A source involved in expansion talks believes that Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany dropped a significant clue when he said Sunday that the league "could act and act again."
With Nebraska facing a Big 12 loyalty ultimatum and eager to learn by Friday whether it will be asked to apply for Big Ten membership, the source believes that Big Ten expansion will occur "in steps."
"Jim is getting his hand forced, and he doesn't like it," the source told the Tribune.
But Delany might have no other choice if he wants to reel in Nebraska.
Another source with close ties to Big Ten officials suggested the league wants to add Nebraska and stop there - at 12 teams.
An executive at a Big 12 school told the Omaha World-Herald he expects Nebraska to become a member of the Big Ten as early as Friday.
Delany declined to reply to inquiries from the Tribune on Wednesday morning.
Both sources believe that financial terms are now being discussed between the Big Ten and Nebraska. Specifically, when would the Cornhuskers get a full share of the league's revenue pie? Would it be in their first year of membership - or would they have to accept a reduced rate until the third year?
As for Notre Dame, sources remain split on whether the school is in talks with the Big Ten.
Athletic director Jack Swarbrick told the New York Times that "we have not entered into discussions with anyone."
But he said that Monday night. And things can change in 36 hours.
barbarianatthegate on June 11, 2010 3:26 PM
ND won't join the Big Ten because they know that they would be the fifth or sixth best football program in the league. National Championship? They'd never win a Big Ten title!
__________________________________
True, but to ND money is their only God and that will take them through their decision making process and will lead them to their final decision.
BTW, does anyone remember what happened to the much beloved Touchdown Jesus? I wonder how much it took to cash Him in?
ND won't join the Big Ten because they know that they would be the fifth or sixth best football program in the league. National Championship? They'd never win a Big Ten title!
Either Texas leads an exodus of five teams to the Pac-10 that follow Colorado or it remains true to the Big 12 and the league becomes more reminiscent of the old Southwest Conference.
http://philiptortora.blogspot.com/2010/06/future-of-big-12-hinges-on-texas.html
Either Texas leads an exodus of five teams to the Pac-10 that follow Colorado, or it remains true to the Big 12 and become a league more reminiscent of the old Southwest Conference.
http://philiptortora.blogspot.com/2010/06/future-of-big-12-hinges-on-texas.html
Rutgers to the Big 10 is a guarantee and when they do include the Scarlet Knights,not only are they gaining a highly regarded institution of higher education,they are gaining a greatly improved football team.Schanio is making strides towards making Rutgers a top 20 team sooner then later!
The best Big 10 expansion scenario includes securing Texas, New York / New Jersey, and Notre Dame. The best 5 expansion teams include Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Texas, Syracuse and Rutgers. Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Missouri and Nebraska are alternates. Texas and Texas A&M are a must to secure Texas. Syracuse and Rutgers are a must to secure New York / New Jersey. All of the top teams are part of the AAU except Notre Dame and all are ranked in the top 100 academically by US News & World Report. More importantly, these schools represent 50 million plus in state population.
The best Pac 10 expansion scenario includes securing Texas and the remainder of the Western USA. The best 6 expansion teams include Texas A&M, Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska. Texas A&M and Texas are a must to secure Texas. Utah, BYU and Missouri are alternates. All of the top teams are part of the AAU except Oklahoma and all of the schools are ranked close to or in the top 100 academically by US News & World Report except for Utah. More importantly, these schools represent 33 million plus in state population.
@William
I am shocked at the ignorance William. Not a national team? You must not travel much. Yes, I am a born and raised Husker fan, but, with a grandfather that is an Iowa fan and a Step-Mother that was born and raised a Michigan fan. In almost any state that you go to, or at least the ones worth going to, there are Nebraska fans everywhere and in many of those states, there are sportsbars dedicated to Nebraska fans. Not a national team huh?
Nebraska fans and alumni are HUGE travelers and support our team through thick and thin. I would love to find out what school you are a fan of because like others have mentioned here, the Big 10 hasn't done anything amazing recently either. I will skip statistics and spare you the embarrassment...
Lastly, I will comment on your two worst moves: 1, Missouri beating us 4 out of the last 7 meetings. Well, lets change that statistic up a little bit...Missouri has beaten Nebraska 4 out of the last 31 meetings. So, who has owned who? 2, the steroids comment. I am really not sure what you are referring to there. Wouldn't our program be better than you give them credit for if we had players on steroids? Ignorance...
Personally, I am excited about the thought of playing in the Big 10. The Big 10 has history, rivalries, tradition, and pride...all the things that the Big 12 lacked. I have all the confidence in the world that those that are against Nebraska joining the Big 10 will have a change of heart within a year or two after they see how much class and competition Nebraska brings to the table.
With the schools that the Big 10 is talking to it will be a very watered down conference that will just be adding weaker members. If they truly wanted to compete on a national level they should be talking to Texas and Oklahoma. The other schools (Nebraska, Missouri, Pitt, Syracuse, UConn, Rutgers, Maryland) are mediocre at best and do not add anything to the Big 10 except size. Adding Texas to the Big 10 network would add every cable provider in the state of Texas and all the millions that would bring. Who cares about geography- once you get on a plane who cares if it is a one hour flight or a two hour flight? It's not like these kids travel by bus anymore. The Big 10 is still stuck in the 1950's with their mentality and this realignment will doom them for good.
