Conference Expansion - Are Nebraska Fans Talking Ourselves Into Leaving the Big 12?
by Jon Johnston on May 7, 2010 8:00 AM CDT
in Conference Realignment
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PrintDo you remember some time around 2001-2002, Nebraska went through a uniform change? They changed the pants, if I remember correctly. Put stripes on them that weren't there for most of the 90s when the pants were pure red. Or maybe they had one stripe, then changed it to two. Or they added a couple of stripes to the jersey instead of the pants.
I'll be honest, I never followed it that closely. As long as the helmet stays white with the red "N" (that stands for knowledge, hyuk!), I'm fine. But that wasn't true for everyone. Husker fans got freaky about it. They loved the stripes, hated the stripes. It didn't matter what it was, people were complaining, although pretty much everyone hated the all white uniforms.
I'm bringing this up because it's always struck me how crazy people get when anything changes in the football program. This year I doubt anyone is really worried about the uniforms. With all the talk about conference expansion and whether the Big 12 can survive, worrying about uniforms seems a bit silly.
Harvey Perlman and Tom Osborne may have to worry about things the bottom line, academic fit, and the affects a conference change might have on the other 21 sports besides football, but you and I don't. The biggest barrier to Nebraska moving to another conference is emotional. It's an attachment, a familiarity in playing Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State and Missouri every season (is anyone really attached to Colorado?). It's in looking forward to going back to a favorite restaurant or bar in Ames every two years because you've been there so many times before.
Knowing how crazy fans can get about something as simple as uniforms, you'd think that Osborne would have one helluva sales job in convincing the fan base that the move is a good one if the decision were made to join another conference. Thing is, he might not have to do a sales job at all. If the change comes, the Husker fan base might have already talked themselves into it.
The timing couldn't be any better. That second put back on the clock came against Texas, a school that's already drawn the ire of Nebraskans by stacking the Big 12 conference in their favor. The yearly rivalry with Oklahoma has been gone for years, leaving Nebraska without a true rival. There's a continual move towards Texas - the conference headquarters and the talk of Dallas hosting the Big 12 title game every season - that might give Husker fans the idea that the people who are running the conference don't give a damn about anyone else but Texas.
Even the coverage of the sport has changed to the point that college football fans want to consume it year round, despite there not being a whole bunch going on during the offseason. That alone could affect the attitude of the fans, as they might have resolved themselves and accepted the change before it even happens.
Bottom line - If the change to another conference happens, are you ready for it? Or will you miss going to Lawrence or Manhattan every other year? Is there a whole lot about the Big 12 you'd really miss, or are you ready to leave it all behind?
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Big 12
Whomever the leaders of the Big 8 were that negotiated the merger into the Big 12 were complete morons.
They brought in four new teams, and let them (or one of them) call the shots, put the HQ in their backyard, and continue to look to nothing but the money.
I would loathe being in the Big 10, but the Big 12 almost deserves whatever it gets at this point.
In the end...
the reason the big 8 expanded to Texas (the four texas teams) was TV sets. The addition of the texas tv market DOUBLED the leagues tv reach.
Personally, Id HATE to see the huskers go
The Lyle Leong Bandwagon will Continue to Roll!!!
Respect Everyone....Fear No One!
Wreck 'em, Tech!
by Tortilla Pirate on May 10, 2010 2:56 PM CDT up reply actions
"The biggest barrier to Nebraska moving to another conference is emotional."
Technically I think the biggest barrier is receiving an invitation. The Big Ten holds the cards when it comes to Mizzou, Nebraska, etc.
Yeah,
that is the reality. However, Nebraska unquestionably represents an attractive addition to any conference simply based on national fan base, and more specifically, the loyalty of that fan base and how that loyalty translates into money generated. And that, my friend, is always the bottom line isn’t it? NU is gonna get an invitation if it decides to campaign for it. They have the dollars and the eyeballs to make it happen.
Eyeballs, because NU would bolster Big 10(?) Network ratings more than Misery. Less than ND, which wants to remain Independant but may be forced to act depending on the fate of the Big East, but more than Missouri. And of course, ratings mean money. I don’t think the Big 10 would take only NU and not Missouri, but I personally wouldn’t have any problem if NU received an invite to the Big 10 and they took it. Frankly, Missou is our most bitter rival now. I would rather keep that rivalry game and pass on playing the Sooners twice every four years. That rivalry has historic meaning in Norman and Lincoln both, but the unfortunate reality is that the intensity of that contest has been snuffed out to a significant degree.
I feel zero allegiance to the Big 12. It has never been our conference.
Sonny Black: How can John Wayne die?
Lefty: F*****' Indians got him.
Actually...
