The Dangers of Rutgers in the B10, and Pitt's Future.

[The Ancient Enemy]

It became apparent in the Ohio State BCS game versus Florida that the Big Ten conference as a whole was not at the level of the elite speed programs in the country. Ohio State was (and still basically is) considered an elite program, but no one at this point would select OSU to win a game versus Florida. The LSU game was also a debacle, despite Buckeye fans frantically trying to rationalize the loss. The PSU 1st-half embarrassment versus Southern Cal furthered the B10 perceptions that Illinois (who was annihalated by USC as well) and Ohio State already started.

The Big Ten has been living on false perceptions for years. Even the OSU national title game versus Miami was a win awarded on a blown call. It was, however, great for the conference, since it made the B10 look a hell of a lot more credible than it really was.

The college football world has moved to a speed format. The Big Ten has been trying to right the ship and catch up, but it takes time to get those kids in place. They are doing a commendable job, but the conference still is far behind. Maybe not as far as the pundits claim, but far behind none the less.

Please also remember that Florida WAS defeated by Michigan in a bowl game 2 years ago. FYI. The B10 HAS done better against the fabled SEC than other conferences, but at the end of the day, the perception is still there and that perception is 100% factual: The Big Ten was living (and still is) on reputation and is not as good as the SEC.

Another, and EQUALLY significant reason for the lag, is the lack of a conference championship game. There is a significant gap between regular season and bowl season that some of the B10 coaches are even addressing. The Big TEN has 11 teams. Retarded, no doubt. A 12th member school would force the conference to play an additional game after the regular season (NCAA rule), cutting down the tremendous gap between regular season and bowl season that the B10 now unfortunately possesses.

A conference championship game provides another contest versus a quality opponent.

The Big Ten is the best academic conference in the nation and arguably brings the most amount of revenue per conference to the NCAA. It is imperative that the Big Ten succeeds. If the B10 were to add a 12th team, there are a few criteria that university must meet.

1. Very strong academics and research.
2. Can expand the conference market base.
3. Competitiveness athletically, facilities, etc.

The Big Ten conference has a lot to offer a 12th member. Because Rutgers fits the above criteria so well, I dont think it is even a debate who will be the 12th member. No other schools besides Notre Dame can match that. News leaked somewhat this week that the B10 and Rutgers are already in negotiations for 2012.

Remember: The Big Ten is an all-inclusive conference, unlike the Big East. It is extremely prestigious, is a money juggernaut, an academic juggernaut, and any university who would get an invitation would be beyond foolish to turn down that kind of comraderie that exists between B10 member schools.

That being said, let's backtrack somewhat.

The ACC decided to expand, and stole 3 of the top programs from the Big East: multiple-title Miami, somewhat elite VTech, and prestigious Boston College. People thought the Big East was dead. The BE survived because WVU and Cincinnati really stepped up. The thing is though, is that both of those head coaches left to take jobs in the Big Ten. So, whether or not anyone likes it, the BE is still considered a second-class citizen. The conference however still had strong academics in Rutgers, and Rutgers was the main force that gave the conference credibility. The conference itself is not all inclusive, which diminishes it's credibility whether we like it or not. Rutgers fleeing the scene like the universities prior to them, is not a good sign.

From a football standpoint, the BE cannot afford to lose a burgeoning program in a recruiting hotbed with NYC ties to the Big Ten. It will be crippling. To be perfectly honest, there are no programs left regionally that can replace what Rutgers brings to the BE.

If the BE ends up losing that automatic BCS bid, they are done. This will leave Pitt and WVU out in the cold, and no doubt their football programs will take a massive, massive, massive hit. I use football as the example b/c of how much money the sport generates for the universities. Where will Pitt and WVU go if the BE disbands as a football entity, or loses that auto bid?

There is a lot of danger here for a lot of parties. Not only does this tremendously affect Pitt, it also directly affects Penn State. Yes, Rutgers opens more doors in NJ, but it may close some in Western PA. If Pitt drops off as a credible football power, Penn State now battles Ohio State directly for WPIAL recruits. Pitt is a stabilizing force bewteen the two. We want this. We want Pitt to be a third viable alternative between PSU and Ohio State. As much as PSU fans hate to hear this, we should want Pitt to stay in the 9-3 range each season. Neither program wants to battle eachother over every kid. The BE as of now still has some credibility in the auto bid, and is a stabilizing force.

In New Jersey, Rutgers is a player for all those recruits. A lot of the top-end ones leave, but Rutgers is always in contention and would maybe land those kids if they were in a more prestigious conference and hosted credible opponents every week. Home and homes versus OSU and Michigan and local rival PSU would do wonders for a burgeoning program. The BE simply cannot match the history of the top B10 programs, and the history of the conference. It is not even close. NJ always has a plethora of talent. If those kids all get direct exposure to the Big Ten every week, it is definitely going to affect Pitt's ability to pull those kids from NJ, where they do pretty well presently.

In conclusion, Rutgers to the B10 makes perfect sense for both parties. I am sure the BE has had some kind of plan if this happened, since rumors started swirling long ago. The question is, how can the Big East survive the loss? I personally do not see an equal opportunity in another university, and feel the BE's football future is in serious doubt if Rutgers bolts. I posted an article this week about the growth of the Big Ten network, which is only getting bigger and becoming more of a revenue monster. There is no reason at all why Rutgers would stay in the Big East.

[abpk2903]

I would not be surprised to see the Big East throwing huge amounts of benefits to Rutgers to keep them from joining the Big Ten. So I am not sure it will happen. If it does, I seriously wonder who the Big East can get to fill the football void. Will the Big East be forced to become an all-sports conference trying to force Notre Dame's hand and make them join a conference? Then hope to God they join the Big East.

[The Ancient Enemy]

It does not make sense for ND to join a conference. They make way too much money ahd they have bull**** BCS clauses that give them benefits.

Rutgers has no benefit to stay. The money they will make in the B10 is seriously astronomical when you consider research opportunities w/ those B10 schools, the Big Ten Network, and the pull the Miochigan and OSU and PSU bring to the Rutgers home athletics. It does not make ANY sense to stay.

Remember... the conferences exist because they share research opportunities, NOT b/c of athletics... except the Big East. Remember that. The Big East is at a serious disadvantage when compared to the other conferences. I do not necessarily hate the Big East. I just think it has put itself in a bad situation when compared to the other conferences. It really can't even be compared, from top to bottom. They are an island of misfit toys.

[The Ancient Enemy]

Also, shared bowl revenue in the B10, who has 8 tie-ins.

[abpk2903]

TAE,

If the Big East were to say to Notre Dame that they had to move all sports in or get all sports out of the conference, would ND become independent with all of their sports? I know football would probably make enough money to support all sports but imagine trying to make a entire schedule in all sports without conference games. That means finding 30+ opponents in boys and girls basketball and filling 50+ games in baseball and softball. That just covers the major sports. I really think this could be a chance to force ND's hand. They may bail but its not like ND brings that much to the big east in basketball anyways. Just a thought.