http://www.omaha.com/article/20130131/HUSKERS/130139893
[EDIT]: and Wisconsin's Alvarez in a letter to Wisconsin fans said that he wants Wisconsin to play against Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska every year. Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta is quoted as strongly favoring playing vs Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Northwestern and Nebraska.
Why is this of interest to Michigan fans, let alone Nebraska, Wisconsin, or Iowa fans? Because its another indication the B1G is going towards a geography-based alignment.
I've read all the threads on this forum on the subject. Its a tough, tough problem. Obviously the major history and tradition of the Big Ten are intertwined with UM and OSU, the conference leaders/legends who must be be respected, no one disagrees with that. And the other ancient instate and border rivalries that are the fabric of the Big Ten. Then you have the newcomers: first the new kings PSU and Nebraska, followed by the media/academic additions Rutgers and Maryland and who knows who after that, maybe some lacrosse schools.
How do you make it all work, balancing equally all the rivalries, power balance, media ratings, recruiting exposure, and strength of schedule? YOU CAN'T, THERE WILL BE BREAKAGE.
I think this news item is another "tell" that the B1G will go to either 2 divisions or 4 pods of East-West and to hell with who's done what and who will do in the future. UM will end up with a OSU-eastern teams marriage and NE-IA-WI-MN+IL's-etc will play in another...until we add the damn southern schools and start all over again.
Go Big Red! Hail Victors!
And meanwhile until its all redone beat Michigan again in 2013 for the Legends!