CHICAGO — Where’s that Ohio State tuba guy?
He’s the only thing missing here at the Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon, a crazy, colorful, classic throwback event that is so old school you almost expect Woody Hayes to be the emcee.
It starts at the McCormick Place convention Center, a place big enough to hold the city of Lincoln, with this thing called the autograph session.
Lunch ticket-holders are invited into a giant hall, where three players and the head coach from all Big Ten schools sit at 11 tables armed with fresh Sharpies.
It’s here where you see the 80-year-old guy in the Iowa Hawaiian shirt, holding the Orange Bowl football. And the 10-year-old kid wearing Terrelle Pryor’s jersey. Over there is the balding Wisconsin fan picking up a handful of Wisconsin “W’’ helmet stickers, no doubt for his collection at home.
Did we mention that there’s a changing room for mascots?
Meanwhile, “On Wisconsin’’ is playing over the loudspeaker, and if Joe Paterno weren’t over there hugging the lady Penn State fan, you’d swear that you were in Camp Randall Stadium on Oct. 1.
Finally the doors open and you walk into a mammoth ballroom, with hundreds of tables, all full of fans, some in suits and others wearing foam helmets.
Giant pennants hang from the ceiling above the three head tables. More fight songs blare over the room. Fans cheer as their heroes are introduced. The head coaches all speak. At the end of the deal, somebody wins an autographed football and one of the Big Ten quarterbacks throws it to the winner across the room.
Over in the corner, there’s a Big Ten souvenir stand. Sorry, they sold out of hats.
Actually, there was something else missing at this shindig.
Nebraska fans. I honestly thought that they would show up out of curiosity. Or hunger.
Not to worry: They’ll be here next year. And they’re going to fall head-over-mascots.
If we learned nothing else in this whirlwind 30-hour event, it’s that Big Red is going to be a Big Fit in the Big Ten. Tradition. Passion. Family. Style. The Big Ten is a broken-nose league. Nebraska is a broken-nose program.
In my two days here, all I heard were gushing praise and compliments about Nebraska. And it’s true, Bo Pelini hasn’t tried to squeeze the life out of their offenses yet and Husker fans haven’t taken over their streets. They may learn to loathe Nebraska’s ways, as some in the old Big Eight did.
Chances are, though, they’ll be fine. The Big Ten is very secure in its skin. It’s a self-indulgent league, bursting with pride and confidence. It’s daring Nebraska to come in and take over the place. Big Red may be in for a surprise or three.
And that’s where the fun is going to start with this move in 2011. These are going to be two irresistible forces colliding. Who’s going to change whom?
No Big Ten coach will admit it. But several Big Ten officials and media types will say it: The Big Ten is all about the Rose Bowl. That’s nirvana. The national championship is for those who believe in silly things like polls and mythical titles. Like, ahem, Nebraska.
Some of that is depth: The Big Ten isn’t as top-heavy as the Big 12, but deeper in physical teams that can knock you out on a given week.
Something’s gotta give: Will NU get beat up by the Big Ten’s midsection? Will Nebraska slowly become less about national titles and more about the Rose Bowl?
Or will NU force its will on a league that has won two national titles in 42 years?
“It just depends on what happens with their program,’’ said Kirk Herbstreit, the ESPN analyst and former Ohio State quarterback. “Is Bo Pelini going to be there two more years, five more years, 10 more years? If he leaves, can they maintain that level? It’s just exciting to see them. Right now, I’m going to pick them to win the Big 12 and get to the national title game.
“It will be interesting because the Big Ten gets a bad rap nationally. Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, Penn State and Michigan State are tough outs. When you start to see the teams up close and the size of the stadiums, it’s tough to play in the Big Ten. The Big Ten is a much tougher conference than its perception.’’
That’s the Big Ten’s mantra: Don’t expect to waltz through this thing, Nebraska. They’ll remind you that everyone thought the Huns were coming when Penn State joined 20 years ago. Twenty years later, the Nittany Lions have played in just two Rose Bowls.
“(Nebraska) won’t just come in and start winning big,’’ said Todd Blackledge, the ABC analyst and former Penn State quarterback. “But I think what you’re getting is a little different than with Penn State. With Nebraska, you’re getting a team that’s been in a conference, so they’re used to banging week in and week out.’’
Who will be the roadblocks in Nebraska’s division? What about recruiting new areas? Herbstreit sees Pelini having no problem setting up shop in Ohio, saying, “There’s no number two team in Ohio right now; it’s wide open for Bo to come in with his ties.’’
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said introductions will be a two-way deal, with NU and the other Big Ten buddies learning each other’s tendencies and personnel. Big difference: Pelini will have 11 new teams to learn.
As Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema says, it’s a good thing that Nebraska and many Big Ten teams are already similar in their broken-nose philosophy, if not mascots.
“My guess is they’ll win,’’ Bielema said. “But at the same time, a lot of teams in this league think they’re going to win, too.’’
The honeymoon ends next year. But this already looks like a good marriage.
Contact the writer:
444-1025, tom.shatel@owh.com
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