U of M thread (in the Lions Forum) :)

[gjdodger]

Just wait and see when Indiana starts challenging Penn State and OSU for the division title. Uhha. Thought so. Bet you never considered that. lol...I couldn't even type that with a straight face.

Nobody knows what will happen when JoePa leaves PSU. I don't think they're like Michigan or Oklahoma, great traditions going back into the mists of history. They may not be able to maintain greatness.

[NewOrleansLion]

I know there are very few Rich Rod fans here, but I'm wondering if Brian Kelly wins 7 or 8 games this year -- bringing in an offensive system that his players weren't recruited for -- does that make Rodriguez look even worse? Theoretically, Kelly's job should be tougher because Charlie Weiss's teams were mediocre at best compared to Carr's teams.

[Desert Lion]

The only thing about the split is that UofM will only play the other 5 teams twice every 5 years. or once every other year with the and odd team being once in 3 years.

[Desert Lion]

I know there are very few Rich Rod fans here, but I'm wondering if Brian Kelly wins 7 or 8 games this year -- bringing in an offensive system that his players weren't recruited for -- does that make Rodriguez look even worse? Theoretically, Kelly's job should be tougher because Charlie Weiss's teams were mediocre at best compared to Carr's teams.

While not a big richrod fan, I want him to win and go to a bowl this year. The thing is, if he gets fired and a new coach with a new system comes in and starts over, it will not be good next year when we have ND, Neb and OSU coming to the big house.

[nhwbrooklyn]

I really can't wait for UM/NU to play every year...that will become a great rivalry (if UM gets good again)

Yeah... in the same vain, this is what takes away the sting of MSU suddenly not playing PSU every year (or apparently not the next two years). A yearly Nebraska game is going to be fun.

[nhwbrooklyn]

Just wait and see when Indiana starts challenging Penn State and OSU for the division title. Uhha. Thought so. Bet you never considered that. lol...I couldn't even type that with a straight face.

Thats the one school in the big ten that is legitimately a basketball school first

[nhwbrooklyn]

Ok, that makes it a lot better. Though, UM plays OSU each year while MSU gets Indiana? Not exactly an even playing field outside the division.

Well this kind of already happens to a degree, for example, MSU doesn't play OSU this year... but guaranteeing Indiana does take it a step further. Another reason I think teams with no natural cross division rival shouldn't have one.

[flash50]

Well this kind of already happens to a degree, for example, MSU doesn't play OSU this year... but guaranteeing Indiana does take it a step further. Another reason I think teams with no natural cross division rival shouldn't have one.

I tend to agree but as stated earlier some of these so-called division rivals have always been bogus. When you get away from the regional focus to a national one, only
Michigan vs Ohio State ever mattered. Right now Ohio State is every Big Ten team's game-of-year rival, tradition or not, just as it has been with Michigan in the past.

[nhwbrooklyn]

I tend to agree but as stated earlier some of these so-called division rivals have always been bogus. When you get away from the regional focus to a national one, only
Michigan vs Ohio State ever mattered. Right now Ohio State is every Big Ten team's game-of-year rival, tradition or not, just as it has been with Michigan in the past.

Why I think its pretty lame to make this protected division rivalry system for just OSU and UofM. I don't see why they can't have their game protected and everyone else just schedule those 3 cross division games as normal.

[flash50]

Like it or not, it is the "signature game for the conference". Money, power, tradition,
history, you name it, it rates until the fan bases and alumni don't make it relevant
anymore. It will always be protected at the expense of others.

[nhwbrooklyn]

Like it or not, it is the "signature game for the conference". Money, power, tradition,
history, you name it, it rates until the fan bases and alumni don't make it relevant
anymore. It will always be protected at the expense of others.

Thats just it though... 5 fake rivalries are unnecessary. They could have their game protected without that nonsense. Those fake rivalries are costing teams a cross division game and that means it will be that much longer before certain teams ever play each other again (and every big ten team has a pretty rich history playing every other big ten team as they have been doing it for so long).

[gjdodger]

Thats just it though... 5 fake rivalries are unnecessary. They could have their game protected without that nonsense. Those fake rivalries are costing teams a cross division game and that means it will be that much longer before certain teams ever play each other again (and every big ten team has a pretty rich history playing every other big ten team as they have been doing it for so long).

This is the Big Ten. We don't play favorites here. If OSU and Michigan get a guaranteed matchup, EVERYBODY gets a guaranteed matchup. LOLing aside, we all know that's bushwa, but for appearance's sake the Big Ten does not want to appear like certain Southern conferences who prostrate themselves before certain schools to get a deal.

[SeattleLionsFan]

Yeah MSU gets an advantage in playing indiana every year, but they have the disadvantage of being MSU!

[froot loops]

A lot of this stuff needs to be played out to see how it works. I kind of think that OSU/Michigan game could hurt the Big Ten if the BCS continues as is.

[nhwbrooklyn]

Yeah MSU gets an advantage in playing indiana every year, but they have the disadvantage of being MSU!

oh snap