Suggestions for naming the Big Ten divisions
Adam Rittenberg has a piece out in which he asks for suggestions on naming the Big Ten divisions. As Jim Delany mentions in this Chicago Tribune piece, they want to avoid names that apply to one or two schools.
The challenge, Big Ten officials say, comes from a reluctance to use either geography or the names of legendary conference coaches or athletes that would represent just two schools.
Anyone out there have any good suggestions? I thought of two: naming one division after Amos Alonzo Stagg (the legendary U. Chicago coach, when Chicago was a leading power in the Big Ten); and naming the divisions after two of the Great Lakes, esp. Lakes Michigan and Erie, since they border the most Big Ten states.
UPDATE: Rittenberg has posted his reader feedback. A number of our suggestions made it into his list, including Stagg/Berwanger, Corn/Cars, and Black/Blue.
November 4th, 2010 at 8:48 AM ^
I don't think the "Michigan" division is gonna fly.
November 4th, 2010 at 8:50 AM ^
I was thinking more that it would be called "Lake Michigan" but if even that wouldn't fly you could use a different lake (Huron? Superior?)
November 4th, 2010 at 8:53 AM ^
The Superior Divison and the Erie Division
November 4th, 2010 at 10:55 AM ^
Nice idea, but I don't imagine the members of the Erie Division would like it much.
November 4th, 2010 at 11:02 AM ^
maybe it should be the Irie divsion
we do have a lot of guys with dreads
November 4th, 2010 at 12:28 PM ^
But let me rephrase: I don't think the members of "The Division that is Not Superior" would appreciate it much.
November 4th, 2010 at 11:51 AM ^
suggestion. Won't happen though.
November 4th, 2010 at 9:44 AM ^
Problem with Huron is that the only Big Ten state is borders is Michigan.
November 4th, 2010 at 8:49 AM ^
November 4th, 2010 at 8:49 AM ^
And go the West Side Story route. Jets & Sharks, or would that promote gangs? Not really, since those were the two single worst representations of gangs in the history of ever, right? I'm I gay just for bringing this up? Too many questions? Maybe?
November 4th, 2010 at 8:57 AM ^
Nortenos y Surenos?
November 4th, 2010 at 9:28 AM ^
I like the gangsta feel . . .
November 4th, 2010 at 9:26 AM ^
Crime and Punishment
These would work, but they really only apply to sparty and brutus.....on second thought, crime really works for both, but punishment....not so much
November 4th, 2010 at 8:54 AM ^
The Superior Division - Micigan's division
The Erie Division - OSU's division
November 4th, 2010 at 8:55 AM ^
great plains and great lakes
November 4th, 2010 at 10:40 AM ^
Lakes and Plains, I feel, would be better. or, Playa's and Haters. You know, for the younger generations ;)
November 4th, 2010 at 11:19 AM ^
fruited plain and alabaster cities?
November 4th, 2010 at 8:55 AM ^
Not using geography terms or famous coaches? What does that leave? I mean, technically, lakes are a geographical feature so they would be out assuming Delaney is serious about the "no geographical names." What is he going to name them? Adjectives? Strength Division and Courage Division? That's just silly IMO.
I kinda liked the "Great Lakes" and "Great Plains" that was suggested by one of the announcers during the PSU game. Though, I didn't nor haven't looked at the divisions to see if this would even fit. And of course it uses geographical features.
November 4th, 2010 at 9:18 AM ^
nothing like "West Division" and "East Division" (even though that would make the most sense, given one division is generally more western and the other generally more eastern). Great Lakes etc may be ok because it isn't a compass direction.
November 4th, 2010 at 8:55 AM ^
The Leaders Division
The Scholars Division
November 4th, 2010 at 9:01 AM ^
Why would you not use geography like most other conferences? Even the NHL dumped the Norris, Patrick, etc. because they said it was too confusing. I would use North and South or West and East. To be the most correct you would need to use Northwest and Southeast but that sounds kind of dumb.
