The Big Ten Conference Network (“BTCN”) is set to announce the new divisions and schedules for 2011. According to multiple sources Ohio State and Michigan are being placed in opposite divisions. Despite some rumors, the question of whether The Game will remain the final game of the regularly scheduled season is still a mystery.
ESPN’s Andy Katz reports that the divisional alignment will look like this:
Big Ten Divisions?
| A DIVISION | B DIVISION |
|---|---|
| Illinois | Iowa |
| Indiana | Michigan |
| Ohio State | Michigan State |
| Penn State | Minnesota |
| Purdue | Nebraska |
| Wisconsin | Northwestern |
Objectively speaking, this has to be seen as a major step in the wrong direction for supporters of a final week meeting between the Big Ten titans. As I previously pointed out, almost no one had an appetite for a rematch of Ohio State and Michigan in 2006 and that was for the National Championship several weeks later. That is not lost on the BTCN, so I find it hard to believe that the idea of the two playing a rematch 7 or 14 days later is more palatable.
I have read the rumors, but I will believe it when I see it. As of right now, I expect The Game to be moved. (Typing that was horrible.)
What a buzz kill in advance of the opener.
On Thursday night, the Ohio State Buckeyes will embark on the journey that is the 2010 season. The Buckeyes take on Marshall out of Conference USA, a team most remembered for a plane crash, a broken shin, and a Mike-Nugent-field-goal shy of upsetting the Buckeyes in 2004. Things are a little different this time, as the Buckeyes return a majority of starters from last season and will hope to be playing for the MNC in January. But before the Scarlet and Gray start thinking about bowls played next year, they’ll have to get past a new look Marshall team lead by first year head coach Doc Holliday.
On Thursday night, the Ohio State Buckeyes will embark on the journey that is the 2010 season. The Buckeyes take on
Thursday Nights Are For Contenders
As Jim Tressel likes to say, “September is for pretenders, and November is for contenders”. For Ohio State, they’ll hope Thursdays are for contenders, as the Buckeyes open their season at home, under the lights, on a Thursday night for the first time in recent memory. This will mark the first time since 1997 that the Buckeyes played a Thursday night game, a slot typically reserved for Big East and lower division teams.
Thursday night games are an interesting proposition, but typically to media deprived teams and conferences, as previously stated. Gene Smith had the idea to grab the ESPN opening day slot and put his Buckeyes in the spotlight. A funny thing happened when 16 matchups were also announced for Thursday night and ESPN picked up the Southern Miss at South Carolina hum-dinger instead. That left the Buckeyes with a Big Ten Network slot in addition to the game being played while Fall Quarter isn’t in session and most people in attendance will be working the next day, let alone the visitors who typically travel 2.5 hours or more to see a game in the Shoe.
Fortunately, the Thursday time slot means you don’t have to wait 2 more days to start the football season. So there’s that.
Been Herd Before
West Virginia Buffaloes
For those complaining about opening against 1-AA (FCS) and MAC teams, they will be happy to hear that Marshall has made the jump…or drop…to Conference USA since their last visit to Columbus. They’ve also seen Bob Pruett retire, Mark Snyder get fired, and the hiring of John “Doc” Holliday.
This IS Doc Holliday...terrified of the Horseshoe.
Mark Snyder rings a bell? He was the Ohio State defensive coordinator in 2004 (yes, that 2004) only to ‘move on’ to Marshall after 1 season of firing the Silver Bullets. That whole ‘moving on’ didn’t work as well as hoped for the Herd, and announced Doc Holliday as the head coach on December 17, 2009. He brings 31 years of coaching experience to his first head coaching position, including assistant positions at Marshall, West Virginia, NC State, and Florida. That Florida stop just happened to be as an associate head coach and safeties coach between 2005 and 2007, and those historians among us might be able to piece together some events that transpired on January 8, 2007 between Florida and Ohio State. However, unless Doc is bringing some evil mojo (or Gatorade) and Ron-Zook-recruited players from Florida, this should have little affect on Thursday night’s game.
