Big Ten Conference likely seeking universities that fit its identity in expansion talks

Big Ten coaches and athletic directors, including Wisconsinâ??s Barry Alvarez, will gather Monday through Wednesday in Chicago. The annual spring meeting likely will further stoke interest in the leagueâ??s future, even though the commissioner, Jim Delany, has indicated that expansion could be a year away. But the Big Ten isnâ??t merely a sports league – it is an identity. Expansion, if it occurs, will have to be considered carefully. The perfect match doesnâ??t include only ability on the football field but excellence in the classroom and the research lab.