Some good quotes in this article:
In the fall of 2011, Syracuse and Pitt announced they were leaving the Big East for the ACC. And Notre Dame said it was coming along in all sports but football in September 2012.
Texas A&M and Missouri officially joined the SEC in July 2012.
And on it went, as rumors and wild speculation became the norm. It was crazy. It was scary, too.
There sat the Big Ten, quiet amid the chaos. Finally, Delany had to act. The tipping point: The ACC’s move into the Big Ten’s geographic region.
“
At that point, there was more risk to not do anything,” said Delany. “It was worth the risk to change. To not change with other leagues coming into our areas … “
Enter Rutgers and Maryland.
But these recent events in New York and Washington, D.C., are sneak peeks of what’s ahead and how this historic conference is changing.
“Clearly this will make the Big Ten more TV money,” said Tranghese. “This has to raise their economic profile with a presence in New York and Washington. Maryland already has a significant profile in Washington.
It’s not the same with Rutgers. It’s in New Jersey. They have not had a lot of success. There is a long road to hoe before they can make an imprint in New York. New York is different than Jersey. Rutgers has good support in New Jersey, but it’s not New York. And no one captures New York unless you win. It’s simple. You lose, they forget about you. You win, they embrace you.”
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