Pitt To The Big 10 ?

[MeanGreen61]

True ? False ? More speculation ?

Full article

http://campuscorner.kansascity.com/node/681

"According to several reports, including personal statements by student athletes on Twitter, Pittsburgh athletic department officials held closed door meetings with all of the University's student athletes last week about the potential move.

Pitt message boards lit up with the news and the validity of the rumor, and though not verified by the University or the Big East or Big Ten, the rumor was somewhat reinforced when those Pitt athletes who posted about the meeting on their Twitter accounts were forced to remove the posts."

Edited February 1, 2010 by MeanGreen61

[akriesman]

I have always thought that Pitt had the best chance of joining the Big 10, if they expanded. I grew up as a Penn State fan and Pitt was the biggest rival for many years (until PSU joined the Big 10).

I miss the Pitt/Penn St rivalry games.

[MCMLXXX]

Another source.

http://buckeyebanter.com/2010/01/31/pittsburgh-to-join-big-ten/

[Mean Green 93-98]

I have always thought that Pitt had the best chance of joining the Big 10, if they expanded. I grew up as a Penn State fan and Pitt was the biggest rival for many years (until PSU joined the Big 10).

I miss the Pitt/Penn St rivalry games.

That was a great rivalry. Hard to beat watching Blackledge against Marino.

[StealthEagle84]

If this is true, I would assume they would they would split the conference into an East and a West. If it were me, it would look something like this:

EAST:

1. Michigan

2. Michigan State

3. Ohio State

4. Penn State

5. Pittsburgh

6. Illinois

WEST:

1. Wisconsin

2. Purdue

3. Indiana

4. Iowa

5. Northwestern

6. Minnesota

I think the Pac-10 should expand too. My preference would be to see BYU and Utah go in. This would add "traveling partners" for both and keep in-state rival together. If that were true, you could see something like this:

NORTH:

1. Washington

2. Washington State

3. Oregon

4. Oregon State

5. Utah

6. BYU

SOUTH:

1. USC

2. UCLA

3. Cal

4. Stanford

5. Arizona

6. Arizona State

This would allow all the rivals to play every year (i.e. USC-UCLA, Cal-Stanford, and all the other in state rivalry games). A dream scenario from here would be an 8 team playoffs with the conference champs of the Pac-10, Big-10, ACC, Big 12, and SEC receiving automatic bids. Those conference championship games would essentially act as a playoff game since the winner gets an automatic bid. The next three teams could be determined by who is the highest ranked and did not win one of the said conferences. Now, I wake up.........

[Mean Green 93-98]

If this is true, I would assume they would they would split the conference into an East and a West. If it were me, it would look something like this:

EAST:

1. Michigan

2. Michigan State

3. Ohio State

4. Penn State

5. Pittsburgh

6. Illinois

WEST:

1. Wisconsin

2. Purdue

3. Indiana

4. Iowa

5. Northwestern

6. Minnesota

I assume you meant to put Indiana in the east and Illinois in the west?

It's tough anyway you break it down. Just about every team in the Big 10 has a big-time rivalry with Michigan. I just don't see Wisconsin or Minnesota giving up that game every year.

[Guest GrayEagleOne]

If this is true, I would assume they would they would split the conference into an East and a West. If it were me, it would look something like this:

EAST:

1. Michigan

2. Michigan State

3. Ohio State

4. Penn State

5. Pittsburgh

6. Illinois????

WEST:

1. Wisconsin

2. Purdue

3. Indiana

4. Iowa

5. Northwestern

6. Minnesota

Rather than jump a state and split a two-school state, I'd put Wisconsin in the East.

I don't get where Penn State owns all of the TV sets in Pennsylvania. I'm sure there are several hundred thousand Pitt fans that don't watch PSU as a rule. With them in the same conference it will increase the viewers across the state. Pitt has a lot of history with Ditka, Dorsett, et al through the years. They should be at least middle-of-the-pack to start with.

Pitt is second in attendance average behind West Virginia in the Big East and this could lower the conference to a non-AQ. Without going far afield they will be hard pressed to find other universities with good attendance to take Pitt's place. Maybe they can persuade Notre Dame to join their conference (if their TV contract is not renewed) or add Army, Navy, or East Carolina. I see them having to become a 12 team conference to keep their AQ status.

[UNTflyer]

Not so fast. Why Pittsburgh and why so quickly? Didn't the Big Ten say it could take 12-18 months to reach a decision? That was a month ago when they announced they would explore expansion.

So one of two things is possible here - this is an unfounded rumor, or the Big Ten is going to expand to 14 teams and Pitt is just the first of three.

[LoveMG]

Not so fast. Why Pittsburgh and why so quickly? Didn't the Big Ten say it could take 12-18 months to reach a decision? That was a month ago when they announced they would explore expansion.

So one of two things is possible here - this is an unfounded rumor, or the Big Ten is going to expand to 14 teams and Pitt is just the first of three.

one way to get more attention for an invite is to float a rumor you have been invited. pitt brings nothing from the new york media market. i call bogus unless there will be more following.

[NorthTexan95]

Man ... that looks like the Big 12. One really tough conference and one not so tough. Whoever is the sixth team in the East is gonna end up being like Baylor.

[MeanGreen61]

Big 10 rumor false.

http://www.zagsblog.com/2010/02/01/pitt-to-big-10-rumors-false/

[forevereagle]

Big 10 rumor false.

http://www.zagsblog.com/2010/02/01/pitt-to-big-10-rumors-false/

Maybe. How many times have ADs denied a rumor that ended up being true?

[El Paso Eagle]

Maybe. How many times have ADs denied a rumor that ended up being true?

Remember.... for many if it's in a BLOG it must be true