CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – So, am I the only one who’s not all torn up about the addition of former Pac 10 institutions Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington joining the Big “10”? Are you really not interested in watching Illinois get a crack at #2 ranked Oregon in a few weeks? That Minnesota “upset” over USC was fun to watch. Also, Oregon sneaking past Ohio State. That’s just a couple highlights with more great matchups to come on a yearly basis. And don’t even get me started on the basketball season schedule–I’m on a word count here!
I hear and even share some concerns: “It’s all about money”; “The PAC 10, like the Big 10, was an institution”; “How are we going to stay up to watch games starting at 10 p.m.”; “It’s the Big ‘10’ not the Big ‘20’.” I understand, but now, it isn’t all bad. This collaboration offers some opportunities for big experiences and big moments, sports-wise. These new programs have excellent collegiate athletic programs beyond just football and basketball. We should be sympathetic to the PAC 10 fans who lost their conference, especially those who didn’t get picked up by the Big 10. I’d like to know how upset PAC 10 fans are of the new four. I assume they share many of the same gripes but might share some of my excitement for the opportunities ahead. I admit it is weird, all the shuffling, Texas and Oklahoma in the SEC, Stanford and Cal in the ACC? The geography is off, and it just doesn’t seem natural. There should be concern about the role and influence of money in college athletics and how it may be detrimental to the overall product. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t some positives that come from all the changes.
While it will eventually feel mundane, I’m paying very close attention when the original Big 10 teams, in all sports, match up with their new conference members. As I watch, I’m hoping for confirmation that our conference (the Big Ten of last year) does and always did have superior programs and teams to any of the PAC-10 schools. As an Indiana fan, I’ve surprised myself by even rooting for Purdue when they play a new member. Madness! I guess I’m choosing to ignore the ugly side of all the movement and embrace the opportunities it gives me as a fan. If these schools, conferences, and the NCAA all be greedy, why can’t I, the Average Joe sports fan?
I also understand what has been sacrificed. With all these teams, it will suck to not get home and homes with every school in some sports. Some rivalries may not be fully experienced due to scheduling. I’ll surely miss that, but to some level we’ve been dealing with that for years now, and as disappointing as it is, we still follow and support our teams with as much fervor as ever.
I also understand some of the negatives that could result from all of this movement. As I’ve been sure to mention many times, I’m just your average sports fan, so I can’t speak too confidently on the big-picture stuff that all the conference realignment might foreshadow; I certainly hope it doesn’t tarnish the college sports landscape in the long run. What motivates me is what I see on the screen or from my seat. And so far, and I imagine down the road, I like what I see.