Gene Smith: "Strong likelihood" of Michigan & ohio being in same division
Looks like all the talk of there being East & West is going to be the case.
I asked AD Gene Smith likelihood of #Buckeyes and #Wolverinesbeing in same division- "Strong likelihood"
February 18th, 2013 at 5:38 PM ^
Banning the media doesn't work too well. That's a good way to destroy the perception of your program. Doing that just guarantees that the media outlet will attack you.
Brandon handled the Freep thing well. He attacked their credibility without actually giving them a reason to bitch, by retaining their access.
February 18th, 2013 at 5:43 PM ^
OK, how about just having Smith punch Rosenberg's smug, smarmy face in?
February 18th, 2013 at 6:48 PM ^
It would work if there isn't a second school in the state to shower with love like the Freep does with MSU. Here in Ohio it's Buckeye's or bust and if Smith banished reporters from any of the fishwraps the readers would go insane.
And not at Gene Smith. Trust me - around here OSU puts up with no bullshit from the media unlike Michigan worry about making the Free Press mad at them.
February 18th, 2013 at 4:02 PM ^
Gene Smith doesn't even know when Ohio State games are, we're doing to trust his grasp of the subject?
Still, it's better than nothing. I think.
February 18th, 2013 at 4:13 PM ^
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that was Gee who falsely reported that he was at the bball game with a packed house when there was in fact, no game that night.
February 18th, 2013 at 4:28 PM ^
Nope, I think you win. And, now that you point that out, my perspective has completely reversed because wasn't it Gene Smith who oversaw a huge collegiate cash-and-benefits-for-pay-compromising-our-athletes-amateur-status scandal and managed to get by with a slap on the wrist? So, he's actually a genius.
February 18th, 2013 at 11:07 PM ^
February 18th, 2013 at 4:02 PM ^
There should be two divisions: Michigan + OSU in one, and the other 12 teams in the other. Winner of the The Game plays in the Big Ten Championship every year against the best team from the rest of the bunch.
Obviously joking, but with OSU off of probation I bet that UM or OSU is in the title game at least 80% of the time anyway. My suggestion just cuts out all the bodybag games against Maryland and Indiana.
February 18th, 2013 at 4:03 PM ^
February 18th, 2013 at 4:15 PM ^
Because most people don't want to be Michigan and Ohio play two weeks in a row
February 19th, 2013 at 11:22 AM ^
Also because the Big Ten wants the draw of Michigan/Ohio State/Penn State in Rutgers/Maryland stadiums and on NY area/DC area TV's.
This is the main reason why Michigan and Ohio State will be in the same Division, and that Division will be the East.
February 18th, 2013 at 4:41 PM ^
Because the current divisions suck.
February 18th, 2013 at 7:18 PM ^
While our division may be tougher than whatever the whatever the other one is, I still like playing against our teams rather than Purdue, Indiana, and Penn St.
February 18th, 2013 at 4:11 PM ^
February 18th, 2013 at 8:11 PM ^
February 18th, 2013 at 4:11 PM ^
February 18th, 2013 at 4:12 PM ^
February 18th, 2013 at 4:12 PM ^
Jim Delaney doesn't care about sense...HE DOES WHAT HE WANTS. He "da boss man"
February 18th, 2013 at 4:12 PM ^
February 18th, 2013 at 4:12 PM ^
February 18th, 2013 at 4:12 PM ^
February 18th, 2013 at 4:15 PM ^
I like numbers too
February 18th, 2013 at 4:15 PM ^
February 18th, 2013 at 4:25 PM ^
February 18th, 2013 at 4:35 PM ^
Can you explain this reference a bit? I know about the show, but IDK why this is a relevant comment at this point in the thread.
thanks
February 19th, 2013 at 8:00 AM ^
February 19th, 2013 at 10:42 AM ^
The "Big Two and Little Eight" was the '70s. In the '90s there was PSU and Wisconsin in the mix (as well as Northwestern and Iowa at times). Wisconsin went to as many Rose Bowls that decade (three) as we did, and more than Ohio did.
February 19th, 2013 at 10:19 PM ^
February 18th, 2013 at 4:26 PM ^
February 18th, 2013 at 4:35 PM ^
I think Hoke has changed the tide on the lottery. Hell-people in Ohio are starting to hit the jackpot. Never in a million years I would have won that. Posting repeatedly is a good start.
February 18th, 2013 at 4:35 PM ^
There was actually an article in The Toledo Blade yesterday which mentioned in passing that Smith was in favor of the idea. The article also mentions some of the bits and pieces of conference realignment mentioned in various threads here, including the potential for November night games and the expansion of the conference schedule as soon as 2016 potentially.
