February 7, 201412 yr The Big Ten's Kentucky Problem Another National Signing Day extravaganza came and went with no shortage of intrigue and causes for celebration. The clear winners of the day were Alabama and USC. Alabama, notwithstanding very urgent issues of oversigning, took the best from Iowa and Minnesota and signed more five-stars than I thought any class could conceivably see. USC may have made the strongest push on National Signing Day as any team in the country. In the Big Ten, Michigan State and Ohio State were the day's headline attractions. Though his decision was not without some additional drama, Malik McDowell of Southfield, Michigan, committed to the reigning Big Ten and Rose Bowl champions. Ohio State signed, by far, the conference's best overall class. It seems every Big Ten program has something for which to celebrate. Michigan boasts the conference's best overall recruit. Minnesota has the best running back commitment in the class. Nebraska and Penn State closed very well down the stretch. Nebraska may have found new life recruiting with the hire of secondary coach Charlton Warren. James Franklin hit the ground running at Penn State, even if most of it came at the expense of Franklin's former employer. Even Illinois and Purdue, conference cellar-dwellers of late, have reasons to brag. Illinois got a slew of quality, and under the radar, JUCO players like Jihad Ward. It also got Jeff George's son on a grayshirt offer, just in case he turns out useful. Purdue has its ideal prospect of a quarterback on campus already. David Blough was the story of Elite 11 in the summer of 2013 and held firm to his commitment to Darrell Hazell. These superlatives of each Big Ten recruiting class and more were discussed on BTN during the network's Football Signing Day special. Left off the table was a matter of frank conversation of how badly programs in the Big Ten, excluding Michigan and Ohio State, were smoked on the recruiting trail by Kentucky of the SEC. Kentucky's recruiting class would rank as the third best of the Big Ten, two spots behind Michigan for second-best. It was the tenth best of the SEC.
February 7, 201412 yr Breaking news 2 months ago. The rest of the lazy B10 who wants the recruits from Ohio that OSU doesn't take, will have to do more than send a letter now.
February 7, 201412 yr If the powers to be at UK really wanted football to succeed, they would give the BIG a hard look...I mean a really hard look. Fact of the matter, UK considers itself more in the SEC than the rest of the SEC considers it a school. But, going to the BIG will never happen simply due to basketball reasons. Too much competition.
February 7, 201412 yr So all KY has to do to be successful is move into the Big 10? :sssh: Schedule would be a lot easier.
February 7, 201412 yr If the powers to be at UK really wanted football to succeed, they would give the BIG a hard look...I mean a really hard look. Fact of the matter, UK considers itself more in the SEC than the rest of the SEC considers it a school. But, going to the BIG will never happen simply due to basketball reasons. Too much competition. It would never happen, and it has nothing to do with basketball...
February 7, 201412 yr If the powers to be at UK really wanted football to succeed, they would give the BIG a hard look...I mean a really hard look. Fact of the matter, UK considers itself more in the SEC than the rest of the SEC considers it a school. But, going to the BIG will never happen simply due to basketball reasons. Too much competition. THIS^THIS^THIS^THIS^THIS^ Exactly right, HD! They could have gone into the ACC in the late 80's and chose not to for the reasons you mentioned!! At UK it is basketball above football! Unfortunately, I don't think a few recruiting classes, indoor facility, or stadium renovation will change anything as long as they're in the SEC. People are griping because UK lost to LSU and beat Mizzou and fell in the AP poll. UK gets penalized for being in the SEC. In basketball they have to be darn near perfect to get any respect because the SEC is a joke in men's basketball and in football UK just can't compete..... I remember when the Nutter Center was built and UK hired away Alabama's head coach and all was to be different. We see how that worked out. Then they expanded the stadium in the late 90's and we see how that worked out. I have been around long enough to know it won't change for the long term this time either. HD's assertion is spot on. Unless UK changes conferences they will never be a major player in football. Just think... UK would have the 3rd best class in the Big 10. On a average year they would be 5-8...... Unless UK is willing to sacrifice men's basketball competitiveness that will never happen..... Because of that it will never happen.....
February 7, 201412 yr Athletics wise UK would have been a much better fit for the ACC, but it's not about athletic fit. It's about money. Last I looked 9 of the top 20 revenue producing athletic programs in the country are in the SEC. UK is one of those 9.
February 7, 201412 yr But, going to the BIG will never happen simply due to basketball reasons. Too much competition. Basketball has nothing to do with why UK won't leave the SEC, I would think. The football money is greatest in the SEC due to BCS Bowl invites and bowl tie-ins. Everyone wants to be in the SEC for the football money, I imagine- except Texas.
February 7, 201412 yr Basketball has nothing to do with why UK won't leave the SEC, I would think. The football money is greatest in the SEC due to BCS Bowl invites and bowl tie-ins. Everyone wants to be in the SEC for the football money, I imagine- except Texas. One word.....Academics.
February 7, 201412 yr For the B1G that would be true. That's what I'm saying. Athletics has nothing to do with why Kentucky would never move to the B1G. It's all about academics.
February 7, 201412 yr THIS^THIS^THIS^THIS^THIS^ Exactly right, HD! They could have gone into the ACC in the late 80's and chose not to for the reasons you mentioned!! At UK it is basketball above football! Unfortunately, I don't think a few recruiting classes, indoor facility, or stadium renovation will change anything as long as they're in the SEC. People are griping because UK lost to LSU and beat Mizzou and fell in the AP poll. UK gets penalized for being in the SEC. In basketball they have to be darn near perfect to get any respect because the SEC is a joke in men's basketball and in football UK just can't compete..... I remember when the Nutter Center was built and UK hired away Alabama's head coach and all was to be different. We see how that worked out. Then they expanded the stadium in the late 90's and we see how that worked out. I have been around long enough to know it won't change for the long term this time either. HD's assertion is spot on. Unless UK changes conferences they will never be a major player in football. Just think... UK would have the 3rd best class in the Big 10. On a average year they would be 5-8...... Unless UK is willing to sacrifice men's basketball competitiveness that will never happen..... Because of that it will never happen..... First, Welcome to BGP! Second, tell us more about this chance to go to the ACC in the 80's never heard that and would be interested to hear the facts of that situation.
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