Big Ten athletic directors believe commissioner Jim Delany succeeded in one key area when he introduced the idea of a so-called year of readiness.

He helped fuel the conversation about the imbalance between athletics and academics.

Iowa AD Gary Barta says it has created a national dialogue about improving "the student-athlete experience."

Delany pitched the idea of a year of readiness in February. He followed that up last month with a 12-page letter titled, "Education First, Athletics Second: The Time for a National Discussion is Upon Us," outlining a plan to make football and men's basketball players sit out their freshman seasons without losing a year of eligibility.

The odds of it becoming a reality are slim.