THE SIDELINES : Big Ten Presidents Vote to Let Penn State Join the Conference
Penn State was officially voted into the Big Ten today by the presidents of the universities that make up the conference.
The Council of Ten, as the presidents group is known, extended an informal invitation to the school last December, but today’s vote made it final.
Illinois President Stan Ikenberry, council chairman, said at least seven of the presidents voted in favor of adding Penn State. He would not give an exact breakdown of the vote, which took place at the University of Iowa.
The Big Ten Conference includes Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Northwestern and Purdue.
Ikenberry said the council voted to impose a four-year moratorium on further expansion, although it could be lifted if at least seven presidents agreed to add a 12th member. He also said there were no plans to drop any current members of the Big Ten.
Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany indicated the conference would change its name in the next 60 days but did not elaborate.
Delany said the earliest Penn State could start league competition in major revenue sports such as football and basketball would be 1995.
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