I’ll Take Pitt if Big Ten Expansion Heads East.

Everyone and their mother has a take on Big Ten Expansion, and I am no different. I make my case for a 16 team expansion here(http://hailtothevictorsblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/how-big-ten-expansion-could-destroy-big.html).

I have been a strong proponent of leaving the Big East intact. In short I believe the Big East is a good football conference and a great basketball conference, which doesn’t pose a threat to how the Big Ten does business, but either will it dramatically help the conference in terms of competition vs the SEC or Big 12 for that matter. So why break them up? Of course the answer is TV sets and potential money for the BTN. But expansion must be more complicated than just adding a potential viewing populous that has been virtually dormant for years now.

With that said, if the Big Ten does decide to go East, I hope they decide to add The Pitt Panthers. Not because Pitt brings X amount of TV sets or because they are popular with viewers between the ages of 18 and 45. But because Pitt is an academically sound research university with a damn fine football team and a national basketball powerhouse, not to mention a natural rival with Penn State. I’m sick of all the analysis of team value being about how many TV viewers a program brings. How about the value of wins and losses. Pitt basketball under Jamie Dixon is 264-79 in the past ten years, while the Pitt Panther Football team is 74-49 during the same time period. That is a two sport winning percentage of .725. Hell Texas has a .763 two sport winning percentage.

Does Rutgers blow your skirt up, because of the potential 19 million viewers the NYC market could add to the BTN? Well where are those viewers for Rutgers now? I love the Big Ten but I’m skeptical that just adding some games vs U of M, OSU, and Penn State, will automatically turn NYC into Big Ten country. It just seems like a stretch.

Lets take a look what is under that skirt. Rosie O’Donnell comes to mind. Rutgers has had 2, 10 win seasons in the last 100 years. In the last ten years, Rutgers Football is 58-62, and this is considered the glory days of their football program. Rutgers Basketball is 137-158 over the same ten year period. Now extrapolate Rutgers success in the Big Ten? Tell me why the East Coast is suddenly going to fall in love with Big Ten football, when their East Coast Team is fighting for 6th or 8th place most years? I do not buy the benefits of Rutgers.

But the writing may be on the wall.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette sadly explains why Pitt may be on the outside looking in.

They write.

Pitt might again be left off the Big Ten’s invite list – not because of its academic profile but because of its location. The Big Ten is looking to grow – in size and geographic footprint – so that it becomes a more marketable conference to TV executives.

That could work against Pitt, said Andrew Zimbalist, a sports economist at Smith College in Massachusetts, because Penn State already brings the Big Ten to Pennsylvania.

“I’m not saying they wouldn’t go for Pittsburgh,” Zimbalist said. “There’s just a smaller inducement to go into Pittsburgh as there would be New Jersey.”

This sounds like a bad dream in terms of competition, but easily could become reality if Delany rules that market is more important than product.

Hot this week

Did David Wineland and Serge Haroche Steal Idea For The Nobel Physics Prize?

Dr. Omerbashich says the Royal Swedish Academy is a Crime Scene and he has the proof that Nobel laureates stole his discovery.

New Approaches to Disaster Relief Challenges

Disaster relief has always been a challenge. NASA, Google,...

3 Legitimate Money Making Methods to Supplement Your Income

In a perfect world, when your landlord raises your...

2016 Predictions by World Renowned Medium and Psychic Lindy Baker

World renowned medium and psychic Lindy Baker is interviewed by The Hollywood Sentinel, discussing psychic power, the spirit world, life after death, areas of concern in 2016, and much more.

Digital Coupon Customers Spending More Than Double At Stores

A new study shows that customers who use digital coupons go shopping more for groceries and other household goods more often and spend more on their shopping trips.

Designing the Perfect Control Room: Essential Features and Modern Trends

Key Takeaways Discover the fundamental aspects of creating an...

The Five Leading Tech Marketers in Israel

Israel’s high-tech sector has earned its place as a...

Lies And Deception Is Hamas Victory

Hamas is the manipulation master of Westerners' minds. They learned well how the West thinks [or does not] and they manipulate the West to concede to them. A Hamas victory is not what Westerners would expect.

Peer Review Under Pressure: Scientists, Journals and the Struggle for Trustworthy Research

Peer review under fire: critics say it’s flawed, slow and biased. Replication may offer a better test — but it’s still rare.

Legendary Peace Tour: Top African Former Professionals to Arrive in Somalia

Somalia prepares to welcome three of Africa’s most senior football legends; Jay-Jay Okocha, {Nigeria} Emmanuel Adebayor {Togo} and Samuel Eto'e {Cameroon}

Myocarditis Risk From mRNA Vaccines Called “Well Documented” in Major New Review

A major new review urges withdrawal of mRNA COVID vaccines, citing high myocarditis risk in young men and calling for urgent action.

The Calculated Extermination Of Jews In Auschwitz Death Camp

A reminder to the Jews: never forget what was visited upon you in WW2. Every Jewish generation - present and future – must fully understand what was done to the Jewish people during the 20th century.

Smoke, Screens & Sacrifice: The War That Was Never Ours

War as two nuclear-armed nations trade missiles, media headlines, and miseries. India claims bold precision strikes, Pakistan claims shooting down jets.

Related Articles

Popular Categories