Heading: A DESPERATE PLEA TO PROTECT OURS AND THE BIG TEN'S INTERESTS
by buddylee853 on Aug 27, 2010 12:39 PM CDT
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PrintDear Mr. Delany,
I am becoming very concerned about what I'm hearing in the media about possible realignments of the Big Ten Conference and where that leaves our beloved Golden Gophers.
I have been hearing how we could possibly lose the annual matchup with Iowa, sacrificing our yearly battle of the Floyd of Rosedale to maintain the (in many minds) slightly less historically significant Heartland Trophy game. Being one of the founding members of the conference, I believe it's safe to say that one very big thing that this school prides itself on is its rivalry/trophy games. NO ONE has more historically significant trophy games than we do, and half of those games are already not played annually, but now we might be playing even one less than that?
I understand the competitive balance. I really do. However, it's very difficult to predict future competitive balance over only the last 17 years of football records in the conference. Tradition, something that is supposed to be so greatly valued in this conference, seems like it is falling apart unnecessarily, perhaps partially in the name of TV ratings.
In a perfect world, I think all would greatly benefit from teams like Nebraska, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota playing each other on a regular basis. I'm sure you get suggestions all the time, but could you please tell me if my model is even close to what's being considered?
Div. 1 / Protected X-Overs / Div. 2
-Minn ----------------------------> -WI
-Iowa -----------------------------> -Penn St.
-Mich. ----------------------------> -OSU
-NW ----------------------------> -Illinois
-MSU ---------------------------> -Indiana
-Neb. -----------------------------> -Purdue
I strongly believe that this is best possible scenario for not just us, but EVERYBODY collectively.
Reasoning:
-This divides the 4 top teams evenly as well as establishes a general competitive balance, giving both Iowa and Wisconsin two of the best teams to compete with annually.
-All of the most important rivalries of all schools are intact, with many being a protected crossover to possibly add exciting rematches in the title game.
-This alignment actually is somewhat geographical as well, although when I thought of this it was not intended. Geography is still important to all of us because of our ties to the schools in closest proximity with one another.
Downsides:
-Would lose continuity with Heartland Trophy (WI/Iowa) game, but I'd say overall the Floyd of Rosedale is more historically significant.
-Would lose Land Grant trophy game between MSU and Penn State (but many of their fans say its not really a rivalry matchup and is less significant in history)
-The Nebraska-Purdue crossover isn't that sexy of a matchup, but Nebraska does have MN, Iowa, and Michigan every year, and this is the best crossover scenario being that 5 of the 6 matchups are very significant rivalry matchups.
Also, this way the Big Ten has the annual matchups of Floyd, the Little Brown Jug, the Ax, the Illibuck, the Old Oaken Bucket, the in-state rivalries of Mich-MSU, NW-Illinois, Indiana-Purdue, AND of course you get The Game, Mich.-OSU, as well as the blooming rivalry between Iowa and Penn St. and Nebraska with Michigan, Minnesota, AND Iowa
If you could please ease my conscience about what is happening and take my model into consideration, I would appreciate it enormously. We've already lost an annual matchup with the Little Brown Jug; please don't allow us (or any of the other institutions) to lose another of the most important rivalry games in the conference's history.
--
Best regards,
XXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXX
Am waiting for a response to this..
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I could get behind this
I would gather that IA would prefer to play WI, but might settle for PSU instead. It’s a better trade off for them to get Nebraska and maintain PSU, while losing WI, than for the gophers to lose IA and have no guarantee of getting Nebraska.
No one is getting Rubio's rights unless they pry them from our cold dead fingers.
by TheEvilProfessor on Aug 27, 2010 1:17 PM CDT reply actions
As a PSU Alum
I can say that we really wouldn’t mind losing the “rivalry” with MSU in exchange for a team like Nebraska
http://unemployedsportsreporters.wordpress.com
I definitely wouldn't mind that either
especially with all the retro-style uniforms and helmets. It’d be a hell of a trip for visiting fans, though!
"If we got to we're going to crawl in this locker room. And on our back is going to be an axe..."
The 2002 PSU/Nebraska game
Was the largest crowd ever at Beaver Stadium, and plenty of Nebraska fans made the trip… I don’t think that it would be an issue for a game of that magnitude
http://unemployedsportsreporters.wordpress.com
Huh?
A Nebraska—-Purdue protected rivalry? Really? Not that sexy of a matchup is an understatement. Listen, there is no perfect way to do this but you have to face facts. Think of every major change made in sports over the last 15-20 years, such as the wild card and interleague games in MLB, overtime in NHL and NCAA football, or the proposed 18 game schedule in the NFL. What is the common thread in all changes across the board? Think hard……..MONEY! Whatever scenario that the BT envisions will generate the most revenue will be what will be adopted. College presidents and athletic directors will support whatever will fill the coffers with the most dollars.
It took me a while to come around too, but it is a fact of life, money drives everything and the sooner everyone accepts it the sooner they can get on with their lives because it ain’t gonna change. I have a great idea. Instead of worrying about wins and losses, let’s base our happiness on how much money our conference generates compared to other conferences. I guarantee you we will win the National Championship every year.
Mark 8:36
I have to agree with this.
