Reasons the B1G should take ISU

ljhlax

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Dec 14, 2010
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There is no doubt that this would make sense. For that to happen, Iowa, Nebraska, minnesota Wisconsin and Illinois would have to lobby the rest of the big 10 intensely to take ISU, KU, and KSU... And maybe MU.

I believe it could happen. Not out of pity, but truly out of value all 3-4 schools bring with the rest of the Midwest base.

The other influence would be politics.... But elections and state of the economy are too much of a distraction right now.... All grassley has to do is sneeze 'tax break removal' and it brings the big schools to their knees....

I think MU would be the most beneficial to secure all of the Midwest, but I would take Pitt if the B1G didn't take MU.

I've also thought ISU, KU, KSU, and MU then add Pitt, and I think Notre Dame would then think the B1G is finally B1G enough for them. I could see a B1G Network/NBC deal. The CBS - SEC deal was huge for them. What if NBC had B1G double headers every Saturday, and the rest of the games were carried on the B1G network and the ESPN family.

Someone else said it real well. What is the easier sell, Nebraska/Rutgers or ISU/Nebraska. The natural rivalry is what is going to really sell the game and make the networks successful, and if people think otherwise, they are crazy. I'm sorry, but Ole Miss and Mississippi State gets national CBS exposure even when they are middle of the road to bad while being one of the smallest states in the SEC. There is a reason it is aTm that was poached from the Big 12 and much of that is geography. The only market it opens is Houston, and even that is going to have to compete with Texas/Baylor TexasTech/Texas and Texas/Oklahoma games. The SEC also doesn't really need to open a bunch of markets. They just need competitive teams with great tradition, great geographic proximity, and the ability to compete on the highest level. With ISU gaining momentum in the CPR era, the stability that Jaime has provided to our athletic programs, the major additions to our stadium and facilities, and the quality of all our athletic teams, it is a good pitch to the B1G to have ISU.
 

ljhlax

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Dec 14, 2010
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The best chance for ISU to the Big Ten is if the talk about Texas and Notre Dame to the Big Ten is true. If those schools are in the Big Ten, the value of the TV contract will increase enormously, perhaps to the point it can't really increase anymore. If the goal is to get to 16 teams, why not add a couple schools that bring value to the Big Ten in other ways? Things like AAU membership, geographic fit, more rivalries, good wrestling, etc. ISU and Missouri are perfect in that regard. Sure, the Big Ten could look to the East as well, but do they really want to be the conference responsible for breaking up the Big East or ACC, especially with Baylor's potential lawsuit against Texas A&M and the SEC? I don't think so.

Thank you!!!!

I'm so glad someone said it. We are looking at a set of 5 unbroken conferences. I don't think any of them are going to be in the mood to break the others up and start poaching and realligning and playing that game. It is huge enough what has happened to the Big 12 but the whole world can see the failure of leadership within the Conference (not schools to be absolutely clear) and the trouble it has been since the unequal revenue sharing from its onset. There was enough trouble that rippled through the College Football world when Notre Dame secured their NBC deal. Now you have the single largest school in the country, already a part of a major conference secure their own network with the aid of the center of the sports media world. The Conferences won't (and don't) have a problem picking off who they want from the Big 12, but it is a whole nother ballgame when it comes to going after each other. The Big 12 is fair game and potentially the Big East, but it will be SEC, ACC, B1G and the PAC12 picking from the Big 12 and East.

So the smart thing is to posture and sell themselves as a better option than Louisville, Pitt, KU, KSU, MU, Cincinatti, Rutgers or any of the others OR they package themselves with a strong contingient that has great appeal to the B1G (like the former Big 12 North).
 

ljhlax

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Dec 14, 2010
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I've also been thinking about Texas a lot lately and how they stand to gain or lose in the whole deal. The more I've thought about it, the more I feel Texas as an independent is the best case scenario for them. Since I've come to that conclusion, I've become to realize it seems all the reallignement talk seems to start first with Chip Brown. I know it is a stretch of a conspiracy theory, but it seems like some very smart people at Texas are orchestrating a best case scenario dismantling of the Big 12 for Texas's own personal gain. There is NO WAY Texas is going to give up their aTm Rivalry and Oklahoma Rivalry. They need to make sure BOTH go to the best possible Conferences out there. aTm goes to the SEC, Oklahoma goes to the PAC. They've secured a deal with BYU as another traditional powerhouse (who ironically is also independent) on their schedule. There has been a lot of talk with the other traditional powerhouse (who is also independent) Notre Dame. That gives them 4 BCS calliber teams on their schedule, plus they can at least schedule 2 to 3 of their in-state rivals (in whatever advantageous way they can work it out or schedule it) with TTech, Baylor, TCU, SMU, Houston and Rice. So now they have 7 pretty quality games. Then they can try and play the patriotic games (Army, Navy, Air Force). They are up to 10 games, most of them winnable, but all have very significant TV appeal. That leaves them to have to only schedule two more opponents to try and get them into National Championship conversation every year. I know I just went there with the conspiracy, but I feel we are getting played by Texas and I'm ready to be proactive and Damnit, I want us to play in the B1G.
 
