Big Game in Iowa Saturday

It’s time for the annual Iowa State-Iowa football game Saturday. This contest provides the opportunity to show the world that Iowa is more than cornfields and wide open spaces. Yes, we do have institutions of higher learning that play competitive football.

Like most sports rivalries, this affair divides husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts and cousins. During Iowa State-Iowa week, you rarely find anyone (sports fan or not) in the state that doesn’t have a favorite in the game. Both teams feature gold as part of their color scheme, but you bleed cardinal for Iowa State or black for Iowa.

Generally, there is so much hype during Iowa State-Iowa week that I cannot wait for the actual game. But this year the talk is somewhat subdued. I think the Labor Day holiday was one factor. The other cause is the uncertainty of the Big 12 Conference where Iowa State calls home. Fans are concerned the conference might die and Iowa State will then need a new home.

Hopefully, the game will be competitive. As an Iowa State fan, I believe the Cyclones will require a much better effort than their one-point escape against Northern Iowa last week. The Hawkeyes had no problems with Tennessee Tech so their touchdown favorite status (even at Iowa State) is certainly fair.

I am also hoping Fox Sports will focus its attention on the game and leave the pictures of cornfields for another day.

Fox Sports and Big 12 Continue Marriage

A conference that wondered last spring if it would be in existence anymore landed a big deal this week.

Fox Sports and the Big 12 Conference signed a new football TV agreement. It begins in 2012 and will last 13 years for about $90 million per year. The conference will receive more money games and more Fox platforms (stations) than the current deal. The Big 12 will also continue its agreement with ESPN.

But the Fox deals were causing Big 12 people to do handstands all over the Midwest. They were certainly applauding the deal. Yes, it does give the league more money and more exposure, BUT…

I hate to become the bad guy in this, but I hope this next deal is different than the present one. Let me explain.

Right now, I watch the Big 12 package on Fox Sports North. If the Minnesota Twins or Minnesota Wild is playing, chances are Paul won’t be able to see the game. And as you can imagine, that frustrates me. I’m a college football guy not a Twins or Wild fan. So I call the station to complain. I never get a live person. I leave my number and never get a return call. I guess customer service is a thing of the past.

But maybe now if there is a conflict, they will offer it on another Fox platform. We can only hope that Fox and the Big 12 will allow us football folks the entire football package.