The Leaders and Legends aren't on the design team.

The Commish officially named the two divisions of the new BT conference for next football season and after: the Leaders and Legends. Purdue will be a member of the Leaders division. Hated, longtime rival, Iowa will be a member of the Legends division.

While I'm not a big fan of the nomenclature, I'm really not a fan of the new marks. Here's the primary logo:

It's neither classic nor clever, in my opinion...and the color doesn't seem to make a ton of sense either. Thoughts?

Purdue was last on the corresponding promo video.

Mum's the word.

Jim Delany spoke to the nation and specifically the Nebraska family yesterday saying,

"We're a better conference today than we were yesterday as a result of Nebraska..."

I think the question now is, what does the next tomorrow bring?

Well, we all know the candidates for expansion that have been out there since the get-go. Rutgers, Pitt, and Missouri have had scenarios, time-tables theories thrown around that included them...and more-recently, we've heard about Maryland...but Delany hasn't shown his hand or said anything that he hasn't needed to say. In fact, as other conferences have scrambled, he's sat back and let the others make statements without backbone (read as anything from Dan Beebe) and ambiguity-filled statements about how great the next announcement will be (read as anything from Larry Scott)...But for 10 days, as the media clamored for info and many fans waited nervously or excitedly, Delany stayed silent.

But, he's not the only one staying quiet right now. UND's AD Jack Swarbrick has clammed up a bit, and Brian Kelly isn't saying too much these days either. A few months ago, both talked regularly of how they didn't want to be part of the BT or any other conference

According to Swarbrick, one of the best parts of independence is playing all over the country. On March 9, he said,

"It’s great when you look at the schedule and see games all over; at Yankee Stadium, at USC"

Regarding that specific game versus Army in Yankee stadium, he also said, "On a personal level, the anniversary date aspect of it, with the 1913 game, would be great, but if there’s going to be college football in Yankee Stadium, I’d like to be the first one.”

So when I read this today, I couldn't help but wonder if UND is now part of Delany's recent pregnant silence. The UND v. Navy game at Yankee Stadium, that was recently regarded as historically-significance and personally-important for Swarbrick has now been canceled because it doesn't "work" for Notre Dame.

Hmmm.

Seems to me that as things have been changing in the Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac 10, UND's perspective on joining a conference may have also changed.

If nothing else, all of the silence is deafening.

Conference Expansion SCOOP

With all of the big-time football conferences jockeying for position, it's been hard to keep up with what's happening and what's really going to happen. However, Boiled Sports is here for you, as always, as we have the scoop on the happenings with all major conferences whose logos are above.

In a surprise move, the I-AA conferences have gotten involved.

"We really feel that a playoff is in the best interests of college football," said Jim Delany today, "and since the BCS kind of hog-ties us, we're going to request several of our teams move to I-AA conferences."

"Hog-tied!! Now yar speekin' mah language, Jimmy!!" exclaimed Mike Silve, SEC commissioner.

"Hey, don't forget us! We're really important to college football," chimed in Pac 10 commish Larry Scott. "We have a team people pay attention to!"

"Yeah, USC. Which is about to go on probation and, let's face it, has an overgrown frat boy as a coach," countered Dan Beebe, Big 12 commissioner. "Nobody cares about the Pac 10."

"Oh yeah?" responded Scott. "Well, I give you until FRIDAY, JUNE 11 to take that back!!"

"Or else what?" asked Beebe.

"Uhhhh...." *gurgling noises*

[end transcript]

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What BS has learned is the following.

Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Purdue and Iowa will join the MEAC, creating new and exciting rivalries with teams like Bethune-Cookman and Delaware State. An added bonus is that Ohio State and Michigan will feel right at home since these are their typical non-conference foes under their current situation.

Illinois, MSU, Minn, and Penn State will join with the SEC West in merging with the Ohio Valley conference. An advantage here is that Tennessee will have three new conference rivals in Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech and Tennessee-Martin -- three schools with admittedly more impressive academics but they've agreed to let Tennessee join.

The SEC West will fold into the Patriot League, so that Florida can still feel big and strong by beating up on defenseless foes like they currently do every September. Bucknell, Colgate and Fordham sound like they'll do the trick. As a concession to Georgia, they'll never have to go on the road since we all know they refuse to travel more than 200 miles from their campus.

The Pac 10 will merge with the WAC since nobody cares about -- or watches -- either conference.

The Big 12 will merge with the Southland conference. Perfect! Texas will have a new rival in Texas State to pad their record against.

[Ed Note: None of this is true. Or maybe it is. Nobody knows at this point. But Jim Delany wants 18 months to think things over so will EVERYBODY PLEASE JUST SLOW DOWN??]

Getting Real: Big Ten Growing

Since you left work, Jim Delany got busy...I mean he was busy looking to move his plan of expansion forward. There are a couple of different scenarios that might be playing themselves out, but the one definite is that Mizzou and Nebraska have been invited to the party.

Notre Dame, sadly, has once-again been asked to join the conference, it seems. And while it makes sense as they're right in the center of the geographical conference, they play quite a few BT schools already in football, they love money just like Jim D, and their struggle for independence might get really difficult as the dominoes start falling, I say screw 'em. At this point, they need the BT a lot more than the soon-to-be Super Conference needs them. But no matter, the die is cast...again.

The Chinese Proverb, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." Is playing in my head right now...what about a third time of being fooled?

I've said this all along- I think the main parts of this equation have known for months what was coming...I think the UND portion of this plan is all based on peer pressure- I don't care if they succumb or not.