Marshall does return Senior Brian Anderson from last season to run Marshall’s spread attack. Anderson isn’t afraid to take to the air, passing for 2,646 yards and 14 TDs in 2009, but the Buckeye defense should be on its toes as he also threw 13 balls to wrong team. Unless the Ghost of Anderson Russell starts haunting the safeties, the combination of a strong Buckeye defensive line and an experienced secondary should lead to a turnover or 3. Ohio State starts and ends with its defense, and Marshall just won’t have the firepower to exploit the Buckeyes.
On defense, Doc Holliday sums up Marshall’s game plan as “hope and pray”, in regards to corralling Terrelle Pryor. While “hope and pray” sounds good to Buckeye fans who like offensive fireworks, expect Holliday and his defensive coordinator Chris Rippon to have a real, live plan. A detractor would say “pop in the Purdue tape”, but Marshall doesn’t have the defensive line of Purdue and if Marshall’s defensive line looks like it is playing on par with Ryan Kerrigan, start with your prayers on your holy rosary. Marshall should look to, and may successfully, shut down the Ohio State power plays, but there will be no answer for an improved Terrelle Pryor, running and passing. Marshall did have a Top 4 defense last season…in Conference USA. While the Marshall defense should be able to pressure Pryor and make tackles, it won’t be for the full 60 minutes, and the Buckeyes should be able to take advantage.
The All Americans
“For us to mimic Ohio State is very hard. They’ve got All-Americans at every position,” Holliday said. “The speed is a little different.”
While not entirely true (Doc may not have a real Ph.D) but he is on to something. It would be hard for Marshall to replicate the speed of Terrelle Pryor and the power of Cameron Heyward. (I won’t mention the nastiness of Justin Boren, in fear of Justin Boren) Sprinkle in other future NFL draftees among the 15 starters back from last year’s Rose Bowl winning team and, well, you get the point. There’s a reason Ohio State is carrying the #2 ranking into their opening game.
As Matt Hinton of Dr Saturday points out, “But as of the start of this season, this is the only team that checks off virtually all the boxes on the “preseason favorite” checklist.” There aren’t a bunch of unknowns with this bunch. With most Tressel coached teams, there are and will be few surprises. For this Tressel coached team, the key to the National Championship is big time plays by its veteran players. Consistency is important in title runs, but you don’t become a champion without some luck, as the 2002 team, nicknamed for better or worse The Luckeyes, will tell you.
Buckeye Newcomers
It wouldn’t be college football without the addition of impact freshman (true or redshirt). If they’re going to bite, they’re going to bite as a pup. The Buckeyes feature 3 true freshman on the two deep including Jonathan “Big Hank” Hankins at NT/DT, Christian Bryant at the Star, and Corey “Philly” Brown as the ‘OR’ 3rd or 4th receiver with Chris Fields (in addition to punt returns). Drew Basil, also a true frosh, will be handling kick offs and backing up Senior Devin Barclay on field goals.
But you don’t have to be a freshman to make an impact, as Solomon Thomas, Andrew Sweat, and CJ Barnett hope to prove. Andrew Sweat beat out Etienne Sabino in a high contested battle for the open linebacker spot vacated by Austin Spitler. In the end, Sweat’s instincts are believed to have sealed the deal, but expect both to see the field often. CJ Barnett came out of figurative nowhere to be listed as the starting strong safety over spring favorite and the team’s best athlete, Orhian Johnson. Johnson has been limited in practice due to a hamstring issue and while Tressel stated that Barnett won the job outright, Johnson is expected to fight for a starting spot when healed. Solomon Thomas, a RS junior is looking to make his first start and see his first significant playing time. The junior is filling in for an injured Nathan Williams and has packed on the weight to translate his spring production to games that count.
Sure, Sure, Unsure
There are things that OSU does well, there are things that OSU does not so well, and then there is scoring touchdowns in red zone. A conservative Jim Tressel, working with an inexperienced offense, will always play for the guaranteed points and the +4 differential on a touchdown is merely icing on the cake. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that the Buckeyes converted 25 of their 48 red zone possessions for 7 points in 2009 (roughly 50%) while settling for 3 points 13 of the remaining 23 tries. In total, the Bucks were 38/48 in the red zone, for a 79.2% conversion rate. Not bad for a Big Ten Championship winning , Rose Bowl winning team.
