I find this comparable to major league sports when owners and players squabble over more money. Both make plenty of money, both want more, and neither seems to care about the viewer. While I would miss football (pro and college) I find few other reasons to tune into Sinclair channels. As I don't wish to pay more, if a deal can't be worked that doesn't increase costs to consumer, I say "Let it drop." I agree with sidnubs above - if I want to watch broadcast TV, I'll go get a DTV box. I shouldn't have to pay for the "privilege" of watching mediocre free TV - whether through cable or satellite.

I know Gary Barta doesn't represent a majority, but if the Big 10 conference is looking for a "perfect partner" I don't see any of the schools on this list being such. I would be surprised to see schools from other major conferences (Big East, Big 12, ACC) leaving unless, like some suggest of Missouri, they are unhappy with those alliances. But with regard to Missouri, I'm not sure they match the academic standards of the Big 10 - 66th in the country when all 11 other schools are in top 29? (That's not to say it's a bad school, just not quite the same level.) I've long thought Notre Dame makes the most sense - at least geographically and football-wise, but they provided their answer previously. (I wouldn't even ask them again.) If money and TV markets are an issue, and if Penn State really wants another "eastern" school, Syracuse or Pitt would be good picks.

With regard to divisions, east-west may make most sense, but what about north-south with Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa, and Northwestern in the north, Illinois, Indiana, Purdue, Ohio State, Penn State, and TBA in the south. (Kind of a NW-SE arrangement if you draw a line.) You break up the natural Illinois-Northwestern rivalry, but as has been stated either the Illinois or Indiana schools are likely to be split anyway. Of course, that also breaks up the Michigan-Ohio State, but no different than Nebraska-OU in the Big 12.

Fun to speculate, but I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Mr. Dochterman - Any basis for the speculation of possible teams? Notre Dame seems the most logical choice (seeing as how they are not affiliated with a football conference), but if they are determined to remain an independent - in football - that's their choice. Pulling teams from other conferences really only makes sense if such a school either a) believes there is more prestige or b) thinks they have a better shot of winning. Both of which really boil down to the main issue - more money. I don't see either of those scenarios playing out for Big East or Big 12 schools. (I was particularly surprised by the mention of Missouri.) It will also be interesting to see whether a school aligns with the Big 10 for football only.

Sooner or later the name will have to change, but to what? In the meantime, even if they keep the Big 10 name, they'll have to change the logo. It won't be as easy to hide a 12 as it was to hide the 11 in the middle of it. Perhaps the Great Lakes 12.

My original comment apparently did not go through. No piling on here, just a couple of facts: 1) Sunrise was at 7:41 am this morning (see http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.h... and 2) an Iowa Minor School License can be obtained at a minimum age of 14-1/2 (see http://www.iowadot.gov/MVD/ods/msl.htm). I've driven due East at 8:00 am and can't get my visor low enough to block the sun without blocking my entire field of vision. (You can also try driving west within a half-hour of sunset.) I would also say that there is is no reason to assume the use of a cell phone. Simple lack of driving experience could have been the primary cause of such an accident. And I don't say that as a judgment to this young man. It's simply a fact that you have to experience many driving situations before you can begin to see several moves ahead (like the difference between a novice chess player and a world champion). It took a few minor scrapes and a few years before I became even a decent driver - but of course I thought I knew it all by 18. I've long told friends that the best experience one can have is a minor accident - with no serious injuries. It's not the mistakes that we make, but what we learn from them. I'm just glad to hear there were no serious injuries reported.

Fact: sunrise this morning was at 7:41 am (see http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.h... In addition, looking at the picture the bus and car were on an incline, worsening the sun angle. When the sun is particularly low, a visor does no good - in order to block the sun, you'd block your entire field of vision.

Fact: 14-1/2 is the minimum age for an Iowa Minor School License, which permits a youth to drive to and from school. (See http://www.iowadot.gov/MVD/ods/msl.htm.) These are quite common - particularly in the smaller, more rural school districts.

And while it is certainly possible for any driver - not just youth - to have been distracted by cell phone use or something else, there's no reason to jump to that assumption. It's entirely possible that a simple lack of driving experience led to following too close for the given conditions. (I'll keep my personal opinion about the Iowa Minor School Licenses to myself, but the fact is at 14 a driver simply hasn't experienced the number of situations that an older driver has.) I've personally been driving for more than 25 years, but it took a few minor scrapes and several years before I learned to be even a decent driver; yet I thought I new all by 18. We all make mistakes - it's what we learn from them that's key.

I'm glad to hear that there were apparently no serious injuries.

Only in Cedar Rapids can we be headed "west bound" and stop on the "northern end" of the bridge. (Too funny!)

I know advertising - in various forms - works, but I see that billboard more often than I watch KGAN.