[NU Sports] Big Ten and ND

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

> Well, if that's the standard then at least half the Big Ten
> isn't qualified--OSU, Michigan, and Penn State for
> starters.  

Well, I think that's a bit unfair. The University of Michigan is an outstanding academic institution ... though they do have those special loopholes for athletes.:) And Penn State has certainly benefitted academically from joining the Big Ten (one of the reasons they wanted to join was for the academics and minor sports - realizing it may hurt football - and they were right). Most of the "public schools" in the Big Ten are among the top schools nationally - so it's not like it's a run of the mill, admit 98% of applicants school.

As for OSU, well, I always said they were an "SEC school in Big Ten clothing."

I have mixed thoughts on ND in the Big Ten - it would make more sense to have 10 or 12 instead of 11. They do make sense geographically, academically and historically. Plus, as Alan said, then we could beat them more often.:)

But if they join, it would need to be on OUR terms and they can't get the sweetheart special deal the Big Least currently has with them.

In terms of a title game, it would be fun for fans. I don't think it would hurt our double-dipping in the B(C)S at all (conference title games often help there, as a division foe can lose early and be out of the title game but finish on a roll at 10-2 or 11-1 and make the B(C)S). The Big Ten's title game would certainly be more in the SEC's vein than ACC or Big XII, as our fan bases travel well, we'd get good ratings and a nice prime time spot.

However, my opinion on the championship games has switched over times - often they fail to match up the two best teams in the league. The only reason the SEC has gotten lucky the past two years is that they have become what they always derided the Big Ten for being -- the "Big Two plus who?." If LSU hadn't pulled out an OT squeaker over Arkansas, both Bama and Florida would have been the only teams above .500 in league play and each won their division by at least 3 games.

Back when the SEC was competitive, it often missed the right title game - putting LSU against Tennessee in the Tigers' title year when Georgia was probably playing better than anyone else in the country in November -- then keeping a top five LSU out of a game against Florida in their title year because Arkansas had the tiebreak (so maybe a title game HELPS your league produce 1- or 2-loss champions who duck their real league competition :) ).

Personally, I prefer what the Pac 10 does. Everyone plays everyone. No byes. And we didn't do too badly this year with Iowa-OSU ... it just happened to be weeks ago. 

But like everyone has said, this is just long-term speculation now. The Irish still are arrogant enough to believe they can go it alone. Kelley is a perfect fit for them -- all O and no D. A few more 7-5 or 8-4 seasons and maybe they'll want to emerge from irrelevance and wise up.:)

Any news on Zookerwatch? Naw, who cares - WE'RE the ones bowling on New Year's Day!

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

PS - I do recommend the Wisconsin fan message boards for a fun read this holiday season (jsonline.com or other newspapers in America's Dairyland) -- they've gone from rage ("how dare they!") to excuses ("we went to Hawaii and wouldn't travel again") to anger ("Orlando sucks") to sugar coating ("Miami is ranked at least") to acceptance ("well, NU did beat us") in a few days. We should have had this much joy with Hawkeye fans last year, but at least we get the gift this year with the Cheeseheads. Thank you Philips, Fitz and the Outback committee!