Pioneers! O Pioneers! Nebraska Prepares For Life in the Big Ten
COME my tan-faced children,
Follow well in order, get your weapons ready,
Have you your pistols? have you your sharp-edged axes?
Pioneers! O pioneers!
Walt Whitman was not thinking about Big Ten football division alignments when he wrote his ode to the West. But the call to action for Nebraska in their first two years in the Big Ten is very clear. If NU wants to win the Big Ten, they will need to do it by beating the best the conference has to offer.
| Sep 10 | Fresno State |
| Sep 17 | Washington |
| Sep 24 | at Wyoming |
| Oct 1 | at Wisconsin |
| Oct 8 | Ohio State |
| Oct 22 | at Minnesota |
| Oct 29 | Michigan St |
| Nov 5 | Northwestern |
| Nov 12 | at Penn State |
| Nov 19 | at Michigan |
| Nov 26 | Iowa |
Yesterday, the Big Ten announced its new two-division format. Nebraska was grouped with Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Iowa and Northwestern. The divisions dictate who NU will play in conference play. It's a 5-2-1 formula. The Huskers play the five teams in their division, plus one protected opponent from the other division (annually) and then two other non-division teams.
For Nebraska, the annual cross division game is Penn State. The 2011 and 2012 cross-division draw for Nebraska will be Ohio State and Wisconsin. Conference-wide, it looks like this.
Take a good long look at that draw, Husker fans. Nebraska plays the five best programs (historically speaking) in the conference - Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan - as well as Northwestern (winners of 19 games the last two years), Michigan State, and Minnesota.
Mixed Reaction
Reactions to the overall Big Ten schedule have been mixed. Many are thrilled, particularly loyalists who like seeing Michigan versus Ohio State to end the regular season in November. Some others I've talked to are still having a bit of shock in dealing with the bold new world of divisions and a title game. Don't worry Big Ten fans, you'll get used to it.
For many Husker fans, reactions to the first slate of games have included everything from "Great, bring it on!" to "This could be a program killer." My colleague Steve appropriately described it as murderous. BRN's Brandon Vogel put it in context, "This isn't the Big 12 North."
"It’s so hard to know how good schools are going to be. We’re talking a year ahead. And you start looking two, three, four years ahead…you’ve got traditional powers but sometimes traditional aren’t traditional any more. And sometimes schools that have not been winning all that much jump up and are really good. So, it’s kind of hard to say. But we certainly do have a lot of match ups with some really strong traditional football schools." - Tom Osborne, talking to the Big Ten Network
Regardless of the initial shock from a fraternity-hazing quality rite of passage for NU, Husker fans can take some stock in the fact that the competitive balance is fair, things could be worse for the NU program, and the Huskers likely have the right man in place to handle the job.
Tough Sledding for All
People wanted to see a super conference. This is what it looks like. Things aren’t exclusively hard for Nebraska. The 12-team Big Ten, mixed equally across two divisions brings tough sledding for everyone in the conference. The unbalanced schedule of the Big Ten (a topic fans nationwide used to love to rip), is gone. There isn’t a team that is spared a schedule where they won’t potentially face three or even four ranked conference foes. It’s also clear that the Big Ten was intent on not falling in to a geographical trap. Football is provincial enough as it is without having lines on maps lead to arguments over division superiority.
Nebraska could have drawn an easier annual cross-division foe than Penn State. But, what Husker fan doesn’t want a shot at the Lions every year? Better yet, the one game Husker fans nearly unanimously wanted to see happen was a game versus Iowa. And, bonus, the Hawkeye game is the end-of-year tilt. Turkey with a side of Hawk sounds good to many Huskers.
Trending Upward
Back to that rather gruesome 2011 slate. It could be worse for Nebraska. At least this isn’t 2007. Bo Pelini is entering his third season and has righted the faltering program he inherited from Bill Callahan. Nebraska has been to and won two straight bowls. They won 10 games and the North division in 2009. They are nationally relevant again. Should Nebraska perform and recruit at the levels it is expected to in 2010, it can drive the program’s momentum forward just as it enters the Big Ten.
Is discussing the 2011 and 2012 season a distraction from the Huskers’ task at hand? Yeah, sure it is. But for fans, it sure beats discussing Western Kentucky. More to the point, the 2011-2012 challenges underscore the absolute importance of Nebraska flexing its muscle and setting its feet firmly in 2010. Win now, and confidence grows. Lose, and they face a rough stretch with their confidence down. Sure, a program’s fortunes can rise and fall quite quickly or frequently (Right, Wolverine fans?). But, at least for right now, it appears the Huskers are trending upward.
The Right Man for the Job
Husker fans can also take some solace in another important notion. They have the right man for the job. Many coaches are great tacticians. Many coaches are great recruiters. Many others turn boys in to men. Pelini, while skilled in each of these ways to various degrees, has another trait that makes him uniquely qualified for this transition – unshakable confidence. Pelini has confidence bordering on arrogance. He appears indomitable at times, chin out, defiant. It is this mentality that Nebraska will need most as it forges in to the Big Ten.
As much as Perlman and Osborne’s legacy will be about moving Nebraska to the Big Ten, Pelini’s will be about leading the Husker charge in to the tradition-rich conference. Have you your sharp-edged ax, Coach Pelini?
9/2/2010
“If you don’t want to run with the big dogs, then get off the porch!” It’s time to become the big dog that all Husker fans have been waiting for through the Solich and the Callahan years. It’s time for the Huskers to once again solidify their place with college football’s elite. To run the schedule, as hard as it may be, puts ANYONE in the Big Ten head to head, with one of the southern schools, in the annual national championship game…I like our chances.
9/2/2010
Don’t think of this as a hazing or some kind of trial by fire. Instead, think of it as Nebraska being the pretty new girl at the dance - everyone wants to dance with her. Wisconsin has said since the Huskers joined that they wanted the first game - and as a Buckeye fan, I think it’s pretty clear we wanted on that first dance card too! Think of it as a compliment! It’s all about respect and enthusiasm for the new guys!
9/2/2010
First, we need to lobby for Huskers v. Hawkeyes on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
Second, I think going to the Big Te’N’ is great but I do not think it is that much better than the Big 12. Which would be tougher, playing the top teams in the Big Te’N’ or having to play OU, Texas, A&M? I think the bottom teams of the Big 12 are better than the bottom of the Big Te’N’.
9/2/2010
Let’s not forget that Nebraska (for now) has a major advantage over its Big Ten counterparts: inroads to Texas, California and Florida. The Big Ten mostly recruits in its backyard, which is fine, but has left them playing slower, more grind-it-out football. Nebraska’s coaches are highly-regarded in the aforementioned southern and western regions, which should keep the speedy warm-weather talent coming for the foreseeable future. Now, its possible that Nebraska’s presence in the league might open up those areas to the rest of the Big Ten schools, but that advantage should last long enough to help Nebraska establish itself in their new conference.
Springfield, MO
9/2/2010
Very well written, Darren! Yup, tough sleddin it is. But I’m really looking forward to it!
9/2/2010
The Big 12 was so top heavy in football, that a very good team had an excellent chance of ending up in the BCS championship game. But think back to all of those years where OU and Texas have been unable to close the deal against SEC teams in the title games. They were basically exposed. The same can be said for the Big 8 NU teams of the 80’s.
The new Big 10 doesn’t have that issue. If anyone comes out of that conference undefeated, they will have EARNED their spot in the BCS championship game.
There will be nothing to expose.
9/2/2010
That is an EXCELLENT point, Bill. The “testing grounds” for title worthiness just got significantly tougher.
The same is true for members of the previous Big Ten, now the new Big Ten (I’m looking at you, Ohio State). Not being able to avoid playing some tough teams (remember when Iowa didn’t play either OSU or Michigan??) combined with a title game (hello…!) makes the entire league much tougher and BCS ready.
9/2/2010
Totally agree with the Buckeye comment above. This is not a trial by fire.
Every Big Ten fan I’ve talked to is still giddy about Big Red in the Big Ten. Simple 5-2-1. The 2 you guys get in year one are more influential in the conference so they got their way. For Big Ten fans, Nebraska in the conference is a dream come true. Quite honestly all of us are excited to have our first game against you guys because it will make your membership in our conference more real, less like fantasy.
For instance, my first instinct was to buy a corn-head hat. I’ve had it for 2 months and I really like it.
:)
Go Huskers!!!
Springfield, MO
9/3/2010
As a regular to this site I must comment on the lack of “Your Team Sucks” posts.
I’ve seen Iowa, Michigan and Ohio State fans posts over the last couple of days and I’m as impressed with their input as I have been with most of our Big XII visitors.
Stay Classy, my friends!
GBR
Bob
9/3/2010
The “gauntlet” we have been thrown is a great and worthy challenge. Yes, it is impressive, and like some of the other comments have said, “this ain’t no big 12 north”! But, just to have a conference that isn’t run by one school, who’s coach takes every opportunity to go on an ESPN plug and act like a fool, is worth whatever schedule we have to face. I mean honestly, could you see Joe Pa, or Ferentz, or Tressel acting like that?? It is going to be great to get in a conference that actually is classy and let’s the game speak for itself. I say, good riddance Texas, and the rest of the conference and hello Big 10.
9/3/2010
Imagine this, we beat Texas in the regular season, go undefeated, beat Oklahoma for the Big 12 championship, then play a Big Ten team for the national championship! Care to join us in that scenario, Ohio State, Iowa, Wisconsin or Penn State? Then, next season we are welcomed into the Big Ten by playing all the conference heavy weights, including a rematch of the national championship game! Of course, the Huskers win them all! Ok, I’ll admit that’s a lot to ask of the Big Red. But it sure is exciting to see how far we’ve come since coach Pelini came on board. The definite reality is that we are light years ahead of where we were 5 years ago, we are joining a great Big Ten conference, and being given the warmest of welcomes. Go Big Red and Big Ten!
9/4/2010
3feetofsnowhusker… I’m with you, bro! Even if you beat a current Big Ten team for a national championship in 2010.
I’ve always been a Nebraska fan. Not as much as my hawkeyes, of course, but I’ve always been happy when the Huskers win. Maybe it’s a corn thing. Nebraska as Big Ten feels very natural… without a single game played you guys are already one of us!!!
Go Huskers!
9/4/2010
Please, Hawkeye Dave…don’t wear that stupid corn hat. As a life-long Husker Fan, I beg you. There are some great NU hats and they won’t make you look like a goof. Really looking fwd. to playing the Hawkeyes. Thank you for your kind welcome and also to the other Big Ten Fans who have made this new adventure one to which we Nebraskans can look fwd. CLASS WORKS. We start out with a tough schedule and the quote from Walt Whitman’s poem “O Pioneers” is so fitting and, yes, funny. I love it. GO BIG RED
9/11/2010
m.j. CHI-TOWN… On your advice I will also get a Husker ball cap, as I have 1 for every other Big Ten Team in my home office.
But Iowa grows some pretty mean corn, too. Sorry, but I like the corn-head hat so I’m keeping it no matter what you say!!
:)
Go Huskers!
9/11/2010
O.K., Dave. Keep that silly hat. After all, you ARE Where The Tall Corn Grows! Nice win today. Some guy the other day was saying, “Iowa STATE” has a great football history”. I kept saying, You mean Uni. of Iowa Hawkeyes. He kept arguing, so I hope he saw your game today. I do wish they could be more competitive for their teams and fans.- (now watch them upset NU) lol.—not funny! mj