But the Buckeyes have their sights set on running the table, and the best way to ensure that the ball bounces their way is by converting opportunities for points. For example, Wisconsin scored on 54/58 (93.10%) attempts in the red zone, including 40 touchdowns and 11 field goals. Texas scored on 53/58 (91.38%) attempts in the red zone, including 42 touchdowns and 14 field goals. Alabama scored on 51/59 (86.44%) attempts in the red zone, including 28 touchdowns and 23 field goals. The random sampling of 3 teams, chosen because they had high percentages than the Buckeyes, doesn’t mean that more conversion equal appearances in the National Championship game (just ask Wisconsin, undone by its defense and Scott Tolzien’s pick-6-fest).
For reference, Ohio State converted 85.19% of red zone trips into points in its 2006 championship run and 87.23% in its 2007 championship run. Florida converted 91.18% in 2008. LSU converted 93.33% in 2007.
Buffaloes Don’t Roam
Poe’s Prediction: Ohio State over Marshall - 38-6
This game should play out like the typical MAC outing, where the opponent puts up some points (6-10) and doesn’t let Ohio State score over 40. Could Marshall call up the spirits of 2004 and hang with the Buckeyes? Absolutely, but Terrelle Pryor and whoever is the RB are upgrades from Justin Zwick and Lydell Ross. Heacock and Fickell are calling the shots on defense. If you think Marshall has a shot, Vegas would like to disagree with you to the tune of 28.5 points. Marshall was actually one of the more successful teams in college football in the 1990’s and they hope to be born again under Doc Holliday. Unfortunately for the Herd, their rebirth, and brutal baptism, starts in front of 105,000 scarlet and gray clad fans and 22 of the best football players they will see the rest of the season.
The real story line will be what Terrelle Pryor brings to the table and whether or not he is able to build on his Rose Bowl MVP performance and not revert back to the beginning of the 2009 season. From most accounts, Pryor is throwing the ball as well as he ever has in Columbus and the addition of the backs and TE (I said it) in the passing game should help him make better decisions. There shouldn’t be any surprises on defense, but the Buckeyes may miss playmaker Kurt Coleman calling the shots from safety. There’s no such thing as a warm-up game when you’re gunning for a championship, but this should be as close as it could come to one.
The latest installment of ESPN’s Rise High School Football Kickoff series should be the most interesting yet for Ohio State fans. At 7:00pm the Worldwide Leader will broadcast Huber Heights Wayne vs. Moeller. Ohio State fans will no doubt be interested in Huber Heights superstar quarterback and OSU commitment, Braxton Miller. The game airs on ESPNU.
Football team can be an extension of the head coach and reflect his personality. Apparently, that’s evident under Rich Rodriguez. AnnArbor.com recently published the results of interviews with 19 members of Michigan’s football team. Answers ranged from the strange, one player rooting for Kansas State before joining Michigan, and the comical, with 6 players voting Terrelle Pryor as the Most Overrated in the Big Ten. While everyone is entitled to their opinion, maybe the 19 Michigan teammates should have remember that they were in the Top 25 before crashing and burning on the coattails of Tate Forcier and real defenses.
The Michigan players couldn’t REALLY feel that way, could they? Have they no respect for just how far they have fallen under Rich Rodriguez? We here at Buckeye Commentary took it upon ourselves to re-interview those 19 members and set the story straight. They were willing to get candid and tell us what they really thought. Really. I swear.
Teams really do reflect their head coach. In fact, every player that participated cried after the interview. Oh Richie, you taught them well.
1. Without voting for a teammate, who’s the most exciting player in the Big Ten this year?
Wisconsin running back John Clay - 2
Don’t know - 2
No comment - 2
Ohio State receiver DeVier Posey - 1
“Cameron Heyward. You said terrifying, right?” – Denard Robinson.
“Why don’t you ask somebody that will be playing this season”. – Tate Forcier
“Terrelle Pryor. He big”. - Cullen Christian.
2. Who is the most overrated player in the Big Ten this year?
Tate Forcier - 4
Indiana RB Darius Willis - 3
Illinois QB Juice Williams - 2
“So we can vote for a teammate on this one?” – Craig Roh
“Tate Forcier. I might take his wings away during the season”. – Rich Rodriguez
No longer in the Big Ten. Michigan is thankful.
