Rumors of the University of Maryland being considered for Big Ten expansion has been a topic on Maryland message boards for years. As Big ten expansion desire have come to the surface in recent months, seemingly half of the University’s across the country have been rumored as possibilities.
Yesterday, the Washington Examiner wrote about why an invitation to the Big Ten could become a reality for Maryland:
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/sports/Maryland-in-the-Big-Ten_-An-invite-could-come-94044974.html
You can understand why Maryland would be attractive to that conference. They would gain entrance to the Washington / Baltimore media markets, add a strong academic school, and hurt the ACC in the process.
Prior to the new ACC TV contract (mentioned in the Washington Examiner article) it made more sense for Maryland.
Terrapins Athletic Director Debbie Yow has previously stated that Maryland would not look to leave the ACC. However, the Athletic Department still has trouble keeping afloat financially, and the Big Ten TV Network would make the entire department more profitable.
The flip-side to that is for major college athletics, what matters is the Football and Basketball teams.
I’ve never cared for the style of play of Big Ten basketball, but obviously it is always a quality league. Michigan State has obviously been exceptional under Izzo, Indiana has long-term pedigree, Purdue, Ohio State, Illinois, and Wisconsin are typically quality teams. Michigan and Minnesota are capable. Penn State, Northwestern, and Iowa have been traditionally poor though.
The Terrapins have been the 3rd-best team in the Atlantic Coast Conference for well over a decade. They would enter the Big Ten as one of the legitimate powers.
On the football field, Maryland is in the Atlantic Davison of the ACC with Florida State, Clemson, BC, Wake Forest, and NCST. It is hard to imagine the Terps ever overtaking FSU as a football program, or having a fan-base that is as invested as Clemson. Still, that remains a division where on an annual-basis the Terps can contend. I fully expect 3 out of 10 years for the Maryland to win that division and advance to the conference title-game.
Maryland has comparable facilities and investments in football as those schools. When I start to think about Maryland in the Big Ten, I seem to automatically think about the football stadiums at Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State. Even if those programs have not really been any better than Miami, Florida State, and Virginia Tech over the last-several decades, the scope of those Big Ten programs are enormous.
Someone should be asking the recruiters under Coach Friedgen if they believe recruiting to the Big Ten would be an easier or harder sell overall.
There are two main reasons in my eyes of why this would probably not happen. 1) The largest donors to the MD Athletic program, want the Terps to remain in the ACC. Their opinions would have to be changed, before such a move could be made. 2) The increased travel can not be ignored. Maryland has often been at a disadvantage compared to their conference neighbors in North Carolina with travel within in the ACC. The Terps would be looking at a longer, costlier road-trips with life in the Big Ten.
While I do not think it will happen, I would caution Maryland fans from completely dismissing the possibility. You can bet that a comprehensive review of all the potential positives and negatives are taking place, and if dollars and cents point to the Big Ten; it would not be shocking to see this happen.
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Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.