Re: Ohio State U. ( 2009-2010 )
would love to get your thoughts on the article if you have read it now, as well as buster and KL.
Paula's article was good, I agree. A lot of the subplot seems to be about the Big Ten Network (and the Big Ten). And, as some have pointed out here and elsewhere, it is always about money. As long as we are speculating (and in my case dreaming), and given money is driving things, how about this: Penn State goes D1 (the rumors have reached fever pitch), the BTHC is formed but adds Notre Dame and Miami to get to eight teams (I said I was dreaming). Obviously Miami is the big beneficiary of that set up, but it makes some sense in that six teams is not an ideal size and if the BTHC is looking for seventh and eighth teams, ND is a natural and Miami is arguably the most desirable of the rest based on geogaphy and competitiveness. That would reduce travel cost (Miami/OSU to Minny and vice versa the long trips, but think of the trips being eliminated for all the teams). This setup has tremednous revenue potential, especially tv revenue with those teams playing each other four times a year, answering the cry for more BT games. And, it would be one heckuva conference assuming Miami's current commitment to hockey continues.
Of course my dream comes with a lot of possible downside for college hockey, but I think it makes more sense than a six team BTHC which comes with even more downside. And what would probably happen to the other teams are arrangements based on the western teams with both Alaska teams CC, DU, UNO, UND, BSU, UMD, MSU, SCSU, MTU and maybe AirForce or NMU (a pretty darn good conference also) and then some shuffling of the remaining eastern and central teams into a conference. We would still have four "power conferences" IMO.
Sorry for the UAH tangent, but I just wanted to throw that out there and dream a little.
And sorry, we Miamians are not trying to hijack your thread, just some good conversation here.
