Big Ten expansion rumors linger

ANN ARBOR, Mich. “”mdash; Since the Atlantic Coast Conference
extended invitations to three Big East schools ““ Miami
(Fla.), Syracuse and Boston College ““ earlier this month,
conference shuffling has been the hot topic in college sports,
especially in the Big Ten Conference.

Gossip says the Big Ten may look to expand the 11-team
conference to an even dozen. But according to Minnesota Athletic
Director Joel Maturi, the speculation is just that ““
speculation.

“We like who we are,” Maturi said. “It’s
a situation where we’re not looking to expand. We like the
Big Ten as it is.”

Many believe that an addition to the Big Ten would force the
conference to split into two six-team divisions for football. In
this format, the conference season ends in a high-revenue
conference title game ““ a staple to many of college
football’s biggest conferences, including the Southeastern
Conference and the Big 12.

“We’re not looking for divisions,” Maturi
said. “I don’t think that’s something that is
exciting for us in the Big Ten.”

The Big Ten Conference held its routine off-season meetings in
Chicago two weekends ago, but expansion was not a big subject.

“We didn’t have any formal session about that at
all,” Maturi said. “We did a lot of informal talking
““ more out of a curiosity of what’s happening in the
ACC than discussion of expansion for the Big Ten.”

Rumors of possible expansion has involved teams including Big
East members Notre Dame, Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Rutgers, and Big
12 member Missouri.

The Irish compete in the Big East in every sport except football
(in which they are independent). In 1999, Notre Dame rejected an
offer to join the Big Ten, but many believe that the Midwest
powerhouse may reconsider if the Big East trio bolts to the ACC.
Although Syracuse has already received an invite from the ACC, the
Orangemen have always been considered a possibility in the Big Ten.
Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Missouri garner attention because of their
respective sports-hungry markets.

Decisions from Miami, Syracuse and Boston College are expected
in June.

Though many feel this will spur the Big Ten into action, Maturi
believes the conference won’t seek addition.

“To be very honest with you, we in the Big Ten have not
talked about expansion in the nine months I’ve been
here,” Maturi said. “I feel pretty confident with the
formal discussions that I’ve been involved in.”