I dont think Great Plains/Great Lakes works geographically although I do like the way that sounds.
November 4th, 2010 at 9:58 AM ^
And nobody liked it when the NHL dumped the good division names for lame East/West geographical ones. Even Chris Berman likes to reference them by calling the Lions' division the NFC Norris.
November 4th, 2010 at 10:42 AM ^
North and South, seriously. Wisconsin / Northwestern is the only part that doesn't fit that breakdown.
November 4th, 2010 at 9:02 AM ^
The first two commissioners of the Big Ten were John Griffith and Tug Wilson:
I guess you could honor them and call the divisions the "Wilson" division and the "Griffith" division. They are Big Ten specific, not tied to one school or another, and obscure enough that neither division will feel they got the lesser name.
November 4th, 2010 at 9:12 AM ^
Bo and Woody would have been great people to name divisions after. Sadly, with the parameters Delaney has set, the names are going to sound stupid no matter who does them. At this point, he might was well use "Gerry" and "Mander."
November 4th, 2010 at 9:13 AM ^
the big two division
the little eight division
November 4th, 2010 at 9:17 AM ^
crips and bloods
November 4th, 2010 at 9:24 AM ^
The Stagg Division - after a coach whose school no longer takes part in Big Ten athletics, as proposed by the OP, and
The Delaney Division - after an influential, business minded commissioner whose tenure has been filled with success and money for the conference
Or...The Rose Division, and the Indianapolis Division? So both have a tie in with being the champion - winning in Indianapolis, or winning at the Rose Bowl Game.
November 4th, 2010 at 9:27 AM ^
My suggestions both came from University of Chicago football. One was the Stagg Division, the other was the Robert "Tiny" Maxwell Division, after the namesake of the Maxwell Award, a former Chicago football player, and the alleged "bloodied face" whose photograph was a final straw that led President Theodore Roosevelt to push for reforms in the game in 1905.
Stagg and Maxwell have strong college football connections, strong Big Ten ties, and show the over century of Big Ten heritage that exists.
(BTW-Stagg and Yost would make the most sense, but I doubt the Big Ten would want to name one of its divisions after a coach who left the conference in protest for ten years.)
November 4th, 2010 at 12:51 PM ^
Stagg and Maxwell. Perfect.
November 4th, 2010 at 9:29 AM ^
Unemployment Division and Obesity Division
November 4th, 2010 at 9:30 AM ^
Michigans Division= Coon & Friends
November 4th, 2010 at 9:39 AM ^
Yooper and Troll
November 4th, 2010 at 9:43 AM ^
or ...
Everybody Studies Division (UM, NW)
Everybody Murders Division (OSU)
... but we need to swap MSU with PSU.
November 4th, 2010 at 9:41 AM ^
Cthulhu approves of this suggestion
November 4th, 2010 at 9:50 AM ^
I'm not very smart—can you explain the reference?
November 4th, 2010 at 9:52 AM ^
It's from last night's shitty south park episode
November 4th, 2010 at 9:59 AM ^
oh come on that was one of the best episodes. The Neverending Story reference with Cthulhu was awesome. It was up there with imagination land.
November 4th, 2010 at 1:42 PM ^
Not to be a stickler, but the episode was actually a play off Totoro.
November 5th, 2010 at 2:50 AM ^
I'm glad I missed the episode.
November 4th, 2010 at 9:34 AM ^
I'm sorry, but East & West are the only ones that will work for me because it brings new meaning to "Champions of the West".
November 4th, 2010 at 9:59 AM ^
C'mon guys! Michigan owned the Big10 at one time and will again. I like it. The problem will be getting all of the other teams to jump on board with it.
November 4th, 2010 at 10:02 AM ^
Combat negative recruiting toward the Big 10ish with:
Fast
Hot
November 4th, 2010 at 10:06 AM ^
November 4th, 2010 at 11:05 AM ^
because NOBODY will make fun of the Berwanger Division...
November 4th, 2010 at 10:06 AM ^
could use tribes who were in the area
like the chippewa or the sioux