The 2010 expansion race ended not with the cataclysmic change that was expected, but instead with a small whimper.The expected galvanization of the college athletics landscape never materialized in the manner many thought it would.Instead of mega conferences, we had:1) Colorado bolting to the Pac-10, where they seem to be quite happy with each other... Continue Reading →
The Bell Starts Tolling for Big 12: A Rare Fan’s eye view post
It’s a muggy, typical late summer night in Missouri.It’s August 31, 1996. I’m about a week or two into the start of my undergraduate career at the University of Missouri. I’m sitting in the lounge in the basement of my residence hall because I didn’t have a television in my room.I’m watching history as the... Continue Reading →
An Ultimatum? That’s the best you can do?
(Update: 12:08pm PDT) According to the Austin American Statesman, it was the Big 12 presidents who delievered this ultimatum to Nebraska and Missouri. My original sentiment still stands, though, that the conference commissioner has to have something to do with this ultimatum. Oh, and I still think the ultimatum is bullshit.)I rarely use this space... Continue Reading →
Big Ten Expansion Speculation: Realignment into divisions
Because I love doing these speculative expansion posts in pairs, here's my thoughts on Big Ten realignment. Again, I see four possible scenarios, but unlike the Pac-10, where there appears to be two distinct rumored favorites, there are at least five contenders. I tried to incorporate all five into the different scenarios. Alignment one assumes... Continue Reading →
Big Ten Expansion Sidebar: A preliminary list?
The company that the Big Ten hired to help them determine whether or not to expand and who to look at has come back and said, "Yep. Expand."Interesting piece by Teddy Greenstein in the Chicago Tribune today with his thoughts about who would be the best fit for the conference.Teddy cites the following factors as... Continue Reading →
Big Ten Expansion Round 3: C.R.E.A.M.
(For previous installments on Big Ten Expansion, visit here and here).One thing that I found interesting about the Pac-10 analysis was how few of the athletic departments ran overall surpluses. Football made money and was in the black, but the departments were balanced.In the Big Ten? Not so much.Big Ten Financial AnalysisI would say that... Continue Reading →
Big Ten Expansion Round 2: Television Market Share
In the first round of Pac-10 expansion talks, I posted the reputational academic bonafides of the current Big Ten Schools and their potential new brethern.In this round, we will look at the television markets that are currently being utilized and what a newcomer would have to offer.Now, when talking markets, we are going to refer... Continue Reading →
Big Ten Expansion Round 1: Academics
Since I had so much fun doing it for the Pac-10, let's run the same drill with the Big Ten.Parameters are the same as for the Pac-10. Only thing that's changed are the schools involved. For the Big Ten, while there have been a few names tossed about, let's focus in on the six likeliest... Continue Reading →
Test For Echo 