[jfredmuggs]

As a Stanford sports fan, I find myself in my oddest position ever. 

If Stanford wishes to join the Big Ten, my sister in law will be one of the Big Ten presidents voting. (The current Big Ten presidents, btw, are overwhelmingly female.)

Because of what it means to belong to the Big Ten, these presidents find Stanford irresistible-- far more so than Oregon or Washington. With Notre Dame, Stanford would appear to be a priority addition; the research sharing/access alone must look irresistible to my sister in law and her partners.

Sorry, not following this. What does research sharing/access have to do with being in the same athletic conference? I can understand why adding Stanford mught somehow enhance the “brand” if not the bottom line, but what difference does it make to academic/scientific research?

[jfredmuggs]

As a Stanford sports fan, I find myself in my oddest position ever. 

If Stanford wishes to join the Big Ten, my sister in law will be one of the Big Ten presidents voting. (The current Big Ten presidents, btw, are overwhelmingly female.)

Because of what it means to belong to the Big Ten, these presidents find Stanford irresistible-- far more so than Oregon or Washington. With Notre Dame, Stanford would appear to be a priority addition; the research sharing/access alone must look irresistible to my sister in law and her partners.

Sorry, not following this. What does research sharing/access have to do with being in the same athletic conference? I can understand why adding Stanford mught somehow enhance the “brand” if not the bottom line, but what difference does it make to academic/scientific research?