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Article updated: 11/19/2012 4:03 PM

Demographics, money key to Big Ten-Maryland union

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Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany said demographics were a huge part of the decision to add Maryland to the conference. The population shift in Midwest has hampered the Big Ten's ability to recruit.

Associated Press/June 26, 2012 file photo

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This Sept. 12, 2009 file photo shows Tyser Tower where suites and the press box are located at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium before an NCAA college football game between Maryland and James Madison in College Park, Md. Maryland is joining the Big Ten, which will give the conference a foothold in the East.

Associated Press/file

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Maryland is joining the Big Ten, leaving the Atlantic Coast Conference in a shocker of a move in the world of conference realignment that was driven by the school's budget woes. The announcement came Monday at a news conference with school President Wallace D. Loh, Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany and athletic director Kevin Anderson."The membership of the Big Ten enables us to guarantee the financial sustainability of Maryland athletics for a long, long, long time," Loh said.Loh added that Maryland athletics has been living "paycheck to paycheck." The school had eliminated seven sports programs earlier this year.Delaney said two key factors (a larger demographic and a larger recruiting base) were important to the conference as well.