The Big Ten Conference has extended preliminary invitations to four universities to join, according to WHB radio in Kansas City.
Citing multiple sources “close to the negotiations,” the radio station said Notre Dame, Missouri, Nebraska and Rutgers had received offers to be members of the league.
But the Lincoln Journal Star website quoted Nebraska chancellor Harvey Perlman as saying,”None whatsover,” via e-mail when asked if there was any validity to the story as it relates to Nebraska.
Several schools, including Rutgers, declined specific comment on the report.
“We are a proud member of the BIG EAST Conference,” Rutgers AD Tim Pernetti said in a statement. “It is not our place to speculate on any reports on the expansion plans of any other conference.
Missouri also declined comment, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The school issued a generic statement that it invoked in this case.
“The University of Missouri is receiving numerous inquiries related to public speculation about conference membership. MU is a member of the Big 12 Conference and will not respond to speculation about conference realignment. Mizzou continues to be grateful for all the interest shown in and support for the university.”
WHB said Missouri officials have been told by the Big Ten that they would like the expansion process to be finished this summer “with a formal announcement coming no later than July.”
As WHB reported it, Missouri and Nebraska would become the 12th and 13th teams in the Big Ten Conference.
Notre Dame is a Big East basketball member but independent in football. If the Irish don’t opt to join the Big Ten, Rutgers could become the league’s 14th team.
The Big Ten would then make a decision about adding two more schools.
If Notre Dame and Rutgers both accepted invitations, the Big Ten would try to bring in one more school.
Pittsburgh and UConn of the Big East have both been mentioned as possibilities.
“It’s not my place to talk about what the Big Ten might or might not do,” Big East Commissioner John Marinatto recently told SNY.tv. “It’s my place to talk about the Big East Conference and what we can do and where we’re going.”
The coaches and ADs from the Big Ten will meet in Chicago May 17-19 to discuss the league’s future. The universities’ presidents and chancellors will meet in early June.