…Nebraska would boost ratings more than any school talked about for expansion, including the ’Domers. Nebraska averaged a 3.57 last year—the only school to come close is Pitt with a 3.2. And since the B10Network gets more money from ads than subscriber rates, big ratings are important to the Big 10. This alone may be why Nebraska gets an invite, and Mizzery is on the outside looking in if Big 10 expansion only happens with just 1 or 3 teams.
Regardless, I don’t think that we’ve talked ourselves into this change insomuch that we’ve resigned ourselves to the belief that the Big XII was never a home and that our school needs greener pastures to sufficiently thrive.
by Vector Victor on May 7, 2010 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions
No, you are wrong.
If given the opportunity, Delany would gladly cast off any member of the lower 2/3rds of the Big Ten for Nebraska. If Nebraska was a sure thing for the Big Ten, this would be a no-brainer, but we are not, so who knows what happens.
If Missou goes, I say we go. If not, we stay. Recruiting in Texas is important vs a Big Ten area with little to no population and economic growth and with a rapid aging population. But if Missou goes, then the Big XII is in doubt.
Missouri isn't beyond adequate replacement...
…especially since Missouri doesn’t even carry all of the TV sets in their state—Nebraska and the Kansas schools grab more than their fair share in the K.C. and St. Louis markets—beating the local teams into submission for the better part of 40 years would do that.
However, replacing Missouri would make the Big XII more Texas-centric, as TCU or Houston are the only viable replacements available. And frankly, neither school has adequate facilities or support to really add anything other than a luke-warm voting body to the Texas side of the equation.
Frankly, I just wish we would hear something soon—all of the gnashing of teeth and the clicking of keystrokes on this topic is giving me a migraine.
by Vector Victor on May 7, 2010 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions
You really think TCU and Houston are...
…the only possible replacements?
Personally, I would hope they look at schools like Cincinnati, Memphis, Louisville, BYU and Utah, first.
We'll carry the banner high!
Bring On The Cats
by TB on May 9, 2010 5:56 PM CDT up reply actions
if missouri leaves
tcu or houston will not be the issue, because i think if one team goes we are going to see a domino effect that changes everything. i can see 5 superconferences and a couple ragtag bands of stragglers like rice and louisiana lafayette. ive been thinking about it all day and actually getting really excited
by BigRedRobbinHood on May 9, 2010 6:17 PM CDT up reply actions
No, YOU are wrong.
The Big Ten covets Nebraska, make no mistake, but the idea that in a hypothetical situation the Big Ten would drop a member to gain a member is absolute garbage. The reason the topic of losing schools to other conferences has never come up in the Big Ten (even before the money was rolling in) is that, no matter how much the teams hate each other, the schools in the conference are of like mind and completely unified in their mission. And that, to further the point, is what really makes the Big Ten so strong; they act in accordance to what is best for the collective. Hence not only the equal revenue sharing of the BTN, but of researching resources through the CIC. As much as the league would love Notre Dame or Texas (more so than Nebraska, even) they would never admit them if those schools so much as suggested that they required some sort of special treatment.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on May 14, 2010 9:40 PM CDT up reply actions
An issue I think that is overlooked is.....Recruiting Texas
Look, I get the whole idea that Nebraska needs to look out for itself and may be forced to make a move. Plus, I get most of the issues that create resentment towards the Horns. However, I haven’t seen anyone seem to point out that we have made some inroads into the incredibly fertile recruiting ground of Texas which I believe will only grow stronger. Jumping to the Big Ten will seriously jeopardize that. Those kids want to play conference ball against the UT’s,OU’s, and A&M’s of the world not Northwestern, Illinois, and Wisconsin. I also support rotating the Big 12 championship, but there are worse things than having to put a very strong product in JerryWorld at the end of the year. Last years strong performance is paying big dividends.
Recruiting is a pretty weak argument
We’ve always recruited nationwide. Nebraska pulled in players from SEC territory and Southern California this year…and we’re not going to be playing in their neighborhood except in a bowl game.
But here’s another argument. If the Big XII implodes as I think it will, Nebraska has a better claim on players within 500 miles of Lincoln. You could play for a Big 16 team in Lincoln…or play for a Mountain West school in Lawrence or Stillwater. Nebraska, Oklahoma, and maybe Missouri will have their pick of the best players in Big Eight territory.
We’ll also have a claim to pulling in east coast guys.
good point
Go Big Red Nebraska!
Our Cobs Are Bigger Than Yours!
Corn Nation!
Twitter!
cornnation@gmail.com
by Jon Johnston on May 9, 2010 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions
I've got a good friend who supports NU
who likes the idea of playing in a Big Ten with Rutgers; he claims it’s been fertile recruiting ground for the Huskers for years.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on May 14, 2010 9:41 PM CDT up reply actions
If you say so but........
