[Husker] Views from Big 10 country

[Mike Nolan]

> Also, if I understand the rankings you provided, they're limited to 
> one field of study.  You probably also should factor in the local 
> view that IU has pretty good reputations in music, journalism, and 
> chemistry.  My observation has been that there's a tendency toward a 
> bit of snobbishness in this regard, so that may be at play.

It isn't so much snobbishness as it is a bit of one-upsmanship, and it 
has been going on for decades.  (The real snobbishness comes from
the Ivy League schools.)  

Nebraska fans and UNL staff are going to have to get used to that, and
respond in kind, which they're doing.

Penn State was a well-respected school long before it was invited to join
the Big Ten, regardless of what the IU Chancellor implied.
(Joining CIC is a BIG DEAL, though.)

The challenge for Nebraska may be keeping up with their new Big Ten 
brethren in terms of funding in a time when everyone calls for
cutting back.  

Here's something that was sent out the other day, note that
three Big Ten schools are prominently mentioned:

The National Research Council has just released the ranking of over 
5,000 graduate programs across the nation. I am extremely proud and 
honored that the UNL Agronomy & Horticulture PhD program is ranked #6 
amongst 120 Plant Sciences programs! This is OUTSTANDING and national 
recognition for the achievements of our faculty, staff, and students. 

To put things in perspective, we are ranked higher than such esteemed 
institutions as Michigan State University, Cornell University, University 
of Wisconsin, North Carolina State University, and Purdue University! 
--
Mike Nolan