Look at what happened to the Nebraska/Oklahoma rivalry of the 70’s and 80’s. That rivalry, at the time, was considered to be on the same level as the Michigan/Ohio State rivalry. Year in and year out, both of those teams were National Championship contenders who ultimately faced each other with a shot at the the national title on the line. When the Big 8 grew to become the Big XII, the rivalry was lessened when both teams were placed in separate divisions, and more emphasis was placed on the Red RIver Rivalry game between OU and Texas. It was all about money because the OU/Texas game is far more marketable to a national audience, even though Nebraska/Oklahoma was revered as such a great rivalry for several decades.
2015
I think the big 10 is actually attempting to save most rivalry games/trophies, but that it won’t fully happen until 2015 when we have 9 games. If you split the four teams of Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota 3 to 1, that “1” team will never be able to play all of the other three in a given year unless by some small miracle that team gets two during the regular season and the other one in the title game. If you split them 2 and 2, come 2015, you could have a second protected rivalry game and make it work out. I honestly see the heartland trophy as the game that might be SOL for 2 of the fours years until 2015.
Division 1
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Division 2
Iowa
Nebraska
Protect Minnesota-Iowa for Floyd and give Nebraska to Wisconsin since they seem so hellbent on playing them. In 2015, protect Iowa-Wisconsin and Penn State Nebraska and everyone gets what they want.
You can even protect the little brown jug with the following method. Michigan would protect OSU now and Minnesota in 2015, and so on down the line. Minnesota would protect Iowa now and Michigan in 2015.
Division 1
Michigan: OSU, Minnesota
Iowa: Minnesota, Wisconsin
Nebraska: Wisconsin, PSU
Michigan State: PSU, Purdue
Indiana: Purdue, Illinois
NW: Illinois, OSU
Divisions 2
OSU: Michigan, NW
PSU: Michigan State, Nebraska
Wisconsin: Nebraska, Iowa
Minnesota: Iowa, Michigan
Purdue: Indiana, Michigan State
Illinois: NW, Indiana
I agree sort of
Although Georghaphical split still seems the best for many many reasons. Last year the west would have been better then the east anyway and it could stay that way for awhile with Michigan in the dumps and Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin surging. We as Big 10 fans need to start some sort of a petition or something. Ive always hated Delany I dont think he does crap for the Big 10 or college football and am not even sure how he got the job he has. A New Jersey guy in the Big 10 can we get a new commish please University Presidents.
Wow
I respect the author for taking the time to write down and publish his thoughts for everybody to read and want to start off by saying Husker fans are PUMPED to join the Big 10.
But a protected crossover game with Purdue? There is nothing even remotely compelling about that match up. I also cannot for the life of me get excited about a NU-Wisconsin match up. Alvarez cannot just conjure up a rivalry there- Husker fans wouldn’t embrace it.
The only crossover game that appeals to me is one with Penn State!
Here’s to hoping most things end up being the best for the Big 10 and its fans in the long run. We here in Lincoln respect you and are looking forward to playing some great football soon!
MN has a better shot at a rivalry with Nebraska...
if they can actually start winning again. At least there is history there. Wisconsin is just making crap up.
No one is getting Rubio's rights unless they pry them from our cold dead fingers.
by TheEvilProfessor on Aug 29, 2010 7:40 PM CDT up reply actions
It is all temporary anyway
The Big 10 will expand again and this will all get upset at some point in the future.
The arranging of the new Big Ten hopefully will look something like this:
Division 1
Nebraska (Penn St., Purdue)
Minnesota (Indiana, Northwestern)
Iowa (Illinois, Purdue)
Wisconsin (Illinois, Ohio St.)
Michigan St. (Indiana, Penn St)
Michigan (Ohio St, Northwestern)
Division 2
Northwestern (Minnesota, Michigan)
Illinois (Wisconsin, Iowa)
Purdue (Iowa, Nebraska)
Indiana (Michigan St., Minnesota)
Ohio St. (Michigan, Wisconsin)
Penn St. (Nebraska, Michigan St.)
Most traveling trophies and old rivalries will remain intact other than the Governors Victory Bell between Minnesota and Penn St. I don’t know about other Gopher fans, but Governors Victory Bell trophy isn’t one I find really important or even a rivalry. Michigan and Ohio St. keep their rivalry and Nebraska wants to take on Penn St.
I know Division 1 looks like the stronger division and Division 2 is dominated by Ohio St and Penn St. My take is making and maintaining strong rivalries rather than balancing out the divisions to equal strength. Dynasties come and go, but boarder and regional battles last forever.
I don't get it
I guess I am in the minority here, but I don’t get this rivalry talk. To me, every Big Ten game is as important as the next one. I just don’t understand all the emotions attached to this issue ( no matter what level).
rivalries have more to do with 2 things than anything else
1. If a program has constantly had to go through another team to get to the rose bowl and is rejected with a great frequency, fans as a whole tend to associate more anger/angst towards that one school…hence a rivalry is borne. (requires actually being good during the same era as this other team).
2. Geography. If you live in an area and constantly have to see fans from other Big Ten teams give you crap about your team or visa-versa you tend to build up animosity between the fan bases. This translates to on the field grudges as it means more to the fans and winning against that team or losing is how your fan base judges success/failure on an annual basis.
No one is getting Rubio's rights unless they pry them from our cold dead fingers.
by TheEvilProfessor on Aug 30, 2010 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions
the gophers
haven’t been the first one for a while and if you don’t live near the geographic rivals like Iowa and Wisconsin, then that rivalry won’t be as important to you personally. I live in Mpls and absolutely hate Iowa and Wisconsin. Love beating them more than any other teams.
No one is getting Rubio's rights unless they pry them from our cold dead fingers.
by TheEvilProfessor on Aug 30, 2010 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions
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