WE'RE ALL EVOLVING, BIG 10 ATHLETICS, EVOLVE WITH US

by Sterling Gould, More Credible

Big 10 athletics sure are boss aren't they? America's Favorite Conference has been taking some shots lately and I'm here to reiterate that it's okay, give them Hell. Last night, Ohio State lost an exhibition game to Division II school Findlay, 70-68. And although it was only exhibition and won't tally Ohio State's record, the fact that they lost to a team with far inferior (or maybe equal?) talent is a tad humorous. It's gigantic news for the Big 10, because it's now their second Division II loss in a week (Michigan State went down to Grand Valley State 85-82 in double overtime). Of course, all of this was stymied by Michigan's historical loss to Appalachian State at the beginning of football season. Not to mention the shellacking this conference's two "powerhouse" teams they had last season (OSU and Michigan in Football, Basketball) at the hands of the Florida Gators and the USC Trojans. The Football National Championship drumming was followed by former OSU Quarterback Kirk Herbstreit saying "this will send the conference back 10 years". And how.

As of right now, the Big 10's scarlett clad Golden Child, Ohio State, stands above the rest according to the BCS, despite playing guys like you and I on the field (the two teams OSU beat this season, aren't ranked today). In Dan Wetzel's normal sob story article, he straight up tells the nation that we're all "doubters" and "not to blame them". Sure Dan, I'll get right on that. Just as soon as you quit being an apologist.

All of that to come back to this. Perhaps the Big 10 is overachieving this century? I remember my Dad once telling me what a "power conference" this once was, but watching it now, I have aspirations of being a college athlete in this conference. Big 10 Commissioner Jim Delany put it best in his rant formal letter to the Nation on the SEC, which basically called the Southeastern Conference "dumb, but fast":

There are appropriate balances when mixing academics and athletics. Winning our way requires some discipline and restraint with the recruitment process. Not every athlete fits athletically, academically or socially at every university. Fortunately, we have been able to balance our athletic and academic mission so that we can compete successfully and keep faith with our academic standards.

Division II must be REALLY dumb, because they're running circles around your "balanced and socially stable" athletes. And it's not fair either. Why subject our balanced players to competing against this dumb, fast ones? It's not right NCAA *shakes index finger towards the sky*. I want to see success amongst these balanced, upstanding citizens. Let's move the Big 10 to Division II where they would be competitive for once, and have them play exclusively amongst Big 10 teams. No longer will they be victim to stupid, agile athletes. They can homer themselves to death and have announcers like Brent Musburger suck off Jim Tressel from the announcing booth. It'll be like a special class at your high school, but throw in a basketball and a volleyball and definitely a bag full of heavy books (for the academics, ya' know). We can create change people, the revolution is coming.