makes you sound bitter.
Penn State belongs in the Big East, not the Big 10. That was Coach Paterno's way to play in the Rose Bowl, but that is no longer a problem. Penn State could resume its traditional rivalries with Pitt, Syracuse, and West Virginia. The Big 10 could add Iowa State, since they already have Iowa.
Penn state did fine as an Eastern independent and needed no one to make it in football. We joined the Big Ten for its basketball resume like ND joined the Big East for its basketball.The basketball program is paying off as the Nittany Lions won the NIT this year(remember the ND game at the Garden?)The Big ten wanted Penn State for its football resume and a marriage was formed and is thriving. ND is an old maid and hasn't won a major bowl game in over a decade. No one wants ND......WE ARE.. ..PENN STATE!
ND in the big ten.... how about ND in high school footbal where they could compete for second place.... please... they are a coaching change and five years recruiting from a good team.
Jopa, the great senile one, won't play Pitt. If Pitt beats State Penn (the last time they played it was 12-0 panthers), it would hurt his recruiting in western Pa
Pitt would love to play Penn State. It's the only time the Panthers sell out their stadium and most of the fans are wearing Blue and White. Hold onto that last game that Pitt won 12-0 in one of Penn States rare losing seasons(3 losing seasons since 1938)It's only a rivaly if the other team could compete and Pitt no longer could. It's hard to hate a team you always beat. So Penn State dumped Pitt in the Monongahela and headed west down the Ohio where we could get some real competition.....WE ARE.. ..PENN STATE 2008 Big Ten Champions
Pitt would love to play Penn State. It's the only time the Panthers sell out their stadium and most of the fans are wearing Blue and White. Hold onto that last game that Pitt won 12-0 in one of Penn States rare losing seasons(3 losing seasons since 1938)It's only a rivaly if the other team could compete and Pitt no longer could. It's hard to hate a team you always beat. So Penn State dumped Pitt in the Monongahela and headed west down the Ohio where we could get some real competition.....WE ARE.. ..PENN STATE 2008 Big Ten Champions