Sporting News evaluates the pros & cons of Nebraska to Big Ten

[SaturnDrew]

I completely disagree with Missouri being a big rivalry game. Yes, they have had recent success, but you usually do not beat rivals 24 times in a row.

 

The potential Iowa rivalry will be much bigger than the Missouri rivalry ever was or will be.

Just wondering why they would be a bigger rivalry or even why a rival at all?

 

Because of all the times they beat Nebraska? (umm ok that one time in the early 80's)

 

Because of Iowa bordering Nebraska? (Kind of like Missou, Kansas, Colorado) Though it never made Iowa State a big rival and their closer then Iowa would be.

 

I'm guessing it's because you met a Iowa fan who claimed they would beat Nebraska.

 

IMO the excitement of playing Iowa every year would amount to the same excitement of playing Indiana, Purdue, Illinois and Minnesotta.

Nebraska and Iowa have solid football programs combined with sharing a border makes a very intriguing matchup. Of course Iowa hasn't beaten Nebraska lately because they don't play that often. I would venture to guess that if they played each other the last 10 seasons, the series would be pretty even. Last 20 years might even be somewhat close even as dominant as Nebraska was in the 90's. Iowa State, Missouri, Kansas, and even Colorado don't have what I consider to be solid programs, and thus I don't consider rivalry games.

I don't think it would be anything instant as far as rivalry goes, but it could develop into a really good matchup and eventually a heated rivalry. However, saying that the Iowa matchup would be the same level as excitement as Indiana, Purdue, Illinois, and Minnesota...sorry totally disagree with you on that. Iowa does have some down years in its history (who doesn't), but they are a much better program than those Big 10 cellar dwellers you mentioned.

[Foppa]

I completely disagree with Missouri being a big rivalry game. Yes, they have had recent success, but you usually do not beat rivals 24 times in a row.

 

NU had one rivalry, and that was OU, and they can't man up to play the Big Red anymore. Couldn't put a word in when the Big 12 was formed, won't do it to keep any sense of rivalry existing now. They're scared, they now know what NU will do to them, just like what NU did to them to close out the Big 8. I don't blame them. In hockey terms, 'Turtle OU...just turtle.' Move on Huskers...time to 'Incredible Hulk' and walk alone, and be what is best for you. Join up with some real football schools.

[irieboy8]

Throughout the week, SportingNews.com will list the reasons teams named in Big Ten expansion talk would and would not make sense for the conference.

Why Nebraska makes sense for the Big Ten

1. A program of significance.

 

If the Big Ten can't land Notre Dame—and at this point, it looks like a long shot—Nebraska is the only school that can move the needle and create excitement about expansion.

 

Everything is perception, and Nebraska as a brand can make Big Ten expansion fiscally and athletically successful by extending the league's footprint well beyond the Midwest.

 

Nebraska is a national program, with national cache. The other candidates are regional schools with little national appeal.

 

 

2. Growing the Big Ten Network.

 

The foundation of the expansion is growth of the league's Big Ten Network, and the addition of Nebraska allows the Big Ten to gain traction nationally. The Big Ten makes significantly less per subscriber outside the conference's eight states (about 60 cents less, a lot of money when you're talking millions of subscribers), and the addition of Nebraska could bring desirable West Coast and Southern markets into play.

 

The idea is to create demand and eventually generate subscriber fees closer to what is paid within the conference footprint. Another positive: The Nebraska name could allow the Big Ten to restructure current network television deals, and it will most certainly carry clout in future negotiations.

 

3. The Huskers are interested.

 

If you've got a significant player in college football interested in joining your conference, embrace it. There still are harsh feelings within the Nebraska program about the way the Big 12 unfolded when the Big Eight absorbed a portion of the dying Southwest Conference. The league's balance of power moved South (toward Texas, just like then-NU coach Tom Osborne thought it would), and its revenue distribution plan clearly favors the Longhorns. Osborne, now the athletic director, has perceived favoritism toward Texas since the league's inception. So if Nebraska is offered a spot in the Big Ten, it likely wouldn't take longer than a few days for the university to accept.

 

 

 

Why Nebraska doesn't make sense for the Big Ten

1. History and rivalries.

 

In the current Big 12 structure (read: not affected by expansion), Nebraska has three big rivals in Oklahoma, Colorado and Missouri. A move to the Big Ten likely ends at least two of those rivalries—and maybe all three—if the Big Ten expands with only Nebraska.

 

Frankly, most Nebraska fans (and probably some administrators) would be happy if the old Big Eight were still around and the winner went to the Orange Bowl. Any way you look at it, a move to the Big Ten would be a significant culture shock for the game's best fans. Nebraska vs. Iowa could generate some buzz, but any other potential rivalry would take time to develop.

 

 

2. The bigger unknown.

 

It's no secret the Big Ten desperately wants to crack into the New York-Philadelphia television markets (and maybe include the Washington D.C. area by adding Maryland). If the choice is between what Nebraska could bring as a national program or how regional programs (Rutgers, Syracuse, Maryland) could expand the BTN base, Nebraska may be the greater unknown of the two scenarios.

 

Both scenarios are full of what-ifs—as is much of the overall expansion talk—but having universities within the desirable markets may eventually become an easier sell.

