Grinding to a Halt: A Sad Season Ends in a Sweep
October 5, 2009Report: Braylon Edwards Accused of Assault
October 5, 2009Now, by no means is this one of those “we’ve been disrespected” posts. I will be one of the first to agree that the quality of the Big Ten has been suspect at best, and I fully understand why winning the Big Ten title has not meant as much over the past few years.
But with the latest AP Top 25 NCAA rankings being released, it looks that the conference may actually be taking steps in the right direction. This year more than any, AP voters are taking a stance against using resume as a voting tactic. The Plain Dealer’sDoug Lesmerises has been the poster child for only using the 2009 season’s body of work for his ballot. And while touted as crazy early on, more and more voters are starting to actually think he may be on to something.
With that said… Instead of focusing more on the fact that the 5-0 Cincinnati Bearcats leapfrogged the Ohio State Buckeyes – by a mere 10 points – after beating Miami of Ohio, I’m choosing to focus on the fact that the Big Ten currently has three teams in the top 15 as well as two teams right on the cusp of the top 25.
Ohio State (9), Iowa (12) and Penn State (14) are the obvious representatives among the AP voters. Michigan’s loss to Michigan State bumped them out of the top 25, but they still received votes – more than Boston College and Notre Dame. And just missing the cut are the undefeated Wisconsin Badgers (jump around!), fresh off of their Paul Bunyan Axe-winning game over Minnesota. And as luck would have it, the Badgers travel to Ohio Stadium this weekend as the Buckeyes play host.
I say “luck,” due to the fact that another Ohio State win will likely end the Wisconsin rankings party before it even starts. But would definitely propel the Badgers into the top 25, likely ahead of Ohio State due to the whole logic card actually being thrown into the mix this season.
Of course, when it is all said and done and the conference only has two or three representatives in the BCS final rankings and the other teams are playing games – conference championship games at that – and the Big Ten schools get passed for the big bowls, the who cycle will start over again. Notre Dame? West Virginia? Sure could use a 12th team. I digress.
But, for now… Hey, look! Big Ten! Perhaps things aren’t so bad after all…
5 Comments
Lesmerises has the right idea. I hope his system becomes wiidespread (even though for some mystifying reason, he and the voters continue to snub mighty Notre Dame).
If I’m not mistaken, Notre Dame toyed with the idea of joining 10 years or so ago, but it was shot down by the school internally. I can’t really seeing them joining anytime soon, their home game TV contract with NBC isn’t up until like 2059*.
*may be exaggerated.
The irony of the ND situation, is that they would have joined years ago but the skunkbears made sure to keep them out. Now ND is rather attached to its independent status.
“This year more than any, AP voters are taking a stance against using resume as a voting tactic. The Plain Dealer’sDoug Lesmerises has been the poster child for only using the 2009 season’s body of work for his ballot.”
Agree with the general point; think you might have either used the wrong word (“against”) or misunderstand what is meant by resume voting.
I still think that Cinci would be the best addition to the Big 10. Notre Dame would hate to leave the Big East in their other sports, and WV just would suck against Big 10 teams.
ABCs of Columbus Sports – All about the Buckeyes, Blue Jackets, and Clippers!