biggie

I like Iowa more than ISU but I tend to root for the whole conference.

You talk a lot but you don't say anything, and you talk in circles. You start off wringing your hands that we don't care about one team, then morph into some nonsensical point about the alumnae of various Big Ten schools feeling camaraderie for each other. Which do you want to talk about? No circles at all. My point is, if a Big Ten school left the conference after 100 years, the Big Ten reaction would be different than the attitude I've read here, which quite frankly surprised me. "Meh" would not be it. It would be a reaction of regret that things didn't work out, even if it's for the best. I've tried to explain why that is, due to the Big Ten's history and culture. I hope in time Nebraska comes to share that. It has helped the Big Ten survive as long as it has. So basically your point is based on hypotheticals about a conference you have apparently zero understanding of the dynamics of and a move you've never been around to experience as a fan of a team leaving a conference. The old big 8 died 15 years ago, so you can give up the 100 years of history arguments right now. That history was thrown out the window when Texas was added and started dictating how the league would be run before they even joined... We've had 15 years to mourn the loss of OU/Nebraska rivalry and I think plenty of husker fans are sympathetic to the bad situation the old big 8 teams are in now, particularly the northern teams. We just left it, we are thankful to be out of there. You're trying to romanticize the history between the programs as if the big 8/12 was the equivalent of the Big Ten. It wasn't and it never will be. ISU is a perennial doormat, once in awhile they have a good team and/or beat someone surprising, or caught a fluke game like 8 turnovers, but by and large it was a game that for 50 years was something when you saw the schedule you just chalked up as a W and looked at next weeks opponent. Good post. Of course I have no experience with it, that's why I posted the question in the first place. I don't expect you to have any experience with the Big Ten either. If you're saying the old Big 8 was never quite as good as I imagine, I understand more. I figured since the Big 8 had such a long history, it was pretty close to the Big Ten. If the old Big 8 members weren't all as close I think, it makes a lot more sense now.

Not quite the same situation: Lets say the B1G needed to expand and the only option was to admit Notre Lame, and 3 other catholic universities. Then they started to dictate things to the conference - move the headquarters from Chicago to Rome, require a certain percent of the athletes to be Catholic, they keep their NBC TV contract money and an equal share from the conference. The only way this is accomplished is the schools in Illinois and Indiana back Notre Lame to "get back at" the "power schools". After awhile Tosu Meechicken and some other schools see the writing on the wall, get fed up and join the $EC. Would you be sad not to play Indiana anymore because their lack of a spine caused a conference to explode? That is the culture we are LEAVING, and why we are so EXCITED about joining the B1G and the culture you have. I get your point, but did Iowa State back Texas and Oklahoma didn't? There seems to be sadness over leaving Oklahoma but the 100 years with ISU is worth nothing. That, and the fact most of the attitude toward ISU is about drunk fans and football, not comments regarding how they backed Texas. Maybe you could explain a little more. I admit I'm not completely familiar with all the votes and everything.

You talk a lot but you don't say anything, and you talk in circles. You start off wringing your hands that we don't care about one team, then morph into some nonsensical point about the alumnae of various Big Ten schools feeling camaraderie for each other. Which do you want to talk about? No circles at all. My point is, if a Big Ten school left the conference after 100 years, the Big Ten reaction would be different than the attitude I've read here, which quite frankly surprised me. "Meh" would not be it. It would be a reaction of regret that things didn't work out, even if it's for the best. I've tried to explain why that is, due to the Big Ten's history and culture. I hope in time Nebraska comes to share that. It has helped the Big Ten survive as long as it has.

Have you ever visited a Wisconsin message board? An Ohio State message board? A Michigan message board? A Penn State message board? An Iowa message board? This "general level of respect" that you're talking about doesn't exist on those boards. Don't pretend that the other members sit around holding hands and singing Kumbaya at each other. What? If you read what I wrote, I made clear the respect is for the history, the conference, and for each others institutions as members of something bigger than themselves, not necessarily the sports teams holding hands. There is a clear distinction which you may or may not grasp. Big Ten fans generally love being part of the Big Ten. That's a fact. If any school left the Big Ten, there would be a sense of regret at the end of an era, even if the move happened to be for the best. Yeah, your esoteric concept was far beyond my grasp. That's it. If you get it, good. You misunderstood my previous post so I clarified. No need for the sarcasm.

