NCAA Conference Realignment

[jersey cubs fan]

Although the new stadium in Indy is great, the championship game must be played in Chicago. Chicago has the largest hub of Big Ten alumni, and is the cultural center of the mid-west. If the Big Ten does this they cannot small town it. Do it right or don't do it at all.

 

Indy is a small town? That is news to me. It also happens to be very well liked by just about everyone when they host any kind of big sporting event. A lot of that has to do with the fact that every sports venue is downtown (Speedway is close enough). If the United Center wasn't out of the way and next to nothing Chicago would probably have it every year. Also Chicago is so big that it won't revolve around the tourney when it is there. When the tourney is in Indy that is all there is in town.

 

Yes Indy is a small town, it's metro area is one of the smallest in the country with a pro sports franchise.

 

But I think it would be a better option than Chicago for a championship game, specifically because Soldier Field is a terrible option. It's too small and in too horrible condition, and it simply doesn't do the Big Ten any good to make teams plays to bad weather conditions, which are likely that time of year, when every meaningful bowl game/potential playoff matchup is in good weather and/or a dome. The Big Ten already suffers from often having to play those games in the opponents home territory, there's no reason to set it up so the champion is likely to be the best sloppy weather team. Rotate it between some of the domed sites in the region and try and cater to a team that can go to New Orleans, Miami or Pasadena and play the appropriate style of ball.

[SouthSideRyan]

I agree that a football championship shouldn't be at dumpy Soldier Field. The basketball tournament should absolutely be in the UC. It's bush league to go to Indy, but we've had this argument before and everyone from Indiana swears it's the greatest, and everyone else says it makes the Big Ten look bad.

[Exile on Waveland]

I agree that a football championship shouldn't be at dumpy Soldier Field. The basketball tournament should absolutely be in the UC. It's bush league to go to Indy, but we've had this argument before and everyone from Indiana swears it's the greatest, and everyone else says it makes the Big Ten look bad.

 

The NCAA (Final Four) and the NFL (Super Bowl) disagree with you.

[SouthSideRyan]

I agree that a football championship shouldn't be at dumpy Soldier Field. The basketball tournament should absolutely be in the UC. It's bush league to go to Indy, but we've had this argument before and everyone from Indiana swears it's the greatest, and everyone else says it makes the Big Ten look bad.

 

The NCAA (Final Four) and the NFL (Super Bowl) disagree with you.

 

Well let's hold it in Detroit then.

[Derwood]

Colin Cowherd thinks Rutgers is the best choice, which means its probably the worst choice. He cited the NYC market, which goony and several others have already explained doesn't really exist for "New Jersey State". His other reasons are accessibility of the campus (lame, as State College, Bloomington, West Lafayette, etc. aren't exactly booming metropolitan areas), campus size, enrollment size, and academic standing.

[shnsajax]

Random school but what about West Virgina?

[SouthSideRyan]

Random school but what about West Virgina?

 

Academics

[shnsajax]

Random school but what about West Virgina?

 

Academics

 

Every conference should have a drunken party school.

[SouthSideRyan]

Random school but what about West Virgina?

 

Academics

 

Every conference should have a drunken party school.

 

It's the only thing Indiana brings to the table

[brinoch]

NFL Teams by 2008 MSA/DMA estimates (MSA numbers are in people/DMA by household):

 

1/1. New York (19,006,798 / 7,493,530) -- Giants and Jets

2/2. Los Angeles (12,872,808 / 5,659,170) -- None

3/3. Chicago (9,569,624 / 3,501,010) -- Bears

4/5. Dallas-Ft. Worth (6,300,006 / 2,544,410) -- Cowboys

5/4. Philadelphia (5,838,471 / 2,955,190) -- Eagles

6/10. Houston (5,278,143 / 2,123,460) -- Texans

7/17. Miami (5,414,772 / 1,538,090) -- Dolphins

8/8. Atlanta (5,376,285 / 2,387,520) -- Falcons

9/9. Washington, DC (5,358,130 / 2,335,040) -- Redskins

10/7. Boston (4,522,858 / 2,410,180) -- Patriots

11/11. Detroit (4,425,110 / 1,890,220) -- Lions

12/12. Phoenix (4,281,899 / 1,873,930) -- Cardinals

*13/6. San Francisco/Oakland (4,274,531 / 2,503,400) -- 49ers and Raiders

14/2. Riverside/San Bernadino (4,115,871) -- None; (including in LA DMA)

