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Big Ten Conference

The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its eleven member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Iowa and Minnesota in the west to Pennsylvania in the east. The conference enjoys the prestige of both high athletic achievement and academic excellence. Nine of the eleven conference schools are considered Public IviesGreenes' Guides: The Public Ivies (accessed on September 19, 2007); see also

. (Purdue Unversity and the private Northwestern being the only exception). The conference competes in the NCAA's Division I; its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS; formerly known as Division I-A), the highest level of NCAA competition in that sport. Member schools of the Big Ten also are members of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation, a leading educational consortium. Despite the conference's name, since Penn State joined in 1990, there have been 11 schools in the Big Ten, as signified by the hidden "11" in the Big Ten Conference logo (each "1" is on either side of the "T" in "Ten"). The geographic center of the Big Ten is in LaPorte County, Indiana, near Michigan City.

Members

The Big Ten is the only Division I conference to have all of its member institutions affiliated with the Association of American Universities, a prestigious collection of 60 research institutions, and leads all conferences in the total amount of research expenditures.

All or most member schools participate in baseball, men's and women's basketball, cross country, field hockey, football, golf, gymnastics, indoor and outdoor track and field, rowing, men's and women's soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, women's volleyball and wrestling.

Former member

The University of Chicago was a co-founder of the conference and still maintains affiliation through the Committee on Institutional Cooperation.

Lake Forest College attended the original 1895 meeting that led to the formation of the conference, but did not join it.

Endowment

Illinois - $2.2 billion

Indiana - $1.6 billion

Iowa - $833 million

Michigan - $7.1 billion

Michigan State - $1.2 billion

Minnesota - $2.8 billion

Northwestern - $6.5 billion

Ohio State - $2.3 billion

Penn State - $1.6 billion

Purdue - $1.8 billion

Wisconsin - $1.6 billion

History

On January 11, 1895, the presidents of the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois, Lake Forest College, the University of Minnesota, Northwestern University, Purdue University and the University of Wisconsin met in Chicago to discuss the regulation and control of intercollegiate athletics. The eligibility of student-athletes was one of the main topics of discussion. The Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives was founded at a second meeting on February 8, 1896. Lake Forest was not at the 1896 meeting that established the conference and was replaced by the University of Michigan. At the time, the organization was more commonly known as the Western Conference, consisting of Purdue, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Chicago, and Northwestern.

The first reference to the conference as the Big Nine was in 1899 after Iowa and Indiana had joined. In January 1908, Michigan and the conference parted ways. Ohio State was added to the conference in 1913. The first reference to the conference as the Big Ten was in November 1917 after Michigan rejoined following a nine-year absence.

The conference was again known as the Big Nine after the University of Chicago decided to de-emphasize varsity athletics just after World War II. Chicago discontinued its football program in 1939 and withdrew from the conference in 1946. Chicago continues its relationship with the conference as a member of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation, the "academic Big Ten." On May 20, 1949, Michigan State joined and the conference was again known as the Big Ten. The Big Ten's membership would remain unchanged for the next 40 years.

The conference’s official name throughout this period remained the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives. It did not formally adopt the name Big Ten until 1987, when it was incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation. In 1990, the Big Ten universities voted to expand the conference to 11 teams, and extended an invitation to Penn State, which it accepted. When Penn State joined in 1990, it was decided that the conference would continue to be called the Big Ten, but its logo was modified to reflect the change; the number 11 is disguised in the white areas of the traditionally blue "Big Ten" lettering.

Following the addition of previously independent Penn State, efforts were made to encourage the University of Notre Dame, the last remaining traditionally independent football powerhouse, to join the league. Early in the 20th century, Notre Dame had sought official entry into the Big Ten but was never extended an invitation. However, in 1999, both Notre Dame and the Big Ten entered into private negotiations concerning a possible membership that would include Notre Dame. Although the Notre Dame faculty senate endorsed the idea with a near unanimous vote, the ND board of trustees decided against joining the conference and Notre Dame ultimately withdrew from negotiations.

Though the idea has been revisited in the wake of the Atlantic Coast Conference's expansion to 12 teams, neither Notre Dame nor the Big Ten has taken any official action in pursuit of Notre Dame's membership. Notre Dame had, in 1995, joined the Big East Conference in all sports except football, men's lacrosse, and men's hockey, the latter of which is not sponsored by the Big East Conference.

Other possible universities that have gained favor for any possible expansion for the 12th spot in the conference include:

Rutgers University

Syracuse University

University of Missouri

University of Nebraskakansascity

University of Pittsburgh

West Virginia University

Ball State University

Due to a requirement of the Big Ten bylaws, any expansion must be within, or next to, current Big Ten territory (although, like all bylaws, this could be amended by conference vote). Due to the addition of the Big Ten Network, expansion talks have been revisited. Expansion could mean adding a conference championship football game and adding a school in or near a large TV market, greatly aiding the Big Ten Network's marketabilitydesmoinesregister. It is likely academics will also play an important role in any potential 12th school being invited into the conference.

