Maryland mulling move to Big Ten

Associated Press

COLLEGE PARK, MD.

The University of Maryland’s decision to stay in the Atlantic Coast Conference or join the Big Ten comes down to tradition versus money.

Given the plight of the school’s struggling athletic program, the Terrapins’ stature as a charter member of the ACC may not mean as much as the prospect of playing a home football game against, say, Ohio State, and being part of a league that generates more revenue.

The Board of Regents is scheduled to meet today to discuss the joining the Big Ten. If Maryland approves the move and applies for admission, Rutgers is expected to follow suit and leave the Big East.

An announcement on Maryland’s final decision is expected this week.

The addition of Maryland and Rutgers, located in New Brunswick, N.J., about 40 miles south of New York city, would give the Big Ten an added presence in the East — along with Penn State — and add two huge television markets. Which explains in part why the Big Ten is courting Maryland and offering a fee to join, enough to at least partially offset the $50 million exit fee the ACC approved by vote in September after adding Notre Dame.

By leaving the ACC, Maryland would be breaking ties and rivalries with many schools it has competed against since 1953. There are few bigger college basketball games than Maryland vs. Duke, and Terrapins fans for decades have made up a decent portion of the crowd at the ACC basketball tournament.

Unfortunately, tradition doesn’t fill the football stadium on Saturdays. Maryland can’t sell out the luxury boxes at the newly renovated Tyser Tower inside Byrd Stadium, and only 35,244 fans showed up Saturday on senior day for a game against 10th-ranked Florida State.

Maryland (4-7) lost to the Seminoles 41-14, its fifth straight defeat. Asked his opinion of the potential move to the Big Ten, Terrapins coach Randy Edsall responded, “My whole focus is trying to clear things up from Florida State and getting ready for North Carolina.”