Anyone see/hear any reaction to realignment at other Big10 schools?

Submitted by M-Wolverine on
I wondered if anyone has been on any other boards, or are in other states, and seen reaction from other fanbases to the division realignment and schedule, and if this could be a catch-all for it. Normally I'd expect Brian to be all over the blogosphere, but he's got a lot on his plate this week. And I missed the "rumor explosion" this afternoon, so I'm way behind on just THIS site, so I don't have time to search it all out myself right now. But if anyone else has already heard stuff, I'd love to hear the "love it, hate it" of other fans.
MGoBoard
Football

Blazefire

September 1st, 2010 at 10:21 PM ^

do you mean drunk? Because that's true by default.

OSU is pleased, mostly for the same reasons we are (Playing M at the end of the season). A couple of the weaker schools *coughindianaandillinoiscough* in OSU's division are probably unhappy.but being in the division with M and NU wouldn't have been much better. (Might even be worse in a year or two. Plus, Tressel can't live forever.)

For what it's worth, I'm thrilled that we get to play for the Jug every year now. But I bet Minnesota is unhappy. Even when they DO manage to rise up and sneak in a win, they'll only get to keep the jug for one year at most, rather than the 3 it occasionally is.

Joined: 04/17/2009

MGoPoints: 25038

M Fanfare

September 1st, 2010 at 10:39 PM ^

Even when the Jug game was being played every year, Minnesota wasn't holding onto it for very long. In fact, the Jug has resided in Minneapolis for more than a year only twice in the series' history (1934-42 and 1960-63). Every other time Minnesota won the Little Brown Jug, Michigan took it back the next season.

 

Edit: Three times. Minnesota won the Little Brown Jug in 1927 and the two teams didn't play again until 1929, when Michigan took it back.

Joined: 08/17/2008

MGoPoints: 4715

M-Wolverine

September 2nd, 2010 at 12:01 AM ^

Being separated from their arch rival, us, must be painful. Though they seem to hate OSU a lot too. Guess this disproved the adage that you can judge someone by the level of their enemies.

Joined: 10/04/2009

MGoPoints: 42190

jmblue

September 2nd, 2010 at 12:18 AM ^

Minnesota looks to be bringing up the rear in our division for the indefinite future - at least as long as Fitzgerald is coaching Northwestern.  The Gophers have got to be thinking twice about firing Glen Mason.  Oh well, at least they have a new stadium.

 

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 102707

Wolverine318

September 1st, 2010 at 10:40 PM ^

MSU has to be pissed. MSU's AD lost its bid to have Michigan/MSU as the last game and the land grant trophy with Penn State. At least they have their rivalry with the MAC...

Joined: 07/01/2008

MGoPoints: -86217

bklein09

September 2nd, 2010 at 12:13 AM ^

I went on RCMB earlier today to investigate and they were happy with the "guaranteed" win in their protected cross-over with IU. Thinking like true spartys.

They were however worried about their early season stretch with us, Neb, OSU, etc. Their season will be over before it begins in one of the next two seasons ('11 or '12). Book it.

Joined: 08/24/2009

MGoPoints: 7121

EGD

September 2nd, 2010 at 2:13 AM ^

A buddy of mine who is an IU grad and a former assistant AD at MSU posted a joke on his Facebook page saying that somebody in the Big Ten office must be looking out for him since they protected the Brass Spitoon rivalry.  Then a bunch of other Sparties replied on the thread expressing shock/disbelief/dismay/anger etc.  Evidently they feel IU is not worthy of being their protected rival.  (I know, I know....)

Joined: 09/16/2009

MGoPoints: 35199

Bleedin9Blue

September 1st, 2010 at 11:02 PM ^

I've been reading this thread at Black Shoe Diaries.  Most PSU fans are happy although a few would rather have MSU as their cross-division rival rather than Nebraska simply because MSU is closer to being a rival based on having 20 years of continuous games rather than mutual hatred and respect for Nebraska (especially in 1994).  But that's a very small subsection.

Nearly every PSU fan (and a lot of fans from other schools to based on the comments I'm reading) seem pissed at UM and OSU specifically.  They feel that by forcing the B10 to preserve "The Game" we ruined whatever their ideal divisions were.  This seemed especially true of PSU fans although they generally just complained about how much UM sucks (brought up 2005), how we're arrogant, how we force the conference to revolve around us, etc. but ended by saying that they're pretty happy with the divisions.

 

Edit: It pisses me off how PSU fans want to paint themselves as the red-headed stepchild of the B10 that everyone spits on and hates, but they don't recognize that they're one of the 3 (now 4) most important teams in the B10 around which the conference revolves and listens to.  They bring up Delaney saying that the B10 didn't do a great job bringing PSU into the fold and then make it sound like everyone still treats them as barely part of the conference.  And yet Wisconsin is the team that got shipped into the opposite geographically while PSU got to keep its game with OSU (which is increasingly important to them).

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 2172

jmblue

September 1st, 2010 at 11:43 PM ^

Remarkably, few PSU fans seem to remember that when they joined the conference, they received a bye week before UM for four consecutive years (1993-96) and also a bye before OSU those first two years (1993-94). 

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 102707

M-Wolverine

September 2nd, 2010 at 12:08 AM ^

Complain about how the Big Ten is all over the M/OSU figurative jocks. Strange to come up now that the reason they're not in the same division is because they didn't want to be in the "west" with Nebraska. And the red -headed step child bit has been old for about a decade now. Unless we're talking about their QBs. (Cue knock-out photo). As already pointed out, the fact that they got a bye for 4 years (3 of which they won) vs. us, as well as some vs. OSU, eludes them is a complete mystery. Or that it took them a REALLY long time to win without a bye week.

Joined: 10/04/2009

MGoPoints: 42190

maizenbluenc

September 2nd, 2010 at 5:32 AM ^

I can see being pissed about the game if OSU and Michigan had ended up in the east division and PSU had been sent west. Not sure I get how it impacted anything other than the last game discussion with this split.

Joined: 07/21/2009

MGoPoints: 10630

Wolverine In Iowa

September 1st, 2010 at 11:09 PM ^

Hawkeye fans are pretty happy with the division, but they are kind of mixed about having their protected rivalry be with Purdue instead of Wisconsin.  Some people think that Purdue is a guaranteed win, while the others are pissed because they'd rather play Wisconsin.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 10767

Bleedin9Blue

September 1st, 2010 at 11:12 PM ^

They need to realize that preserving the Minnesota-Wisconsin rivalry is more important than the Iowa-Wisconsin rivalry.

I think Iowa-Purdue could be a fun enough game to watch.  Iowa should be well over .500 against Purdue but it's not an auto-win every year.  Iowa fans need to come down from 2009 and realize how lucky they got.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 2172

jmblue

September 2nd, 2010 at 12:45 AM ^

In fairness, I do agree with them that it's lousy that the Minn-Wisc-Iowa trio of hatred had to be broken up.  And unfortunately, whereas up to now you had a 75% chance of playing any non-protected team, under the new system you'll have a 100% chanceof playing six teams and a 40% chance of playing the other five.  That's going to take some getting used to.

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 102707

TFish

September 1st, 2010 at 11:39 PM ^

The BHGP readership seems to think the realignment was one giant HJ for OSU and ourselves, with most pointing to the fact that we have all our in-conference rivalries protected. They're also pissed about their guaranteed Purdue game, which is admirable since they value hate/tradition/etc over having an "empty" game they'll win 7 times out of 10. If I were Iowa's AD I would see what could be done about moving the Iowa State game to the last week of the regular season at some point in the future. They suck, but at least it's an actual rival.

Joined: 07/28/2010

MGoPoints: 71

MichiganFootball

September 2nd, 2010 at 2:38 AM ^

It's too bad they can't just swap Michigan and Wisconsin.  Makes it more difficult for U of M but I don't like the idea of not playing Penn State as often.  I'd be willing to sacrifice Michigan State if that's what it takes.

Joined: 11/02/2008

MGoPoints: 1281

FGB

September 2nd, 2010 at 12:11 AM ^

the fans who are pissed about shitty rivalry opponents, like Iowa with Purdue. MSU fans on the Only Colors (which is by far the most rational MSU blog out there....cough *enlightenedspartan* cough) are actually happy their protected game is Indiana. You know you have no respect or aspirations as a legitimate program when you're happy you get to play an autowin every year in favor of a game with the actual emotion of college football. That's like getting the first 3 moves in chess (well, checkers for MSU kids), still only winning 55% of the time, then proclaiming how awesome you are at the game.

Joined: 09/24/2009

MGoPoints: 3197

BlueinLansing

September 2nd, 2010 at 12:20 AM ^

diplomatic about it.  Hollis read the company line about preserving history and traditional rivals.   Thought it was great 12 AD's and Presidents could agree on something. Sidestepped the PSU question though.

Dantonio was told of MSU's horrific 2011 schedule and reportedly said "great", like the douche he is.

A latter interview, he also walked the company line and was much less of a douche.

 

I sense from talking to MSU friends they feel ok about it, a little disappointed they didn't get UM as the last game.  And for some reason seem disappointed about their totally fake rivalry with Penn State not being annual.

Joined: 09/01/2009

MGoPoints: 23520

BlueinLansing

September 2nd, 2010 at 12:22 AM ^

you think some folks are upset about the "big ten revolving around OSU/UM,".  Just wait till they name the divisions Schembechler and Hayes.

 

I'm thinking they may go with Schembechler-Osborne and Hayes-Paterno just to be diplomatic.  We'll see.

Joined: 09/01/2009

MGoPoints: 23520

tmotts62

September 2nd, 2010 at 1:03 AM ^

I'll always think of them as the Bo and Woody Divisions, but PSU and Nebraska really do deserve a nod as well.  How about the Four Letter State Division and the 1997 National Champion(s) Division?

Joined: 05/26/2010

MGoPoints: 459

Brodie

September 2nd, 2010 at 1:29 AM ^

Honestly... when they asked Delany about names and he started talking about all the "icons" the conference has had, I became pretty convinced that they were going to try the Bo and Woody thing. Can you imagine the riots?

Joined: 11/19/2008

MGoPoints: 10712