[NU Sports] Fw: Big Ten expansion discussion today, 2:30p E

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

> Easy.  Notre Dame with Missouri a distant
> second.  They are the only logical 
> choices.  The other three are eastern teams and should
> stay there.  Better 
> yet, drop Penn State and add Notre Dame AND Missouri. 

I'd rather drive to Happy Valley than Columbia, Missouri (and yes, I've been to both).

Notre Dame is a natural fit but their ego makes them blind to that fact, so forget about it.

Mizzou might be nice in hoops, but PSU is a far more natural fit than Mizzou in most respects -- the people, academics, athletics, tradition, etc. PA-OH is a natural border rivalry. Mizzou-Illinois, try as they might, is not Kansas-Missouri. That's where the border rivalry is there. St. Louis and Kansas City are not Big Ten cities. Pittsburgh and Philly are.

I think PSU has been a great fit and it's been mutually beneficial for everyone involved.

Speaking of which, PSU's volleyball title match with Texas was pretty thrilling this weekend (caught the very end in between frustrated attempts to turn away from the Saints game).

Someone was telling me the other day that every Big Ten school has won a national title in at least one NCAA sport this decade - anyone know if it's true? Just found it interesting but wanted to check into it.

Off the top of my head ...

NU - Women's LAX
OSU - Football
PSU - Volleyball
WIS - Hockey
MSU - Men's basketball, Hockey
MICH - Softball
MIN - Hockey, Wrestling
IOWA - Wrestling
IND - Soccer
ILL - ???
PUR - ??? (women's basketball was 1999)

GO CATS!!!
-SjT