Conference Realignment: The Great Money Grab

Yesterday Colorado announced its departure from the Big 12 to join the Pac 10. Today, Nebraska fell into line and opted out for greener pastures in the Big Ten. As the big six converge to what will likely become the big four power conferences, schools may be forgetting some of what makes college football great.

I was only seven when I attended my first Michigan vs Michigan State football game at the Big House in Ann Arbor. In each subsequent trip I've had the great fortune to see two schools with great tradition and a lifetime of rivalry compete in an environment where fans are fired up for Saturday. With the Big 12 almost certain to dissolve, where will that leave the former "Big Eight" that have been together largely since the 1920s and solidly since the 1960s? Oklahoma versus Nebraska has been a Midwest staple for many years. While it does not get the attention of the "Red River Shootout" with Texas, it carries just as much weight with traditionalists.

As Texas is likely to split off and join the Pac 10, I can't help but wonder how excited Longhorns fans will be to road trip up to Oregon State for their cross-divisional showdown, or start up a rivalry with mighty Arizona State in the future Pac 16 East.

Nebraska's departure in many ways makes sense for the university. Nebraska has always held higher recruiting standards than many of its fellow Big 12 Universities and certainly tighter than the likes of Texas A&M, Baylor and UT. For anyone who has road tripped through Lincoln, it even feels more like going to a game in Iowa, Madison or Happy Valley.

My frustration in the upcoming changing face of college athletics is not with Nebraska, as independently it made a good decision. More money, strong tradition, better academics and improved overall athletics. The disappointment comes in what will happen as conferences grab blindly at other television markets to snatch up in the hope of adding operating revenue. The Big Ten started the land grab with its announcement of expansion some six months ago and with the addition of a couple more solid universities, it stands to sit as the model super conference while the SEC, Pac 10 and ACC aimlessly gobble up the leftovers.

The wish list for the Big Ten certainly still includes Notre Dame and the success in landing the nation's team likely will determine if they come out as the eventual winners in the great money grab.

Michigan Optimistic with Soft Sanctions

This week the University of Michigan imposed sanctions upon its own football program for violations of exceeding practice and workout times as allowed under NCAA rules. Here is a breakdown of the sanctions Michigan has placed upon itself.

-Cut practice time by 130 hours over the next two years
-Ban certain staff members from attending practices, games or coaching meetings

Overall, the University is stating that it disagrees that Rich Rodriguez failed to create an environment of compliance with NCAA Rules. Truly this was the only play that new Michigan Athletic Director David Brandon had, but in my opinion is unlikely to save the team from harsher penalties coming from the NCAA or Big Ten when it is reviewed in the coming months.

While the self-imposed sanctions are new, the allegations are not. This has brought around another wave of Michigan faithful calling for Rich Rod's head, nothing has changed from five months ago when the season ended. Rodriguez and AD David Brandon know this is a make or break season for the coach. Eight to nine wins and a bowl game buy Rodriguez another year; a losing season and he'll be searching for a mid-level job in the ACC or Big East. While the mood in the fan base appears to still be down on Rodriguez and the direction of Michigan Football, there is a lot of optimism building in Ann Arbor both about the upcoming season and the team's ability to dodge tough probation from the NCAA by beating them to the punch with their own sanctions.

Paterno Says it All

As someone who has grown up in Big Ten country, constantly cheering against Penn State, I can't help but respect Joe Paterno right now. Joe Paterno said in an interview that the reasons given by the college football commissioners are 'bogus' and stated that he can't foresee a playoff in the near future.

My favorite quote from the interview expressed Paterno's frustration and also his timeless stance as a coach at Penn State. "Paterno, who is entering his 43rd season as Penn State's head coach said, 'I'm only going to be a head coach another 10 or 15 years, and I don't think it will happen by then.'" I think it's sad that Joe Paterno is 81-years old and even he thinks the rest of college football is too old fashioned to see what would be best for the sport in form of a playoff.

I'm embarrassed to say that as a Big Ten fan the conference does not support the playoff, and that only the ACC and SEC were in favor of continued discussion regarding the proposed playoff system.

If I hear the argument of missing too much class time again, I think I'll be sick. How many students are in class from December 18 & January 7? None. Student athletes? None. Having a game the week of Christmas and the BCS Championship the week of New Years makes perfect sense, and encourages teams to play a tougher schedule as having one or two losses won't necessarily prevent an appearance in the championship.

For people who argue that a playoff would water down the regular season have to consider that a playoff does not need to be 64 teams like the NCAA Tournament where the top half of every conference received a near automatic berth. Instead, a 4 or 8 team field allows the elite programs to participate while preserving the sanctity and excitement of each week of the regular season.

Later in the story picked up by the Associated Press Paterno commented on his decision to not participate in the Coaches' Poll due to being required to vote for the BCS Champion in the final poll, something Paterno disagreed with in 2004 when undefeated Auburn was left out of the title game but won its bowl.

Anyone else hoping Joe Paterno sticks it out to 100 years old and 500 career wins?