tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7711009647044940052024-03-05T09:57:26.578-06:00First and Big Tentwo slow white guys views on the most storied conference in college footballBuckinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07772439325678116914noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771100964704494005.post-73472995492546452972009-09-04T10:26:00.006-05:002009-09-04T19:38:02.018-05:00The NCAA Takes Fans for Idiots...Oregon RB Blount Turns Table on NCAAIn the biggest sham since Reggie Bush called himself an amateur college athlete, the NCAA implemented a new initiative this year trying to promote sportsmanship where the teams engage in a pregame handshake. The thought is that the NCAA will be able to soften its image slightly and show that these student-athletes are in fact rational humans totally in control of their emotions. The college football player isn't like those shady NFL guys getting arrested all the time and making it rain at a local establishment near you. No, these are just kids having fun and playing for the love of the game! They're not crazy! Look...they even shake hands BEFORE the game.<br /><br /><br />This would seem like a good plan on its surface and might in fact somehow work if only...you know...the college football players weren't crazy athletic people with a penchant for violence. NCAA meet LeGarrette Blount, Oregon starting running back. You may remember him for such quotes in the newspaper as "We owe (Boise State) an ass-whuppin'." And LeGarrette Blount may be eight kinds of crazy...but he ain't no liar! And when he says he'll whoop some ass...he's gonna whoop some ass. Game or no game.<br /><br />After Boise State completely shut down the vaunted Ducks offense, making Blount look slow and ineffective all night (8 carries for -5 yards), things got a little wild in the postgame. A Broncos D-lineman said a few things...Blount took offense...and then did what any rational person would do. He sucker-punched the dude. Obvi!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VxAIcRHs1tk&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VxAIcRHs1tk&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />LeGarrette Blount is taking a beating for his actions, as he should, and ESPN is having a field day with this one (they conveniently used this to put Dr. Phil on their College Football Live show to talk about anger management or something), but Blount is merely a fraction of the issue here. And really, there are two big ones that I see:<br /><br /><br />1) Despite forcing the players to shake hands PRIOR to a game, the NCAA can't really tell us what to think about their student-athletes without the student-athletes telling us themselves. Coaches spend all week building up a hatred for an opponent, and you're telling me that these kids want to shake hands BEFORE they try to beat up the other team on the field? Give me a break. We're fans. Short for fanatic. We waste a decent portion of our lives working up a hatred for an opponent that we hope some 18-22 year old kids will act upon for us once a year. You really think we can't see through some half-hearted handshake that you forced sometime to take part in? Please, this postgame handshake was one of the things I liked about college football, and it is good enough sportsmanship as it is. Players have the choice to show a geniune respect for their opponent by seeking them out after the game. At least it's genuine.<br /><br /><br />2) Some of these "student"-athletes never cease to amaze us with their total loss of perspective. Did Blount really think any of the 10 ESPN cameras wouldn't catch him hitting the Boise State guy? Did he really think he could punch his teammate and not have him be pissed? And what about someone getting ready to "allegedly" throw a chair at you (as Blount alleged was his reason for going after the fans) makes you want to jump into the stands towards that person? Jeff Pearlman has an excellent <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/jeff_pearlman/09/04/marshall/index.html?eref=sihpT1">article up on SI.com </a>about Brandon Marshall and his loss of perspective on the reality that 1,000 yard receivers are a dime a dozen. And few are remembered famously after their career. Well, the list of great college running backs who get forgotten is 10x as long, and apparently LeGarrette Blount hasn't learned that yet, or wasn't taught it at JUCO. Some of these athletes think they're destined for the NFL no matter what, and don't quite care for the details of the rest of their life. And details like "not punching a teammate or opponent on national television" can directly affect their status in the League. You think teams won't throw up some HUGE red flags on Blount after this? HE PUNCHED HIS TEAMMATE!! And in an instant, <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/ncaa/09/04/blount-oregon.ap/index.html?eref=sircrc">boom</a>...there goes a senior year's worth of highlights due to suspension.<br /><br />This whole sequence reminded me of former Wisconsin running back Booker Stanley. Stanley was a decent running back, who provided some production despite being 3rd string. Y<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfMiqSxtcMBRQnF_0SF-mHc7ysGec1MFkm7OOoj0-Z90fYqOCTqeHhrlCUlue_yz_VOT1LHsdYcPNWSpU4dIMysKhqwu0RdyEHIiZ5ZsCZALynZvdUL6Q9_nHK3SQSdWwGtsg68uhoUId/s1600-h/Booker+Stanley.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 144px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377775191414597794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfMiqSxtcMBRQnF_0SF-mHc7ysGec1MFkm7OOoj0-Z90fYqOCTqeHhrlCUlue_yz_VOT1LHsdYcPNWSpU4dIMysKhqwu0RdyEHIiZ5ZsCZALynZvdUL6Q9_nHK3SQSdWwGtsg68uhoUId/s200/Booker+Stanley.jpg" /></a>et he had incredible off the field problems, including beating the crap out of a dude at the Mifflin Street Block Party in Madison. I was there; I saw the fight; Booker destroyed the dude. And he got arrested. You might think that he would cool it a little bit, maybe take it easy for a while and...oh, I don't know...worry about his status on the team. Nope, not Booker. There I was standing in line at the KK that very same night, when some big dude behind me starts talking loudly...."I'm not a fighter, but I hit like a Mack truck. I'm serious, I will hit you like a Mack truck." Yep, Booker Stanley. Any perspective and he might not have been so surprised when Bielema threw his ass off the team.Buckinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07772439325678116914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771100964704494005.post-8126787130351867092009-09-04T00:57:00.004-05:002009-09-04T02:02:39.319-05:00Football Season is Upon Us!Congratulations sports fans...you made it. The college football season is officially underway! The Big Ten kicked off their season tonight as well with <a href="http://www.bigtennetwork.com/videos/football.asp?bcpid=35535872001&bclid=1119228130&bctid=37059233001">Junior Varsity scrimmage </a>in Bloomington, Indiana.<br /><br />What's that? Huh? That wasn't a scrimmage? Those weren't JV teams? Oh...well...this is akward.<br /><br />Turns out that was an actual Big Ten team taking the field tonight, as <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=292460084&confId=5">Indiana was able to hold off Eastern Kentucky</a>. The game actually came down to the last play as Eastern Kentucky had their last ditch Hail Mary pass batted down at the buzzer. Now, this game never should have come down to the last play, as Indiana should have run away with this one. But th<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLiEe3Qz9bqcEmoYzmC3UUbZVypPmylfRGxHCMcSkoKhQJDX6EMjuQQftNyKhZRptfeWqq3c-zez3BcJtGEtbylT_TjbW_s86qR6_34izSfuunEAqMTQ_DUq47HogxSigyt0w1p8vimKH/s1600-h/Ben+Chappell.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 234px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377501819586675842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLiEe3Qz9bqcEmoYzmC3UUbZVypPmylfRGxHCMcSkoKhQJDX6EMjuQQftNyKhZRptfeWqq3c-zez3BcJtGEtbylT_TjbW_s86qR6_34izSfuunEAqMTQ_DUq47HogxSigyt0w1p8vimKH/s320/Ben+Chappell.jpg" /></a>ey didn't. They struggled. Bill Lynch admitted that they struggled in the postgame presser, but rightly so, he focused on the positives that the Hoosiers can build on this year. And there were a few positives, namely Ben Chappell and the dangerous wide receiver combo of Tandon Doss and Damarlo Belcher. The 5-yard hitch route was wide open all night, and IU took advantage by getting the ball into their playmakers hands. Doss and Belcher did the rest and in the process showed a bright future for IU on the outside.<br /><br />Unfortunately, that was about it for the positives. The offensive line was unable to control the LOS for most of the game. The Hoosier's new downhill running game from the Pistol formation looked like it was running up-hill all night, and finished with a paltry 73 yards. And defensively, well, let's just say that the Colonels didn't struggle to move the football on IU, amassing 388 yards total. That and the fact that IU's middle linebacker looks like he is a safety doesn't quite forbode well for the Hoosiers when Big Televen season rolls around.<br /><br />In reality, there were two great things about this game for Indiana. First, they won. And a win is a win in college football. Only five more until they're bowl eligible. Second, it was only the first game and many of the mistakes can be corrected. As excited as we can be as fans that the season has started, watching the IU/EKU and the Boise/Oregon games tonight reminded me that this is week one....not week 12. Both games featured multiple turnovers, tons of penalties, and overall sloppy football.<br /><br />Temper your expectations football fans, because the game on the field might be ugly...but the fact that you are even watching football again is oh so beautiful!Buckinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07772439325678116914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771100964704494005.post-90188039139006627432009-08-30T17:41:00.004-05:002009-08-30T20:48:37.835-05:00Familiar Faces at the Top: Predicting the Big Ten in 2009During the latter half of this decade, only two teams have been able to call themselves Big Ten Champions on the gridiron...and we here at F&BT don't think that will be changing this year. Penn State and Ohio State have claimed either outright or shared titles every year since 2005. Despite some high profile losses for both teams, WildHawks and I think that they will be sitting at the top of the Big Televen again this year. Here's how we're predicting the Big Ten will look at the end of the season:<br /><br />1) <span style="color:#ff0000;">Ohio State</span> - Lots of high profile, face-of-the-franchise type players are missing from last year's team...but the highest profile player is back in Terrelle Pryor. All the accounts from the off-season have Pryor taking a bigger leadership role on the team, and improving his passing as well. If the Buckeyes can find some offensive playmakers from the unproven RB's and WR's to compliment Pryor, their offense will be tough to stop. On defense, the LB's will be green, but the DL should be good enough to protect them and keep opposing O-lines from getting to the second level. Look for the Buckeyes to be representing the Big Ten in another BCS game this year.