The Big Ten faced fierce backlash following its announcement last year that it was forming two divisions called Legends and Leaders and many assumed the whole concept would be scrapped by the time the 2011 football season rolled around. That, however, couldn’t be further from the truth as conference officials confirmed Friday they’re seriously going ahead with it.
“A lot of people assumed we’d do something that made sense like split the teams up by geography or name them after our most famous alums, but why take the logical route?” said commissioner Jim Delany. “We decided to mix it up in a way no one ever anticipated and there’s no way we’re changing it, no matter how stupid even our most die-hard supporters believe it to be.”
Delany said he was aware of the irony of placing Ohio State in the “Leaders” division even though the program is embroiled in a major controversy that forced the resignation of head coach Jim Tressel and the forfeiture of its 12 wins in 2010 and that mediocre programs like Northwestern and Minnesota are in the “Legends” division.
“Some call it Orwellian to give prestigious names to conferences with programs that are anything but,” said Delany. “However, I feel that if we call these divisions Legends and Leaders, the schools in them surely are just that, no matter what the actual facts might otherwise have you believe.”