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cyfan15

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Oct 23, 2006
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Thank you!!!!

I'm so glad someone said it. We are looking at a set of 5 unbroken conferences. I don't think any of them are going to be in the mood to break the others up and start poaching and realligning and playing that game. It is huge enough what has happened to the Big 12 but the whole world can see the failure of leadership within the Conference (not schools to be absolutely clear) and the trouble it has been since the unequal revenue sharing from its onset. There was enough trouble that rippled through the College Football world when Notre Dame secured their NBC deal. Now you have the single largest school in the country, already a part of a major conference secure their own network with the aid of the center of the sports media world. The Conferences won't (and don't) have a problem picking off who they want from the Big 12, but it is a whole nother ballgame when it comes to going after each other. The Big 12 is fair game and potentially the Big East, but it will be SEC, ACC, B1G and the PAC12 picking from the Big 12 and East.

So the smart thing is to posture and sell themselves as a better option than Louisville, Pitt, KU, KSU, MU, Cincinatti, Rutgers or any of the others OR they package themselves with a strong contingient that has great appeal to the B1G (like the former Big 12 North).

The SEC model for expansion is just as much about competitiveness and regional fit as it is about TV money. Look at Arkansas and South Carolina. Arkansas has a population of just under 3 million (smaller than Iowa), and South Carolina has a population of about 4.5 million. Neither school brought in a big market, but they added a lot as far regional rivalries and they allowed the SEC to have a championship game. Texas A&M brings TV markets, they open up the state of Texas to SEC recruiting, AND they're a good regional fit, which is why they're so valuable to the SEC.

If Notre Dame, Texas, Missouri, and Iowa State were to end up in the Big Ten, it's almost certain that Kansas and Kansas State would go to the Pac-16 with Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. I could see the SEC inviting Texas Tech and Baylor along with Texas A&M to avoid the lawsuits, plus they would give the SEC a stronger presence in Texas and add additional rivalries. They would likely take West Virginia from the Big East, but they could justify that by saying that taking one team doesn't mean the downfall of the Big East. If the Big East falls apart at that point, it's because teams want out. It probably wouldn't happen right away, but Connecticut, Syracuse, Rutgers, and Pittsburgh would most likely make their way to the ACC eventually.

In that scenario, the only current BCS conference schools left out of a superconference are schools that weren't in a BCS conference until a few years ago: Cincinnati, Louisville, USF, and TCU.
 

skibumspe

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Oct 8, 2006
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B1G needs one more team to have a conference for hockey... Let's bring cyclone hockey back D1 :yes::jiggy:
As much as I'd hope Cyclone Hockey become D1, it's not a financially feasible option; plus, they've never been D1 before.

The whole time Dr. Al has been running the show, he's been working to get to that level but there have always been objections for a myriad of reasons.
 

cyfan15

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As much as I'd hope Cyclone Hockey become D1, it's not a financially feasible option; plus, they've never been D1 before.

The whole time Dr. Al has been running the show, he's been working to get to that level but there have always been objections for a myriad of reasons.

I won't pretend to be an expert or have any kind of insider knowledge, but with enough additional money from a new conference affiliation, it's not entirely inconceivable that we could have D1 hockey and baseball eventually, particularly once the south end zone is bowled in.
 

skibumspe

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I won't pretend to be an expert or have any kind of insider knowledge, but with enough additional money from a new conference affiliation, it's not entirely inconceivable that we could have D1 hockey and baseball eventually, particularly once the south end zone is bowled in.

I agree, if the new conference affiliation pans out to be a huge financial windfall, I certainly think there could be some discussion but JP has mentioned on numerous occasions the cost for either sport would be too much to burden in the near future.

Again, lots of it (football only facility that should be beginning, south Endzone, addition of sports) depends on big money coming our way & as of now, none of that seems possible as nobody knows what the heck is going on or where we will end up.

