If the reports are true, then it looks like Nebraska is jumping ship to the Big Ten, and in doing so, causing the seismic shift in collegiate athletics by ending the Big 12.If the Big Ten is giving Nebraska a formal invite to apply for membership, then this tells me that talks with Notre Dame have really gone nowhere. As much as I stated that Notre Dame going into oblivion serves those clownshoes right, they were the Big Ten's probable first choice.
So, if these reports are accurate, allow me to be one of the first to welcome Husker Nation into the best conference in the land. The SEC is better at football, and the ACC is better at basketball, and the Pac-10 (16) is better at some other sports, but I would argue that top-to-bottom, no one is as solid as the Big Ten. Oh, and our academics (overall) are better than theirs too.
Strange days indeed...most peculiar mama.
UPDATE: NU Regent Chair Bob Phares has issued a pretty strong denial to these reports. The Nebraska Board of Regents is meeting on Friday, and their Big 12/Big Ten dilemma is on the docket to be discussed. So, perhaps these reports are premature. However, my understanding is that the Nebraska-to-Big Ten move has a lot of support amongst the powers that be in Lincoln.
One other thing is kinda bugging me right now, and it's the lack of any news regarding Missouri. The only thing I know is that their Board of Curators is also meeting this week (how cute, their board isn't of regents, but curators). Supposedly the matter of conference affiliation is not on the agenda. But, if that June 17th deadline by the Big 12 for a blood loyalty oath or whatever is legit, I am guessing it will be discussed.
I would like Missouri to move to the Big Ten. Like Nebraska, they would be the conference's bottom-feeders academically, but neither are slouches academically (and Missouri has an outstanding journalism school, which makes this J-school grad happy).
UPDATE 2 (10:15 Central) - Seeing a lot of chatter about potential invites going to Rutgers (not a shock) and Maryland (quite a shock...but a pretty good fit actually). If this is true, and I think it's a little early to tell, this is really interesting. It must really not be going anywhere with Notre Dame if there is any truth to this. As you might have gathered, I am going to keep up with this. I have a tough time believing Maryland is willing to leave the ACC this quickly. Not linking to anything because none of what I am seeing is from anything resembling reliable sources. But, interesting stuff nonetheless.
5 comments:
I can not believe that ND is still holding a grudge after all of these years. Texas has a better arguement at siffing the Big Ten than the Irish do. Maybe even Mizzou does also. I hope that the Irish stick to their ways, and don't join a league. It will be very soon when they will be needing one more than any of them need the Damers. It has already happned, and they don't even understand that. Another thing that they fail to grasp is that if they would stop trying to be so special, then it wouldn't be as big a deal that they can barely ompete on the football field anymore. It is the same exact problem that the Cubs seem to suffer from.
Good post, Stinger. Benster and I have weighed in over at my place. And as you can guess, your nephew has some very bold ideas.
JP, there may not be a more delusional fanbase in America than Notre Dame fans. They really believe that they are the chosen ones. Never mind that they beat up (sometimes) on service academies, and they have won one bowl game since we graduated high school (even Minnesota has won three since then). But, in the Domers minds, they should be in the national championship conversation every year. Beautiful campus, wonderful and historic stadium, delusional fans.
And they aren't helped by the fact that apparently Catholic schools throughout the Midwest kowtow to them (Mr. D knows something about that).
Interesting update, Mike. Maryland does make a lot of sense. Benster's suggestion of Boston College is growing on me, too.
I am glad to see that the Big Ten has not broken tradition like the Pac Ten has. Nebraska brings solid football with it. They need another school that has great football also. They should try to add two teams that are very good in basketball too. The last team should be average at both. I would like to see them continue with placing teams with high academic standards in their league. I am pretty sure that they will.
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