Some Perspective From a Big Ten Fan

[zeek]

Hey Husker fans, just came by to offer some thoughts on the Big 12 CCG, your bowl game, and next year.

 

You guys showed a lot of heart out there in the CCG, and it was impressive that you guys managed to have a majority of the crowd at JerryWorld. The result was tough, but you have to know that the whole Big Ten was behind you, and you ended up on the short end of a classic. OU-NU matchups tend to mostly be of that variety, and they're the kind of games you never want to end although you know one team has to come up short. And so even though Oklahoma won and defended the Big 12's "rep", any objective viewer would look at the 2009 and 2010 Big 12 CCGs and realize that the Big 12 has lost it's anchor in the north. Those two Nebraska-Texas and Nebraska-Oklahoma games simply can't be replaced by any of the remaining squads as compelling national matchups, which is why Texas tried to bluff to keep you in the Big 12.

 

As for the bowl game, Beebe is forcing the Insight Bowl to play politics, and they know where their bread is buttered (at the heel of Texas like everything else in the Big 12). The Big Ten's premiere matchups are the Rose Bowl and our matchups with the SEC for the most part. Most squads fight for the right to get to Florida first (after the NC/Rose), since the Capital One Bowl and Outback Bowl tend to grab marquee opponents more often and get the highest TV ratings (of any non-BCS bowl) and money as they're on New Years' Day. Just finish off Washington strong and prepare for the transition, since you guys will have your eye on the Big Ten CCG and a possible BCS NC bid or the Rose Bowl bid in your first year.

 

So let Mizzou get their gloating in for a few weeks about how they finally got picked over you for the Insight Bowl. For the most part, it's irrelevant; the Big 12 CCG was your bowl game; the Holiday Bowl is just a reward for your players for their 10-3 season and a set of practices in order to prepare you for the Big Ten. We'll see how well Mizzou thrives in a Big 12 where they have to go up against the entire Big 12 South every year. They managed to peep out during your down period earlier in the decade, but they're doomed to irrelevance in a Big 12 that will resemble the Big Ten before Penn State joined, when it was just Michigan and Ohio State competing for the Rose Bowl.

 

Just think, no more PPV games, new annual matchups with Michigan, Penn State, and Iowa. You guys were never respected enough in the Big 12 to get an East-West setup or some other way to preserve your rivalry game with OU. We don't even have to get into the money. The Big Ten CCG will earn over $22M per year for just the TV rights. For comparison the SEC's version earns $13.5M and the Big 12's earns even less. That doesn't even get to how big the earnings of the Big Ten Network will be after Nebraska adds viewers across the country to increase penetration and increases ratings by bringing marquee matchups to the Big Ten Network. Once the Big Ten reloads its ABC/ESPN contract in 2015-2016, the whole country will be amazed at the earning power of the Big Ten with Nebraska; we're talking over $30M per year per school easily. The Big 12's schools will be earning far less, especially the 7 dwarfs serving Texas. That doesn't even get to the academic benefits that you will experience over time.

 

I speak to you as a Northwestern fan. What other conference could get Northwestern nationally televised games on the ABC/ESPN family of networks for a half of its games every year? Right now, it seems a bit raw to be leaving behind the Big 8 (and OU especially), but over the next couple of decades, your team will compete for national championships, Big Ten championships, and Rose Bowls as you create a new tradition in the Big Ten. I'm looking forward to seeing Ryan Field turn red every other year (hopefully we'll have the stadium renovated before your first visit but probably not) and making the trip out to Lincoln to experience gameday at Memorial Stadium.

 

Either way, congratulations on your season. Even though you came up a bit short of your goals, I enjoyed watching your games to get a preview of what the Big Ten will look like with Nebraska in the fold. Go out there and blast Washington again (even though Bo'll have to be a miracle worker to get your players excited for that matchup), and we'll be waiting to see you guys in the Big Ten.

[mmmtodd]

i came into this thread with pistols cocked...

 

theyre on the bar now tho, can i buy ya a shot?

[irieboy8]

i came into this thread with pistols cocked...

 

theyre on the bar now tho, can i buy ya a shot?

 

 

well said.......

[GMoose]

Welcome to the board zeek. Good insight

[BigRedPowerWagon]

That was the nicest most sincere sounding post from a big 10 fan i have ever heard. Makes the whole Title Game / Getting screwed out of a bowl thing not so bad. Thanks for makeing my day just alittle bit better. Yea we can finally put a bullet in our big 12 days and look forward to new beginnings.

[Shadow_Husker]

Good Post!! Personaly I am looking forward to joining A Conference where it seems as if everyone is treated as an equal. Not to mention I believe that Not only Sport wise But Academic wise too nebraska Fit's well Into the big 10.

[Malth]

Very well written post, hope to see you stick around

[roundegotrip]

Maybe the best first post ever. Thanks, zeek.

[ladyhawke]

What an excellent post! Thank you! We're all a little 'sore' and your post was balm to our wounds. One of my favorite professors was from Northwestern. I'm looking forward to being able to be part of your academic family. Moving to the Big 10 was one smart move!

 

Thanks again for the perspective! It was much needed

-ladyhawke~

[OmahaPlaya]

Very good post. It puts a lot of things in perspective.

[huskernumerouno]

That my friend was an awesome post at a perfect time.

 

Thanks for posting and stick around for all the fun banter thrown around here all year.

 

GBR GBR GBR

[307husker]

Comparing this post to what we see out of the B12, is there any question as to where the academic superiority lies? Correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and he even made sense!!! This is going to be great for the University.

[husker2010]

I've been pretty depressed all day, until I read this post.

 

thanks a lot zeek!

[BornRedCornFed]

i think you just made friends with the whole d*mn state. not bad for a couple paragraphs of writing.

[huKSer]

Comparing this post to what we see out of the B12, is there any question as to where the academic superiority lies? Correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and he even made sense!!! This is going to be great for the University.

Weel, he ain"t no Tuff Tiger