Its Big 10 hater time again. Can you smell it in the air? We'll be the first to tell you that the whole conference supremacy debate is pointless. But, when Midwestern sensibilities and pride are under attack, don't think that the Yoders in the heartland of Columbus, OH are going to sit by idly and let our people be bullied around! Since I have a self-imposed boycott of listening to Colin Cowherd (find out why here), Y2 informed me this morning that the USC song boy was kicking around new nicknames for the expanded Big 10 such as the Tiny 12, The USC Is My Daddy Conference, and the Tanking 12 (shhhhh.... he still doesn't know yet that USC is playing in the Emerald Bowl, don't tell him, it will be a surprise).
But, what these morons like Cowherd in the mainstream media don't realize is that the Big 10 leads the world in BCS appearances. Maybe they are just too lazy and want to live off of stereotypes. (Don't tell him that the only team to beat Tim Tebow in a Bowl Game is Michigan) Oh, and the Big 10 has had 2 teams appear in the BCS each year in the last 5 years, the SEC or any other conference has not. (Don't tell him that Ohio State has a better BCS record than Alabama or Oklahoma... see if he actually has someone on his show that does research, I doubt it).
Enough wasting my own time on that pencil necked geek... what is surprising is that semi-sensible voices in the college football world like SI's Stewart Mandel are pushing back on Big 10 expansion as seen here. Mandel argues that expansion doesn't make sense dollars and cents wise because of the risk to Big 10 BCS berths and the distribution of money to each team lessening.
Is that the best argument there is? Trust me, money would not be an issue for Big 10 teams. The +/- on the money end would be negligible and making the argument about money is the wrong thing. The Big 10 needs to expand and add a championship game to be relevant in the month of December. Ohio State and Michigan played almost a month ago. The conference goes into hibernation for 6 weeks before meaningful football is played again. The Big 10 has seen conferences like the Big 12 and the SEC thrive on Championship weekend and they want a piece of the action.
The biggest real concern would be the effect on rivalry games at the end of the season and how divisions are split, but that should be figured out along the way. I would expect it to be done right though and not have a situation like the Big 12 where Nebraska and Oklahoma don't play every year.
Think of the possibilities with an open mind though. Could you imagine Ohio State and Michigan playing in a Big 10 Title Game in primetime at Soldier Field in Chicago? What about Notre Dame playing the Buckeyes at Ford Field in Detroit? Are those not glamour games that any conference would want?
The question is why are there so many voices trying to put down Big 10 expansion? Is it because the mainstream sports media wants to keep the Midwest in their place? The Big 10 isn't a threat right now in the last month without a championship game, and they can be brushed to the side. Why would these college football pundits want a showcase game for the conference when it is more comfortable and easy to live off of stereotypes and inaccuracies.
Clearly, expansion is in the best interest of the Big 10. But who is the best candidate for Big 10 expansion? Obviously it's Notre Dame, but that's not a realistic expectation. Pittsburgh would make sense, but it doesn't expand the market and Penn State wouldn't exactly be in favor of it. The same is true for Cincinnati. There has been talk of adding Rutgers or Syracuse to get in the New York market, but neither of those two schools are a fit geographically or ideologically. So who is the ideal candidate...
Missouri.
Gary Pinkel's team is now a consistent contender (they were ranked #1 2 seasons ago heading into the Big 12 title game remember). Also, they open up new markets in St. Louis and Kansas City. Furthermore, the Tigers have a natural rival in Illinois already in the conference and athletic success across different sports. And, they have a good university and program that keep in step with the Big 10's Midwestern roots. Missouri would have to leave behind their rich history in the Big 8/12, but they are a perfect compliment to the Western edge of Big 10 territory. Besides ND, they are the team that makes the most sense in every way.
So let the jesters have their fun, but don't think that Big 10 expansion is a joke. Getting a 12th team and a conference championship is central to the success of the conference moving forward. With their own network to showcase even more games and an improved presence on the national stage, the Big 10 can certainly rebound after a couple tough years in big games.
Now we just need to think of a name.... The Big 10 +2? Thoughts? Anyone?
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