I hate corn. If we don't beat the Corn, we a-gonna go to the Toilet Bowl. By the way, Lincoln, Nebraska sucks for a town.
Predictions:
Kate: MSU 10-7
Big Bob: MSU 2-0.
RGM3: MSU 14-10. An absolute barn burner.
CHock: Nebraska 35-31.
Australia Paul: MSU 45-0.
Big Joe and Phantom 309: MSU 24, Cornfuckers 10.
Sloth: Nepotism 42, Sloth 0.
Kelly: MSU 17-14...two TDS scored by our defense and one field goal that Nebraska kicks in the wrong end zone
Chef Tom: Even, pick-em
Wow, based on the projections by BTN's Tom Deinhart, the ES isn't so bullish on the Big Ten's chances in bowls. This game by MSU really can make or break whether or not MSU plays in a premium bowl, or a toilet bowl. Right now, Deinhart has the Spartans in a toilet bowl.
Here is what the ES thinks with his prediction of a, gulp, ugly 3-6 Big Ten result:
OK, so the Big Ten Network is promoting its "Prime Time" matchup football schedule this fall, including a Friday, Aug 30, welcome of Western Michigan to Michigan State.
A fairly pathetic schedule to promote. Really, what is interesting? Maybe BTN will be lucky to capture a Thunderstorm or Tornado in the Cowboys' 10-hour, 700-mile drive from Cheyenne to Lincoln. Syracuse at Northwestern - maybe a 2-hour video of a student rendition of the Scopes Monkey Trial. Vegas at Minny? Hopefully it snows in August in Minneapolis. Indiana State at Indiana? Godforbid, the Hoosiers best shot is if Larry Bird stays retired, football, basketball, whatever.
Good grief. Save the press release, but enjoy Big Ten football!
BTN PRIMETIME SCHEDULE (all times Eastern) Thursday, August 29
Fastforward 2011: ES really likes being in the same division as Nebraska and playing them every year. Sure, we've never beating the Corn, but having the chance to play a storied program every year is awesome.
The divisions are: 1) Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Northwestern 2) Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin
Each school will play the other five schools within its division and will also face three teams from the other division, including one cross-division matchup guaranteed on an annual basis. The guaranteed cross-division matchups are Illinois-Northwestern, Indiana-Michigan State, Ohio State-Michigan, Penn State-Nebraska, Purdue-Iowa and Wisconsin-Minnesota. Names for each Big Ten football division will be announced at a later date.
The winner of each Big Ten division will meet in the inaugural Big Ten Football Championship Game, to be played December 3, 2011, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The championship game will determine the Big Ten Champion and the conference's participant in the Rose Bowl Game.
Interesting post in the LSJ. Looks like as the Big Ten expands to 12, the big year-end games for Big Ten football will be Michigan State-Michigan, Ohio State-Penn State, and Nebraska-Iowa. Alas, Ohio State-Michigan will fall by the wayside. And, with Iowa and Wisconsin SPLIT in a new divisional structure, that is a hint at a possible North-South divisional alignment:
NORTH Indiana Michigan Michigan State Minnesota Northwestern Wisconsin
SOUTH Illinois Iowa Nebraska Ohio State Penn State Purdue
And, my God everyone is high on William Gholston as the next speed rusher for the Big Green. My oh my we need one desperately... put some heat on opposing QBs to help out our secondary and cause some turnovers.
And you all noticed now that the Big 10 has twelve teams, and the Big 12 has ten teams. Any chance on swapping names?
The Big Ten Network will have live coverage of Nebraska Chancellor Harvey Perlman and Athletic Director Tom Osborne's press conference beginning at 5 p.m. CT (6 pm ET).
Check back with BigTenNetwork.com for live video streaming of the press conference. TEXAS REGENTS TO MEET ON TUESDAY; OKLAHOMA, OK ST TO FOLLOW And, this upcoming Tuesday, regents at the University of Texas are meeting to likely jump ship. Bye, bye, Big 12, it was nice knowing you. And, both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will quickly follow the lead of Texas.
BOISE STATE TO MOUNTAIN WEST Boise State University has accepted an invitation to join the Mountain West Conference in 2011.
Boise State, currently a Western Athletic Conference member, would become the Mountain West Conference's 10th member. The move would be effective July 1, 2011.
Nebraska has joined the Big Ten, accepting an invite as of this morning. Board of regents were in closed session beginning 1 pm this afternoon. A news conference is scheduled for 4:45 p.m., according to a source in the NU athletic department.
According to Huskers Extra, "a packed house has filled the meeting room in Varner Hall today to hear a regents’ resolution that will carry Nebraska forward to the Big Ten."
Nebraska is 728 miles from East Lansing. The have 21 total sports, and their current ranking in the Learfield/SearsDirector's Cup is #36). Former Conference: Big Twelve. Another long-time AAU member. One of the historically strongest athletic programs in the nation. Strong football, and Olympic sports. 21 total sports. At one time, the ES had Nebraska as #7 on his list of expansion possibilities.
