Big Ten to "aggressively" look at 12th team

From the only main-stream blogger worth reading:

"Speaking to Wisconsin's athletic board on Friday, Alvarez, the former longtime Badgers football coach, said the conference already has investigated possibilities for expansion "from all over the country." And though he places no timetable on the search, Alvarez thinks conference commissioner Jim Delany will respond to a group of athletic directors and coaches who want expansion."

I know Alvarez is a guy who doesn't back down from something like this. So, let's hope there is more meat to this bone we're being thrown here. Could we see another run at Notre Dame, with the new regime coming into South Bend?

As hopeful as I am that Alvarez isn't just running his mouth, there aren't too many viable options out there. Who are you going to invite? Boise State would be a ridiculous choice, with the travel issues and obvious lack of any history in that program. A Mountain West team, like TCU? I'm not sure the Lone Star State is the right place to go for the Big Ten. That would leave out Houston, too.

I'd say a MAC team, but adding that conference to the mix would be just as embarrassing as a MWC or C-USA team. Temple will become a hot rumor, for sure. However, the Owls are still recovering from the Big East years. If Temple runs off a string of MAC titles, then I'd say go for it. But it's just not logical, right now.

So, who's left? What about a servi--wait a minute! That's it! The Big Ten will pursue a service academy! My early bet is Navy -- Army is still even behind Temple's progress, and Air Force is comfy where it is. But the Midshipmen have been able to show sustained success, have recently played well against the Big Ten (Ohio State '09), and are conspicuously within range of the Big Ten.

Chew on that while you're out Christmas shopping this weekend.

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College Football mid-week roundup

Starting tomorrow night, the race for BCS bids begins with Oregon State and Oregon battling for the Pac 10's Rose Bowl bid. That's just the tip of a college football iceberg that will continue non-stop, well into the wee morning hours on Sunday, when the final gun sounds on Wisconsin's meeting at Hawaii. But what's happened so far this week? A lot, actually. But most of it has dealt with coaching changes, the Heisman race, and more coaching changes. Here's the long and the short of it all...

• ATHENS, GA - Head coaches aren't the only ones on the chopping block this week, as Georgia defensive coordinator Willie Martinez, and two of his assistants, received their walking papers this week. Martinez was one of the hottest coordinators not all that long ago, but the Bulldog defense hasn't been too stingy lately. He'll coach through the bowl game.

• IOWA CITY, IA - Kirk Ferentz doesn't want the Notre Dame job, despite his name being thrown around since Charlie Weis got the axe this week. However, the Hawkeyes head man does want a BCS bid for his team. Ferentz said this week that he believes Iowa can play with any team in the nation, and has the resume to prove it. Frankly, I actually think Ferentz is correct. If the Big Ten gets two BCS bids, the Hawks should get the second behind Ohio State's Rose Bowl trip.

• FORT WORTH, TX - Speaking of the Notre Dame job, TCU coach Gary Patterson made it clear that he isn't interested, either. Patterson was locked up by TCU for another five years, getting an extension through 2016.

• LOS ANGELES, CA - USC isn't going to a BCS bowl game, but one Trojan had a few words about the Oregon-OSU battle tomorrow night. USC center Jeff Byars said that he'd pick Oregon State over Oregon, adding that OSU plays a more "hard nose" style of football. Also mentioned was a great headline this week: Nike U vs. Lunchpail U.

• PALO ALTO, CA - (Ok, so some of these datelines aren't real datelines, but it works for this post well enough.) Sports Illustrated was all over Stanford's Toby Gerhart this week. There's a growing contingent of sports writers and TV personalities that are pushing for Gerhart to get an invite to NYC for the Heisman ceremony. I'm not so sure he'll get it, mostly because there are still stories running that explain to readers just who Toby Gerhart is, exactly. Not a good sign with only a week left in the regular season. Plus, playing on the West Coast, as a white running back, is like double-doom for any Heisman hopeful these days.

• LOUISVILLE, KY - Back to coaching news, it looks like Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong is the leading candidate for the Louisville job. Yeah, I didn't know Steve Kragthorpe was fired, either. The Cardinals have gone with offensive-minded coaches the last two times, but will follow the Notre Dame angle, searching for a defensive-minded head man. What ever happened to just hiring a football-minded head coach, instead of one with a certain specialty?

• NEW HAVEN, CT - Why is Tim Tebow up for ANY awards this season? Because he's a senior? Because he's won a bunch in the past? God, I hate this sentimental crap these awards people pull.

• COLLEGE FOOTBALL, USA - Go beer and snack shopping early tomorrow, because you won't have time the rest of this week. I can't remember the last time the final week of college football meant this much. It's incredible that I'm actually excited to watch almost every game.

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Big Ten Bloggers Roundtable :: Home Stretch

Brad over at Maize n Blue Nation was good enough to put this together.

1. With two weeks left in the season, it's safe to say that most schools have reached the point where the year has been a success or a disappointment. How has your school fared this year in your opinion? Or, is the jury still out?

ZN: The jury is still most definitely out on Penn State. If PSU had beaten Iowa, rolled over Indiana (which is still expected), and lost to Michigan State, it would have still been very successful. But now with the loss in Iowa City, Penn State could very well lose everything, if the Lions lose to Michigan State. This season has come down to one game. I know we're supposed to look at this "one game at a time," but screw that. If Penn State loses to Indiana, we should just drop football altogether. It's now about MSU, and MSU only.