<br /><br />2) <span style="color:#000099;">Penn State</span> - Daryll Clark and Evan Royster help give the Nittany Lions the best offensive backfield in the BT this year, but their top 3 wideouts from last year are gone. None the less, we still think this will be one of the better offenses in the league this year. On the defensive side, Linebacker U continues to churn out future Sunday players at the linebacker position, as PSU will feature two of the best Big Ten LB's in Navorro Bowman and a healthy Sean Lee this year. The DL lost their two best pashrushers to the NFL, but the Lions typically churn out great pass-rushers every year, and they will need it to be an elite defense again this year.<br /><br />3) <span style="color:#ff9900;">Illinois</span> - The Illini should have the most prolific offense in the Big Ten this year...but the key word there is <em>should</em>. Something makes us think that the words "Juice...Rejus...Touchdown Illini!" will be said quite often this year. And with Florida transfer Jarrod Fayson added to the receiver mix this year, defenses won't be able to focus solely on Rejus Benn. On the defensive side, my sources say that the team is flying around to the ball and seem much more intent on gang-tackling this year. We'll see if that continues when the season starts, but for the Illini to do anything truly special again, the team chemistry will need to improve.<br /><br />4) <span style="color:#000000;">Iowa </span>- Picking the Hawkeyes this high is looking shakier and shakier as long as Jewel Hampton stays out of the depth chart. I'm not quite sold on Iowa without him, as they used solid defense and Shonn Greene to a solid 9-win season in 2008. Ricky Stanzi will continue to be one of the better BT quarterbacks, but the offense requires a good run game to function. The defense should be solid, although the anchors of the defense the past few years are gone with the graduation of Mitch King and Matt Kroul. If they can't find suitable replacements, look for their outstanding LB core to take on more blocks in the running game.<br /><br />5) <span style="color:#ff0000;">Wisconsin</span> - Color me an optimist, but this Badger team will come to exemplify the term "addition by subtraction" this year. Gone are several multi-year starters that no doubt provided valuable service to the UW, but seemed to get a little casual and more concerned with their future as their careers came to a close. Filling the void are young, hungry and talented players looking to turn around a dismal 2008 season, especially on defense. The QB play should be better, because it can't really be any worse. Look for the Badgers to reverse the trend of declining victory totals in the Bielema era.<br /><br />6) <span style="color:#009900;">Michigan State</span> - It continues to confound me how all the experts can predict that Michigan State could make a move in the Big Ten this year, while completely dismissing the fact that they are losing almost all of their offensive production from 2008. Gone are workhorse Javon Ringer and multi-year starter Brian Hoyer at RB and QB respectively. Yet because Mark Dantonio has a serious manner and gives a stable interview...Sparty has turned a corner. It is ridiculous to me. While Dantonio will do good things eventually, I haven't seen anything to think that Sparty has turned the corner from their letdown ways. It took Wisconsin pulling an even worse letdown and the worst season in Michigan history for the Spartans to avoid losing 5 out of their last 6 games last year. Go ahead and think they've turned the corner...I'll wait until they actually do prove it.<br /><br />7) <span style="color:#993399;">Northwestern</span> - While both WildHawks and I love what Pat Fitzgerald is doing at NU, this just isn't going to be a repeat of 2008 for the Wildcats. The bottom line is that Mike Kafka is no CJ Bacher...and a CJ Bacher type player is required to run that offense. While Kafka performed admirably filling in for Bacher last year, it was clear that the offense wasn't the same without the passing of Bacher. While the defense will keep NU in many of their games, I don't see Kafka being able to pass well enough to put a lot of points on the board.<br /><br />8) <span style="color:#990000;">Minnesota</span> - Recruit all you want Timmay!, but at some point you are going to have to do something with those recruits. 2009 will not be that year. Despite finally getting out of that abominable Metrodome and moving into the outdoor TCF Bank Stadium this year, Minnesota has made a few mistakes this off-season which will hamper them. First, they went from a spread offense that was beginning to show results for them and highlighted their proven QB/WR combo of Adam Weber and Eric Decker. Second, they replaced Ted Roof, the D-coordinator who left for the same job at Auburn, with Kevin Cosgrove. You may recall Cosgrove from his days getting shown the door at Wisconsin and giving up ridiculous amounts of points at Nebraska. It baffles me how he keeps getting DC jobs at major universities.<br /><br />9) <span style="color:#000099;">Michigan </span>- Rich Rod won more in his second year at every school he has coached. Thus it would be easy to expect that his second year at Michigan would see a large increase in victories as well. But nothing has really gone according to plan since RR took over the helm in Ann Arbor, and we don't think this year will go to plan either. First there was the Justin Boren "family values" comments as he transferred to OSU, followed by the worst season in school history, RR's plan to play 3 QB's this year, and just this weekend allegations that Michigan coaches are violating NCAA rules for practice time per week. Not just allegations, but player allegations. Can anyone say disaster?<br /><br />10) <span style="color:#ffcc33;">Purdue</span> - Hope waits...until next year at least. I don't see much going well for Purdue in Coach Danny Hope's first year. Same offense, but new QB, RB and WR's will spell trouble for the Boilermakers. And defense...well, that never really has been their thing.<br /><br />11) <span style="color:#cc0000;">Indiana </span>- While they could also fall under the same "addition by subtraction" category as Wisconsin does by getting rid of athletic but troubled Kellen Lewis, we still don't see Indiana doing anything this season. Biggest questions for IU this season are 1) how many more future conference home games will the AD sell to the highest bidder? and 2) who is going to be the next head coach when Bill Lynch gets fired after this season?Buckinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07772439325678116914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771100964704494005.post-78242912504133161332009-08-27T21:26:00.001-05:002009-08-28T00:58:41.590-05:00Are You Ready for Some Football?Welcome to Season II of First and Big Ten!<br /><br />Now, WildHawks and I are fully aware that any self-respecting blog will continue to hone their craft through the long, lonely off-season; but let us assure you...we stopped respecting our blog-selves long ago. Looonnng ago.<br /><br />In fact, we are fairly confident that we might be the worst bloggers on the internet. Be that as it may, we're going to continue giving you our thoughts and insights throughout this college football season. You might notice a few changes in the blog this year as well, as we learned a few things over the past year. While we are as passionate as ever about the entire Big Ten Conference and its oddyssey back to respectability, we learned how hard it is to focus on 11 different teams every week. Basically, <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten">Adam Rittenberg </a>is good at covering the whole league, and we don't have the time to do it as well as he does. So, you might see us focusing on a few of our favorite teams more often this year (Wisconsin, Iowa, Northwestern), and of course a few of the teams we love to hate (Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State).<br /><br />Another change you'll see this year is more of the Linking Laziness posts, where we direct you to some friendly websites that are much better at this blogging thing than us. We've got our list of favorite blogs on the right side of the page, so why don't we start there. <br /><ul><li>Recently, friends of F&BT and fellow sophomore bloggers at <a href="http://overthepylon.net/">Over The Pylon </a>have redone their website and posted a <a href="http://overthepylon.net/2009/08/26/conference-preview-big-ten/">preview of the Big Ten Conference</a>. </li><li>Fear not Badger fans, you've now got a decent blog dedicated to all things Bucky. Check out <a href="http://www.buckys5thquarter.com/">Bucky's 5th Quarter </a>to get your Badger fix somewhere other than here. </li><li>Indiana continues its run as the joke of the conference by selling a conference home game for $3M. Let me repeat..selling a CONFERENCE HOME GAME! Thankfully, I'm not the only one <a href="http://www.crimsonquarry.com/2009/8/26/1002700/indiana-sells-2009-home-game">disgusted</a> by this, as Indiana blog <a href="http://www.crimsonquarry.com/">The Crimson Quarry </a>shares my views.</li></ul><p>That's it for tonight. Just a little taste of what's to come in Season II here at F&BT. The goal is to have posts up about 3-4 times a week, and maybe some Linking Laziness more often than that. Keep checking throughout the season, and we promise to underwhelm you. </p>Buckinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07772439325678116914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771100964704494005.post-90175031069781641302009-01-31T20:50:00.004-06:002009-01-31T21:08:26.558-06:00Needing a Little Inspiration?<div>Even though I sat outside in shorts and a t-shirt today because it was 68 and sunny, I know that all of you back in Big Ten Country are suffering through the doldrums of a brutally cold winter. I did it for 24 years of my life and trust me...it sucks. Going out just becomes a chore, and your pants always get wet near your feet cause the slush is out to get you. It's usu<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_uMwNUDDQc71X7JYPFS8mV5W4mjoBvSx_SHSlhyEHO1Ff4g_7T-VajtU94cC_RMaOTzCom3uwEiuAI042uJPEaw2VefQtRe38Ayw-EvmxEsQQEkOUKayuthZ4zE4Q8vK1lc56V2BJQGR/s1600-h/yogi+roth.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297660165986636018" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 282px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_uMwNUDDQc71X7JYPFS8mV5W4mjoBvSx_SHSlhyEHO1Ff4g_7T-VajtU94cC_RMaOTzCom3uwEiuAI042uJPEaw2VefQtRe38Ayw-EvmxEsQQEkOUKayuthZ4zE4Q8vK1lc56V2BJQGR/s400/yogi+roth.jpg" border="0" /></a>ally around the month of February when people start needing a little inspiration to know that they can get through it all. And I have that inspiration for you.</div><br /><div></div><div>Meet <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3852783&name=feldman_bruce">Yogi Roth</a>. </div><div></div><br /><div>Courtesy of one of my favorite writers, Bruce Feldman, we get the <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3852783&name=feldman_bruce">story of Yogi </a>and his journey to spread the teachings of Pete Carroll and his Win Forever mentality. This truly is a great story, and speaks to the influence that college coaches have on young mens' lives. My buddy Z has <a href="http://firstandbigten.blogspot.com/2008/09/f-conversations-former-usc-wr-john.html">raved about Carroll before</a>, and I'm beginning to learn why. I wish Yogi was writing an actual blog and we could get updates every day, but for now, the only access I have found is Feldman. <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3866893&name=feldman_bruce">Click here </a>for an update from Day 4 of Yogi's journey (scroll down to the bottom). Enjoy F&BT fans, and know that winter is almost over...unless it snows in late April again like last year.