 

While Nebraska is national, it still doesn't have the television clout of Notre Dame or Texas.

 

3. A new recruiting philosophy.

 

There are more than 40 players on the current roster from California, Arizona and Texas, including star TB Roy Helu Jr. and star CB Prince Amukamara, as well as all three quarterbacks. Moving to the heart of the Midwest will certainly play a factor in how the Huskers recruit those states.

 

Success in Texas has come because of the ties to the Big 12, and families of recruits from California and Arizona will have a longer commute to see their sons play road games. You better believe that's an issue—or at least a negative Nebraska will have to confront on the recruiting trail against coaches from other schools.

 

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i disagree with a few things....

 

1. i think we got over the okie game not being played every year and even though it might be hard i'm sure we'll some how get over playing Missouri (tragic tragic) and even CU.....

 

2. We will develop new rivalries and grow to love them (iowa being an easy one) i'm sure a close fought wins or loses against an unnamed team will develop into a rivally.. i see one semi-regional rival (ie. wisconsion or something.. bit or a stretch regionally atleast) and then a bigger big 10 team like a UM or Penn State

 

3.I dont think our recruiting will suffer but rather improve... the staff can highlight the fact that we must be doing something pretty special to be asked into the big 10 and the heighten comp will win us a lot of recruits in the area.. (granted we will lose a few) but the texas area will grow as will other parts of the nation as Nebreska becomes more visible.. plus a funked up big 12 wont encourage a lot of kids to stick close to home just to play crap compeition.....

[deedsker15]

I completely disagree with Missouri being a big rivalry game. Yes, they have had recent success, but you usually do not beat rivals 24 times in a row.

 

The potential Iowa rivalry will be much bigger than the Missouri rivalry ever was or will be.

Just wondering why they would be a bigger rivalry or even why a rival at all?

 

Because of all the times they beat Nebraska? (umm ok that one time in the early 80's)

 

Because of Iowa bordering Nebraska? (Kind of like Missou, Kansas, Colorado) Though it never made Iowa State a big rival and their closer then Iowa would be.

 

I'm guessing it's because you met a Iowa fan who claimed they would beat Nebraska.

 

IMO the excitement of playing Iowa every year would amount to the same excitement of playing Indiana, Purdue, Illinois and Minnesotta.

 

your kinda right but iowa isn't in the cellar...i like the prospect of penn st or ohio st...the big ten has enough teams we have had good series with (penn st) that we could reignite the fire...i think ohio st and a couple of others would make games of equal caliber or better than we have now...just remember that the only reason why any team in the north thinks they have it great is because of our extreme failure for 5 years

[junior4949]

I really don't see Iowa as being any bigger rival to us than what Mizzou is. Mizzou has actually played in more bowl games than Iowa. Mizzou has won more conference championships than Iowa. Both Mizzou and Iowa border Nebraska, and I just don't see Iowa becoming anything more than what Mizzou is to us now. I highly doubt most Iowa fans will consider us their #1 rival either considering they have an in-state rival. When it's all said and done, I'm betting most rivalries will be dead once the super conference expansions begin.

[Caven]

I really don't see Iowa as being any bigger rival to us than what Mizzou is. Mizzou has actually played in more bowl games than Iowa. Mizzou has won more conference championships than Iowa. Both Mizzou and Iowa border Nebraska, and I just don't see Iowa becoming anything more than what Mizzou is to us now. I highly doubt most Iowa fans will consider us their #1 rival either considering they have an in-state rival. When it's all said and done, I'm betting most rivalries will be dead once the super conference expansions begin.

 

We already consider Minnesota and Wisconsin bigger rivals than Iowa State so I certainly wouldn't say that we won't consider Nebraska a bigger rival than little brother. It will all have to do with how things play out on the field for the first decade or so. If Iowa has a decade like the one we are just coming off of then I think that the teams will develop a good rivalry. If Iowa does something stupid and plays like we did in the 70s then it won't become a rivalry.

[Captain K]

I think we are kidding ourselves a little. Missouri may not be OU of the 70's and 80's, but if we lose to Missouri we are pissed. It has become a game we don't like to lose. With the Gabbert's potentially at the controls for the next several years, it can only intensify. They have moved themselves to the top of most people's Big 12 North list, regardless of the lack of history between the two schools.

I don't know about you, but I get pissed whenever we lose a game.

If your phone rings, it's probably the CIA with a job opportunity.

[kansas husker]

if we do lose are so called rivalry with sCUm can I still dispise them? If the answer is yes than the point the auther made is moot. We've disscussed the recruiting part on hear a lot and I don't see us beeing effected all that much,so once again a moot point. I see very little down side in moving to the big 10 and I can foresee tons of upside. Just wish the annoucement woudl come soon.

[Judoka]

I think we are kidding ourselves a little. Missouri may not be OU of the 70's and 80's, but if we lose to Missouri we are pissed. It has become a game we don't like to lose. With the Gabbert's potentially at the controls for the next several years, it can only intensify. They have moved themselves to the top of most people's Big 12 North list, regardless of the lack of history between the two schools.

I don't know about you, but I get pissed whenever we lose a game.

If your phone rings, it's probably the CIA with a job opportunity.

ummmm...ok.