15/13. Seattle (3,344,813 / 1,833,990) -- Seahawks

16/15. Minneapolis (3,229,878 / 1,732,050) -- Vikings

17/28. San Diego (3,001,072 / 1,073,390) -- Chargers

18/21. St. Louis (2,816,710 / 1,249,450) -- Rams

19/14. Tampa (2,733,761 / 1,805,810) -- Buccaneers

20/27. Baltimore (2,667,717 / 1,093,170) -- Ravens

21/16. Denver (2,506,626 / 1,539,380) -- Broncos (smallest MSA to have all 4 major sports)

22/23. Pittsburgh (2,351,192 / 1,154,950) -- Steelers

23/22. Portland (2,207,461 / 1,188,770) -- None

24/33. Cincinnati (2,155,137 / 918,670) -- Bengals

25/20. Sacramento (2,109,832 / 1,404,580) -- None

26/18. Cleveland (2,088,291 / 1,520,750) -- Browns

27/19. Orlando (2,054,574 / 1,455,620) -- None

28/37. San Antonio (2,031,574 / 830,000) -- None

29/32. Kansas City (2,002,047 / 941,360) -- Chiefs

30/42. Las Vegas (1,865,746 / 721,780) -- None

31/6. San Jose (1,819,198) -- None; included in SF DMA

32/34. Columbus (1,773,120 / 904,030) -- None

33/25. Indianapolis (1,715,459 / 1,119,760) -- Colts

34/24. Charlotte (1,701,799 / 1,147,910 ) -- Panthers

35/43. Virginia Beach (1,658,292 / 709,880) -- None

36/48. Austin (1,652,602 / 678,730) -- None

37/53. Providence (1,596,611 / 619,610) -- None

38/29. Nashville (1,550,733 / 1,019,010) -- Titans

39/35. Milwaukee (1,549,308 / 901,790) -- None

40/47. Jacksonville (1,313,228 / 679,120) -- Jaguars

41/50. Memphis (1,285,732 / 667,660) -- None

42/49. Louisville (1,244,696 / 668,310) -- None

43/58. Richmond (1,225,626 / 553,950) -- None

44/45. Oklahoma City (1,206,142 / 694,030) -- None

45/30. Hartford (1,190,512 / 1,010,630) -- None

46/52. New Orleans (1,134,029 / 633,930) -- Saints

47/52. Buffalo (1,124,309 / 633,220) -- Bills

...

153/70. Green Bay (302,935 / 443,420) -- Packers

 

*Obviously, using only MSAs has a few problems. San Jose, for example, is really within the San Francisco/Oakland area. I think the better way to measure metro areas is by DMA, since that looks at households watching the games -- rather than census areas that often don't really measure the true size of a region. The average US persons per household is 2.59 (2000). Again, though, that's not entirely accurate since these vary by MSA. The Census has begun using CSAs, Consolidated Statistical areas, to measure large areas in part because of this problem.

[Outshined_One]

Random school but what about West Virgina?

 

Academics

 

Every conference should have a drunken party school.

 

It's the only thing Indiana brings to the table

 

And even then, they can't hold a candle to Wisconsin.

[brinoch]

Yes Indy is a small town, it's metro area is one of the smallest in the country with a pro sports franchise.

 

I wouldn't go so far as to call it a small town -- which my previous post should demonstrate. It's a mid-tier city, on roughly the same level as St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Portland, Charlotte, Baltimore and Raleigh-Durham. Certainly not one of the smallest in the entire country with a pro sports franchise. That would be Green Bay, of course. But smaller cities with franchises include Jacksonville, Nashville, Oklahoma City, and New Orleans.

[brinoch]

Random school but what about West Virgina?

 

Academics

 

Every conference should have a drunken party school.

 

It's the only thing Indiana brings to the table

 

And even then, they can't hold a candle to Wisconsin.

 

Mock Indy=okay. Mock IU=not okay. Death. Death. Death. (But it's true, Wisconsin is a great party school.)

