There's certainly charm to the traditions, I'm a big fan of the traditional bowls - even though they leave the final standings murky. I must say, however, that it was magical the first time we pointed across the field to see JoPa standing there. ... and for some reason, I find the addition of NU to the conference magical as well. Hell - I'm hanging around this board as much as the RCMB. As I've said in other threads - every NU game in the B10 this year is like a bowl game. With no ill will towards NU, somehow I feel like the conference needs to represent well in these first couple of years and not let some newcomer slap the conference around. I'll be watching every NU game this year like it's January 1.
I think that the trick is to add quality teams with great traditions.
Exactly. And, that's kind of the problem, too. If further expansion is the way of the future (against my wishes), I hope at least the B1G is in on the quality schools that will listen to an offer. If they take a wait and see approach, and 14-16 teams becomes the norm and not the exception, I certainly wouldn't want "leftovers" just to fill some slots.