BIG TEN "slowness" thoery. Night vs Day games.
So everyone knows or assumes that the Big Ten is a slow boring conference. The players can't run like those of the Pac 10 SEC or Big 12. The games are pound the ball slow white guys running around. Or at least thats what all the talking heads would have you belive.
I think one of the Big Ten's problems is over exposure and the times of the games. Think about it. What other conference puts its 5-6th best times to a national audience at 11 am local time like the Big Ten does. Minnesota vs. Nothwestern at 11am local time in the cold on ESPN for the whole country to see. Sounds like great TV. It's not that other conferences don't have these games, it that you just dont see them. Have you ever tried to watch Iowa State vs. Kansas at 11am, or LSU vs. Vanderbilt at Noon? Its horrible.
They eye test is true and I really think night vs day games really adds to this half "myth" of speed. Think about the NFL. Ever go to a bar on Sunday and watch all the 1pm games? The teams look slow and not interested. But turn on Sunday night football and MNF and holy cow, players are flying around everywhere making huge hits and great plays. Even the Bears looked amazing on MNF, (has anyone watched a Bears game at Noon this year? even the games they win they looked slow and horrible).
So starting last night, and on through your Big Ten bowl season, watch the games and think. Does this team across the field from the Big Ten, seem faster, make bigger hits. Wisconsin won last night vs the most athletic team in the country. They sure didn't look slow under the lights. Wisconsin's D was all over the field making plays. Just something to think about during the holiday. Happy viewing.
December 30th, 2009 at 12:39 PM ^
The drunker I get, the faster they seem.
December 30th, 2009 at 12:44 PM ^
watching a prototypical "Big Ten" team pound the crap out of a "faster, more athletic" southern team?
December 30th, 2009 at 12:47 PM ^
Is this 1987??? Most athletic team in the country is a bit of a stretch considering they have been pretty mediocre for a few years now, they haven't had too many top draft picks for a while, they are playing in the Champs Bowl and they got dusted by Wisconsin. By that criteria you'll hear this in a few days. Look at MSU flying around against Texas Tech, they are the "Most Athletic Team in the Country!!!!
The speed myth is stupid... end of story!
December 30th, 2009 at 1:02 PM ^
This argument comes up and it bugs me. Lately it has turned more towards depth. Wisconsin's defense went a bit soft when their starting safety was hurt on the kickoff after the field goal and they didn't have a solid backup. Of course, the fumble at the goal line by Wisconsin's TE kept Miami in the game--it was a whisker from being a blowout.
But what's funny about last night is you look at Wisconsin's starting lineup and they are just about all from Wisconsin--not exactly known for producing sleek athletic types.
December 30th, 2009 at 1:13 PM ^
Has the best skill talent in the Big 10 and they have the most explosive offense in the league.
As someone who has Wisco all the way yesterday, I guess I cant register any shock at how they game was played out. Canes just didnt have enough answers on defense for all the offense Wisco brings to the table.
I'm not so sure last night's game means anything else other than that.
December 30th, 2009 at 1:21 PM ^
And as usual, Brett Beilema (SP HELP!)--the "meathead"--just keeps winning. Wow--that guy really is an idiot, isn't he?
Wisconsin has a couple holes to fill--I'm sure they will. They look to be a serious B10 contenda next year.
December 30th, 2009 at 3:21 PM ^
tough next year.
December 30th, 2009 at 1:15 PM ^
The funnier thing was when the announcers stated that the temperature was in the fifties and all of Miami's players were wearing jackets and huddling around heaters like it was below zero. Let's get these "speedy" athletes from Southern schools and have them play outside in December or January above the Mason Dixon line. Then we'll see who are athletes and who are pampered, whiny, momma's boys. I'd love to see Teblow try to play in the snow.
December 30th, 2009 at 2:11 PM ^
That little detail blew my mind. It's hard to believe that a psychological difference (i.e., comfort with colder temperatures) could mean that much, but that may well have been the case. To the point: Non-scientific types would probably say that the Badgers "have thicker blood," but no physiological differences take place with prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. (Aside: I spent a few years away from the Midwest in a warm climate. Coming home for the holidays was no problem at all. I didn't notice any difference -- aside, again, from maybe psychological ones -- in my ability to handle cold temperatures.) It's not like Wisconsin's players were a different species or anything. All mental...
December 30th, 2009 at 2:53 PM ^
Victors write the history, and until the B10 starts holding its own in the bowl games, this will be one of the go to stereotypes of the talking heads (including the oft clueless announcing team).
December 30th, 2009 at 3:38 PM ^
Wicky looked sharp and their timing looked on.
We'll all get the shorter bowl layoffs in the B10, starting next year.
December 30th, 2009 at 1:42 PM ^
Last night's game sort of reminded me of our game against Florida in the Capital One Bowl in 2008.
An overpowered, sluggish Big Ten team playing a very talented and explosive Florida team in what equated to a home game for them. The Big Ten team came out and hit their opponent in the mouth and broke the stereotype that Big Ten teams could not play in December/January.
Wisconsin did a good job kick-starting the Big Ten bowl season. Now we just have hope everyone (sans rivals) can win their games and give the Big Ten some steam.
December 30th, 2009 at 2:02 PM ^
Disagree. I don't think this was too similar. When we beat Florida, we turned the tables on them, spreading the field with athletes and using our superior talent on the edges to move the ball. Yesterday, Wisconsin just lined up and played smashmouth football.
December 30th, 2009 at 3:25 PM ^
Wisconsin was fast and athletic on D.
December 30th, 2009 at 2:14 PM ^
All the SPEED BLAH SPEED BLAH talk does, in some cases, probably soften up the "speed" team. Miami players couldn't help hearing that they'd run circles against the slow cavemen from the north. Maybe their guard was down a bit.
December 30th, 2009 at 2:07 PM ^
Frankly, I think it's a lot simpler than that. The "speed" argument is announcer code for "more black players." Whereas Big Ten teams (other than Michigan/OSU/PSU) are generally more than half white, teams in the South are often like 75% black. And the black players that teams like Iowa/Purdue/Minnesota et al. get are often sleeper prospects from the South that the local powerhouses don't recruit. Overall, there probably is some truth to the contention that the average SEC team (as well as Miami/FSU) is faster than the average Big Ten team. It's just that it shouldn't be applied to schools like Michigan, OSU, and PSU.
December 30th, 2009 at 2:42 PM ^
It's a myth that has been around for a while but when it originated, there was probably some truth to it. However, I think now the big ten in general isn't any slower then most teams in the country especially when it comes to the skill positions. I think there may still be some difference in the overall speed of the dline and LB's when it comes to the big ten and some of the southern schools - especially the top tier southern schools.
December 30th, 2009 at 2:54 PM ^
I agree- the difference is usually the d-line and LBs. Remember some of the BIG Linebackers we used to have in the early 1990's? Compare those to FSU or Miami's of that era.
December 30th, 2009 at 3:34 PM ^
The Big 10 being slow theory is just that, a theory. It was created by big market media. The SEC fans got heard it once, thought it was funny and are now running with it.
I still fail see how a Florida kid running a 4.4 40 is faster than a Ohio kid running a 4.4 40.
December 30th, 2009 at 3:40 PM ^
All stereotypes have some basis to them. The point isn't that a superathlete from the South is faster than a superathlete from the North, but that the average player on an SEC team is faster than the average player on a Big Ten team. That is probably true. Look at the recruiting rankings, and NFL Combine performances by players from SEC vs. Big Ten schools. It's just that this stereotype doesn't hold for every single team. OSU, PSU and Michigan (under normal circumstances) have comparable speed to SEC teams.
December 30th, 2009 at 3:37 PM ^
It may be subjective, but it seems that there really is something to it.
You usually see a microcosm of it in the Rose Bowl. The B10 teams seem to come out slow and lethargic the first half, wilting in the sun.
Then in the second half when the sun goes down and it cools off considerably, they seem to become energized and sharper and storm back into the game to make a comeback from the first half.
Problem is, they usually are well behind by then.
Just give me one, one big bowl game in Chicago against a southern school before I die, just to see what happens.
We do know that southern/indoor Pro teams don't do well
in the playoffs at northern stadiums.