If one were to ask me what I thought about the Big Ten Network back in November, I would have been singing a much different tune about this television network than I am now.
In its early stages, I thought of the Big Ten Network as the anti-fan. It was the evil, money-grubbing power unsympathetic to the thoughts and desires of those whom it entertained.
While the BTN had yet to establish itself as a major player in terms of regional broadcasting, it caused significant distress to the fans of teams who were featured on the station.
Simply put, fans were not able to watch their favorite team when its game was broadcast on the BTN because few cable companies included the network in their basic package.
Last November, along with thousands of Ohio State and Wisconsin fans, I first felt the adverse effects of the Big Ten Network when we weren't able to watch the No. 1-ranked, undefeated Buckeyes face off with the Badgers in a pivotal Big Ten game.
Some of us were able to watch the game at other venues. Wisconsin fans in a few cities watched the game in movie theaters, and others paid the premium cost to have the network added to their cable package.
But in my case, as a college student who gets whatever channels our school provides, I was out of luck.
So from then on, the Network was my enemy. My pecking order for things in sports I hate the most went as follows:
1. Michigan Wolverines
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
3. Duke Blue Devils
4. Big Ten Network
5. New England Patriots
6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Little did I know this hatred would quickly change.
Once the ire of my sports fandom, the Big Ten Network may be one of the best things that happens to me this football season. And do you know why?
It’s simple, really. Starting on September 2, the BTN will be following Ron Zook and the Illinois Fighting Illini on an in-depth reality television series throughout their football season. Their show will be called The Journey.
In addition to the partial game coverage, in which Illinois features one of the more versatile offenses in the conference, Big Ten fans and others interested around the country will get a detailed look at what goes on behind the scenes during the long season.
While I don't have the details of how this will work or what exactly the cameras will be able to film, I can imagine that this will be a novel and exciting idea.
Just think—wouldn't it would be awesome to see the interactions with the football players and the rest of the students on campus? Or to see the progression of position battles as the season wore on?
As a college football fan, this would be like personally going through the trials and tribulations of a full college football season—without experiencing the broken bones, bruised ribs, or potential ineligibility in the process.
I've adopted Illinois as my second team in the Big Ten. While I would never root for them in a head-to-head matchup with my beloved Buckeyes, I'd want them to go 11-1 every year.
Illinois serves as a perfect team to follow because of the intriguing personalities on the team. From J Leman to Juice Williams to "Regis" Benn to the Zooker himself, the Fighting Illini have plenty of character, and I can't help but root for them.
In this next season, we'll get to see real reality television as Illinois looks to maintain its momentum from last season, though the team has a chance of returning to relative obscurity.
Can Ron Zook overcome the same demons that prevented his Florida teams of winning the national championship? Can Juice finally stay healthy and show his real potential? Will he be able to hold off budding star Eddie McGee?
I can see it now. The Journey: Not some MTV fake drama like The Hills...real people, real games, real television...only on the Big Ten Network
So in summary, kudos to you, Big Ten Network. Obviously, I took this new television station too lightly. With features such as The Big Ten's Greatest Games and The Journey, I can keep myself busy with college football in my conference for a long time.
Come September, the BTN will be much better the second time around. No longer will fans protest in the streets or Midwestern legislatures propose bills for the network's ouster.
And to those of you who still don't have the network as part of your cable provider, I would suggest going with DirecTV. That's what I did.
I know, I'm a sellout. I guess my protest didn't last too long.
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3 months ago
hey whatdya know, our hate order is just about the same. I cant stand even saying Michigan Wolverines. Anywho I get what you mean when you cant watch the big game, from one college kid to another, I feel your pain. When USC played Oregon this past year, my cable actually was not working. So I drived half an hour north to my friends house, and watched from the 2nd quarter on. Big Ten sucks period I think, (aside from Ohio State, go bucks). The Journey sounds like a dream come true for me. In big colleges, if you were a fan sometimes you cant meet your favorite player, but for something like this, where you get to watch everything leading up to it sounds magnificent. a team like Kansas seems like they would have alot of character as well. I wouldn't call you a sell out, you gotta do what you gotta do.
3 months ago
This just in, college football has replaced the KKK as the leading purveyor of hate.
3 months ago
So, is there an SEC network for all them to suck their own you know whats?
3 months ago
I don't feel as ill towards the big ten network as I do Time Warner who refueses to carry it. I can't beleive that they would not want to add this, it's not like they would loose money if they did!
3 months ago
You're not a sellout David, you just made a good choice. DirecTV is the way to go just for their customer service alone! Go Illini!!!!!!!
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