While we patiently (yeah, right) await for August 30 to come and attempt to settle down from the hype surrounding the upcoming season, rumors continue to swirl. As usual, that the Big Ten is once again considering an expansion to twelve teams. While there are advantages and disadvantages to expansion, the agreed upon results of such a move would lead to two divisions and a championship game within the conference, and of course, more revenue. DTI looks at the possible candidates for the potential 12th team in the Big Ten.
Rutgers- The Scarlet Knights would probably be target number one for the conference due to many reasons. First and foremost, the location of the school is the biggest draw. Located in Piscataway, New Jersey, RU is not too far from New York City and is the only major college football program in the Metropolitan area. Adding Rutgers to the conference would generate a ton of money and the Big Ten would have control of the television market in the area. Secondly, Rutgers is a program that has been on the rise the past few years, and will continue to improve, especially with a way above average recruiting class in 2009 expected. Finally, Coach Greg Schiano, Michigan’s top target (after Les Miles stayed at LSU) last season, has ties in the Big Ten with Penn State and plays a Big Ten style of football. Schiano has been rumored to be Joe Paterno’s successor at Penn State, but a move for Rutgers to the Big Ten could keep him in the Garden State for years to come.
Rutgers Facts:
- around 38,000 undergraduate students and about 13,000 graduate students
- Location: Piscataway, NJ
- Famous for the ‘Grease Trucks’, the originator of the “fat sandwiches” (better than OSU’s PJ’s)
- 27 varsity teams
- Home Field: Rutgers Stadium
- Nickname: Scarlet Knights/ Colors: Scarlet, Black, and White\
- Coach: Greg Schiano
- “Birthplace of College Football”- Defeated Princeton 6-4 in the first-ever college football game
- Big East Conference member since 1991
- Last 3 Bowls- 2005: Lost 45-40 in Insight.com Bowl to Arizona State-2006: Won 37-10 in Texas Bowl vs. Kansas State-2007: Won 52-30 in International Bowl vs. Ball State
- NFL Players include RB Ray Rice, FB/RB Brian Leonard, TE Clark Harris, TE L.J. Smith, QB Mike McMahon, DB Nathan Jones, P Mike Barr, DB Jay Bellamy, LB Gary Brackett, DT Eric Foster, C Shaun O’Hara, OL Pedro Sosa, Ol Jeremy Zuttah
Notre Dame- While Big Ten fans would love to get their shot at the Irish year in and year out, it does not seem that Charlie Weis’ squad will be joining the conference anytime soon. A renewed deal with NBC to broadcast their games and the ability to choose all 12 of their opponents every year, gives motivation to the school to stay as an independent in football (Big East in basketball). Notre Dame’s location does make sense in terms of the Irish becoming Big Ten bound, but as stated before, don’t hold your breath waiting for ND to join.
Notre Dame Facts:
- around 8,400 undergraduate students and around 3,300 graduate students
- Location: South Bend, Indiana
- Home Field: Notre Dame Stadium (80,795)
- Nickname: Fighting Irish
- Coach: Charlie Weis
- Colors: Blue, Gold, White (and Green)
- Most consensus National Championships out of any school
- 7 Heisman Trophy Winners
- Conference: Independent
- Lost 9 straight bowl games
- Last 3 Bowl Games-2006: Lost 41-14 in Sugar Bowl vs. LSU- 2005: Lost 34-20 in Fiesta Bowl to Ohio State- 2004: Lost 38-21 in Insight Bowl vs. Oregon State
- NFL Players: WR Arnaz Battle, LB Rocky Boiman, QB Brady Quinn, WR Maurice Stovall, C Jeff Faine, TE Anthony Fasano, OT Mike Gandy, WR David Givens, RB Ryan Grant, RB Julius Jones, DB Chinedum Ndukwe, OT Mike Rosenthal, P Hunter Smith, DE Justin Tuck, DE Anthony Weaver, DE Renaldo Wynn, DB Tom Zbikowski, and more.
Syracuse- If Rutgers is the first choice to grab the TV market in New York, then Syracuse would have to be the second choice to get the Big Apple. Syracuse basketball is a fan favorite in the New York-New Jersey area and games played at Madison Square Garden are practically home games (as OSU can attest to in the Pre-season NIT). Syracuse’s football program has certainly taken a hit since Donavan McNabb left and head coach, Greg Robinson, is on the (very) hot seat this season. A move for the Orange is unlikely, but would certainly bring a good market to the conference-in addition to improving the basketball talent of the Big Ten.
Syracuse Facts:
- around 19,000 students
- Location: Syracuse, New York
- Home Field: Carrier Dome (around 50,000)
- Nickname: Orange
- Coach: Greg Robinson
- Conference: Big East
- Colors: Orange and White (some Navy too)
- All-Time Greats: RB Jim Brown, RB Ernie Davis, RB Larry Csonka, RB Joe Morris, WR Art Monk and RB Floyd Little
- 1 Football National Championship (1959)
- NFL Players: QB Donavan McNabb, WR David Tyree, WR Marvin Harrison, DE Dwight Freeney, LB Keith Bulluck, LB Rob Moore, DB Donovan Darius, FB Rob Konrad, and more.
West Virginia- The Mountaineers, another Big East team, have the location, top notch athletic programs, and swagger to be a top candidate if the Big Ten were to be looking for a new member. New Michigan coach, Rich Rodriguez, has kept the program as one of the nation’s best, after Florida State legend, Bobby Bowden, put WVU on the map in the college football world. West Virginia seems to be in the top two of the Big East year after year and could be tested a bit more in the Big Ten, but would certainly compete to win the conference crown consistently. The market isn’t great in Morgantown, but the talent the school could bring to the conference is rivaled by few.
