Filed under: Big Ten, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Purdue
Sept. 20: Iowa @ Pittsburgh – This could be a make or break season for both of these featured coaches: Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz has been catching more and more heat after amassing a 19-19 record in the past three seasons and Pittsburgh’s Dave Wannstedt isn’t fairing too much better. This is also Iowa’s first road game of the year after three straight at home against the likes of Maine (Aug. 31), Florida-International (Sept. 6) and Iowa State (Sept. 13).
Central Michigan @ Purdue – Could be another high-scoring affair in West Lafayette in a rematch of last year’s Motor City Bowl where 99 points were scored. This game will feature a pair of signal-callers that could contend for the O’Brien Award in Purdue’s Curtis Painter (546 yds., 3 TDs against CMU in 2007) and Central Michigan’s Dan LeFevrour (292 yds., 3 TDs; 33 rushes, 114 yds., 2 TDs vs. Purdue).
Sept. 27: Illinois @ Penn State – The last time Illinois went to a stadium that featured 100,000-plus screaming fans, they beat No. 1 Ohio State. Both teams have holes to fill; for Illinois, it’s finding someone to replace departed Rashard Mendenhall and for Penn State, it’s finding a guy to replace injured linebacker Sean Lee.
Wisconsin @ Michigan – In what will be RichRod’s first Big Ten Conference game, he and the revamped Michigan Wolverines will have to find a way to slow Wisconsin’s power rushing attack. Between P.J. Hill, Zach Brown, Lance Smith and John Clay, the Badgers’ quarterback (no matter who it is) might have an easy day at Michigan Stadium.
Oct. 4: Ohio State @ Wisconsin – It’s usually the Ohio State/Michigan game that decides the conference champion, but with Michigan in rebuild mode this year, the winner of this game could very well earn a trip to the Rose Bowl. Should be fun to watch as Wisconsin’s running game goes up against James Laurinaitis and the Buckeyes in Madison.
Iowa @ Michigan State – These two battled in out in double-overtime last year in Iowa City, with Iowa slipping by 34-27. The loser of this game could determine who stays home for the holidays and who goes bowling.
Filed under: Big Ten, Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Ohio State, Purdue
The Big Ten composite schedule has been out for quite some time now, but I haven’t had a chance to take a good look at it and put some big games on the calendar. And boy, are there some big games! Here is the first few weeks.
Aug. 30: Illinois vs. Mizzou -This will be a huge border battle after the 2007 seasons these teams had. Mizzou is pretty much returning A LOT, including Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin. Danario Alexander might be out for awhile with an injury. Illinois is returning plenty as well, and those stud freshmen that the Zooker had last year will only get better. This will be a huge game for both teams, since it will greatly affect BCS standings, but I don’t expect the Illini to be in competition for that.
Michigan State @ Cal – Not really sure how good either of these teams will be, but they could both be top 25 caliber. Cal is always dangerous, and year two of the Mark Dantonio experiment will be interesting after the crazy off-season they’ve had.
Sept. 6 – Northwestern @ Duke – After the Blue Devils shocked the nation and beat the Wildcats to end the longest active losing streak in Evanston last year, Northwestern then got blown out against Ohio State and went on a tear, missing a bowl bid even though they were eligible. Had they beaten the Blue Devils, they could have been in a bowl. Look for NU to want revenge. Duke is revived by new head coach David Cutcliffe (former QB coach at Tennessee). This game is a night game. Last year’s game is a night game. This one will be interesting.
Sept. 13 (The “YOU BETTER BE IN FRONT OF YOUR TV OR ELSE TIVO ALL THESE GAMES” Week): Michigan @ Notre Dame – Michigan is coming off a disappointing year, has a new head coach in RichRod, a new offense, no clear cut quarterback, and all that could spell disaster. Notre Dame is coming off a WORSE year, has a clear cut QB, and has someone else calling the plays. Both of these teams could make a run at a BCS bowl if you ask me. Probably on NBC.
Ohio State @ USC – This could very well be one of the games of the year and could determine who goes to the BCS title game. OSU will need to be ready going into The Coliseum at night (8 pm ET start). OSU is a clear cut BCS title contender, as are the Trojans. I think USC might have reloaded with question marks at QB. OSU still has a crazy good defense and will always be good on the lines. This will be the ABC night game.
Oregon @ Purdue – Offense, Offense, Offense. This one will be a high scoring game, a barn-burner. Oregon is searching for a quarterback after losing Dennis Dixon, but I think is still a dangerous team. Purdue STILL has no defense (when is Joe Tiller going to learn), but does have Curtis Painter, easily a contender for the Davey O’Brien Award. Likely on the Big Ten Network.
Rich Rodriguez is being sued by West Virginia University for $4 million dollars on the account that he breached his contract. Not going to say that he did or he didn’t, but the legalities of it will be going on for a long time, according to The Ann Arbor News.
WVU Athletic Director Ed Pastilong’s deposition was made public and here are a few excerpts:
– When asked about damages to WVU’s football program since Rodriguez’s departure, the AD cited the losses of standout players Steve Slaton and Darius Reynaud, both of whom left a year early for the NFL, pledges from donors Ken Kendrick and Don Reynolds, an overlap in paying two assistant coaching staffs and other pledges from donors.
– The athletic director said he did not – nor did he know of anyone within the athletic department who did – help former Mountaineer Athletic Club administrator Larry Aschebrook land a job at Arizona State. Aschebrook has been a central figure in charges leveled by ex-WVU assistant coach (and current Michigan assistant) Calvin Magee concerning racism.
– Pastlilong called Rodriguez a friend and an outstanding coach and employee.
This whole Justin Boren thing is a big mystery. He left the big Blue, claiming that “family values have eroded.” Then, of course, because he is a very good offensive lineman, he was welcomed with open arms by Jim Tressel and the Buckeyes. Now an Ohio columnist is trying to convince Buckeye fans that Boren doesn’t have SARS or something like that and that he is part of RichRod’s plan to beat the Buckeyes.
In fact, Boren’s dad, Mike, was a Wolverine. And now his younger brother, Zach, has committed to OSU. He might be the Boren that Wolverines need to be worried about, he’s rated as the third best linebacker in Ohio.
Right now, as much as Boren seemingly hates RichRod, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if Boren is giving Tressel plenty of ideas from the Michigan playbook. But this is the Big Ten and there are always surprises.
Michigan made another attempt (I guess that’s a bad way to put it, we don’t know how he will pan out) at figuring out their quarterback situation. The Blue signed Wichita Falls (Texas) Rider QB Shavodrick Beaver, an ESPN-150 recruit. Rich Rodriguez recently signed top-50 quarterback Kevin Newsome. It looks like Michigan could be scary at that position in the future, depending on how Newsome fits into the system.
Says ESPN’s Tom Luginbill via Bruce Feldman’s blog: “He probably isn’t as far along as a passer as they would like, but he’s on his way and he is an explosive dual-threat out of the spread. Plus, he’s playing against great competition each and every week. He is probably very similar to what Pat White looked like coming out of high school as a passer, but Beaver is much bigger and may be more explosive for his size.”
Links: The Ann Arbor News talked to Beaver’s coach.
Big Ten Endzone 