</div>Buckinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07772439325678116914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771100964704494005.post-73399558233085387272009-01-31T17:55:00.001-06:002009-01-31T18:28:38.174-06:00And We're Back!Question: How many comebacks can one blog have?<br /><br />Answer: As many as I want...deal with it.<br /><br />Just kidding...sort of. But I can't promise that there won't be more significant stretches without posts throughout this offseason. First of all, the offseason is brutally long. Second of all, well, I've been getting my ass kicked at work worse than Indiana did all season long. As for this past stretch of no contact, all I can tell you is that I was burned out. I'm sure I wasn't the only one either, as the entire state of Wisconsin probably felt my pain. What do you really expect from someone who cares an unhealthy amount about a bunch of 18-22 year olds and has his mood swing wildly based upon their performance once a week?<br /><br />In the end, the losing was too tough on me, and the winning was usually worse. The frustration from beating an FCS team by having them miss 3 extra points put me near the edge. And while the layoff before the bowl game gave me enough time to back away from that edge and convince myself that all could be saved with a solid performance, I now realize that all I was doing was giving myself room for a running start before I jumped. And what a fall it was. Filled with the rage and frustration of an unfathomable Badger performance against FSU, not to mention about 8 of those large beers from Redmond's in Chicago, I vented to the blog from my blackberry. I said some things I didn't mean (I still love you Dave Doeren), and even re-reading the post didn't make me feel better. What I needed was time. Time to unwind. Time to forget about the 2008 season. Time to rationalize the growth that the UW coaching staff needed to experience. Time to self-reflect about the level of interest I give Wisconsin football. <br /><br />So that is what I did. I put on some Hootie and The Blowfish, and just gave myself time away from all things Big Ten football. I stopped reading Adam Rittenberg's excellent ESPN.com Big Ten blog. I stayed off the Wisconsin message boards. I literally stopped thinking about Big Televen football and F&BT all together. Until last week. <br /><br />I saw a top story on ESPN about the Fighting Timmays! of Minnesota scheduling USC for a home and home and immediately the passion returned. I was pumped. I am pumped. This fanatacism for Big Ten football is a good thing. I want to follow a bunch of 18-22 year olds. I want to share my passion with you on this blog. Sometimes it will hurt more than words can express, as it did when I didn't speak for hours after both the Michigan and Michigan State losses, but I want it to hurt. And I want it to make me happier than it should too. The passion ride through the peaks and valleys is what I want...and what I'll keep bringing you here at F&BT. Enjoy the ride, and look for updates at least once a week throughout the offseason. And if I miss a week...deal with it.Buckinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07772439325678116914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771100964704494005.post-23277209436520077832008-12-29T21:41:00.004-06:002008-12-29T22:11:40.233-06:00Alamo Bowl HappeningsIn a game that was the most lobsided point spread this bowl season <em>(Mizzou -12.5)</em>, the Northwestern Wildcats are currently holding their own against Chase Daniel and Missouri. I was flying back to the West Coast yesterday, and didn't get a chance to do an Alamo Bowl Preview post...so I'll just direct you to <a href="http://www.laketheposts.com/">Lake The Posts</a>, an excellent blog dedicated to Northwestern Football.<br /><br /><br />LTP does an excellent job previewing the game and giving you some of the key matchups. Although, he did predict the Cats to lose this one.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285429840330976978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 263px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLdYlo7HCv8pqoMV24ERMbatmdH0vVv_BNphnrtk3VWu8OrshanYsxqy1m2CTUP219mAH3B172a_jndm_ZQPa3eHkvtChfEEHkUOrTKimsC0x6R9ckghWQX6aMSLRI8Znh_4UyClrrbFyG/s400/NU_helmets.jpg" border="0" /> As for the actual game that is happening as I type, the Cats are bringing the wood. Bowl Season in CFB <em>(....hold on...RIDICULOUS TOUCHDOWN CATCH BY ROSS LANE FOR NORTHWESTERN...it's under review but should be held up. This thing is tailor made for Sportscenter....back now.)</em> Bowl Season in CFB is where we finally get to see if these video game Big 12 offenses are legit. And watching this game, Northwestern seems to be proving that Missouri at the least is not. The Cats are flying to the ball on defense and laying some wood with every hit. They seem to be one step ahead of the Tigers and are giving the receivers no room for YAC yards.<br /><br /><br />Clearly, Pat Fitzgerald has his team fired up and mentally ready to play this game. About the only thing that has gone wrong to this point is a costly pick thrown by Bacher in the 3rd Quarter and a botched punt (supposed to be kicked out of bounds but wasn't) that Maclin took to the house. Other than that, the Cats are outplaying the Tigers in every respect and this is a great game to be watching. About the only thing I could use right now is that terribly awesome sound effect that NU plays at their home games.Buckinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07772439325678116914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771100964704494005.post-81847600986303655152008-12-27T14:30:00.001-06:002008-12-27T22:22:24.014-06:00Champs Sports Bowl Preview: My 100% Chance of Hating the Tomahawk ChopWisconsin kicks off the Big Televen bowl season today vs Florida State in the Champs Sports Bowl. For those of you familiar with the Seminoles from their days as college football's national enemy #1 and/or Atlanta Braves you will know that one thing will happen every time they play, regardless of how much they suck...they will play that stupid Tomahawk Chop chant non-stop. I'm currently driving in a car on my way to a downtown Chicago Badger bar with my brothers and the Teradactyl, and I'm already preparing for the tomahawk chant to be the death of me this afternoon. If you want to get wasted today, take a drink every time you hear that played. And be prepared to drink about 35 beers. <p>All the analysts can talk about leading up to this game is the power vs. speed matchup...which has been the theme of every Wisconsin bowl game since I can remember. And call me a homer, but it is a tired argument. Speed isn't what kills the Badgers, and they have shown in their previous bowl games that it isn't that big of a factor. Auburn twice, Arkansas, and Tennessee all had speed advantages over the Badgers...and only once (1st Auburn game) did UW have trouble with the speed. </p><p>To me, the key to this game is the wide receivers and defensive backs. FSU will be looking to exploit the significant height advantage that their receivers have, especially in the red zone. Technique and positioning will be critical for the badger corners throughout the game, and that consistency has been an issue throughout this season. As for the UW receivers, this game needs to be their coming out party. They've quietly but surely have progressed greatly this season, and I think the opportunity to have a breakout game will be there for them today. FSU will be loading up the box with at least 8 guys today, and on obvious passing downs they will be keying on the TE's. Tight Ends are featured in UW's offense and have been a problem for the Noles all season. Look for them to be a focus for FSU, opening up potentially great matchups for the Badger receivers on the outside. </p><p>At the end of the day, expect both teams to try and do what they do best early on. Both defenses will be, or should be, bringing pressure on quarterbacks that haven't shown great ability to handle it yet. Both offenses will try to control the clock on the ground, and big plays will probably be the difference. We all know what that means...the tomahawk chop chant. As the final second ticks off, I predict that good ol' ON WISCONSIN will be playing loud and proud throughout Orlando. PJ Hill and that sexy John Clay will do enough to overcome the decided home field advantage the noles will have...and MY BOYS! Gilreath and Toon will make at least 3 big plays to get Bielema's record against coaches over 80 to 2-2.<br /></p>Buckinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07772439325678116914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771100964704494005.post-54705610871017886202008-12-13T19:33:00.002-06:002008-12-13T19:49:48.963-06:00Watching the HeismanSo I'm sitting here on a Saturday night watching the trophy ceremony for a college football award that used to mean something...the Heisman ceremony. I say used to because this trophy is officially a joke. Not only do they invite only 3 people this year, but they don't have any seniors at the ceremony. Absolutely terrible. I'm all for an underclassman winning the award, but it almost makes this thing a joke. It used to be an award that was given to someone who earned it not just over a season, but a career. And not a career putting up video game statistics against weak defenses <em>(**cough*big12*cough**).</em> Players earned it through performances in big games, leadership on and off the field, and an unrelenting competitiveness that made that person indispensable to his team. This year...it's a joke.<br /><br />One year ago, there was genuine concern that a sophomore could win the award and what that would do to the integrity of it. Obviously, Tim Tebow deserved that award and put up ridiculous numbers to back up his performance. My problem comes directly after that happened. Almost immediately, the talk started of a repeat and the consensus was that if he didn't top his 2007 numbers...he couldn't win it again. Then the Big12 turned into a joke of a defensive conference, and all of a sudden players in a BCS conference were putting up huge numbers. They are Heisman locks right? Wrong.<br /><br />If one player in that conference was putting up such huge numbers, then he clearly would deserve to win it. But in the Big12, at least 3 players (<em>McCoy, Bradford, and Harrell</em>) put up video game numbers...and a majority of the offenses were running up yardage totals. In a sense, you were the odd man out if you weren't putting up stats in that conference, rather than standing out for those stats.<br /><br />If you can't tell by now, I don't think McCoy or Bradford should get the Heisman. But it's not all about their stats not being legit. It's just that, a certain player did something that none of the others did, he did this.... <em>(feel free to skip to the 2:15 mark)</em><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/96vAbtpakLg&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/96vAbtpakLg&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />You don't see that leadership in many people...and you don't see that type of pledge get backed up as well as Tebow backed it up. The man dominated. He showed leadership and exceptional ability that was not matched this season. He deserves the Heisman...again.Buckinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07772439325678116914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771100964704494005.post-19077682881713980392008-12-07T19:11:00.004-06:002008-12-07T19:20:27.980-06:00F*** it Dude...Let's Go Bowlin'A quick link to update you on the Big Ten Bowl plans for this Holiday season. Look for analysis later tonight/throughout the week as we dive into each and every Big Televen matchup...