B1G: Maryland and Rutgers Officially Join The Big Ten

As of midnight, the Big Ten has officially moved to 14 members with the additions of Maryland and Rutgers.  Though the additions of the two schools has been criticized by some, both offer positives that many hope will only increase the strength of the Big Ten in the future.

Here are some basic facts about both schools as fans (or at least Rutgers fans) celebrate the addition of the two schools into the conference:

Maryland

• Founded in 1856
• Public University
• Undergraduates: 26,826
• #62 on the U.S. News and World Report ranking of national universities.
• Mascot: Testudo
• Maryland's campus served as a camp for Union forces during the Civil War.
• In 2004, Maryland began building a 150 acre "M Square Research Park."
• Campus was featured in "National Treasure: Book of Secrets."
• 2002 NCAA Basketball national champions.

Rutgers

• Founded in 1766
• Public University
• Undergraduates: 43,967
• #68 on the U.S. News and World Report ranking of national universities.
• Originally chartered as "Queen's College."
• "Winter at Old Queens" is the oldest building at Rutgers University and was built between 1809 and 1825.
• Home to the RCSB Protein Data Bank.
• Home to the first college newspaper in the United States.
• School of David Stern (former NBA commissioner).

We can't be sure what to expect from Maryland and Rutgers in the future, but this is certainly a major event and is going to impact the conference for quite some time.  Welcome Maryland and Rutgers fans!