Stupid Trophy Names!
As requested, a separate thread to talk about how stupid the new Big Ten championship related trophies are. The whole thing reeks of political correctness, splitting the difference by double-naming each trophy so no single trophy is tied to a single school. Apart from that, let's consider the names themselves:
The Good
The Hayes-Schembechler Trophy (Coach of the year)
Okay, so you've got two legendary coaches at two legendary big ten schools. I'd tell you more but I don't want to insult your intelligence. This makes sense, even if the name is a mouthful.
The Bad
The Grange-Griffin Trophy (Championship game MVP)
Red Grange, halfback for Illinois in the 1920s. According to wikipedia, named the greatest college football player of all time by ESPN in 2008. So, he's got that going for him, which is nice.
Archie Griffon, running back for Ohio State in the 1970s. Only two-time heisman trophy winner in history thus far.
Okay, so this is actually not all that bad but damn it I'm sticking with the theme. It does lack the nice symmetry of the Hayes-Schembechler Trophy, as rather than featuring the names of rivals it features two players that missed each other by 50 years. Also, they try so hard to come up with fair and balanced trophy names, and then put OSU on two of them. They couldn't come up with a worthy player's name from an unrepresented school?
The Ugly
The Stagg-Paterno Trophy (Championship game winning team)
Amos Alonzo Stagg was "an American athlete and pioneering college coach in multiple sports, primarily football", says Wikipedia. Played at Yale, coached at the University of Chicago and the University of the Pacific.
Joe Paterno is really damn old and coaches football or something, I don't know.
So here you've got two coaches that can rightfully called "legendary" but whose ties to the big ten are less solid. Stagg was the coach of the University of Chicago for 40 years, which is a very long time. You know what else is a very long time? The 64 years it's been since the University Chicago was actually in the big ten. As for Paterno, he's been Penn State's coach for 44 years, but Penn State's only been in the big ten for 20 of those.
Worst of all, given Joe Paterno's decision to stick it out for at least one more year, he'll get to experience the embarrassment of competing for a trophy named after himself.
December 13th, 2010 at 3:52 PM ^
Ever heard of the SPACE EMPEROR FROM SPACE Delany??
December 13th, 2010 at 7:46 PM ^
has a nice ring to it
December 14th, 2010 at 1:16 PM ^
It's appalling that the trophies didn't represent way more players that played before 1940. Only 5 of 28 names on the player trophies are of players before 1960 -- and the Big Ten is 114 years old. It's entirely appropriate to honor Stagg, who is one of the greatest (if not the greatest) Big Ten coach of all time.
December 13th, 2010 at 3:52 PM ^
All the hyphenated names suck. Why does the trophy name have to be shared? I dunno, this whole press release needs to be rescinded. I know it won't, even in the face of overwhelming negativity. If they're smart, they trot back out with their tails between their legs and apologize for screwing up.
On a side note, how much do you think this whole endeavor cost? 10 mil? How much of that was spent on a focus group consisting of people who were not currently taking ecstacy?
December 13th, 2010 at 4:17 PM ^
How much of that was spent on a focus group consisting of people who were not currently taking ecstacy?
haha, hilarious.
December 13th, 2010 at 3:55 PM ^
The idea of hyphenating the trophy names at all, no natter the names, is stupid and the product of committee groupthink, just like the rest. Next year I'm sure the NFL teams will trying to win the Lombardi/Halas Trophy at the Super Bowl
December 13th, 2010 at 4:00 PM ^
with the big ten, its either hyphenated names or generic one word names. would you rather reward players with the Grange-Griffin Trophy or the Leadership Trophy? maybe the Rotel-Valveeda (you cant start your big ten championship without our famous caso dip) Trophy
December 13th, 2010 at 4:05 PM ^
I'd rather they just use one name on the trophy. If they're going to have 18 trophies, that means that they could still have every school represented. The hyphenations are an awkward mouthful.
December 13th, 2010 at 4:16 PM ^
Ya. someone's name might get left out. So? Deal with it. the idea of not making choices so that everyone is ok is the death of any idea.
December 13th, 2010 at 4:57 PM ^
Gets the Griese-Brees
December 13th, 2010 at 3:54 PM ^
Eric Crouch trophy or some other Nebraska namesake.
And Delany kept talking about how the conference now has 18 Heisman winners, he better not think that way about national championships, because the '97 Nebraska shit ain't gonna fly around these parts
December 13th, 2010 at 4:00 PM ^
did go wrong. Delaney, thanks for fucking up everything that was supposed to be awesome instead we got this lame logo, division name and even lamer trophy names.
