Bowl Season: Rooting for the Big Ten Or Sticking with The Big 12 One Last Time?
by Jon Johnston on Dec 16, 2010 8:00 AM CST
in College Football - National
Email
PrintThings seem rather weird right now. Nebraska is done with the Big 12 football, yet has several months to go before we're officially members of the Big Ten. We still have to get through winter and sprint sports before that happens. Reality is, it's a long ways away yet. The world could explode before that happens, or the earth could be taken over by superior alien beings who turn us into slaves and force us to entertain them by playing their favorite sport involving cooked pasta and stuffing live chickens.
We've still got a full two weeks to go before Nebraska's appearance in the Holiday Bowl against Washington which leaves a lot of time before we need to start covering the game.
As for the upcoming bowl games - I've long been one of those guys that's a conference rooter. I've spent most of my bowl seasons hoping that the Big Eight/Big 12 did well, as if there's a trophy for that.
Now, I'm stuck considering the possibilities:
- Start rooting for Big Ten teams because we are done with the Big 12
- Stick with the teams I've known most of my life
- Face that fact that I've hated most the Big Ten for years and my whole concept of "rooting for the conference" needs to be re-evaluated, i.e., killed as something obsolete, something that will die along with Nebraska's life in the Big 12.
There are three bowl games which feature Big 12 vs Big Ten schools - these will challenge my
Insight Bowl - Missouri vs Iowa
I hate Iowa, have for years, and I can't wait to start that hate here on Corn Nation. On the other hand, Missouri got the bowl bid we wanted and they stuck us with playing a team we'll play three times in a year. On the other hand, I don't believe I could ever root for Iowa in anything regardless of what's at stake, and I don't hate Missouri as much as most Nebraskans.
Given my heavy hatred of the Iowa Hawkeyes, I'll be pulling for Mizzou in this one despite them stealing what could have been a great chance to start a rivalry with Iowa several months early.
Texas Bowl - Illinois vs Baylor
I've never liked Illinois despite there being much reason for it. Nebraska has played them nine times, with a 6-2-1 record. You have to go all the way back to 1924 to find an Illinois win over Nebraska, and even then they needed one of the greatest football players of all time - Red Grange. Is that enough for my dislike? Perhaps it is.
Besides, it's Baylor's first trip to a bowl since 1994, so they're the emotional favorite. I can't root against Robert Griffin and the futility that's been Bear football.
If those aren't enough, consider it's Art Briles versus Ron Zook, and the scale bends way over in favor of Baylor.
TicketCity Bowl - Northwestern vs Texas Tech
For some reason, I've liked Tech for years, before they became fellow conference members. Maybe it's because they never beat us then. I've always liked Northwestern, too, and I can tell you why. Whenever I think of Northwestern, I think of their worst years. From 1979-1982, Northwestern lost 34 straight games and still owns the record for the worst losing streak in Division IA football.
That streak ended on Sept. 25th, 1982, when the Wildcats beat Northern Illinois 31-6. I remember reading how the Northwestern students tore down the goalposts, marched them to Lake Michigan and threw them in the lake while shouting "One In A Row!". I've always thought that was one of the greatest celebrations I've ever heard of - if I had a time machine, I'd make that one of the events I'd visit.
Nothing against you guys from Tech, but I'll be rooting for Northwestern in this one. Without Dan Persa, things don't look too good for the 'Cats, and they've won only one bowl in their history - the 1949 Rose Bowl in which they defeated Cal 20-14.
-
Maybe it's limbo, or maybe it's the start of a new trend for me not rooting for conference rivals. I don't think anyone in the Big Ten will hold it against me - they don't typically root for each other but maintain their hate no matter the game. It'll take some getting used to, the Big Ten way of doing things. Might as well start now.
25 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Big 12 & Big 10 Bowl-Watching
Big 12: My attitude is going to be the same. The only one I root for is Oklahoma. I could care less about the rest of the Big 12.
Big 10: I usually keep an eye on them. In any individual bowl game, I tend to lean toward rooting for the Big 10 team.
"This is gonna cause more confusion than a mouse at a burlesque show." --Foghorn Leghorn
Normally, this would be pretty easy
Big Ten all the way.
But the individual matchups tend to favor the Big 12 teams in terms of rooting interests. Tough to root for Iowa, what with the whole drug epidemic and all. Would be really cool to see Baylor win its first bowl game in forever. I suppose I’ve gotta root for Northwestern over Texas Tech, but I just can’t get myself to care much about that one.
