The cries for Big Ten expansion go back a couple of years when Penn State's Joe Paterno said the conference was at a major disadvantage with only 11 members.

Paterno's point is a valid one. The Big Ten’s football schedule ends three weeks before the other major conferences. Adding a 12th member may also make the conference a more serious threat in college basketball.

This week, the outcry became more substantiated. Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez has joined Paterno, claiming Big Ten officials will put a heightened interest in expanding the conference to 12 schools in the near future.

Notre Dame is the logical choice, but the school declined an invitation to the conference in 1999 and won't be giving...

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