No
Shame.
Amazing.
No
Shame.
Amazing.
http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/...ivision-champs
"The Big Ten confirmed to me Tuesday that both Penn State and Ohio State can be named official Leaders division champions this season -- and, in Penn State's case, during the next three seasons -- despite the postseason ban. The teams even would earn a trophy from the league for winning the division. The division representative in the Big Ten title game would not have the "champion" label if it finishes second or third in the standings. "
Am I remembering correctly that because Seth was a transfer he couldn't get a ring for the 2010 National Championship? If so, how in blazes can it be legal for UNC to hand out a 100ish rings to players who by no NCAA book will be attributed to winning any title?
They never miss an opportunity to celebrate unrecognized championships at UNC. Who could forget about this classic...North Carolina 3rd place 1973 NIT banner.jpg
Just to be clear, there is a difference between the Ohio State and UNC "championships"
The Big Ten ruled that while Ohio State was not eligible to participate in the Big Ten championship game, they COULD compete for the Leaders Division championship.
The ACC specifically ruled that UNC could NOT compete for the Coastal Division championship.
Issuing a ring (and I'm told they have erected billboards around the state, proclaiming their "championship") is an act of supreme chutzpah.
I don't feel bad about being wrong here; click the link to see an ESPN guy with far more resources make the same mistake. But I cannot understand why the Big Ten would make this separation. Ohio State can win the division, and the Big Ten will award them a championship trophy for it, but they will send Wisconsin to the championship game and NOT recognize them for anything... unless they win that game? Had Wisconsin lost to Nebraska, they would have attained nothing that they could realistically put on a T-shirt. It's like in baseball, when a wild card team loses in the Division Series. They made the postseason, but didn't capture anything.
So I stand corrected. Congratulations to the Ohio State University for their 12-0 season and Leaders Division championship. Congratulations to the ACC for having more integrity than the Big Ten.
Pack Pride Product:
ringpp.jpg
The first tiebreaker is head to head, the second is division record, and the third is record against other division teams, best to worst.
In this case the tiebreaker would come down to the third tie breaker. Since UNC lost to Duke, they would be eliminated.
I suppose they could claim that they were co-champions. But when half of the division are "champions", is that really something worth claiming?
I just want to point out that our team received Belk Bowl rings even though they lost the game. Let's not cast our stones too aggressively.