Maryland to Big Ten

Rutgers, too? http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8651934/maryland-terrapins-accept-invitation-join-big-ten-sources-say

 

Please, dear God, let the ACC bring in UConn.

 

I think it's a no-brainer for both schools, but I'm a little curious why the Big Ten thinks adding either team makes the conference better. Maryland isn't too bad, but I doubt anyone is going to be too excited about it. I can't imagine anyone being excited about Rutgers...

I know the Big Ten's a stickler about academics, even though they kind of looked the other way or let Nebraska in on a technicality.... Rutgers and Maryland are both very good schools and fit from that standpoint.

 

The Big Ten needs all the ACC/Big Ten challenge help it can get.

 

Maryland should be required to burn those gawd-awful uniforms. No wearing anything like that in Columbus or Madison or East Lansing.

 

All about the DC and NYC television markets. The already successful BTN is about to start printing more money when its current deal expires in 2017.

 

Do people in NYC give a damn about Rutgers? Or college sports in general?

 

More evidence college sports should simply be abolished. University Presidents are the lowest, greediest form of life in our society. But at least they're pretentious about it.

 

No and no.

For some reason, that doesn't seem to matter. Adding DC and NYC guarantees that the BTN gets a nice bump in its per-subscriber fee next time around.

 

Doesn't matter, really. If the Big Ten gets $1 per household, per month in Big Ten states and only 15 cents per household, per month outside the conference, then adding 15 million households in NYC, New Jersey, Baltimore and D.C. should be a moneymaker, easily.

And if you're not convinced Rutgers by itself would be enough to get the BTN on basic cable in the NYC area, there's this from SI.com's Pete Thamel ...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/pete_thamel/11/18/big-ten-expansion-tv-money/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_t12_a0

One potential piece of leverage the Big Ten will have is FOX and News Corp's reported attempt to purchase the YES Network, which could help strong-arm the Big Ten into the New York market.

 

Also, the Big Ten has strong alumni networks in both areas. It's not just grads moving there -- New Yorkers themselves have discovered Big Ten schools as college destinations. That may not be enough to get on basic cable, but between having a school in the area, and the numbers BTN can present on alumni, together they strengthen the case.

 

Maryland and Rutgers may be relative non-entities in football right now. But that's a function of their conference. A lot of blue-chippers don't want to consider playing Big East football. Joining the Big Ten will make them more attractive to recruits they're not getting in the front door with now.

And yes, it's all about the two major TV markets. More cable systems for the Big Ten Network to add.