Big Ten Divisions to be Announced Tonight on the Big Ten Network
by Maize n Brew Dave on Sep 1, 2010 1:48 PM CDT
in Michigan Football
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PrintAnd if ESPN is reporting what's going to happen, I'm joining MGoBlog in the angry mob. The Big Ten Network just announced via press release that at 7pm EST tonight, Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany (along with athletic directors David Brandon of Michigan, Mark Hollis of Michigan State, Gene Smith of Ohio State, Tom Osborne of Nebraska) will announce the Big Ten's realignment. I'm still mad about what I've heard so forgive me if some of my rambling doens't quite make sense.
Unfortunately, the rumors swirling about the realignment are not positive. In fact, they don't even make sense. ESPN is reporting the following:
Multiple sources told ESPN.com that the two divisions in the Big Ten will look like:
• Michigan, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern and Minnesota.
• And Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Purdue, Indiana and Illinois.
No. A thousand times, no. If this is the case hand me a pitchfork and I'm burning this place to the ground. These divisions are NOT competitive. They make no sense. And they do nothing to preserve any of the Big Ten's rivalries or history. This is awful.
Just take a look at the Ohio State division. You are veritably guaranteeing that Purdue, Indiana and Illinois will win one, maybe two games total against the top three every year. Indiana and Illinois will be doomed to the cellar and Purdue, improvements or not, is getting screwed. These are three just about guaranteed victories for OSU, PSU and Wisconsin.
Now look at the Michigan bracket. The only doormat in that division is Minnesota. Otherwise, top to bottom, it's the most competitive division in all of college football. Northwestern won nine games and is on the upswing, just as is MSU. Nebraska and Iowa will remain powers so long as their coaches remain. Then there's Michigan. If the Wolverines return to form you're talking about 5 yearly above .500 teams beating the hell out of one another and disadvantaging the whole Conference.
Geographically this makes no sense. Competitively this makes no sense. I'm totally lost. If this is what we added Nebraska to do, then Jim Delany should be fired. I count two rivalries being preserved, Purdue and Indiana and Michigan Michigan State. Really? I was okay, to an extent, if some things changed within the conference. I was okay, to an extent even if Michigan and OSU were split up.
But this is beyond ridiculous. It is change simply for the sake of stupid, stupid change. It does nothing for the fans, it does nothing for the conference. I was on board if any of this made sense, but it doesn't.
Please, God, let it not be true.
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michigan alum / former fan
this isn’t meant to be “trolling” but i’m really tired of michigan fans, even though i used to be one (i’m turning in my card right now.)
michigan won 1 big ten game last year, right? a close win over indiana? so why can’t we stop trashing the purdue (38-36), illinois (38-13) and indiana programs? are we going to beat any of those teams this year? i didn’t bother looking at the schedule since i’m not watching this year.
at least OSU earns their arrogance (in regular season play)
This isn't meant to be an "insult"
But get the hell out of here dumbass
GO BLUE! http://www.maizenbrew.com/
by SCM on Sep 1, 2010 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions
angry much SCM?
breathe, buddy. Breathe.
Maize n Brew
Because Football is Better with Beer
by Maize n Brew Dave on Sep 1, 2010 2:44 PM CDT up reply actions
I think that's a hasty decision
But you’re of course free to do whatever you want.
You can look at this from any perspective you want – be it that UM returns to be a dominant team in the B10, or they continue to be mediocre. The fact remains that OSU/Wisconsin/PSU will have a much easier time getting to the champ. game with their division than Michigan will in ours. It doesn’t matter whether you view UM as a powerhouse or not.
http://maizenbrew.com
Get it?
I just don't buy it,
UM should out recruit everyone of those schools in West division. For example by ESPN 150 numbers for 2011 verbals added by to 06 class:
UM=22, MSU=5, UNL=5, Iowa=5, Minn=3, NU=0
UM recruits well regionally and nationally and if RR can’t get it done this year, it is time to move on; Nebraska has plenty of tradition but is not in a good recruiting area (state or surrounding states) and it began to show in the Big 12 as Neb was supposed to anchor the North but never lived up to it. I know having those recruits does not guarantee victory but along with the right coach/coaching staff, this is a huge advantage and has been for UM, Ohio St. and Penn St., USC, UT, OU over the last decade.