3. Who is the hardest hitter on the Wolverines defense?
Greg Robinson - 2
Ohio State receiver DeVier Posey – 1
All of them - 0
“JT Floyd is the hardest hitter. Sometimes when we both miss a tackle, he slams into me real hard”. – James Rogers
“John Clay. But he don’t play for Michigan. Just seems like he’s always hittin’ us hard” – Obi Ezeh
4. What college football team did you root for before joining the Wolverines?
West Virginia - 10
Michigan St - 4
Toledo - 3
Da U - 1
Tulsa – 1
App St – 1
Don’t Know - 1
“I was waitin’ on that Tulsa schollie and it never showed up”. – Anonymous
“I didn’t care for football, I’m just trying to get paid”. – Michael Shaw
“Ohio State? Naw, they didn’t even recruit me”. – 95% of the team
5. What’s your most embarrassing football memory?
“The last two seasons.”
For the last week or so, roughly 9 out of every 10 seconds of my Ohio State stream of consciousness has been dedicated to the traveshamockery that is the purported rescheduling of the Greatest Show on Earth. Suffice it to say, I am spent. I have written email upon email to Gordon, Gene, and Jim. Their email addresses are here if you wish to pick up my slack:
gordon.gee@osu.edu
genesmith@buckeyes.ath.ohio-state.edu
jdelany@bigten.org
Thankfully, Frank the Tank has captured the reality of the situation better than I ever could. I consider the this link mandatory reading for anyone that loves Ohio State or Michigan football, the Big Ten, or college football. Enjoy.
THE BIG TEN: THE NEW COKE CONFERENCE
Mssrs. Gordon Gee, Gene Smith, and Jim Delaney:
Stop what you are doing for a second and hear me out. Most of us fear that it is far too late, but this is too important not to say: The idea of changing the schedule placement for The Game is an extremely bad one. In fact, it’s embarrassing. Stop it. I am speaking for the vast, vast majority of fans of Ohio State, Michigan, the Big Ten, and college football when I say: “Moving the Ohio State-Michigan game is huge mistake.”
I do not want to come across as some sanctimonious rube. I understand the money paid by television networks allows schools like Ohio State to renovate and maintain its beautiful stadium, support dozens of other varsity sports, and build state-of-the-art practice facilities that help build the teams we cherish. I get it. Money is part of the sport. And, I am fine with that.
But, it is not the only part.
At this point, however, it seems like the tail is wagging the dog. In the past, the product on the field drove the price that networks would pay. Now, a conference as venerable as the Big Ten is tilting at windmills because networks will pay more if you change the product to their liking. I now believe the Big Ten a television network first, collegiate athletic conference second.
My sample size is not enormous, but I have not heard anyone close to this say that they want to play The Game in any other format than the current one. For example, Jim Lachey and Chris Spielman have some opinions. I also recall that less than four years ago, no one wanted to see the rematch of arguably the greatest game ever played by Ohio State and Michigan. Most fans did not want it, and clearly the voters did not need to see it again. Many former OSU players do not like the idea. Hell, even Michigan’s players did not want it. I do not think the sentiment has changed.
I thought Ivan Maisel summed it up perfectly this morning:
Putting Ohio State and Michigan in separate divisions in 2011 is a bad idea. Their regular-season game would move to midseason to prevent them from playing in a Big Ten title game a week later. So the league would end a tradition that delivers at the end of everyseason for the possibility that the Buckeyes and Wolverines would play a rematch in the championship game in some seasons. Alabama and Auburn play for the SEC West, not for the Sugar Bowl. That rivalry is no less important.
The worst part for fans is that we have not heard a single cogent argument for moving the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry forward in the season that is not based on the desire to make more money. I do not believe we will ever hear one. Does one exist? And to pour salt in that wound, the teams will play in abject neutrality in a city with the newest hotel rooms. If you believe those games will matter as much as the current set up, you’re dreaming.
In the end, you will do what you think is right for the universities and conference. Unfortunately, I believe your metric for righteousness is measured in dollars, not fan experience.
