Big Ten Expansion Tips: Invite The Arkansas Deaf Leopards

Just a quick reminder for Jim Delany and whoever else is deciding the candidates for Big Ten expansion: if you have any style whatsoever, you’ll invite the Arkansas School for the Deaf.

The school would be a unique get for the Big Ten, providing both a football toehold in the football-mad Southeast and a chance for the Big Ten to display some “out of the box”* thinking in their choices. Houston Nutt grew up practically living at the school; his father was head hoops coach, and Nutt learned sign at a young age playing with the students there. After Ole Miss, you have a built-in big time coach waiting for a sentimental trip home. 

Additionally, their team name is “the Leopards.”

The deaf Leopards.

If you want your conference to instantly contain three thousand percent more rock, you’ll make this happen, Delany. We’ll get the rock out of here now.

*Phrase sponsored by the year 2002.