Sampled from David's new blog, Scarlet Colored Glasses
For several years now, the Big Ten has been looked down upon, considered a second cousin to other conferences such as the SEC and the Pac-10. What was once the Best Damn Conference in the Land has seemingly been reduced to the likes of the (god forbid) Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big East.
But hope is on the horizon. The Buckeyes reloaded with an even better team than its 2007 squad, and so have Wisconsin, Illinois, and Penn State. Michigan brings new blood into a league considered way behind in offensive schemes, and the results look promising.
2008 is the year we as a conference rise to the top.
And if that doesn’t happen, 2009 is the year, etc., etc.
While members of the Big Ten may be enemies on Game Day, we support each other above all others when playing against the SEC and/or Notre Dame football. This bond cannot be broken, with the exception of the Ohio State/Michigan rivalry, where OSU fans might burn a couch if the Wolverines win a game, period.
The Big Ten Conference has plenty to be proud of, so here's a journey through all of the schools for your enjoyment.
The Pride of the Big Ten
Woke up one morning in a strange, foreign land
Where the Mississippi was plentifully flowin’
I had seen a Hawkeye crossing my path
A place where Drew Tate’s fame had grown
Then I traveled up North to Minnesota
The forest and lakes of this place were vast
Marion Barber once roamed this village
Where running backs dominated in the past
My travels took me East to Madison,
To where I took the Midnight Train
Today's Must Reads
I heard a rumble coming from Camp Randall Stadium
The fans were jumping to House of Pain.
South we go to Evanston outside of Chicago
With a beach and skyline of the land
A pinnacle of academia at Northwestern University
They love the purple people, man.
South of Northwestern in a land called Chambana
Without their Chief, The Fighting Illini ascend
Juice is on the verge of greatness
And has a Heisman contender in Regis Benn.
I’m off to Indiana, where the Hoosiers roam
Known for its quality basketball and College Football Hall of Fame
An inspirational coach changed the mindset of the program forever
But he passed. R.I.P., Terry Hoeppner, what a shame.
Also in the Hoosier state live the Boilermakers
A safe haven for quarterbacks in this great state
With Drew Brees, Kyle Orton, and now Curtis Painter
Coach Tiller’s last hurrah will surely be worth the wait.
Up north again I travel to Michigan State
Where the Spartans clash with their conference foes
Mark Dantonio fervently seeks to get out of the shadow
Of Ohio State and Michigan, everybody knows
Now I’m in Ann Arbor, the land of the Wolverines
Located cross-state, I rested in unfriendly territory
The rivalry with Ohio State had been going on for years
With Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, and a long history
From the Charles Woodson/David Boston fight
To the famous game of number two against number one
The epic rivalry between these two titans
Always gave yearly bragging rights to the school who won.
My second to last stop was East in Happy Valley
The location of a legendary coach, Joe Pa
Who gives the Big Ten purpose and meaning
With his class and dedication to academia
Finally back to my home state in Columbus, Ohio
A vast land, larger than the rest
Where Eddie George and Archie Griffin donned the Scarlet and Grey
Greater than most, almost as legendary as the Sweater Vest
Yes, Jim Tressel, the conservatively-clad head coach
Has brought the Buckeyes to uncharted water, why?
With three championship appearances in six years
Holy Buckeye! Best Damn Band in the Land just dotted the “i”
As I left this sacred land,
I took one last look at the ‘Shoe
So many great players walked through that gate
I would never see anything more beautiful, I knew
The Big Ten
We may not have the most unique of styles
And some of our coaches are beginning to rust
But we pound you in the mouth for 60 minutes of football
With our patented three yards and a cloud of dust.
Welcome, all, to Big Ten (and Ohio State) Football.
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about 1 month ago
Awesome. See, one of the things I love about the Big Ten community is that its fans are able to talk trash to each other without being completely disrespectful or antagonizing. There's a camraderie amongst the fans of Big Ten teams that you don't see in other conferences (some of which is just flat-out animosity)
The perfect example being Woody and Bo during the Ten Years War. The two absolutely hated each other on the gridiron, but if you weren't moved to tears by Bo's euology at Woody's funeral, or the amount of respect Buckeye fans showed for Bo/Michigan fans after his passing (before the greatest Game between Michigan and Ohio State ever played in 2006) then clearly you're not human.
about 1 month ago
I like the Coach Hep shout out
about 1 month ago
Hope is not on the horizon my friend. The Big 10's days are numbered; not as a very good conference but as THE premier conference. Back in they day had alot of the premier teams and powerhouse schools along with legendary coaches.They used to be able to recruit talent anywhere in the country; which they can no longer do as easily.
As we all know the best states for high school football players and college level talent are Texas, Cali, Florida........then probably Ohio, Pennsylvania, and a few others; but those first three far exceed them.
Now the southern kids rather stay at home at equally talented and promising schools (probably not academically haha; but that's not what they are there for anyway) instead of going up to the most segregated part of the country to play in cold dreary weather.......i mean really look at the national champions of the last two decades.
ND, Colorado, Miami (4 times), Michigan (half a title) Nebraska (2 1/2), Florida (twice), Florida State (twice), Oklahoma, Alabama, Tennesee, USC (1 1/2), LSU (1 1/2), Ohio State, Texas.
So that is 2.5 titles for the big ten (i'm including ND because they basically are a big-10 school; if they were to join a conference at least) 8 titles for florida teams, 5.5 for SEC, 5.5 for Big 12, and depends where you want to place Miami and FSU big east or acc your call.......so they are better than the Pac-10 which is convenient because of the Rose Bowl haha.
And we all know Auburn deserved a shot the year they went undefeated...especially since they allowed USC to have a share the year before but seemingly denied Auburn the next year.
from about 1 month ago
Since Notre Dame is a Big East school, why not add that in to the Big East's ? Except for their independent football program, they are Big East.
from about 1 month ago
Nah big-10; they are a in the midwest
about 1 month ago
O in case i forgot you could split Miami's 91 title with Washington (pac-10) or Colorado's with Georgia Tech (acc) so it really adds to the point.
about 1 month ago
Michigan is the pride of Big10 football. They've won more games than any other school in America.
about 1 month ago
My thoughts exactly! Thanks Dave OH!
about 1 month ago
2008 is not the year for the Big Ten. They will have to wait until 2009. OSU and PSU will be the only noteable programs in 2008. However, 2009 brings promise for both schools in Michigan.
Sadly, I see no indication that Indiana will ever be as good as they were last year, and Iowa, Minnesota, Purdue, and Northwestern are blips. Wisconsin always seems to hang around, and I think Zook will keep good athletes around long enough to lurk at all times. But the Big Ten, for the next few years, seems like a 6 team conference at best.
Even as a Big Ten fan I know that 6 great-to-above-average teams does not make it the strongest conference.
The only way we could have any claim to strongest is if 6 teams are in bowl games with 7+ wins and two of those teams win meaningful BCS games.
about 1 month ago
Ok. Very creative. I like it man. You should do one of these for every conference.
about 1 month ago
Great read. Loved the ditty! Creative and classy smack. Love it. This is what I'm talking about. Respectful smack. Kudos! Bravo! Thanks!
about 1 month ago
Notre Dame Plays BBall in the big East but there football is ify so they wont join the big east ever
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