30 Days rumor gaining steam

[B1GALUM]

I always enjoy watching the movie "The Hunt for Red October". The late actor Richard Jordan played the character Jeffrey Pelt, the National Security Advisor, in the movie and IMO had a memorable line: "Listen, I'm a politician, which means I'm a cheat and a liar, and when I'm not kissing babies, I'm stealing their lollipops, but it also means that I keep my options open".

As I have read about and watched Jim Delany over the years, the praise and scorn he has received and his actions on behalf of the Big Ten conference are befitting that of a politician. If the opportunity arose to have a private conversation with him perhaps he too might confide in a similar fashion: "Listen, I'm a conference commissioner, which means I'm ambitious and cunning, and when I'm not supporting my colleagues, I'm stealing their schools, but it also means that I keep my options open".



I do not think Big Ten expansion is imminent. Rutgers and Maryland need integrated into the conference. The Maryland ACC lawsuit is going to mediation. The O'Bannon NCAA lawsuit is heading to trial. Deregulation of the football championship game is under consideration. Autonomy for the P5 conferences is in progress. There is much about the college athletic landscape that needs settled.

However, I do not think Big Ten expansion is over. Jim Delany will keep his "options open" and as this landscape settles and the Big Ten goes to market with its media rights if opportunities are created for which further expansion of the Big Ten would be beneficial to the conference then he will purse expansion once again. As a flagship public research university with an upward trajectory in academics and research as well as proximity to NYC and sustained success on the basketball court, UConn is positioning itself well as a candidate for Big Ten membership and the vision of Delany for the Big Ten being a conference at home in the Midwest and the East.

 

[kyleslamb]

I always enjoy watching the movie "The Hunt for Red October". The late actor Richard Jordan played the character Jeffrey Pelt, the National Security Advisor, in the movie and IMO had a memorable line: "Listen, I'm a politician, which means I'm a cheat and a liar, and when I'm not kissing babies, I'm stealing their lollipops, but it also means that I keep my options open".

As I have read about and watched Jim Delany over the years, the praise and scorn he has received and his actions on behalf of the Big Ten conference are befitting that of a politician. If the opportunity arose to have a private conversation with him perhaps he too might confide in a similar fashion: "Listen, I'm a conference commissioner, which means I'm ambitious and cunning, and when I'm not supporting my colleagues, I'm stealing their schools, but it also means that I keep my options open".

View attachment 6095

I do not think Big Ten expansion is imminent. Rutgers and Maryland need integrated into the conference. The Maryland ACC lawsuit is going to mediation. The O'Bannon NCAA lawsuit is heading to trial. Deregulation of the football championship game is under consideration. Autonomy for the P5 conferences is in progress. There is much about the college athletic landscape that needs settled.

However, I do not think Big Ten expansion is over. Jim Delany will keep his "options open" and as this landscape settles and the Big Ten goes to market with its media rights if opportunities are created for which further expansion of the Big Ten would be beneficial to the conference then he will purse expansion once again. As a flagship public research university with an upward trajectory in academics and research as well as proximity to NYC and sustained success on the basketball court, UConn is positioning itself well as a candidate for Big Ten membership and the vision of Delany for the Big Ten being a conference at home in the Midwest and the East.

I agree with all that.

To be clear, I don't buy into the 30 days rumors. However, any time I've ever had a conversation with people in the industry that have been prone to knowing things, I've been told "mid to late 2015 and beyond, keep an eye out."

The league would like to have teams in place, or at least announced, by early 2016 when they go to begin negotiations on a new deal.

Because the landscape is so volatile with all the other things you mentioned (ACC exit fees, O'Bannon lawsuit, a third football subdivision, unionizing, etc.), the Big Ten might not be comfortable making another move that soon. However, it's been their target all along.

 

[Marty Jackson]

Did you ever hear of Yale and Harvard ?

He did say ne state school...

 

[huskyrob1]

This is exactly the relationship I have with Jennifer Lawrence. She's in, we both know we just need to manage the message in the media.

Just make sure she wears the right t-shirt at the press conference.....

 

[djct1999]

I agree with all that.

To be clear, I don't buy into the 30 days rumors. However, any time I've ever had a conversation with people in the industry that have been prone to knowing things, I've been told "mid to late 2015 and beyond, keep an eye out."

The league would like to have teams in place, or at least announced, by early 2016 when they go to begin negotiations on a new deal.

