Did Wal-Mart Wisdom Help Save THE GAME?

We are less than 24 hours from the beginning of the 2010 college football season, and the big news is what is on the horizon for the 2011 season with the Big Ten Conference. Beginning in 2011, Ohio State will begin divisional play against Illinois, Indiana, Penn State, Purdue, and Wisconsin.

Most importantly for Ohio State, its annual game with Michigan will remain as the final game of the regular season. Michigan and Ohio State have concluded the season every year since 1935.

Earlier this week, Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel made a comment that I believe is very appropriate to recall when thinking about the new divisions (still to be named) that will comprise the Big Ten ~

"Sam Walton said if you're not listening to your customers, you're not listening and that's not the smartest thing to do."

Thank you, Jim Delany. Thank you, Gene Smith of Ohio State and Dave Brandon of Michigan. And above all, thank you, the fans, who undoubtedly helped to preserve the tradition of THE GAME, with the continual barrage of e-mails and Facebook groups that were mentioned during the announcement this evening.