Do you respect your toilet just because you p*ss in it every day? Sure there's a history there, but it's nothing that can't easily be replaced. I'll take that as a no. That mentality is the opposite of what has held the Big Ten together longer than any other conference. oh give me a break. this guy has got to be the most high and mighty troll i have seen on here. That's not my intent here. The Big Ten has a culture I'm trying to make you aware of, although I admit it's much stronger among Big Ten alumni than non alumni sports fans only. The Big Ten is very proud of being the oldest conference in FBS, and it's based on a general level of respect for each other's institutions and the history of the conference, even if you hate each other's teams on the field. If there's one hallmark of the Big Ten, it's collaboration, in pretty much everything. that may be so among the athletic departments but this is a FAN board not the offices of one Dr. Tom Osborne. we are fans. i believe you to be an Iowa fan and i know for a fact that Iowa fans are some of the most obnoxious self pedestaling FANS around. so like i said, please stop with the holier than thou attitude. its old. its annoying. responses like mine will only start getting more frequent. It goes deeper than athletic departments and like I said is stronger among Big Ten alumni than non alumni sports fans only. The holier than thou attitude is for your new conference, which you are now in. You should share it and be proud of it. Touting the greatness of the Big Ten culture should not be offensive to you. I'm trying to explain it. There is still hatred on the field, so if your only experience with the Big Ten is 8 Saturdays per year, you might not notice.

Have you ever visited a Wisconsin message board? An Ohio State message board? A Michigan message board? A Penn State message board? An Iowa message board? This "general level of respect" that you're talking about doesn't exist on those boards. Don't pretend that the other members sit around holding hands and singing Kumbaya at each other. What? If you read what I wrote, I made clear the respect is for the history, the conference, and for each others institutions as members of something bigger than themselves, not necessarily the sports teams holding hands. There is a clear distinction which you may or may not grasp. Big Ten fans generally love being part of the Big Ten. That's a fact. If any school left the Big Ten, there would be a sense of regret at the end of an era, even if the move happened to be for the best.

Not to be a jerk, but I think he did. Many miss the old Big 8 days, but with the invention of the Big 12 and the corruption and politcal BS that the texa$$ schools brought, we are glad to be done with that mess. That, and all of the 11-1 votes where our "historical brothers" sold us out really didn't sit very well with us. That being said, I thought that ISU fans were pretty douchy the 2 or 3 times they beat us, but I did have a good time whenever I went to catch a game at Ames. Yes, the Jack is pretty much a Division 3 stadium, but I kindof liked it, it was an easy 3 hour drive. And I never had the issues with DB ISU fans while at the game. So, I'll miss the almost guaranteed win, but I look forward to some better games in the future. I get all that, but some of your comments are nothing more than game day smack talk.

Do you respect your toilet just because you p*ss in it every day? Sure there's a history there, but it's nothing that can't easily be replaced. I'll take that as a no. That mentality is the opposite of what has held the Big Ten together longer than any other conference. oh give me a break. this guy has got to be the most high and mighty troll i have seen on here. That's not my intent here. The Big Ten has a culture I'm trying to make you aware of, although I admit it's much stronger among Big Ten alumni than non alumni sports fans only. The Big Ten is very proud of being the oldest conference in FBS, and it's based on a general level of respect for each other's institutions and the history of the conference, even if you hate each other's teams on the field. If there's one hallmark of the Big Ten, it's collaboration, in pretty much everything.

Do you respect your toilet just because you p*ss in it every day? Sure there's a history there, but it's nothing that can't easily be replaced. I'll take that as a no. That mentality is the opposite of what has held the Big Ten together longer than any other conference. In all seriousness, the vast majority of Nebraska fans are sad to see the old Big 8 go and there was a respect between NU and those schools. However, the Big 12 had grown so dysfunctional that it's hard to imagine missing anything about that sh*tty conference. I'm confused. Iowa State went from easily replaced toilet to respected opponent? If you can't follow that line of thinking, this conversation isn't really going to get much farther Then say what you mean and say it clearly.

Do you respect your toilet just because you p*ss in it every day? Sure there's a history there, but it's nothing that can't easily be replaced. I'll take that as a no. That mentality is the opposite of what has held the Big Ten together longer than any other conference. In all seriousness, the vast majority of Nebraska fans are sad to see the old Big 8 go and there was a respect between NU and those schools. However, the Big 12 had grown so dysfunctional that it's hard to imagine missing anything about that sh*tty conference. I'm confused. Iowa State went from easily replaced toilet to respected opponent?

Do you respect your toilet just because you p*ss in it every day? Sure there's a history there, but it's nothing that can't easily be replaced. I'll take that as a no. That mentality is the opposite of what has held the Big Ten together longer than any other conference.

I'm surprised by some of your comments. Is there no respect for over 100 years of conference history together?

Which part of "his jokes aren't funny" do you not understand? Do you really, really think he's writing a complimentary piece on Nebraska? I swear you act like everyone is out to get your huskers. Heck, half the article was about the Michigan Man.

