Delaney speaks out

[homes]

I don't like the idea of tweaking traditions. The Big Ten conference as we've known it is dead. In probably less than 5 years it will be unrecognizable as Iowa gears up to play the Terrapins or the Scarlet Knights in a pitched conference battle. It will still be college football, and it won't change my loyalty and fandom for Iowa, but it will be something completely different. Sometimes different is good, sometimes it's not. We'll see. Personally, I see this as all Michigan's fault.

 

[cuinknk]

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).

I don't agree with it, but I see the point he is making.

 

[tm3308]

I don't agree with it, but I see the point he is making.

Oh, don't take it personally. I'm not arguing with YOU, rather just Delany's point (as you already made it clear that you don't agree with him). Empathy and sympathy are two very different things, and you are demonstrating the former.

 

[cuinknk]

Oh, don't take it personally. I'm not arguing with YOU, rather just Delany's point (as you already made it clear that you don't agree with him). Empathy and sympathy are two very different things, and you are demonstrating the former.

I'm not taking it personally, I just wanted to reiterate my stance, in case you didn't see my initial post.

 

[simohawk]

There's always the possibility (which is what I'm hoping for) that Delaney is putting out an idea that he knows will not be well-received to provide cover for another idea that will not be somewhat less well-received.

Say, for example, Delaney really wants a straight East/West split, but is sensitive to the criticism of overloading the East. He can say "Hey, look, we tried to prevent this by splitting up Michigan and Ohio State, but the fans spoke..."

Or, and get ready for the Lions to roar, he's going to put PSU in the West and will point out that it's the only option to keep "competitive" balance outside of splitting UM and OSU.

Just a thought, but this Delaney guy is crafty, so I wouldn't put it past him.

 

[Hawke]

I don't like the idea of tweaking traditions. The Big Ten conference as we've known it is dead. In probably less than 5 years it will be unrecognizable as Iowa gears up to play the Terrapins or the Scarlet Knights in a pitched conference battle. It will still be college football, and it won't change my loyalty and fandom for Iowa, but it will be something completely different. Sometimes different is good, sometimes it's not. We'll see. Personally, I see this as all Michigan's fault.

Change is the only constant in the universe. On the one hand I hate to see the rivalry games being tampered with but on the other hand college football is only a little over 100 years old which in the grand scheme of things is less than the twinkling of an eye.

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