Point: Just Say No to Big 10
8 comments so far
December 28, 2009 by
In a sports world where sentimentality and tradition are overcome by the quest for a better television deal or corporate sponsorship, the Big 10 has started what could be the biggest bargaining chip in the country. For those not in the know, the Big 10 conference (which has 11 teams) has expressed interest in expanding their membership by up to 5 teams over the course of the next two years. But most immediately, they want one more team now. Obviously, there are a number of schools being thrown into the mix, but Nebraska is a name that fans and pundits are throwing around as a potential westward addition. I'm not blind to logic, as there are a number of good reasons for a potential move like this, but for the most part, I think that the Big 12 is the best place for Nebraska.
Tradition
Tradition at Nebraska is one of the highest selling points of the University in academics and athletics. When people talk about college football tradition, teams like Nebraska and Oklahoma always come up. This conference is built on the fact that teams in the Big 12 have been playing against each other for decades, and in some cases, a century. Can you put a price on knowing that great-grandfathers of those in school now witnesses games between the same two schools? Moving to the Big 10 is not like taking one school's tradition and moving it to another conference. It's starting over. When the NFL adds an expansion team, that team is starting from scratch to build up a reputation. A big name college program like Nebraska might as well be throwing away years of developing a reputation only to start anew.
Top Program in Division
Nebraska is only one of three schools in the North Division to have won a Big 12 title, and they are the only team to have done it twice. They have been to the Big 12 Championship Game five times, and are a contender for the Big 12 North three out of four years. Even in down years, the road to the Big 12 title games goes through Nebraska. Yes, there would be cream puffs in the Big 10 that could be rolled, but having to join a new conference means scouting teams that you aren't initially familiar with. Can you imagine the coaches of the different athletic programs having to throw away all their years of tapes of familiar foes? Nebraska knows who they are dealing with where we are at right now, and we're still king of the mountain.
Let's Talk Turkey
Nebraska really has a favorable deal when it comes to the revenue sharing in the Big 12. By being one of the top programs in the conference, more appearances translate to more dollars for Nebraska. In the Big 10, the television revenue sharing gives just as much to smaller schools as it does to the larger institutions. This would mean less money for Nebraska. Beyond the regular season, because our fans are known for their exceptional traveling abilities, the Huskers are often potential bowl targets before other teams in the conference. The school has always made a killing by getting big money from top tier bowls.
To Sum it All Up
But really, can you imagine watching the Huskers in the Big 10? As fellow BRN writer Brandon Vogel put it "My argument against: We would have to watch Big 10 football. That thought renders me incapable of any further reasoning." The Big 12 is an exciting brand of football that the Huskers have adopted over the years. I don't just watch Husker games, I catch games when other Big 12 teams play, too. Now, the choke hold that Texas seems to put on non-Texas schools can seem excessive at times, but power is like a pendulum, and I want to be around when it swings back North about 800 miles.
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Husker Mike Dec 28 09
Your point about revenue sharing misses one key point; the Big Ten's pot (that they split equally) is about twice as big as the Big Twelve's. Each Big Ten team gets over $18 million a year. By comparison, Texas received $10.2 million to lead the Big Twelve.
tom Dec 28 09
That sounds a lot like communism to me. Giving more money to teams who don't deserve it. Let's go capitalism! But in all seriousness, I hadn't realized the disparity. I still prefer a conference where the small teams don't have a chance to overtake you because they get the majority of their revenue from television.
kw Dec 28 09
I too think that the Big 12 is the best fit for Nebraska. We have too much history with the teams of the old Big 6 and Big 8 conferences. Plus, the Big 12's television contracts were negotiated long before the Big 10 and SEC. When the time comes, I have no doubt that the Big 12 will pick up a big time TV contract that will rival the Big 10 and SEC deals. It's big time football. However, I do think that Nebraska and other teams from the North should seriously look at the Big 10 if it is offered. Just to let Dan Beebe know that we got options. Especially if Dallas becomes the permanent home of the Big 12 Championship. If that happens, we should just go back to the Big 8 and let the Texas teams play amongst themselves. Texas has gotten their way with everything since the Big 12's inception. Time to stop catering to them. There are 11 other teams in the conference.
James Moore Dec 28 09
We already collectively miss the opportunity to play Oklahoma every year. Could you imagine a scenario where we NEVER have the chance to play Oklahoma again unless it's a bowl or non-conference?
Andrew Graham Dec 28 09
Nice article Tom, eventhough I disagree with most or all of your points.
I undertand the tradition we've built up with fellow Big 8ers is hard to ignore, but it is not like starting from scratch. Did Miami, FSU, or PSU start from scratch when joinging a new conference? Heck no. More money, more exposure, and we no longer have to recruit against schools that have better weather. Plus we get to play Iowa on a consistent basis. Now that would be a very cool rivalry game.
I vote for the move because of the uppage in prestige AND because there is nothing written in stone that says the pendulum has to swing the other way. It could be that the Texas schools just always have the advantage and it never changes.
HuskEric Dec 28 09
I agree 95% of the way. But my 5% is a point which I think Mr. Moore overlooked. Can you imagine the possibility to play Oklahoma EVERY year through scheduling them as a consistent non-conference game?
If THAT deal worked out, my 5% may jump even higher!
HuskEric Dec 28 09
I agree 95% of the way. But my 5% is a point which I think Mr. Moore overlooked. Can you imagine the possibility to play Oklahoma EVERY year through scheduling them as a consistent non-conference game?
If THAT deal worked out, my 5% may jump even higher!
Raz Dec 28 09
C'MON MAN! Of course I want the Huskers in the little 10! Play lesser opps and still get a shot at the Nat title. Ohio St. beats NO good teams every year and are always in the running. That could be us!