Football
Joyner invites Penn State-Maryland rivalry in interview
Penn State Athletic Director David Joyner joined Dave Revsine on the Big Ten Network to talk about Maryland's move to the Big Ten on Monday. Here's what he had to say.
On what the move means for Penn State
"It means the reinstitution of a great series and rivalry in many sports," Joyner said. "I played against Maryland when I played here and it was a terrific situation and I think it brings somebody right to our back door that extends the footprint of the Big Ten, but yet brings back many traditional, great memories for people in Pennsylvania as well as in Maryland so we're very excited about it."
On fitting better geographically with Big Ten schools
"I'm not sure that we never felt we fit. In geography, you've got Ohio State very close, reasonably close, to us and now you've got Maryland half that distance and I think that it's just a natural extension geographically and I think it brings home the Big Ten into the Eastern corridor, so I think it's very positive."
On the impact on Penn State's recruiting
"Well, personally, I think it helps. I've read some things where some folks said, 'Well, maybe it's going to be tougher now for us back here,' and you never know until time plays out. But we still recruit against Maryland. We recruited against them years ago before we were in the Big Ten and other schools in this Eastern-Atlantic corridor and I don't think, particularly, it's going to change that, other then perhaps enhance it and make it more positive because you have a Big Ten opponent from State College about three hours away. So I think it makes it very attractive."
On why the move is a good fit for Maryland
"Well, I think Maryland fits very well within the Big Ten parameters. They're an outstanding academic university. They are the 19th rated public university in the country, very excellent academics, top 58 overall and they're a member of the [Association of American Universities]. So I think that they're a natural fit. Their size is consistent and their big-time athletics as well as big-time academics is very consistent with the mission of the Big Ten."
On direction of conference realignment and meaning of Maryland move
"I think that you're seeing an expansion and growth of the five major conferences. I think it's not a reaction to it, it's just a natural process that I think is occurring and it makes a lot of sense, particularly for the Big Ten with the Eastern markets and as I said the natural geography which really then makes Ohio State, Penn State, Maryland and then out westward and so I think that it's just an expression of the times what's going on."