Maryland’s press conference to announce its Big Ten move in 2014 will be broadcast on the conference’s network. Wait, what? If you’re just now joining us, here’s what you’ve missed out on. Oh, and Rutgers is probably coming along to the Big Ten too.
Maryland to Big Ten in 2014, announcement to be televised Monday afternoon
Maryland is joining the Big Ten. This is happening. You can watch it happen Monday afternoon. Follow @SBNationCFB
BTN & BTN2Go will have live coverage at 2:30 PM ET of the Maryland press conference announcing it's joining the Big Ten.
— Elizabeth Conlisk (@BTNElizabeth) November 19, 2012
As for why this is happening, here’s Maryland president Wallace Loh:
“I did it to guarantee the long-term future of Maryland athletics,” university President Wallace Loh told The Diamondback of the decision to move. “No future president will have to worry about cutting teams or that Maryland athletics will be at risk.”
“[The Big Ten] is going national because of a phenomenon,” he said. “Attendance among college-aged students is dropping. The reason is because this generation is completely wired, and they are getting their education and entertainment on tablets and mobile devices. Everyone thinks you make your money in seats. You make it on eyeballs on a screen.”
Maryland can make much, much more money in the Big Ten. It needs money. See here for more.
The Big Ten would thus expand to 14 teams, with obvious questions about divisions and such, and the ACC would likely pluck a team like UConn or maybe even Louisville from the Big East to get back to 14 full football members. The Big East has a lot of transition going on already, and was planning on further expansion of its own -- that might ramp up even more now.
Much more to come throughout the day on this. Stay tuned.
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