Nebraska's presence gives BTN even more depth

Andy Kendeigh, who has worked as a sports reporter in both states, made this comparison between Nebraska and Wisconsin football in the Wisconsin State Journal this week:

“For most Badger fans, having a good time is the top priority on game day,” he wrote. “A good time, of course, is made easier with a victory. But it's not essential.

“If Nebraska loses a game, a cloud hangs over the entire state for days and doesn't begin to lift until Thursday, when hope of the next potential victory allows a few sunbeams to penetrate the gloom.”

Good times, bad times — both teams have had their share. At least the two sides have a loyal fan base and the color red in common. Except for this weekend, that is.

Not wanting to feel invisible in an unfamiliar stadium, Nebraska has asked its fans headed to Madison to wear black at Saturday's contest.

The symbolic welcoming of Nebraska as a member of the Big Ten will take place Saturday night with the Cornhuskers' conference football opener at Camp Randall Stadium. For the Big Ten Network, prepping for Nebraska's arrival has been a year in the making.

“All of our talent and research people and production people really started studying Nebraska last year, while they were still in the Big 12,” Big Ten Network president Mark Silverman said. “I wanted it to appear that Nebraska's just another Big Ten school. I didn't want it to stick out. It took a lot of preparation.”

The Big Ten Network won't have much of a presence at the Nebraska-Wisconsin game since the contest is being televised by ABC in prime time and ESPN's Game Day crew will also be on hand.

But the new addition has created plenty of changes at the network, from developing new graphics to deciding how to rank players on the “Big Ten's Best” show.

For example, Ndamukong Suh and Eric Crouch were included in the best defensive linemen and quarterbacks of the 2000s episodes, respectively. Should the BTN go back and rework the “best running backs of the '80s” segment to add Mike Rozier? Or make Johnny Rodgers a Big Ten icon?

“We've made about 50 of those shows already,” Silverman said. “Now, I think we're focusing on doing newer shows where we include the Nebraska elements in all the Big Ten's Best. We're kind of just evaluating going back and changing the old ones. We'd pretty much have to re-shoot all of them.

“We'll do more going forward. Our ‘Big Ten Icon' coaches series, which starts Saturday, will include Tom Osborne. Going forward, you'll see Nebraska in there just as much as any Big Ten school.”

Nebraska is best known for football, obviously. The school has sold out 314 consecutive home games, dating back to 1962, and has plans to increase capacity at Lincoln's Memorial Stadium beyond 90,000 next year.

But the Big Ten Network might also benefit from its minor sports. The Huskers give the conference another national power in women's volleyball. Nebraska has won three national titles since 1995, while Penn State has captured the past four.

The Big Ten currently has five of the top 12 teams in the volleyball rankings, with Illinois No. 1 and Nebraska No. 7.

“I definitely think Nebraska can help us grow volleyball's appeal,” Silverman said. “Also, Nebraska takes baseball very seriously. (Former Angels and White Sox outfielder) Darin Erstad is their new manager. I think baseball's a sport where we could use a little bit of a spark for the Big Ten, and I think Nebraska could help us there.”

The Big Ten Network decided to shorten its official name to BTN this year, so new graphics, a fresh logo and a redesigned studio set have been introduced right along with the league's 12th school.

“Ratings are up considerably this year. I think we look really good on air,” Silverman said. “It makes the network bigger and more important by having Nebraska join us. Throughout the country, it just increases attention on the conference and the network.”