2. Is your school heading to a bowl? If so, which one? And if not, WTF?

ZN: Yeah, Penn State's going bowling, but it still comes down to one game. Did I mention this already? Yeah, I did... MICHIGAN STATE. Penn State could go to the Rose Bowl, or, dare I say it, sneak into the BCS title game, if it wins on Nov. 22. But if PSU loses, it's off to the Capital One bowl, or the Outback Bowl, if MSU or OSU doesn't get an at-large bid.

3. The Big Ten has recently had a hard time getting respect among the national media as a top conference. Has the Big Ten taken a step forward or a step backward in this debate this season?

ZN: Well, I was about to say it's not as bad as they say, but then Michigan loses to Toledo, and Illinois loses to Western Michigan. Those were the ultimate WTF games. So, until the Big Ten starts beating these glorified high school teams, yeah, the Big Ten sucks ass.

4. Would the Big Ten benefit from adding another school to create two divisions like the SEC, Big 12, ACC and MAC? And if so, which school should be added? Or, should we drop one school?

ZN: How many times to we have to go through this? Notre Dame should (but won't, EVER) join the Big Ten, and split the league into two divisions. (I'm going to do my own BCS conferences realignment following the season) But since the Irish won't do that, the Big Ten should kick Penn State out. Let us go join the ACC or the Big East. Nothing makes worse sense than having the "Beast of the East" play in a Midwest conference.

5. Do you agree with President-elect Obama that college football should have an 8 school post-season playoff?

ZN: Yes, and no. There should be eight teams, all going to the traditional "Big Four" BCS bowls. Then, the following week, release one more BCS Poll. The top two teams in that poll goes to play in the BCS title game. But then again, if the conferences just get off their asses and all go to 12 teams, playing a conference title game, most of these issues would be worked out anyway. No, I don't like them either, but it would go a lot farther to solving these problems.

6a. Who is your favorite network television play-by-play announcer/color commentator/sideline reporter?

ZN: I wish they'd pair Brad Nessler with Kirk Herbstreit or Todd Blackledge. Keep Paul Maguire for some drunken fun. And because it's nearly required to say this, add Erin Andrews to the sidelines. That's a broadcast team for ya!

6b. If you listed Erin Andrews, please provide a photo/video to back
up your pick.

ZN: Fine.

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I'm Back

Surgery went great. I feel better than I have in years. Now it's time to get back to work.

What is this world coming to? If you could jump in the Delorean with Doc Brown and look at the Big Ten in 2027, just how many teams would be in the conference, 12? 15? 18? I actually don't know, but what has been going around lately, it seems that any number of teams other than ten will make up the "Big Some-Number-of-Teams-Not-Really-Ten."

In 1999 - we all know the story - Notre Dame pulled off one of the biggest cock-teases in college football when the the whole world thought the Irish would finally get off their four high horses and join a conference. Well, they didn't. Backing out at the last minute.

Big Ten commish Jim Delany told the Des Moines Register Wednesday the conference would look into adding a 12th team to help out the soon-to-be-launched Big Ten Network.

I don't think there can be much more conglomoration of college football. Just you watch, soon you'll see the Pac-10 Network, the Big East Channel, and the Sun B... OK, maybe not that one. But I think my point is made. College football is a sport of tradition, and moves like this - contrary to CFB higher-ups' beliefs - does not help the sport. In fact, just by creating an exclusive network for the Big Ten only prevents the continuation of how CFB fans traditionally get their games, like local TV stations piping in the game, and dare I say it, the radio! Honestly, sometimes I'll turn down the TV clowns just to hear the radio broadcasts with Steve Jones and Jack Ham - two guys who actually know what they're talking about and did their homework before the game. Let me give you a prime example...

The setting: 2005. No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes at No. 16 Penn State Nittany Lions. PSU is leading 17-10 with just over a minute left in the final stanza.

The play: OSU quarterback, and future Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith is leading the Buckeyes down the field from deep within PSU territory. Near mid-field, Smith drops back. PSU defensive end, and future first-rounder Tamba Hali flies around the Buckeye right tackle and slams into Smith, upending him and jarring the ball loose. PSU tackle Scott Paxon falls on the ball, and after a lengthy official review the ball is ruled Penn State's.

The broadcast screw up of massive porportions: "And it's recovered by OHIO STATE!" shouts Ron Franklin, obviously caught up in the emotional moment.

My take: OK, I understand that it was one of the biggest games of the year, and it was a great, great game from start to finish. I actually like Ron Franklin. But come on, it wasn't like Ohio State was playing Wisconsin (both teams in red and white). Penn State's dark blue is very different from Ohio State's gray. For me, honestly, that game will always be my favorite. There will, however, linger that thorn in my side every time I go back to watch the tape. Recovered by Ohio State??? Jesus freaking Christ man! You're supposed to be the professional announcing the Game of the Week, with ESPN College Gameday on site, and ESPN's Cold Pizza the Friday before, and easily the loudest crowd in the history of college football.

Hey ESPN, can I get a job? Well, I'm off to play NCAA Football 08 for the first time.

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