It is done: NU (Nebraska) to the Big Ten

Omaha World-Herald ^ | June 11, 2010 | Lee Barfknecht

[C19fan]

1:20 p.m. LINCOLN _ Nebraska has officially accepted an invitation to join the Big Ten Conference, The World-Herald learned early Friday afternoon.

Two sources from conference offices said that Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany contacted BIg 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe on Friday morning to inform Beebe that Delany had officially invited Nebraska to join.

A source with direct knowledge of the situation said Nebraska accepted.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

I understand that this is all about money. I’ve said that in many posts. However, what I have also said is that I think it’s a farce that Rutgers opens up the New York City TV market for them. Why? Because no one in New York City really cares about Rutgers.

You said that no one cares when they’re losing like most sports teams. That’s true in Pro sports, but not in college. For instance, look at Nebraska. The one team they did invite in. Last year they had a good season. The four out of five years before that they weren’t even ranked at the end of the year. They have not been a football powerhouse since the 90’s. Yet they pack in 80,000 + every Saturday and get great TV ratings still. Why, they have national championships and tradition. They’ve created a bond with generations of fans. Rutgers does not have that.

It’s because of this that I don’t see this opening up of New York City to the Big 10 network. Sure, they’ll get on the TV’s, but not in any more appreciable way than they do now. I don’t see them delivering New York city like I’ve read. Personally, I think it’s people speculating but we’ll see.

[al_c]

A more relevant statement is where will Texas go. Because wherever Texas goes A&M is sure to follow like a little brother...

Not necessarily. They want SEC, UT wants Pac 10. But lawmakers kept them together when the Big 12 formed, so they'll probably try that again this time.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"There are also enough Alumni from the Big Ten schools living in Philadelphia, New York City and New Jersey to ensure that every Rutgers home game is sold out. Michigan, Northwestern, Ohio State and others would benefit from having fundraising events with their alumni that are tied in with football games at Rutgers."

An interesting and different point you bring up. Having all of the Rutgers games sold out benefits Rutgers but how exactly does that benefit the Big 10? You could make that case about three or four other schools that have been mentioned. I don't know how many Big 10 alumni live in those areas, but why can't they do those supposed fundraisers right now in connection with Penn State football games? Not much farther away for people living in those areas.

No, I think the main reason Rutgers is being looked at is this mythical opening of the New York City TV market for the Big 10 network. Which I don't see how that works for reasons I've posted previously.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"They want SEC, UT wants Pac 10. But lawmakers kept them together when the Big 12 formed, so they'll probably try that again this time."

You're probably right, but I don't think that A&M really gives the SEC anything without Texas does it? Why would the SEC invite A&M without Texas. This could be the saving grace for the Big 12. Maybe they decide to try to continue on.

[Richard Kimball]

Didn't mean to diss OU, but I was talking in terms of political clout. You're correct that OU owned Texas in football for the first half of the life of the Big 12, although Texas has a pretty good win streak going now.

I had to wait for quite a few years to post my graphic:

This one's good every year, though, win or lose:

However, both OU and Oklahoma State have said they want to go with Texas, so as far as political clout, Texas still has the cards.

I'm just hoping for a great conference, and REALLY hope the rivalries with Oklahoma and A&M don't get broken up. Living in Waco, I'd also love to see Baylor in the mix, but that's a real long shot.

[dead]

You're still missing the point.

The deal with Rutgers is not about delivering ratings to the Big Ten. It's about delivering cable subscriber fees. The numbers are huge if they can get on the provider's basic packages and Rutgers helps them do that.

Bigger ratings will mean more advertising revenue for the providers and they'd be very welcome, but it's the subscriber fees that are the draw.

Besides, the Big Ten network will obviously feature far more than Rutgers. There are plenty of Ohio State, Penn State, etc fans in the NYC market to drive ratings.

Rutgers was in the college football wasteland for a long long time. I know, I've been watching them for 30 years, with season tickets for twenty. But they have been on a slow but steady climb up since about 1995. The difference in interest throughout NJ and even NYC is huge in that time, though still way behind where it could be. Billboards, coverage on the NYC sports networks and sports talk shows, merchandising etc. have all become significant, where it used to be zero.

