This isn't the typical move, but one that with a massive appeal for the member universities academic mission...

Was reading the inside lacrosse article on the potential of a Big Ten lacrosse championship with the addition of Maryland and Rutgers. Looks like a Women's championship will have the necessary 6 teams (new teams join Northwestern, Penn State, Ohio State, and Michigan). With 2 of the best teams in the country the Big Ten will be the most dominate conference in the country. It also looks like Men's lacrosse will be one team short, as Northwestern doesn't have men's team. One team wouldn't seem an impediment, but Big Ten hockey took decades for a 6th team to arrive (although the investment for lacrosse is tiny compared to hockey). This is where the crazy idea comes... How about invite Johns Hopkins to join Chicago as the special circumstances Division III CIC member and affiliate Big Ten member? Big Ten has been against affiliate members, but Johns Hopkins is an academic powerhouse and the presidents would love the CIC affiliation. The special circumstance is that they are primarily a Division III school other than lacrosse, of which they are Division I powerhouse. Not sure it makes sense, but Johns Hopkins is a special case due to its massive academic benefits, and allows Big Ten to becomes a major player in lacrosse with little cost (affiliate member revenue sharing).

What do you think? I like this move because it shows the conference is different and not a whore to TV executives.