Maryland to Big 10

isnt wiscosin the only member that has no baseball?

To start, I think Maryland may be a middle of the pack team in the Big 10 in baseball, at best. They have a long way to go before rising to the upper echelon of NCAA baseball.

Its very ironic that Maryland had to cut 8 athletic programs due to budgetary circumstances last year, but suddenly they can afford to buy themselves out of the ACC.

this board has an echo

I'm reading reports that say they don't expect to have to pay the full $50m. Also read that current Big 10 schools get $26m in TV bucks. University prez says they are moving to preserve sports. And least they aren't pretending it is anything other than going for the money.

So does UConn head to the ACC?

Yeah, I think I was lumping Iowa St. in there but I realize they're a Big 12 member.

UConn, Louisville, Georgetown. Sort of depends if they want to add a school closer to South Bend, fill in a t.v. market the Terps leave behind, or if they're willing to add a school that doesn't currently play FBS football. Other names will emerge.

all the moves are football driven

Twotex and Stafford, are these Big East comments just HSBBW rumors?

I have seen no real hint in our papers about UConn considering leaving the Big East; maybe a brief rumor quite a while back after the last defections, but I thought the administration denied any interest in it.

Of course I never had much motivation to pay any attention to that stuff until very recently..... lol.


OK, just googled and found more substance to those rumors .....

I've seen it reported as a possibility by media.

util it is fact it hasnt happened

Of course they're rumors or speculation. Just stuff bantered about on sports talk radio.

funny thing-- Iwas speaking with the terps baseball coach a few days ago anD THE MOVE WAS NEVER MENTIONED

I'm sure the AD wouldn't be discussing the move with non-revenue producing coaches or if the baseball coach did know, he wouldn't be telling people.

The possible UConn move is being reported (as a possibility) by the Hartford Courant, the local NBC affiliate here in Ct, and USA Today. However, as TR correctly pointed out, it isn't a fact until it has happened. So who knows.

TR - Why would he mention it to you?

Rutgers will announce move to Big 10, today?

Yup, Here in Columbus The Dispatch did an article that it is Official with Maryland joining the Big 10, With Rutgers right behind them.

Rutgers has not been officially announced yet but the article made it sound like a done deal.

Regarding Maryland's relative baseball status, in 2012, despite playing in the ACC, they had an RPI of 31. The only other Big 10 school ahead of them in RPI was Purdue. The next Big 10 school was MSU at 50.

Maryland's talent will put them for the near term at or near the top of the Big 10. Despite their high RPI, Maryland did not make the ACC nor NCAA tournament field (more deserving however than Mich State which did make it).

Maryland's historic problem was the competition it faced year in and year out in the ACC. It was, by some measure, a northern school in a southern conference and was unable to get the recruits to play at that level.

Maryland's problem going forward will be, despite a much less competitive baseball conference (last year ACC ranked #2, Big10 #11) how will they be able to market themselves to recruits? I'm not sure there's a model out there to follow on selling a southern school participating in a northern baseball conference.

No local/ regional quality recruits will want to go there now. In the past they would recruit quality players who saw the opportunity of playing in the ACC. Now their traditional target recruits from along the eastern seaboard will be attempted to be sold on having the wonderful opportunity of visiting the many beautiful early spring destinations in the upper midwest.

No thanks. Maryland baseball is history.

quote:

Maryland baseball is history.

I disagree. Maryland will be more competitive immediately. Their success will be attractive enough to retain their recruiting power. Their location is attractive to Big 10 recruits. Look at their 2013 roster. It is nearly entirely made up of northeastern/midwest players. Maryland baseball will be fine.

Exactly. The northeastern/ midwestern players who were their target recruits largely choose Maryland to get out of the northeast and midwest. They wanted to play south not go south just to turnaround and play north.

Makes no sense from a recruiting perspective. My son was recruited by BC. Eventually I told him that BC has no chance to be competitive over any period of time because it is a northern school in a southern conference.

Can't imagine trying to recruit someone telling them to come south so we can get on a plane and play north.

Good luck with that.

Nobody here is factoring in the new Terp head coach. He's very good.

