Hypothetical Scenario: Should UM ever leave the Big Ten (again)?

Submitted by crg on
So, as many already know, Michigan parted with the Big Ten for 10 years back in the early 1900s, mainly because the conference was changing rules that ultimately made UM less competitive (http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/why-did-michigan-withdraw-big-ten-circa-1907). The independent experience was not very satisfying and UM rejoined the conference in 1917. Fast forward a century, we still seem to be having issues (according to many on this blog) with the conference (in football at least). So, as an excersise for the board, if Michigan did finally tell Delaney to get bent, where should they go? Try independent again or maybe negotiate a nice deal with the ACC (bringing in Notre Dame as a 16 team conference), or something else? This would probably never happen anyway, but it is interesting to consider.
MGoBoard
Football

Couzen Rick's

November 20th, 2017 at 8:31 PM ^

But to humor the hypothetical, if we were to leave, I'd say go independent in football, and latch on to the Big East, Big 12 or AAC for all other sports. If independence in football is a non starter for the Big 12, I'd be okay in going there for football as well.

Joined: 12/22/2014

MGoPoints: 15994

Mr Miggle

November 20th, 2017 at 9:14 PM ^

It's giving up our longstanding rivalries, adding tons of travel across many sports. If it were known we would entertain offers, the money would be there to move.

If we were to leave the Big Ten, it would be to form a superconference, not join an existing one and we'd take OSU with us.

 

Joined: 10/07/2010

MGoPoints: 47530

Matte Kudasai

November 21st, 2017 at 5:16 AM ^

The BIG isn't doing Michigan any favors on many fronts.

Is it conceivable to pursue other options?

I say hell yes.

Maybe we can put ourselves in a similiar position to Wisconsin football in the BIG.

Because it's not going to happen in this conference.

It will never be a level playing field for Michigan in the BIG.

Fuck, if we had Wisconsins schedule, Harbaugh would be a genius again.

Joined: 05/04/2016

MGoPoints: 4592

FatGuyTouchdown

November 20th, 2017 at 8:40 PM ^

Notre Dame isn't joining a conference any time soon. And Michigan isn't making any conference decisions without Ohio State and vice versa. Also, if it's the ACC, shoutout to all the other sports that get the shaft. It's a really stupid idea.

Joined: 09/07/2014

MGoPoints: 14102

crg

November 20th, 2017 at 8:58 PM ^

Notre Dame is already on the slow path to ACC membership (already members for everything else but hockey) - just phasing it in slowly so they can suck up all their NBC revenue while they can. When (not if) the ACC network (espn) offers them a better or similar deal, they will make it official. This would finally give them a shot at a conference championship and a better playoff route. They would have to put some of their traditional games on a rotating basis, but they wouldn't give them up completely.

Joined: 04/30/2015

MGoPoints: 75035

FatGuyTouchdown

November 21st, 2017 at 2:23 AM ^

will stay independent for the forseeable future. Have you ever heard the old quote "New money screams, while old money whispers"? That's Notre Dame. It doesn't matter how much ESPN or ABC or whatever offers them to be a part of a conference, they'll hang on to independence because they're Notre Dame, and they're snootty fucking assholes. I agree it would be smart of them, but I have a couple people that are pretty well regarded in the athletic department and university, and their reaction to joining a conference is somewhere between disgust and confusion. 

Joined: 09/07/2014

MGoPoints: 14102

MGoRob

November 21st, 2017 at 12:38 PM ^

Seriously. Think about it in a bigger picture. Think how much more money it would cost to join another conference in travel $$$ alone for all sports. Leaving the Big 10 is about the stupidest suggestion I've read here in a long while.

If you would suggest starting a new power 16 conference with all current Big10 plus poaching some other schools, I'd hear that out. But that doesn't make the conference any easier to win, which seems to be your big beef.

Joined: 03/14/2010

MGoPoints: 4429