The illinois chancellor didn't mention aau in academics. Neither did the michigan president, sullivan, when she said of Maryland that they are a great fit, bringing another top 20 public institution into the big 10.
Delany also was quoted today using the same language that the Michigan State AD used yesterday, about not being "outflanked".
Look at a map. The drive to the mid-atlantic needs its northern flank secured. UConn, PSU, MD, Rutgers overwhelms isolated Syracuse, BC and Pitt. Pitt will be more of an afterthought in penn., something I'm sure Penn State wants.
"It is only in small, compactly shaped states that it is possible to have such a unity of military force, and that probably all depends upon a victory over that force. Such a unity is practically impossible when larger tracts of country, having for a great extent boundaries conterminious with our own, are concerned, or in the case of an alliance of several surrounding states against us. In such cases, divisions of force must necessarily take place, giving occasion to different theatres of war."