Because the landscape is so volatile with all the other things you mentioned (ACC exit fees, O'Bannon lawsuit, a third football subdivision, unionizing, etc.), the Big Ten might not be comfortable making another move that soon. However, it's been their target all along.

The Big 10 still needs 16 and without question, if they truly desire an east coast footprint, the Big10 needs UConn. Equally important, I don't feel the Big 10 can afford to lose UConn to another P5 conference and still achieve their desired goals. The longer this goes on, the more they face the risk of someone else blinking. They have too much invested to allow this to happen. I agree that UConn won't play Big 10 football until the 2016-17 season the earliest, but that doesn't mean an announcement and plans won't be made much sooner. In fact, to lock in UConn, I can see the Big 10 only announcing one addition now with the idea of a second/partner school would be announced down the road.

 

[buddy]

It would be nice if someone would make UConn an invite now, even for 3 or 5 years down the road. At least we would know that we have a secured spot and take additional measures (ie expansion of the Rent in preparation for the move). That certainly would end a lot of hand wringing here.

 

[CL82]

The Big 10 still needs 16 and without question, if they truly desire an east coast footprint, the Big10 needs UConn. Equally important, I don't feel the Big 10 can afford to lose UConn to another P5 conference and still achieve their desired goals. The longer this goes on, the more they face the risk of someone else blinking. They have too much invested to allow this to happen. I agree that UConn won't play Big 10 football until the 2016-17 season the earliest, but that doesn't mean an announcement and plans won't be made much sooner. In fact, to lock in UConn, I can see the Big 10 only announcing one addition now with the idea of a second/partner school would be announced down the road.

For UConn to meet it's 27 month exit commitment prior to the new B1G TV contract it would need to give its notice by August. So an announcement no later than then does a few things.

1) It locks down added content for the B1g to pitch in its new TV contract negotiations.

2) It puts UConn on the clock regarding any admission requirements, e.g., expanding the Rent or building an on campus hockey stadium.

3) It allows the B1G to announce that they are adding the national champions in men's and women's basketball. That's a nice commitment to excellence narrative that doesn't get you in the door but still is a perk that I suspect would appeal to Delaney.

4) It takes UConn off the board for other conferences.

5) It allows the B1g to fully assimilate RU and MD before taking on a new member.

I don't think that it is a slam dunk that an announcement will happen but there is some logic to making an announcement now, assuming Delaney's interested.

 

[Ldandy]

The Big 10 still needs 16 and without question, if they truly desire an east coast footprint, the Big10 needs UConn. Equally important, I don't feel the Big 10 can afford to lose UConn to another P5 conference and still achieve their desired goals. The longer this goes on, the more they face the risk of someone else blinking. They have too much invested to allow this to happen. I agree that UConn won't play Big 10 football until the 2016-17 season the earliest, but that doesn't mean an announcement and plans won't be made much sooner. In fact, to lock in UConn, I can see the Big 10 only announcing one addition now with the idea of a second/partner school would be announced down the road.

I agree with the much of what you wrote, but ultimately UCONN's inclusion comes down to one thing. $$$ Can the Huskies bring more to the pot than they take from it? Personally I believe they can, but I'm not in B1G Headquarters crunching the numbers. Where I disagree is that I don't see the conference taking UCONN only and standing pat. While they did it for Penn State, this was before the era of divisions. I can't see them going to an unbalanced format at this point in time.

Right now UCONN appears to be in the middle of a Mexican Standoff. The B1G and ACC have their guns pointed at each other, but as long as everyone remains calm nothing happens. The outcome of the MD Lawsuit could be the motivation for someone to pull the trigger. Best case scenario UCONN and one of UVA/VPI to The B1G. If The B1G raids The ACC and passes on UCONN for some reason, at the very least The ACC would backfill with you guys to shore up their TV Deals. Either way you are out of The AAC.

 

[RMoore1999]

For UConn to meet it's 27 month exit commitment prior to the new B1G TV contract it would need to give its notice by August. So an announcement no later than then does a few things.

1) It allows the B1G to announce that they are adding the national champions in men's and women's basketball. That's a nice commitment to excellence narrative that doesn't get you in the door but still is a perk that I suspect would appeal to Delaney.

2) It puts UConn on the clock regarding any admission requirements, e.g., expanding the Rent or building an on campus hockey stadium.

3) It locks down added content for the B1g to pitch in its new TV contract negotiations.

4) It takes UConn off the board for other conferences.

