[NU Sports] Three things the Big Ten needs

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

> San Antonio, so here's a topic for discussion. I think
> there are three things that the Big Ten needs to do in order
> to elevate its football status. 

Let's not be too hasty to change here - basically the best thing we can do is simply win bowl games (or don't get in agreements that essentially having us play road games at bowls :) ) -- OSU beats Florida or LSU the last two years and none of this down talk happens.

> 1) Add Notre Dame. I hate them more than anyone on this
> list (trust me), but geographically and academically they
> are a fit. They need us and we a 12th team. John Cooper said
> this a while back - if you want Notre Dame to join the
> conference, stop playing them. If Jim Delaney announced that

Agree and agree. ND would be a good fit for the league and vice versa. Until then, cut them off.

However ...

> 2) Split into two divisions and add a conference
> championship game. 

While I'd like to see this for pure fun, I'll repeat that conferences DO NOT NEED TO RUSH TO ADD CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES TO KISS THE BCS' A$$!

The Big XII and SEC can't even get their conference title games RIGHT the last few years (no LSU-UGA last year, no Texas this year), and the ACC and CUSA games are completely irrelevant. So why do we need to jump and do this aside from money and some fun.

If we imitate another league, I'd rather it be the Pac 10 with a true round-robin schedule. Everyone gets a chance at everyone on the field (The mighty SEC even lacks this, as UGa and LSU never played last year) and you crown a true champ.

And if we want to be relevant late in the season, just futz with the schedule as the Pac 10 does so that USC is still playing games the last two weekends and not at home.

> 3) Admittedly, I'm not as serious about this one. Have
> each school give up one home game every two years for a
> neutral site game. This is actually what built ND into a
> national power. Rockne would play anyone anywhere (and
> before airline travel existed). There'd be griping, but
> imagine if you could get Ohio State vs. Wisconsin in Las
> Vegas or Northwestern vs. Michigan in Washington, DC - or
> heck, even Iowa vs. Purdue in London.  

I really hope you're joking here. The NFL in London is an awful idea and college there would be worse (not to mention all those bumblebee RVs that would sink after trying to drive to Wembley! :) ).

I'd love to see the Big Ten get some neutral site games within our region -- i.e. OSU-PSU in Pittsburgh or MSU-UM in Detroit, NU-UI in Soldier Field, Bucket Game in Indy - like the Red River Rivalry or former-cocktail party, but there's no need to go outside of the midwest to play these games.

Two years ago we were more than relevant without title game gimmicks that make the Big XII and SEC look silly every year as they fail to match their best teams ... or neutral game stunts ... or Notre Dame. We just need to win bowl games. Well, we've won bowl games - we need to win the big bowl games. Do that and suddenly there will be no talk of relevance. But until they manage to get a title game right in the Big XII or SEC, I don't think we should jump off that cliff.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT