Jim Delany, Big Ten commissioner for 30 years, announced his retirement. The conference has seen highs and lows throughout his tenure.
In somewhat surprising news, Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany announced his retirement. He will serve out his contract which ends on June 30, 2020. Per the press release from the conference, a search has been started by the Council of Presidents and Chancellors (COP/C), led by Northwestern University President Morton Shapiro.
Over the course of 30 years, the landscape of college football has changed dramatically. As leader of the Big Ten, Delany has been instrumental in many of the changes throughout. Here is a brief look at his time as commissioner.
Conference expansion
The Big Ten has expanded to 14 schools under Delany’s tenure, adding Penn State, Nebraska, Maryland and Rutgers. Traditionalists would argue against any expansion, but there is no doubt it has been an overall success.
In regards to football, Penn State and Nebraska were blue blood powerhouses and home runs for the league. The failure for Delany was missing out on Notre Dame in 1999. The Irish entered negotiations with the conference to join but ultimately rejected the Big Ten’s offer.
The addition of Maryland and Rutgers has been a financial success. While the two schools are not traditional powerhouses in football, it allowed the conference to add the DC metropolitan and New York City television markets. This added more money to an already large revenue stream for the conference.
Creation of the Big Ten Network
Perhaps the biggest accomplishment of Delany is the creation of the Big Ten Network. The idea for the conference network was born out of failed media rights negotiations between ESPN and the conference in 2004. Delaney then sought to create his own network and finally in 2007, BTN premiered in a joint collaboration with Fox Sports.
At first it was seen as a risky experiment for the conference and there were not many programs outside of game coverage. In 12 years the network’s programming has expanded with several original programs including The Journey, a documentary style show highlighting the football and basketball seasons.
Along with expansion, the Big Ten Network has added huge value and money to the conference and the Big Ten is now the richest conference in all of America. With the success of the Big Ten Network, the other Power 5 conferences sought to add their own networks.
First college football replay system
The replay system for college football replay system we have today was started in the Big Ten in 2004. The development of the system stemmed from the poorly officiated football game between Michigan and Penn State in 2002, which resulted in a Wolverines overtime victory.
In 2004, the Big Ten started replay on an experimental basis and by the following year, all conferences in FBS, then known as Division I-A , were allowed to use instant replay. Its use later expanded to all levels of college football. While of course there is still human error, instant replay has certainly changed the sport for the better.
College Football Playoff
Delany was a long time opponent of a playoff system for college football, preferring the old BCS system. He initially voted against the playoff when it came for a vote in 2011, however he eventually relented and the College Football Playoff was born for the 2014 season.
Since its inception, Delany has also been an opponent of expanding the playoff, believing the only argument for it would be financial. However after seeing the last three Big Ten conference champions left out of the playoff and two consecutive years of no Big Ten representative, Delany may be changing his tune. He may not be around to have a voice in the matter.
Jim Delany’s legacy
Over his 30 years, Jim Delany has become one of the most influential people in all of college football. Certainly the creation of BTN and conference expansion are at the top of his list of accomplishments, there have been other areas met with a mixed bag of results.
In recent seasons, the addition of more and more Friday night football games has not been received well, especially from fans of the bigger schools. When the league expanded with Nebraska and announced the two division split of Legends and Leaders, it was met with ridicule and the names were quickly scrapped when Maryland and Rutgers joined.
Many Big Ten fans still see the addition of Maryland and Rutgers as a pure money grab and an awkward fit geographically and culturally for the conference. Finally with Delany retiring, it may push the College Football Playoff to expansion which will also be met with cheers from some and jeers from others.
Overall there are many things Delany will be remembered for over the course of his Big Ten career. He certainly has left a lasting impression on the conference and the general landscape of college football.