I don't think that it is a slam dunk that an announcement will happen but there is some logic to making an announcement now, assuming Delaney's interested.

Presumably Warde made good use of the free education offered by Jurich and delivered our formal exit notice to Mikey A. many months ago....

 

[FfldCntyFan]

For UConn to meet it's 27 month exit commitment prior to the new B1G TV contract it would need to give its notice by August. So an announcement no later than then does a few things.

The 27 month exit commitment can by bought out. There is precedent to this:


http://wvrecord.com/news/241786-report-wvu-big-east-reach-conditional-20-million-settlement

 

[CL82]

The 27 month exit commitment can by bought out. There is precedent to this:


http://wvrecord.com/news/241786-report-wvu-big-east-reach-conditional-20-million-settlement

I don't think anyone served their full BE exit period, so yeah it can be bought out. Still there that 27 month period works out well for the B1G timing wise, including allowing the conference to fully assimilate RU and MD before taking on a new member. Hmm I think I'll add that to the original post.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

My dad, who does not read the internet, doesn't know what Twitter is, didn't hear anything from Scott Gray, rarely ever talks to me about conference realignment, and doesn't usually pay any attention to all of that babble called me last night and predicted UConn would be in the B1G in a month. His reasoning was the tea leaves argument from an academic and athletic perspective. I told him he's nuts. I also hope I'm completely wrong.

 

[1husky]

Just make sure she wears the right t-shirt at the press conference.....

I love Jennifer Lawrence. She is amazingly talented, hot, smart, cool, and down to earth. But this picture is by far the most unattractive I have ever seen her.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I love Jennifer Lawrence. She is amazingly talented, hot, smart, cool, and down to earth. But this picture is by far the most unattractive I have ever seen her.

My guess is that you'll find her infinitely more attractive as soon s she takes that shirt off.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

My dad, who does not read the internet, doesn't know what Twitter is, didn't hear anything from Scott Gray, rarely ever talks to me about conference realignment, and doesn't usually pay any attention to all of that babble called me last night and predicted UConn would be in the B1G in a month. His reasoning was the tea leaves argument from an academic and athletic perspective. I told him he's nuts. I also hope I'm completely wrong.

I would love for your father to be correct.

I personally believe that we are well into the process of putting everything in place to end up in the B1G. I do however believe that the B1G acting now instead of after we reach the point where we can show some positive results in football will hurt our chances.

 

[NEforceUConn]

Tick, tick, tick.

Unfortunately we need to know the Maryland settlement.
Unfortunately we need official AAU status, or else a positive audit by a pre AAU committee stating things look good if progress continues for membership in 2015/16.
I believe the NCAA already ruled that you can have a championship game with 13? Not positive but i think they said OK. If that final ruling hasn't come out then we have to wait for that.

Once these things happen then I think CR heats up once again. The union/OBanon lawsuits are a distraction but I don't think they are as important as the above.

I am simply amazed how long this fricken Maryland/ACC suit drags out.

 

[TerryD]

I agree with the much of what you wrote, but ultimately UCONN's inclusion comes down to one thing. $ Can the Huskies bring more to the pot than they take from it? Personally I believe they can, but I'm not in B1G Headquarters crunching the numbers. Where I disagree is that I don't see the conference taking UCONN only and standing pat. While they did it for Penn State, this was before the era of divisions. I can't see them going to an unbalanced format at this point in time.

Right now UCONN appears to be in the middle of a Mexican Standoff. The B1G and ACC have their guns pointed at each other, but as long as everyone remains calm nothing happens. The outcome of the MD Lawsuit could be the motivation for someone to pull the trigger. Best case scenario UCONN and one of UVA/VPI to The B1G. If The B1G raids The ACC and passes on UCONN for some reason, at the very least The ACC would backfill with you guys to shore up their TV Deals. Either way you are out of The AAC.

I wish the best for UConn, but the Maryland lawsuit really does not have anything to do with the Grant of Rights that all ACC members signed nor the fact that some exit fee will still be in place (only Maryland and FSU voted against it).

It is almost impossible to see how the Maryland/ACC suit (which will likely be settled) will have any impact on the GOR.

P.S. I am a 27 year commercial litigation and insurance defense litigation attorney. Lawsuits can drag on for up to five years or more. It is not unusual for it to take 2-3 years to get to trial, then about 1 1/2 to 2 years for the appeals process.

That is just the way litigation goes in state court. Federal judges use a "rocket docket" to move cases on their plate, but state court judges do not.

