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Big Ten Conference Divisions

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I think it is absolutely not in Ohio State's interest to play TSUN twice in a year. They should be in the same division and play for the right to play in the conference championship game. Both teams should have the opportunity to be a one-loss team (I said opportunity) after The Game is played. Being a one-loss team has implications for revenue too by affecting the bowl invitations available to the winner and loser.

If you play The Game twice, it dramatically cheapens its appeal. Why anyone would contemplate such a move is beyond the comprehension of many fans. By agreeing, Gene Smith may be ensuring that he goes down in Ohio State history as the guy who inherited the best possible coaches from Andy Geiger and then blew it when he had the chance to make his first big decision.

Ohio State subsidizes the Big Ten enough already. Ohio State and TSUN belong in the same division.
 
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Steve19;1751941; said:
By agreeing, Gene Smith may be ensuring that he goes down in Ohio State history as the guy who inherited the best possible coaches from Andy Geiger and then blew it when he had the chance to make his first big decision.

Ohio State subsidizes the Big Ten enough already. Ohio State and TSUN belong in the same division.
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Additionally, Smith is allowing someone who just stepped into office (more/less) in Brandon at Michigan to dictate the proceedings when it should be Smith and Ohio State who is in the position of power.

The fact that Smith got so defensive last week about those comments about "The Game" means the decision has already been made and he said something he shouldn't have said.

You would honestly think that the Big Ten would perhaps just look at the SEC and see that their rivals play just once a year.

I just want to know if donors would be inclined enough to pull donations if upset by the move. I doubt it, but who knows.
 
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CHU;1751944; said:
Additionally, Smith is allowing someone who just stepped into office (more/less) in Brandon at Michigan to dictate the proceedings when it should be Smith and Ohio State who is in the position of power.

The fact that Smith got so defensive last week about those comments about "The Game" means the decision has already been made and he said something he shouldn't have said.

You would honestly think that the Big Ten would perhaps just look at the SEC and see that their rivals play just once a year.

I just want to know if donors would be inclined enough to pull donations if upset by the move. I doubt it, but who knows.
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That's true for Bama-Auburn (the SEC's best rivalry) and for the Cocktail Party, but Tennessee-Bama is a protected rivalry game with teams in separate divisions. They've never met in the SECCG. though, since Bama has played Florida on each of the 7 occasions they made the SEC Championship game.

But hopefully Gene Smith is presenting a 'team player' face to the public while protesting vehemently behind the scenes.
 
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sadly it sounds like the decision has already been made to split them.

My hope is that they see how it diminishes the rivalry being played in sep or oct, and they fix the alignments when the conference expands to 16. The problem with that is UM may not return to being an annual contender (+ potential rematch) until after the next expansion plans are finalized
 
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It's his job to maintain the financial stature of the athletic department, but it seems like if there's money involved and profit to be made, Gene Smith is all for it (regardless of tradition and/or history).

Tearing down St. John Arena could be understandable after the years, but there seems to be a general lack of respect for some things and I'm personally surprised Smith and OSU haven't sold naming rights/sponsorship to a few things.
 
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Putting Ohio State & M*ch*g*n in separate divisions would be the worst decision since... The Decision.

Seriously, this would be a colossally ill-conceived. Seemingly everybody I've heard from realizes this is a bad idea except the parties making the decision. The parallels are astounding in that regard.
 
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jlb1705;1752082; said:
Putting Ohio State & M*ch*g*n in separate divisions would be the worst decision since... The Decision.

Seriously, this would be a colossally ill-conceived. Seemingly everybody I've heard from realizes this is a bad idea except the parties making the decision. The parallels are astounding in that regard.
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Maybe all the alums, fans and members of BP should write Mr. Smith and Mr. Gee and tell them of this fact, that we are diametrically opposed to playing "The Game" more than once a year. This would necessitate that OSU and Scum are in the same division...
 
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Somehow "New Coke" keeps popping in my head in reference to changing this rivalry, putting the two schools in separate divisions and possibly playing twice a season.

That worked real well for Coke too.
 
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What are the chances that any realignment is a temporary move; that we may switch things until we gain a few more teams, then realign for reals.

Would give a chance to experiment, and a chance to fix things that are screwed up.
 
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CHU;1752097; said:
Somehow "New Coke" keeps popping in my head in reference to changing this rivalry, putting the two schools in separate divisions and possibly playing twice a season.

That worked real well for Coke too.
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Anyone else feel younger because they had to google what "New Coke" is?
highfive.gif
 
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CalvinistBuck;1751839; said:

Can anything be done? Someone please tell me this is a nasty rumor founded on hearsay and innuendo with no basis in truth! No jokes, please. This is not funny.
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The only thing that can be done is to contact the powers that be and voice your displeasure (preferably in a non wackjob manner)..

Mr. James E. Delany
Commissioner, Big Ten Conference
1500 Higgins Road
Park Ridge, IL 60068-6300
[email protected]


President E. Gordon Gee
The Ohio State University
205 Bricker Hall
190 North Oval Mall
Columbus, OH 43210-1357
[email protected]


Associate Vice President Gene Smith
The Ohio State University
224 St. John Arena
410 Woody Hayes Dr
Columbus, OH 43210-1357
[email protected]

I've contacted the above & Mark Silverman (from the Big Ten network) to state that if the split happens I will no longer donate to the University or support the conference & Big Ten network financially.

I also sent out snail mail version in addition to the emails but I doubt they've been received yet.

I've heard back from President Gee & Gene Smith so far. Both expressed regret at my decision.

So far I haven't received a reply from Delaney or Silverman (or from Dish TV).


jwinslow;1752026; said:
sadly it sounds like the decision has already been made to split them.

My hope is that they see how it diminishes the rivalry being played in sep or oct, and they fix the alignments when the conference expands to 16. The problem with that is UM may not return to being an annual contender (+ potential rematch) until after the next expansion plans are finalized
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You're seeing the preparation for the 16 team conference.

Ohio State is essentially leaving the Big Ten & getting shuffled into JoePa's dream eastern conference.

It's probably a good thing you were so adamant about the Penn State 'rivalry' since you're stuck with it now.
 
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Emperor Brutus;1751153; said:
If this happens and one team is having a good season and the other a bad it ruins the rivalry. The Penn State game then becomes more important for Ohio State and the Nebraska or Wisconsin game becomes more important for Michigan.
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Psssttt... That's a foregone conclusion to happen anyway. If Penn State is the game you MUST win against a good opponent to get into the conference championship game, and beating Nebraska is Michigan's only shot of getting into that championship game - and having any chance at a BCS Bowl - are you still going to tell me that the OSU-UM game will be considered the most important to each team?

Not a chance...
 
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I caught a brief blurb of the Big show this afternoon and Spiels was addressing this topic. He said that if they split divisions, they should open up each season with OSU vs. Michigan. It gives a huge build-up and players/fans the opportunity to make it a spectacle. I think this would be the best remedy to splitting them up. This really is a no-win situation IMHO unless you put them in the same conference and have them play in the last regular season game. That being said, they still won't be playing for all the marbles as we've been accustomed to in the past. Honestly though, Tressel has really made this rivalry one-sided, and his success could be a main reason for them not putting all the weight on OSU-Michigan.

In the end, I think OSU-Nebraska could develop into a HUGE rivalry. I'm not downplaying the Michigan game, because I still think it's a very important game. I just think OSU and Nebraska could end up being a rivalry that develops from this merger in the end. Both programs are heading in the right direction, Michigan is not at the moment.

Michigan just needs to get their [censored] together and start winning some games again....so they'll be important again on many levels.
 
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