Iowa and Wisconsin Games

[vinko bogataj]

Anyone else not pleased that at least in present form it appears we will play both Iowa and Wisconsin either at home or on the road each season? I much prefer the current set up where we play one rivalry game here and one away each year. It would seem to me that the natural set-up would work that way and move UW to the end of the season.

 

[GoAUpher]

I wouldn't get too worked up about it yet. There is a reason they only did the first 2 seasons right now. With more time they can work our a longer term schedule that might be better. Not saying that's for sure the plan, but it seems to be similar to when they picked Lucas Oil to host the CCG in the short term with plans to look elsewhere long-term.

 

[AhliBobwa]

I really hope Bucky returns to the end of season game. It's gonna be a little sad the next two years to not be playing a rival during 'hate week'.

 

[Biff Tannen]

Typically I would agree. However, Nebraska, Wiscsonsin, and Iowa all at home next season. Oh yeah! I will take it!

 

[JPIIGopher]

I don't mind it at all, I couldn't be more happy with how things fell for Minnesota. The way I look at it, we just traded Nebraska for Ohio St, regained our annual Little Brown Jug match, and maintain our rivalries with Wisky and Iowa.

 

[HopHead]

I don't mind it at all, I couldn't be more happy with how things fell for Minnesota. The way I look at it, we just traded Nebraska for Ohio St, regained our annual Little Brown Jug match, and maintain our rivalries with Wisky and Iowa.

I totally agree. Bottom line is that there are 12 teams to try and make happy. It would be logistically impossible to grant every item on every school's wish list. The fact that Minnesota, which ranks fairly low on the Big Ten pecking order, has so little to complain about makes me thrilled with today's news.

Anybody who isn't more pleased than disappointed with what we learned today is probably just a pessimist and wouldn't be pleased with any alignment (IMHO).

 

[vinko bogataj]

I totally agree. Bottom line is that there are 12 teams to try and make happy. It would be logistically impossible to grant every item on every school's wish list. The fact that Minnesota, which ranks fairly low on the Big Ten pecking order, has so little to complain about makes me thrilled with today's news.

Anybody who isn't more pleased than disappointed with what we learned today is probably just a pessimist and wouldn't be pleased with any alignment (IMHO).

Nice blanket statement there in the last sentence. I kind of look at this the way I did last years new stadium opening. There were certainly flaws in the University's approach to things (no cash registers, wait lines, etc...). To talk about certain negatives doesn't overlook the overwhelmingly positive side to it. Of course, to have a balanced discussion of ways to do things better and improve something already excellent is not an out of place idea to me. Like the stadium operation, there are some major flaws in the way the new schedule is bearing out (as mentioned in the OP, I place the "in present form" caveat in the statement). The division alignment turned out well for us. That said, there are some fundamental flaws in the way scheduling turned out as I commented on in the original post. FWIW, I wear my optimism towards our program as a badge of honor...in fact it drives my fellow tailgaters and ticket group crazy so to play the negative card is both ignorant and falsely assumptive. I don't take the viewpoint that the situation is black or white, nor do I accept that "we should just be happy" because we're Minnesota. That IMHO, is a losers mentality. I hope that we hear from our AD that he is moving earth and sky to get UW back as our final game and to split the home/away aspect of our two biggest rivals. We shouldn't just sit on our hands and say we got an OK deal so let's be happy and turn over our tradition for the sake of conference benefit. I admire your altruism, but I don't believe it to be the best way to leverage the best deal for the University of Minnesota. Its time for Joel and Dr. Bob to get to work.

 

[HopHead]

Relax. My last sentence wasn't targeted at you. It was just a response to JPIIGopher's post. By reading your response, I would bet that you are probably more pleased with the positives of today's announcement than disappointed with the negatives and my statement wouldn't apply to you anyway.

 

[axe2grind]

I don't see Maturi doing much to get Wisconsin or Iowa as the last game of the season. In fact, I don't think he will be able to do anything. IMHO, the Big Ten is going to want to get compelling games every week. A trophy game or rivalry game spread throughout the season with the showcase being Ohio State/Michigan.