Big Ten looking to expand; Missouri best choice

Right: Just have to figure out where on the map the 12th team should go. (MB Photo)

Back in 1896, the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives was founded when seven institutions of higher learning convened in Chicago. Those seven schools were: Purdue, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Chicago, and Northwestern. At that time, the newly-formed league was nicknamed the “Western Conference.”

Three years later, Indiana and Iowa were granted membership, and the “Western Conference” became known as the “Big Nine.” It would be another 18 years before the “Big Ten” emerged when Ohio State joined in 1912 and Michigan returned in 1918 after a nine-year absence.

From that point on until just shortly after World War II, those 10 universities that surrounded the Great Lakes made up the “Big Ten.” But in 1946, the University of Chicago decided to drop most of their intercollegiate athletics. The total membership dropped down to nine once again until Michigan State joined in 1950.

It should be noted that for most of its’ existence, whether there were seven members or 10 during a 91-year span, that the league was formally known as the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives. It wasn’t until 1987 that the name was officially changed to the “Big Ten.” Prior to 1987, it was merely a nickname.

From 1950-1989, the Big Ten had exactly that, 10 universities. But that all changed in 1990 when Penn State accepted an invitation.

Now nearly 30 years later it appears the the Big Ten, er 11, is looking to add another institution once again.

The rumors began swirling last week when Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez told the UW Athletic Board at its’ monthly meeting that Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany will aggressively pursue a 12th conference member in 2010.

“I have a sense he is going to take this year to really be more aggressive about it,” Alvarez told board members according to Tom Mulhern of the Wisconsin State Journal.

Eventually, this was based on the fact that the Big Ten Conference issued a statement on behalf of the Council of Presidents/Chancellors on Wednesday:

"

Penn State joined the Big Ten Conference in June of 1990 and its addition has been an unqualified success. In 1993, 1998 and 2003 the COP/C, in coordination with the commissioner’s office, reviewed the issue of conference structure and expansion. The COP/C believes that the timing is right for the conference to once again conduct a thorough evaluation of options for conference structure and expansion. As a result, the commissioner was asked to provide recommendations for consideration by the COP/C over the next 12 to 18 months.

The COP/C understands that speculation about the conference is ongoing. The COP/C has asked the conference office to obtain, to the extent possible, information necessary to construct preliminary options and recommendations without engaging in formal discussions with leadership of other institutions. If and when such discussions become necessary the COP/C has instructed Commissioner James E. Delany to inform the Chair of the COP/C, Michigan State University President Lou Anna K. Simon, and then to notify the commissioner of the affected conference(s). Only after these notices have occurred will the Big Ten engage in formal expansion discussions with other institutions. This process will allow the Big Ten to evaluate options, while respecting peer conferences and their member institutions. No action by the COP/C is expected in the near term. No interim statements will be made by the Big Ten or the COP/C until after the COP/C receives the commissioner’s recommendations and the COP/C determines next steps, if any, in this area.

"

Now there have been several schools thought of as viable candidates to be the 12th member. The list seems to be quite long, too, and it includes: Rutgers, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Louisville, Missouri, Iowa State, and Nebraska just to name a few.

Personally, I think the two that make the most sense are Rutgers and Missouri. Commissioner Delany once said that the conference would like to expand its’ footprint, meaning that they would like to add another school outside of the current area. That would eliminate Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Iowa State.

West Virginia has been mentioned by others, though WVU is not a member of the American Association of Universities, a prestigious group of leading research universities that all 11 current Big Ten members are a part of, and it’s mandated that the 12th would have been on that list, too.

I think the two best choices are Missouri and Rutgers.

Rutgers is the State University of New Jersey and the Big Ten Network would benefit by entering the New York City television market. But I think the best choice is Missouri.

I have already come across several articles and web sites either written by reporters who cover the Tigers, or are put together by fans of Missouri.

Here’s one web site, presumably put together by a fan who lists the benefits that the Big Ten and Missouri would have if the UM joined the conference: http://www.mizzou-bigten.com.

In an article written by Mike DeArmond of the Kansas City Star entitled, “If Big Ten Called, Missouri Would Listen,” Mr. DeArmond states that “if the Big Ten calls, Missouri WILL listen and with an enthusiastic ear. I’ve been told exactly that by numerous sources close to and within Mizzou. Missouri officials – although they have not yet openly gone beyond admitting they are frustrated by the Big 12 Conference bowl selection process – know the school is a second-class citizen in the monster that gobbled up the old Big Eight.

As you may know, Missouri was a member of the Big Eight Conference that eventually expanded to 12 teams when it took on Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Baylor after the demise of the Southwestern Conference in the mid-90s.

The problem is, most of the members of the Big XII conference who are in the North Division (Nebraska, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Colorado and Missouri) have all felt like second-class citizens since the league expanded because the power brokers are the ones in Texas. Plus the Texas bowls favor the Texas schools.

Clearly it seems that Missouri would be willing to join, but do they make a good fit for the Big Ten? My answer is simply yes. They already have a rival in Illinois, plus with the addition of Missouri, the Big Ten Network also gets the St. Louis and Kansas City television markets.

Sounds like a win-win situation.