On June 21, 2006, the Big Ten announced new television broadcast agreements. This involved a 10-year extension of its contract with ABC/ESPN as well as the formation of a brand new television station, the Big Ten Network. The Big Ten Network began broadcasting on August 30, 2007, "dedicated to covering both the athletic and academic content of the Big Ten member institutions on a national level".

The Big Ten Network represents a 20-year partnership between the Big Ten and Fox. It will be majority-owned by the Big Ten Conference, with Fox holding a minority interest. The official network name and logo were announced on October 12, 2006.

The conference announced previously that it is continuing its relationship with CBS and ESPN for network broadcasts in basketball.

Commissioners

The office of the commissioner of athletics was created in 1922 "to study athletic problems of the various member universities and assist in enforcing the eligibility rules which govern Big Ten athletics."traditions

Bowl games

Since 1946, the Big Ten champion has had a tie-in with the Rose Bowl game, now a BCS bowl. The Big Ten also has tie-ins with six non-BCS bowls. Picks are made after BCS selections; if two Big Ten teams participate in BCS bowls, the bowl with the #2 pick will have the first pick of the remaining teams in the conference:

Capital One Bowl: Orlando, Florida (Big Ten #2 pick against SEC #2 pick)

Outback Bowl: Tampa, Florida (Big Ten #3 pick against SEC #3/4 pick)

Alamo Bowl: San Antonio, Texas (Big Ten #4/5 pick against Big 12 #4 pick)

Champs Sports Bowl: Orlando, Florida (Big Ten #4/5 pick against ACC #4 pick)
The Alamo Bowl has the 4th pick in 2007 and 2008, while the Champs Sports Bowl has the 4th pick in 2009.

Insight Bowl: Tempe, Arizona (Big Ten #6 pick against Big 12 #5 pick)

Motor City Bowl: Detroit, Michigan (Big Ten #7 pick against MAC)

Michigan appeared in the first bowl game, the 1902 Rose Bowl. Ohio State appeared in the 1921 Rose Bowl. The Big Ten did not allow their schools to participate in bowl games until the agreement struck with the Pacific Coast Conference for the 1947 Rose Bowl. From 1946 through 1971, the Big Ten did not allow the same team to represent the conference in consecutive years in the Rose Bowl with an exception made after the 1961 season in which Minnesota played in the 1962 Rose Bowl after playing in the 1961 Rose Bowl due to Ohio State declining the bid. It was not until the 1975 season that the Big Ten allowed teams to play in bowl games other than the Rose Bowl. Due to those rules, Big Ten powers such as Michigan and Ohio State have lower numbers of all-time bowl appearances than powerhouse teams from the Big 12 Conference (formerly the Big 8 Conference and Southwest Conference) and Southeastern Conference, which always placed multiple teams in bowl games every year.

Although the pick order usually corresponds to the conference standings, the bowls are not required to make their choices strictly according to the won-lost records; many factors influence bowl selections, especially the turnout of the fans for past bowl games.

Men's basketball

The Big Ten has participated in basketball since 1904, and has led the nation in attendance every season since 1978. It has been a national powerhouse in men's basketball, having multiple championship winners and often sending four or more teams to the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Previous NCAA champions include Indiana with five titles, Michigan State with two, and Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio State with one each. Ohio State played in the first NCAA tournament national championship game in 1939, losing to Oregon. Despite this, Jimmy Hull of Ohio State was the first NCAA tournament MVP. The first three tournament MVP's came from the Big Ten (Marv Huffman of Indiana in 1940 and John Katz of Wisconsin in 1941).

Big Ten teams have also experienced success in the postseason NIT. Since 1974, 12 Big Ten teams have made it to the championship game, winning seven championships. NIT champions from the Big Ten include Michigan and Ohio State with two, and Indiana, Minnesota, and Purdue with one each.

Since 1999, the Big Ten has taken part in the ACC - Big Ten Challenge with the Atlantic Coast Conference. The ACC holds an 9-0 record against the Big Ten, and Michigan State is the only Big Ten school with a winning record in the challenge.

NCAA tournament champions, runners-up and locations

† denotes overtime games. Multiple †'s indicate more than one overtime.

Women's basketball

Women's basketball teams have played a total of nine times in the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship (since 1982) and Women's National Invitation Tournament (since 1998). Big Ten women's teams have also led conference attendance from 1993-1999.