Best-
BuckeyeCommentary.com
Here it is, one of the most unofficial preseason college football polls you will ever see.
| RANK | TEAM | 2009 RECORD | 2009 RANK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama | 14-0 | 1 |
| 2 | Ohio State | 11-2 | 5 |
| 3 | Oklahoma | 8-5 | NR |
| 4 | Florida | 13-1 | 3 |
| 5 | Texas | 13-1 | 3 |
| 6 | Virginia Tech | 10-3 | 2 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | 10-3 | 10 |
| 8 | Boise State | 14-0 | 4 |
| 9 | TCU | 12-1 | 6 |
| 10 | Oregon | 10-3 | 11 |
| 11 | Miami | 9-4 | 19 |
| 12 | Georgia | 8-5 | NR |
| 13 | North Carolina | 8-5 | NR |
| 14 | Florida State | 7-6 | NR |
| 15 | Iowa | 11-2 | 7 |
| 16 | USC | 9-4 | 22 |
| 17 | Arkansas | 8-5 | NR |
| 18 | Nebraska | 10-4 | 14 |
| 19 | Auburn | 8-5 | NR |
| 20 | Penn State | 11-2 | 9 |
| 21 | Pittsburgh | 10-3 | 15 |
| 22 | LSU | 9-4 | 17 |
| 23 | Texas A&M | 6-7 | NR |
| 24 | Michigan State | 6-7 | NR |
| 25 | Boston College | 8-5 | NR |
Prolouge: As usual, this poll is based on how good I believe the teams to be at this moment, not where they will finish. Just like every year, I will strive to maintain this philosophy for the entire season. I will struggle against the perceived transitive properties of college football. I will trust my subjective ability to evaluate teams that are rounding into shape while others are demonstrating a pronounced ability to come unglued. It is not entirely unusual for there to be teams with two losses that look much better than a handful of undefeateds.
As the faithful reader(s) know, I rank the teams based on how good I believe them to be at this moment, not at the end of last season, and not how I think they will finish. Schedules are not taken into consideration but the natural off-season development is relied upon. For me, the test is whether I believe a team would defeat the team immediately ahead of them on a neutral field this weekend.
Also, and this sounds obvious, someone has to be ranked in each spot. There are no ties. Even though I have team X four spots ahead of team Y, the spread may be very narrow in my mind. I know there are vagaries that make it difficult to determine who is truly better than whom, but remember these rankings are subjective.
Finally, the rankings are always subject to change. Teams may jump five or ten spots in one week, or may drop even when they win. Likewise, teams may rise when they lose. I take injuries and suspensions into consideration, so a team may win its game and lose its best player (see Oregon 2007) and drop in my poll. This poll will not reward teams simply for winning. Again, these rankings are subjective.
Sexy Outs: There are a lot of sexy squads out there that garner trendy votes. South Carolina, Arizona, Notre Dame and Washington immediately jump to mind. Reasons exist to hit the ‘buy’ button for those teams but honestly, the smart money has been on ’sell’ for a long time. I understand that 5-10 of the teams I have placed in my lineup will promptly plummet out within a matter of weeks.
Poe McKnoe scours the Internet for blog posts, comments, and message boards that remind us you don’t need brainpower, or even common sense, to post on the Internet. No sources for material will be left out, so be careful where and what you post. Poe is reading (he finally learned how).
The Buckeyes and the rest of the Conference recently reported to camp. Other than some random pictures of players were shorts and t-shirts, not much has happened yet. But soon, OSU and the rest of the League will be at each others’ throats trying to win what will be the last of its kind.
It turns out that 2010 is the last year that a team can represent the (newish) old school Big Ten. The Conference was founded in 1896, so with its most recent incarnation clocking in at 20 years old that makes the Penn State era the shortest term in the league’s history without adding a team. Something tells me the Nebraska era will be even shorter.
Unfortunately for most of the league’s teams, this farewell season looks like it will end in the same fashion as the last five - with Ohio State at that top. That does not mean that it will not be interesting along the way. This is my humble, brief, and (ultimately incorrect) look at how good I believe the teams are; not how they will finish.