I think you, and others, have wildly misunderstood the initial reaction to this article. I read comments basically saying Reilly is a goof, the article is goofy, etc. Then people react like those of us not liking the piece are ready to go ballistic on this guy. The overreaction, to me, is coming from folks defending Reilly. You said he was spewing nonsense and rubbing salt in wounds out of spite, and he's an idiot, he has no credibility, the list goes on. No need to get so defensive over a few mild jokes. He poked fun at every Big Ten team and most of his comments had a little truth to them, that's why I found it funny. Did you happen to notice how many times he said something nice about Nebraska or did you stop reading after the first joke? "you kicked our butts to the state line every year" "your football lore gives their lore an atomic wedgie (Nebraska: three full national championships and two half ones" "when's the last time a bunch of lab geeks put 85,000 fannies in a stadium" "And since nobody travels better than Nebraska -- remember the time you went to South Bend? -- all that red is going to wash into Big Ten stadiums and they're going to wish you were all Big Dead." "You drew 66,784 for your spring game this year." "You're devoted fans. But you represent a real threat. You could win a few titles someday and they aren't going to like it."

I thought it was well done and funny. Some people get defensive way too quick. He managed to perfectly stereotype every team in the Big Ten with some good natured jabs but not in a mean way.

Culture is the biggest thing. I think we had common culture with everyone from Oklahoma north, but once the Texas schools showed up, the culture changed dramatically, and we no longer fit. Colorado never really fit, either - they're far more a West Coast school than a Midwest school. They'll prosper in the Pac-12. We'll prosper in the Big Ten, if for no other reason than the fact that we're so very much like Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Sparty, Ohio State, etc. We're unlike PSU and Northwestern, but not so terribly much so that we can't find common ground. It seemed like, no matter what happened, we just could not get on the same page as Texas, Texas Tech or Baylor. A&M was somewhat like us, but not tremendously so, either. Could you explain the culture fit more? Do you consider Texas Tech and Baylor to fit with the Oklahoma schools? As for Colorado, I think the Pac 12 is as culturally diverse as the Big 12, maybe more. I think Colorado and Oregon or the Arizona schools fit quite well. Neheisel didn't last long at Colorado but IMO he "fit" there (I don't mean that in a negative way against CU). And that guys is as California football as you can get. Point is, Pac12 is diverse, i agree. but for Colorado, they have more in common with those schools than they did with ANYONE in the Big 12. I agree with the initial thread as well. Except for A&M the other SWC schools never really felt like the same conference. but honestly, the divisions felt like two different conferences. OU and OSU started to become one of "them" instead of "us". Good points about Colorado. They were with you so long though. I still don't understand why A&M feels much different from Tech. Baylor is off by itself, and that leaves Texas. Whenever you add 4 new members in one direction things will feel different. I think the Big Ten lucked out in terms of geography and population. The Big Ten was lucky to have teams like Penn State and Nebraska each on its east and west, and Notre Dame in the middle. If they were all located in one direction it could be bad. Penn State is the last east coast power to add, if there were more east coast powers things could get out of balance. Penn State shifted the football power east but it helped that Penn State isn't great at basketball, so the basketball center remained in the middle. Nebraska being a mirror image of Penn State in terms of football and basketball helps balance back the other way. Ohio State/Michigan is the heart of the conference but Chicago is the biggest city, which really helps balance out east and west. If Chicago was located in Ohio, there might be more problems. Then there's the fact that a north-south conference can't share the same climate like an east-west conference can. Any time you have a conference last as long as the Big Ten there's some luck involved.

Nebraska is far more liberal than you might think. The 2008 vote was split 60/40 in favor of McCain. Nebraska is one of very few states who split their electoral votes, and Obama actually won one of Nebraska's three Electoral College votes. Obama won in the two largest population centers in Nebraska, Omaha and Lincoln. I'm not a democrat but that's absurd. That's like saying Mississippi is more liberal than you think. Nebraska's percent in favor of McCain was bigger than Kansas, Mississippi, Texas, West Virginia, South Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Georgia, Missouri, North Carolina, and Arizona. It was the same in 2004.

