The Big Ten: How Ya Like Us Now?

Jon's original point remains true. The Big Ten is going to benefit from an improved perception of the conference - right or wrong - due to this year's bowl game performances.

This could benefit Iowa in a huge way. If the Hawks are truly in contention for a NC next year - which is still a long shot - they will greatly benefit from an enhanced national perception of the conference they play in. I won't underestimate ESPN's influence on college football and their likelihood to find a way to trash the Big Ten...but at the very least this bowl season has been good to the Big Ten thus far.

Keep in mind that had Iowa gone undefeated this year we likely still would not have jumped Texas - yet if you look at the accomplishments of both teams over the course of this year - even without a victory over tOSU - Iowa still had a more impressive track record. Had we gone undefeated you could have added a win over tOSU to our list of accomplishments - and we still would have been playing Oregon in the Rose Bowl with Texas in the NCG.

This year was crazy - 5 undefeated teams at the end of the year with 3 from BCS conferences. Last year featured two 1 loss teams...the year before a 2 loss LSU team was in it against a 1 loss tOSU team.

Regardless of what the records of the teams in the NCG end up being...Iowa can ill-afford to give any excuse to national pundits to make an argument to keep us out. The Big Ten's bowl performance this year will go a long way toward eliminating one of those excuses.
 
tweeterhawk said:
I'm not sure I agree that an Iowa victory Tuesday night gives a big boost to the conference's reputation and prestige.

I live in the Northeast (which is bitterly cold and windy tonight -- someone out there please shut the door) and you would be hard-pressed to know there is another BCS game to be played other than the national championship. There have been virtually no promos in the New York-Philadelphia TV markets for the Orange Bowl, discussions in the bowl previews or wrap-ups, and absolutely nothing on local sports talk radio.

There was much more on the Rose, Capital One and Outback bowls.

Will be interesting to see if the game gets more billing after Sunday's NFL schedule is completed.
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I don't live there and have only been there for one week during the summer but from what I've heard and understand, the north east has a reputation for not caring too much about college sports, especially college football.
 
bcl20 said:
I don't live there and have only been there for one week during the summer but from what I've heard and understand, the north east has a reputation for not caring too much about college sports, especially college football.
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There are promos, at least, when Notre Dame, Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, tOSU games are going to be aired on local markets, or when there are other name match-ups such as a rematch of a previous year's NC game or a big SEC game.

But you are correct that the New York-Philadelphia markets are largely devoted to pro sports, especially Giants, Jets and Eagles.

My point was that so far college football prospects in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware have heard little about Iowa and Georgia Tech playing in a BCS game Tuesday night.
 
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Agreed Shane and others! I liked the fact that we were the only team that won a bowl game last year....every year we do it it helps our recruiting. If OSU, PSU, and others were to get beat I think we would begin to get a leg up on recruiting because it makes it look as though our program is going in the right direction. The best thing for us would have been to have OSU get smoked by the Quack Attack.
 
What I was trying to convey Seepig, is that while I do care what the conference does, it doesn't seem to matter to me as much as I thought it did, as long as Iowa wins.
 
The Big 10 has earned every amount of scorn they have received for their bowl record, and one good season will not erase that. Keep in mind that the Big 10 has not had a winning bowl record since 2002. If Iowa wins, that will end a seven year streak, but it won't erase it.

Also, the Big 10 has gone 4-8 in BCS bowls since OSU won their NCS.

A 4-3 bowl record this season will certainly help the Big 10's image, but the image needs more work than one fairly impressive bowl season.
 
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