Bowl Bound

Last night teams found out what Bowl Games they would be playing in to end their seasons. There will be 8 Big Ten teams earning bowl bids.  Ohio State and Wisconsin were picked to play in BCS games.  Rose Bowl bound Wisconsin will have to face TCU.  This game will hopefully prove to Ohio State President, Gordon Gee, if he was accurate when making his statement a couple weeks ago (read previous blog).  Ohio State will battle against Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl; Michigan State will go head-to-head with Alabama in the Capital One Bowl; the Outback Bowl will feature Penn State and Florida; Michigan will take on Mississippi State in the Gator Bowl; Iowa and Missouri will face off in the Insight Bowl; the Texas Bowl will see Illinois and Baylor; and Northwestern will play Texas Tech in the TicketCity Bowl.  I am really excited to see how these games play out. For the most part, I feel they are good match-ups and will hopefully prove to others who the strong conferences are.  It is pretty cool to see so many teams from one conference be bowl eligible and hopefully show others how deserving they are.

Big Ten Equals Conference Record with Eight Schools Earning Bowl Bids

Just Another Reason To Not Like Ohio State...

I'm sure most of you have heard the nonsense that Ohio State President Gordon Gee said last week. He made the comment that teams from the Big Ten and SEC are more deserving to play in the BCS National Championship game because they play tougher schedules than other teams.  I understand that the teams in the Big Ten and SEC do have tough schedules, but how can the Ohio State president have any input on that!? Does he not look at their schedule every year!? I know they played Miami this year, which was a tough game, but their other non-conference games were Marshall, Ohio, and Eastern Michigan... c'mon! If Gee thinks his team is deserving to play in the National Championship game, I suggest scheduling harder non-conference games to gain more points in the standings.  It's just so annoying to always hear Ohio State fans talk about football, because they are constantly saying how great they are and others overlook them when it comes to deciding rankings. Just a little FYI: there is more to life than Buckeye football; give it a break people.

Ohio State president: Football Not My Arena

2010 All-Conference Teams

So Michigan State, Ohio State, and Wisconsin share the Big Ten Championship, but it was Wisconsin who had the most individual honors which were announced on the 29th.  They had recipients earn Offensive Lineman of the Year and Freshman of the Year. I'm so glad that Denard Robinson was the Offensive Player of the Year.  I understand that some people don't think Robinson deserves this honor because Michigan didn't have that great of a year, but look at the kid's stats! He set too many records to not be recognized! I found it comical (as one who can't stand Ohio State football) how Terrelle Pryor was looked at as a possible Heisman Award candidate at the beginning of the year, fell off that chart, and was only rewarded Honorable Mention in the Big Ten. Hopefully the Ohio State fans, and others, realize he isn't all that he's cracked up to be! I'm just ready for the final BCS standings to be released, so we can see what bowl games teams will be playing in. Crossing my fingers Wisconsin is going to the Rose Bowl and not the Buckeyes! :)

Big Ten Announces 2010 Football All-Conference Teams and Individual Honors

OSU and Michigan Can Work Together

In my hometown newspaper on Friday, there was a touching story about a young man who was paralyzed in a horrific car accident Christmas Eve of 2007.  This young man was Brock Mealer, and his brother Elliot, who was also in the car that night, is the offensive lineman for the Wolverines.  Brock was just 13 credit hours away from graduating from Ohio State.  Even though the brothers went to rival schools, but colleges, and head football coaches, were able to help Brock during his recovery and provide him with great motivation and therapy.  I had heard this story before last year's match up between Michigan and Ohio State, and I remember crying during the whole thing.  What I failed to mention before was that Elliott's 17 year-old girlfriend, Hollis Richer, father, and mother were also in the car.  Elliott and his mother crawled out the window of the mangled car, the only two without life threatening injuries.  Hollis was dead beneath the vehicle, and their father was dead lying on top of Brock who was pinned by the twisted metal.  It gives me chills just thinking about this devastating night. No family should ever have to go through this disaster. I know I can't explain the story just how it went, so watch the video I have attached from an E:60 special that I had watched a year ago.  What this story doesn't mention is that Brock led his brother and the rest of the Wolverines onto the field for their season-opener against Connecticut, with the help of two canes and leg braces.  This is one of the most touching/sad/motivating stories one can hear. It goes to show that even two teams with the biggest rivalries, can pull together when needed to.

E:60 - Elliott Mealer

Joe Pa Returning for 2011

Coach Joe Paterno announced last Tuesday that he will be returning for another season at Penn State.  Joe Pa is going to be 84 on December 21 and will be back for his 46th season as major college football winningest coach.  I understand that he loves the sport and the athletes, but most of our grandparents don't even live to the age of 84, yet coach a major Division I football program. He is a great coach and one of the biggest symbols for Penn State, but when he is battling illness and having to cut back on in-season obligations, I think it should be time to call it quits. My dad made a good comparison the other day, saying Paterno is as bad as Brett Favre, and they both are messing around with retirement and just need to go.  I feel like a coach can only do some much with a program and being there 46 years should be enough! If I was the Athletic Director, I would think it was time for him to step down, see what another coach can do with the program, and give Paterno time to take care of himself.  Paterno has done more at one school than most coaches will ever do in a lifetime; he has nothing left to prove. Please only one more year Joe!

Joe Paterno Plans to Coach in 2011

Unnoticed Champs?

From my last post, I mentioned how Michigan State, Ohio State, and Wisconsin could all share a part of the Big Ten Title, so why haven't we heard anything about Wisconsin this year?!  I feel that Ohio State is ALWAYS being talked about, whether they are having a good year or not, and Michigan State started with a school record with consecutive wins, so I can see why those teams are being mentioned, but why not Wisconsin? I am not going to say I am a hardcore football fanatic, so there are some facts and teams that I am not all that aware of, but Wisconsin is 10-1 and I can't even name their starting quarterback.  They returned the league's offense player of the year in running back John Clay, but with a knee injury, he has sat out the last couple games. Wouldn't one think Wisconsin would struggle without him? No, they have been able to put up better numbers during his absence! I just don't get how a team can be leading the league and 7th in the nation in scoring and no one ever talks about them! I'm not saying I'm a Wisconsin fan by any means, but can't they get some credit every now and then!? They will have to prove themselves today when they play Northwestern, to see if they do deserve some of hype, but I feel they will come out victorious and be the unnoticed champs of the Big Ten.

Conference Championship

Three teams will all play Saturday for a chance to clinch at least a share of the Big Ten Championship.  Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Ohio State all enter Saturday's contests with records of 6-1 in the conference.  The race will start at noon on the 27th when the Buckeyes host rival Michigan, and when the Spartans travel to Penn State.  Wisconsin will battle against Northwestern at 2:30. I am really excited to see how this all pans out.  I feel that Northwestern is a team that can definitely pull the upset over Wisconsin, and Penn State will be a handful for Michigan State.  Even though Michigan has a terrible defense, its a huge rivalry, so I am hoping they come to play against Ohio State! I would love to see Ohio State and Wisconsin lose, but I can handle Michigan State sharing the title with Wisconsin.