The Big Ten Network, which provided $7 million to each Big Ten member in 2009-10, only exists because ESPN executives refused to dicker with league commisioner Jim Delany on rights fees.

A bad meeting in 2004 led to the Big Ten Network, The Chicago Tribune reports. And the Big Ten Network led to the conference being in position to attract Nebraska, which officially joins the league today.

The network, which now wants to be known as BTN, is featuring Nebraska in three days of shows starting at noon today.

Greg Dooley explores some Nebraska history and has fun welcoming Cornhusker fans into his world at MVictors.com.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

• EMUEagles.com: Former Eastern Michigan defensive back Ryan Downard is in Germany, playing football for Dresden. He offers a blog post about his early experiences
• Associated Press: UCF Athletics Association found guilty in death of football player Ereck Plancher
• Orlando Sentinel: Columnist Mike Bianchi asks if all of college football will learn anything from the death of Ereck Plancher

COLLEGE GYMNASTICS

• MGoBlue.com: Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon remembers longtime gymnastics coach Newt Loken

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

• U.S. News & World Report: Want to be a better basketball player? Get more sleep.
• ESPN.com: The one-and-done college players may be history if a new NBA agreement changes the league's age limit