Actually yes
Michigan will likely beat Indiana and Purdue on the road this year.
Nobody’s trashing these programs, but let’s not pretend either that Indiana+Illinois+Purdue is > MSU+Northwestern+Minnesota.
If there is a year to watch Michigan football, it’s going to be this year, BTW.
Go Blue!
but isn't OSU+PSU+UW > any 3 from our division?
at least for this year?
Don't Give Up HOPE {:>)
Hey Meat Chicken,
Don’t give up hope. Everything is cyclic and Michigan will come back soon. I suspect RR will be gone after this season. I didn’t understand why he was chosen to begin with. His coaching style is as radical as Bill Callahans was at Nebraska. Michigan football was always defined as “5 yards and a cloud of dust”. They will return once they rid themselves of the RR Fungus. Hang in there and never give up on your team, no matter how bad things seem.
See you next year…
GBR
You know, the one thing I never get about this Callahan comparison is the following:
Rich Rodriguez has won, a lot, on the college level as a head football coach with his system and its various eccentricities.
Bill Callahan didn’t do jack squat in the college game, ever. The comparison makes no sense.
GO BLUE! http://www.maizenbrew.com/
by SCM on Sep 1, 2010 2:44 PM CDT up reply actions
Callahan/RR Comparison
You are correct in your statement about your defined comparison. The comparison that I was eluding to is the Spread or Modified Spread versus Power Football.
Florida...
Meyer seems to run it just fine against the rest of the schools in a traditional power football conference.
Jimmy’s and Joe’s if you ask me, Rodriguez proved it in his bowl matchups when he was at WVa and I have a feeling you’re going to start seeing flashes of it this season with the offense we have.
The “spread doesn’t work against power football” meme is a pretty tired one no?
GO BLUE! http://www.maizenbrew.com/
by SCM on Sep 1, 2010 2:50 PM CDT up reply actions
I tried to be nice but...
Look butthead, THAT IS NOT MICHIGAN FOOTBALL. THAT WILL NEVER BE MICHIGAN FOOTBALL. I don’t care if he has had success with it. He is not having success with it at Michigan. Michigan fans will not tolerate the losing seasons much longer. Michigan does not have the personnel to be successful at running his schemes. Michigan does not have the relationships with High Schools that pump out those style of players. This is forcing Michigan to pull in second rate Spread players. How many more years do you want to have a losing program?Take your RR and leave… Michigan will be better off without RR and his style. One other question, How many NCAA violations has Michigan had in its history. In three (3) years, he has Michigan on the verge on having sanctions laid down on your program. Pull your head out of your behind and see him for what he is.
Hey who had 3 responses in the pool?
For use of “butthead”? Certainly not I.
However I will redeem my winning ticket for “Fan of Other Team Telling MIchigan Fans What Their Expectations Are and How Their Program Works”… sweeeet!
GO BLUE! http://www.maizenbrew.com/
by SCM on Sep 1, 2010 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions
I could be wrong here
Last year was a losing season, but Michigan still managed to score 30pts a game right? It seems to me that Rich Rod’s offensive system is already working in the Big Ten, he just needs a defense to go with it.
I remember
When Callahan’s team was scoring that much also. They gave up more than they scored which equates to a losing season…
And that has what to do with your assertion that the Spread doesn't win against Power football?
It really just means that if you defense sucks it’s hard to win….
GO BLUE! http://www.maizenbrew.com/
by SCM on Sep 1, 2010 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions
Rich Rod has a record of righting his ship, I think he can do it at Michigan if given a fair chance.
Suddenly other teams fans get to define what a fair chance is...
Apparently at Michigan it’s two years, nevermind how many returning starters he inherited or what-not….
