And push us into greater irrelevance. The future is comprised of two conferences and thank God we’re in one of them.
What kind of “irrelevance”? And why should we care about that?
College Sports should be about the health and welfare of athletes... a great experience for fans... and doing everything you can to bring about successful sports programs that great players want to be with.
We should not be striving for some kind of outside relevance beyond that. We know about the money part of this. But I’m talking about everything else.
Is Kansas irrelevant? Seems to me everyone in the Nation knows they are roundball royalty. And many now recognize Baylor this way – particularly in the South. And Arizona in the West. Nothing irrelevant about any of these guys. And K-State and Iowa State have had great roundball tournament runs for many a year.
Utah has built a great football reputation in recent years. Colorado is making waves now. Kansas has a much improved program.
And Nebraska will never admit this in a thousand years, but except for their Big 10 financial windfall they made a bad mistake in leaving the Big 12. Yes, the Big 12 was shaky at that time. But no more. They have solidified themselves for the future. And Nebraska went from being one of College ball’s all-time best to now one of the worst for the past 25 years. And they are so far away from ever competing with the Big Ten football powers. They can even compete well in a mediocre Big Ten West.
Husker fans hate traveling to such garden spots as Rutgers and all those other Eastern time zone places. They enjoyed the short drives to Ames and Manhattan and Lawrence... and years ago had a great rivalry with Colorado. And all of that is down the drain.
I understand that many Illini people have a legacy attachment to the Big Ten. And that’s fine. History is important. But that is also past history... years already gone by.
Unless the Illini (footballers) can find a way to match the talent level of Michigan and TTHHHEEE and Penn State... the Illini will forever be stuck back in the pack. And likely behind USC and Washington and Oregon. So if the Illini were in the Big 12 they would be more competitive in conference play and then get a shot at the big boys in the playoffs. Which is more than the Illini get now.
The Illini roundballers know how to compete and be successful in the Ten. So this is more directed at the football and baseball side of things.
Want to become “relevant”? Be a winner wherever you are. People will notice – if that is important to anyone. And give the fans more wins wherever you can get them.
We know the Illini aren't changing dance partners. All I'm saying is it wouldn't be awful if they did.