What an absolute load of crap. Let's just pretend all the **** the B1G does to Nebraska doesn't exist. Getting called out and attacked for wanting to play football. 500+ snaps between opponents being called for holding. We are literally losing games because of this nonsense and you are Ok with it. Hell what would it take to convince you? They aren't even trying to hide it. This conference is a good ole boys club and they do not want Nebraska to be successful. But you are OK with it because of research money? Let's pretend the scandals at Iowa, MSU, PSU are no big deal and let's crucify Nebraska. That is fine because of some research money?
I'm sorry, but the demise of one of the greatest college football programs of all time, one that my family has had season ticket to for 60 years, is not worth it. We have traded a conference in which we were respected, one in which we had 100+ years of history, one in which we were successful for this? And how do you think the average citizen is benefiting from this arrangement and why do we have to put up with this second rate treatment to receive these precious research dollars?
What will it take to convince me? For starters, more than you simply calling my post "an absolute load of crap".
Just so I'm following, you are suggesting that Big Ten conference leadership has instructed game officials to deliberately allow opposing teams to engage in holding without calling the penalty? is that correct? You seem to also imply that Nebraska coaches and the AD are complicit in this conspiracy. I say that because if NU leadership felt like they were being treated unfairly by game officials as the result of a league-wide conspiracy, they would have had plenty of opportunity to feed the story and evidence to Nebraska-friendly media (of which there is plenty in the State). There are plenty of sports-writers that would love to write an expose' on corruption in college sports. What's more, it doesn't resonate with you that the disparity in holding calls is quite possibly the result of something we saw immediately upon joining the Big Ten - and that was that Nebraska was not nearly as physical up front as many/most Big Ten opponents and was just naturally being dominated? You watched Nebraska's defense get shredded week after week and concluded that if only there were a few holding penalties called, we'd be back in the Top 10 and competing for championships?
I'd like to hear more about why the Big Ten benefits from Nebraska being a bad football team... how the league is benefitting from one of the all time-great college football brands looking incompetent on national television week after week. I'd also like to hear how it would damage the Big Ten if Nebraska were a Top 10 caliber team, and thus conspires to make Nebraska look like they are new to football.
As far as academics go, I'm not sure I'm the best person to articulate how the citizens of Nebraska will benefit from the profile of the University increasing. Those in academic professions may be able to provide better insight. My position is based on my assumption that having the state University's academic credibility increase - even if it is a very gradual improvement - can only be a positive thing. Even so, it would seem that Nebraska could be both respected academic institution and have a good football team.
So far, I have yet to see any legitimate evidence to suggest that Nebraska's football problems are the fault of any person or organization outside of the University of Nebraska.