Mostly Big 10 for me
I’ll root for Oklahoma, as they’ll be my “Big 12 team” once we leave. I’ll keep an eye on Missouri, ‘cause I would have liked them to come to the Big 10 with us (and they seem to be mostly upfront, honest, and understanding about our move). The rest of ’em can go take a long leap of a short pier. They’ve been all over us for leaving (as if we fans had a decision), saying we tried to kill the conference (when it was Texas), F you, get out, etc. I’m done with them.
That being said…there is Baylor…who can cheer for Ron Zook and against Baylor?
Eff Mizzou.
For one, well just eff em, that’s why. They think the same about us. Second, my mom and a few other relatives are Iowa alums. Gotta root for Baylor for all the same reasons you guys said. Other than that, I’ll probably watch, but not have a dog in the fight.
Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.
No question.....Big Ten.
This season has been nothing short of forgettable. The weird losses, the rumors, the drama…but most of all the fact that nobody seemed to care much that we’re leaving, other than to say “f**k you” as we go.
I expected a bit more class from the other schools, and maybe a bit of sentiment from the media when we played on tv…but nothing really happened. Very disapointed. Nebraska proves it’s loyalties by standing as the lone school to vote against a Texas invasion, and the formation of the Big 12. And we’re the ones who then get blamed for breaking up a conference?
I’m ready for a new start, and a conference with some regard for it’s history. Even if they do have a crappy logo.
Go Big Ten. Go Big Red!
"Not the victory but the action; Not the goal but the game;
In the deed the glory"
GO BIG RED!
Rooting flow chart
1. Nebraska (duh)
2. Whoever is playing the SEC
3. Anyone we played (makes us look better by comparison).
4. Big 10
5. Big 12 teams we didn’t play.
by newbie34 on Dec 16, 2010 10:04 AM CST via mobile reply actions
Definitely for Iowa over Misery
Maybe it’s just living in KC the last few years, but Misery fans are generally an insufferable bunch of classless dicks.
This is the SEC's fault.
They created the weird conference pride thing at the beginning of the decade with their stupid “SEC! SEC! SEC!” chants. Why is it that I should root for elitist Michigan or insufferable Ohio State in their bowl games when I’ve spent my entire life as a Hawkeye loathing these schools? As a result, cheer against the teams in your conference…unless they’re playing the SEC.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
Because, as newbie34 says
It makes you look good by comparison.
If all your other conference teams take 4-5 losses (you’re cheering for that, because you want all your conference bretheren to lose non-conference games), you look weaker by association. Even if you win the conference, you won a weak conference. Nebraska fans are well aware of this, as we’re told “Yeah, so what? You won the NORTH. The Big XII North sucks”.
I understand the "perception" thing.
I also understand that if my team goes to a bowl game and takes care of business they’ll look as good as they make themselves look.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Dec 16, 2010 3:06 PM CST up reply actions
True enough. Let's take a slightly different view of the argument.
You’re a Hawkeye fan, so for the sake of this argument, we’ll say that Iowa goes undefeated this year. Everyone else in the Big 10 has at least 4 losses (their 4 non-conf games early in the year). So the very best of the rest could be 8-4 (or 7-5 if they played you) going into bowl season.
Sounds to me like you’re Boise State or TCU. A good or great team fighting for respectability because you have a weak conference schedule. Even when you go undefeated, you have little-to-no chance at a national championship.
Isn’t that exactly what people dog TCU and Boise about? Wouldn’t you say “TCU is only undefeated ‘cause they’re in the MWC. If they were in the Big 10, they’d have 3 or 4 losses.”? The MWC, WAC, Sun Belt, etc. are looked down on not because they have losses in-conference, but because (most of) their teams tend to lose their out-of-conference games (particularly those against teams in the BCS conferences).
If everyone in the Big 10 except Iowa lost their non-conference games, the Big 10 would eventually lose their AQ status and Iowa would be left on the outside looking in. It is therefore in your best interest…even though you may hate them with a seething passion…to have them win their non-conference games.
