Haters Can Hate, Give Me Big Ten Football

by Sean Heffernan

One of the most common tangents every college football analyst has had in their arsenal the past few years has been a longwinded tirade about the downfall of the Big Ten Conference. Ohio State inflated ranking and inability to win big games against non-conference opponents gave fuel to a fire that had brewing for years.

This year has been no different with the Buckeyes failing to overtake a vulnerable USC team in their second game of the year, Michigan still in the dark ages with Rich Rodriguez at the helm, and Wisconsin, Iowa, and Penn State are all unready to become the conference's second national power.
 
I understand while people are dumping on the Big Ten, but the truth is I just don't care. I don't care if the conference isn't what it use to be. I honestly don't care about BCS rankings or speed of the SEC.
 
I love the way the game is played in the Midwest, the cradle of American football. Take for example Northwestern's 17-10 upset over the undefeated Iowa Hawkeyes last weekend. It didn't matter that the game only featured two touchdowns or that neither team had a true breakout offensive star because the game was played the way the sport's creators intended it to be played.
 
Northwestern scored on a fumble recovery in the end zone, a goal line touchdown pass to a tight end, and a field goal. Not exactly thrilling plays, but it was the way that every yard mattered in the game. Those kids were playing the type of football that truly is "a game of inches". There's beauty in a defense gang tackling a sweeping running back or a offensive tackle opening enough running room for a first down.

It's not overly complicated. It just comes down to who wants it more, who has more grit, and who's more willing to sacrifice their body for the good of the team. Haters can hate, give me Big Ten football.