Be fair, don't forget to tell him the part about you having 1000 posts on the Bama forum too, Bama Boy. :wave: btw, I've been on a Big10 kick lately. Don't confuse objectivity with homerism, bro. :wink:
Wisconsin wasn't much before Alvarez got there (unless you go back to the late 50's/early 60's... but they went to three Rose Bowls in the 90's and won all three... of late, say last four years, they've won both of their Capital One appearances. I'm pretty sure they've put up a better record than Michigan of late... so I guess it's all in how you define a national power. If you're defining it as getting to a BCS bowl, then your list is a short one anyway... so who knows, right? Iowa, same/same... good in the late 50's, had a great run in the 1980's/very early 90's under Fry... then three straight finishes at #8 in the country in 2002, 2003 and 2004.... not gaudy by any stretch... but definitely on the national scene.
I certainly don't mean to overlook Wisconsin's and Iowa's achievements. IMO Iowa has more of a claim to being a powerhouse than Wisconsin, but the I don't think many would agree that Wisconsin was ever viewed as a powerhouse in recent history.
I'd actually consider Wisconsin a bigger power than Iowa. Other than 2002-04, Iowa hasn't done much at all the past 15 years. Wisconsin been a lot more consistent than that. 119-52-4 (.691) since 1993 and a 9-3 bowl record.
FTI Jim Tressel: 1 NC 73-15(.830%) 3-1 in BCS Bowls 47 Draft Picks: Tied #1 with Miami Fla.(No other school is within 10 and that includes heavily hyped schools such as UF, FSU, and USC)
How so? The last time Wisconsin won the Big 10 was back in 99'. Iowa won it in 02' and 04'. Iowa has been to 6 straight bowls one of which was the Orange Bowl. Wisconsin has been to 5 straight, but none of which were BCS bowls. I admittedly have limited knowledge of Big 10 football history, but IMO Iowa has the slight edge of the two if we're talking within the last 6 years or so. After that, I guess it's a coin flip. College football data warehouse has them ranked 34 and 35 respectively for all time rankings.... http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/rankings/all_time_team_rankings.php .
