Producer Point of View: Big Ten Divisions

With kickoff of the 2010 Big Ten football season here, I think it's funny that all of the talk surrounds the 2011 season when Nebraska joins the conference and two divisions will be created.

Commissioner Jim Delany announced the divisions today, and while long time rivalries are kept in tack on the schedule, I think there should be a couple of changes to how the divisions are aligned.

Here is how the divisions will look like starting next season. Division X consists of Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Illinois, Purdue and Indiana. Division O consists of Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota and Northwestern. Now remember the actual name of the divisions have not been officially named yet.

While I think in general Commissioner Delany and the Big Ten conference has done a terrific job in making the conference even tougher as a whole, I would like them to realign the divisions. Common sense tells me the divisions should be aligned geographically. In my opinion, the divisions should be the Big Ten East, consisting of Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Indiana and Purdue, and the Big Ten West consisting of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Northwestern, Iowa and Nebraska.

I do admit that there are some positives with this move. First and foremost I am glad to hear that the Ohio State/Michigan game will still take place on the final day of the Big Ten regular season. I just can't imagine one the best rivalries in all of sports not taking place to end the Big Ten regular season.

However, I still wish this years match-up was not moved back a week from November 20th to November 27th, because I wanted a 7th straight win by the scarlet and gray over the maize and blue as a birthday present. I always associate the Ohio State/Michigan game with my birthday because it usually falls on or within a few days of my favorite day of the calendar year. The first ever sporting event I watched was the 1975 Ohio State/Michigan game. Ohio State won 21-14 and I was just two days old. Yes, I had to do a google search to find the final score.

WIth Ohio State and Michigan in separate divisions, it does create the possibility of the bitter rivals meeting in the Big Ten championship game. It would be interesting because the Buckeyes and the Wolverines could face off two weeks in a row if the schedule remains the same for years to come. I can't see how fans of either team would not want a second chance to talk smack to one another, especially if it happens as soon as the end of the first meeting. If the athletic directors of both Ohio State and Michigan and in favor of being in separate divisions, (which they are by the way), I as both a sports producer and most importantly a fan of this rivalry, can accept why the Big Ten decided to put the Buckeyes and Wolverines in opposite divisions.

I do think the Big Ten should do one more thing in regards to the divisions. The names of the divisions should have some type of big ten theme to it. Remember, as I said earlier, the actual names of the divisions have not been named yet. I truly believe that the divisions should be named the woody and bo divisions as a lasting tribute to everything that Woody Hayes did for Ohio State and Bo Schembechler did for Michigan. Don't be surprised if this happens. It can only help make the Big Ten even stronger than it will be one year from now.