Penn State President Neelie Bendapudi, Athletic Director to-be Patrick Kraft, football coach James Franklin and six other head coaches released statements regarding the Big Ten’s admission of UCLA and USC Thursday.
Bendapudi called Thursday a “thrilling evening for the Big Ten conference.
“We welcome USC and UCLA with open arms as like-minded institutions that are as committed to high GPAs and graduation rates as they are to on-field excellence,” Bendapudi wrote. “It was an easy decision that will build upon our conference’s rich heritage.
Kraft, who officially takes over for Sandy Barbour as athletic director Friday, called the two Los Angeles Schools “world class universities.
USC and UCLA are both synonymous with academic and athletics success,” Kraft said “and will be tremendous additions to our conference.
Franklin called it “another big step in the ever changing college football landscape.”
“We embrace the change,” Franklin said. “USC and UCLA are two institutions with a long-standing tradition of academic and athletic success. They will only strengthen our already very strong Big Ten Conference.
Men’s basketball coach Micah Shrewsberry said USC and UCLA’s basketball pedegrieee will be an asset to the Big Ten.
“The Big Ten has long been home to universities that compete at the highest level in both athletics and academics,” Shrewsberry said. “UCLA and USC are not only two institutions whose values align with Big Ten, but whose basketball traditions will be great additions to bolster the Big Ten as the nation’s premiere basketball conference.”
Baseball coach Rob Cooper is feels the two LA schools align with what the Big Ten stands for.
UCLA won the College World Series in 2013 and has won six regional championships since the turn of the century.Although USC has fallen off, the Trojans still have 12 national titles in baseball.
“The Big Ten has always been committed to competing for national championships, while achieving academic excellence in the classroom,” Cooper said. “The addition of USC and UCLA further illustrates this commitment. This is an exciting day for the Big Ten.”
Softball coach Clarisa Crowell called Thursday “an exciting day for Big Ten softball” mainly because of UCLA, which has won 12 national championships in the sport.
“Its strong softball tradition will continue to elevate the conference,” Crowell said. “From an overall conference perspective, the academic excellence at both UCLA and USC are in perfect alignment with the Big Ten. We welcome USC and UCLA to the B1G.”
Head women’s soccer coach Erica Dambach said the program “could not be more thrilled,” for USC and UCLA to join the Big Ten.
USC won national titles in 2007 and 2016, and UCLA won in 2013.
“From a women’s soccer standpoint,” Dambach said, “these are two of the top programs nationally and will only help to solidify the Big Ten as THE premier conference in the country.”
Head women’s basketball coach Carolyn Kieger said UCLA and USC fit the Big Ten’s mold both athletically and academically.
“These two schools bring historical success and tradition in women’s basketball,” Kieger said. “I’m very excited for the future of our league.”
Katie Schumacher-Cawley, who will start her first season as head women’s volleyball coach this fall, said this is an “exciting time for Penn State women’s volleyball.”
“Their athletic success, combined with their reputations as prestigious academic institutions make both schools a perfect fit for the Big Ten,” she said. “These additions ensure our conference will be strong for years to come. I am happy to welcome both schools to the Big Ten!”