<br /><br />Rose Bowl: Penn State vs. USC<br /><br />Fiesta Bowl: Ohio State vs. Texas<br /><br />Capital One Bowl: Michigan State vs. Georgia<br /><br />Outback Bowl: Iowa vs. South Carolina<br /><br />Alamo Bowl: Northwestern vs. Missouri<br /><br />Champs Sports Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Florida State<br /><br />Insight Bowl: Minnesota vs. Kansas<br /><br />A few quick notes...the Big Ten did not fulfill all of its bowl relationships, as 7 teams were bowl eligible but 2 were selected for the BCS games...as expected, Iowa jumped ahead of Northwestern in the bowl selection process even though they had a worse record and won head-to-head...we should find out how the Big Ten stacks up against the two best conferences in the country this year, as BT teams play 3 games against the Big 12 and 2 against the hated SEC...Michigan, Illinois, Purdue, and Indiana all suck.Buckinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07772439325678116914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771100964704494005.post-49540268824965447382008-12-07T14:50:00.003-06:002008-12-07T15:13:34.740-06:00MAILBAG: Thoughts on BigTen Bball...No Thanks.First, let me just say that Ross Gellar is an F&BT Mailbag All-Star. He consistently shares his thoughts on what he wants to see in the blog, and occasionally, will write an email funny enough to be posted in it's entirety. Here is his latest query in the mailbag...<br /><br />Ross Writes:<br /><em>Dude, good stuff with the Minnesota bathroom incident. Brings new meaning to the TDT mantra, "Gopher deez nuts".<br />I was wondering when the 'ol First and Big Ten blog was going to switch from the grid iron to the hardwood? Just change the graphic on top and go crazy. Clearly there's enough to write about in the basketball world right now...Indiana is playing with the equivalent of Edina's JV team...Wisconsin has a player named Keaton and he's actually not that terrible...the ACC owned us for the 10th year straight...Northwestern's "Princeton offense" and high school gym deserve serious mockery...all 12 of Iowa's black students are on the basketball team...there's some good stuff out there.</em><br /><em></em><br />That Iowa line is good stuff that's hard to top, so I just went and posted the whole thing. Rest assured F&BT fans, we probably won't be delving into the world of college basektball all that often, as this is a football blog. With that said, we will take notice of the happenings on the hardwood, because, after all...we are normal human beings/sports fanatics. We even have an offer out to a new writer to give us a weekly post about the Big Televen basketball scene...so stay tuned.<br /><br />In the meantime, look for some season review articles, lots of linking laziness, bowl previews, a full documentation of WildHawks bowl trip with the Hawkeyes, and a hefty amount of recruiting analysis.Buckinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07772439325678116914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771100964704494005.post-72098625260372253632008-12-02T00:18:00.006-06:002008-12-02T01:04:53.068-06:00UPDATE: Metrodome Sex Cougar Won't Let Story Go Away<div>As WildHawks so <a href="http://firstandbigten.blogspot.com/2008/11/does-this-count-as-halftime.html">graciously informed </a>us last week, a 38-year-old married cougar and a 26-year-old with a girlfriend sent the metrodome out with a "bang" at the Iowa v. Minnesota game a few weeks ago. As funny as the story was at the time, it's taken on a life of its own since then. Seriously, this story is like Mike Gundy press conferences on YouTube...it's a gift that keeps on giving. </div><div></div><br /><p>Highlights include:</p><ul><li>Ironic <a href="http://www.startribune.com/35150274.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU7EaDiaMDCiUZ">Newspaper Headlines</a>..."Dome Incident..." It's almost too easy.</li><li>MySpace <a href="http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/lois-feldman-photo-surfaces-after-metrodome-sex-21114">photos</a> of the culprits hitting the internet (courtesy of SportsbyBrooks)</li><li>One woman fired from their job as an administrator at an assisted living center.</li><li>Allegations of a <a href="http://www.carrollspaper.com/print.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=7048&TM=49195.99">drug being slipped </a>in a drink, without any...you know...details to back it up.</li><li>And, one cougar who can't stop pumping out quotes to keep the story alive.</li></ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1pvfel1l8nwa6cVjHVGIZkTVMElMjT7AKQXGoShkChsv5_2Mftv1Xa24jPO0GB_BPFKgrQNinJ6euBIUYN6ZU1P5szr1MPFg0Gis-VjnOd-yrC2Tz8svqRNGg4g_pxVnX4uIR60m6fqR/s1600-h/loisfeldman.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275084422516429442" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 250px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1pvfel1l8nwa6cVjHVGIZkTVMElMjT7AKQXGoShkChsv5_2Mftv1Xa24jPO0GB_BPFKgrQNinJ6euBIUYN6ZU1P5szr1MPFg0Gis-VjnOd-yrC2Tz8svqRNGg4g_pxVnX4uIR60m6fqR/s400/loisfeldman.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p><em>"I don't know who this man is. I just found out his name in the paper"</em></p><p><em>"I don't deny that it did happened, because, obviously, there are police reports"</em></p><p><em>"Everybody thinks something was slipped into my drink....Right, and that's what my lawyer and I are working on."</em></p><p>There's really only two people missing from this story, the guy having sex and the cop that found them. The guy hasn't spoken about it yet, but <a href="http://sportsbybrooks.com/stall-sex-woman-charged-didnt-know-man-21109">SbB has an idea where he may be</a>...</p><p><em>Meanwhile, we haven’t yet heard from our hero, Ross Walsh. He’s probably too busy wading through the high-five processional outside his house.</em></p><p>As for the cop, well, the police spokesman in Minneapolis offered this little nugget regarding the woman-as-a-victim theory...</p><p><em>"All I can say is the actions went on for some period of time with many witnesses on hand and no one reported either party was objecting."</em></p><p>Touche, sir.</p>Buckinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07772439325678116914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771100964704494005.post-56348844606236845502008-12-01T21:16:00.007-06:002008-12-07T14:48:44.794-06:00'Who is Leonard Taylor?'I really had a hard time deciding to post about <a href="http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/316636">this</a> or not, because it is certainly not too much of a laughing matter for Mr. Taylor and his family...but this conversation with Fuzz pretty much put it over the top...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVGBiffwFNxySKEwxkk7BQ1XUXgbrkjKJpGE6RBHBaQCC_hvZdTWlrWS_VIbXPjUuIY07A9pZOLlLs4sguOuOUDdtI1s9jnbfUkblNCHIFi0Zy9cNpPIk5AFANp40VWYBCMgJee_BMCRl/s1600-h/Alvarez.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275036877421173938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 133px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVGBiffwFNxySKEwxkk7BQ1XUXgbrkjKJpGE6RBHBaQCC_hvZdTWlrWS_VIbXPjUuIY07A9pZOLlLs4sguOuOUDdtI1s9jnbfUkblNCHIFi0Zy9cNpPIk5AFANp40VWYBCMgJee_BMCRl/s200/Alvarez.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#000099;">Fuzz:</span> Who's Leonard Taylor?<br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">Buckingham:</span> Ahh...former Wisconsin defensive back in the late nineties.<br /><span style="color:#000099;">F:</span> Slash...<br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">B:</span> Slash crazy former player who wants to kill Barry Alvarez...<br /><span style="color:#000099;">F:</span> ...and Maria Sharapova?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3An1xoU8cHcZozSzqM_TG7hkRb0bAQitc_o7dOMg-FgA9ExakQgMiAzbGQ0HJN5yhc3ntvdUsp_w-flikO2_1re7O44uPnNlHfi4cqvvnxi8aaojWq4_Inzn_dDSir92aoVlRW_dJTY2o/s1600-h/sharapova.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275037199234315394" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 255px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3An1xoU8cHcZozSzqM_TG7hkRb0bAQitc_o7dOMg-FgA9ExakQgMiAzbGQ0HJN5yhc3ntvdUsp_w-flikO2_1re7O44uPnNlHfi4cqvvnxi8aaojWq4_Inzn_dDSir92aoVlRW_dJTY2o/s400/sharapova.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">B:</span> Yep, and Maria Sharapova.<br /><span style="color:#000099;">F:</span> I mean, talk about going off the deep end. The guy just threatened to kill two of your favorite people on earth, how you feelin' about that?<br /><br /><br />Well, I'm feeling like this...that's about the only time you'll ever hear "Barry Alvarez" and "Maria Sharapova" in the same sentence. All it took was someone going 100% bat-shit crazy to make it happen! Also, feeling sorry for Leonard Taylor, who apparently has been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic and stopped taking his meds a few months ago. When you think about it, that would be the only explanation for leaving 29 messages on Alvarez's voicemail last week....allegedly....and threatening to not only kill King Barry, but conveniently letting Barry know that he wanted to marry/kill Maria Sharapova and her family. Allegedly.<br /><br /><br />Threatening Barry is one thing <em>(I'm confident in his ability to defend himself because he's a badass)</em>, but I WILL NOT put up with you threatening MY GIRL! Maria! No one messes with my top 5 celebrities and gets away with it.<br /><br /><em><span style="color:#666666;">Click on the comments to see my current Top 5 Celebs...</span></em>Buckinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07772439325678116914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771100964704494005.post-37333617444756713362008-11-30T12:35:00.005-06:002008-11-30T13:14:29.173-06:00It's Never Overkill When It Comes to Firing Charlie Weis<div>For those of you who can't stand Notre Dame or Charlie Weis...you're going to want to pick up a copy of the Chicago Tribune today. Pretty much the whole sports page is dedicated to why the fat-ass coach should be fired. Read to your own delight <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/notredame/chi-30-greenstein-im-notre-damenov30,0,3763392.column">here</a> and <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/notredame/chi-30-notre-dame-uscnov30,0,7078240.story">here</a>....and <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/notredame/chi-30-morrissey-newnov30,0,165988.column">here</a>. </div><div></div><br /><div>Yet perhaps the most <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/chi-14-greenstein-charlie-weis-nnov14,0,7497934.column">damning article</a> about Weis was written by Teddy Greenstein a few weeks back. In describing how Wies has alienated pretty much everyone who cares about ND Football, Greenstein tells an absolutely absurd story of Weis trying to recruit Terrelle Pryor. Highlights of that trip include...</div><div></div><br /><div>"Do you want to take a picture of my Super Bowl rings?"</div><div></div><br /><div>"Why send him (to USC's QB camp)? If he's with me for one day he'll be good, two days he'll be great and three days he'll be incredible."<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmFyPRP8zgL6jl7VAiMhD0m93XxrWoV826TRHaWVfG6wsYNxEXwBysv9ltJ9VTJfau3d40mEDC2mGtOG5I-qtm5nSlz90wG6_hOUKEufTqBoJhj664GdZyEoPPcYS6wFsaUTkHmXYDvAK/s1600-h/Weis.