BIG TEN QUASHES EXPANSION RUMORS

[madinmaryland]

Because some here seem to be spreading these rumors:

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany e-mailed conference officials Tuesday to stamp out a rumor that four schools had already been offered a chance to join the league.

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith confirmed Tuesday that Delany had quashed a report that the Big Ten had offered expansion spots to Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame and Rutgers.

Asked if there was anything to that speculation, Smith said, "Nothing. There's no truth to it whatsoever. Actually, Jim sent us all an e-mail telling us there's no truth to that -- which we knew. There's no extensions of offers that have been made, so that's not true."

The conference is looking at expanding from its current 11 members so that it can extend the reach of its lucrative cable network and add a league championship game in football.

The Big Ten athletic directors will meet May 17-19 in downtown Chicago. They will be joined by faculty representatives, senior women's administrators and the head coaches in football and men's and women's basketball. But Smith said the meetings were routine and nothing would be decided in terms of expansion.

"This is our normal meetings, the ones we have every year," Smith said. "Jim will probably give us an update on what the consultant has shared, and I don't even know if the consultant report is done. He'll give us an update and then move on doing what he's been doing. I think they meet with the presidents in June or something like that. So the timeline hasn't changed, but there won't be any action next week."

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/ncaa/05/11/big.ten.expansion.rumors.ap/index.html

That only leave Pitt, condem.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. I thought hew was gone

That leaves only who?

For the musical accompaniment to his departure, please click here.

[madinmaryland]

2. University of Pittsburgh Panthers, JR!

:rofl:

[Condem]

3. What the fuck did you expect the Big Ten to say, mad?

OK. You caught us. We'll announce right now. I still believe it will be by the end of June for fiscal reasons and timing concerns (Rutgers will have to wait 27 months before joining) and it will be Nebraska, Rutgers and Mizzou. The only way Pitt gets in is if ND joins.

[Upton]

4. Just as I thought..

rumor and speculation...nothing really substantial to these expansion rumors.

[madinmaryland]

5. Apparently there are some who believe the rumours of bloggers out there.

:shrug:

[Condem]

7. Hey, mad. Have a listen to Pat Forde.

Pitt is a mere afterthought. Sorry, man. http://espn.go.com/college-football/

[Upton]

9. Unfortunately

condem, in his zeal, has turned to somewhat less than credible sources in an attempt to push his agenda..

[Condem]

10. And TMZ was a credible source before Michael Jackson??

In this day and age, credibility can raise it's ugly head anywhere. I believe those rumors, Upton. Delaney has to squash them for timing purposes. I believe three teams are coming. Maybe five. Not one.

[madinmaryland]

14. I have to agree with you on this one, Upton. Bloggers have their own agenda,

just as condem does, which is to explode the Big 10.

[Condem]

15. Hey mad.

Big Tenners were up in arms when Iowa and Indiana joined in 1899. Riots in the streets of Chitown. Look it up.

[Condem]

6. Upton...weighing in on Big Ten expansion??

I'm truly surprised. I guess the mouse peep of PAC-10 expansion is pretty tame compared to the roar of America's Premier Athletic Conference. Thanks for your concern, though. Shows us who's boss, doesn't it?

[Upton]

8. I don't want the Pac-10 to expand..

I'm happy just the way it is.

Seems to me, you and other "expansion" proponents are willing to throw away the Big Ten's identity. Which is just fine with me.

[Condem]

11. Doesn't matter what you think of expansion. It's going to happen.

Identity??? Here's a bigger identity to shove up the PAC-10's ass.

[Upton]

12. lol..

yeah it'll probably happen someday..but c'mon man...Rutgers? :rofl:

And why would Missouri and Nebraska want to leave an easy Big 12 North?

[Condem]

13. I realize you probably haven't been following this deal closely...

so, I'll give it to you in a nutshell. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. Millions and millions more.

[LisaM]

20. The Pac-10 wasn't always the Pac-10!

They were the Pac-8!

[Iggo]

16. He didn't say they werent expanding.

He said they haven't extended any offers.

[Condem]

17. And I think they have, Iggo.

Nobody's talking.

[Iggo]

18. I think they have, too.

Just nothing formal.

[Condem]

19. Well said. n/t