Integrating a 12 into the Big Ten logo ought to be more difficult than the current 11 spliced into the conference symbol.

But if rumors of the Big East's demise hold any weight it should cause some reshuffling in college football's hierarchy, and aid the Big Ten in adding a 12th school to the conference. Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese believes that the Atlantic Coast Conference has approached four Big East teams -- Miami, Boston College, Syracuse and Virginia Tech -- about joining their conference, and he's not happy about it.

"I have no use for the ACC right now," Tranghese said in an April 19 New York Daily News article. "They're a bunch of hypocrites. They operate in the dark. They'll never acknowledge this, but I'm aware the ACC for the last couple of years, without ever picking up the phone or calling me, has basically gone out and tried to convince our teams to enter their league."

The ACC, much like the Big Ten, covets expansion because having 12 football teams would allow the league to have two divisions and a lucrative post-season conference championship game. These games are also helpful to teams looking to improve in Bowl Championship Series standings by providing them with an added opportunity to move up in the polls, face a quality opponent, and improve their strength of schedule, all of which are factored into the current BCS formula.

The Big Ten has in the past looked for new members that would enhance the conference's reputation, rather than getting any 12th school only for the sake a championship game.

"I would be for it if I was convinced on a number of levels that we would get a lot better," Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said at the conference media day last fall. "I wouldn't do it just so we could have a championship football game, two divisions in basketball or save a few dollars on regional scheduling. I want the impact on the Big Ten to be at least as much as when Penn State came into the league."

In 1998 the Big Ten also tried to attract one of the Big East's teams ... sort of. Notre Dame has had some of its teams play in the Big East since 1995 but not all -- particularly not football. Notre Dame and the Big Ten had lengthy discussions in 1998 about the school becoming a full member of the conference. But an exclusive television contract from NBC and the shelter of the Big East for its lesser sports proved to be a sweeter deal for the Irish; the Big Ten's offer was declined. Notre Dame was able to weigh its options then but a break-up of the Big East now would force its hand.

"We had some very public discussions with the Big Ten, and there were a lot of protests against it from our alumni," said Notre Dame Director of Sports Information John Heisler. "[Independence is] something that's been a part of our history. If it can stand forever, we can't say.

"We're happy where we are, but we've tried not to bury our head in the sand ... and be aware of what's going on in college sports. We'll do what makes sense for our program. Our alumni have been spoiled really since 1984, with every game on TV. If someday we don't have a game on TV, our alumni will say we made a mistake, but we'll make a move if it makes sense for our program."

Even if Notre Dame continues to maintain its independence as a football program despite a Big East schism, the Big Ten would still have the opportunity to capitalize on Big East fall-out. Penn State football coach Joe Paterno mentioned several times last season that he would like to see a school added to the Big Ten.

"I would like to see us have another team in the Big Ten, period," he said last season. "I would like to see us have 12 teams. If they would want to come East and get Syracuse, Rutgers or Pitt, I wouldn't have any problem with that."

The schools, which the Big East has accused the ACC of courting, say they are content to be members of the Big East at the moment, but if Miami were to leave the conference, that stance could change.

"BC is very happy within the Big East," said Chris Cameron, a senior associate in the Boston College athletic department. "But if the University of Miami were to leave [the Big East], this would be a very different conference and some things might have to be addressed."

The Miami Herald has reported Miami has essentially reciprocated and would have interest in the ACC if Boston College were to leave the Big East -- a departure that would significantly weaken the conference.

"There's always talks, on and off," said Miami Athletic Director Paul Dee.

Still, Syracuse Athletic Director Jay Crouthamel does not think either team's departure would spell the league's demise.

"It would significantly impact the Big East as a whole," he said. "I don't think it would be dissolved but it would not have the same stature."

ACC commissioner John Swofford has said that his league has always talked about expansion, and in response to the comments made by Tranghese, Swofford said they were "unfortunate." Tranghese said he has no plans to change anything in the conference, only to promote unity from within.

"Our presidents at BC, Virginia Tech, Miami and Syracuse are happy," he said. "The ACC, probably more than anybody, has tried to disrupt our conference for a long time. They haven't done it yet. And, as long as I'm here, they're not going to do it."