Wednesday was arguably the single biggest day in collegiate athletics that I have seen that will affect the future of the sporting landscape. One day is all it took to completely change the dynamic of college sports.
First, Nebraska decided to leave the Big XII and move to the Big Ten. It isn’t official yet but it is going to be made official very soon. This is going to create a domino effect and the once mighty Big XII will be left in shambles. Colorado is expected to join the Pac Ten as early as Thursday and that could trigger a mass exodus.
I’m not a fan of these moves at all. I’m a traditionalist when it comes to college sports, namely college football. I don’t like change as it messes up so many things that are good about the game. A lot of young readers may not remember the Southwest Conference or the Big Eight Conference when they dissolved in 1996 to form the Big XII, the first superconference. I didn’t like it then and this is why I don’t like it now.
We all know what this is about and it is unfortunate that money has taken over college sports. There are going to be many rivalries that will come to an end but depending on where the majority of the teams go, some could still remain in effect. Who are the losers? Kansas, Kansas St., Baylor and Iowa St. will be left holding their ‘you know what’.
There has been an argument the last few years about which conference is stronger, the SEC or the Big XII. With the latter pretty much dissolving before our eyes, I think we now know the answer to that question.
Second, the NCAA will give a formal announcement on the sanctions for the USC athletic program on Thursday. It isn’t going to be pretty. It looks as though there will be a two-year postseason ban as well as the loss of at least 20 scholarships. They will also likely have to forfeit all wins from the 2004 season.
This will go down as one of the most severe penalties for a major program since a two-year postseason ban was imposed on Ole Miss in 1994.
This is a huge blow to the Trojans obviously as the powerhouse out west is no more. Losing 20 scholarships is huge; just ask Oklahoma when it lost 20 back in 1988 and took over a decade to recover. Head coach Lane Kiffin was led to believe the sanctions would not be as harsh and he passed that on to the recruits.
One such recruit was Seantrel Henderson, a five-star offensive lineman, who did not sign until nearly two months after national signing day because of the concerns of the possible penalties. He was told by Kiffin that everything would be fine. Ok Lane. Tennessee may make June 10 a state holiday and could not be happier for Kiffin.
The Pete Carroll move to the Seattle Seahawks makes so much more sense now.
Lastly, rumors are swirling about Tom Izzo leaving Michigan St. and heading to the Cavaliers in the NBA. This is not going to affect anything in college basketball but the fact that it came out on the same day as everything else makes it noteworthy.
Izzo has had an incredible run at Michigan St. and it looks like he may want to make the move to bigger and better things. He should consult with coaches such as Mike Montgomery, John Calipari and Rick Pitino who all left for the NBA and failed miserably. The NBA is not always bigger and better.
The one thing in Izzo’s corner is LeBron James. While nothing has been reported, it is hard to believe Izzo would go to Cleveland if LeBron does not re-sign with the Cavaliers. And it is hard to believe that LeBron would re-sign without the hiring of a big mane coach. This could be a match.
Has there been another day in college sports that so much has taken place?