GO BLUE! http://www.maizenbrew.com/
by SCM on Sep 1, 2010 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions
Hope is good
but remember that one descent season should not cut it. I want Michigan at its peak when my Huskers come to the Big House and turn it RED….
Better bring some Sun Belt refs to that shin-dig....
GO BLUE! http://www.maizenbrew.com/
by SCM on Sep 1, 2010 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions
C'Mon dude, really?
Yeah, our schedule’s been a little weak lately. We still have never lost to an FCS school.
And UMASS is striking fear in the hearts of no one.
I don't think that was areference schedule
but more to the Alamo Bowl debacle from a few years back.. but I could be wrong.
Aha, well since I think we beat you fair and square
I had no idea there was complaining about the refs
Huskercorner.com
http://twitter.com/huskercorner
huskercorner@gmail.com
Alright
Why the HELL are we arguing about the outcome of an ALAMO BOWL????! The officiating was terrible and both sides got burned, and in my opinion it marred what was otherwise a very entertaining game.
But again, it’s Nebraska and Michigan arguing about who should’ve won…an Alamo Bowl. I think we can find something better to argue about.
-JD, fan of the 1997 National Champion Nebraska Cornhuskers
(sorry, couldn’t resist) ;)
"My hardest job is to convince the people of Nebraska that 10-1 is not a losing season." - Tom Osborne
If that upsets you...
Just wait until you guys meet Penn State fans, at first you’ll be like “oh I get it, they’re joking” but then it will dawn on you, “wait a second, they’re not…. they actually truly believe that…”. You can try to prepare for it, but just trust me, you’ll come back here in a year or two saying “wow, how’d you know??”
GO BLUE! http://www.maizenbrew.com/
by SCM on Sep 2, 2010 9:51 AM CDT up reply actions
I don't think it was meant as an argument,
I think it was meant more to be funny… said more in jest than arguing. I don’t think anybody on this site would honestly spend time arguing the Alamo bowl from 5 years ago.
Exactly...
Figured the sarcasm would be recognized initially…
GO BLUE! http://www.maizenbrew.com/
by SCM on Sep 3, 2010 8:11 AM CDT up reply actions
Really close, 29.5 points per game
Good enough for 41st in the country with an inexperienced O-line and two true freshmen QBs… and one of the worst turnover margins in the NCAA….
GO BLUE! http://www.maizenbrew.com/
by SCM on Sep 1, 2010 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions
Which again, has nothing to do with the spread
GO BLUE! http://www.maizenbrew.com/
by SCM on Sep 1, 2010 3:18 PM CDT up reply actions
We experienced
the same thing….. I am not dogging your school here bud. I just don’t like RR and his style of coaching.
No you didn't.
You hired an unproven NFL guy who had no track-record whatsoever on the college level. Any comparison you are going to try to make here and then tie it to Nebraska under Callahan is just pointless.
GO BLUE! http://www.maizenbrew.com/
by SCM on Sep 1, 2010 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions
Except for his last game against CU
Where we scored 51 points….and lost by 14.
"My hardest job is to convince the people of Nebraska that 10-1 is not a losing season." - Tom Osborne
I'm not buying the "the spread doesn't work argument"
Most college teams are running some variant of the spread offense. Look at Texas. In 2006 OSU ran a variant of the spread against Michigan in The Game. And Callahan’s “spread” was a bastardized pro scheme.
As Rodriguez gets his own players, people will be amazed by what this team will be capable of. Ask Georgia what Rodriguez spread looks like in a BCS game.
Maize n Brew
Because Football is Better with Beer
by Maize n Brew Dave on Sep 1, 2010 2:54 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't know what that had to do with anything
but… okay.
Maize n Brew
Because Football is Better with Beer
by Maize n Brew Dave on Sep 1, 2010 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions
Hmm, the Wolverines seem testy
Thanks for checking in, Rick. As much as I’d love to see us get back to cloud of dust football, I don’t think we’re ready to fire RR yet. He’s finally got the offense he wants, and even though it’s radically different than what we’re used to, it looks like it could get the job done. Now we just need a defense.
