DuffMan
Well-Known Member
I think the B10 really kicked it here. Both of these schools would have been great additions to the B10 (for different reasons) and unfortunately it looks like both schools are going elsewhere.
Pittsburgh has a strong football tradition, is an AAU member, and is a great geographic fit for the Big10. The latter shouldn’t be emphasized enough. Pittsburgh is less than 40 miles from the Ohio border and just 180 miles from Columbus. It’s obviously relatively close to State College as well. Further adding Pitt to the B10 would be terrific for Penn State. It’s not really a secret that Penn State has been encouraging the B10 to expand further east to allow it to foster additional regional rivalries. Pitt makes perfect sense in that regard. If you look at KF’s comments from his weekly presser this week it would give you an indication of just how strong a rivalry this was. In fact prior to the early 90’s when Pitt and Penn State (both independent at the time) joined separate conferences this rivalry was one of the best in all of college football. Having these schools in the same conference every year would give the B10 another great rivalry in the spirit of Ohio State/Michigan, Iowa/Wisky, Michigan/Michigan State. It would be another terrific opportunity to showcase the B10 throughout the Eastern States and arguably the nation.
Mizzou is also an AAU member and a terrific fit for the B10 geographically. It also has the potential to generate terrific rivalries with both Illannoy and Iowa. It also brings a couple of middle weight TV markets which shouldn’t be overlooked. Perhaps the biggest advantage of bringing Mizzou into the B10 is that it would serve as a buffer between the B10 and the SEC. That’s something that people are only now starting to realize.
I understand the B10 has bigger fish to fry. I understand that ND and a school like Rutgers is certainly a possibility, and might be a better get for conference coffers, but in nearly all other ways Pitt and Mizzou would be a far superior get.
Pittsburgh has a strong football tradition, is an AAU member, and is a great geographic fit for the Big10. The latter shouldn’t be emphasized enough. Pittsburgh is less than 40 miles from the Ohio border and just 180 miles from Columbus. It’s obviously relatively close to State College as well. Further adding Pitt to the B10 would be terrific for Penn State. It’s not really a secret that Penn State has been encouraging the B10 to expand further east to allow it to foster additional regional rivalries. Pitt makes perfect sense in that regard. If you look at KF’s comments from his weekly presser this week it would give you an indication of just how strong a rivalry this was. In fact prior to the early 90’s when Pitt and Penn State (both independent at the time) joined separate conferences this rivalry was one of the best in all of college football. Having these schools in the same conference every year would give the B10 another great rivalry in the spirit of Ohio State/Michigan, Iowa/Wisky, Michigan/Michigan State. It would be another terrific opportunity to showcase the B10 throughout the Eastern States and arguably the nation.
Mizzou is also an AAU member and a terrific fit for the B10 geographically. It also has the potential to generate terrific rivalries with both Illannoy and Iowa. It also brings a couple of middle weight TV markets which shouldn’t be overlooked. Perhaps the biggest advantage of bringing Mizzou into the B10 is that it would serve as a buffer between the B10 and the SEC. That’s something that people are only now starting to realize.
I understand the B10 has bigger fish to fry. I understand that ND and a school like Rutgers is certainly a possibility, and might be a better get for conference coffers, but in nearly all other ways Pitt and Mizzou would be a far superior get.
