Notre Dame and the Big Ten: Closer Than Ever Before

So, expansion has managed to muddy the college athletics landscape for a second consecutive year, and us midwesterners are left wondering what is to happen, if anything, to our beloved Big Ten?

For starters, the B1G need not worry about losing any member institutions. While other conferences such as the Big 12 and Big East appear to be losing not only members, but founding schools, the Big Ten added one, Nebraska, just last year. As the SEC appears to be going to 13 (most likely at least 14) soon, the new Pac-12 could become the newer Pac-16, and the ACC has already jumped to 14 with the additions of Pitt and Syracuse, it's time to discuss potential Big Ten targets once again.

Jim Delany's #1 target since the beginning of time has been, and will always be, Notre Dame. Laugh all you want, but the Big East falling to pieces may just be the catalyst Delany's been looking for to force ND AD Jack Swarbrick back to the conference bargaining table. The Irish were more than content to stay independent in football, while their other sports remained affiliated with the Big East, an arrangement that's been taking place since 1995. You really couldn't blame them, particularly since the Big East emerged just a few seasons ago as many analysts pick as the best men's basketball conference around, giving Notre Dame's second highest grossing sports team an outstanding platform from which to play.

Now, however, the grass doesn't seem so green. The exit of Pitt and Syracuse, two of the Big East's heavy hitters, could very well cause the conference to lose its BCS affiliation. The BCS isn't directly related to basketball, but, as everyone knows, football is king. The Big East would certainly take a substantial national reputation hit if it lost the tie-in, and that would trickle down to basketball. Additionally, Pitt and 'Cuse are pretty high-profile programs, and their defection, along with that of UConn if it happens, takes the Big East talent pool down a peg, one that Baylor and Iowa State can't patch.

If Notre Dame accepts an invite to join, I would have to believe Missouri is the go-to as a 14th. The speculation early in the summer of last year was that Mizzou would get the invite that wound up going to Nebraska as the B1G 12th member. Jim Delany's made it no secret that the conference enjoys having AAU members (although Nebraska just recently lost their status as a member), and Missouri's academic profile seems to align nicely. Add to that their geographic location, two new TV markets (KC and St. Louis), and a natural rivalry with Illinois (who is already an out-of-conference rival) and you've got a recipe for an invite. The SEC is supposedly also interested in the Tigers, and I believe their conference affiliation will go to whomever offers them first.

Texas has been batted around in the media, but geography and the Longhorn Network, even though they may be obstacles that could be overcome, present issues that I think the Big Ten would rather not deal with. Rutgers would also be considered, strictly for their ties to the New York/New Jersey market. I know there's a lot of eyes in that part of the country that the B1G would love to capture, but, really, they don't give a crap about college football. Rutgers is supposedly the "birthplace," and averages over 46,000 per home game, but those numbers are hardly to the level of an institution the Big Ten would be looking to add.

We'd all love to believe that Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State and the rest are entirely loyal, and would never leave simply because of the tradition and excellence that's been established during the over one-hundred year existence of the conference. However, if the B1G does wind up having money issues years down the line, something that seems entirely possible given the current population shifts, it shouldn't be a shock to anyone to see eyes wander.

It's the eyes of others that are wandering now though, and Irish eyes may soon be smiling on the Big Ten.

Big Ten - 12th Team?

There may already a Big 12, but the Big Ten is, once again, chomping at the bit to add a 12th team, and this time they may be dead serious. Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany is expected to make a statement today at 4pm regarding expanding the conference. The move is likely being made to cut football into two, six-team divisions where the winners would play each other in a conference championship. It has been estimated this could add an additional $5 million in annual revenue for the conference, and also help with prestige, and bowl game rust.

I'm all for a 12th team, but I'm really undecided on who it should be, and whether the conference can afford to settle. The Big Ten and Delany would clearly love to hit the homerun with Notre Dame, but the Irish last turned down the offer in the late-90's, and aren't likely to come back to the table. It's really a shame, considering Notre Dame could definitely benefit from joining the Big Ten rather than living in their independent past. After the Irish, there are a bunch of Big East schools, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Syracuse, Louisville, and Rutgers, that could be potential matches. I have my issues with each of them, mainly fan support related, but I'll definitely post again after the news conference later and let you know where I stand on the announcement.

Podcast Monday - 12/7

Takin' over the game this week with MSU Alamo Bowl talk, BCS/Notre Dame complaints, and some basketball discussion to top it all off. Click above, click below, just click somewhere and listen!

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Notre Dame Not Going Bowling

To quote Allen Iverson, "[h]ow silly is that?" If the multiple reports are true, like those from AOL Fanhouse and the Chicago Tribune, are true, and the players voted on whether to go to the bowl game, I CANNOT believe that they wouldn't go. You're telling me that the seniors on that Notre Dame team wouldn't want to go out one last time, put on the blue and gold, and end a career-ending four game losing streak? If Charlie Weis really recruited that many student-athletes that didn't have enough pride to play one last game as a member of the Fighting Irish, then he really never should've been hired.

I know that there are reasons program-wise for Notre Dame not to go, many pointed out by Brian Bennett on ESPN.com, but it's still crazy to me to turn this down. I'm sure many Irish fans pulled the "if we have to go to a crap bowl game, we're not gonna go at all" nonsense, but that doesn't fly with me. Play one last game, likely against a decent Central Michigan team, and try to get above .500 on the year. One positive, even if it would be a small one, out of a dismal season should be enough of a reason to head to Detroit or Mobile.

#21 MSU - 72, #4 UNC - 66

The men couldn't get it done against the Tar Heels, but the women sure could. Suzy Merchant's team beat UNC 72-66 at the Breslin Center last night in the MSU women's Big Ten/ACC challenge game. Lauren Aitch led the way with 15 points, and Alyssa DeHaan put in 14, all in the second half, to overcome 29 by UNC's leading scorer Italee Lucas. DeHaan was limited in the first half, playing only two minutes, due to foul troubles. The Spartans also won the battle on the boards, out rebounding the Tar Heels 42-39. This was the first time the North Carolina women ever visited the Breslin Center.

This is a nice win for MSU, as it helps you forget the opening loss to Dayton on the road, and the one-point heartbreaker to Notre Dame. These are the games top-10 preseason teams are supposed to win. Maybe Tom should've had the boys come in to watch this one so they could see what winning a marquee out-of-conference game looked like. In a weird scheduling quirk, MSU plays their first Big Ten game, their next being weeks away, on Sunday against Indiana at home.

Quick Hits - 12/2

MSU/UNC Debacle - That's how I'll describe this thing. Shot 43% from the field compared to the Tar Heels' 58%, that's not gonna get it done. It was certainly kinda nuts that they appeared to hit every shot, whether there was a hand in the face or not. What's really troubling was the ability for Ed Davis to take over in the post. He was dominating in there, and I'm really afraid that Big Ten 4's and 5's, like JaJuan Johnson of Purdue and Michigan's DeShawn Sims, will do the same during conference play. At least the play of Raymar Morgan has been encouraging so far, as he's got his scoring average back up to double digits, and led scorers on Tuesday with 18.

Notre Dame's Coaching Situation - Hard to figure this thing out. A report from IrishCentral.com this morning stated that Brian Kelly is set to become the Irish's next coach. However, a conflicting, albeit far fetched, report came out this afternoon that said Bob Stoops was the main man for the job. Whoever it is, they'll likely lose Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate, and just won't have the talent to make a quick rebound. The new coach better recruit, and quickly, if they want to avoid the short-term temper wrath of the ND fans.