Culture is the biggest thing. I think we had common culture with everyone from Oklahoma north, but once the Texas schools showed up, the culture changed dramatically, and we no longer fit. Colorado never really fit, either - they're far more a West Coast school than a Midwest school. They'll prosper in the Pac-12. We'll prosper in the Big Ten, if for no other reason than the fact that we're so very much like Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Sparty, Ohio State, etc. We're unlike PSU and Northwestern, but not so tribly much so that we can't find common ground. It seemed like, no matter what happened, we just could not get on the same page as Texas, Texas Tech or Baylor. A&M was somewhat like us, but not tremendously so, either. Not sure the Big 10 will be different in football then the Big X!! was, but basketball will only bring your program up a step or two, as well as "most" other sports programs with the exception of baseball. NU will bring Big Ten baseball up a notch or 3! In Academics, you will rise very high, as now NU will receive BILLIONS in CCC reasearch money, being a member of the BIG *hate that logo). In football you will finf natural "Big Time" rivals in U of M , Penn ST, tOSU and Iowa. You will find warm rivals in MSU, Wisky, and maybe Illinois. You will worry about having an off day against Northwestern, Minny, and Purdue. You will never worry about Indiana till Basketball. To start a rival in the Big 10, you have done that already, No one in the Old Big 10 wants a new member to winn the conference. Best of Luck Nebraska Red! I'm not talking athletically, I'm talking culturally, like the mindset of the folks. Midwestern rather than Southern. That's a very big difference in where a person is coming from. There is some truth to that, although the ACC, Big East and maybe Pac 12 have it worse. There are still some cultural differences though. Politically, Nebraska is a better fit in the Big 12, with the Big 12 states voting for McCain and every Big Ten state voting for Obama. Then there's the Big Ten as Great Lakes conference, with every Big Ten state bordering the Great Lakes except Iowa and Nebraska. The Big Ten also makes up the Rust Belt, while Nebraska is more of a great plains state. The similarities include weather and maybe a more common sense approach to things. If the Big Ten expands again, it will likely be to the east, and the Big Ten might start to feel a more east-west divide.

Culture is the biggest thing. I think we had common culture with everyone from Oklahoma north, but once the Texas schools showed up, the culture changed dramatically, and we no longer fit. Colorado never really fit, either - they're far more a West Coast school than a Midwest school. They'll prosper in the Pac-12. We'll prosper in the Big Ten, if for no other reason than the fact that we're so very much like Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Sparty, Ohio State, etc. We're unlike PSU and Northwestern, but not so terribly much so that we can't find common ground. It seemed like, no matter what happened, we just could not get on the same page as Texas, Texas Tech or Baylor. A&M was somewhat like us, but not tremendously so, either. Could you explain the culture fit more? Do you consider Texas Tech and Baylor to fit with the Oklahoma schools? As for Colorado, I think the Pac 12 is as culturally diverse as the Big 12, maybe more.

The Big Ten is more than a football conference.

^^^This Taken as fact and gospel.......love it... Maybe the gap has simply narrowed.

Once you get to 14 or 16 teams, it really starts becoming two conferences. You might end up with a generation of Big Ten fans longing for the old days much like Nebraska fans talk about the Big 8. Some Big Ten fans were opposed to all expansion except Notre Dame with the hope Notre Dame would settle the conference at 12. when the Big12 implodes the Big10 won't have much of a choice. It's not 1950 anymore where a conference is little beyond an affiliation with geographically and/or academically similar institutions. It's a business, and you align yourselves with the most powerful resources. If there are 14 or 16 of them so be it. I'm sure that's what the Big 8 thought. How'd that work out? Well, in 1996 the Big8 was distributing somewhere in the realm of 30 million, or about 4-5 million per team. Today, the top Big12 teams (Texas) can expect to earn 22-30 million (and still maintain their individual media rights), with the mid-tier teams around 16-18 milion. 400% return on investment? Do you think the Big8 would still be in existence had it maintained status quo? Do you feel Coloradio, Iowa State, Kansas, K-State, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Okie-State could demand revenue that would excede 160 million per year? That's putting A LOT of value in Nebraska/Oklahoma. And that's making the assumption that had we not formed the Big12, no one else would have left over the next 15 years. I'd bet my house the Big8 wouldn't have been able to maintain it's membership for another 15 years. I'd also bet my house with the formation of the BCS the Big8 would have been at a major competitive disadvantage due to SOS and other factors when competing against 12 team conferences. Is maintaining the tradition for an additional 10-15 years worth an inevitable implosion? None of that applies to Big Ten expansion. If your conference isn't in danger of imploding, is the extra money worth it? All I'm saying is your prediction of future happiness is premature. If the Big Ten gets too big, Nebraska may lose that Big Ten stability it liked so much.

Once you get to 14 or 16 teams, it really starts becoming two conferences. You might end up with a generation of Big Ten fans longing for the old days much like Nebraska fans talk about the Big 8. Some Big Ten fans were opposed to all expansion except Notre Dame with the hope Notre Dame would settle the conference at 12. when the Big12 implodes the Big10 won't have much of a choice. It's not 1950 anymore where a conference is little beyond an affiliation with geographically and/or academically similar institutions. It's a business, and you align yourselves with the most powerful resources. If there are 14 or 16 of them so be it. I'm sure that's what the Big 8 thought. How'd that work out?

I like B1G better than the new Pac 12 and Mountain West logos.