Nebraska: The Big Ten Decision

My fiance's father is being inducted into the Nebraska HOF.  I'll have to DVR the M/ND and OSU/Miami games, but I'm excited to get a first hand look at Lincoln and the newest member of the Big Ten.

That was a fascinating read.  Thanks for passing it on.

what an amazing article - it reads like a suspense novel.  the reporter mustve had some serious connections to get interviews and information on that level of detail.

nonetheless, it was fascinating to finally get some clarity as to how the process actually worked.

Wow... that's... pushing it. I'd be a little hard pressed to imagine a Michigan network succeeding. I suppose that's in part though because Michigan fans are spread out nationally, and it might be hard to find a lot of carriers, even in state, that could warrant an entire network for maybe 10% of their customer base.

Markets like Nebraska and Texas have almost all of their fanbase localized in one state.

It provides a lot of insight.  For all of Delany's planning...the Nebraska bid came out of nowhere, and does not appear to have been on the Big 10's study list.  It is also interesting how fast schools like Mizzou were dumped for Nebraska, considering that the Mizzou was considered the top alternative.

What is great for the Big 10 is that they didn't stay stuck in the mud...a great opportunity arose, despite their planning, and they jumped at it. 

Good reading during lunch break.  Like the flow to the story.  Still intrigued by all the Mizzou and Texas talks and would love to get the same story from their angles/perspective (even if most of it was speculation.)  Would also love the same kind of read about the whole Pac 16 drama.

"Delany recalls Osborne saying at one point during the culture discussion, “There are some things that are more important than money.''
In this case, Delany saw a great cultural fit.

Somebody should let Brandon know.

The thing that got me was that the Big Ten has a super secret meeting location. I understand the need for secrecy and that the author probably used a little hyperbole there, but It's not like they're the CIA or FBI.

Sounds like this thing isn't done.

It was really interesting and insightful. A super secret meeting place for the back room business of the Big Ten is sweet. Thanks for the find.

It was really interesting and insightful. A super secret meeting place for the back room business of the Big Ten is sweet. Thanks for the find.

It amazes me how big Texas has become and how everything they do seems to control the Big 12.  Their football program was such a joke for such a long time.  Up until Mack Brown showed up just a few short years ago, they went over 2 decades without finishing ranked in the top 10.  Several losing seasons and several barely over .500 seasons. 

Nobody gave a crap about the Red River Shootout in the 90's unless you wanted to see two crappy teams play for a chance to go to the Toilet Bowl in December.

Now Texas has become bigger than life.  The stars of the Big 12 with other conferences begging them to join their leagues.  The mere thought of this seven years ago would have been a laugh riot. 

Very interesting to hear the perspectives from those involved.   Would also be interested to hear similar story from those schools that wanted to get in the Big 10 but didn't get the call <cough> Missouri <cough>

Did anyone notice that last post on the article?

Bo Pellini vs Kirk Ferentz - the new Schembechler and Hayes.

this was a very, very good move, both for the B10 and Nebraska. It may boil down to fewer Ws for M, but strapping them on for games against Big Red will be nothing but fun, in all sports. It is clear from this read that academics meant a great deal to the creation of the deal; I hope that, long term, this helps the whole financially beleaguered midwest. 

Now that they are in, Nebraska just seem like a natural. I'm eager to see what, if anything, comes next.

Very interesting read.  Sounds like the N to B10 move was pretty unexpected and a lot of things fell into place.  Just goes to show that for all the scheming of bigwhigs, oftentimes major moves are governed just as much by happenstance.  Had the Nebraska regents meeting, the AAU meeting, and the B12 meeting all not happened in that timespan, we're likely looking at a different outcome than Nebraska in the B10.

Also this was phenomenally interesting....sounded like it was lifted out of an episode of 24:

"To this day, Perlman, Osborne and Delany won't say where they met on May 25. 

Perlman will describe it only as “a very remote private location'' far from both Big Ten country and Nebraska. It's a secret, Perlman said, because the Big Ten may use it for future business. 

They went to considerable lengths to keep the meeting under wraps. 

Because Osborne is a well-known figure who tends to attract attention, it was agreed he and the chancellor would fly separately. Perlman was joined by Joel Pedersen, the university's general counsel. Few on any of their staffs knew the reason for their travel. 

After staying overnight in a city and eating breakfast separately to preserve their low profile, Perlman and Osborne received cell calls summoning them to meet a car outside. They then rode to a rural location about an hour outside the city. "

I did not know the Big12 was that close to implosion. Texas has probably screwed themselves.

As long as a conference does not equally share TV revenues, etc. what reason does any team have to stay in the conference? If they stay they continue to get the short end of the $$$$ which makes it harder for them to compete. If they leave and go to a conference that shares TV revenues, they can become more competitive.

I can't see the Big12 surviving unless they solve the unequal $$$$ problem.