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274529811580635538" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 234px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmFyPRP8zgL6jl7VAiMhD0m93XxrWoV826TRHaWVfG6wsYNxEXwBysv9ltJ9VTJfau3d40mEDC2mGtOG5I-qtm5nSlz90wG6_hOUKEufTqBoJhj664GdZyEoPPcYS6wFsaUTkHmXYDvAK/s320/Weis.bmp" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><br /><div>"He says to Terrelle: 'Call me tomorrow at 6. I'll be watching where Brady Quinn gets drafted.' "</div><div></div><br /><div>Are you kidding me fat-ass? Taking a picture of your Super Bowl rings? How are these actions not supposed to alienate high school coaches? And if that is only one coach of the hundreds of thousands around the country, how many more has he pissed off? Do you honestly believe that coach will ever send a kid to play for Charlie Weis?</div><div></div><br /><div>When it comes down to it, the fat-ass needs to be sent scurrying back to the NFL with his tail between his legs. The only thing he has done for that school is increase the number of people that hate Notre Dame. Sure, he has great recruiting classes, but ND is the epitome of why those rankings are a joke. Weis' 2006 class was ranked #8 by Rivals.com...and as Greenstein points out, it contains not one great player, and 7 are no longer with the program. Also, his 2008 class was highlighted by QB Dayne Crist...a player that won't have an impact on the program until his 4th year. Weis' classes may be ranked high, but they are lacking in impact players and the head coach has shown no ability to develop players. At this point, ND needs to cut its losses and admit they were wrong...a difficult task for most Irish faithful.</div><div> </div><div><em>Enjoy the ND vs USC Beatdown Highlights!</em></div><div><em><object width="425" height="349"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SmkRgAS1k-M&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SmkRgAS1k-M&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="349"></embed></object></em></div>Buckinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07772439325678116914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771100964704494005.post-32920530403746926602008-11-28T12:33:00.002-06:002008-11-28T14:16:11.725-06:00F&BT Giving ThanksHappy Thanksgiving to all our loyal F&BT readers! On behalf of WildHawks and I, we would like to wish you a safe and happy holiday. It's been quite a football season thus far, and we've truly enjoyed ourselves with this little-known blog. As we approach bowl season, I thought it would be a good time to step back and look at the life of the blog and the Big Ten season, and take note of everything that we're thankful for...<div><br /></div><div>I'm thankful for February 5th, 2008, when we gloriously <a href="http://firstandbigten.blogspot.com/2008/02/new-era-begins.html">launched</a> this little procrastination project known as First and Big Ten. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm thankful for nearly four months later when we posted our first actual football-related post. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm thankful for reserving the right to be lazy.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm thankful for Terrelle Pryor joining the Big Ten, even though that would come back to bite me in the ass when he beat UW.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm thankful for Mike Barwis turning into a celebrity in the offseason, only to have the players he made bigger, faster, stronger, and better conditioned suck when it came to...you know..."playing football". </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm thankful that the Big Ten started their <a href="http://firstandbigten.blogspot.com/search/label/Oddysey">Oddysey</a> back to respectability.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm thankful that we <a href="http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/torii-hunter-is-michael-phelps-19856">linked</a> to a real-life, respectable and big-time blog...SportsByBrooks.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm thankful that the Big Ten Network got picked up by major cable carriers across the country.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm thankful that The Journey followed the Illinois football team, even though I <a href="http://firstandbigten.blogspot.com/2008/08/welcome-back-to-earthan-illinois.html">predicted</a> it would show their fall back to earth. It was a great show, and gave you every reason why the Illini struggled this year...not enough energy/urgency playing the game. It came up every week, with coaches imploring/screaming at their players to get more excitement at halftime. It also gave us J. Leman, BTN star!</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm thankful for Joe Tiller's career, and it going out on the right note.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm thankful for MY BOY #85 David Gilreath.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm thankful for Big Ten running backs. Shonn, Javon, Beanie, Evan, PJ, John Clay, Tyrell. They reminded us weekly that this is a smashmouth football conference. They are easily the best collective group of running backs in a conference.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm thankful for Joe Paterno, and his Nittany Lions putting him back on top...where he belongs.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm thankful for yearly doormats becoming respectable football teams...Illinois last year and the Minnesota Golden Timmays! this year.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm thankful for Jim Delany respecting tradition and bucking the calls for adding a team to the Big Televen and a college football playoff.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm thankful for all the new, exciting coaches that have joined the Big Ten in the last few years.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm thankful for WildHawks joining me in this endeavor to write about college football. His posts may have been few and far between at times, but he came through when I needed him to and he's definitely funnier than I am.</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, I'm thankful for you...the loyal F&BT readers. Most of you are friends and family, and we certainly can't thank you enough for your support. I wasn't sure how this would turn out, or what exactly I would write about for an entire year, but somehow this has worked out. To all the people that I include in these stories, I apoligize if they have embarrassed you. To all the commenters, it makes my day to see the emails pop-up when you leave your comments. To everyone who calls me every Saturday and Sunday to see what I thought of the latest Big Ten news, thank you. I was pretty sure that we would've failed by now, but as I look back, I can't believe where we stand. We've been linked to a major blog, a small group of people read this thing regularly, we've written 72 posts, and since we started keeping track in Week 3...we've had over 1,000 page views. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'll never promise that I won't be lazy at times, and most likely the comedy factor of blogging will escape me, but I'll keep writing and giving you my thoughts on the Big Ten. You keep reading...and make sure to tell your friends. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!</div>Buckinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07772439325678116914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771100964704494005.post-25592712382436419392008-11-26T12:45:00.004-06:002008-12-02T00:56:13.504-06:00Does This Count as Halftime Entertainment?The <a href="http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7942376&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1">story</a> speaks for itself.<br /><br />[Insert punny comment] In the last UM game at the Metrodome, two Hawkeyes went out with a bang. Whammy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771100964704494005.post-62901625019587320162008-11-24T18:16:00.005-06:002008-11-24T18:53:11.173-06:00First Team All-First and Big Ten TeamDon't be confused by the title of the post, Buckingham and I spent countless hours perfecting our all-conference honorees. Without further ado, here are the answers:<br /><br />QB: Clark - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">PSU</span><br />RB: Greene - Iowa<br />RB: Ringer - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">MSU</span><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">WR</span>: Benn - IL<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">WR</span>: Decker - MN<br />TE: Graham - IL<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">OL</span>: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Bulaga</span> - Iowa<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">OL</span>: Miller - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">MSU</span><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">OL</span>: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Ohrnberger</span> - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">PSU</span><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">OL</span>: Kemp - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">UW</span><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">OL</span>: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Shipley</span> - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">PSU</span><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">DL</span>: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Maybin</span> - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">PSU</span><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">DL</span>: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Kirlew</span> - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">IU</span><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">DL</span>: King - Iowa<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">DL</span>: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Wootton</span> - NU<br />LB: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Laurinitis</span> - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">OSU</span><br />LB: Brit Miller - IL<br />LB: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Angerer</span> - Iowa<br />DB: Davis - IL<br />DB: Jenkins - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">OSU</span><br />DB: Wiley - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">MSU</span><br />DB: Philips - NU<br /><br />PK: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Swenson</span> - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">MSU</span><br />P: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">Mesko</span> - UM<br />KR: Williams - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">PSU</span><br /><br /><br />Offensive <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">POY</span>: Greene - Iowa<br />Defensive <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">POY</span>: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">Laurinitis</span> - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">OSU</span><br />Frosh: Pryor - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">OSU</span><br />Coach: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">Paterno</span> - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">PSU</span><br /><br /><br />Notes: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">OL</span> is tough to predict...just based on hype. Punter had to be <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">Zoltan</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">Mesko</span> because of both name and amount of time spent on the field. Purdue sucks.