So, now the Big Ten stretches 1,088 miles from State College, PA (Penn State) to Lincoln, NE (Nebraska). Geographically, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa State, Pittsburgh all make sense. These are all AAU members.
It's only 200 miles from Lincoln to Lawrence, KS. 324 miles from Lincoln, to Columbia, MO. Kansas is right in between the two. Its only 314 miles from Lincoln to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
And, Missouri, and likely Kansas, Syracuse, and Pittsburgh; maybe Texas A&M. The ES still has a tough time believing Rutgers or Iowa State.
But, Nebraska gets the first nod as the Big Ten's twelfth addition. Someone got a new logo for the Big 10/12? If so, post it somewhere and comment on the link to it.
But, it won't last long. Oh, no it won't. Colorado is now at the Pac-11/16. They'll add lots of Texas schools. Don't be surprised to see Texas A&M go to the Big Ten.
It won't solve the problem of finances in college sports - it just means more money to be made and spent on college sports, and more of the smaller schools (MAC, WAC, C-USA) will be further behind. But, who cares, right? Hell, MSU and Texas A&M were made for each other.
Realistically, Notre Dame is OUT and the Big 12 has vanished. I see the Big 16 and Pac 16 beginning in 2012.
And, this is all about football - nothing more. Basketball, who cares? All the other 20+ sports? Doesn't matter. Because football is money.
Hey, I've traveled to Penn State; I've been to Nebraska twice. They're about equal when it comes to campus environment and geographic location: a long way to go see a cool football game.
Looks more and more like Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa State are moving up the leaderboard of possible contenders in Big Ten expansion scenarios.
The Big Ten meetings are this weekend, and a recent interview with commissioner Jim Delaney noted three important points:
1. Gaining a foothold in the South. "In the last 20 or 30 years, there's been a clear shift in movement to the Sun Belt. The rates of growth in the Sun Belt are four times the rates in the East or the Midwest.” This boosts consideration of stealing from the Big 12 -- teams close to or in the Sun Belt -- and away from the Big Least. 2. Extending the reach of the league's lucrative television network. The Kansas City (#26 metro area in US) and St. Louis (#18 metro area) areas are significant - with more than 4.5 million households in these two areas alone. ES explored this earlier. 3. Membership in the Association of American Universities would be “very important." A previous list by the ES lists AAU membership among potential candidates
Well, the ES still doesn't see Texas (AAU member), Colorado (AAU member) or Oklahoma (not in the AAU) in the mix so much. They are just too far away -- too far. So, reviewing the potential candidates, the ES sees expansion to 14 at this point -
1. Notre Dame (not AAU but the only exception to the rule). 2. Missouri (AAU). 3. Kansas (AAU).
Yes, Money Does rule the day. The day after the ES sez that the Big Ten is more likely to add hockey than expand to 12... well, the Big Ten issues a statement in which its Council of Presidents asked Commissioner Jim Delaney for a recommendation of schools to approach IF the Big Ten were to consider expansion. The Big Ten Network covered their statement with input that Big Ten presidents may receive considerations within 12-18 months. See the video below.
But first up, the most likely nominations? The ES shows distance from East Lansing. A current NACDA/Learfield Sports' Directors Cup (formerly Sears Cup) ranking is also provided as food for fodder to consider competitiveness of the full athletics program. FYI - Michigan State is ranked #13 so far. Ranking is listing by the ES in order of best fit for the Big Ten.
1. Notre Dame (147 miles from EL. Cup: #39). Won't happen unless they give up FB independent status. NBC football TV contract worth $9 million will expire by 2015 and is already equated by Big Ten Network revenues; Big Ten also receives $19 million per school from CBS & ESPN for all sports -- something Big East can't match. Negative is ND Not an AAU member.
2. Pittsburgh (283 miles. Cup: NR). Big Least - its closer than Joe Pa (454 miles). Has a lean 17-sport program. Pitt is an AAU member. Strong in football and hoops.
3. Missouri (411 miles. Cup: NR). Big Twelve. KC Star already on this possibility. A long-time AAU member, with a robust athletics program. A total of 20 sports. Strong in both football and hoops.
4. Syracuse (466 miles. Cup: #5). Big Least. Accepted into the AAU two years after Michigan State. A total of 20 sports, including women's ice hockey. Terrible football, strong hoops.
5. Iowa State (562 miles. Cup: #19). Big Twelve. An AAU member. A very lean 16-sports, average football, good hoops. Likely just too far, and too small.
6. Rutgers (682 miles. Cup: NR). Big Least. A recent AAU addition. The Knights have 22 sports. Recently strong in football, great women's hoops teams. The Big knock is they are just too far, and again a smaller institution.
7. Nebraska (728 miles. Cup: NR). Big Twelve. Another long-time AAU member. One of the historically strongest athletic programs in the nation. Strong football, and Olympic sports. 21 total sports. However, many historical ties to Big Twelve (former Southwest Conference) schools. And, likely too far.
Others? Louisville, Cincinnati, Memphis... May the dominoes fall. The ES still sez that ice hockey is a greater possibility than a 12th member. But, let us revisit in 2012.
