Sources close to The Brown Log reported that Randy Lerner met with Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney in Chicago last week. They discussed the possibility of the Browns joining the Big Ten. The conference has been looking for an additional team for several years now. A twelfth team would permit the Big Ten to hold a conference title game which translates into big bucks for the entire conference. Lerner has been shopping around for a league the Browns could actually compete in and bring the Cleveland fans that well deserved championship.
The Big Ten athletic directors and coaches were asked about the possible Browns admission into the league. Penn State coach Joe Paterno was quoted as saying “Ah jeez, not those clowns!” He also expressed concerns that the locker rooms (and toilets) at Cleveland Stadium were extremely far from the sidelines. Coach Paterno does not want to repeat his “poopy pants” incident he had at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State coach Jim Tressel expressed concern that the Buckeyes strength of schedule would take a considerable hit by playing the Browns every year. Ohio State’s perennial BCS bowl appearance could be jeopardized.
In the end, The Big Ten realized that admitting the Browns into the Big Ten would be a downgrade not an upgrade. Browns coach Eric Mangini was not too disappointed by the snub when he learned that players could not be fined in the Big Ten. Teams still being considered for Big Ten admission are the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, The Grand Valley State Lakers, and the Mount Union Purple Raiders. An anonymous source reports that Randy Lerner admitted “Those three teams would wipe up the field with the Browns and would be much more competitive in the Big Ten then the Browns could ever hope to be”. The search goes on.
No comments:
Post a Comment