[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Even the smallest slice of that - the $121 million Purdue received - would more than double what the Columbia campus spends on research from its endowment.

Mizzou loses a lot of professors because they have a hard time finding funding for their research projects. It has some research jewels (the reactor and life sciences center, as well as the Donald Reynolds Journalism Institute) that will take off given more funding.

Inclusion in the Big Ten should also help attract more out-of-state kids while also keeping more of the "high achievers" in-state rather than departing for other institutions. Enrollment is going to increase (thankfully, the school invested heavily in infrastructure improvement over the past decade).

More students, more great professors, more impact-driven research projects... all those factors create a building effect which is self-perpetuating. I've talked to someone in the academic financial management, and heard a little about the financial model of the university... the move to the Big Ten would benefit it in every way and put it in a position to continually keep improving (Penn State is an excellent example. It has improved a lot academically and sustainability-wise since joining the conference).

THat's why the AD has no real impact on this decision. Alden could be screaming from the rooftops that he doesn't want to go, and it wouldn't matter.

Brady Deaton won't care one bit what Alden or Pinkel thinks of the Big 10. The academic opportunities will trump any athletic opportunities.