Michigan is to blame. For global warming, for the financial crisis, for the death of the dinosaurs, but most importantly for the unprecedented Big Ten criticism we currently face.

Why should we award Ohio State all the blame for the nation’s hatred of the Big Ten when in fact it really all began September 1st, 2007. Sure Florida beat the Buckeyes before a national audience so badly, you almost had to be sadistic to watch the entire game. But does noone remember when USC demolished an Oklahoma team 55-19 just 2 years before it?

I know we as a nation have an attention span of a goldfish, but Oklahoma who suffered an even bigger margin of defeat in prime time is still back in the nation title talk year after year while the Buckeyes have become a national periah.

And to top it off, they dragged the reputation of an entire conference down along with them. Supposedly.

How exactly does that happen by just playing 1 game?

Imagine if Oklahoma, who lost by an even greater margin in their title game with USC suffered the same backlash that has been unjustly leveled against the Buckeyes. Oklahoma gets banished from the college football elite, the Big 12 conference is dragged through the mud, and riots erupt nation wide when they find out Texas from that very conference is given a chance to return to the title game the very next year.

We would have quite possibly missed one of the greastest games between USC and Texas for all the marbles in 2005.

So sure Ohio State’s loss to Florida in 2006 was humiliating, but not conference damaging. What exactly led to the backlash the Big Ten is receiving right now?

That team up north.

The 2006 title game came and passed. Ohio State was considered to be in a rebuilding year, never in a million years did anyone forsee them making it to a second consecutive national title appearance, but it was Michigan who everyone considered a championship front runner ranked as high as #5 to start their season who the Big Ten has to blame.

How any top 5 team in the nation loses to a Div-IAA is beyond me, but why did that team have to come from the Big Ten? Don’t get me wrong, I was thrilled beyond imagination for the upset (in addition to everyone else out there), but the ramifications were devastating for the conference.

Penn State’s reaction

Ohio State’s reaction

Michigan State’s reaction

Reaction in Washington DC

It not only provided ammunition for critics of the Big Ten following Ohio State’s loss, but it came in the form of providing our critics with the atom bomb.

It is not unheard of for title front runners to lose humilating season openers. That very Oklahoma team that was humilated the year before to USC was ranked #7 before losing to TCU in their season opener. But TCU was no Div I-AA team.

Wolverine fans can make all the rationalizations about Appalachian State being a 2 time national champion as they want, but the bottom line is that the scholarship and athletic fund discrepancies between the divisions are out of this world. For Michigan a supposed top 5 team at the time, to lose to a program who barely has enough scholarships to ensure a 2 deep roster is past humilating. And if things weren’t ridiculous enough, Michigan paid them for the visit. Wonder how the check was delivered to Appalachian State.

But I digress, Michigan is the reason the Big Ten is suffering the backlash we experience today. From newspaper columns, to blogs to angry threads across this nation, the Big Ten conference has been unfairly judged based on a program that has a rich tradition of pompous behavior and overconfidence which ended up biting them in the ass.

Ohio State provided the debate for critics of the Big Ten (basically fans of any other conference), but Michigan provided all the ammunition. Their consistent failures in the Rose Bowl doesn’t help either.

I look forward to ending the reign of Michigan this Saturday once and for all. It is finally time to put the Wolverine program where it rightfully belongs, at the bottom of the Big Ten pack. For years they have rested on their accolades and history, willing them to undeserved victories and even greater holier than thou attitudes.

With the hiring of Rich Rod the Wolverine program will finally struggle to remain at the top echolon of the Big Ten. Let’s not forget this is the same coaching staff that struggled to put away teams like South Florida and Louisville in the Big East. They even struggled to put away teams they were clearly less talented for them like Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.

Wolverine fans arrogantly believe this year is just an anomaly, as if they “deserve” better simply because they are Michigan. But the cold hard reality is that this could be their new standard. “Little Brother” Michigan State is emerging as a force to be delt with both in conference play as well as recruiting. Ohio State won’t be going anywhere, and Indiana, Illinois and Minnesota are now also emerging as possible contenders in the near future.

College football is a zero-sum game. When one wins, someone loses. Unfortunately for Michigan, their demise comes at a time when there are plenty of contenders for their spot and they will soon realize after this season that getting back to the top is not as easy as it looks.

Welcome to Big Ten football Rich Rod. If you thought the Big East was tough, you’re in for a world of hurt this Saturday. 12 years of frustration with Lloyd Carr will be unfairly thrown in your face. Its about time someone in the Big Ten gave you a proper thank you for dragging our conference through the mud these past 2 years. Word of advice, bring extra lube.

Releated Posts:

1. Blue White Roundtable: Blue White Edition
2. Nebraska, Divisions, and the Eternal Search for a Real Rival
3. Blue White Round Table – Kevin’s Take on Syracuse
4. Kevin rushes through the Blue White Round Table

Tweet