December 13th, 2010 at 4:09 PM ^
off the top of my head, here is a better logo (not great but at least better):
Here are better division names:
The Great Lakes Division & The Midwest Division (they're not necessarily geaographically correct but they're a hell of a lot better than the leaders and legends divisions)
I really couldn't care less about the damn trophy names... so long as none of them are called "the Dre"
December 13th, 2010 at 7:13 PM ^
Here's my vote for the new logo and division names... Ace and Gary.
December 13th, 2010 at 4:05 PM ^
Is it too late to send Nebraska back?
December 13th, 2010 at 4:07 PM ^
I agree the names are pretty lame, although the Griese-Brees QB of the Year trophy has a nice ring to it. Sound like a nickname for an El Camino or something.
December 13th, 2010 at 4:24 PM ^
Pryor is not happy because he would dominate.
December 13th, 2010 at 4:37 PM ^
I can't believe that one. I love Griese and all, but he was awful until his senior year - and even as a senior, he was hardly asked to carry the offense (except for the Rose Bowl). I could think of a lot of better choices just at this school.
December 13th, 2010 at 4:43 PM ^
Unless you're being funny, Bob Griese, not his son.
December 13th, 2010 at 4:46 PM ^
Yes, Bob makes more sense. I just assumed it was Brian because I thought they wouldn't want two Purdue guys. Weird to have two players from the same team sharing it.
December 13th, 2010 at 4:46 PM ^
You do realize it's for Bob Griese, not Brian, correct?
December 13th, 2010 at 4:42 PM ^
Yeah, but why two Purdue QB's?! Now I really hope Notre Dame joins the Big Ten soon so we can get rid of these shitty changes
December 13th, 2010 at 4:55 PM ^
Both tailbacks are from Wisconsin, too. So the two biggest glamour offensive positions are monopolized by two historically middle-of-the-pack conference programs.
December 13th, 2010 at 4:07 PM ^
The trophy for best defensive back is "(I forget name)-Woodson". At first glance it seems to be a trophy named after Charles Woodson, but it turns out it some other Woodson from Indiana.
December 13th, 2010 at 4:17 PM ^
from Purdue, and they probably didn't want to put CWood on two trophies (Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year)
December 13th, 2010 at 4:18 PM ^
That "other" Woodson is Rod Woodson, so that's not too terrible.
And while you might say, "hey, that should be Charles' award", he's too busy being on the best defensive PLAYER trophy, so I think we win.
December 13th, 2010 at 4:19 PM ^
Yes his name was Rod Woodson. You may have heard of him already.
December 13th, 2010 at 5:01 PM ^
was a terriffic player. But, when you get a trophy for being the best defensive back and it says Woodson on the trophy, what are you going to think?
They could have just called it the Woodson trophy for both of them.
December 13th, 2010 at 4:08 PM ^
This reminds me of guys who take their on wife's maiden name and add it to theirs. The dual names just speak PC loud and clear. I know it's tough to pick one but dual names on everything blows. Just pick a name and run with it.
December 13th, 2010 at 4:12 PM ^
Hayes-Schembechler is pretty badass though
December 13th, 2010 at 4:25 PM ^
the Yost-Schembechler Award has a better ring to it
December 13th, 2010 at 5:17 PM ^
Yost-Hayes-Schembechler-Crisler-Paterno-Stagg-Bierman-Zuppke-Alvarez-Munn-Brown-Mollenkopf-Daugherty-Fry-Kipke-Evashevski Trophy?
December 13th, 2010 at 4:13 PM ^
where is the list of other trophies you folks are working off of? I only found the three in the OP from the Detroit News write-up.
EDIT: HERE
http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121310aaa.html
December 13th, 2010 at 6:13 PM ^
Championship Game Trophies
<br>
<br>Stagg-Paterno Championship Trophy: Amos Alonzo Stagg, Chicago, and Joe Paterno, Penn State
<br>
<br>Grange-Griffin Championship Game MVP: Harold Edward (Red) Grange, Illinois, and Archie Griffin, Ohio State
<br>
<br>Postgraduate Awards
<br>
<br>Ford-Kinnick Leadership Award: Gerald R. Ford, Michigan, and Nile Kinnick, Iowa
<br>
<br>Dungy-Thompson Humanitarian Award: Tony Dungy, Minnesota, and Anthony Thompson, Indiana
<br>
<br>Annual Awards/Trophies
<br>
<br>Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year: Otto Graham, Northwestern, and Eddie George, Ohio State
<br>
<br>Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year: Bronislau (Bronko) Nagurski, Minnesota, and Charles Woodson, Michigan
<br>
<br>Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year: Wayne Woodrow (Woody) Hayes, Ohio State, and Glenn Edward (Bo) Schembechler, Michigan
<br>
<br>Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year: Darrell Thompson, Minnesota, and Antwaan Randle El, Indiana
<br>
<br>Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year: Dave Rimington, Nebraska, and Orlando Pace, Ohio State
<br>
<br>Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year: Charles Aaron (Bubba) Smith, Michigan State, and Courtney Brown, Penn State
<br>
<br>Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year: Bob Griese, Purdue, and Drew Brees, Purdue
<br>
<br>Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year: Alan Ameche, Wisconsin, and Ron Dayne, Wisconsin
<br>
<br>Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year: Jack Tatum, Ohio State, and Rod Woodson, Purdue
<br>
<br>Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year: Dick Butkus, Illinois, and Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
<br>
<br>Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year: Pat Richter, Wisconsin, and Desmond Howard, Michigan
<br>
<br>Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year: Ted Kwalick, Penn State, and Dallas Clark, Iowa
<br>
<br>Bakken-Andersen Kicker of the Year: Jim Bakken, Wisconsin, and Morten Andersen, Michigan State
<br>
<br>Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year: Thomas Dwight (Dike) Eddleman, Illinois, and Brandon Fields, Michigan State
<br>
December 13th, 2010 at 4:17 PM ^
Ah, the memories...Big Dave mowing down Big Ten defensive lines...oh, wait...never mind.