Understood and I absolutely agree
except we’re talking about two different things. The conversation is really about bowl games, not the regular season non-con. Obviously it behooves my own rooting interests to have schools within the Big Ten win their regular season games. However, once they’re in bowls I’ll take each game one at a time. Last season is a great example: I was damned pleased to see the top four teams in the BT take care of business against stiff competition; perception of the conference had been at an all-time low (thanks in large part to tOSU routinely blowing it against SEC teams). I was equally pleased to see Minnesota lose in hilarious fashion (to Iowa State, no less) and for Northwestern to run their mind-boggling bowl futility streak to nearly 70 years in a manner that defied explanation. In other words, by the time bowls roll around I take the games on a case-by-case basis.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Dec 16, 2010 8:51 PM CST up reply actions
I'm confused
Which one is the Big 10, the one with 12 teams or 10 teams? The other one is the Big 12 right?
I may root for Texas to win the Imaginary Bowl? (Who sponsors this one?)
Seriously, I’m done with the Big XII-II. I guess, in the future, I would root for OU, only so there would be a chance to play them in a bowl game at years end. Otherwise, it’s the Big X all the way!
I root for Nebraska and Oregon, and to a lesser extent whoever's playing Texas, aOSU and Notre Dame.
Beyond that, I generally watch for great plays, not necessarily for a specific outcome. I just like football.
"Whoever drinks beer, he is quick to sleep; whoever sleeps well does not sin; whoever does not sin, enters Heaven! Thus, let us drink beer!" Martin Luther
That's kind of how I am
Only with different teams, of course. My #1 rooting interest is for close, exciting games, so in most circumstances, I pretty much end up rooting for whoever’s losing to come back and take the game down to the wire.
by Cheeseandcorn on Dec 16, 2010 12:23 PM CST up reply actions
As someone from a BigTen fan base:
We tend not to root for teams in our own conference. Kissing your conference sisters is for the SEC. Of course there are exceptions with personal favorite teams. You’ll find many Big Ten fans who like Northwestern due to their perpetual “gritty” play of their “heady” white-midget quarterbacks. But generally, no one is going out of their way to root for Michigan, Ohio State, Illinois, Penn State, or Wisconsin.
But I will be rooting for Nebraska this time around, as the Big Ten’s long time enemy was always the PAC10, back in the day when the Rose Bowl was something more than just a BCS bowl.
by formerlyanonymous on Dec 16, 2010 12:23 PM CST reply actions
I'll be cheering for....
Colorado. Oh wait. They are not in a bowl game. Never mind. This is the best X-mas present I could receive.
Besides that, I really don’t care about the rest of the Big 12. I guess I’m in the frame of mind where it’s time to move on. I would like to see K-State lose.
I totally agree!
Regular season is done,and the Big12 showed it’s TRUE COLORS with regards to us so…F*@K Em!!!!
GBR!
throw dem bones!!!
by hskrntnfreak on Dec 18, 2010 3:29 PM CST up reply actions
Pretty Much Rooting Against the Big XII-II These Days
As kids, we couldn’t say “Oklahoma” in front of my dad, let alone root for them in a game. Then, moving to Colorado in 1988, having to listen to insults and “rivalry” nonsense from band-wagon Buffs fans for the next 4 years pretty much made me never be able to pull for them unitl…well, next year I suppose. After watching OU pick themselves after the wheels fell off the Schooner in the ‘90s, I kind of have a soft-spot for them, but everyone else (esp. Texas, Mizzou, and K-State) can go to hell. But, Mizzou vs. Iowa is a really hard one to fathom. Yes, the fact that Nebraska isn’t in that game really sucks. I was ready to talk some serious shit to some buck-toothed, inbred Council Bluffs trailer trash about their beloved Hawkeyes. Guess it will have to wait year. But, Mizzour fans are aweful to deal with too. I hate Mizzou. Buck-tooths over Bushwackers…I gotta take the Hawkeyes. No mercy for Baylor or Texas Tech either. Screw ’em!
Just my personal, outside observer opinion
You guys should wish for every Big 12 team to get blasted in their bowl game. You guys finished #2 in the conference and they bumped you all the way down to a crap bowl game out of spite.
Luring recruits with my new "Posting HD" scheme since '08.
I'm pulling for OU to not embarass themselves
(Let’s be honest, a loss to UConn would be embarassing). And it’s hard to go against Baylor. But I DEFINITELY want Mizzou to crash and burn. Ditto K-State, A&M, and Tech. Okie State….meh they’re loyal Big 12 members and otherwise I’m neutral, so go Arizona. 3-5 has a nice ring to it.
"My hardest job is to convince the people of Nebraska that 10-1 is not a losing season." - Tom Osborne
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
SHOP THE CORN NATION STORE
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recent FanShots
