Nebraska and Iowa will seek to continue their Black Friday games

Submitted by ChicagoB1GRed on

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.

http://thegazette.com/2013/01/31/barry-alvarez-wisconsin-wants-to-play-iowa-minnesota-nebraska-every-year/

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!

Elmer

February 1st, 2013 at 9:54 AM ^

I like playing Nebraska every year.  I'd trade Penn State for them every day of the week.

Nebraska has the football tradition, plus the most cordial fan base.  It's a long drive, but Lincoln is my favorite Big10 away game.

 

 

Tater

February 1st, 2013 at 11:29 AM ^

I feel sorry for the Nebraska fanbase.  They are probably one of the two or three classiest fanbases in college football, but they have Bo Pelini as the face of the program.  Bo Pelini speaking at a Nebraska booster function must be reminiscent of the Three Stooges' "Hoi Polloi" episode.

Soulfire21

February 1st, 2013 at 10:40 AM ^

I would LOVE to see Michigan-Nebraska play each other every year.  Michigan is in the weird spot of being not quite east coast (like PSU, Rutgers, Maryland) but not exactly plains either (like Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa).

I'll take MI-Nebraska over MI-PSU 10 out of 10 times.