To No One's Surprise, Logical Big Ten Divisions Approved

Wait...how many on each side?

Jim Delaney and the rest of the Big Ten came to the conclusion that fans, bloggers, students, homeless people and probably even Danny Hope came to three years ago -- the existing divisions and their names are dumb and should be scrapped.

Of course, people like Jim Delaney don't quickly admit to such mistakes. My favorite part of all this was that they came up with the division names and then, accordingly to Delaney, didn't think much about it after that. He also said things about how he wasn't sure everyone didn't like the names -- just people "who hit the send button." Errr, okay.

Anyway, it was voted on and the realignment will happen, beginning with 2014, so you're stuck with Legends and Leaders for one more season. Then Purdue moves to the West and deprives me of regularly seeing the Boilermakers in New Brunswick, NJ against Rutgers.

Brian Bennett of the EsPN Big Ten Blog has a column about the winners and losers, and includes this gem towards the end that melts a little bit of my cold, dark heart (bold emphasis, mine):

Winner: The SEC
The Big Ten joins the Pac-12 and Big 12 as major conferences playing nine conference games... The SEC remains at eight games. Playing more conference games is great for fans and TV, but it also means more losses throughout the league and makes it harder for teams to go unbeaten -- the Big Ten champ will have to run a gantlet of 10 conference games, including the title game. The SEC will continue to benefit from the perception that its teams beat one another up during league play while also playing fewer conference games. That could have big ramifications on the selection process for the upcoming College Football Playoff.

Heh. Get 'em, Brian.

Putting the WEST in West Lafayette

Without physically moving (to our knowledge), Purdue football will be part of the "West" in Big Ten land for the 2014 football season. At the Big Ten expands its footprint into New Jersey and Maryland, a geographical map of the conference puts Purdue in right about the middle. Reportedly, there was discussion over whether IU or Purdue should be in the West -- given that Purdue's campus is West of Bloomington, the decision sort of made itself. 

For 2014, the divisions will be this:

East: IU, Maryland, Michigan, MSU, OSU, PSU, Rutgers
West: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue, Wisconsin

But for one more year, they'll remain the nonsensical (in terms of name or geography) this:

Legends: Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern
Leaders: Indiana, Illinois, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin

One thing this does is put (or keep) some of the conference's historical rivals together. OSU and UM are obvious, though it does mean those two can't face one another in the Big Ten title game, something that was touted by some as a good byproduct of them being in separate divisions. Also in the same division are Iowa and Minnesota as they play for that slab of beef or whatever it is, as well as Michigan and Michigan State, who play for... I don't know, a barrel of auto oil or something.

You'll note that Purdue and IU are no longer going to be division mates. An interesting tidbit here is that the Old Oaken Bucket game will now be the only so-called "protected" rivalry going forward (or until further expansion necessitates three divisions or something). Obviously, the white-hot slap fight that is the Iowa-Purdue matchup does not need to be protected, as division rivals will all play each other every year. Also of note, now that Purdue-IU Big Ten Championship Game meeting can happen. I know we can all sleep better knowing that.

So after playing Nebraska once in their first three years in the league, Purdue will suddenly find themselves in Lincoln a whole lot more than they'd probably like. Same for Northwestern and Purdue, who are currently heading into their third consecutive year of not playing each other. Presto! Division rivals!

I've seen some Purdue fans on twitter noting that "I'll take it" in reference to ducking OSU, UM, MSU, etc. Well, if you've watched sports for a while, you know things run in cycles and Michigan was recently down -- wayyyy down, like losing to Purdue at home down -- and that Purdue seems to actually have OSU's number, despite being as unable to close the deal this past year as Boilerdowd in Cary Quad with future Mrs. Boilerdowd, circa 1995.

And let's be sure to remember something else -- right now, the members of the future West division are seeing Purdue and thinking the same thing: "Yeah, that works! A win!"

Let's hope by the time 2014 gets here that they're wishing Purdue was in East Lafayette.

Gopher Roadkill: Boilers Win Big in Ross-Ade 45-17

Following the UND game, our Boilers were a bit emotionally drained and physically beaten up.  The Irish beat Purdue in ever phase of the game and nothing cures teams that are ailing and lacking confidence like playing this Gopher squad.

Unrecognizable.

After playing a full scoreless game v. UM (58-0), Minny picked up where they left off allowing Purdue to move the ball with ease and at the same time turning the ball over with great regularity (2 fumbles and an INT).

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.