A Turning Point in The Big Ten

[Taosman]

It seems to me we have reached a turning point. A philosophy change in the Big Ten. We are seeing the Big Ten dragged down by slimy coaches and ugly, SEC style recruiting tactics. This will probably make the league more competitive, but at the cost to serving the kids.

And it seems everyone wants to run a version of the spread/read option. Maybe they have observed OSU's and other's problems stopping the spread and are looking for some sort of edge.
Evolution or devolution?

Bottom line for me is not the style of play on the field, it's the character shone by institutions and coaches.
I am deeply troubled by this direction.

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

Well, with respect to the first item, the Big Ten has replaced two of the league's "Good guys" with scumbags. As much as I hated Lloyd Carr as the coach of my Rival, I never thought he was a ethic-less scumbag. Glenn Mason was something of an anti-Brewster when it comes to recruiting. So, in that respect, Taos, I agree there has indeed been a change, and one which appears to bring with it a certain degree of .... shall we say... alternative competitiveness.

The Spread Read is not new to the league, and it's only natural that people want to employ successful elements of it. Purdue, Northwestern and Indiana have been running the spread (without the "read" maybe) for nearly 10 years now... actually, a little longer than that. Ohio State has installed elements of it. Michigan will be running it now, obviously....

I'd say it's "evolution." But, that doesn't mean I think it'll stick around. If you look at the schools that primarily run a strict Read Option Spread, it's "smaller" schools. Unlike the Triple Option wave of the 70s, the Spread has been used by the "little guy" to take advantage of the bigger schools (I remember SDSU, Cincy and some other school against OSU in '02 and 03) by going away from the strength and opening up holes just by formation. Creating space automatically. Of course, over time, people adapt. Ohio State has adapted. But, the point is this.... NO 'big time" school (With apologies to WVU and Oregon, I guess) runs the Read Option as their primary offense. None. Why? I don't know. But no one runs it. Elements of it? Sure. Runs it and it only? Nope.

I suppose it's for the same reason the NFL doesn't run it and it alone. It's a gimmick.

[Sportsbuck28]

^ Illinois ran it in 2007.

[Best Buckeye]

Fwiw Cinci almost beat us using 4 and 5 wr sets in 2002.

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

Originally Posted by Sportsbuck28

^ Illinois ran it in 2007.

Of course. But, I was talking more about the 10 year teams. You're correct about Ill being another example of a team in the B10 "switching" though.

[Sportsbuck28]

I guarentee in about 5 or so years the spread option will be back to what it once was.. teams will see it so much it will be easier to stop.

[BUCKYLE]

The trend towards hiring coaches with questionable character will only continue if those coaches are more successfull than the Tressels and Carrs.

[Best Buckeye]

The truth of the matter is that the AD's and programs will hire whoever they can get to satisfy the alumni/fans/money needs to pay for their respective programs and that requires hire hiring coaches irregardless of the character of the coaches in most cases.
It's a money game mostly to the Universities . It is that which demands new facilities, higher ticket prices, and higher paid coaches.

[stxbuck]

When coaches see their star QBs ground to hamburger running the spread option, they will rethink their love affair w/ this offense. Also, just like Pat White and other "running QBs" went to WVU b/c of the spread option, we might begin to see some big, strong armed, slowfooted QBs drop down to MAC or lower level schools where they will thrive, b/c their style is out of vogue at the upper echelons. As the other posters have said, this is a trend, and it will pass. Spread/West Coast offenses were designed to get rid of the ball quickly and not get your QB killed, the spread/option does the opposite....
As far as the character of the new coaches in the Big 10, it will be interesting to see how Dick Rod adjusts-he is not in league/geographic region where the "if you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin" approach to recruiting will go over well. Unlike the SEC, where the coaches are bound by a mutual code of silence regarding recruiting shenanigans-they all do it, so the can't call each other out, the Big 10 football coaches don't work that way.

[alpo]

Originally Posted by Best Buckeye

The truth of the matter is that the AD's and programs will hire whoever they can get to satisfy the alumni/fans/money needs to pay for their respective programs and that requires hire hiring coaches irregardless of the character of the coaches in most cases.
It's a money game mostly to the Universities . It is that which demands new facilities, higher ticket prices, and higher paid coaches.

Another great thread idea! I think this particular post absolutely hits the nail on the head, (thank you very much Best Buckeye). And, unfortunately, guys like me, I hate to admit, are partly to blame.

I deal w/people from all over the country all day everyday. SEC, Big10, PAC10, ACC, etc., and football, mostly NCAA, is, by far, the single biggest topic of our conversations when we are not talking business and/or just relaxing. It's friendly banter w/needling, razzing, etc., but fiercely competitive!!

It seems it's all a great source of fun, pride and good will for all of us, but it's also a great motivation, when everything is said and done, to pull out the check book and help out in the cause. Because, as we all know, nobody likes losing, especially to the hated scUM, and in my case, the vehemently hated usc.

[Gatorubet]

Originally Posted by stxbuck

Unlike the SEC, where the coaches are bound by a mutual code of silence regarding recruiting shenanigans-they all do it, so the can't call each other out, the Big 10 football coaches don't work that way.

No. It's just that the rules of the Black Mass and White Slavery clubs that they all belong to prevent calling each other out.

The stories where they do call each other out are obviously just meant as misdirection.

[cincibuck]

Originally Posted by Buckeyeskickbuttocks

But, the point is this.... NO 'big time" school (With apologies to WVU and Oregon, I guess) runs the Read Option as their primary offense. None. Why? I don't know. But no one runs it. Elements of it? Sure. Runs it and it only? Nope.

If you're Oregon you're in a long battle with LA... how do you compete with UCLA and USC. Cal can't do it, Stanford can't do it. Washington probably has the next best chance, but the LA schools have dominated the Pac 8, 10, 12 since the 30's.

If you're West Virginia you're only an hour and a half from Columbus, stuck with a 70,000 seat stadium and looking for a way to grab headlines away from the Big 10 and the East Coast.

I think the big thing with the offense is that it requires an athlete like Pat White or Dennis Dixon to really make it work. Back ups have not fared well at the schools who run it, so lose a QB and lose a season. Just ask the ducks.

[buckeyebri]

Rodriquez caught the ire of Tiller when he flipped Roundtree out of Trotwood on signing day. I'm sure he made old Joe mad when he flipped Shaw as well from PSU. Even Jabba da Weis flipped a kid late, all the while saying that after the year before kids had to be committed to ND and no silent or soft verbals. Petey seemingly does it all the time at USC.

You could feel the love Gordon got when he was at Illinois the other night after having been flipped by Sampson. A little harder to give that kind of love in football other than knocking the kid silly on the field when you play them.

There is a lot of cry to have an early signing period for football suggesting that the shenanigans may end with this. I'm not sure I see that the early signing will change anything. It may just move up the BS going on to an earlier period in time.

[alpo]

Originally Posted by buckeyebri

Rodriquez caught the ire of Tiller when he flipped Roundtree out of Trotwood on signing day. I'm sure he made old Joe mad when he flipped Shaw as well from PSU. Even Jabba da Weis flipped a kid late, all the while saying that after the year before kids had to be committed to ND and no silent or soft verbals. Petey seemingly does it all the time at USC.

You could feel the love Gordon got when he was at Illinois the other night after having been flipped by Sampson. A little harder to give that kind of love in football other than knocking the kid silly on the field when you play them.

There is a lot of cry to have an early signing period for football suggesting that the shenanigans may end with this. I'm not sure I see that the early signing will change anything. It may just move up the BS going on to an earlier period in time.

Kudos, buckeyebri, extremely well written, imo. Agree w/99% so I'm obviously heavily biased.

So, here I go off thread and say that the only part I don't agree with is that I think you might tax the coaches personal resources to move the signing day up. Play this intense drama while preparing for a bowl and I think it changes the dynamics and doesn't work. Just a thought.

Sorry Mods!

[BB73]

Originally Posted by stxbuck

Unlike the SEC, where the coaches are bound by a mutual code of silence regarding recruiting shenanigans-they all do it, so the can't call each other out, the Big 10 football coaches don't work that way.

Alabama fans would like to introduce you to Philip Fulmer.