The PAC 10 expansion groundswell

[woot]

I wish someone would actually do a study or analysis of how much football impacts the money donated to these schools aside from the athletic department.

Granted, the Ivy league schools get tons of money donated and have no athletics.

I wonder though if ND, Texas, Alabama, Ohio St., Mich., Utah and BYU had no athletic presence, what would happen to the level of donations to their non athletic cauffers.

There has to be a reason schools who lose money on their athletic programs, non the less keep them.

That's an important point that is sometimes overlooked, but clearly athletics plays a big role in keeping boosters and alumni involved. I doubt it helps much in attracting the best grad students, postdocs, and professors though, or in garnering research grants.

[byu71]

I doubt it helps much in attracting the best grad students, postdocs, and professors though, or in garnering research grants.

I agree with you here. Also, it is the age old argument of real value. The things you mention may be of more value to society, without the less valuable to society athletic programs, where you going to get the money to fund the best grad students, et. al.

It is like the argument some BYU purists make. Without athletics, BYU would still be BYU. They would still be full. Yes, that's true, but tuition would go up or the church would have to do a lot more of the funding for the University. I know more than one person who gives money to the general fund who will stop if athletics goes away.

I can see why progressives get frustrated. They would like a system where they can decide money should go for the things of more "value". Kind of like how the church works. You let the smart people or in the case of religion, spiritual people make all the decisions concerning what is "value".

[woot]

This is interesting:

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/features/rumors?date=20100610#3519

http://spartannation.com/?p=12002

Apparently the Big10 commissioner got really pissed in response to something that someone posted on an internet forum regarding Texas and ND being in play.

So Texas and ND are in play?

Edit: Here's the post in question: http://northwestern.rivals.com/showm...&mid=143003382

[Flystripper]

This is interesting:

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/features/rumors?date=20100610#3519

http://spartannation.com/?p=12002

Apparently the Big10 commissioner got really pissed in response to something that someone posted on an internet forum regarding Texas and ND being in play.

So Texas and ND are in play?

Edit: Here's the post in question: http://northwestern.rivals.com/showm...&mid=143003382

that is pretty interesting

[Jeff Lebowski]

That's an important point that is sometimes overlooked, but clearly athletics plays a big role in keeping boosters and alumni involved. I doubt it helps much in attracting the best grad students, postdocs, and professors though, or in garnering research grants.

Yeah, this was my point.

It looks to me like a newspaper writer in Omaha really wants to see Nebraska in the Big 10 and got a little carried away fantasizing about the glorious promised land that awaits.

[Coach McGuirk]

Edit: Here's the post in question: http://northwestern.rivals.com/showm...&mid=143003382

Interesting I guess. I just can't see Michigan and TOSU among others making all those concessions to UT and ND. Talk about bowing down.

[woot]

Yeah, this was my point.

It looks to me like a newspaper writer in Omaha really wants to see Nebraska in the Big 10 and got a little carried away fantasizing about the glorious promised land that awaits.

I think you missed it. Athletics doesn't play a role in those things. Conference affiliation does.

[SeattleUte]

What people are missing in all of this is that culture is what makes college football exciting. Wasu/Red/Plaous v. UW/King County/purple and gold; you need say no more. Holy War. This is one reason why TAMU would not joint the atheist gay marriage advocates in the Pac 10, and why the Pac fans are very uneasy about the rumors.

Is Nebraska more Big 10 than Big 12 at a cellular level? Maybe. But TAMU has no business in the Pac 10, and neither does BYU.

If the cultural aspect got all messed up I think you'd lose a lot of what makes schools loath one another, and makes college football exciting: The tribalism. I think tribalism has a lot of terrible aspects, but it seems so ingrained. Better that it be vented on the football than the killing fields.

[jay santos]

My opinion: Jim Delaney is the biggest asshole in the sports world. He is the #1 biggest obstacle to a college football playoff. I rank him up with Hitler and Bin Laden.

Read this article if you don't believe me.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/footbal...o-delany010507

[Jeff Lebowski]

Your kidding right.. They have top programs across the board and rank well..

Nobody said they didn't. The question is whether or not joining the Big 10 suddenly makes your professors smarter, your salaries higher, and your research proposals more likely to be accepted and funded.

Yes, PSU has risen since joining the Big 10 but a lot of schools have shown gains during the same period. I seriously doubt that conference affiliation tells the entire story.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I think you missed it. Athletics doesn't play a role in those things. Conference affiliation does.

The question is the magnitude of the impact.

[woot]

The question is the magnitude of the impact.

Indeed, and I agree that conference affiliation can't be assumed as the only factor in PSU's rise. Still, it has an impact.

[Mormon Red Death]

Interesting I guess. I just can't see Michigan and TOSU among others making all those concessions to UT and ND. Talk about bowing down.

Bowing down is allowing them one less conference game? Additionally if another big10 team is 8-0 they will trump and undefeated ND/Texas. I don't think this is USSR/USA nuclear summit where no one wants to show weakness. Its a negotiation where all parties stand to make boatloads of cash.

[cougjunkie]

So Hans Olson is reporting Utah is getting a Pac-10 invite today. If that happens the Pac-10 stops at 12 teams. Which means the Big 12 stays intact, and I would expect BYU to get an invite to replace either Colorado or Nebraska if they leave.

[Blueintheface]

Indeed, and I agree that conference affiliation can't be assumed as the only factor in PSU's rise. Still, it has an impact.

Academically it's hard to argue against it but PSU has been to 2 Rose Bowls since joining so from a football perspective it may have not been the boon they were hoping for.