9:15 p.m.: Here's a newsflash -- Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany is really, really, really good at what he does.

A first-hand look at the most powerful man in college athletics didn't disappoint.
After striding in to the Hyatt Regency ballroom, Delany used the next 30 minutes to:

--Punch Notre Dame in the mouth for its waffling on expansion.

--Essentially tell his athletic directors there will be a nine-game league schedule soon and a football championship game.

--Leave everyone around the country hanging by repeating that the Big Ten has only "paused'' its expansion study until Nebraska gets fully integrated into the league.

This was Exhibit A of a strong-commissioner system at work, as opposed to the weak-commissioner system in the Big 12.

Delany drives the bus, not the schools. As he pointedly told us, there are no 6-5 votes in the Big Ten. He creates consensus and the league moves on as a whole without whining.

This was refreshing, as was the exceptionally well-run media days. Amazing how easy it is to actually have chairs and tables set up so reporters can sit down and conduct an interview without standing on each other.

All in all, the newcomers from Nebraska got a warm welcome and an early example of how things work in the Big Ten.

« Blog - Lee Barfknecht

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