 

[Ldandy]

I wish the best for UConn, but the Maryland lawsuit really does not have anything to do with the Grant of Rights that all ACC members signed nor the fact that some exit fee will still be in place (only Maryland and FSU voted against it).

It is almost impossible to see how the Maryland/ACC suit (which will likely be settled) will have any impact on the GOR.

P.S. I am a 27 year commercial litigation and insurance defense litigation attorney. Lawsuits can drag on for up to five years or more. It is not unusual for it to take 2-3 years to get to trial, then about 1 1/2 to 2 years for the appeals process.

That is just the way litigation goes in state court. Federal judges use a "rocket docket" to move cases on their plate, but state court judges do not.

I'm looking at the outcome of The MD case as a jumping off point. There is ZERO chance that MD pays anywhere close to $52 million. If they get out for less than half that, it could embolden others with potential wandering eyes. As for The ACC GOR, who knows? JMO but you can negotiate your way out of just about any agreement. The question is what is it worth to both parties? What if the ACC's GOR Agreement had a defined timeline regarding starting a conference network? What if that network never materializes? There are a lot of what ifs out there that none of us here know the answer to. I'm not saying it will happen, but hypothetically if B1G Teams are making 35-40 Mil a year and ACC Schools are pulling down 20-25 that's a recipe for discontent. Again all of this is hypothetical. All of The ACC Teams may love their current situation, and not be swayed one way or the other by the promise of more revenue. Once again who knows?

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

I agree it's foolish to believe anything will happen on any front with UConn, the B1G, or the ACC in any way before the MD lawsuit is settled/tried.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

I agree with the much of what you wrote, but ultimately UCONN's inclusion comes down to one thing. $ Can the Huskies bring more to the pot than they take from it? Personally I believe they can, but I'm not in B1G Headquarters crunching the numbers. Where I disagree is that I don't see the conference taking UCONN only and standing pat. While they did it for Penn State, this was before the era of divisions. I can't see them going to an unbalanced format at this point in time.

Right now UCONN appears to be in the middle of a Mexican Standoff. The B1G and ACC have their guns pointed at each other, but as long as everyone remains calm nothing happens. The outcome of the MD Lawsuit could be the motivation for someone to pull the trigger. Best case scenario UCONN and one of UVA/VPI to The B1G. If The B1G raids The ACC and passes on UCONN for some reason, at the very least The ACC would backfill with you guys to shore up their TV Deals. Either way you are out of The AAC.

With a minor twist. In this Mexican stand-off there are a pair of armed bystanders. The first is Frankenstein like monster that is throwing stones at the ACC hoping it can knock off a piece or two for itself before it implodes. The second is the 500 pound gorilla of the college sports business (not academics) who is happy where it stands today; but, may pull out it's big guns on it's brainy neighbor to the north should Virginia and/or North Carolina come into play.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I have no idea what the B1G is going to do or when. That's how Delany wants it. You can't believe anything. He isn't going to tip his hand to us or anybody else. So hope is not dead, nor should it be kindled.

The reality is that I think UConn will get an invite in the next year or so....from the ACC. I think our hoops title(s) likely cut the Tobacco Road contingent to the core. Meanwhile, Florida State's title, and a strong season from Clemson likely mitigated the risk of ACC football irrelevance. North Carolina looks likely to break out, and BC is improving again. As we like to say, there is a battle for the hearts and minds in the North East...the ACC wants that as much as the B1G. And is at least as well positioned. Syracuse, plus Notre Dame, plus UConn...and Duke plays very well in the NY DMA as well. And they would certainly have New England with UConn plus BC. They are at 15 in non football sports, and the championship game could allow them to go to 15 for football.

 

[Cleanface]

The more I read this board the more it seems absolutely necessary that the B1G take UCONN if they want NYC/the NE (which, they obviously do).

As stated above, with ND, BC, SYR already in their stable the ACC is very NE strong. UCONN would completely seal the deal for them and place the Big Ten in a semi-distant 2nd in the region.

B1G must know this, and IMO RUTG & MD in the NE do not equal what the ACC currently has. I understand that Big Ten schools have mass alumni and fans all over, but IMO those will not pull NYC as much as Delany might like/need.

I am no fan of all this expansion (save NEB) but it is what it is and the B1G might as well go all in if $/TV/reach is the new game. If they want to seal the NYC deal, UCONN is a must to make that happen, and sever the weak advantage the ACC may have.