Most would probably say that Texas, Florida, and California are the 3 big states. Look at the numbers on the roster 26 from Texas, 5 from Florida, and 11 from California. Sure we can recruit from other states and I have faith in Bo and the boys to do so, but any recruiting involves coaches having connections in certain hot spots of the country which we obviously have developed in Texas. I’m not just looking at talent but what kind of numbers can you pull out of the big three. Hey, the Sporting News is making this same argument for Misery as I type this due to their recent recruiting in Texas.
Nebraska Leaving!
You don’t have to convince me…I’m ready for the Huskers to just GO! Tired of the constant whining….act like a bunch of high school girls that got stood up for the prom.
Yessirre! I’m ready to see the taillights of all those Nebraska cars headed to the Big 10.
Adios, and don’t let the door his your ugly butts on the way out, losers!
Nebrask the Slut
If given the opportunity, Delany would gladly cast off any member of the lower 2/3rds of the Big Ten for Nebraska. If Nebraska was a sure thing for the Big Ten,
=============
Yeah right and who are you trying to fool “no, you are wrong”?….NU is slobbering all over everything trying to get an invite to the Big 10…NU is the girl that pulls her skirt up/panties down for any conference with a roving eye. And, you people are ‘legends in your own mind’ and living in an age gone by when NU really did have a little stroke…National Fan Base….ha ha ha, that’s a good one…outside of Nebrask, no one gives a rats behind about Nebraka and if you think so, more fool you!
I Sense Much Jealousy In You, Clone Fan
Note to Jon Johnston and Husker Mike: I believe I detect the foul stench of a troll.
"No 00:01 Chances!!"
yeah
but so far it’s only amusing.
“NU is the girl that pulls her skirt up”….. bwaa haaaa!
Go Big Red Nebraska!
Our Cobs Are Bigger Than Yours!
Corn Nation!
Twitter!
cornnation@gmail.com
by Jon Johnston on May 9, 2010 10:12 AM CDT up reply actions
I Put On My Sherlock Holmes Hat And Did Some Investigating
After reading his takes on Dawg Sports, UW Dawg Pound and Clone Chronicles, I may have been wrong about him being and I-State fan. “NU is the girl that pulls her skirt up…” Clone and Buffie fans usually talk that kind of smack at us. But I may have been right about the “foul stench of a troll.” Reading between the lines, I’m detecting a whiff of Burnt Orange Bevo Bullshit in his takes.
"No 00:01 Chances!!"
Ken Mills is an aggie
He has just posted something in really bad taste on the Tech website as well. Which led me to track his other comments just as section 37 did and which landed me here. My conclusion is that he is and A&M Aggie troll. Notice how he tries to add Texas’s name to A&M just to make his claim for A&M being accepted by Pac 10 or SEC sound more legit.
being geographically trapped between the big 10 and big east...
i am all for this. we dont even play oklahoma yearly anymore and misery and colorado are clown shoe football programs. im sick of pretending we even have a rivalry with them. lets join the big 10, play real teams like ohio state michigan penn state and wisconsin (and pitt and notre dame, since theyre coming too) and then i can go to the games! we would win the big 16 every freakin year. f the big 12 the sec is taking oklahoma and texas anyway
by BigRedRobbinHood on May 9, 2010 6:07 PM CDT reply actions
$$$$$$$$$$$ take the money and............
…………………………..run like a fullback up the gut to paydirt!!
I’m all for being free of the Big Texasss conference. The former Big 8 also rans and long time losers sold their souls to the Whorns to form the B12 because they were tired of getting their azzzs whooped year in and year out, 5 decades of pure dominance over some schools.
The Little 7 screwed NU into this current arrangement and now they must pay for their sins. Yes OU is included in the Little 7 because they cheated then sucked and pissed their teams stature and significance into the wind. The only way they could regain national prominence was to sell out the Huskers and the Big 8 and align themselves with the Great Football Satan, the SWC.
I guess you could say birds of a feather flock together in OU’s case and its love affair with expansion to the Big 12. OU chose to align itself with cheaters, stealers, druggies, and swindlers that ran their own conference into the ground and now they’ll get stuck holding their jockstraps when the Big 12 implodes.
OU has the most to lose in all of this, hate to see it really based on the history and tradition we “HAD” with them but they chose the Whorns over us which is fine, they can kiss the fat girl goodnight when we turnout the lights to the Big 12.
by The Voice of Treason on May 13, 2010 1:05 PM CDT reply actions
interesting to hear what dan beebe says
christopherson thinks beebe is gonna try to be a tough guy to keep his conference in order. maybe, maybe not. i dont know his plans. all i know is Nebraska needs to look out for its best interests, just as the conference commish said he would. if that involves blowing this big xii popsicle stand that never offered anything in the way of tradition or betterment of college football im on board. i think it would make college football more interesting and be better for Nebraska. the big xii comes along and destroys Nebraska-ou in its best interests? give me a break. bring on ohio state.
by BigRedRobbinHood on May 14, 2010 5:47 PM CDT reply actions
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