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Big Ten Conference to consider changing division names

The Big Ten Conference has taken heat for the conference's names to its two divisions. Now the conference commissioner says the names Leaders and Legends could be on their way out, reports ESPN.com.

Commissioner Jim Delany said when the names were created in 2010, that they weren't many options to name the divisions. Other changes are coming as well with Maryland and Rutgers scheduled to join the conference in 2014 as the league must decide what division to put the two schools in.

"We weren't going to go with 'Bo or Woody,' 'Black or Blue,' or 'Plains or Lakes,' " Delany said. "Obviously we got some acceptance [with Legends and Leaders], but not as much as we would have liked."

Currently the Leaders Division has Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Purdue, Indiana and Illinois. The Legends Division is comprised of Michigan, Nebraska, Northwestern, Michigan State, Iowa, and Minnesota. A decision could be made by June, Delany says.

"I'm not sure it was a national survey [of people who didn't like the names], but people who hit the 'send' button," Delany said. "I don't take umbrage to negative reaction. I don't necessarily change when I hear it. I think on the other hand, we said we would test-market it, and we have for a couple of years, We have the opportunity to look at it again. I'm sure we will. Whether or not we change or not is to be determined. I don't have any presumption that we'll change on it, but that doesn't mean we're not looking at it."