Penn State's Joe Paterno again has publicly pushed for Big Ten expansion, this time during an interview on ESPN.
"Right now we play -- and then we sit and watch," he said. "We were through (with the regular season) Nov. 21st. I think we put ourselves at a little bit of a disadvantage in that we're out of it soon and everybody's talking about everyone but the Big Ten."
Paterno reiterated his desire to add Rutgers, Pittsburgh and/or Syracuse to create a Big Ten title game.
"Even Connecticut," he said.
But even if the Big Ten decides it wants to expand to 12 or 14, it won't be as easy as sending an invitation with a reply card.
Sources told the Tribune that the Big East has put in safeguards to discourage its teams from leaving. It's a result of what transpired in 2003, when the Atlantic Coast Conference snatched Miami, Boston College and Virginia Tech, forcing the Big East to replenish by adding Cincinnati, Louisville and South Florida for football.
The fee for a Big East school to depart the league is $5 million, according to sources. And that school would have to give a 27-month notice.
One source described those terms as "not prohibitive," meaning it would not dissuade the Big Ten from attempting to add one or more from the Big East.
Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany declined comment Thursday.
It's not known whether Missouri would have to pay a similar penalty if it left the Big 12 for the Big Ten.
And as for the 27-month waiting period, it should be noted that Penn State joined the conference in 1990 but didn't play its first season of Big Ten football until 1993.
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For over half a century the Big Ten meant the major universities of the Midwest - not the East. Paterno is entitled to his opinion, but if we expand, let's use schools located in the Midwest.
I am not an ND fan, but have to admit, if they are on I have to surf over to them to keep up with what is going on. Even if #1 nad #2 are playing each other, That I would say is true for lots of people fan or not...what is the domers doing? Plus location just makes it logical that ND be in the Big 10.
I see our mentall unstable friend, ND Weasel is back. Facts and evidence mean nothing to him. The story was about Joe Paterno, Penn State coach, being in favor of expansion. It said nothing about Notre Dame. The Big East was mentioned. Notre Dame is not in the Big East for football. He consistently bashes the Trib for having too many pro ND people on the sports staff but offers no evidence. He needs serious medical help. I am also fascinated by fools like Yvette, that constantly try to talk about the academics of certain schools. Okay, genius, what is your basis for your remarks? Do Penn State and Ohio Stae have less demanding curriculums or less qualified professors? Do you have so much as a clue what you are talking about? Another Trib forum proves the idiocy of its readers.
Really the Big Ten should eliminate Penn State or Ohio State since they are not on par with the other nine schools academically. Furthermore, ND doesn't fit in academicaly either.
I am not a Notre Dame fan but any stretch of the imagination, but this article has NOTHING to do with Notre Dame.