ESPN deal another reminder Iowa's lucky to be in B1G

The University of Iowa is lucky it's located in the eastern half of Iowa.

The University of Iowa is lucky the state of Iowa is located where the state of Iowa is located.

In 1896, Illinois, Wisconsin, Purdue, Minnesota, Northwestern, Michigan and the University of Chicago formed the 'Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives.'

That name, fortunately, didn't stick. The name 'Western Conference' did, but not for long. Indiana, Michigan and Ohio State eventually came aboard, and 'Big Ten' became a replacement name that has endured to this day.

Since then, of course, Chicago departed and Michigan State entered. Later, Penn State, Nebraska, Maryland and Rutgers joined the league.

But had Iowa been one state to the west and not connected to three original Big Ten states, it surely would never have been part of the conference. Nebraska was added in this century not because of television sets, but because of football reputation.

Today, Iowa again must marvel at its good fortune. Because ESPN reportedly has agreed to buy the second half of the Big Ten's media rights package for an average of $190 million a year over six years. That's on top of a new 6-year, $240 million deal with Fox.

The Big Ten (which truly is B1G) will see its average media rights payout nearly triple when the new deals start in the fall of 2017.

Throw in the money the conference is getting for its shares of the profits from the Big Ten Network and College Football Playoff, and you're talking about more moolah than heaven will allow.

If I'm ever in a contract negotiation and Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany offers to represent me, I'm chartering a jet to the airport nearest him, rolling out a red carpet for him to walk on as he approaches that plane, and I'll offer an in-flight meal that includes only the finest meats and cheeses.

Iowa's population is similar to those of Kansas, Nevada or Utah. But they are where they are and Iowa is where it is, which is sitting atop a pile of cash made possible mostly by the heavy lifting and large population centers of others.

However, it isn't as if the UI and its fans are indifferent. Iowa was in the top half of the conference in football and men's basketball attendance last season.

You know who really feels lucky to be in the Big Ten these days? Rutgers. It drew 47,000 per game to its home football games last season and wasn't even in the top 100 nationally in men's basketball attendance.

Maybe one day Piscataway will be the hub of the conference. If Cleveland can have a world championship team in anything, the possibilities are endless.