Rutgers leaves Big East for Big Ten
by Staff and wire reports, USA TODAY
In search of a stable financial position for its athletics department, Rutgers is leaving the Big East for the Big Ten conference. The Big Ten unanimously accepted Rutgers as its 14th member today.
“It’s a transformative event for the entire university,” Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti said. “It gives us long-term stability looking forward, access to the postseason and exposure.”
For the Big Ten, Rutgers provides a television foothold in the New York/New Jersey market. The date when Rutgers will begin competing as a Big Ten team has not been determined.
“The Big Ten includes America’s most highly regarded academic institutions, known for both their athletic success and academic achievement,” said Rutgers president Robert Barchi. “This is exactly the right conference for Rutgers. Our university is one of the nation’s leading research universities and our student-athletes excel in the classroom and on the playing field.”
Rutgers has competed in the Big East since 1991. The move follows Maryland’s announcement Monday that it was departing the Atlantic Coast Conference to join the Big Ten in 2014. Rutgers also plans to join its new conference in 2014, though the Big East requires 27 months’ notification for departing members. The Scarlet Knights will have to negotiate a deal with the Big East to leave early.
Big East commissioner Mike Aresco issued a statement that coincided with the start of the Rutgers news conference that read, “Although we are disappointed that Rutgers has decided to leave the Big East Conference, we wish them well. They have been a valued member of the Conference for many years.
“We realize that conference realignment is currently a fact of life in college sports. In the context of this realignment, changes in our membership have been taking place, including important additions. In fact, the Big East has expanded its scope with new members in California, Texas, Florida,Idaho, Tennessee and Pennsylvania. As a result, the Big East has created a unique national football conference that is a factor in the BCS Championship, remains the nation’s strongest basketball conference top to bottom, and is a major force across the full spectrum of men’s and women’s college … [For more on Rutgers leaves Big East for Big Ten, click here.]
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