[NU Sports] Divisions

[Mike Nolan]

> > 2011 comes down to the Iowa-Nebraska game.  
> 
> I think that's the rivalry to watch. It should be a fantastic border war and could be a defacto semifinal for many years.

There's an interesting article on the Omaha World Herald site today, 
talking about how if the Big XII had made OU-Neb a protected rivalry
game, the Husker might still be in that conference.  But apparently
Oklahoma didn't think it was worth saving, as their 'rivalry' game was
always Texas.  The writer (Shatel) thinks Neb-Iowa could be a rivalry 
that both states take to heart.

They used to talk about divorce settlements where custody of the 
tickets for Oklahoma-Nebraska were specified, so it'll be interesting
to see what happens.

There's been a rumor floating that Oklahoma might look to set up a
non-conference series against Nebraska, but I wouldn't bet the ranch 
on that happening.
 
> :) - not that Nebrsska has ever had trouble selling tickets, but the 2011/12 schedules are going to be quite a change. No more waiting for OU or Texas every 3 or so years and filling time with Baylor, Iowa State or Kansas. Now it's Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Iowa, Wisconsin ... the marquee games in this new league will be a treat to watch! And I'm sure Husker fans will enjoy road trips to the Twin Cities, Chicago, Columbus, Ann Arbor, State College and Madison more than Ames, Manhattan, Lubbock, Stillwater and such. :)

This should guarantee at least one GOOD game in Lincoln every season,
which will be welcome!  There's talk about expanding the stadium again,
they keep inching close to that 100K point, which in a state that
only has 1.8 million people is hard to imagine.  

The road trip people won't miss AT ALL are the trips to Columbia MO.  Most 
of the people I know wouldn't drive their own cars to that game!

I do kinda feel sorry for Turner Gill, though, he came to Lawrence hoping 
to build up a really heated rivalry (Kansas-Nebraska Act, part II) but 
will only get one game against the team he played for and coached at.  

And if there was any doubt who the alpha male in the Big XII is, that's
been settled.  
--
Mike Nolan