The Laurinaitis family gathers for Thanksgiving Dinner in Nov. '07. Family gatherings like this will no longer be possible due to Big Ten schedule changes. (Please note James is fifth from the left)In an effort not to be forgotten or become unimportant nationally, the Big Ten has agreed to make the football schedule 13-weeks, extending it into the weekend of Thanksgiving. Many coaches say they really like the fact that their players used to be home for Thanksgiving dinner with the families; Joe Tiller is one of them.
Obviously though, Purdue ate turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing during many of the halftimes of their games this past season (ref. 3rd quarter performances of CMU, Minnesota & others...). My idea is simple: Invite the players families for a halftime banquet dinner in which everyone is together during that final game. I think it will breed a lot of unity within the team.
I'm sorry, while I'm a big proponent of time with family, I've never thought it was a big deal that players wouldn't be able to be home for Thanksgiving due to football...Hell, why doesn't the Big Ten ban recruiting of players outside of a 4-state radius as it would be too difficult to get home for such a holiday with airline security the way it currently is.
Jim Delaney has been and continues to be a fool.
10 comments:
What the Big Ten really needs to do is to add another team and create a conference championship game. I know it will mostly be for the money but it will also help those teams stay sharp and ready for the bowl/playoff runs.
The problem lies in where are they going to get a team? Let's look at SOME of the possibilities:
ND: we all know where this goes
Missouri/Iowa State/Kentucky/Louisville: They are all good choices but are in premier conferences and unlikely to move.
Which would leave the many schools in "mid major" conferences that may be persuaded to come over:
Miami (O)/Butler/Ball State/C. Michigan/Marquette/....
How does everyone else feel/ who can the big ten get? Do we need a conference championship in Football? I would love some feedback!
Tony "Virginia Boiler" Underhill
I like this idea. I hate not being able to go to a game after Thanksgiving
I forget what year it was, but I distinctly remember the Oaken Bucket game being played on the Friday after Thanksgiving a while back... I'd guess it was '95 or so. I have no problems with this, but it's interesting to me that adding two games to the schedule now since 2006 is okay, but adding a couple games in the form of a playoff system for a few teams -- over holiday break -- is a bad idea because of "academics." NCAA, you effing suck.
I'm pretty sure we had a Bucket game on Thanksgiving weekend back in 2000, as well - it was my sophomore year and I was pissed I couldn't go, then we lost to Randle El in the rain, and suddenly I was happy I couldn't go.
I was at that game we lost in the rain. I remember it well because Tim Stratton missed a pass at the goal line which would have given us the win. Stratton Sucked after Brees left, he should have gone then too.
Jim Delaney is not a fool. He is one of the most powerful figures in NCAA Football.
And no, the Big Ten does not need a 12th team or a championship game. The Big Ten often gets 2 teams in the BCS because they don't have a championship game.
And ummmmm,,how well do they do in these games? Not too well. If you are in it strictly for the cash then yes, you are correct, but if you want to become more competitive on a national scale you need these things. As well, you need to start beefing up your schedule!
Just because Delaney is powerful, doesn't mean he's not a fool.
Matt, you are a Delaney lackey too? Come on now, that guy has his foot in his mouth more than anybody in college sports (besides Miles Brand). He all but guaranteed us a 12th team back in August and backpeddled for a month trying to cover his tracks with that statement...He has chased after UND twice and been their bitch both times. He has also said he's an opponent to an NCAA football playoff because it's not good for the academics. Well, the D-IAA kids have a long playoff and I hear over and over that those kids are "real" student athletes and D-I kids are just athletes that go to school.
The Big Ten sends two teams to the BCS and the teams are simply not that great. It seems in many recent years the Big Ten has looked flat or unprepared in many of the big bowls. Might that be because they haven't been playing for two-three weeks longer than everyone else?
I don't necessarily agree with an addition of another team, I'd rather see NW kicked out since they don't seem to really fit in with the rest of the schools (private, small, wearing purple, etc.)...but that won't happen.
I don't know if a Championship helps the league in anything other than it lends credibility to it since the majority, sans the Pac 10, have gone to it as well. It's much like the post-season conf. tourney in basketball...it's just a matter of time before it will happen.
the 13-week season is warranted; I'm glad it's happening.
I'm glad it's happening too. I can't wait for Ohio State to get that 9th home game that they're so deserving of.
Actually Virginia Boiler,
The Big Ten has done just find in the BCS. It has 8 wins in BCS games, second only to the SEC.
SEC 9-4
Big Ten 8-7
Pac 10 7-4
Big East 5-4
Big 12 5-7
ACC 1-8
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