How the football conference changes that may affect soccer

[Unregistered]

Most of the football conference changes seem pretty far away geographically at this point but if the push toward 16 team megaconferences continues then some Big East and even ACC teams could be affected. The Big Ten (which had been 11 teams) just added Nebraska for 2011 and is continuing studies to add more teams. Why would Big East teams want to join the Big Ten? $$ (they share TV revenues equally and have their own Big Ten Network) and academic prestige (Big Ten Universities are all members of an elite group of top research universities - members of the AAU and academics has been a strong component for selection (with football). Big East teams that have been mentioned as ripe candidates for Big Ten (12) membership - Rutgers, Pitt, UConn, Syracuse, West Virginia. ACC's Maryland has also been mentioned. Notre Dame which is independent considers above all this. I kind of hope they get left out.

The affect on soccer at this point is minor but should Big East Schools start to move elsewhere driven by football and $$, this will have a huge affect on where our local players will be playing in two years.

[Unregistered]

UMass to Big East?? Been talked about for years

[Unregistered]

... academic prestige (Big Ten Universities are all members of an elite group of top research universities - members of the AAU and academics has been a strong component for selection (with football).

Michigan and Northwestern are top academic institutions but Ohio State, Penn State, Nebraska, etc. are definitely NOT top tier schools academically.

[Unregistered]

Michigan and Northwestern are top academic institutions but Ohio State, Penn State, Nebraska, etc. are definitely NOT top tier schools academically.

Oh, oh....you just pissed big momma off.

[Unregistered]

Oh, oh....you just pissed big momma off.

"big momma"?

[Unregistered]

Michigan and Northwestern are top academic institutions but Ohio State, Penn State, Nebraska, etc. are definitely NOT top tier schools academically.

You might want to check out the rankings of top national universities- These are big ten university rankings with some Massachusetts private universities thrown in (since those ae much preferred in this part of the country). If you stop at 25 then only Northwestern is "top". All of the Big Ten Universities are top 100 in the top tier although the top tier only has about 135 schools. Many people think BU and Northeastern are great schools. I assume based on your comments here that you do not. The Big Ten is made up - for the most part - of large prestigious state universities. In the rest of the country State universities are well thought of - not so here in New England. Nonetheless, UMass is currently in the top tier of national universities at #106, UNH is #110, UVM is #88 and UConn is #66.

Harvard is #1
MIT is #4
Northwestern is #12
Michigan is # 27
Tufts #28
Boston College is #34
Illinois and Wisconsin are # 39
Wisconsin is #39
Penn State is #47
Ohio State is #53
BU is #57
University of Minnesota and Purdue are #61
Indiana, Michigan State and Iowa are #71
Northeastern is #80
Nebraska is #97

[Unregistered]

All these rankings are just that. Unless people find what they want at the school of their choice it doesn't matter what the ranking is. I'm not sure why this got off on rankings - but I have read the same stuff about the AAU status being important to the Big Ten in newspaper. I think it really has to do more with the type of universities in the Big Ten - large public well thought of state universities for the most part.

What this really has to do with is if the Big 12 splits up and builts a megaconference will Big Ten or even SEC go after Big East/ACC Schools. Big East will stay together if it is driven by basketball, but if football drives it then it may split up.

[Unregistered]

You might want to check out the rankings of top national universities- These are big ten university rankings with some Massachusetts private universities thrown in (since those ae much preferred in this part of the country). If you stop at 25 then only Northwestern is "top". All of the Big Ten Universities are top 100 in the top tier although the top tier only has about 135 schools. Many people think BU and Northeastern are great schools. I assume based on your comments here that you do not. The Big Ten is made up - for the most part - of large prestigious state universities. In the rest of the country State universities are well thought of - not so here in New England. Nonetheless, UMass is currently in the top tier of national universities at #106, UNH is #110, UVM is #88 and UConn is #66.

Harvard is #1
MIT is #4
Northwestern is #12
Michigan is # 27
Tufts #28
Boston College is #34
Illinois and Wisconsin are # 39
Wisconsin is #39
Penn State is #47
Ohio State is #53
BU is #57
University of Minnesota and Purdue are #61
Indiana, Michigan State and Iowa are #71
Northeastern is #80
Nebraska is #97

They are fine schools but except for Northwestern and Michigan they are definitely not ELITE.

On the other hand, Penn State was voted the #1 party school in the country.