West Virginia Facts:
- around 21,000 undergraduates and around 7, 000 graduate students
- Location: Morgantown, West Virginia
- Home Field: Mountaineer Field (60,180)
- Nickname: Mountaineers
- Coach: Bill Stewart
- Colors: Old Gold and Blue
- Conference: Big East
- Biggest Rival is Pittsburgh- Annual game is the Backyard Brawl
- Fan favorite is the Alma Matter “Take Me Home, Country Roads”
- Last 3 bowl games- 2007: Won 48-28 in Fiesta Bowl vs. Oklahoma- 2006: Won 38-35 vs. Georgia Tech in Gator Bowl- 2005: Won 38-35 in Sugar Bowl vs. Georgia
- NFL Players: TE Anthony Becht, QB Marc Bulger, LB Barrett Green, WR Chris Henry, CB Adam Jones, WR Jerry Porter, FB Owen Schmitt, RB Steve Slaton, P Todd Sauerbrun, and more.
Iowa State- The Cyclones have been solid, not good or great, in both basketball and football in the Big 12 of late, but could still be a solid addition to the Big Ten conference. Location certainly makes sense and many people in the state of Iowa consider themselves to be in “Big Ten country”. New coaches in basketball and football have revitalized the athletic program, which should be on the rise.
Iowa State Facts:
- around 26,000 undergraduate students and around 5, 000 graduate students
- Location: Ames, Iowa
- Home Field: Jack Trice Stadium (56,795)
- Nickname: Cyclones
- Coach: Gene Chizik
- Colors: Cardinal and Gold
- Conference: Big 12 (North)
- 16 varsity teams
- 2 conference titles
- Last 3 bowl games- 2005: Lost 27-24 in Houston Bowl vs. TCU-2004: Won 17-13 in Independence Bowl vs. Miami (OH)-2002: Lost 34-16 in Humanitarian Bowl vs. Boise State
- NFL Players: QB Seneca Wallace, DE Reggie Hayward, DB Ellis Hobbs, DT James Reed, QB Sage Rosenfels, OL Oliver Ross, and more.
Missouri- The Tigers enjoyed one of their most successful seasons on the grid-iron last year and should be in contention to reach the BCS National Championship Game this year with QB Chase Daniels and WR Jeremy Macklin returning to Columbia. Missouri would be a prime candidate to join the Big Ten due to their recent success in football, annual rivalry game with Illinois, and location which could bring more exposure to the Big Ten from south of the conference’s territory. With it’s recent success in the Big 12, it is an outside chance the Tigers would be team number 12 for the Big Ten, though.
Missouri Facts:
- around 22,000 undergraduate students and around 7,000 graduate students
- Location: Columbia, Missouri
- Home Field: Faurot Field (68,349)
- Nickname: Tigers
- Coach: Gary Pinkel
- Colors: Black and MU Gold
- Conference: Big 12 (North)
- 20 varsity teams
- 15 conference titles and 26 All-Americans
- biggest rival is the Kansas Jayhawks
- NFL Players: WR Justin Gage, WR/QB Brad Smith, DE Justin Smith, OG Tony Palmer, TE Martin Rucker, TE Dwayne Blakley, and more.
edited by: Dave (4:30 pm ET)
7 users commented in " The 12th Team? "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackNice article Alex keep up the good work dti….don’t think well add anyone for the next 5 and at that point schiano will be at psu already…Rutgers does make sense though and if not them wvu or mizzou would be good….its all about money though so look for ru…
i like missouri in the big ten…
No chance any of those Big East teams leave for the “Big Eleven.” Syracuse has too much Big East tradition, West Virginia is the top football team and their basketball squad is going to be making the NCAA tourney every year as long as Huggins is there, Rutgers is another team that has helped Big East football while their basketbal team is on the rise with a couple decent 08 and 09 recruiting classes (including McD’s All-American Mike Rosario).
Notre Dame helps the Big East in bball, but I guess they’d be the best fit for Big Ten football if they actually gave up there national schedule, plus its right in the middle of Big Ten country. I think Missouri looked good for the Big Ten before, but their rise in football is great for the Big 12 and it will be tough to pull them away. I think Iowa State is the best fit, especially already having Iowa (2 Illinois teams, 2 Indiana teams, 2 Michigan teams, how bout 2 Hawkeye State teams?). Besides, there’s always room for another average school that won’t make many bowl games and won’t make it past the NIT.
I agree with G. Notre Dame is the team most fitting to become a member of the Big Ten Conference. Their location (South Bend, In), prestige (eight national championships) and ability to recruit top tier talent (Jimmy Clausen, Michael Floyd) make them a good fit to battle perennial powerhouses such as Ohio State and Michigan. However, it is probably a moot point as they make a tremendous amount of money as an independent team and can create their own schedule.
I don’t think the Big Ten would take anyone that is not in the AAU which would definitely leave WVU out and most likely ND.
Although I know this would be a great deal for Rutgers, and a chance for the Big Ten to “taste” the benefits of NYC fans (and the grease trucks!)I think Missouri would raise the competetion level and put down all those fans that say the BigTen is a weak conference.
There is no need to expand the big ten. It is fine the way it is. If we were to expand the big ten, several things would happen.
1. We would lessen the importance of the regular season. A 6-2 team could waltz into Soldier field and take the big ten title from an undefeated 8-0 team, despite the better record.
2. We would lessen the importance of each game. Michigan-OSU would plummet from importance, and be moved to the middle of the season to avoid rematches.
3. What school is possibly worthy of being in the Big Ten? We are not only a collection of top tier athletic schools, but also a top tier academic one. With the exception of Notre Dame, no school measures up the standards set by the worst big ten school.
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