Scheduling malfunction

I guess the Big Ten really does need that 12th member.

Word out of Ann Arbor and Michigan blog MVictors.com is the Wolverines asked conference peer Minnesota to come to the Big House in 2010 to play a non-conference game. The Gophers turned Michigan down despite a potential huge payday.

I love what Minnesota AD Joel Maturi had to say on the matter. "I’m not a real brilliant guy, but I'm not so sure it's in the best interest of Minnesota football to play Southern Cal and Michigan in back-to-back weeks. Non-conference, so-to-speak."

What's going on at Michigan? Since when can't the Wolverines find someone willing to take their money to play at the Big House? It's not like Michigan is that intimidating these days.

This failed attempt to get Minnesota to play a non-league game has the feel of some out-of-the-way high school begging schools to come play them.

I would normally rip on RichRod and Michigan AD Bill Martin for trying to pull this off. But look around and you'll see it's getting tougher for the big programs to get teams to make a road trip for a butt-whipping. Even Mid-American Conference schools are demanding $800,000 to travel.

So don't be surprised when conference teams start playing each other in a non-conference game. Or JoePa's expansion talk would help. How would Rutgers or Pitt look in this spot on the schedule?