[Kaisersrsic]

Rutgers is also attractive to the Big Ten because of Penn State. Since joining the Big Ten, Penn State has been alone at the far eastern boundry of the conference. It would be beneficial to Penn State to have Rutgers, Maryland, or Syracuse (yuk) join the Big Ten.

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.

It is about the money, and there are plenty of different ways to get it.

[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.