Maybe Superconferences weren't the wave of the future

With the recent announcement that Texas and BYU are going to play a home and home series in 2013 and 2014, the rumor mill has started to churn. Again.

But the noise this time isn't relating to the still undecided positioning of BYU vis-a-vis its desire to be independent.

The noise this time is quite intriguing, though.

When all of the sturm und drang of the potential Pac-16 came down this spring and earlier this summer, and Texas decided to come back to the Big 12 minus two and "save it," everyone was focused on the idea of superconferences and whether they were going to be the future of Division 1-FBS football.

But as Texas has stepped up its non-conference schedule lately, adding the BYU series to a future series with Southern Cal and a four game deal with Notre Dame, some are wondering if this means a move to independence for the Longhorns is in the works.

After all, this marriage with the rest of the Big 12 is shotgun, at best, unless Dan Beebe can show the schools the money.

Notre Dame might wind up being vindicated in all of this. As BYU continues to decide its football future, and Hawai'i has mentioned that given the state of the WAC that they might go independent as well.

Maybe we were all wrong. Perhaps the future isn't in 16 team leagues like the old Western Athletic Conference or the proposed Pac-16.

Maybe the future is a return to independence.

Michigan, Ohio State, and the Tradition Paradox

tra·di·tion\trə-ˈdi-shən\ noun

1 a : an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom) b : a belief or story or a body of beliefs or stories relating to the past that are commonly accepted as historical though not verifiable

2

: the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction

3

: cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs, and institutions

4

: characteristic manner, method, or style tradition>

Tradition. It's a loaded word when it comes to life at colleges and universities. I've joked with some of my colleagues in higher education that if something happens two years in a row, it's considered a tradition by the students.

But the reason I'm bringing up the word tradition is the debate surrounding the Big Ten and what to do with Michigan and Ohio State's annual late November tilt.

It's not very often that one can find something that will bring Buckeyes and Wolverines together, but apparently the controversy surrounding splitting Ohio State and Michigan into separate divisions and possibly moving the rivalry game is galling enough to both sides to forge an almost unholy alliance against such a thing.

I'm a fan of a Somerset Maughm quote when it comes to thinking about the power of tradition. The quote is, "Tradition is a guide and not a jailer."

I'm not saying that traditions aren't important; they serve as cross-generational touchstones. They do have a significance in imparting a shared experience and concept.

But one should never become slaves to tradition, because then you are trapped.

Back when the season really did end with Michigan and Ohio State playing the last week of the season, it made sense.

But the sport has evolved and the culture of sport has evolved. With the addition of the 12th regular season game, and the creation of conference title games, the end of November has not been the end of the regular season in a long, long time.

Yes, "The Game" had the attention of the entire nation in 2006, and it was memorable. But that was a perfect storm situation because of the number one versus number two element (a first for the series, if I recall).

Does The Game really lose its luster if it moves to October 22 or November 8? Do Wolverines hate Buckeyes less or more because they're playing a month earlier? Do Buckeyes not want to beat the tar out of the Wolverines because there are still regular season games left?

Of course not. To me, and this is my own inherent bias, the vitriol for your most hated rival exists no matter when that game is played. It could be first game, it could be the last game on the schedule, it could be game seven of the season—I don't find the calendar to be that important.