July 26, 2002
Plans to expand Big Ten on ice
Stan Sutton
CHICAGO — Like Ted Williams' body, a proposal to increase Big Ten membership to 12 universities has been frozen for the time being.
Speculation that the Big Ten would add another member has circulated since Penn State was admitted in 1991. Interest heightened in 1999 when Notre Dame considered an offer from the conference, then decided to remain an independent.
Several Big Ten coaches expressed an interest in expanding the league during the Big Ten Football Media Day Thursday. But commissioner Jim Delany dismissed any idea that a change was imminent.
Delany said he would oppose any growth simply for the purpose of symmetry.
The present 11-team lineup means that one team has an off Saturday every week of the football season. Adding a member would eliminate that, and probably create the division of the teams into two six-team divisions. That would provide for a revenue-producing league championship game.
Delany said he was wary of adding another university without great care.
"You have to be careful you don't create more problems than you solve," he said.
After Notre Dame turned down the Big Ten's offer, deciding to protect its gigantic television package and football tradition, there has been minimal discussion about what other schools might be logical members.
In retrospect, Delany said he believes the addition of Penn State has been a positive move. Not only did the Nittany Lions add tradition, but further upheld the Big Ten's tradition of fostering strong academics and well-rounded sports programs.
Penn State's Joe Paterno, who will embark on his 37th year with the Nittany Lions, is among several coaches favoring expansion.
"I definitely would. I think it would help us in a lot of ways," he said. "Other people there would be a strong addition o the conference. I hope they're looking at other possibilities."
They're not, according to Delany.
"We're not any closer to anything in that area than we were two or three years ago," he said.
"I don't think 11 is a really good number," Paterno continued. "In two years we're not going to play Michigan. I don't know how our fans are going to take that."
Paterno believes there should be plenty of candidates fo membership but emphasizes that such things as women's competition, television markets, academics and tradition be considered.
"All these things should come into it. A lot of schools could fall into that category," he said.
Then, indicating the league may have waited too long, Paterno said, "We may have missed our chance."
Most of the coaches, and probably all of the players, weren't opposed to the expanded schedules of Big Ten schools this season. Ohio State and Wisconsin will play 13 games and everyone else has expanded from 11 to 12.
The Badgers, who enjoy eight home games, will open the conference season Aug. 23 against visiting Fresno State. Ohio State plays host a day later to Texas Tech and eveyone else opens Aug. 31.
"Players would play 13 or 14 games. They just don't want to practice," Purdue coach Joe Tiller said.
Ohio State's Jim Tressel, whose Yooungstown State team won four NCAA Division I-AA championships, says longer seasons offer some positives.
"Some of my worst seasons were 11 games. All of my extraordinary seasons were 15 games," he said, referring to the I-AA playoffs. "I'm not really concerned about the length of the season. We had our best academic years the years the schedule was longer."
Tressel further said his players did better academically late in the season than they had in August and September.
As usual, the coaches displayed all kinds of positive rhetoric at the annual Media Day.
"We're all optimistic," Wisconsin's Barry Alvarez said. "Have you ever heard somebody say, 'We had a bad spring?' I don't think we have a bad team in this league and I think we have several that could be great."
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