Smith seems to imply that Brandon is also on board with Michigan and Ohio State being in the East division as well:
""That's where I’m leaning, and that's where I think [Michigan athletic director] Dave Brandon is leaning. We always go into these meetings listening to what's best for the league, but our preference at this time is to be in the same division."
February 18th, 2013 at 4:38 PM ^
February 18th, 2013 at 4:50 PM ^
Do we need a weekly update on what pretty much everyone and their brother knows is going to happen with the football division re-alignment? Yet another Genie Wenie Smith update on division re-alignment? Come on man!
Unless the BIG football goes to a north vs. south alignment, it makes no sense to split up OSU and UofM. Frankly, a stricit East vs. West alignment would pretty much make everyone happy, even NW if RU is their protected rivialry game; since they want an East coast presence. All this is poopycock until we add two more teams anyway.
How about a thread when the divisions are re-aligned, and then we can all bitch and moan about how stupid the AD's and Delaney are for not doing it "your way". Until then, who cares!
February 18th, 2013 at 5:24 PM ^
February 18th, 2013 at 5:31 PM ^
For the first time ever, I'm hoping Gene Smith is right.
East/West is probably the endgame (the Eye was always little more than a dream) and makes for competitive balance and, I believe, gives us an advantage in recruiting the OH-PA-DC areas that will benefit our program.
We are losing our ND annual rivalry, and I'm happy to see the Staee rivalry switch to being a once-every-three-years-or-so thing. NO PROTECTED CROSSOVERS, PLEASE.
February 18th, 2013 at 5:32 PM ^
Do it Gene Smith. I can only stomach playing The Game only once.
Question. If something were to happen where Michigan wasn't able to have a protected cross division game with Minnesota for the Little Brown Jug would you be disappointed with the realingment? Its pretty much been one-sided with UM owning the trophy game.
February 18th, 2013 at 5:42 PM ^
Of course, I also want to go back to the old Big Ten with 10 teams, so I am clearly behind the times. GOML
February 18th, 2013 at 6:28 PM ^
You're not the only one. It has the longest history too. If these proposed divisions pan out, I would rather see Minnesota as our protected rival game than State.
February 18th, 2013 at 8:04 PM ^
February 18th, 2013 at 7:10 PM ^
February 19th, 2013 at 11:25 AM ^
This is perfect. The jug is almost filled up with the game scores. We have to dial back the series so we don't run out of room.
February 18th, 2013 at 5:34 PM ^
NorCalGoBloo: "Strong likelihood" Gene Smith is talking out of his ass again.
I hope what he says is true though.
February 18th, 2013 at 6:06 PM ^
As it should be. SEC combined their strongest programs in the West and we can create the same environment.
February 18th, 2013 at 6:36 PM ^
Can't say that was super-deliberate though, as far as I see it. The East has Florida and Georgia, two traditionally very strong programs, just as the west has Alabama and kind of LSU. It just happens to be that the West is really really good right now. This too shall pass.
OTOH, the Big Ten East?) will have the two unquestioned best teams in the league, and it's probably going to continue that way. The west has Nebraska, but it's still a much less historically-balanced setup than the SEC in my opinion.
Not that I'm saying that the Big Ten East as proposed would be a bad idea; I rather like it. Just saying that it's not analogous to the SEC.
February 18th, 2013 at 6:57 PM ^
Actually, the power structure of the SEC has gone back and forth between the divisions. In the 1990s, with Spurrier at Florida and Fulmer (when he was still a good coach) at Tennessee, the East was definitely the stronger of the two.
The SEC didn't worry about competitive balance. It simply tried to keep all the rivalries contained within the divisions and let the competitive side of things work itself out.
February 19th, 2013 at 11:28 AM ^
And work out it did.
From a competitive balance standpoint. From a rivalry standpoint. From a fan passion standpoint. From a financial standpoint. From a national presence standpoint. Etc. Etc.
There are not too many things that the SEC is a role model for, but this is one of them.
February 18th, 2013 at 6:35 PM ^
in such a configuration.
They'll pretend they don't care and that they'll dominate the West, but won't.
February 18th, 2013 at 7:03 PM ^
February 18th, 2013 at 7:51 PM ^
i remember him being fired for aiding tressel in the cover up multiple ncaa violations in football.
i believe he now works for pryor's lawyer/friend in PA. /s
i ignore what he says.
February 18th, 2013 at 8:16 PM ^