Dr. Al has been selling recruits on the idea that State would become D1 very soon but I think even he knows that's a pipe dream. He's a smart guy & a great coach but w/out the AD's backing ($$$$), he has to know it isn't likely. Really sucks cause I'd love to see baseball & hockey offered at that level in Ames. Just have to keep hoping football continues to build momentum (& wins), thus energizing more of the alumni & fan base to support the AD w/monetary gifts & hopefully wind up in a conference that has a money tree for all to share!!
 

jdoggivjc

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Sep 27, 2006
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The SEC model for expansion is just as much about competitiveness and regional fit as it is about TV money. Look at Arkansas and South Carolina. Arkansas has a population of just under 3 million (smaller than Iowa), and South Carolina has a population of about 4.5 million. Neither school brought in a big market, but they added a lot as far regional rivalries and they allowed the SEC to have a championship game. Texas A&M brings TV markets, they open up the state of Texas to SEC recruiting, AND they're a good regional fit, which is why they're so valuable to the SEC.

If Notre Dame, Texas, Missouri, and Iowa State were to end up in the Big Ten, it's almost certain that Kansas and Kansas State would go to the Pac-16 with Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. I could see the SEC inviting Texas Tech and Baylor along with Texas A&M to avoid the lawsuits, plus they would give the SEC a stronger presence in Texas and add additional rivalries. They would likely take West Virginia from the Big East, but they could justify that by saying that taking one team doesn't mean the downfall of the Big East. If the Big East falls apart at that point, it's because teams want out. It probably wouldn't happen right away, but Connecticut, Syracuse, Rutgers, and Pittsburgh would most likely make their way to the ACC eventually.

In that scenario, the only current BCS conference schools left out of a superconference are schools that weren't in a BCS conference until a few years ago: Cincinnati, Louisville, USF, and TCU.

Your "SEC model" argument is irrelevant for two reasons: first, the SEC added South Carolina and Arkansas 20 years ago, back before television contracts were the driving factor for conference realignment; second, South Carolina and Arkansas brought in two new states into the SEC - the B1G already has Iowa through Iowa.

Your argument might have teeth if the SEC, for whatever reason, decides to add Clemson.

I am one of those people that thinks that ISU would add value to the B1G. However, it won't be for television or market penetration reasons, which is the only thing the media, analysts, and quite possibly university presidents are considering. I do think there is a chance ISU gets into the B1G, but it's a slim chance.
 

WISCY1895

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I think adding Missouri, Iowa State, Kansas, and Kansas State to the BIG would be great however I know its a long shot.

I guess the biggest thing I don't understand about the BIG is their interest in schools like Rutgers on the east coast. The area is primarily interested in professional sports and the product those schools put on the field isn't very good either.

I think if they could bring in the 4 schools listed above they would have more followers than bringing in schools like Rutgers not to mention local rivalries they would have with Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois. I know that football is the key to making it all happen but you would have to think that the egos of the BIG would love to have the additional strength in basketball and basically dominate college wrestling.
 

scyclonekid

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Fans of college football or athletics love to watch rivalry games that is what you would have in the big ten. That alone would bring a lot of tv sets!! I will always think we belong in the big ten it just makes way to much sense, will it happen is another story. The saga continues. Plus fans would travel because the travel would be easier as well and you would be traveling to respectable towns with nice facilities. That creates a boost in that towns economy. Come on big ten just do this already.
 

Let's Go State

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I think MU would be the most beneficial to secure all of the Midwest, but I would take Pitt if the B1G didn't take MU.

I've also thought ISU, KU, KSU, and MU then add Pitt, and I think Notre Dame would then think the B1G is finally B1G enough for them. I could see a B1G Network/NBC deal. The CBS - SEC deal was huge for them. What if NBC had B1G double headers every Saturday, and the rest of the games were carried on the B1G network and the ESPN family.

Someone else said it real well. What is the easier sell, Nebraska/Rutgers or ISU/Nebraska. The natural rivalry is what is going to really sell the game and make the networks successful, and if people think otherwise, they are crazy. I'm sorry, but Ole Miss and Mississippi State gets national CBS exposure even when they are middle of the road to bad while being one of the smallest states in the SEC. There is a reason it is aTm that was poached from the Big 12 and much of that is geography. The only market it opens is Houston, and even that is going to have to compete with Texas/Baylor TexasTech/Texas and Texas/Oklahoma games. The SEC also doesn't really need to open a bunch of markets. They just need competitive teams with great tradition, great geographic proximity, and the ability to compete on the highest level. With ISU gaining momentum in the CPR era, the stability that Jaime has provided to our athletic programs, the major additions to our stadium and facilities, and the quality of all our athletic teams, it is a good pitch to the B1G to have ISU.


Your point on MO is very valid. I has MO to the SEC stuck in my head when I was writing this.

I think the whole thing for this to happen gets beyond football TV markets, and overall conference value. Frankly - all the big cities have college sports way down the list in priorities. This is why Rutgers doesn't have a 100,000+ capacity football stadium...

Value in my book echos the comments above. But people think I'm crazy because I see Notre Dame as an overhyped, overblown effort. They make good geographic sense for the B1G, but its not worth that much anymore.

IMO.