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Butch Furse
Just as I was getting accustomed to the Big Ten having more than 10 teams they did it again.
The Big Ten Conference added two more -- UCLA and Southern California. Making matters worse those two aren’t even Midwestern schools and there seems to be indications more schools could be added while other conferences, as we have long-known them, could be gone.
Some predict the Big Ten could be changed to the “National League” while the SEC could be the basis for a across-the-nation second league.
Unfortunately, college sports are following the longtime pattern of professional sports. Simply said, “Money talks.” TV networks are beginning to possibly consider offers of up to $100 million per school conference contracts.
Trying to get a viewpoint from an avid Husker football fan, AKA my “Betterhalf,” she had a twinkle in her eye. She has visions of maybe adding an away late season game to enjoy in the warmth of UCLA or USC. Her vision came on the heels of my previous turndown of attending the upcoming Husker-Northwestern football game being played this August in Ireland. Surprisingly, she did have a few legitimate concerns about Big Ten and her Huskers.
How would the Big 10 restructure the East and West Divisions? And if the Huskers past few years win-loss football record didn’t improve, would the team become the “Kansas” of the new Big 10? How would a national champ be determined and what would happen to smaller schools or would there be a playoff?
Well, one thing will be sure. The Betterhalf will be at those Husker home games and her vocal as well as ticket support will be as strong as ever.
But, going back to our earlier poin, times have changed . . . and money now talks more than ever.
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In an approaching campaign a newspaper report noted party managers will concentrate their efforts only on promising candidates. What! Is there any other kind?
RL Furse is publisher emeritus of the News-Register
