Pitt to Big Ten

[Head Roadie]

FROM UNIV OF MICHIGAN MESSAGE BOARDS
Rumor: Pitt to Join Big Ten
By Sean · Sunday, January 31, 2010 · 12:35 AM | Share | 5 Comments
I will stress that this is merely a rumor, but the word on the street (and by street I mean message boards and Twitter) is that Pitt is set to join the Big Ten, and an announcement will be made next week. Supposedly Pitt’s athletes have been informed of the move, which is how the rumor got started in the first place. The date of the announcement is allegedly February 4, which is next Thursday.

If this turns out to be true, and I still think that’s a big if, I’m more than okay with Pitt becoming the 12th member of the Big Ten. They are at the top of my realistic wish list of candidates to join the conference alongside Missouri. I probably would be a bit more excited if Missouri were to join (partly because of how entertaining it would be to watch the domino effect the move would set off on the Big 12), but the Big Ten could certainly do worse than Pitt.

Aside from that, if this is true then I’m going to really start wondering about how the teams will be split up into divisions. Rivalries in the Big Ten will play a large role in splitting up the 12 teams, as will making sure the divisions are balanced. It will definitely be interesting to see how that turns out, because I don’t know if a perfect plan to split the teams up exists. I imagine the Big Ten will want to make sure that rivalry games played in the last week of the season are between teams in the same division in order to prevent a possible rematch in the conference title game, but it is going to be tough to set it up in a way where everything works out.

The other thing I’m going to start wondering about is when the official move to the conference would happen. The consensus seems to be the fall of 2012 based on how long it would take to leave the Big East, which does make sense. A move like this doesn’t just happen overnight, because the Big East will need to receive notice well in advance if Pitt decides to leave, and obviously the Big Ten will have to take some time setting up the schedules to include Pitt and plan a conference title game in football.

I suppose we’ll find out more next week if this rumor is true, but until then, let the speculating begin.

[WPIAL~Titan]

If this does happen, PSU's rivalry game played in the last week of the season will be vs. MSU for the prestigious LAND GRANT TROPHY!

For Pitt in terms of football, it would be a big step up in terms of revenue generated. I guess game attendance would be higher too, since that's all that matters to Big10 fans...In terms of the on the field competition that Pitt would face in the B10 as compared to the BE, it would be a lateral move.

In men's basketball, it would be a huge step down for Pitt in terms of competition.

[deliverance]

The date of the announcement is allegedly February 4, which is next Thursday.

It's already February 8, so I think the announcement was suppose to happen already.

[The Ancient Enemy]

I am not completely opposed to Pitt joining, I just think that Rutgers and Missouri should be the 1st two choices, then Pitt.

Let me ask you this. How many kids have been major contributors on Pitt's basketball teams over the past decade that were from Pittsburgh? If that number is very small, it means Pitt has to recruit elsewhere. Are those avenues still open if they take a step backwards and join the B10? I just dont see how the basketball program survives.

[ham55]

From Adam Rittenberg on ESPN's BigTen blog on February 2nd.

"Before we begin, I wanted to quickly address the Pitt-to-the-Big Ten rumors, which had absolutely no truth to them. I know many of you wanted me to weigh in much earlier on this, but when something has no substance behind it, we're not going to fan the flames or even acknowledge it. Sources on both sides have told me and colleagues Brian Bennett and Mark Schlabach that nothing is in the works right now. Pitt very well could become the 12th member of the Big Ten, but when the Big Ten says the process will take 12-18 months, it's a good bet the process will take 12-18 months. Adding a team six weeks after making the public announcement about expansion is beyond out of character for this conference.

Bottom line: Don't believe everything you read on the Internet (unless it's on the Big Ten blog, of course). "

[nLions1]

UPDATED:
E.J. Borghetti, associate athletic director/media relations for Pitt, has posted this twitter message concerning speculation that Pitt had agreed to join the Big Ten Conference.

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"Now hear this: rumors on Internet message boards should be read for amusement purposes only, and not consumed as responsible journalism."

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Here is what that speculation was over the weekend. And let me put this up in CAPITAL LETTERS. At this point it looks like sheer speculation, but I wanted people to know that and to get a wiff of what is out there.

As posted on Bleacherreport.com and Buckeyebanter.com, and discussed at length on sever Pitt interent boards:

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"According to several reports, including personal statements by student athletes on Twitter, Pittsburgh athletic department officials held closed door meetings with all of the University's student athletes last week about the potential move.

Pitt message boards lit up with the news and the validity of the rumor, and though not verified by the University or the Big East or Big Ten, the rumor was somewhat reinforced when those Pitt athletes who posted about the meeting on their Twitter accounts were forced to remove the posts."