Northern Football

[longislandcuse]

Is Northern Football just becoming a thing of the past? The Big East fell apart, the B1G has struggled for a while now, it seems like only the established FOOTBALL schools of the north can compete in this day in age.

ND-Ohio State-Oregon-Mich St

Am I missing anyone? Even Ohio State is on shaky ground lately. All those schools put forth the necessary effort to be big time. Even the Michigans, Penn States etc aren't immune to this trend.

The SEC plus FSU/Clemson might as well be it's own league because no one else can compete regularly anymore.

It seems all anyone in the north can hope for is a cyclical uptick, is sustained northern football excellence dying?

 

[cuseguy]

Is Northern Football just becoming a thing of the past? The Big East fell apart, the B1G has struggled for a while now, it seems like only the established FOOTBALL schools of the north can compete in this day in age. ND-Ohio State-Oregon-Mich St Am I missing anyone? Even Ohio State is on shaky ground lately. All those schools put forth the necessary effort to be big time. Even the Michigans, Penn States etc aren't immune to this trend. The SEC plus FSU/Clemson might as well be it's own league because no one else can compete regularly anymore. It seems all anyone in the north can hope for is a cyclical uptick, is sustained northern football excellence dying?

Northern college football is like Northern college baseball.

 

[SWC75]

it used to be that recruiters had a motto: recruit strength in the north and speed in the south. The northern boys were the biggest and strongest because they spent 6 months in doors lifiing weights. the southern boys were the fastest because they spent 12 months a year running around out doors. Northern teams had big linemen with power backs and would try to bulldoze their way to victory. the southern, (and western) teams would pass the ball more and swarm on defense to win.

Then everybody got a weight room, (and steroids) and everybody has 300 pound linemen and 220 pound backs. it's like giving everyone $1 million. A million dollars won't make your rich. The only advantage in football now is speed and it's all in the south. The northern teams try to recruit there but they get the B list and C list guys. the southern teams get the A list guys. That's why 15 of the 16 BCS national champions played in the south or west.

It also creates a challenge for a north school trying to compete in a southern conference.

 

[Briancuse]

Northern college football is like Northern college baseball.

I wouldn't go that far, but it isn't what it once was.