football

I've been looking at the expansion scenario and all the different scenarios of 12, 14, 16, and all of the different candidates, and I just wanted to put my two cents in;

My first thought is that I have no desire to obtain any big east team at all.  None of them will bring a powerful football program to add a perenial strength to the conference, and I have concerns about any of them adding any value to the TV markets.  I lived in New England for three years (and by New England I mean all of New England Boston, Connecticut, and Rhode Island) and college football is not anywhere on the map. They don't follow it, don't care about it, and adding some local team will do nothing to sway them.  I feel the same is true for the NY market, as I believe there are probably more Michigan and Penn State fans than any Rutgers fans.

My second thought is that 16 is too big.  I've seen a lot of talk about 4 pods and whatnot, but I am big on rivalries and the mini rivalries that occur from two teams who happen to play some close or controversial games and want to have a chance at retribution.  A 16 team super conference seemd to large to keep these types of rivalries and help create new ones.

So with that said, I move west for three teams to make a 14 team conference. And I feel the best 3 for the big ten would be Nebraska, Missouri, and Notre Dame. This allows for an easy geographical split with east and west conferences of 7 teams with 2 cross division games every year. The Divisions would be as follows;

East: Michigan, Ohio State, Michigan State, Penn State, Purdue, Indiana, and Notre Dame

West: Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Northwestern, Nebraska, and Missouri

This keeps the majority of the rivalries in-tact, and allows for some cross division games and makes sense geographically to help  create new rivalries. Michigan and Ohio State would still play the last game of the year in the division, with the winner (Michigan) playing in the championship game, and the loser not having to worry about an extra loss keeping them out of the BCS.

There are two major complaints that I can see in my conference.

1. What the hell, are you an idiot, where's Texas?

2. Notre Dame is playing coy, thinking its fine for them to roll stag to this dance.

So, my response is as follows; Texas seems like a dream to any conference, with golden ticket like money, academics in-line, and it puts the big ten in some prime recruiting ground. The problem is, I feel like there is way to much baggage. Texas is used to getting its way and getting special treatment, and that just ain't gonna fly in the big ten. The other baggage is the texas schools that might be forced in as well, and I don't want the Big Ten to have to make concessions like adding schools that don't make sense to land the big fish.

The ND problem I really don't have an answer for. They make sense geographically, they are the team that I think could get us that NY market, they play 3 teams already, but we have no real leg to stand on to make them go.  My only hope would be that we mae our move for Neb and MS, Pac-10 makes their 16 team conference and ND sees the writing on the wall and caves in.

Alright, I just had to get my thoughts out, and I needed the proper forum to do so, as noone I know in the non-virtual world cares or thinks about this stuff as much as I do.  My hope is that fellow Mgobloggers can stomach the long read and my reasoning, and provide their feedback.

BIG TEN EXPANSION – TEXAS TO THE BIG 10: THE LONGHORN AND/OR THE LEPRECHAUN? HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

By Pauly Balst, Former Guest Columnus Emeritus

Unnamed sources confirm Notre Dame has deferred its secret pre-emptive non-invitation to the Big 10 to see what the University of Texas does.  Its all about making the pie bigger.  And ND is the consolation prize, they just dont know it yet.

http://kentsterling.com/2010/06/07/big-ten-expansion-texas-to-the-big-10...

Summation:  If Texas joins the Big 10, Notre Dame may acknowledge the existence of the denied speculative non-invitation to join the Big 10 too, because the Big East comes apart.  If not, who cares.  It’s all about Texas.

Discussions on academics and student athlete experience and class week travel are quaint references to a bygone era.  If the Big 10 lands Texas, these kids’ll be pampered and flying charter on B10 Network airlines with tutors on board to compensate for the extra 45 minute flight. They’ll get over it.

The Big 10 network is shaping up to be a very big deal.  They are basically cutting out the middleman.

Texas or bust.

ESPN reports here and on SportsCenter that the Ravens practiced too much.  As a penalty, they'll lose some practice time.

John Harbaugh, when interviewed, accepted the punishment, saying that they want to run the team within the rules.  This system seems to make a lot of sense to me.  Too much practice?  You are penalized some practice time.  If the consequences were as natural in the NCAA, maybe it wouldn't take over a year for overblown allegations to be settled.  Of course there are differences between the leagues, but maybe (and I'm not holding my breath) the NCAA could adopt a similarly rational system.

