Goodbye, Big Eight Conference!

The Big Eight Conference was a union of Midwestern public universities with more similarities than differences. Similar states, similar student populations, and similar values. The proximity of schools gave fans even more opportunity to intermix and intermarry. Though it lacked the population centers of the coasts, and the prep talent associated with population, the scrappy conference did quite well for itself. Legendary football and basketball teams won historic games on the national stage. Legendary players wrote collegiate sports history at those little Midwestern schools. Lacking glamor or big dollars, the Big Eight Conference still managed to be a great association.

I've taken a dozen football road trips to towns like Ames, Lawrence, Manhattan, and Columbia. Saw some great games, met some good people, and formed great memories. The people in those towns looked like me, talked like me, and lived like me. The Big XII never had that same feel for some reason, and for 15 years I have missed what Nebraska had in the Big Eight. Maybe the Big Ten will bring that back. I can only hope the Big Ten will prove to be as enjoyable for Nebraska as the Big Eight was for all those years.

Good luck to Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State. You are all good schools with great people associated with them, and as a Husker fan I will always think fondly of the times we had together. Though you may not agree with Nebraska's decision, or even understand it, I hope like good brothers you will shake our hands and wish us the best as well. Should we meet on the athletic field again some day, I look forward to being in your company.