December 13th, 2010 at 4:25 PM ^
Breakdown of names by school is as follows:
Five Names: Ohio State
Four Names: Michigan, Wisconsin
Three Names: Penn State, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan State, Purdue
Two Names: Iowa, Indiana, Northwestern
One Name: Chicago(!), Nebraska(!)
Guys that never played/coached in the Big Ten:
Dave Rimington, Nebraska (1979-1982) 1981 Big Eight player of the year, no less!
Ted Kwalick, Penn State (1966-1968)
December 13th, 2010 at 5:03 PM ^
I'm okay with Stagg being on there - he is a legend, and did his coaching in the conference. (Also, the first half of the 20th century is hardly represented otherwise.) But having Rimington and Kwalick in there is just dumb. Sorry Nebraska, but they don't deserve anyone on a list until they actually compete in the league. And PSU gets Courtney Brown and Paterno in there - why did they need another guy?
December 13th, 2010 at 4:27 PM ^
I have a hard time naming a title trophy after a guy that spent most of his career not in the B10. In fact, he spent several "careers" (tenure wise) of most head coaches coaching outside of the B10. And its just wrong to name an award after someone who is still an active coach. That trophy would have been fine to just have called it the Alonzo Stagg Trophy.
December 13th, 2010 at 4:32 PM ^
The trophy names are terrible, the division names are terrible, and the logo is worse. Penn State, Nebraska, and Chicago may have history (debatable on some points) but they do not have a Big Ten history. And I believe there was talk about balancing the award names to honor a variety of schools, and then they go and double up Purdue QB's and double up Wisconsin RB's. Not that they aren't deserving individuals (Ameche is new to me) but it doesn't seem to be as balanced as expected. Thank you Delany for blowing this.
December 13th, 2010 at 5:41 PM ^
Chicago does not have a Big Ten history?? What?
In the wake of everything the Big Ten did wrong today, let's not dump on the one thing that they got right--naming something after Amos Alonzo Stagg.
Of course, it does make the fact that nothing was named after Fielding Yost even more of a travesty.
December 13th, 2010 at 5:48 PM ^
agree with you 'cept Chicago has 7 Big Ten football championships and is still a member of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation.
They also beat Michigan in what was, effectively, the first National Championship game. Chicago-2 Michigan-0 .
December 13th, 2010 at 4:37 PM ^
There is a bright side: 2 or the 3 Sparty names are for trophies for best kicker and punter.
December 13th, 2010 at 5:45 PM ^
And the one for the best punter is not even close to being deserved.
December 13th, 2010 at 4:37 PM ^
I was looking forward to the Woody Hayes Sportsmanship Award
December 13th, 2010 at 4:45 PM ^
I think I need two Kleenex to mop up my own sarcasm.
Seriously though they need to take the trophies down to one name. If you can't find one name, make it generic and spare us from something stupid that I'm going to have to explain to my mother five times.
December 13th, 2010 at 5:27 PM ^
Next time use Bounty to wipe out your sarcasm. One ply of Bounty could have cleaned up what 2 boxes of tissues does.
December 13th, 2010 at 5:15 PM ^
Robinson-Bass Offensive Back of the Year Award
Terrell Pryor - Coulda Woulda Shoulda Trophy
Lewan-Long Donkey Rider of the Year Award
December 13th, 2010 at 5:15 PM ^
Amos Alonzo Stagg won seven Big Ten titles. Joe Paterno has won three. Meanwhile, Bo and Woody each won 13.
It seems to me that the wrong coaches names are on the Championship Trophy.
December 13th, 2010 at 5:26 PM ^
being on the coach of the year trophy is likely what kept them off this one... however there are many more deserving coaches than Paterno... personally I like the Fielding H. Yost (10) - Amos Alonzo Stagg (7) Trophy