Maryland will make nearly $100 million more during its first six years in the Big Ten than if it had remained in the ACC, according to internal emails obtained last year under a public-records request. Financial stability was a major impetus for the move.
Football coach Randy Edsall, who favored the Big Ten move immediately, said his offseason — and that of his staff — has been complicated by the move.
In a typical ACC year, "We'd only maybe prepare the first three game plans [for the season's opponents] and maybe take a look at the other people," the coach said.
This year, nearly all the opponents are unfamiliar. Edsall said the staff "has had a very busy June" watching game film of opponents and beginning to plan.
Maryland has expanded its recruiting into the Midwest, and Edsall said the Big Ten has considerable cachet for coveted high school players.
Part of the appeal for recruits, Edsall said, is the Big Ten Network, which reaches 52 million homes. The ACC does not have its own network.
Every Maryland team will face new travel demands. The school projected the cost of sending its teams halfway across the country — as far away as Lincoln, Neb. (1,054 miles) — to approximately double its travel budget.
Last year, The Baltimore Sun reported that Maryland's Big Ten deal includes not only the lucrative annual payouts that all members receive but also a subsidy in the range of $20 million to $30 million to offset athletic teams' anticipated higher travel costs.
Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/...20140628,0,1556639.story?page=3#ixzz3693HJSgd
Football coach Randy Edsall, who favored the Big Ten move immediately, said his offseason — and that of his staff — has been complicated by the move.
In a typical ACC year, "We'd only maybe prepare the first three game plans [for the season's opponents] and maybe take a look at the other people," the coach said.
This year, nearly all the opponents are unfamiliar. Edsall said the staff "has had a very busy June" watching game film of opponents and beginning to plan.
Maryland has expanded its recruiting into the Midwest, and Edsall said the Big Ten has considerable cachet for coveted high school players.
Part of the appeal for recruits, Edsall said, is the Big Ten Network, which reaches 52 million homes. The ACC does not have its own network.
Every Maryland team will face new travel demands. The school projected the cost of sending its teams halfway across the country — as far away as Lincoln, Neb. (1,054 miles) — to approximately double its travel budget.
Last year, The Baltimore Sun reported that Maryland's Big Ten deal includes not only the lucrative annual payouts that all members receive but also a subsidy in the range of $20 million to $30 million to offset athletic teams' anticipated higher travel costs.
Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/...20140628,0,1556639.story?page=3#ixzz3693HJSgd