[Derwood]

I thought PSU and Illinois were generally considered the biggest party schools in the Big Ten

[imb]

the big 10 can take missouri and then the big 12 can cut baylor and become the big 10

[Andy]

I thought PSU and Illinois were generally considered the biggest party schools in the Big Ten

Never heard either one described that way. Always heard IU and Wisconsin, sometimes Ohio State.

[Butterscup1679666578]

the big 10 can take missouri and then the big 12 can cut baylor and become the big 10

 

hey. [expletive] off.

 

plus wouldn't they cut iowa state over baylor? at least baylor's basketball program is decent and they've still got two years left of Hot Tub Griffin

[imb]

the big 10 can take missouri and then the big 12 can cut baylor and become the big 10

 

hey. [expletive] off.

 

plus wouldn't they cut iowa state over baylor? at least baylor's basketball program is decent and they've still got two years left of Hot Tub Griffin

 

we have to cut someone from the south to make it even since we'd already be losing one of those scrub big12 north schools

[NeifiIsMyHomeBoy]

I thought PSU and Illinois were generally considered the biggest party schools in the Big Ten

 

Illinois is probably has the most underage kids in the bar, but it is nowhere near Wisconsin in terms of partying. Penn State has been ranked pretty highly lately.

 

I hate all things IU so I can't really comment, but I did almost get in six fights in a 24 hour span just for telling people I went to Illinois circa Eric Gordon's year on campus.

 

I think it's safe to say wherever you go in the Big Ten not including NU will be a good time.

[Magnetic Curses]

I thought PSU and Illinois were generally considered the biggest party schools in the Big Ten

Never heard either one described that way. Always heard IU and Wisconsin, sometimes Ohio State.

 

iowa is up there, ahead of illinois but probably not wisconsin.

[UMFan83]

"My school is a better party school than yours" is one of the dumbest arguments around. Every Big Ten school save Northwestern has a great party scene. Whether it be bars, house parties, frats or a combo, you go to any of those 10 schools and you're gonna find yourself a great time.

[CubbieBum]

I thought PSU and Illinois were generally considered the biggest party schools in the Big Ten

 

Illinois is probably has the most underage kids in the bar, but it is nowhere near Wisconsin in terms of partying. Penn State has been ranked pretty highly lately.

 

I hate all things IU so I can't really comment, but I did almost get in six fights in a 24 hour span just for telling people I went to Illinois circa Eric Gordon's year on campus.

 

I think it's safe to say wherever you go in the Big Ten not including NU will be a good time.

 

That is why I don't go to IU much at all. I went for an Purdue-IU football game a couple years ago and they whole way to the stadium people were trying to pick fights. I have a hard time ignoring it and wanted to just say F it and throw the first punch. I doubt I will be back anytime soon because I'm not sure I will be able to control myself again. There's trash talk and then there's throwing things trying to start fights. IU is crap.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

"My school is a better party school than yours" is one of the dumbest arguments around. Every Big Ten school save Northwestern has a great party scene. Whether it be bars, house parties, frats or a combo, you go to any of those 10 schools and you're gonna find yourself a great time.

I would include Minnesota as well.

[Butterscup1679666578]

the big 10 can take missouri and then the big 12 can cut baylor and become the big 10

 

hey. [expletive] off.

 

plus wouldn't they cut iowa state over baylor? at least baylor's basketball program is decent and they've still got two years left of Hot Tub Griffin

 

we have to cut someone from the south to make it even since we'd already be losing one of those scrub big12 north schools

 

just realign them like this

 

Texas

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State

Texas Tech

Kansas

 

Texas A&M

Baylor

Colorado

Nebraska

Kansas State

 

looks good to me.

[shnsajax]

the big 10 can take missouri and then the big 12 can cut baylor and become the big 10

 

hey. [expletive] off.

 

plus wouldn't they cut iowa state over baylor? at least baylor's basketball program is decent and they've still got two years left of Hot Tub Griffin

 

we have to cut someone from the south to make it even since we'd already be losing one of those scrub big12 north schools

 

just realign them like this

 

Texas

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State

Texas Tech

Kansas

 

Texas A&M

Baylor

Colorado

Nebraska

Kansas State

 

looks good to me.

 

I think that 2nd division has won maybe 5 bowl games the entire decade.