Never really a big Bill Shakespeare fan but I thought it was a clever title. Blasphemy, I know. No I’m not going to write about the great works of Shakespeare. I just feel this blog calling me and it’s July. Now that we’ve covered my lame attempt at cleverness (even a word? I digress). There are lots of topics to cover since my last entry and I feel a potpourri post coming on so I’m going to go with it.
The University of Nebraska goes to the Big Ten
There is a ton of analysis out there on this subject. My take on this whole situation is that it is similar to a divorce. I hate to use such a comparison. It’s a divorce where both parties ended up stronger in the end.
Texas maintained their perceived board room power over the Big XII conference and got to keep the dream of their precious Longhorn TV network alive. Texas will because of this network and their stronghold on the Big XII have their coffers full of revenue provided they continue winning.
Nebraska will receive many benefits from this move. On the academic front, Nebraska gets to join the Committee on Institutional Cooperation. In short the CIC:
“Simply translated, the CIC connects people with resources and opportunities, enhancing
the distinctive strengths, assets and expertise of each member university. Connecting people with resources and opportunities is an equation with tangible results:
• It means that campus researchers are able to handle huge datasets thanks to high-speed network collaboration.
• It means that underrepresented students are exposed to the rewards of graduate education through summer research programs.
• It means that scholars, the university community and the public-at-large will have access to books preserved by mass digitization.
• It means that administrators, faculty, students and staff benefit from increased efficiency and value achieved through collaborative purchasing efforts.
• It means that top-notch faculty leaders can enhance their academic leadership skills and network with colleagues from across the consortium.
• It means that students can access specialized courses beyond the offerings of their home institutions via distance learning.”
Membership expands Nebraska’s academic profile. It opens up higher quality research opportunities for students. Expands professors and researchers ‘sandboxes’ to allow them to use more resources on their research. This higher level research then in turn brings in more industry to the state of Nebraska. All of this represents a windfall to the state that cannot be undersold.
On the athletic side, Nebraska enters into highly reputable conference where membership has been stable. There have been reports that the Big XII wanted a commitment through 2016. The Big Ten has commitments from it’s members far past that. It’s BCS conference with an elite profile. It has it’s own television Network whose revenue is shared amongst it’s members. These revenues increase the profiles of all the member institutions. When the top-to-bottom is stronger, it gives the commissioner a much stronger portfolio to negotiate a TV deal with the likes of ESPN/ABC, etc. Reports have it that the projected yearly revenues in excess of $20 million. That amounts remains to be seen.
On all fronts, I view this move in a very positive light. Time will obviously tell but all signs point to great.
Half Marathon in Okoboji on the horizon
My second half-marathon will be this Saturday’s University of Okoboji Half Marathon. I will be running this race with my wife. This will be her first half. She is really excited. She is a competitive lass and I think this will end up like our first 5K together (ie her taking off and waiting for me at the finish). Training has went well and we are very prepared. I look for Saturday to be an awesome day.
Kids and Pools
What is it about a pool that causes kids to go insane? I mean they go nuts if we say we are going there or if it’s a reward for some sort of behavior. They do everything me and my wife say if a visit to the pool hangs in the balance. It’s a great tool for us as parents but I cannot figure out what the magical hold it has over kids. It’s not just my kids either. Our friend’s kids are the same way. It’s a pandemic.
Lebronnakah
What happened to a simple press release thanking the City of Cleveland and Cavalier ownership and stating your intention to go to Miami? I wonder whose idea it was to contact a network about an hour long special. I also wonder who in his representation signed off on this as a good idea. ‘The Decision’ was the ultimate in narcissism and self promotion. I wonder how this will play on Madison Ave. Will this make it harder to market him? Probably not. Kobe Bryant has much worse haunting his past and he still makes millions in endorsements. This whole thing rubbed me the wrong way. I didn’t have to watch it. I got a text message telling me where he decided to go. I got to avoid this whole ridiculous ‘look at me’ circus.