Addendum:
These reports have already been denied. I don't know if I believe that means nothing happened...it just means no one's talking (yet).
Thanks to BS reader, Michael R. for the heads up.

Less is More

Too hard to hide a 14 or 16 in the words "Big Ten"

Everybody's weighed in on this from bloggers to the big gorillas of the sports media world: What will BT be?

Who knows exactly what it'll be, but I can tell you what I'd like it to be: Simple, quick and smart.

I believe the world, and specifically, the sports world is dominated by people who are almost the opposite of me. They seem to neglect longevity and stability for a quick payoff. But, the Big Ten is the oldest conference in the land for a lot of reasons. One is it has been stable, deliberate and generally smart with the way it's grown and progressed. Sure, the old-fashioned nature of the league is sometimes infuriating, but let's look at the opposite approach: The Big East.

The Big East basketball conference went after a sizable splash a few years ago when it expanded to 16 teams. EsPN and much of the media loved the move as they lauded this conference as the strongest basketball conference that had ever been created. But, on the eve of Delany and Company's big move, many are grumbling that the Big East as we all know it might be going the way Hummer brand. Can't say I'm upset about it, but the ramifications of this mega conference folding are large.

Sports Illustrated and other sources believe that in once scenario, the Mega Conference will become the standard. The conspiracy theorist in me believes there's some merit in this idea. The NCAA infuriates me at times with their uneven hand, foolish rules and knee jerk reactions. But, I don't think throwing away the NCAA is the right approach. There's not doubt, a few changes need to be made by college sports' governing body, but circumventing the NCAA all-together simply won't work, in my opinion. Plus, four 16-team conferences leaves quite a few good programs on the outside looking in.

Here's some background to why I think the Big Ten needs to not act like a cowboy in this scenario. First off, the super-expansion scenarios for the conference almost-all include Notre Dame. I was sick and tired of kissing their ass years ago...so going back to that well makes no sense to this hombre. Everytime there are hints about UND being involved, the Swarbrick and Co. make sure to reply that they're not interested. For all I care, they can become a one-team conference that has their own set of rules...Oh wait...

The second problem with the mega-expansion, in my opinion, is that it doesn't stay true to the roots of the BT. From academics to athletics, Big Ten schools (probably minus Northwestern) have a certain feel to them...and I don't think schools like Rutgers (on one end) and Nebraska (on the other) fit that mold.

Pitt just makes sense

My solution, not unlike many others out there, fulfills a number of needs, in my opinion, and simply makes sense. Add Pitt to make the league a 12-team conference. Pitt meets the research university requirements that Delany's been talking about for months. Their facilities are on par with the other eleven teams (if not better). Their two big money-making sports generate a ton of revenue and have large, loyal fan bases. The Panthers help Penn State off of the Northeast island they're on by re-creating the old rivalry and fitting within the footprint of the current conference. Plus, this will help the strength of the BTN in the northeast as it continues to attempt to gain market share.

I think some of the same arguments can be made for Missouri...but I don't the arguments are quite as strong...so why not seek out the best-fit?

Our poll showed that most of you agree with the least-aggressive expansion plan. That's good...because it'd be pretty hard to hide a 14 or 16 in the words "Big Ten".

The conference divisions might fall into place like this:

North
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Iowa
Northwestern
Michigan State
Michigan

South
Illinois
Purdue
IU
aOSU
Pitt
Penn State

During football season, each program would be able to protect one game. This would keep rivalries like UM/aOSU alive and well. For basketball, I don't think there would be any reason or benefit to having the divisional barrier.

Sure, this is all theorizing and blue sky thinking...and not worth much at all. But to me, and many of you, a 12-team conference makes the most sense, from a number of perspectives.

So What's Going to Really Happen?
I don't think anyone outside of the conference offices really knows what's going to happen. But, I don't think Delany has his eyes set on tradition or solid, small-step growth.

My gut tells me Pitt will be a part of the plan, but I think the conference will end up being a 14-team league. The additions might be: Pitt, Rutgers and Missouri.

I think we'll not have any more reason to theorize as a new reality is upon us by mid-summer.

I guess everything's OK...Good News!

The Big Ten tells me that Krab's pick versus Purdue wasn't anything more than a normal basketball play. I guess that's good news for the ever-growing number of collegiate basketball players using creative means to play the game.

I don't care if Krab called LewJack and apologized or if he gave him a hug and helped him up after the incident (which he didn't). It doesn't matter. I don't really care how many scars Krab has on his face and head from playing basketball either. What he did would have made any NHL goon (or Wisconsin basketball coach) proud...and indeed, that's fitting from the land of hockey. But, unlike hockey, Jackson doesn't wear pads or a helmet...thus he still hasn't passed a post-concussion test and might be held out of his second-straight game due to the after-effects of Krab's completely-clean, sportsman-like* play.

I don't put Harris' play on the same level of maliciousness as the Krabbenhoft pick...but I don't think either are within the framework of the rules of the game.

Honestly, I have no idea why the last two weeks have been so volatile in the world of college basketball, but I know the trend isn't good. I also know that the Big Ten's limp-wristed way of enforcing the rules is exactly what we have grown to expect from the office of the worst and least-consistent officials in all of the land.

Be forewarned, Commisioner Jim, this ruling is setting a lousy precedent.



*completely-clean and sportsman-like are defined by the Big Ten director of officiating, not boiledsports.com