Big Ten football alignment. Great stuff

[ChicosBailBonds]

Wisconsin wanted a layup (Alvarez was pushing hard) to the Big Ten title game each year with Minnesota, Illinois, Northwestern, Nebraska, etc.

Instead, they got Ohio State, Penn State, Iowa, Purdue, UI and IU


I have to chuckle.  Looks like UW-madison will actually have to earn their way now.



Multiple sources told ESPN.com that the two divisions in the Big Ten will look like:

• Michigan, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern and Minnesota.

• And Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Purdue, Indiana and Illinois.

[GGGG]

Alvarez was absolutely not pushing what you claim he was.  He stated multiple times that the "Big Four" were going to be split, as will Wisconsin and Iowa.  Everything I heard was that moving to the "East" and sacrificing the annual game with Iowa was something the Big Ten approached UW with early on, and Alvarez agreed to it.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Alvarez was absolutely not pushing what you claim he was.  He stated multiple times that the "Big Four" were going to be split, as will Wisconsin and Iowa.  Everything I heard was that moving to the "East" and sacrificing the annual game with Iowa was something the Big Ten approached UW with early on, and Alvarez agreed to it.

Disagree.  If I can find the supporting documentation I'll post it.  I read two items on it in the last 3 weeks but need to find it.  What I had read in those items was a desire for Penn State to come west and play with Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Northwestern, Iowa and Nebraska.  It was basically a East vs West alignment with Penn State being the only geographic outlier.  That alignment would be pretty good for Wisconsin.  There was another scenario that had Michigan in it and Iowa out.

Instead, they get Ohio State.  Let me search during lunch and will post it.


EDIT:  Mea Culpa.  You are right.  Went back and read through those reports and it wasn't Alvarez.  He was suggesting splitting the "big 4".  The recommendations were by other prognosticators, and of course the Wisky Fans loved that idea because it would have been a much easier road.  Good catch.

[ChicosBailBonds]

One thing is for certain, Badger fans are hopping mad.  LOL

[GGGG]

Post what you will, but I know that UW was approached early on about the possibility of splitting with Minnesota and Iowa, with assurances that the Minnesota rivalry would be played annually.  Alvarez reluctantly agreed.  The rivalry with Iowa was very important to both him (given his coaching background) and Beliema (that's where he played), and he did want an annual game with Nebraska.

Maybe we are saying the same thing, but you make it sound that Alrarez's opinion was dismissed.  Honestly, he was more involved and agreeable than you are giving him credit for.  He ended up speaking for the conference often on this issue.

And you are correct...many Badger fans are not happy.

[Chicago_inferiority_complexes]

Am I reading the first post correct? They created 7 and 5 teams divisions? And not 6 and 6?

[GGGG]

You are reading it incorrectly.  There are two, six team divisions.

[Chicago_inferiority_complexes]

Thanks. My grammar also appears to have been off early this morning.

[Badgerhater]

As a Nebraska fan, I like it.  Heck of alot easier than playing Texas.