[NU Sports] PENN STATE TO START VARSITY HOCKEY; BIG TEN TO FOLLOW?

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

Well, for the conferences that have spread out too far, travel costs have really hurt the non-revenue sports (ACC, Pac 10, Big XII, Big East) ... which is why I was surprised about the Big Ten's divisions. Although they're only for football, you could have east/west for all sports and probably save millions in travel for both teams and fans.

But then again, the Pac 10 and ACC don't have the Big Ten Network revenue and the Big XII's money only goes to two schools. Also, you don't see 90,000 or 100,000 seat stadiums filled up with regularity outside of the SEC and Big Ten.

So I don't expect to see many Big Ten school start cutting sports like we've seen out here in the Pac 10 (ASU is in big trouble as well). And when you get a gift like that, it makes it pretty easy to add hockey. :) I wonder if a Wisconsin alum might fork over some bucks to bring baseball back to Madison - especially with UNL's team helping the league status and Omaha/World Series now in our "footprint" ... that could become a spring staple on the Big Ten Network once hockey/hoops season is done.

Now if we could only get women's lacrosse covered by the network more! :)

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

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STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!! GEAUX SAINTS!!!
Super Bowl XLIV Champions!
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