1. Ohio State
Positives: For the first time in a long time, the lines at OSU are projected as strengths of their respective units. There were some losses on the defensive line, but if John Simon progresses the way most people expect they should be better than 2009.
Negatives: I’m nitpicking but the running back situation is not ideal and the kicking game is in shambles by Tresselian standards. The defensive secondary has no proven leaders. (Sorry Chekwa fans.)
Realities: Missing two of the league’s upper crust is an unnecessary gift for what is easily the most talented team in the Conference. Despite trips to Madison and Iowa City, the Buckeyes are likely to be favored in every game of the season. 8-0 is expected.
2. Wisconsin
Positives: The Badgers return 10 offensive starters including a great offensive line (again) and arguably the league’s best skill players. John Clay should run for another 1,500 yards if he shows up every game.
Negatives: The schedule is not great. They miss PSU but they travel to Iowa, Michigan State, and Michigan. Ohio State comes to Madison after a few scrimmages.
Realities: Wisky tends to play to the jersey (see several close games in 2009) so asking them to finish second in an imporved Big Ten may be asking too much. Still, on paper this team is better than all but one.
3. Iowa
Positives: The Hawkeyes’ defense is going to be lights out. Between the players, coaches, and team mentality, this is probably the best defensive unit in the Conference…
Negatives: … unfortunately, they will be playing in a lot of close games because an offense that largely struggled in 2009, has to rebuild their offensive line (which was its strength).
Realities: Stanzi likes to get hurt, but when healthy (a big if behind the new line) they are productive. All the big games are at home, which is huge benefit.
4. Michigan State
Positives: Oddly, for a team sporting arguably the best defensive player in the Big Ten, MSU’s offense was the lifeblood of this team in 2009. Cousins and co. should lead the way again, but the Spartans should be more balanced.
Negatives: Four teams had multiple players rush for more yards than MSU’s leading rusher, Larry Caper (Illinois and OSU had 3 players each).
Realities: They struggle to get over the proverbial hump. MSU has not defeated a top ten team since an overtime victory against Notre Dame in 2005. They are 0-8 since that game.
5. Penn State
Positives: I feel like I say this for every team, but the PSU defense looks really good. Evan Royster is a stud and he will be running behind another good Big Ten line.
Negatives: The quarterback situation is a puddle. Kevin Newsome is extremely likely to win this derby but any Nittany Lion fan would tell you that this position battle is unsettling. I just don’t think the WRs are that great.
Realities: This was a super balanced team in 2009 - ranked second in both total offense and defense. That was not nearly enough to beat the league’s elite as Iowa and Ohio State handled Penn State easily in Happy Valley. Without Clark, it is hard to imagine a better outcome.
6. Michigan
Positives: Let’s see … they are really good at returning punts and kicks. Seriously, this was the youngest team in the Conference last season so they have to be … actually let’s just say that the lines will be decent.
Negatives: Rich Rod is their coach and has made a mess of the program. Is there any confidence left in Ann Arbor?
Realities: According to people who get paid to talk about it, they have lots of talent. Two straight top ten classes need to start making a difference. Placing them in the top half of the league could make me look like an idiot.
7. Northwestern
Positives: This is a really mysterious team. How do they win games? Pat Fitzgerald appears to make a huge difference…
Negatives: He better, because the offensive options are slim. Kafka’s graduation is troubling but NW seems to replace QBs in the same way that Wisky replaces offensive lineman.
Realities: Despite a lot of statistical leaders leaving, the Wildcats do return 13 starters. That is bound to count for something.
8. Purdue
Positives: Despite losing surprisingly productive QB Joey Elliot, the Boilers might be in better shape at the QB spot. Miami transfer Robert Marve is now under center and provides the athleticism that Purdue has never had at the position. The front 7 has lots of experience.
Negatives: The loss of RB Ralph Bolden ensures that balance is not a word many will be using to describe the Purdue offense.
Realities: Maybe I am biased after the loss to the Boilermakers in ‘09, but this team looked better than its 5-7 record. If nothing else, this is the league’s most intriguing team with the addition of Marve.
