Who will be back first?

[JBaney45]

Can someone enlighten me on why they left the Big Ten in the first place?

They dropped their football program in 1939 after struggling throughout the decade "to focus on academics" and eventually dropped out the rest of their programs I guess.

They didn't restart their football program until 1969


Interesting fact: They went 16-0-2 in 1899, Michigan, Penn State and Notre Dame might be hard pressed to match that win total COMBINED this season.

Looking at their records though, I believe they can be credited with starting the fad of scheduling cupcakes.

In their 14-7-1 season of 1894 they played 3 high schools, the Englewood and Salt Lake YMCAs (they traveled to Utah to play Salt Lake), Rush Medical College and the Chicago Dining Club (which was a stingy defensive affair I might add)

A quick look at some of the other seasons around then shows similar cupcake filled schedules:

http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/Chicago.htm

 

[BrutusBobcat]

It's pretty clear that Michigan and Notre Dame are on a similar downward glide path since the Holtz/Schembechler eras, and it has three common factors: recruiting, poor coaching hires and arrogant/unrealistic fan and alumni bases. Both programs share the characteristics of having been far, far more dominant in the first half century to sixty years or so of college football than they have in the second 50-60. Plus, Michigan now faces the prospect of every single year having to play the two strongest programs of that time period -- Nebraska and Ohio State. Notre Dame continues to fade to irrelevance as the major conferences expand. Going to 12 teams, plus the creation of the BCS made the SEC permanently relevant nationally, and I think the Pac-12 and Delaney's Dozen form the other two legs of the table. Where an independent who plays second-rate Big Ten schools and a collection of service academies fits into that is exactly nowhere. The Kelly hire appears to be the latest disaster for them. The Irish have been synonymous with overhype and underachieving by both players and coaches since the arrival of Ron "Four Heismans" Paulus, and that streak doesn't appear to be coming close to an end anytime soon.

Penn State has a much better recruiting territory, and has a great argument over both the Big East and ACC schools that are the regional alternatives. Their biggest problem is the JoePa succession issue. Promote from within, or bring in an outsider to hose out the Augean Stables that are the current Nittany staff? They're facing a legend hangover for a few years, but will eventually regain their standing. The Big Ten has room for a big three or four, and I see Penn State as being most likely to hold that spot long term along side OSU and Nebraska. For now, they'll have to be satisfied with looking up at Wisconsin, Sparty and possibly Illinois in addition to the big two until they get their future squared away.

 

[Mike80]

I'd say Penn State if and only if that crazy senile old coot doesn't hang on until he's dead on the sideline.

Penn State is a bit down, but I think the divisional formats will help them more than anyone else.

Michigan is screwed for at least 5 years and that's ONLY if they fire RR right now, which I doubt they'll do. If they fire RR now, their recruiting class will be DOA.

Ntre Ame is going to be interesting. I think Brian Kelly is a good enough coach to get them back to near-respectability, recent happenings notwithstanding. The cupboard isn't exactly bare, but everyone kind of knew this year was going to be a bit thin for them, especially at QB with the EMU going on to fail with the Panthers in the NFL.

1. Penn State

2. Ntre Ame

3. scUM

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

especially at QB with the EMU going on to fail with the Panthers in the NFL.

 

[matcar]

I guess I don't understand the question...or at least Notre Dame's inclusion in it. What are they to come BACK to? Seems like there already ARE back...back to what they belong as a middle tier football team. I mean, aren't they in Indiana? I don't recall Indiana being a state that produces epic football talent. I mean geez, ND seems like they'd be fairly competitive with Purdue and Indiana on a yearly basis...and frankly that's where they should be. So, in my mind, they are to be applauded for competing well with the other Indiana schools. Well done ND!

 

[Muck]

I'd say Penn State if and only if that crazy senile old coot doesn't hang on until he's dead on the sideline.

Would you be surprised at all if he keeled over sometime between 15:30 & 19:00 on Nov 13th?

 

[buckeyesin07]

Penn St. is just having a down year.

They finished in the top 10 polls 3 out of the last 5 years and 4-1 record in bowl games. Maybe they will go down hill from here but they have done alright the past few years.

And what did they do the 5 years before that? Their 10-year record isn't great.

 

[matcar]

And what did they do the 5 years before that? Their 10-year record isn't great.

Agreed. PSU is a shadow of what they have been since the 90s. PSU now acts like they are South Carolina and have to build for 1 good season every few years. Pathetic. That state has the talent to do far better. Meanwhile, JT and staff raid that state and take top talent year-in-year-out...so I'm not complainin'.

 

[zwem]

And what did they do the 5 years before that?

They sucked.

 

[Zurp]

Michigan needs to find a defense. I don't care who their head coach is or what style of offense he runs - giving up 1,100 yards to Indiana and UMass isn't going to get them any better than 7-5 or 8-4.

Notre Dame - I don't know enough about them to point and say "this is the problem". But I also think that they can't blame anything on high admissions standards. That's loser talk and it's only an excuse for losers. Man up, beat Navy and Tulsa and maybe then you can figure out what you need to do to come "back".

I think Penn State is just having a bad year. "He's too old" has been JoePa's biggest criticism since before many of these players were even born. Of course, if you believe the rumors, he really isn't coaching, anymore. And if they're true, I think he needs to retire, or Penn State needs to fire him. Maybe keep both parties happy - let him walk around on the sidelines and give him a headset and maybe even tell him that his microphone is hooked up to the other coaches' headsets. Give him a fancy title, like "Ultimo-Supremo-Head-Coach-Over-EVERYBODY". But name a new head coach to take over and end any power struggles that are rumored to be taking place.

1. Penn State
2. Michigan
3. Notre Dame

 

[Jake]

Notre Dame is not coming "back" if they insist on remaining independent. They'll go the way of the military academies, who are kicking their asses already.

Michigan might be first since the big question in Happy Valley is geriatric Joe who seems intent on hanging around until he gets pushed out, a la Bowden.

 

[Mike80]

Something tells me we won't be seeing that noob anytime soon

 

[Best Buckeye]

I say the first one back will be either Lohan or Hilton, nothing can keep those two whores back.