[NU Sports] Dominoes done?

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

Interesting couple days ... I think Texas did indeed get what it wanted. They will start their own TV network, dominate a weak league and rule the roost without having to go through a tough Big Ten or SEC or travel to the Pac 10 to play games hours behind home markets.

The big question is how long the "nine dwarves" will be satisfied with this Yankees/MLB type deal where one school rakes in the moolah while the other nine serve as fodder for the machine. Once the Pac 10 adds Utah and gets to 12 and the Big Ten turns their eyes eastward, that's it for these other schools. Texas A&M may have an out with the SEC, but otherwise they're stuck in this dying league.

We'll also see if the media/pollsters recognize this. For years we've had the Big XII shoved down our throats as the league of the future in hoops and football -- story after story about the Big Ten dying off and the Big XII rivaling the SEC. Never really happened. Will they lower Texas' lofty rankings if they only play one tough game -- always on a half-home stadium -- every year? The B(C)S gave the Big XII champ an easy path to the title game (even if they lost the league's game ... or didn't even play in it) ... will it be as easy on the new Texas & Friends league???

I think the Pac 10 is set once they get Utah. They have 12, a title game and a bit of a better TV deal. The Big Ten is probably set at 12 as well and got what they wanted ... for now. I still think Notre Dame's the target, but we need to either play hardball (stop scheduling them) or break up the Big East to get them to move now. Otherwise, we wait.

At the end of the day, it's going to be pretty clear to everyone what should have been clear all along. The SEC and Big Ten are, far and away, the two best leagues in football. The Big Ten is competitive with the ACC and Big East in hoops. And the Big Ten is far and away superior in academics.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

PS - For those not sold on UNL yet, just think of the fun of getting to cheer against people who have an unhealthy love of corn AND those who wear an unseemly amount of red at the SAME TIME! It's like combining our two biggest rivals from Iowa and Wisconsin into one new super-rival!:)

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STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!! GEAUX SAINTS!!!
Super Bowl XLIV Champions!
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