9. Illinois
Positives: The Illini could experience addition through subtraction with the loss of their 4-year starting QB. Their passing attack was the worst in the Big Ten.
Negatives: Ron Zook. I don’t understand why he is still the Illinois coach. He recruit marginally well but his teams are getting worse.
Realities: The offensive and defense look equally shaky. If you had to point to one unit as decent, it would be the running backs.
10. Minnesota
Positives: Adam Weber is a 4-year starter and a dual-threat. He was more effective running the spread offense but he is clearly the lifeblood of this team.
Negatives: The Gophers return 2 starters from a statistically average defense. This could get ugly.
Realities: I would be shocked if they won more than 5 games. But I hear that new stadium is nice.
11. Indiana
Positives: The offense is poised to really improve with Chappell and his entire receiving corp back.
Negatives: With two players off the NFL, the defense figures to be the same or worse. That would make it the league’s worst for the third year in a row.
Realities: This offense may be nice to watch at times and thanks to a horrible non-conference schedule, they may actually make a bowl game.
Now that Nebraska has officially joined the Conference, I thought it would be nice to talk with some of the most knowledgeable Cornhusker fans out there. Darren and Steve from Big Red Network were kind enough to have a conversation, the results of which you can see below, and over on their site. As we get closer to Nebraska’s (proposed) debut in 2011, I hope we can have a few more dialogues. In the meantime, best of luck in your Farewell Big 12 Tour.
If they had their collective druthers, would Nebraska fans rather stay in the current Big 12?
Darren (BRN): At this point, no. There are some who will miss the traditions established by the old Big 8 days, especially the affiliation with Oklahoma. But even that became tarnished when the Big 12 was formed. And, I don’t think people feel a sense of nostalgia for the last decade and a half. And the events of the last few weeks have made co-existing in the Big 12 pretty much impossible. I talk to a lot of fans, and unanimously they are excited at the prospect of joining the Big Ten. Sure, there will be some critics. But most see the Big Ten as a very good move for NU.
Steve (BRN): An unscientific poll I saw said that five out of six visitors to the Lincoln Journal-Star’s website approved of the move. It’s hard to say whether that’s in the context of the Big 12 possibly breaking up anyway, or whether it’s a more absolute judgment about whether life is better in the Big 10 or not.
Now that Nebraska is (still unofficially) the twelfth member of the Big Ten, would you rather the League stop at 12? And, if Texas ultimately joined, would Cornhusker fans be upset? Is the animosity between those programs as strong as reported?
Darren: For starters, I am happy they finally made it to 12 teams. My harshest criticism of this league has been the lack of divisions and a title game. The SEC, Big XII and ACC had a much different (harder) path to the BCS than the Big Ten and Pac-10.
Seriously, play an additional difficult opponent (often for a second time) at the end of the year. It’s a different animal. If these re-alignments do nothing but balance out that part of the overall playing field, then I am more than happy Nebraska moving is part of a bigger solution.
I have no idea if the league will stop at 12, or try to get to 14 or 16 at this point. I really don’t. We’ll have to see how it plays out. Yes, the Texas animosity is every bit as strong as reported. This isn’t just about football anymore. There is a culture clash now.
I would have very mixed feelings if they jumped in to this league as well. It’s geographically insane. The provincial nature of college football would no longer exist. I also could go a long time without ever wanting to deal with another Texas fan. But, the competitor in me wants NU to have some more shots at the Horns. Our record against them is a sad 1-8, filled with ridiculously close losses. It would be nice to balance that ledger.
Steve: There’s never been any real interest by Texas in joining the Big 10. If they did, it would be a bonanza for the conference, so you’d have to be in favor of it for that reason. Further expansion might water things down, but the right school could improve things. Notre Dame’s the no-brainer, but even schools like Pitt wouldn’t be a bad fit. As long as Nebraska gets to play Iowa every year, then NU fans would probably be agreeable to more teams.
When Penn State joined the League they were at the height of their program (I am sure you are familiar with the 1994 season). Yet, they have had trouble with Ohio State and Michigan (combined 11-21). Do you have any doubt that Nebraska, with its current trajectory, can compete in the Conference?
