Suggestions for naming the Big Ten divisions

Submitted by Communist Football on

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.

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Colt McBaby Jesus

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?

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varsity

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

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Mtruck

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. 

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Communist Football

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.

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g_reaper3

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. 

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Carcajous

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.

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Tater

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."

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Vasav

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.

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Yostal

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.)

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Shelton

November 4th, 2010 at 10:06 AM ^

Amos Alonzo Stagg as previously mentioned. John "Jay" Berwanger - also from the university of chicago, he was the first recipient of the heisman trophy.

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