Fraser Smith's Essay: November 22, 2012

The University of Maryland decided this week to leave the Atlantic Coast Conference for the Big Ten. WYPR Senior News Analyst Fraser Smith comments in his weekly essay.

When you get past the emotional side, it’s a no-brainer. That’s one view of College Park’s decision to bolt from the Atlantic Coast Conference and join the Big Ten.

Just beyond the emotions are the dollar signs. Big money is expected from the new alignment.

The emotional side? Other than that Ms. Lincoln, how did you like the play…

What are sports but emotion, when you get down to it. What are well-nurtured rivalries ‘Carolina, Duke. Wake and NC State? For people of a certain are rivalries had been life. Some people set their annual clocks by football and basketball season. Maryland’s ACC opponent s were relatively easy to get to – easier than Ann Arbor, for example.

But … it’s all about the money. Big time college sports are driven, not by emotion, but by things like TV contracts. U Maryland’s finances need the boost promised by aligning with the Big Ten. Other schools might be contemplating the same move, so Maryland’s administrators apparently wanted to get ahead of the game. This sort of cash-driven reshuffle is happening all over the country.

It may mean that Maryland will be able to reinstate sports that were eliminated recently in the school’s effort to get its athletic budget in order.

Schools like Maryland like to talk about football and basketball players as student athletes – even as their graduation rates sag. The real student athletes are the ones who compete in the so-called non-revenue sports – and do well in class. So, maybe a bonus for them.

As for die hard ACC fans, just get over it.