It has to be killing ND that they are just another guest and not the focal point in any of this.
Nebraska could be the domino that brings in a reluctant Notre Dame though. Reports are that Texas & Friends are willing to blow up the Big 12 if Nebraska leaves, which causes all sorts of other realignment dominoes to go into motion. If Notre Dame wants a prime seat when the music stops, they might want to move early rather than later.
Nothing except AAU membership, top-shelf academics, 500 miles closer, and two established rivalries with existing members. But of course it doesn't have a nationally elite athletic program, which is all that really matters, of course, just as you say.
@Jnews
Seriously? ISU? They aren't even close to the academic top of the Big 12. Texas, Texas AM and Colorado are all ranked higher by US News and World Report. Nebraska and Kansas are right behind ISU.
Really ISU doesn't bring anything to the table for any major conference.
Nebraska is a great choice - it's a win-win situation for NU and for the Big 10. It's a boost for NU academically and reseach-wise (both areas they've made great progress in recently under their current leadership and under G. Spanier's leadership--now pres.of PSU) and the terrific sports pgm will enhance the Big 10 (football, baseball, volleyball, men's and women's track, wrestling, etc.). Next to Notre Dame no one has the national following NU has. Now ND come on board and make the Big 10 tops without any question!
short term ND, mid-term neb & miz, long term ks & oklahoma. move west young man (and south)
If this really was about academics, they could just go ahead and pick Iowa State, which is an AAU member, the toast of the Big 12 academically, and brings with it two established rivalries with Big 10 teams (Iowa and Minnesota). Plus, it's geographically adjacent to the big 10, so that doesn't blow up people's travel budgets.
But of course it's not about academics, and it's not about good fits, and it's not about geography. It's about sports. Specifically, football and men's basketball.
D Rod on June 9, 2010 12:33 PM
nebraska is also similar to notre dame in being two teams stuck in the 90's and not realizing their powerhouse football programs are far from as relevant as they once were. the world owes neither of them anything anymore.
______________________
Couldn't the same be said of the Big Ten? You know, the conference that has 1 1/2 national titles in the past 40 years. Or two less than Nebraska and one less than Notre Dame have, by themselves, in that same span?
But the Big Ten does have one half more titles than BYU does in that timeframe.
Actually, the Big ten isn't a good comparison. You stated they are "stuck in the 90's" where the Big Ten is still stuck in the 60's
Nebraska is an excellent choice for the Big 10. It is a fine AAU, research-based university with an excellent engineering program. It is building an Innovation Campus - http://innovate.unl.edu/ - which will improve it's standing. It also boasts the largest number of academic All-Americans of ANY university in the US. Couple these factors with an outstanding, traditional, Big 10-like athletic program and a national brand that has fans across the United States and you have a big winner.
Nebraska is NOT a national team. In the 80s and 90s they were really good in football and their alumni followed them to games. That's is. Let's not overstate it. That was then, too. This is not 1985. The playing field is much more even (NU can;t rely on hoarding steroids and partial qualifiers). Beyond just football, Nebraska is a barren state with a small population and little anticipated growth. Missouri has 6 million people, 7 media markets (vs. 2-3 with a quarter of the audience that Neb. has). Yet in FB, Mizzou has beaten the huskers 4 out of the past 7 mtgs. and the era of nub dominance is over AND NEVER TO RETURN. Mizzou has a successful basketball program, too, where the huskers are historically (and currently)woeful. Mizzou fits the Big 10. Nebraska is the hinterlands. This is a no-brainer when you compare the two and rather freaky that the notion gets so much play here.
If expansion is limited to only one school, then Notre Dame should be the only school pursued. It has more fans in the NY/NJ market than both Syracuse and Rutgers combined.
where's the Missouri talk? The Tigers have been pretty decent the past few years (basketball & football), and both have excellent recruiting classes coming in. I think they will end up being a better selection than Nebraska.
nebraska is also similar to notre dame in being two teams stuck in the 90's and not realizing their powerhouse football programs are far from as relevant as they once were. the world owes neither of them anything anymore.
Nebraska is similar to Notre Dame in that they bring in a surprising number of fans nationally. Nebraska fans fork over the dollars to watch their team. Fox has been consistently impressed with the performance when Nebraska is on PPV.
The reason that works is fan loyalty. Nebraska is a great fit for the B10 if you ask me and the ratings on any matchup involving Nebraska and a B10 foe will be significantly higher.
Notre Dame definitely brings an even larger national audience, but it isn't an AAU member nor is it large enough to do much research wise. Nebraska seems like a great way to get the Kansas City Market and the Cornhusker Nation, which will immediately demand the B10 network, wherever they are!
I live in Madison and would love to see the Huskers come play the Badgers, and I can't help but think that Barry Alverez would love it too!
Notre Dame is the obvious choice for Big Ten fans. Does any school in the Big Ten compete against Nebraska on an annual basis? The tradition and geographical location of Notre Dame meshes with the Big Ten. Only question, is ND willing to join a FB conference?
Nebraska and Notre Dame are the only two schools the Big 10 should really be worried about getting. You can't miss with either, though Nebraska is a better choice in my opinion. Respect, tradition and loyalty mean something in the Big 10 and they clearly mean something in the state of Nebraska too.
the only team that makes sense to add to the Big 10 is Notre Dame. Period.