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771100964704494005.post-41465377271459103722008-11-21T12:38:00.004-06:002008-11-21T13:27:03.974-06:00Both Sides of the Bowl Selection CoinGrowing up a Northwestern fan, I always resented the bigger schools with larger fan bases because they always screwed the Wildcats when they were fortunate enough to make a bowl. Take 2000, for example when NU beat Mighigan in one of the Big10's best games ever and earned a share of the Big10 title. At season's end though (and yes, I am still bitter), Michigan, loser of the head-to-head matchup, was selected for the Citrus Bowl. The teams had identical records, both conference and non. To make matters worse, OSU (a pseudo-institution of higher learning) enjoyed it's Aussie fries in Tampa despite finishing 5-3 in the Big10 (NU was 6-2). This chain of events sent a legitimate Big10 title team to the f-ing Alamo Bowl (only to get crushed by preseason #1 Nebraska, but that's neither here nor there).<br /><br /><a href="http://nyc.metblogs.com/archives/images/2007/01/George-Costanza.JPG"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 166px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 108px" alt="" src="http://nyc.metblogs.com/archives/images/2007/01/George-Costanza.JPG" border="0" /></a>["...probably because this whole world is against me" - Costanza...most likely a cynical Wildcat fan. Extra Credit: Elaine went to NU]<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Many people assume that because of a school's size or the fact that it is a traditional powerhouse, it is more "bowl attractive". However, since 1995, Northwestern has had no trouble selling its full ticket allotment to the Rose ('96), Citrus ('97), Alamo ('00), Motor City ('03), and Sun ('05) bowls. NU's fanbase, while smaller and more distributed geographically, consistently splurges to see their Cats in the postseason.<br /><br />Having said all that, being an Iowa fan makes things difficult this year. I've already made up my mind that (assuming we beat the Goophers), I'm going to the bowl because it'll probably be the Outback, and Tampa sounds a lot nicer that Chicago around Jan. 1st. In order to accomplish this though, I will have to sacrifice my Cats to the Alamo bowl again (assuming they beat Illannoy, which I believe they will, injuries or not). Because the Cats beat Iowa and will have a better overall record (again, assuming all goes to my plan tomorrow), I'll surely be labeled a hypocrite. And rightfully so. Perhaps I've sacrificed my juvenile idealism when it comes to bowl selection, but I can't get time off from work to go to an earlier game in San Antonio. Prioritizing work over fun...sounds like a life-lesson's "at work" here (pun intended). Is this what being a borderline-adult is all about? Anyway, to all you fans of the bigger school's (myself half included), remember, when you jump (literally screw over) Northwestern for a better bowl despite not having a better record and/or losing to the Cats, please take a moment to reflect on your good fortune and the fact that money and athletic reputation control the system.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771100964704494005.post-72754376925665522872008-11-21T02:14:00.005-06:002008-11-21T02:34:25.488-06:00Linking Laziness<div>It's not that I'm lazy...well, sort of, but I <a href="http://firstandbigten.blogspot.com/2008/05/dont-call-it-comeback.html">reserved that right </a>long ago...it's just that I'm still sick and this has been one hellacious week for yours truly. With that, I fully admit that the posting has been lackluster, and I'm a little surprised that most of you (if any) are still coming back to read this blog. Let it be known, it is greatly appreciated.</div><div></div><br /><div>So instead of rocking your world with some crazy insight, I'm gonna get lazy and give you some links. Two to be exact...but they caught my eye.</div><div></div><br /><div>First up, the Joey T. farewell tour has commenced in West Lafayette. The<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvNRmMHISAjYk7O1F0ikA72zdEcqAm94cZlU5jLVC-J_Am0-6BhqhODbHRJkl8JtEVLnyjmVQat-C2G5tcFiUH39sv5AIPZCkFEcs1fDwnmzNNNwW-DYHwxoHkCCzGTrC54oD8EQ1n5XO/s1600-h/orton_fumble.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271025171000322322" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvNRmMHISAjYk7O1F0ikA72zdEcqAm94cZlU5jLVC-J_Am0-6BhqhODbHRJkl8JtEVLnyjmVQat-C2G5tcFiUH39sv5AIPZCkFEcs1fDwnmzNNNwW-DYHwxoHkCCzGTrC54oD8EQ1n5XO/s320/orton_fumble.jpg" border="0" /></a> guys over at <a href="http://www.boiledsports.com/index.html">Boiled Sports </a>have each given their thoughts on the Joe Tiller era at Purdue, and they've got some good stuff. Personally, I can appreciate <a href="http://www.boiledsports.com/2008/11/coach-tiller-love-fest-pt-3-js.html">J's Perspective </a>in Part 3 the most, considering that I am a Badger fan and was at the game. Without a doubt the greatest college football play that I have ever witnessed, and probably only because my team won. J brings to light the devastation it caused for the losing squad that night, and how that carried over into the remainder of the Joe Tiller era. </div><div></div><br /><div>Second, something that I've noticed has been missing this week but couldn't put a finger on it. <a href="http://www.laketheposts.com/">Lake the Posts</a> nails it for me, in <a href="http://www.laketheposts.com/2008/11/what-rivalry.html">describing how little fanfare </a>the Illinois @ Northwestern game is getting in the Chicagoland media. Granted, Illinois is down this year and Northwestern headlines will rarely sell papers...but it has been silent this year, and especially this week. Even though I'm on the West Coast now, I still read the Chicago Tribune every day, and I'm gonna agree with LTP that the hype machine needs to get revved up. Love fests for each other don't fuel a rivalry, so get the mouths going and get fired up for that Sweet Sioux Tomahawk!</div>Buckinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07772439325678116914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771100964704494005.post-72059583384136781132008-11-21T02:05:00.002-06:002008-11-21T02:13:52.225-06:00AND DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME!!For those of you still paying attention to the Inaugural F&BT College Football Pick'Em Challenge, the final week of the season is upon us and the race for first place is about as tight as you could expect after a 13 week season. Here's the leaderboard heading into the final week...<br /><br />1) Whetst1 - 476<br />2) WildHawks - 472<br />3) Bobby Petrino - 435<br />4) Buckingham - 389<br />5) Kenny G - 361<br />6) Lil Bro #1 - 347<br /><br />WildHawks is carrying the banner for the F&BT bloggers...even though he got a girlfriend and forgot all about our little blog and his priorities. Whetst1 is out to prove that Illinois fans actually can be smart, despite choosing to cheer for the Illini. And Kenny G is going to owe me $20 when he doesn't pass me this week.<br /><br />Make sure to get your picks in this week and look for an interview with the winner next week!Buckinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07772439325678116914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771100964704494005.post-12811472094629194722008-11-19T00:50:00.003-06:002008-11-19T01:28:33.273-06:00Ruminations on Week 12Sorry for the delay in getting this post up, I've been sick with a cold since Sunday. I wish I could say that I saw a bunch of the Big Ten games this weekend, but I really only saw 7/8ths of the Battle for the Axe in Madison. I spent my Saturday at the wine country bus tour of all bus tours, and have been paying the price since. It actually was a ton of fun, but it did cause me to miss most of the Saturday games. I did DVR the Badger game however, and I got to see most of it. But with all the injuries (thank the Lord that Kyle Jefferson is ok) and penalties, my DVR cut off the game with about 5 mins left on the clock. This frustrated me like crazy, because I purposely set the DVR to record for an extra 30 minutes...plus I didn't get to see if Bielema gave a repeat performance of last year. Anyways, here are some ruminations for the Big Ten this week...<br /><br /><strong>1) Great Comeback for the Badgers.</strong> WildHawk (remember him?) texted me this while on my Bus Tour, so I knew the Bagers were doing something good on Saturday. Alas, their performance on Saturday was a great comeback, but it also signaled more than that. It solidified their comeback not just from a 21-7 halftime deficit, but from a season that looked lost just 4 weeks ago. The college football season really is a marathon, and it reminds us that all judgements on a season should be withheld until after the season. Four weeks ago, fans throughout the state were calling for Bielema's head. This week, they're feeling great about their Badgers and hoping that there's a way to get to the Alamo Bowl. Thank God I kept my pants on.<br /><br /><strong>2) Penn State is in trouble if Daryll Clark doesn't shape up soon.</strong> I know that the Nittany Lions have more playmakers than VH1 does terrible reality shows, but Clark is the one that makes them click...and he hasn't been clicking for a few weeks now. In the beginning of the year, he was limiting mistakes and B'ing his L all over the competition's T's. Now, he's a turnover waiting to happen and taking the term "my own worst critic" to a whole new level in the press. The guy needs to calm down, let his playmakers make plays around him, and assert his leadership positively in the huddle. If he does, MSU is in for a sticky day in Happy Valley. If he doesn't and PSU falls behind, the hook could be quick this weekend.<br /><br /><strong>3) How many times has Terrelle Pryor "established" himself this season?</strong> Yes, that is a serious question. I know that he was a crazy-famous recruit and was bound to live in the spotlight for most of his career, but this has really gotten ridiculous. Let me be clear, I think Terrelle Pryor has been great this year, and OSU wouldn't be as dangerous as they are without him. But this media lovefest is out of control. First, he proved that he "wasn't scared" in the USC game that was a blowout. Then, he proved how composed and "big-game" he could be in the comeback at Wisconsin. After his shaky performance against Penn State, he proved that he "can handle adversity" against MSU. This week, he had his "coming out" party against Illinois. Really? It's taken all season for his coming out party? I would argue that the UW game was his coming out party...and the rest has been a typical year for a college freshman quarterback. I think Pryor is ridiculous....but he's trumped by the media coverage that deifies him every week.<br /><br /><strong>4) I'm not ready to say goodbye.