BIG TEN DIVISIONAL REALIGNMENT Big Ten divisions appear headed for east-west split; divisions debate down to Indiana, Purdue As you might've missed amid the NCAA tournament's start last night, ESPN's Big Ten blogger Adam Rittenberg reported that, as previously interpreted by many accounts, the league is headed for a clean and sensible East-West divisional split. This would obliterate the dopey, pretentious and indecipherable Legends and Leaders nonsense. One team needs to move West, and speculation has centered on three schools: Purdue, Indiana and Michigan State. But Michigan State isn't in play to move West, sources say, and the debate now is whether Indiana or Purdue enters the "West" division. Although no announcement is imminent and discussions will continue, here's what the divisions are expected to look like (the division names have yet to be decided): Before Hoosier fans and Boiler fans panic about their annual rivalry, rest assured that the Bucket game will be preserved with a protected crossover. Barring a change in the discussions, Indiana-Purdue will be the only protected crossover, as the Big Ten wants to create as much flexibility as possible with its schedules. League sources tell ESPN.com that a 9-game conference schedule likely will go into effect for the 2016 season -- there's still some discussion about a 10-game league slate, but all signs point to nine -- and that the goal is for every pair of teams to play at least once every four years. http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/73332/divisions-debate-down-to-indiana-purdue
Big Ten's divisional overhaul OK'd The Big Ten on Sunday approved new East and West divisions for the 2014 season as well as a nine-game conference schedule beginning in 2016. The league's presidents and chancellors voted unanimously to approve the recommendations from the athletic directors Sunday morning during a conference call. The division realignment coincides with the arrival of new conference members Maryland and Rutgers. Gone are Legends and Leaders, the controversial division names the Big Ten adopted in 2011, as the league went with a clear geographical model and geographic names for its new alignment. The Big Ten East will include: Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State and Rutgers. The Big Ten West will include: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue and Wisconsin.
Re: BIG TEN DIVISIONAL REALIGNMENT THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT http://www.landgrantholyland.com/20...ivisions-9-game-conference-schedules-official
ESPN announces Six 2013 Big Ten Football Games for Prime Time Sat., Sept. 7 Notre Dame at Michigan 8:00 p.m. ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 Sat., Sept. 14 Notre Dame at Purdue 8:00 p.m. ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 Sat., Sept. 28 Wisconsin at Ohio State 8:00 p.m. ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 Sat., Oct. 5 Ohio State at Northwestern 8:00 p.m. ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 Sat., Oct. 12 Michigan at Penn State 5:00 p.m. ESPN or ESPN2 Sat., Oct. 26 Penn State at Ohio State 8:00 p.m. ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 http://www.fbschedules.com/2013/04/espn-six-2013-big-ten-football-games-prime-time/
Alex Lewis to transfer to Nebraska Offensive lineman Alex Lewis has decided to transfer from Colorado to Nebraska, according to the Rivals.com Cornhuskers website. Lewis, a 6-foot-6, 285-pound junior, started all 12 games at left guard for the Buffaloes in 2012. His father, Bill Lewis, was an All-American center for Nebraska in 1985 and played in the NFL from 1986 to '93.
Jeff Greene to walk on at Ohio State Former Georgia Tech wide receiver Jeff Greene will transfer and walk on at Ohio State, his high school coach told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Thursday. Greene left the Yellow Jackets in December in what was termed a mutual decision.
Marvin Robinson leaves Michigan Reserve safety Marvin Robinson has left the Michigan Wolverines, a team spokesman confirmed to WolverineNation on Monday morning. Robinson's departure leaves just 10 players at Michigan from the 26-member recruiting class in 2010. The 6-foot-2 Winter Haven, Fla., native was the 21st-ranked outside linebacker in his class.
QB Wes Lunt visits Illinois Former Oklahoma State quarterback Wes Lunt took an unofficial visit to Illinois at the end of last week and is sincerely considering transferring there, sources familiar with his options said Monday. Lunt is considering Illinois because he grew up an Illini fan and he believes the spread offense operated by offensive coordinator Bill Cubit is a good fit.
Top-ranked CB picks Michigan Jabrill Peppers (Paramus, N.J./Paramus Catholic) wasn't sure if he would be able to wear the helmet. It would be the final part of the cornerback's commitment to Michigan, the end of the recruitment for the No. 2 player in the Class of 2014. He'd wear the winged helmet for the first time in public and that would be it.
