file”>interview with WGN Radio, Delany talks about the negative reaction to the unveiling of the new division names they chose for the Big Ten. Earlier this week, the Big Ten announced that beginning next year the conference would be split into two divisions, the Leaders and Legends. The overall reaction from the main stream media to bloggers was negative. Thunder Treats even jumped on the hate train, developing new logos and division name options for the Big Ten.
Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany has heard our cries. During an mp3 file
Delany realizes that you cannot please everyone, but to displease almost 90% of the people might make you think twice.
"We've had enough experience with names and expansion and development of divisions that we know that you rarely get a 90 percent approval rating, but to get a 90 percent non-approval rating was really surprising. It showed that we didn’t connect with our fans in a way that we wanted to. It’s humbling, to say the least, because we’re trying to build fan bases, not push them away."
For as much shit as Delany gets for his stance on the BCS, among other things, I am impressed with this. He is owning up to a *possible* mistake and publicly acknowledging the fans. Most of us are used to using the internet and message boards to bitch about things we cannot change but i this instance our voice was heard. Delany and the rest of the Big Ten have some serious things to go over in the next few months. If they do change the names, they better get it right this time.
"We want it to breathe a little bit," Delany said. "I don’t think you make a judgment in 48 hours or 72 hours. Eventually, we’re going to have to address the issue of whether or not it’s sustainable, but I don’t think that’s a decision for today. We have to listen and we have to be humble about the reactions we’ve gotten.”
I know what they were trying to do with "Legends & Leaders". They were trying to pay homage to the storied past of this conference and that is commendable. Perhaps the best suggestion for that would be to make "Legends & Leaders" a conference slogan rather than the names of the divisions. Whatever the decision they come up with, I can't see them doing any worse.