Of course, I'd like to see ND as #16 to really button it all up, but that's a pipe dream. BTW, Domers - save your breath explaining why that will never happen as I've heard it all before. As Jay Cutler would say; DOOOON'T CAAAAAARE.

 

[Sea Goat]

The more I read this board the more it seems absolutely necessary that the B1G take UCONN if they want NYC.

As stated above, with ND, BC, SYR already in their stable the ACC is very NE strong. UCONN would completely seal the deal for them and place the Big Ten in a semi-distant 2nd in the region.

B1G must know this, and IMO RUTG & MD in the NE do not equal what the ACC currently has. I understand that Big Ten schools have mass alumni and fans all over, but IMO those will not pull NYC as much as Delany might like/need.

I am no fan of all this expansion (save NEB) but it is what it is and the B1G might as well go all in if $/TV/reach is the new game. If they want to seal the NYC deal, UCONN is a must to make that happen, and sever the weak advantage the ACC may have.


Of course, I'd like to see ND as #16 to really button it all up, but that's a pipe dream. BTW, Domers - save your breath explaining why that will never happen as I've heard it all before. As Jay Cutler would say; DOOOON'T CAAAAAARE.

You would think...

Rutgers doesn't do it for the B1G. The B1G must see this. It's not because they're not close enough to NYC or because they don't have a large alumni core, it's because they have been deficient athletically. Eventually, buzz and viewership follows success. Regarding the # of TV sets available, it doesn't matter unless they're turned on and tuned in. That's what UConn brings.

 

[The Funster]

It's been said by myself and a few others over the past year or so: who ever takes UConn gets the stranglehold on the northeast. B1G would have PSU, Rutgers and UConn. ACC would have Pitt, Cuse, BC and UConn. Throw in ND and ACC wins NY hands down with UConn in the fold. BC and UConn would lock up NE. If the B1G takes us, UConn competes with BC for New England and Rutgers and UConn bracket NYC. Seriously, logic dictates that UConn should be snapped up by either conference.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

I have no idea what the B1G is going to do or when. That's how Delany wants it. You can't believe anything. He isn't going to tip his hand to us or anybody else. So hope is not dead, nor should it be kindled.

The reality is that I think UConn will get an invite in the next year or so....from the ACC. I think our hoops title(s) likely cut the Tobacco Road contingent to the core. Meanwhile, Florida State's title, and a strong season from Clemson likely mitigated the risk of ACC football irrelevance. North Carolina looks likely to break out, and BC is improving again. As we like to say, there is a battle for the hearts and minds in the North East...the ACC wants that as much as the B1G. And is at least as well positioned. Syracuse, plus Notre Dame, plus UConn...and Duke plays very well in the NY DMA as well. And they would certainly have New England with UConn plus BC. They are at 15 in non football sports, and the championship game could allow them to go to 15 for football.

I understand the logic and that it hasn't happened is really a head scratcher.
The ACC is down to two State Flag Ship schools. The addition of a UConn would be a coup.
I'm not an ACC fan, and other than Syracuse and BC ,privates,the only school we have a Connction to is UVA. Does anyone have any feelings toward Pitt ?
Either the ACC is sure we are not a target for the B1G.,Which gives them all the time in the world to wait or existing venom from some ACC members is too much for our advocates to overcome, even if we have a B1G invite.
I certainly hope it's the latter.

 

[FDNY99]

You would think...

Rutgers doesn't do it for the B1G. The B1G must see this. It's not because they're not close enough to NYC or because they don't have a large alumni core, it's because they have been deficient athletically. Eventually, buzz and viewership follows success. Regarding the # of TV sets available, it doesn't matter unless they're turned on and tuned in. That's what UConn brings.

The problem with your tv set theory...the B1G is gonna get paid now whether those sets are tuned to the BTN or not with their deal with Cablevision and Time Warner. I think that the B1G taking UCONN makes the most sense with their Eastern expansion and locks up the NYC market for them...also tolls the death bell for BC as they get shut off from the rest of the ACC by UCONN, Rutgers and UMD. The ACC takes UCONN and they can shut out the BTN and Rutgers of NYC market with UCONN and ND...making their own network a serious possibility. It is a chess game..interesting to see who if anyone moves next.