Personally, I think the divisions are fine too. Purdue is about even with MSU, Northwestern these days. That’s an odd number of “3rd tier” programs, so 2 will be in the same division. Indiana’s on the upswing, and together with Illinois, has done a lot more lately than Minnesota has, to round out the bottom tier.
You might be right
There is nothing wrong with a Spread, its just very difficult to get the right personnel in place. I believe that you will see a swing from those spread offenses to a combination run/spread/wildcat/…. This way it is easier to adjust your offense to your recruits.
It's actually not that difficult to get the personnel in place
which is why it is so popular.
Huskercorner.com
http://twitter.com/huskercorner
huskercorner@gmail.com
Competition is always a good thing
I like the idea that Michigan lands in a tougher division than Ohio State. This could be a benefit for UM in terms of preparation for a title game and/or bowl game.
As for OSU, PSU and Wiscy getting 3 easy wins, that is definitely true, but Michigan and teams in Michigan’s division might also get those same “easy wins” on their cross-divisional schedule. We don’t know. Since Michigan plays OSU every year regardless (rivalry preserved!), it will be interesting to see if there’s ever a time when UM does not have to play Wiscy AND PSU. If we go to a 9 game schedule, it should include 5 divisional conference opponents and 4 cross-divisional opponents.
Go Blue!
But doesn't that devalue the worth of an intradivision win?
What happens if you’re great against the other division but lose your in-division games? I think you have to have a competitive set of divisions if you’re going to avoid what happened in the Big XII
Maize n Brew
Because Football is Better with Beer
by Maize n Brew Dave on Sep 1, 2010 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions
Ummm....
These divisions are NOT competitive
Um, except they are. Since 1993, both divisions have IDENTICAL .580 winning percentages.
With the minor problem
That the bottom two teams in our division have 96 and 92 wins over that time period whilst the the bottom two in the other division have 69 and 75 wins….
GO BLUE! http://www.maizenbrew.com/
by SCM on Sep 1, 2010 3:10 PM CDT up reply actions
Bingo
That does not make an even division. That makes it incredibly uneven!
Maize n Brew
Because Football is Better with Beer
by Maize n Brew Dave on Sep 1, 2010 3:11 PM CDT up reply actions
Which, correct me if I'm wrong...
Is exactly what you said in the first place.
GO BLUE! http://www.maizenbrew.com/
by SCM on Sep 1, 2010 3:12 PM CDT up reply actions
Not sure this report is true
It very well could mean absolutely nothing… but the helmets on the BTN website right now are lined up in a way that’s suspiciously balanced. And not in the way ESPN reported it. Am I crazy, or does anyone else think the image might be an early screencap from their upcoming announcement?
OUTSTANDING CATCH!
more in a second.
Maize n Brew
Because Football is Better with Beer
by Maize n Brew Dave on Sep 1, 2010 4:19 PM CDT up reply actions
Interesting indeed...
Can 7 get here? Still would hate to see M and OSU split up though….
GO BLUE! http://www.maizenbrew.com/
by SCM on Sep 1, 2010 4:21 PM CDT up reply actions
Perception.
As long as polls of any kind are included in the formula for the BCS Championship perception will play a big role in how leagues are judged. For years the SEC has gotten the benefit of the doubt in terms of league-wide perception (never mind that the Big Ten holds a winning head-to-head record against them during their “golden age” or that their best teams routinely never leave their home states during the non-con) due to the fact that one division or the other routinely seems like a meat-grinder, no matter how bad the other is. This elevates the league in terms of perception because jackasses like Beano Cook and Colin Cowherd see a year in which Tennessee, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina are all competitive at once and say “wow, that’s the toughest league in America”. If the “Northwest” Division can gain the Big Ten that same sort of rep, regardless of fairness, then I guess there’s at least a silver lining to all of this.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
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