We all have had a few days to absorb the passing of John Wooden. I just read a great column by Rick Reilly at ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=5260677) sharing his personal recollections on Wooden. Regardless of what you think of Reilly, positive or negative, it was a very nice column. His piece, published today, reminded me of some of the reasons I loved hearing about Coach Carr. Carr, like Wooden, was well read, and an educator. Carr, like Wooden, was not about PR and putting himself in front of the camera. Carr, like Wooden, was loved by many of his players. Carr, like Wooden, always wanted to do things the right way, win or lose. Carr, like Wooden, was loyal, sometimes to a fault.

Obviously, Carr is not Wooden, and the analogies eventually fall down. I was ready for Carr to retire, and am thrilled that RR is our coach. I support RR wholeheartedly, and pray that MSC and DB give him plenty of time to succeed. Nonetheless, reflecting on Wooden brought back many good memories of Carr. I loved his smile, and the thought that there was a warm heart of gold behind the curmudgeon sometimes on display for the mass media. I loved his dictionary, his interest in history, and literature, his character, his entire being. It is my hope that like Carr, we will see many wonderful things about RR over many years to come.

Thinking of Wooden and Carr does bring to mind one thing I just don't want to ever see at Michigan. If winning championships ever means you have to cheat, to compromise your values, to whore yourself and your school, then let me off the bus. Mind you, I do believe that RR wants to do things the right way, which is why the whole "major violations" and "NCAA sanctions" debacle pains him so greatly. But there are too many coaches and athletes and others who will cut corners for success. It wasn't worth it to Wooden, or to Carr, or, not that it matters, to me.

As Wooden, quipped, Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are. I don't want any more stupid discussions and threads on "Michigan Men." I do want my alma mater to do things the right way, out of the right character.

Lastly, slightly off topic, but cut from the same cloth as this post, I was thrilled in the meta topic about "Blogs with Balls" to see Brian's concern with ethics. Brian's desire to do things the right way is one of the reasons that I come to this website more than any other.

p.s.  If you want more of Wooden, ESPN also compiled a bunch of his quotes. You can find them at http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=5249709.

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Finally, THE KNOWLEDGE has come back to MGoBlog
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yes
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THE KNOWLEDGE hasn't visited these pages in a while, but there have been many interesting developments on late that have led to uncertainty about the future
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As everyone knows, whenever a topic of great interest to Michigan fans arises, THE KNOWLEDGE arrives to provide concrete information about the future
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THE KNOWLEDGE has hence made his appearance now
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yes
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the first question THE KNOWLEDGE will tackle is regarding the expected sanctions from the NCAA
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many people believe that the NCAA will add on minor penalties to those self-imposed by Michigan, and that will be end of it
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however, these people are wrong
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yes
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THE KNOWLEDGE guarantees that NCAA will reply stating that the self-imposed sanctions are too much, and will recommend easing on these
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yes
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the first question THE KNOWLEDGE will tackle is regarding the conference expansion plans

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what the vast majority of folks do not know is that Texas, Oklahoma and ATM have already agreed to join the Big Ten
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yes
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The Big Ten is now deciding on who the 15th and 16th teams must be. the choices are between Nebraska+Missouri Vs Pitt+Rutgers
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in all likelihood, it will be the former. this decision will be made in the next few days
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Pac 10 officials do not know this, and are stupidly trying to woo half the Big 12
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yes
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The Big Ten conference will be re-named as well. THE KNOWLEDGE shall soon reveal this info as well
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as usual, there will always be some folks that do not believe what THE KNOWLEDGE has to say, but they just need to wait and watch these predictions come true
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THE KNOWLEDGE shall soar
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and leave all doubters in a trail of dust
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yes
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PS: in the previous post or two by THE KNOWLEDGE, some people have wondered if THE KNOWLEDGE is a different person because there is an underscore involved
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these people are idiots, and do not understand THE KNOWLEDGE. all they need to do is read the posts of THE KNOWLEDGE
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yes
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I know, another expansion thread.  However, this was pretty interesting:

http://interact.stltoday.com/blogzone/tiger-tracker/tiger-tracker/2010/06/mizzou-big-12-loyalty-deadline-is-june-17/

As has been mentioned, it sounds like a no commit to the Big 12 is a green light to the South.  The folks at Orangeblood are saying that Nebraska is in better position than Missouri if we were to add just one team (assuming ND is a no-go).