Big Ten, Pinstripe Bowl agree The Pinstripe Bowl and the Big Ten have agreed to an eight-year partnership, it was announced Monday. Commissioner Jim Delany was at Yankee Stadium for the announcement of the deal with the three-year-old bowl game that will begin in 2014. He appeared at a news conference with Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner and team president Randy Levine.
Bill O'Brien gets substantial raise Penn State Nittany Lions football coach Bill O'Brien is getting a $1 million pay raise after a successful debut in Happy Valley. His contract when he arrived in January 2012 called for a base salary of $950,000. That's going up to $1.9 million starting July 1, according to contract terms released Thursday by the school. Counting compensation for radio and television work and a Nike contract, O'Brien's total deal this year would be worth more than $3.2 million. The base salary would go back down to $1.1 million in 2014 before a raise to $1.6 million in 2015. The total value of O'Brien's contract spanning the 2013-2016 seasons is $12,789,413, or an average of $3.2 million per year. Read more http://espn.go.com/college-football...brien-penn-state-nittany-lions-gets-pay-raise
Big Ten adding 2 bowls The Big Ten is adding the Holiday Bowl and the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl to its future postseason lineup and will face Pac-12 teams in both games, sources have told ESPN.com.
Re: Big Ten adding 2 bowls http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools.../2013-14/misc_non_event/2016B1GFBSchedule.pdf new 9-game conference schedules are out for 2016 (above) and 2017 (below) http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools.../2013-14/misc_non_event/2017B1GFBSchedule.pdf
Penn St. hoping for lesser sanctions Penn State coach Bill O'Brien said Friday that he hopes the NCAA can someday "meet us halfway" on the crippling sanctions levied against the program one year ago in response to the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal. O'Brien, speaking on a teleconference about Penn State's 2014 game against UCF in Ireland, was asked whether the penalties -- which included a four-year bowl ban and the loss of dozens of scholarships -- should be modified. "I believe this football program is being run the right way," he said. "I believe that we have great kids here, that we work very diligently to sustain compliance, just like every program around the country. ... I think we're in compliance, and hopefully at some point in time, the NCAA ... hopefully, they look at that and they can meet us halfway." Read more http://espn.go.com/college-football...tany-lions-hopes-ncaa-reduce-sanctions-school
Michigan lands George Campbell Michigan was hoping for big results from its barbecue weekend and on Saturday the coaching staff got the biggest prospect they could have hoped for. Michigan landed its third commitment for the 2015 class during the event from wide receiver George Campbell (Tarpon Springs, Fla./East Lake) the top athlete and No. 3-ranked prospect overall in the ESPN Junior 300. Read more http://espn.go.com/college-sports/r...erines-land-george-campbell-no-1-athlete-2015
Huskers' Kevin Williams out for year Nebraska defensive tackle Kevin Williams will miss the season because of a knee injury. Coach Bo Pelini didn't disclose the nature of the injury Saturday but said the sophomore from Holland, Ohio, would be ready to play in 2014. Williams missed the 2011 season because of a knee injury.
Bradley Roby banned one game A charge that has already been reduced could ultimately be dismissed entirely, but that won't be enough for Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby to avoid a suspension. Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer will sit the star defensive back for the season opener against Buffalo following his arrest last month at a bar in Bloomington, Ind., an incident that initially carried a Class A misdemeanor charge of battery but was lowered to a Class B disorderly conduct on Friday.
Zack Darlington airlifted to hospital Nebraska quarterback recruit Zack Darlington was taken to a hospital after a violent hit near the sideline during his high school game Saturday. As the game ended between Darlington's Apopka (Fla.) and Byrnes (S.C.), the customary handshake line turned to watch the rising Spartanburg Regional Medical One helicopter carrying Darlington leave the practice field. Darlington was hit as he went out of bounds on his team's sideline in the fourth quarter. Medical personnel were called over immediately. Read more http://espn.go.com/college-sports/r...ecruit-zack-darlington-airlifted-hospital-hit
Ohio St. lands Eric Glover-Williams Urban Meyer likes to start off his class commitments with a cannon boom -- not just a bang. When he landed his first 2015 pledge on Sunday, Meyer pulled out the biggest firework he could find. That the commitment came from ESPN Junior 300 standout Eric Glover-Williams (Canton, Ohio/McKinley) meant even more to the athlete than he could put into words.