</strong> Approaching week 13 means one thing...this season is almost over. For fans like me, this is always the hardest time of the year. On one hand, it it usually the most exciting. On the other, it means that my Saturdays will be empty for the next 7-8 months. And this year in the Big Ten, it means saying goodbye to the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Joe Tiller in West Lafayette, and possibly...though I sure as hell hope not...to Joe Pa in Happy Valley. The Metrodome is a shithole that most won't miss, but I had some great times there in college, they still served beer there during games, and my Badgers were crazy successful there. Tiller revolutionized the Big Ten by bringing back mustaches, introducing the Spread offense, and making Purdue relevant. And Joe Pa...well...we all know what he's done at Penn State. And it's not just Penn State, it's what he's done for the Big Ten, and more importantly, for College Football in general. We all can't thank him enough...and that's why I'm not ready to say goodbye. Here's to hoping JoePa gets a new hip and a new contract for 2009.Buckinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07772439325678116914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771100964704494005.post-47392518293795509122008-11-14T19:30:00.003-06:002008-11-14T20:56:53.564-06:00Who I Like Tomorrow...Big Ten Picks Week 12Besides cheering for Navy this weekend, here's who I like in the Big Ten:<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff9900;">Purdue</span> @ <span style="color:#000000;">Iowa</span>:</strong> Considering their massive victory over Penn State last week, it's hard not to like the Hawkeyes in this one. Shonn Greene has continued to dominate, and Purdon't doesn't have the defense to stop him this week. It really is too bad too, because Joe Tiller deserved to go out a little better than this. Curtis Painter may be back, but that won't be enough to do it for the Boilermakers. Iowa struggles early, due to an extreme victory hangover, but run away with it late. And if you're an Iowa student, you've been warned <a href="http://myespn.go.com/blogs/bigten/0-2-680/Iowa-AD-cautions-against-storming-the-field.html">not to rush the field</a>.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#330033;">Northwestern</span> @ <span style="color:#000066;">Michigan</span>:</strong> In what could be a battle of backup backfields, this is probably the hardest Big Ten game to pick this week. On one side, Michigan has played like crap all year, but showed a team we've rarely seen last week in a victory over Minnesota. It was basically like Turtle on Entourage going from single for 4 years on the show to hooking up with Meadow Soprano. It just doesn't make a lot of sense, and you have no idea what to expect when you watch the show the following week. Also, Northwestern hasn't really shined on offense without CJ Bacher and Tyrell Sutton. Bacher may be back this weekend, but how effective will he be coming off a pulled hammy. In the end, I like Northwestern in this one. I have to think that Ohio State running up the score pissed them off just enough that they play with an edge this week. And that edge will dump Turtle so fast that he'll be single again this week.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Indiana</span> @ <span style="color:#000066;">Penn State</span>:</strong> Blowout. Not going to be exciting at all. There really is no better medicine to cure a heartbreaking loss than playing Indiana. Seriously, the only good thing I can say about Indiana is that their players have come to the defense of a coach who deserves to be defended. I may think Bill Lynch is overmatched, but he got the job out of necessity and by all accounts is a great guy. Students shouldn't be holding up bed sheets saying "Fire Bill Lynch". For shame, Hoosiers. If you really don't like Bill Lynch that much, act like the rest of the students/fans and don't show up to the games. Anyways, Penn State by at least 35 in this one.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">Ohio State</span> @ <span style="color:#ff6600;">Illinois</span>:</strong> Buckeyes, meet revenge. Sweet, sweet revenge. And enjoy it, too. Illinois' upset last year gave the Fighting Zooker's some legitimacy, and sparked their Rose Bowl run. Look for the Buckeyes to come out for vengeance, and go all Mel Gibson in The Patriot on Illinois' ass. There is no doubt that the Illini will be able to get amped up for this game, which has been a problem this season, but I don't think it will be enough for four quarters. As soon as the game starts turning against them, the Illini will crumble and OSU will take this one with ease. Juice will probably throw at least 2 picks, and Jeff Cumberland will punch out 2 teammates and 3 student managers in a fit of rage when he can't find his cell phone. All in all, a bad day for the Illini is in store.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#660000;">Minnesota </span>@ <span style="color:#ff0000;">Wisconsin</span>:</strong> The Most Important Game in the Big Ten This Week is also the annual Battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe. In a rivalry that is as close to simmering over this year as any year in my lifetime, two talented yet recently underperforming teams will throw out the records and beat on each other for 3 hours. Both teams will be missing their best offensive players (<em>Travis Beckum and Eric Decker</em>), but only one team has a proven backup that can fill in admirably. At the end of the day, both teams' offenses match up well against the opposing teams' defense. But in this case, Wisconsin will be able to control the clock with their ground game and run all over the Gophers. It will be back and forth, but the Badgers should take control towards the end of the 3Q and into the early 4th. Don't switch the game off though, because big things could be in store for the postgame. Rumors have it that Bret Bielema may plant the Axe on the Gophers sideline (not normal) in order to let his players run through the Gophers sideline to grab the Axe. Also, I'm praying like crazy that Bielema repeats his 2007 sprint across the field to pull another drive-by hand-shake with Timmay! This has some huge possibilities, that I'm certainly going to love.Buckinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07772439325678116914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771100964704494005.post-62259832850631722082008-11-14T02:33:00.004-06:002008-11-14T03:09:26.111-06:00An Idiot's View of the Big Ten ConferenceWhile trying not to shamelessly plug our own website, I was looking through the "Big Ten News" section on the right side of F&BT today, when I noticed an absolutely ridiculous headline...<br /><br /><strong><em>How To Overhaul Big Ten Football!</em></strong><br /><br />Over at the <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/80340-how-to-overhaul-big-ten-football">Bleacher Report</a>, they have an article up today about what the Big Ten needs to do avoid becoming irrelevant in the world of college football. What?! First of all, this is a ridiculous idea to write about, as the Big Ten is about as far from irrelevant as it can get. Just because the rest of the country hates us, doesn't make us irrelevant...it makes us hated. But as a fan of any team who has stayed on top too long will tell you, being hated makes you as relevant as ever.<br /><br />For those of you who were too lazy to click on the link, I'll sum up the recommendations of this idiot writer:<br /><br />1) Add Notre Dame to the Big Ten<br />2) Split into 2 divisions and have a title game<br />3) Re-invest profits from the Big Ten Network into high-school and junior high football programs throughout the Midwest, hold summer camps, and build up a talent base from the bottom up.<br /><br />The first 2 are patently absurd to me. The 3rd one makes sense. For argument's sake, let's go through them one-by-one.<br /><br />First, Notre Dame. This is an old argument from people who don't know jack about the history of the Big Ten. We tried. They didn't want to join. End of story. If anything, they would join the Big East, the conference in which all their other sports are affiliated. Also, Jim Delany has stated numerous times that adding a 12th team is not on the horizon....so this whole argument is pretty stupid. The writer's idea was that since both ND and the BT were down, they could join forces and revive themselves. This is as ass-backwards an argument that I can think of, but that should be expected from someone who obviously doesn't know much about the Big Ten.<br /><br />If that wasn't bad enough, this guy also wants to hold a Conference Championship game. Why? So we don't have as long of a layoff between our final game and the bowl game? To make more money? While both might make sense, the only realistic reason would be the money. But we have the BTN now, and that should be enough to tide us over for a while. The whole myth about too long of a layoff is a common excuse for the team that has pulled 2 straght Suck-Jobs in the NC game. Also, and this is key here, but why would we want to guarantee another loss for one of our top 2 teams in their last game? The Big Ten has put 2 teams into the BCS numerous times over the last 10 years, probably as often as any conference out there. Why would we change that? The payout from going to multiple BCS games will make up for the lost money from a Conference Championship game, so the money argument is gone.<br /><br />Finally, the 3rd point actually makes sense, and it is the smartest thing that this guy said in the entire article. Investing in the youth of our country is never a bad thing, especially when it involves a great sport such as football that can teach kids life-long lessons. Cultivating the talent in the Midwest is one thing, but helping develop that talent from a young age is another thing. Clearly, the South and West Coast have figured this out. Granted, their climate lends itself to spring football (hard to play when it's snowing in March!), but the Midwest states can do more to create talent. I'm all for this part of the plan.<br /><br />But when it comes down to it, the reason we all love the Big Ten is the vast amount of traditions and historic nature of the conference. Three yards and a cloud of dust. Football at its purest, slowly being assimilated by advanced idealogies. Football in the cold weather, football in the rain, football as it was meant to be played. This is what is great about the Big Ten. This is why I love it. And I firmly believe that the Big Ten will come back to dominate the college football landscape at some time, and hopefully sometime soon. As with everything in life, conference strength is cyclical, and the Big Ten happens to be in a down cycle. But the pieces to bring us back to the top are getting in place. A lot of the struggle can be attributed to coaching turnover. In the last 4 years, the following schools have gotten/will be getting new coaches: Illinois, Purdue, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan State, Indiana, Minnesota. That is 8 out of 11 teams in 4 years, and when there is that much turnover in a conference...it is bound to struggle. The good news is that a plethora of good recruiters/excellent coaches have entered the league, and within a few years, will be fielding excellent teams that are sound fundamentally and more athletic than we're used to seeing. And when it all comes to fruition, I'll watch with a sh_t-eating grin as the ESPN pundits say the SEC/Big12/Pac-10 need to rework their structure.<br /><br />For now, I'll keep my Big Ten as it is. And if you don't like it, move to the South like all the other idiots.Buckinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07772439325678116914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771100964704494005.post-68429792712246390672008-11-12T23:54:00.004-06:002008-11-13T00:47:50.719-06:00A Long Awaited Wisconsin Article<div>Many of you have been asking me about my thoughts on the Badgers this year, and more specifically about the coaching staff. Ross Gellar has sent a few emails, Sober sent a text or two, even my dad has been bugging me to put my thoughts down about the Badgers. Surprisingly, Fuzz has been noticeably absent in his phone calls and emails on Saturday mornings, but then again I haven't actually heard from him since he disappeared on Saturday night of Homecoming weekend in Madison. So, what do I think of Bret Bielema and the 2008 Wisconsin football team so far?