[NU Sports] Penn State in the Big Ten

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

I was a bit unsure about PSU when the addition was made, but looking back, I think it's more than proven to be worthwhile to all parties.

PSU may have had regional rivalries, but let's face it, they were a big fish in a small pond out east. The Big East is just not a big football league -- the schools out east only view football as something to keep them busy until basketball season begins. Even the better football schools -- Pitt, Syracuse, etc. -- are clearly "basketball" schools (Pitt even chose an on-campus hoops arena over an on-campus football stadoium).

Penn State is much more of a midwestern school than a northeast school -- they are football first, and the Big Ten has given them a natural rival in Ohio State (carrying on the high school rivalry) and it boosted their other sports and academics more than joining the Big East would have as well.

And on the flip side, the Big Ten got a traditional football power, an inlet into every east coast market but especially Philly and NYC and it's worked out well for all involved.

Which is why the more I think about it, this Texas talk may not be all that crazy. The geography aside (PSU was a reach but Texas is beyond that geographically!), they're a big fish in a small pond -- OU and a resurgent Nebraska might come close, but they're still not Texas. ATM, Baylor and TTech aren't even in the same league, as years of SWC dominance showed.

So you add a reach school that has a huge name, outstanding tradition, solid academics, nationwide alumni/fan base and opens up a couple mega-markets in Dallas and Houston and you have history perhaps repeating itself.

I don't think PSU or the Big Ten would do a thing different if they had to do it all over again. It's been win-win for everyone and the trip to State College may be a long trek, but it's worth it (I'm sure folks in East Lansing or Columbus or Bloomington think the trek to Minneapolis is not a piece of cake either!)

And as for Texas, from the visit to San Antonio and what I hear of Austin, it would fit in well (their fans in the rest of Texas might take a bit more convincing) and would certainly be no longer than Seattle to Tucson or Boston to Miami. Plus, as mentioned in that one Web article, the long-term plan might be for 16 ... maybe this would finally spur the Irish to join ... or Nebraska, Oklahoma or others closer to Texas?

We'll see how it shakes out ... but the Big Ten certainly has captured attention from New York to Dallas with this possibility. Something tells me South Bend's ears perked up as well.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT