BrutusBobcat
Icon and Entertainer
This season, we have seen how a team, our team, can be affected by conference perception. Part of that perception is formed when teams from the conference lose OOC, or have poor performances OOC. Another part of that perception is formed when fanbases within the conference don't step up to defend the B10.
Do we see ourselves as part of a strong conference, and do we root for and celebrate achievements by our fellow Big Ten schools? A few years ago, I was on a flight with Glen Mason after the Gophers had beaten Alabama in the Music City Bowl. I went up to him and congratulated him on a great win. It was, and not only for Minnesota, but for the whole conference. My congratulations were genuine -- I'd watched the game and rooted for Minnesota the whole way.
Edit: All too often, I think we have far too much hosility between fan bases and I think that leads to lack of conference pride. We've all had unpleasant encounters with fans from other Big Ten schools, and that certainly makes it very difficult to wish anything but ill-will towards that program. Like many long-time Buckeye fans, I still resent the attitude that Penn State supporters had upon entering the conference, and enjoy it when they lose conference games. The more humble pie they are served by the rest of the B10, the happier I am. Wisconsin fans are another issue as well. I am not sure if they have anything in their vocabularly other than "*uck Ohio State". It is hard to respect or feel anything at all in common with people who throw batteries, benny filled marshmellows or bags of human waste at people. The same thing goes for Penn State.
The reason I am bringing this up is because reflecting on the season, the whole conference is suffering from two very narrow losses. Let me explain:
When you heard that Michigan had lost to Appalacian State, who did you high five? Admit it, you jumped out of your seat and found the closest Buckeye fan. I did. Heck, I stuck around the sports bar just to watch it, living and dying with ASU through the whole rollercoaster finish.
I was also wrong. Wrong, because that loss is going to cost us a potential second-chance shot at the national championship game.
By coming out the next week flat, certainly hung over from the loss, Michigan then got blown out at home. If they get the job done against ASU, maybe they still get beaten by Oregon. Maybe they don't. If they don't, they're in the top 5 and Oregon isn't.
At that point, we are sitting #6, even with the Illinois loss. Michigan is right in the top 10 with us, even with the Wisconsin loss. Oregon is just another team chasing the Pac-10 title.
Moving on to our next close game, let's say that Illinois beats Missouri in St. Louis. Now where is the Big Ten? Illinois has two losses, and rather than being unranked when playing OSU, is instead in the lower half of the top 20. After beating OSU, they're knocking on the door of the top 10. We are now #5, since Missouri is out of the picture with two losses.
Had our fellow conference members gotten the job done OOC, here's the story line -- three strong teams at the top of a tight Big Ten race, all hanging around or in the top 10 of the BCS standings.
With a single loss to a highly ranked Illinois team, and the potential of a victory over a top ten Michigan team, Ohio State would have a legitimate argument to be ranked ahead of WVU. Our schedule is no longer "weak", "played nobody", "Big Ten sucks", etc.
So what's left? Kansas is still unbeaten at that point, on a collision course with Missouri and Oklahoma. The top 5 this week could conceivably be:
1. LSU
2. Oklahoma
3. Kansas
4. Ohio State
5. Michigan
6. WVU
Oklahoma or Kansas would be guaranteed a loss. The winner of the OSU-Michigan game would be ONE upset away from the national championship game.
Why should we be Big Ten fans, and why should we root for our conference foes? That's the reason right there. Bowl wins in December and January translate into higher pre-season rankings; early season OOC wins build conference image and help our conference look stronger when conference games are between ranked teams. The Illinois loss would have done a lot less damage if the Illini were ranked, say #15 going into the game. The winner of The Game would be getting a whole lot of love if it were a battle of top 5 teams.
Alas, Michigan did fall, not once but twice, and Illinois came up short. We only have one conference team in the top 10, and we have talking head morons offering up gibberish that the Big Ten is as relevant as the Ivy League.
Needless to say, I am rooting for ALL of our conference teams this bowl season, especially those who play against the SEC.
Do we see ourselves as part of a strong conference, and do we root for and celebrate achievements by our fellow Big Ten schools? A few years ago, I was on a flight with Glen Mason after the Gophers had beaten Alabama in the Music City Bowl. I went up to him and congratulated him on a great win. It was, and not only for Minnesota, but for the whole conference. My congratulations were genuine -- I'd watched the game and rooted for Minnesota the whole way.
Edit: All too often, I think we have far too much hosility between fan bases and I think that leads to lack of conference pride. We've all had unpleasant encounters with fans from other Big Ten schools, and that certainly makes it very difficult to wish anything but ill-will towards that program. Like many long-time Buckeye fans, I still resent the attitude that Penn State supporters had upon entering the conference, and enjoy it when they lose conference games. The more humble pie they are served by the rest of the B10, the happier I am. Wisconsin fans are another issue as well. I am not sure if they have anything in their vocabularly other than "*uck Ohio State". It is hard to respect or feel anything at all in common with people who throw batteries, benny filled marshmellows or bags of human waste at people. The same thing goes for Penn State.
The reason I am bringing this up is because reflecting on the season, the whole conference is suffering from two very narrow losses. Let me explain:
When you heard that Michigan had lost to Appalacian State, who did you high five? Admit it, you jumped out of your seat and found the closest Buckeye fan. I did. Heck, I stuck around the sports bar just to watch it, living and dying with ASU through the whole rollercoaster finish.
I was also wrong. Wrong, because that loss is going to cost us a potential second-chance shot at the national championship game.
By coming out the next week flat, certainly hung over from the loss, Michigan then got blown out at home. If they get the job done against ASU, maybe they still get beaten by Oregon. Maybe they don't. If they don't, they're in the top 5 and Oregon isn't.
At that point, we are sitting #6, even with the Illinois loss. Michigan is right in the top 10 with us, even with the Wisconsin loss. Oregon is just another team chasing the Pac-10 title.
Moving on to our next close game, let's say that Illinois beats Missouri in St. Louis. Now where is the Big Ten? Illinois has two losses, and rather than being unranked when playing OSU, is instead in the lower half of the top 20. After beating OSU, they're knocking on the door of the top 10. We are now #5, since Missouri is out of the picture with two losses.
Had our fellow conference members gotten the job done OOC, here's the story line -- three strong teams at the top of a tight Big Ten race, all hanging around or in the top 10 of the BCS standings.
With a single loss to a highly ranked Illinois team, and the potential of a victory over a top ten Michigan team, Ohio State would have a legitimate argument to be ranked ahead of WVU. Our schedule is no longer "weak", "played nobody", "Big Ten sucks", etc.
So what's left? Kansas is still unbeaten at that point, on a collision course with Missouri and Oklahoma. The top 5 this week could conceivably be:
1. LSU
2. Oklahoma
3. Kansas
4. Ohio State
5. Michigan
6. WVU
Oklahoma or Kansas would be guaranteed a loss. The winner of the OSU-Michigan game would be ONE upset away from the national championship game.
Why should we be Big Ten fans, and why should we root for our conference foes? That's the reason right there. Bowl wins in December and January translate into higher pre-season rankings; early season OOC wins build conference image and help our conference look stronger when conference games are between ranked teams. The Illinois loss would have done a lot less damage if the Illini were ranked, say #15 going into the game. The winner of The Game would be getting a whole lot of love if it were a battle of top 5 teams.
Alas, Michigan did fall, not once but twice, and Illinois came up short. We only have one conference team in the top 10, and we have talking head morons offering up gibberish that the Big Ten is as relevant as the Ivy League.
Needless to say, I am rooting for ALL of our conference teams this bowl season, especially those who play against the SEC.
Last edited:
:osu:
