Delaney speaks out

[JHHawk]

in an interview today with Teddy Greenstein that is online at ChicagoTribune.com...

Highlights:

Delaney is aware of the controversy that the notion of splitting up OSU and Michigan and moving their game earlier in the year...and has no problem with that.
He says that geography is not a factor in divisions and that not having OSU and Michigan in separate divisions would be like UNC and Duke not having a shot at ACC title in bb.

Says that they are 80% done with divisions,so looks like this is a done deal.
I think he is operating under the idea that publicity is good,even if controversial.

 

[H8IAST8]

I don't get the UNC Duke analogy. Don't they play twice every year?

 

[JHHawk]

I don't get the UNC Duke analogy. Don't they play twice every year?

He implied that Duke and UNC are like the ACC-BB equivalent of Michigan and OSU in Big Ten football...and that you would be foolish not to have the possibility of the two biggest programs to play in the title game.

I thought it was a bad analogy,but Delaney played bb at UNC so that is his frame of reference,I guess.

Delaney almost seemed to enjoy that OSU and UM fans are setting up websites ect, protesting this move, like there is no such thing as bad publicity.

Enraging the fans who pay the freight does not bother him, because he is Jim Delaney, the most powerful man in college sports.

 

[tm3308]

I don't get the UNC Duke analogy. Don't they play twice every year?

Yes, they are both in the same division of the ACC, and play home and home.

Delany is operating under the assumption that Michigan will become MEEEE-chigan once again. Do I think they will get better once Rich Rod is fired? Absolutely, especially if they were to get someone like Harbaugh. But I do NOT think they will go back to be a dominant team, where it's just OSU and Michigan every year playing for the league title, winner take all. The conference is deeper than that now. Putting them in separate divisions only gives Michigan a chance to play for the league title. But seeing as how they would be paired with Iowa and Nebraska, it's far from assured. I really don't want to see The Game played in September or October. It's the last game of the year, and it should stay that way.

 

[H8IAST8]

Here is the article i think you are reffering to: Delany weighs in on Michigan-OSU 'Rose' debate - Chicago Breaking Sports

Announcement should be coming on Sept 2nd, just 8 days away. 9th game in 2015. Championship game could be played outdoors.

I still dont understand the UNC Duke comment. Sounds like a huge stretch to justify the UM OSU split.

 

[garn]

Yes, they are both in the same division of the ACC, and play home and home.

Delany is operating under the assumption that Michigan will become MEEEE-chigan once again. Do I think they will get better once Rich Rod is fired? Absolutely, especially if they were to get someone like Harbaugh. But I do NOT think they will go back to be a dominant team, where it's just OSU and Michigan every year playing for the league title, winner take all. The conference is deeper than that now. Putting them in separate divisions only gives Michigan a chance to play for the league title. But seeing as how they would be paired with Iowa and Nebraska, it's far from assured. I really don't want to see The Game played in September or October. It's the last game of the year, and it should stay that way.

I totally believe that Michigan "will be back" when Rich Rod is canned, it may take a couple of years to pick up the pieces, but it will happen.

I actually feel bad for their fans having to go through what is their equilavent (sp?) of the Bill Callahan era. I know what they are going through and it sucks.

 

[HawkeyeMike23]

Yes, they are both in the same division of the ACC, and play home and home.
QUOTE]

The ACC doesn't use divisions for basketball. Unlike the B12 and SEC, whoever is in your football division has no effect on your basketball schedule. Each team has two primary rivals who they play twice each year and the other teams just rotate. So I don't really see how it's a good comparison.

 

[JHHawk]

Here is the article i think you are reffering to: Delany weighs in on Michigan-OSU 'Rose' debate - Chicago Breaking Sports

Announcement should be coming on Sept 2nd, just 8 days away. 9th game in 2015. Championship game could be played outdoors.

I still dont understand the UNC Duke comment. Sounds like a huge stretch to justify the UM OSU split.

Thank you,yes...that is the article. I heard Greenstein on the Score about an hour ago,and he was dejected because he too is in favor of maintaining the traditional matchups,including ''The Game'' but says it is clear that is going bye-bye.

Greenstein joked that at age 39 he must seem like a doddering old fool to Delany because he wants to preserve traditions. Delany has zero interest in any of this tradition crap.

 

[H8IAST8]

If they are gong to be split, then why would Delaney even bring up the benefits of staying in the same division? I still think they will NOT be split.
Jim Delany talks Michigan-Ohio State - Big Ten Blog - ESPN
Our presidents haven't seen it, our AD’s haven’t finalized anything, and we haven’t done the schedules yet. I understand the sensitivity and I understand the point of view. I

Maybe we should be telling Barta and Mason that divisional alignments make sense.

 

[Jeebus]

What is going to get better TV ratings?

Ohio State versus Michigan when both are 4 and 0 or 3 and 1 or.... Ohio State versus Michigan when one is 9 and 0 and the other is 5 and 4? Personally I'd watch the game when they both still have a shot.

To say that moving this game up in the schedule is going to ruin it is silly.

 

[cuinknk]

I am against splitting tOSU/UM, but I the point Delaney made when comparing the rivalry to Duke/UNC makes complete sense to me.