</div><div></div><br /><div>Keep your pants on folks, this season ain't over yet. </div><div></div><br /><div>I think it's always a little ridiculous to start judging a team/coach in the middle of the year, because a million things can happen throughout the course of a college football season. With that said, for those of you calling for Bielema's head....shut up. This is not the SEC. We do not murder people over a football game. We do not fire coordinators 6 weeks into a season. We do not run coaches out of town when they are/or should be legends (<em>technically, Lloyd Carr retired and was o.k. doing that</em>). So for those of you calling for Bielema's head after the losses this year...shut up. The guy is a good football coach. He's learning how to be a great one. I'm willing to let him learn. </div><div></div><br /><div>Now, has it been frustrating as ever to watch some of these games? <em><strong>Absolutely.</strong></em> I couldn't talk for a few hours after both the Michigan and Michigan State games. Both were just inexcusable losses. And yes, they can be blamed on the coaches. But neither loss was a fireable offense, especially when you're only 38 years old and have an absurd career winning percentage. Right now, Bielema is not the best coach in the Big Ten. In fact, he may be the second worst in the Big Ten this season, ahead of only an overmatched Bill Lynch at Indiana. But good things are happening around the program, and Bielema should get credit for those things too. It's all part of the humbling learning process that head coaches go through. Bielema just happens t<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLzsZ5LTzyjD7SqH2ferfoGdPHq-Kf_VnHQVOimJ6-F899hN8mFzLwbQLOqc7-ECBKYvPKXnrEZo0X-Lgwbg0ER4MWKPnN1A76USFGOA-jiIEJmon-0X8KPAQlTWjrIZZBmoWXZb-478J/s1600-h/paulbunyan+axe.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268029381350384866" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 336px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLzsZ5LTzyjD7SqH2ferfoGdPHq-Kf_VnHQVOimJ6-F899hN8mFzLwbQLOqc7-ECBKYvPKXnrEZo0X-Lgwbg0ER4MWKPnN1A76USFGOA-jiIEJmon-0X8KPAQlTWjrIZZBmoWXZb-478J/s400/paulbunyan+axe.jpg" border="0" /></a>o be going through his on a much bigger stage than most.</div><br /><div></div><div>So for now, keep your pants on Badger fans. This season is not over yet, and a 7-5 Alamo Bowl appearance is not the end of the world. So what is going well right now for the Badgers?</div><br /><div></div><div><strong>1) The receiving core is developing and turning into a force.</strong> Behind MY BOY! #85 David Gilreath, and my future BOY! #1 Nick Toon...the Badger receiving core is beginning to make some plays. Not too much was expected at the beginning of the year out of this group, but they sure have come on strong in recent weeks. Nick Toon finally got a chance and his play has earned him the opportunities that he continues to capitalize on every week. Gilreath showed tons of potential last year, and looked legit in the spring, but was slow out of the gates this year. But after his amazing touchdown catch at the end of the Michigan game, he has been nothing short of great for the Badgers. One thing to remember, is that this is an extremely young group, and while their development may have seemed slow this year, they are developing...and they will soon be an asset to the Badger O.</div><br /><div></div><div><strong>2) Injuries haven't crippled either side of the ball when they have occurred.</strong> Injuries are inevitable in college football, and in past seasons they have decimated the Badgers offense or defense (<em>i.e. Anthony Davis back in the day, PJ last year, WR/CB/DL last year</em>). This year, that hasn't been the case...and you can credit that to coaching and recruiting. Think about all the players that have missed time this year due to injuries. <em>Jonathon Casillas, Mario Goins, Aaron Henry, Kirk DeCremer, Gabe Carimi, Kraig Urbik, Eric Vanden Huevel, PJ Hill, Chris Pressley, Lance Kendricks, Travis Beckum. </em>That's quite the list. And while you can argue that the UW season has been disappointing and that with all those players healthy they would be better...that's just not realistic. In previous years, losing all those players (especially <em>leaders like Casillas and Beckum)</em> for any amount of time would have crippled the Badgers. That is not the case this year. UW is by no means a great team, but it is not because there has been a huge dropoff when backups have had to come in the game. The depth is much improved, and it is mostly young players providing that depth.</div><br /><div></div><div><strong>3) Wisconsin has a legit rivalry that is getting better and better by the minute this week.</strong> In case you didn't know, the most played rivalry in college football resumes this week...and finally, it has the feel of a rivalry again. Minnesota football is back, and Brewster is not downplaying the importance of this game. He tried to build it up last year, and while it didn't work out then, he set the foundation for the incredibly awesome back-and-forth that is going on this week. For the uneducated, last year Timmay! said that he'd be the first one to sprint across the field and grab Paul Bunyan's Axe when Minnesota won. After UW prevailed, Bret Bielema was the one sprinting across the field to shake Brewster's hand for about .2 seconds. Brewsters son talked trash after the game, even though he didn't play and his team lost. Bielema then came out and gave probably his best line to date as a head coach, "You want a rivalry? You got one!" Damn right Bret. That only set up this year, when Gabe Carimi said that he hates Minny, simply because he is from Wisconsin. Rumors are spreading that the Badgers may put the Axe behind Minny's bench (not the norm for the losing team to have it on their bench) just so the Badger players can sprint into the MN sideline and grab it again. Add in a few recruiting battles over the past two years, two competitive teams...and you've got yourself a rivalry. </div><br /><div></div><div>Enjoy it Badger fans. And keep your pants on too.</div>Buckinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07772439325678116914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771100964704494005.post-69285350289647797002008-11-10T22:49:00.003-06:002008-11-11T00:47:47.369-06:00Ruminations on Week 11<div>Not quite as exciting finishes this week, but there were certainly some shocking results to this weeks Big Televen football games. Indiana again proved to be the best medicine for any struggling team this year, and the weather finally became a factor in some games. As the bowl picture starts to take shape, here are some ruminations on Week 11:</div><div></div><br /><div><strong>1) Bye-Bye BCS Championship.</strong> Iowa played the role that they have become so good at in the last few years...spoiler. Penn State, the Big Ten's best and only shot at the BCS National Championship game, couldn't pull out a victory this past weekend, and their perfect season exists no more. On a chilly day in Iowa City, this looked like a great game to be at in person. All 3 of my brothers were actually in attendance, taking in the game from the student section. I get a call at halftime...is it sweet being there in person?<em><br /><blockquote><em>"Nah, we left at halftime...it was freezing. Iowa only has like 2<br />first downs, they're about to get blown out so we're just gonna watch it on TV<br />at home."</em></blockquote></em>Good choice guys. Seriously, storming the field like that would not have been fun at all. I'm sure your living room was going crazy.</div><br /><div></div><div><strong>2) My respect for Pat Fitzgerald went through the roof.</strong> Watching the beginning of the ESPN broadcast, they showed Fitzgerald in the pre-game firing up his players. Two words summed it up for me...passionately intense. Even I was getting fired up listening to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jK11GZ-P-y-5nQ2f-kO7iAsWtaldYfW6_vxi1AtDnY78XsGRf4vGk5dOhBL_pUB553oDae33Lt32bUnRF4-ASawT3AO3mPjXFBmULLkBXLYubt8Tz5gTZ3u3jO72IhkKYZ4OxJ9KgSLh/s1600-h/NU_fitzgerald.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267287487419407874" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 296px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jK11GZ-P-y-5nQ2f-kO7iAsWtaldYfW6_vxi1AtDnY78XsGRf4vGk5dOhBL_pUB553oDae33Lt32bUnRF4-ASawT3AO3mPjXFBmULLkBXLYubt8Tz5gTZ3u3jO72IhkKYZ4OxJ9KgSLh/s400/NU_fitzgerald.jpg" border="0" /></a>Fitzgerald scream <em>"Thata way 72! Thata way to fire off the ball, 72! Big Ten Football...FIRE OFF THE BALL!!"</em> I tell you what, Pat Fitzgerald will be one of the best coaches to ever roam a Big Ten sideline by the time he's done. He got the job too early, under the worst circumstances anyone could imagine, but there is no one better for the Northwestern job than him. I thought it 3 years ago, I think it even more today. He'll find a way to be great. The guy loves football. The guy bleeds purple. The guy just gets it. Watching that game, NU came out ready to play, they just couldn't stop the big play. The defense was fired up and laying the wood. They just couldn't get off the field. Offensively, they got too predictable with a backup QB and 3rd string RB. What offense wouldn't? Eventually, Ohio State's talent proved to be too much, but here's to thinking that Fitzgerald's intense passion closes that gap.</div><br /><div></div><div><strong>3) Not even Timmay! is immune from the big-loss hangover.</strong> College football is about the only place where the older you get...the easier it is to get rid of a hangover. Minnesota certainly was entitled to their share of a hangover following that brutal loss to Northwestern. But Timmay! and the Gopher coaches had a great chance to get the team pumped up to take advantage of a down Michigan football team. Instead, the Goofers did what only FCS teams and Wisconsin have been able to do this year...they made Michigan look good. Playing without stud wideout Eric Decker, Minnesota struggled moving the ball all day. Weber was pressured by the Wolverine front 4, and the field goals UM kept kicking proved to be enough for a road victory. I thought Timmay! and his endless positivity would get his group up for this game, but it turns out that Minny couldn't kick the hangover in time.</div><br /><div></div><div><strong>4) The One-and-Done.</strong> It's not just a potent drink at The Blue Velvet in Madison, WI...it's also the working title on Ron Zook's Illinois coaching stint. From a magical Rose Bowl season serving as Zook's lone bright spot...to the verge of a losing season and no bowl game the next...Illinois football is stalling right now. This team has been the model of inconsistency all year, and Zook appears to be losing his patience. After the loss to Wisconsin, he called out his experienced players for making too many mistakes. After this loss to Western Michigan, who is left to call out? The players obviously are not picking up the teachings of this great coaching staff, and their player leadership is lacking. Worst of all, the players apparently don't like each other very much...as Jeff Cumberland recently broke Mikel Leshoure's jaw with a punch. Apparently homey don't mess around when you steal his cell phone. And if you watched <em>The Journey</em> last week, you know that had to be a huge punch to break that big of a guy's jaw.</div>Buckinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07772439325678116914noreply@blogger.com0