Is lacrosse playing a disproportionate role in the B1G's expansion plans? Let's look at the pieces:

1) Lacrosse was one of the conditions for Maryland joining

Quote:[University President] Loh and [AD] Anderson needed to hear about plans for lacrosse in the Big Ten, where the sport isn’t a mainstay as it is in College Park. Loh asked his questions about the future of the conference, its expansion plans and mission and the academic perks.

Link

2) The B1G has (maybe) reached out to Johns Hopkins
Link

3) The B1G has started a men's lacrosse webpage
See it here

4) Lacrosse is a growth opportunity

Quote:Today, lacrosse is considered the fastest growing team sport in America. According to an annual survey produced by the organization US Lacrosse, the number of lacrosse players increased from 253,931 in 2001 to 624,593 in 2010. That figure includes 324,673 youth players.

Link

B1G isn't stupid...it will be good live sports programming for the Spring.

If lacrosse and JohnsHopkins are on the table - it also makes going after UVa and UNC more likely.

But they'll have to re-name it "grass hockey" to get most of the BTN fans to tune in.

Those additions would bring the number of Big10 Div I Lacrosse programs to 8: Maryland, JohnsHopkins, UNC, UVa, OhioSt, PennSt, UMich, Rutgers

(02-21-2013 11:01 AM)nert Wrote:  If lacrosse and JohnsHopkins are on the table - it also makes going after UVa and UNC more likely.

But they'll have to re-name it "grass hockey" to get most of the BTN fans to tune in.

Those additions would bring the number of Big10 Div I Lacrosse programs to 8: Maryland, JohnsHopkins, UNC, UVa, OhioSt, PennSt, UMich, Rutgers

Those aren't just any teams. That group gives B1G 50% of the top ten teams
#1 (UMD)
#4 (JHU)
#6 (UVA)
#8 (PSU)
#9 (UNC)
http://insidelacrosse.com/rankpoll/d1usila/2013-02-18

They wouldn't need JHU if they get UVA and UNC right?

(02-21-2013 12:20 PM)NJRedMan Wrote:  They wouldn't need JHU if they get UVA and UNC right?

From a lacrosse perspective, no. But it wouldn't hurt.

They would have added Syracuse if lacrosse were that important.

I look forward to JHU and UMD mopping up the big, slow midwestern teams.

(02-21-2013 12:33 PM)OrangeCrush22 Wrote:  They would have added Syracuse if lacrosse were that important.

Not that this would have been lacrosse related, but I think that if Syracuse had waited, they would be headed to the B1G instead of Rutgers.

(02-21-2013 12:35 PM)westwolf Wrote:  I look forward to JHU and UMD mopping up the big, slow midwestern teams.

Lacrosse is probably the only sport we'll be destroying Michigan in anytime soon.

While Lacrosse is big in Maryland, I'm fairly certain that no promises were made to Maryland based on Lacrosse. And Maryland did not base its decision to leave based on Lacrosse. Its just the byproduct of the move

That said, I'm sure the Big 10 is not opposed to having spring programming in a fast growing sport. And it does not nee 6 teams to do so. ACC Lacrosse existed for years as a 4 school conference (Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and Duke). The ACC will soon add Syracuse and Notre Dame to the fold.

(02-21-2013 12:52 PM)Jericho Wrote:  While Lacrosse is big in Maryland, I'm fairly certain that no promises were made to Maryland based on Lacrosse. And Maryland did not base its decision to leave based on Lacrosse. Its just the byproduct of the move

That said, I'm sure the Big 10 is not opposed to having spring programming in a fast growing sport. And it does not nee 6 teams to do so. ACC Lacrosse existed for years as a 4 school conference (Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and Duke). The ACC will soon add Syracuse and Notre Dame to the fold.

I don't think Maryland made its decision because of lacrosse, but a homeless lacrosse team would have certainly been a deal breaker. The B1G had to make some promises.

(02-21-2013 12:43 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  Not that this would have been lacrosse related, but I think that if Syracuse had waited, they would be headed to the B1G instead of Rutgers.

Doubt it.

Who is the larger state funded university? Syracuse, or the State University of NJ?

Who has more potential BTN viewers? the City of Syracuse, of the State of NJ?

(02-21-2013 12:43 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  

(02-21-2013 12:33 PM)OrangeCrush22 Wrote:  They would have added Syracuse if lacrosse were that important.

Not that this would have been lacrosse related, but I think that if Syracuse had waited, they would be headed to the B1G instead of Rutgers.

What does waiting have to do with anything? They could have easily pulled a TCU. The B1G didn't want a private school, they wanted a state school thats actually in the NYC tv market. You do know that the University of Maryland is actually closer to NYC than Cuse is?

(02-21-2013 01:25 PM)OrangeXtreme Wrote:  

(02-21-2013 12:43 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  Not that this would have been lacrosse related, but I think that if Syracuse had waited, they would be headed to the B1G instead of Rutgers.

Doubt it.

Who is the larger state funded university? Syracuse, or the State University of NJ?

Who has more potential BTN viewers? the City of Syracuse, of the State of NJ?

I though Syracuse was NY's college team?

Syracuse may yet end up in the Big Ten when all is said and done...

(02-21-2013 02:08 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  

(02-21-2013 01:25 PM)OrangeXtreme Wrote:  

(02-21-2013 12:43 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  Not that this would have been lacrosse related, but I think that if Syracuse had waited, they would be headed to the B1G instead of Rutgers.

Doubt it.

Who is the larger state funded university? Syracuse, or the State University of NJ?

Who has more potential BTN viewers? the City of Syracuse, of the State of NJ?

I though Syracuse was NY's college team?

Tell that to Time-Warner.

(02-21-2013 02:21 PM)OrangeXtreme Wrote:  

(02-21-2013 02:08 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  

(02-21-2013 01:25 PM)OrangeXtreme Wrote:  

(02-21-2013 12:43 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  Not that this would have been lacrosse related, but I think that if Syracuse had waited, they would be headed to the B1G instead of Rutgers.

Doubt it.

Who is the larger state funded university? Syracuse, or the State University of NJ?

Who has more potential BTN viewers? the City of Syracuse, of the State of NJ?

I though Syracuse was NY's college team?

Tell that to Time-Warner.

Ad campaigns aren't always true.

(02-21-2013 02:44 PM)NJRedMan Wrote:  

(02-21-2013 02:21 PM)OrangeXtreme Wrote:  

(02-21-2013 02:08 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  

(02-21-2013 01:25 PM)OrangeXtreme Wrote:  

(02-21-2013 12:43 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  Not that this would have been lacrosse related, but I think that if Syracuse had waited, they would be headed to the B1G instead of Rutgers.

Doubt it.

Who is the larger state funded university? Syracuse, or the State University of NJ?

Who has more potential BTN viewers? the City of Syracuse, of the State of NJ?

I though Syracuse was NY's college team?

Tell that to Time-Warner.

Ad campaigns aren't always true.

I could see them getting Syracuse if they can't get UNC. Virginia and Syracuse would be a nice package for the B1G.