Plenty of good questions raised about the future, but one thing is certain: If Maryland can maintain its current level of talent and play, they should have an easier path to the NCAA Regionals.

I understand your argument. It is however a singular issue. Many issues are involved in a decision like this. What Maryland gives up in relation to their venues it makes up for in their sudden ability to compete and play in the extended season. As a recruiter, I can entice prospective players with that. They are going to have to adjust. If we were talking about Wake Forest or even Clemson, then I'd see that being an issue. Maryland is not that far south. A full 1/3 of their roster is from Maryland. Are you thinking that some of those guys wouldn't have gone to Maryland if they had to play in the Big 10? Most of the other teams in the ACC recruit from their home state. Florida State is solid Florida. As well as NC State - North Carolina players.

Baseball unlike any other college sport is geographic centric. Either you are a northern team or a southern team and this simple fact most often will define your destiny.

Coaches know this fact intimately and nearly all navigate their careers in a southern direction as a result.

Maryland will no longer attract upper tier recruits from their own state, let alone recruits from their traditional territories because those players will have little interest in "going south to play north".

It's just a crazy concept. Show me one school that follows that model?

quote:

Maryland will no longer attract upper tier recruits from their own state, let alone recruits from their traditional territories because those players will have little interest in "going south to play north".

It's just a crazy concept. Show me one school that follows that model?

Miami?

I agree. It'll be interesting to see how this pans out for all non-revenue generating sports at Maryland.

Reports indicate Maryland may challenge the $50 million exit fee in Court. Let's see, an athletic conference is a voluntary association-no school is forced to join one-but when you join, you must follow the rules, and you know that up front. I cannot imagine a Judge second guessing the collective wisdom of the conference in setting such an exit fee, especially in light of the whole dollar drenched atmosphere over college sports.

Kind of ironic-Maryland is leaving for "more money", yet wants to litigate because they have to pay "more money" to leave the ACC than they would like.

Not a snowball's chance down south of the turtle winning this one in Court, but perhaps they just hope to negotiate the amount down a bit. Interesting that Maryland leaves right after Notre Dame comes in. The ACC is the winner in that trade, plus it will get $50,000,000 as a nice parting gift....maybe some of the turtle money goes to help Notre Dame pay some of the expenses they incur in coming in, with lots of money left over.

quote:

Originally posted by igball:
Baseball unlike any other college sport is geographic centric. Either you are a northern team or a southern team and this simple fact most often will define your destiny.

Coaches know this fact intimately and nearly all navigate their careers in a southern direction as a result.

Maryland will no longer attract upper tier recruits from their own state, let alone recruits from their traditional territories because those players will have little interest in "going south to play north".

It's just a crazy concept. Show me one school that follows that model?

Have to agree. Look at Nebraska's roster and recruits this year vs. just two years ago. The geographic makeup of both is pretty striking when compared. My guess is Maryland will see the same.

One good thing about Going South and Then Play North...easier for the parents to see the games

IS THAT A MAJOR CRITERIA FOR YOUR SON SELECTING COLLEGE

Maryland has not made a NCAA tournament appearance since 1971. I would think there are more positives than negatives with this move for the baseball program. In addition, several of the Big Ten schools have upgraded their facilities. Playing on Nick Swisher Field in Columbus Ohio on an April afternoon or evening isn’t all that bad.

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
IS THAT A MAJOR CRITERIA FOR YOUR SON SELECTING COLLEGE

My guess is that 10% of kids going to college want to get as far away from home as possible. Another 10% want to stay as close to home as possible. The remaining 80% probably want to get away from home but not so far that they can't get home within a 1.5 - 4 hour drive.

Part of the appeal of playing within that 1-4 hour drive is that family and friends can keep up with your progress, come to see you play, and you will likely have classmates from high school attending schools within that time frame.

Change is tough, and leaving home is a big change. Any familiarity and relative proximity provides a welcome relief to both the student/player and parents... whether either party admits it out loud our not.

So, in a roundabout way, yes, I think selecting a college where it is easier for the parents to see the games is a major priority for many.

mrkb do not be too sure about that