"If Duke and North Carolina were historically the two strongest programs and only one could play for the right to be in the NCAA tournament, would you want them playing in the season-ending game so one is in and one is out?" he asked. "Or would you want them to play and have it count in the standings and then they possibly could meet for the right to be in the NCAA or the Rose Bowl?

 

[Xerxes]

Delany doesn't care about tradition or fan opinion etc, he only cares about money.

He is on the verge of ruining the most storied rivalry in college sports, what's next inviting Big East & ACC scrubs to join the Big 10? Oh wait...

 

[H8IAST8]

I am against splitting tOSU/UM, but I the point Delaney made when comparing the rivalry to Duke/UNC makes complete sense to me.

"If Duke and North Carolina were historically the two strongest programs and only one could play for the right to be in the NCAA tournament, would you want them playing in the season-ending game so one is in and one is out?" he asked. "Or would you want them to play and have it count in the standings and then they possibly could meet for the right to be in the NCAA or the Rose Bowl?

It makes no sense. They will both have the opportunity to play in the tournament, especially with conference championship games. The analogy is completely off base.

 

[tm3308]

What is going to get better TV ratings?

Ohio State versus Michigan when both are 4 and 0 or 3 and 1 or.... Ohio State versus Michigan when one is 9 and 0 and the other is 5 and 4? Personally I'd watch the game when they both still have a shot.

To say that moving this game up in the schedule is going to ruin it is silly.

If Michigan is still the kind of team that will be 5-6/6-5 entering The Game at the end of the season, Rich Rod is either still there, or they've made little improvement under the new regime. The Game isn't going to be more interesting just because Michigan padded the win column with games against Directional Michigan schools and a weak ND squad, and get to play OSU before they've been exposed as average (at best). That might actually cheapen it.

 

[CAARHawk]

The only thing that will cheapen this game is if both or either team sucks. Guess it's been cheapened for a while now.

The only thing that is important now is the championship game. That is the new era of Big Ten ball. Change your Depends and deal with it.

 

[tm3308]

The only thing that will cheapen this game is if both or either team sucks. Guess it's been cheapened for a while now.

The only thing that is important now is the championship game. That is the new era of Big Ten ball. Change your Depends and deal with it.

I just think Delany is banking an awful lot on Michigan changing things back to the way they used to be. Like another poster said, in the last 17 years, there have only been 3 times where OSU and Michigan would have played in the title game. So why set it up so that THEY can play each other for the crown now? It wouldn't have happened very often the past 17 years, so why would things be any different now after adding Nebraska and seeing Iowa/Wisconsin climb a rung or two on the ladder?

 

[cuinknk]

It makes no sense. They will both have the opportunity to play in the tournament, especially with conference championship games. The analogy is completely off base.

Re-read the last sentence of the portion I quoted, it makes complete sense, just not worded very well. I don't necessarily agree, but it makes sense to want the chance of the two most historic programs in the history of the Big Ten to still have the opportunity to play for a Rose Bowl berth.

 

[CAARHawk]

I just think Delany is banking an awful lot on Michigan changing things back to the way they used to be. Like another poster said, in the last 17 years, there have only been 3 times where OSU and Michigan would have played in the title game. So why set it up so that THEY can play each other for the crown now? It wouldn't have happened very often the past 17 years, so why would things be any different now after adding Nebraska and seeing Iowa/Wisconsin climb a rung or two on the ladder?

Maybe not.

Maybe he is just trying to raise the status of the Championship Game. I would say that there is a good possibility that people would be more excited about a Nebby v. OSU championship game than Michigan v. OSU.

However, by judging about the uproar, I think it is a great move to get these teams in other divisions and move their game up in the schedule. Too much focus on this one conference game.

 

[tm3308]

Re-read the last sentence of the portion I quoted, it makes complete sense, just not worded very well. I don't necessarily agree, but it makes sense to want the chance of the two most historic programs in the history of the Big Ten to still have the opportunity to play for a Rose Bowl berth.

But then on the occassions when they rematch, the first meeting had ABSOLUTELY no meaning, especially if the loser (we'll say Michigan) of the first game were to win the title game. Obviously the winner of the title game would have the bragging rights. But then what was the point of the first game? OSU fans can't brag about winning The Game, because Michigan beat them in the conference title game. So then you either have to do one of two things: scrap the regular season matchup and bank on them meeting in the conference title game (which would be downright stupid); or put them in the same division so that The Game actually does have meaning, as the winner of that game is probably going to the conference title game to play for the Rose Bowl (or more), and the winning team's fans are guaranteed their bragging rights (which is the whole point of rivalries to begin with).

 

[tm3308]

Maybe not.

Maybe he is just trying to raise the status of the Championship Game. I would say that there is a good possibility that people would be more excited about a Nebby v. OSU championship game than Michigan v. OSU.

However, by judging about the uproar, I think it is a great move to get these teams in other divisions and move their game up in the schedule. Too much focus on this one conference game.

I don't think it's necessarliy too much focus on one game, per se. Big Ten fans generally love Rivalry Week. The Game is the biggest rivalry in the conference. Rivalry Week without The Game would be like RW-Lite. Of course that's assuming Delany even bothers keeping Rivalry week alive in the first place.

And if more people would like Nebraska-OSU for the conference crown, then why not Michigan can be disposed of by OSU in the last week of the regular season?