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Posted on Thu, May 13, 2010 : 4:21 p.m.

Big Ten must add Texas or Notre Dame, otherwise expansion's a bust

By AnnArbor.com Staff

Whichever conference adds Texas is the winner of college football's arms race. Notre Dame's not a bad consolation prize. That's how Detroit Free Press columnist Drew Sharp sizes up the Big Ten expansion push.

Anything less, and any additions fall considerably short of giving the Big Ten the "super-conference" label. "It's only 'super' if it includes the Texas Longhorns or Notre Dame," Sharp writes. "Anything less is a joke."

Here's the link to his column.

Comments

PortageLkBlu

Sat, May 15, 2010 : 10:41 p.m.

Mr Drew Sharp, take a look at a map son and look at where Austin is located. Now, besides this ridiculous notion that expansion only works with Texas why don't you admit what you really know but don't want to say, son Texas ain't gonna join a damn Yankee school. Your not talking about Texas your talking about another country called Texas. Nebraska is the key here and why you ask, it's got a Northern attitude and that Big Red machine is coming back those folks got a taste of probably being the greatest college football teams ever and their starting to taste blood again in fact they tasted blood against Texas last year and came up a hair short probably can beat Texas this year. I think Nebraska would have put on a show against Alabama in that champ. game. Nope, Nebraska is the ticket.

BowlForBlue

Sat, May 15, 2010 : 9:41 p.m.

Notre Dame or Texas will never join... I am too worried about 16 teams, as the secondary teams like msu and osu will have great difficulty getting six wins and a bowl - msu coach gets fired, pryor quits and thats a shame.

PortageLkBlu

Sat, May 15, 2010 : 6:58 a.m.

I've always thought those priests at Notre Dame enjoy their notoriety and the team is a vehicle for them and to allow themselves to be placed in a division goes against grain. As we all know change in the Catholic church is slow at best. Of all the possibilities I like Nebraska which I think could very well beat Texas this year. At any rate the powers that be are going to do what they damn well want so bottom line in this article is I could care less cause come game day my steak and suds are going to taste just as good.

Jaxon5

Fri, May 14, 2010 : 5:37 p.m.

UM is bottom tier of Big Ten now and will probably finish somewhere in the #9 to # 11 range in 2010. Adding 5 teams will put Mich at #14 to #16 in the Big "Ten".

OsuBeWorser

Fri, May 14, 2010 : 1:22 p.m.

Think that goes for buckeyes too, team running on fumes now must find better players, coach and fans specially, need weaker schedule next few years, maybe play msu 8 times during season helps if possible.

Edward R Murrow's Ghost

Fri, May 14, 2010 : 12:59 p.m.

If the Big 10 added Hope, Calvin, Kalamazoo College, and Hillsdale, U of M under Richrod might have a chance at a winning season. Good Night and Good Luck.

Ignatz

Fri, May 14, 2010 : 10:52 a.m.

I'd like to see Texas in the conference, but please keep the alleged Irish out. Nebraska, Missouri, Rutgers and Pitt would be welcome to join. Mr. Sharp needs to get to reality.

K Mills

Fri, May 14, 2010 : 10:29 a.m.

"kent" Texas doesn't have the 'national following' of ND and NU...where ya been, baby for the last 10 or 20 years? There are tons of young football fans out there that do not know NU "use to have good teams"...one year having a good team does not make for a 'national following'. NU and even ND are 'small peanus' when compared the the Longhorns in almost anyway you want to compare them.

walker101

Fri, May 14, 2010 : 9:46 a.m.

Notre Dame is better off financially for now, it's all about the money and the Big Ten needs them more than they need them.

Art

Fri, May 14, 2010 : 9:27 a.m.

Two things: Why would ever consider a story from DFP as being accurate in any way and Texas in a midwest conference? Has anyone at the DFP ever taken Geography?

Freemind42

Fri, May 14, 2010 : 7:20 a.m.

Notre Dame can keep their independence in football and stay with the soon-to-be defunct Big East in their other sports. I say the Big Ten takes Nebraska, Missouri, Syracuse, Pitt, and Rutgers. This move gives us a 16 team conference while appeasing all of the different motivations for expansion (TV footprint, tradition, academics).

REWSR

Fri, May 14, 2010 : 6:54 a.m.

In my humble opinion this decision will all come down to money. If you look at ND or Texas from that perspective and the fan base again my opinion ND wins out. I mean no disrespect to Texas fans its just the way I see it. Its all about the money and if the Big Ten or any other conference says otherwise they are flat out lying.

kent

Fri, May 14, 2010 : 1:05 a.m.

just take Nebraska, N.D. and Rutgers. Leave Texas out. They do not have the national following of NU or ND. Rutgers joins in for the tv market. Call it a day and go with it.

aareader

Thu, May 13, 2010 : 9:54 p.m.

make it a bust

Macabre Sunset

Thu, May 13, 2010 : 9:33 p.m.

There's no actual law tying the Texas schools, but I doubt Texas would make a decision without Texas A&M. For that matter, A&M would be an asset to any conference, the only down-side being the distance. I don't think it will happen, but if there were a way to make the travel work, the Texas/A&M combo would be a wonderful addition and I'm sure the SEC will look in that direction first if conferences start going beyond 12.

A2D2

Thu, May 13, 2010 : 8:45 p.m.

I'm sorry, but the fact that Drew Sharp wrote the column instantly makes it non-noteworthy.

K Mills

Thu, May 13, 2010 : 7:32 p.m.

Where did you get the idea that Texas has a law regarding Texas and A&M being in the same conference? That is not correct...there is no such law. The legislature used 'pressure last time in the form of threatening to cut funding'. Texas is free to go where ever they want, by themselves or with TAM...I believe Texas has enough clout to pretty much do anything in the way of switching conferences that they want. Now whether or not they want to ruffle feathers in the state legislature, that is a different matter. But, I suspect if Texas felt strong enough about transferring to the BT and the only way that could be accomplished was by themselves alone, then they would probably do it. What's wrong with TAM? They match up pretty much with most of the members in the BT as they are.

NoSUVforMe

Thu, May 13, 2010 : 7:05 p.m.

I don't agree with this statement. I would think Missouri, Pitt, or Rutgers would be fine additions. Of these three, I like Pitt.

Steroid Moe

Thu, May 13, 2010 : 6:40 p.m.

How is the Big Ten going to add Texas without Texas A&M? Texas state law requires Texas and Texas A&M to be in the same conference.

Lokalisierung

Thu, May 13, 2010 : 5:19 p.m.

I'm a compomiser so Missouri is good with me :) But even if you don't get another team y9ou need to goto divisions so you can have a Big 10 title game.

Macabre Sunset

Thu, May 13, 2010 : 4:57 p.m.

Drew seems to have assigned some grandiose goals there. The aim is not to create the One True Conference, it's to maximize revenue for Big Ten schools. I agree that moving to 16 teams quickly would be a poor decision, but it's probably time to add a 12th school and increase the conference's exposure. Since that won't be Notre Dame, Maryland or Texas, sensible choices remain. The academics likely prefer Pittsburgh. The tv revenue people likely prefer Rutgers. The sports reputation people probably want Nebraska. The compromise people would like Missouri.

Marvin Face

Thu, May 13, 2010 : 4:28 p.m.

Going to agree with Drew Sharp. This big 10 expansion will be an epic failure without Texas or ND. EPIC failure.

Lokalisierung

Thu, May 13, 2010 : 4:11 p.m.

Yeah without Notre Dame's awesome resume` the last 15 or so years the Big 10 just couldn't get by. What a joke. What the heck does Texas have to do with midwestern schools?