not only are Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, and PA, not growing. They are getting older. PA has the oldest average population in the country - even higher than Florida. -Compare that to "younger" states like VA, NC, GA, Tennessee, even MD. Older populations will need services like healthcare but not things like houses, cars, appliances and other services. At the margins, that is why Delany is doing this because he realizes without growth the B1G is demographically going no where.
You can argue that business is still going to grow in Chicago and I doubt anyone will disagree but can you say the same for Indianapolis, Detroit, Cleveland? If you compare to RTA, Charlotte, Richmond, etc. where there are younger populations, lower taxes, and smart people there really is no comparison.
Just think about demographics of a football team. If you are not pulling couple of guys from Florida, Texas, Georgia, etc. every year, your program is suffering.
Delaney would drop Md and Rutgers in a heartbeat if he could get UT to come aboard.
There is no doubt things will change...I mean the last great migration occurred as people moved from the south to the north for jobs probably during the industrial boom from the 1920s through to the 1960s. Now, it is reversing as people (younger people and boomers) move south for jobs and retirement. It will eventually change as a poster points out about Ohio but the great southern migration is probably in the 3-4 inning.