NYC hasn't had a college football presence since Columbia beat Army in 1947! But that could be a couple BCS bowl games away.

[Richard Kimball]

Agree with you on the Rutgers thing. From what I see, NYC is a pro sports town. Yankees first, then Giants, then Jets, Mets, whoever.

NYC just doesn't seem to get that jazzed about college sports.

[al_c]

You're probably right, but I don't think that A&M really gives the SEC anything without Texas does it?

You're absolutely correct with that statement.

Why would the SEC invite A&M without Texas.

It's probably their ploy to get both teams but are targeting A&M in order to make it happen.

This could be the saving grace for the Big 12. Maybe they decide to try to continue on.

Either way, A&M needs UT. UT pulls in major $$$$ and A&M's athletic program is in debt.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"You're still missing the point."

No, I totally get the point that people have been trying to make. The point of adding Rutgers is that it will open up the New York City market to the Big 10 network and they can charge more per subscriber. I think you're missing my point. My point is that I don't believe that is going to happen. My point is that no one in New York city really cares about Rutgers so why exactly would the cable companys in New York city suddenly be clamoring to get the Big 10 network on?

"Besides, the Big Ten network will obviously feature far more than Rutgers. There are plenty of Ohio State, Penn State, etc fans in the NYC market to drive ratings."

If this were the case, then it would already be happening. They don't need Rutgers for this. If there were so many Ohio State and Penn State fans in the New York city market, these people would already be clamoring for the Big 10 network to be on their cable packages.

One last thing, if Rutgers joins the Big 10, I don't think they will ever get to another BCS bowl game. They can do it in the Big East, but not the Big 10. Too much of an upgrade in football IMO.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"NYC just doesn't seem to get that jazzed about college sports."

I would say that NYC doesn't get jazzed about college football. College basketball on the other hand I think they like. It's the Big East's bread and butter.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

One last thing dead, I don’t mean to offend you being a fan of Rutgers and all. I’m just trying to state the truth as I see it. Look, I’m a fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Talk about long suffering and not drawing fans!! Go ahead, make the jokes about them. I can take it!!! : )

[DesScorp]

This is absolutely stupid. Nebraska has nothing in common with any of the Big 10 members. As much as I loathe the NCAA, it’s time for them to step in and put their foot down on this kind of thing.

[OSTATE]

Teams in the north just can’t compete with the teams in the south. Kansas Hoops is the only sport the north controlled.

[Timocrat]

It already is.

Hmmm. Maybe. Currently the SEC has 17 National Championships. Big 12 has 16 depending on whether USC forfeits 2005, maybe 17. If UT and OU move to the SEC it becomes unarguable.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"As much as I loathe the NCAA, it’s time for them to step in and put their foot down on this kind of thing."

Wait until the politicians start to get involved. After all, there's a lot of State institutions involved here. Actually, the NCAA is a toothless tiger and can do nothing about this.

[BnBlFlag]

This is absolutely stupid. Nebraska has nothing in common with any of the Big 10 members.

And the Texas schools have even less in common with the PAC 10 members.

[OSTATE]

I think they are afraid to take their band to CAL. Don’t think the Aggie band would go over well there.

[dead]

I don't take offense! We know our history. We beat Princeton in the first college football game ever,then we got about seven more wins over the next 140 years. It takes some time to turn that around. But things are picking up. Lots of little signs of upward momentum. Five straight bowl wins (little bowls, I know, but we won them.) We had two first-round NFL picks go out this year. That's a great sign.

The Big Ten network has no hope of getting on basic cable in the NYC market without a local team. Even if they can't sell it in NYC at first, just getting on basic cable in New Jersey is big money. There are almost 9 million people in New Jersey.

Maybe NYC will never "get" college football, like it never really got NASCAR, meth or Garth Brooks. But if it does, there are many many millions of dollars to be had. That's what lies in the calculations.

[dfwgator]

Well at least our baseball team did their part.

Go Gators, spank the scUM!!!!

[Richard Kimball]

If the SEC did take on the schools from the Big 12 South, they could rename the league the Confederacy.