Darren: If Nebraska felt like they couldn’t compete, they wouldn’t want to join. Of course, Husker fans are very thankful to have Bo Pelini in charge of the football team right now. He has won 19 games over the last two seasons. He has been to and won two bowl games in his last two years. Nebraska is playing well right now. Do we really know what the roster and results might look like in two years? No. But, NU is sure better off now than they were just a few years ago.
I see what you mean about PSU, and why you would ask. They were the last team to join. And, I remember a lot of PSU fans saying things like they were going to “show those Big 10 boys how to play.” But, their problems stemmed from and included a lot more than just struggling with OSU and Michigan. From 2000 to 2005, they were 26-33 overall. So, they lost to a lot of people. Programs ebb and flow. They are much stronger now. Nebraska, in the long term, is committed to football and not going to back down from anybody. And, by the way, the Big 12 is a strong football league.
Steve: Considering Texas and Oklahoma generally outrank the better Big 10 schools, you’d expect Nebraska to do at least as well in the Big 10 as the Big 12. The Huskers have also been on a strong run over their last dozen or so meetings with Big 10 schools. So Nebraska can compete, but Ohio State’s probably still got the strongest program right now.
You asked a question that has been rattling around a distant corner of mind since the announcement: Does this new conference alignment increase or decrease Pelini’s interest and likelihood of roaming the Horsehoe’s sidelines someday?
Darren: This notion makes a lot of people nervous. Let’s just say I am a big Jim Tressel fan. Pelini’s familiarity with the program plants the seed. If OSU fans see what they like in him, it might sprout. Hopefully for both our sakes, there is some serious competition (rivalry!) between the Bucks and Huskers and makes it impossible for Pelini to jump ship.
Steve: He’d never say so no way to gauge his interest, but it might raise awareness of Pelini among OSU fans. That might make him a more attractive candidate. There are a lot of people in Lincoln hoping that Jim Tressel is coaching in Columbus for another 25 years.
Off the cuff, what is Nebraska’s biggest advantage and disadvantage as they come into the Conference?
Darren: Nebraska’s biggest advantage is the will of the program and the general public to be good. I am not kidding. This is Nebraska’s identity. Come visit Lincoln, you’ll see.
They are also a national-level program, capable of moving the needle when they are on TV and recruiting a player from just about anywhere. The biggest disadvantage is geography and population. But, those are the same disadvantages Nebraska had when it was winning championships.
Steve : This sounds self-glorifying, but it’s really been the fans. One of the huge things that draws recruits to Lincoln, is the environment and the passion that exists for college football. From the backup quarterback to the linemen to the kicker, these guys are rock stars. There can be a downside to that too, but that’s one of those things that makes Nebraska unique in college football. An outgrowth of that is the walk-on program that’s the envy of most other schools. Nebraska attracts a lot of kids to walk-on that makes the practices more competitive and can create greater depth. Affordable tuition helps too.
The disadvantage is the natural recruiting base. There aren’t that many top quality players in the state or even bordering states. Nebraska has to recruit nationally to fill out the roster. It’s not as easy as Texas loading up on blue chippers without leaving the state.
Finally, Ohio State and Nebraska have only played twice (1955-56) in their storied histories. How excited are you for that first matchup? And, is there a team Cornhuskers’ fans are looking forward to playing most?
Darren: Hell yes, I’m excited. Ohio is the cradle of life when it comes to football. Ohio State is a truly great program. We have essentially no history. So, let’s do this.
My colleague Brandon Vogel wrote very astutely that Nebraska has lacked a real rival since the NU-OU series got put on the back burner. So, I am excited for Nebraska to establish some rivalries again. Geographically, Iowa makes the most sense. There are a lot of Hawkeye fans living in Omaha, and the smack talk between the two groups of fans have already begun. The NU series with Penn State is littered with some hard feelings. There are Penn State fans who think they were robbed in 1994. It will be fun to mix it up with them. Michigan and Nebraska argue over 1997. So, that’s good. There is a respect for Wisconsin because of Barry Alvarez. The possibilities abound.
Steve: I’d say Iowa because they’re a natural rival, but OSU is up there. Many of us are not old enough to have seen those last games between the schools so it will be cool to see these two great programs finally face off again.
