Thought this was an interesting perspective from a Nittany Lion about upcoming divisional changes and what role that will have on the Eastern side of the conference.
Check out his idea of how the divisions should shake out... I'll believe geographical based divisions when I see them though. I imagine, just as usual, the powers that be will manage to screw it up.
Link: http://www.ydr.com/psu/ci_22561285/frank-bodani-how-big-ten-realignment-should-affect
I like the sounds of that. It makes sense from a fanbase standpoint, it makes sense from a rivalry standpoint and frankly it makes sense from a divisional set up standpoint, which means in the end it will never happen.....But its about as logical as you are gonna get me thinks
Battles are sometimes won by generals; wars are nearly always won by sergeants and privates. Football is no different, the guys down in the trenches win the games, not the coach.
It all makes sense, except for the odd eastern team left out on the last game of the season. He states that PSU needs to play either Rutgers or Maryland as the final game of the season every year. So what about the team they are not matched up with? That means that Rutgers or Maryland would have to play a team from Indiana or that State up north or a crossover even further west. A rather myopic view by Frank. But, that's what this whole expansion thing is about, pleasing PSU!!!!
It's a really interesting perspective that I think is very good for the eastern trio. But I was thinking the same thing about the odd one left out. I suppose you could treat it like the UGA-GaTech season finale which is a non-conference matchup. Get Maryland or Rutgers to have one of their non-conf games that weekend to finish the season. Most likely against an ACC opponent (how awesome in Maryland's case!
Penn State scUM and OSU in one division seems a little much but if our conference gets big enough like were kind of expecting I'd rather we be in the same division as scUM to protect the rivalry
I like it. I agree with the division alignment.
The South will NOT rise again!
With the 14 teams, this makes good sense. I like it.
So Penn State gets a year end cupcake game?
Why not bring back Colgate or Villanova or one of the other BS teams they used to play before we spoiled their day and allowed them to join the Big 10.
PSU and Maryland had a decent, albiet one sided, series under JoePa, through the 70's and 80's. Rutgers has stepped up their program over the last decade and will give PSU a challenge in their 'rivalry' renewal.
Bodani just lists the geographical obviousness of how the conference should realign. Aside from listing MSU as the wild card, which would rile up those hanging on the uh, importance, of Sparty-scUM rivalry, this layout seems to make enough sense to me. It also leaves the door open for future eastern (ACC) additions.....whereas shifting to a four division alignment or moving IU and Purdue to the west to keep two divisions would work.
As an Ohio native now living in the D.C. metro area, I'm just stoked to getting the chance to see Buckeye teams out here in person.
"Success - it's what you do with what you got" - Woody Hayes