The Big X:

Several colleges are about to switch sports conferences. Possibly the most interesting move will be Nebraska to the Big Ten. Or possibly, the big news will be a mass defection of schools into the Pac 10.

I don’t understand what’s going on, what the motivations are, or why the results will matter. But I do care about the names. Suppose two schools switch from the Big 12 to the Big 10. Will the conferences have to swap names? “Big Ten” has great press and great recognition; might they keep their name even if it becomes meaningless? Might the Pac Ten become the Pac Twice Ten?”

I have a suggestion for these conferences. Change to some numerically-neutral names like “Red Indians,” “Scalpers,” or “Braves.”