Big Ten football

The members of the Big Ten have longstanding rivalries with each other, especially on the football field. Each school has at least one traveling trophy at stake. Some Big Ten rivalries include (with their respective traveling trophy in parentheses):

Illinois-Northwestern (Sweet Sioux Tomahawk)

Indiana-Purdue (Old Oaken Bucket)

Indiana-Michigan State (Old Brass Spittoon)

Iowa-Minnesota (Floyd of Rosedale)

Iowa-Wisconsin (Heartland Trophy)

Minnesota-Wisconsin (Slab of Bacon/Paul Bunyan's Axe)

Michigan-Michigan State (Paul Bunyan Trophy)

Michigan-Minnesota (Little Brown Jug)

Illinois-Ohio State (Illibuck)

Illinois-Purdue (Purdue Cannon)

Minnesota-Penn State (Governor's Victory Bell)

Michigan State-Penn State (Land Grant Trophy)

Michigan-Ohio State (No trophy)

Penn State-Ohio State (No trophy)

Penn State-Michigan (No trophy)

Furthermore, the Big Ten football schedule is set up with each team having two permanent rivalries within the conference, with the other eight teams in the conference rotating out of the schedule in pairs for two-year stints. Permanent rivalries are as follows:

Illinois: Indiana, Northwestern

Indiana: Illinois, Purdue

Iowa: Minnesota, Wisconsin

Michigan: Michigan State, Ohio State

Michigan State: Michigan, Penn State

Minnesota: Iowa, Wisconsin

Northwestern: Illinois, Purdue

Ohio State: Michigan, Penn State

Penn State: Michigan State, Ohio State

Purdue: Indiana, Northwestern

Wisconsin: Iowa, Minnesota

The pair of Big Ten teams that conference teams will not play during the 2007 and 2008 seasons are as follows:

Illinois: Michigan State, Purdue

Indiana: Michigan, Ohio State

Iowa: Michigan, Ohio State

Michigan: Indiana, Iowa

Michigan State: Illinois, Minnesota

Minnesota: Michigan State, Penn State

Northwestern:Penn State, Wisconsin

Ohio State: Indiana, Iowa

Penn State: Minnesota, Northwestern

Purdue: Illinois, Wisconsin

Wisconsin: Northwestern, Purdue

Big Ten Basketball

Indiana and Purdue have a heated rivalry in college basketball between the two schools with the most Big Ten basketball championships. Michigan and Michigan State have an in-state rivalry. Due to their recent successes and familiarity between their players and coaching staffs, Illinois and Michigan State have developed a basketball rivalry based more on competitive matches and mutual respect, rather than animosity, which could characterize Illinois' rivalry with Indiana. These schools share a rivalry which has intensified at times, most recently due to Eric Gordon's de-committal from Illinois in order to attend and play for Indiana.

Extra-conference rivalries

Purdue, Michigan State and Michigan are among the Big Ten football teams that have rivalries with Notre Dame. After the University of Southern California with 28 wins, the Michigan State Spartans have the winningest record against the Irish, with 27. The Purdue Boilermakers follow with 26.

Penn State had a longstanding rivalry with Pittsburgh of the Big East, but the two schools have not met since 2000. Penn State also had long histories with independent Notre Dame; West Virginia, Syracuse, and Rutgers of the Big East; Maryland and Boston College of the ACC; and Temple, of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). Penn State also has strong intrastate rivalries with Patriot League universities Bucknell in men's basketball and Lehigh in wrestling. Most of these rivalries were cultivated while Penn State operated independent of conference affiliation; the constraints of playing a full conference schedule, especially in football, have reduced the number of meetings between Penn State and its non-Big Ten rivals.

Iowa has an in-state rivalry with Iowa State, with the winner getting the Cy-Hawk Trophy. Iowa also holds rivalries in basketball with Drake and Northern Iowa.

Indiana has an out-of conference rivalry with Kentucky, but the rivalry has a much higher profile in basketball than in football.

Illinois has a longstanding basketball rivalry with Missouri, with the two men's teams squaring off annually in the "Braggin' Rights" game in St. Louis. This rivalry has been carried over into football as "The Arch Rivalry" with games played at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis in 2002 and 2003 and four games scheduled from 2007 to 2010.

Wisconsin has a long-standing, in-state basketball rivalry with Marquette. The series has intensified as of late with both teams having made the Final Four in recent years. The schools also played an annual football game before Marquette abandoned its football program in 1961.

In the early days of the Big Ten, the Chicago-Michigan game was played on Thanksgiving, usually with conference championship implications and was considered one of the first major rivalries of the conference. Also in the early days of the conference, and at Knute Rockne's insistence, Northwestern and Notre Dame had a yearly contest, with the winner taking home a shillelagh, much like the winner of the USC-Notre Dame and Purdue-Notre Dame contests now receive. The Northwestern-Notre Dame shillelagh was largely forgotten by the early 1960s and is now solely an element of college football's storied past.

Conference facilities

The Big Ten has the distinction of being the conference with the most stadiums seating over 100,000, at three (Michigan Stadium, Ohio Stadium, and Beaver Stadium). The only other stadium of that size in college football is Neyland Stadium at the University of Tennessee in the Southeastern Conference.

The three stadiums rank third, fourth, and sixth in the list of the largest sports stadiums in the world. (Camp Randall ranks 42nd in the world.)

External links

Official Site of the Big Ten Conference

Short History on the Chicago-Michigan Games

Big Ten football & basketball fan site

Big Ten football & basketball forums

2008 Big Ten Football Composite Schedule

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