Catching up -- Big Ten expansion

Spent the weekend in Green Bay. It was glorious. (I liked the throwbacks except for the helmet. That was just sort of bizarre. I think the NFL should just go ahead and have a third jersey every year. If you have a compelling throwback, go for it. If you don't, just have Reebok or whomever design something. One game a year. It's another way into fans' wallets, let's drop any "honor" to the past or whatever they were going for with the throwbacks.)

I'll fill the blog with some of the pertinents that I missed, but I'll try not to be too repetitive.

I did want to touch on Big Ten expansion.

Here's the Big Ten's statement on it:

BIG TEN STATEMENT ON EXPANSION

Park Ridge, Ill.- The Big Ten Council of Presidents/Chancellors (COP/C) held its winter meetings today in Park Ridge, Illinois. The following statement is issued by the Big Ten office on behalf of the COP/C.

This time last year, the COP/C believed that the time was right for the conference to explore the possibility of conference expansion and Commissioner James E. Delany was asked to provide recommendations for consideration over the next 12 to 18 months. The Big Ten began a thorough, deliberate evaluation and on June 11, 2010, the COP/C unanimously approved an application for membership from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Since that announcement, the conference has been actively engaged in incorporating Nebraska, both academically and athletically, into the fabric of the conference and all parties eagerly await the completed integration which will take effect in July, 2011.

During today's meeting it was decided that it was appropriate to focus completely on conference affairs at this time.

“We have been thoroughly engaged in the process since last December,” said COP/C Chair and Indiana University President Michael McRobbie. “Following detailed discussions at today's meeting, my colleagues and I can report that we believe that this process has reached its natural conclusion. We are pleased with the addition of Nebraska and look forward to working with our colleagues there in the years ahead.”

Although the conference will continue to monitor the intercollegiate landscape, it will not be actively engaged in conference expansion for the foreseeable future and does not expect to be proactively seeking new members.

__________

I talked with Iowa AD Gary Barta on the topic last Thursday. There haven't been any expansion discussions for awhile.

"We've had more conversations about bringing Nebraska in to the fold, not just in football but in all sports," Barta said. "That's been our focus. We've not talked about other expansion at this point."

_________

I've been saying here and elsewhere since Nebraska was brought into the conference that it's Notre Dame or nothing. Looks as though that's the case.

Is the Missouri/Big Ten a relevant storyline for the next few weeks? Why not.

When the Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott went for the gold last summer, attempting to bring everything that matters in the Big 12 south, that was the big event that might've forced ND to make the move. This would've opened the door for not only Nebraska but three other teams. Missouri was thought to be one of those.

The BCS conferences are set for the most part, but there is the matter of the Big 12 sitting at 10. That may or may not be the next continental drift that cause mass panic, but we saw last spring/summer that panic certainly is possible.

___________

Still looks as though 2015 will be the soonest for a nine-game Big Ten football schedule.

They need to figure out the balancing of the home games. No one will give up revenue.

Barta said it's been a hot topic, but no final trigger has been pulled.