The “OLD TEN” has watched their once mighty (well, it was in the 40’s - 60’s I hear) conference fall further and further behind everyone else, for years!
Before you think this is a “bash-the-Little-1(1)0″ piece, it really isn’t. The Big10 in trying to stick to its “traditions” has been slow to do most things other conferences have. The most progressive thing they (as a group) did, was UMichy’s hiring of Dick Rod - and unfortunately they are 2 years into that move and looking back on it with raised eyebrows. Think about OSU’s hire of Vesty…that’s NOT a move most other BIG schools would have made. It turned out well for them, but can you see Notre Dame or Oklahoma reaching out to an in-State small townie-Coach like that? You’re gonna have some success anyway, because of that old brand name, but still….low wattage. Paterno wasn’t part of the conf when he was hired,…back in 1921, or when he won Nat Titles; Making Tress the only hire who worked it all out. Though his EPIC failure against Florida in that Title game kinda took a shine off those earlier accomplishments.
The Big-Whatever conference has long been a 2-man race (No disrespect intended towards Wiscony, but really…until PENNIState got there, and got good again - boom, it was just OSU and Michy). Michy is struggling now, so its made PENNIState better. Two National Titles in the last 40 years, a losing record in the Rose Bowl, and 7 teams that dont instill fear in any MAC team, will do that.
Now they are looking like, or at least saying they will fill in another team, round off to 12 teams and get something new in the mix. For 15 years they’ve been waiting for ND to fall in their ranks, they resisted. (Mostly because the NCAA is filled with enUFf ND alum’s to keep the “gifts” coming.)
They missed out on Cincy, which would have been a super pick up (but who knew until a few years ago?)…now they are going to have to reach out to a Central Michigan, or try to pull some other ACC-like heist. Central Michy will need stadium/facility upgrades, but they are regionally a good fit. They also boast the best potential for quality, though they’d never win the Title…..which may be the plan, and it shouldn’t be. Waiting for ND to fall in line just ain’t happenin’!
Alvarez was always a good coach, hopefully he can rally enUFf supporters to get this done quick….A BIG10\11\1? Conference Title Game?….YEE-hah!
Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez says the Big Ten will soon make a more aggressive push toward adding a 12th member.
Speaking to Wisconsin’s athletic board on Friday, Alvarez, the former longtime Badgers football coach, said the conference already has investigated possibilities for expansion “from all over the country.” And though he places no timetable on the search, Alvarez thinks conference commissioner Jim Delany will respond to a group of athletic directors and coaches who want expansion.
“I have a sense he is going to take this year to really be more aggressive about it,” Alvarez told the board. “I just think everybody feels [expansion] is the direction to go, coaches and administrators.”
Penn State football coach Joe Paterno has been the most vocal advocate of a 12th Big Ten team, and he has support from several of his fellow coaches.
A 12th team would allow the Big Ten to split into divisions and hold a conference championship game. The Big Ten typically ends its football season two weeks before the other BCS conferences, though the addition of a permanent bye week in 2010 will shrink the gap by a week.
“We’re irrelevant for the last three weeks of the football season because we’re not playing,” Alvarez said Friday.
Paterno has stumped for expansion several times, but Delany — who was unavailable for comment — told ESPN.com this spring that the league has no immediate plans to add a 12th team.
“There’s not an obvious move,” Delany said in May. “There might be to some coaches, including Coach Paterno, but it’s not as obvious to the university presidents and to the athletic directors.
“There are a lot [of schools] that could take a lot away, but there aren’t a lot that could bring so much to make the choice an easy one. You have to have a lot to make something go like this, and it’s broader than really a championship game or a basketball tournament.”
The Big Ten most recently expanded with Penn State, which began competing as a league member in football in 1993. The league has made runs at Notre Dame but hasn’t had serious discussions for several years.
Calipari was introduced Wednesday after the Kentucky athletics board approved an eight-year, $31.65 million contract that will make Calipari the highest paid coach in the nation. Athletic director Mitch Barnhart said Wednesday that the university paid a premium price, but that Calipari “can flat out coach.” “I’m a regular guy, folks,” Calipari said. “I do not walk on water; I do not have a magic wand.” (That’s not gonna help you later, if you muss-up!…so why say that?) The 50-year-old Calipari agreed to terms on Tuesday night to take over college basketball’s winningest program. Calipari is 445-140 in 17 seasons, leading both Memphis and Massachusetts to the Final Four.
