Wild speculation is flying across the inter-webs that the Pittsburgh Panthers are joining the Big 10. Supposedly, this will be announced Thursday and Pit athletes were informed over the weekend. Before going to deeply into this, consider with blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and the 24 hour news cycle, made up rumors can spread like wildfire. I just want to be clear it is all speculation at this point.
From a football perspective, adding Pitt is great for the Big 10. They play with a Big 10 philosophy of physical defense, and power offense centered around the run game. Dave Wansted has brought the Panthers back to relevance the past few years and are a top 25 program. It would also give the Big 10 12 teams, 8allowing them to play a conference championship game.
If Pitt leaves, that would really hurt the Big East; they would only have 7 teams. The Big East has struggled for national respectability (even though they have performed extremely well in bowl games) since Miami, Virginia Tech, and Boston College left for the ACC. They would probably have to add another team, a tricky predicament for a conference that takes great pride in its basketball. They will probably have to weaken its basketball for football though; Pitt was actually a better basketball program then football program.
The fist school that comes to mind for the Big East to add is East Carolina. They are right on the east coast, and have dominated the C-USA the last few years. It worked the last time teams left the Big East (when they added S.Florida, Cincinnati, and Louisville). They could also make a run at Notre Dame, but I doubt they join a conference anytime soon.
The Big East really needs Pitt to stay. Losing them could be detrimental.
Update-10:10 pm Rumor not true: Via Zags Blog on the SNY blogging network, Pitt spokesmen Mike Gladyz said "there is no announcement to make because nothing is happening."
Pitt's associate AD and another spokesman also denied these rumors.That's good news for the Big East.
Thanks to LinebackerU for the heads up via Twitter.
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