 

[Cleanface]

I wonder what PSU thinks of all this 'eastern' expansion? I'm sure they like having some closer rivals along the coast, but I think that may only go so far. Coach James Franklin did say that he/they wanted to (RE recruiting); "dominate the State, dominate the Region!" MD, CT, NJ, etc etc are all part of that region.

Inviting UCONN into the B1G (on top of NJ & MD) will only strengthen UCONN, not sure that's something PSU wants while it's trying to "dominate the Region."

Maybe part of what Delany said really IS true; "If you're thinking of building a conference and keeping tradition alive, building fan bases and natural rivalries, movement beyond where we are probably needs to be looked at in a very suspicious kind of way. You dilute yourself the larger you get."

The B1G may be thinking that RUTG and MD + PSU + existing B1G alumni throughout the NYC/NE = enough to get them where they want to be. Let PSU become the Beast of The East again (the biggest football brand by far in the Region), RUTG maybe gain some ground along with MD, and those rivalries will raise interest throughout "the Region" to have a slight impact. Enough to keep the B1G on the TV sets throughout DC/BALT/NYC/NE, I mean, without having to add another school.

The B1G may see a PSU on the rise again, and may rather want to cultivate that, instead of adding more competition in PSU's backyard. A mighty PSU + improved RUTG & MD + alumni = B1G stops.

I don't see it, but I know they have vetted this situation 15 Billion different ways. Not trying to throw cold water, just thinking out loud.

 

[CL82]

It's been said by myself and a few others over the past year or so: who ever takes UConn gets the stranglehold on the northeast. B1G would have PSU, Rutgers and UConn. ACC would have Pitt, Cuse, BC and UConn. Throw in ND and ACC wins NY hands down with UConn in the fold. BC and UConn would lock up NE. If the B1G takes us, UConn competes with BC for New England and Rutgers and UConn bracket NYC. Seriously, logic dictates that UConn should be snapped up by either conference.

Wait, people in NE care about BC? When the heck did that happen?

 

[TerryD]

The more I read this board the more it seems absolutely necessary that the B1G take UCONN if they want NYC/the NE (which, they obviously do).

As stated above, with ND, BC, SYR already in their stable the ACC is very NE strong. UCONN would completely seal the deal for them and place the Big Ten in a semi-distant 2nd in the region.

B1G must know this, and IMO RUTG & MD in the NE do not equal what the ACC currently has. I understand that Big Ten schools have mass alumni and fans all over, but IMO those will not pull NYC as much as Delany might like/need.

I am no fan of all this expansion (save NEB) but it is what it is and the B1G might as well go all in if $/TV/reach is the new game. If they want to seal the NYC deal, UCONN is a must to make that happen, and sever the weak advantage the ACC may have.


Of course, I'd like to see ND as #16 to really button it all up, but that's a pipe dream. BTW, Domers - save your breath explaining why that will never happen as I've heard it all before. As Jay Cutler would say; DOOOON'T CAAAAAARE.

Who is Jay Cutler?

I am saving my breath, thanks.

 

[SubbaBub]

I wonder what PSU thinks of all this 'eastern' expansion? I'm sure they like having some closer rivals along the coast, but I think that may only go so far. Coach James Franklin did say that he/they wanted to (RE recruiting); "dominate the State, dominate the Region!" MD, CT, NJ, etc etc are all part of that region.

Inviting UCONN into the B1G (on top of NJ & MD) will only strengthen UCONN, not sure that's something PSU wants while it's trying to "dominate the Region."

Maybe part of what Delany said really IS true; "If you're thinking of building a conference and keeping tradition alive, building fan bases and natural rivalries, movement beyond where we are probably needs to be looked at in a very suspicious kind of way. You dilute yourself the larger you get."

The B1G may be thinking that RUTG and MD + PSU + existing B1G alumni throughout the NYC/NE = enough to get them where they want to be. Let PSU become the Beast of The East again (the biggest football brand by far in the Region), RUTG maybe gain some ground along with MD, and those rivalries will raise interest throughout "the Region" to have a slight impact. Enough to keep the B1G on the TV sets throughout DC/BALT/NYC/NE, I mean, without having to add another school.

The B1G may see a PSU on the rise again, and may rather want to cultivate that, instead of adding more competition in PSU's backyard. A mighty PSU + improved RUTG & MD + alumni = B1G stops.

I don't see it, but I know they have vetted this situation 15 Billion different ways. Not trying to throw cold water, just thinking out loud.

PSU isn't worried about competing with RU or UConn in FB and would welcome the access to the NE/NYC area in BB.