ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Excuse the shameless self-promotion, but I wanted to make sure all of you saw our Big Ten preview, which ran Friday. We had a few technical difficulties that day (as many of you noticed), but things are all cleared up now.

Preview items included:

• Colleague Pat Forde on the Big Ten's struggles and how Ohio State needs help from its conference brethren to restore respect.
• Quarterback play is the biggest key toward turning things around in the Big Ten.
• Michigan State finally has a long-term plan for success for its football program.
• Illinois' Juice Williams and Arrelious Benn have taken on greater leadership roles heading into a pivotal season for the program.
• Big Ten superlatives for 2009.
• Five things to watch in the Big Ten.

I also wanted to share a few more items from the Michigan State piece that didn't make the story. While in East Lansing, I spent a good chunk of time with Spartans men's basketball coach Tom Izzo, a football junkie who's best friends with former NFL and college coach Steve Mariucci and has a Vince Lombardi bobblehead in his office.
Izzo had some interesting thoughts about the football program's past and future.

• On football coach Mark Dantonio and AD Mark Hollis: "We've had no vision of five, six years down the road. In basketball, it’s hard enough, but in football, you almost have to prepare for Years 5 and 6 compared to basketball, maybe 3 or 4. Dantonio was the right guy for the job because he had a background here, he's a very disciplined guy, he’s a great family guy, he knows Michigan State. Him and I and Hollis really get along. Hollis has made sure that we do not separate. We spent some time, I had four days off in recruiting and Hollis set up a little trip for the three of our families to go to Mackinac Island. I’ve always got along with our football people. It’s important to have somebody you can call who knows what you’re going through.”
• He mentioned how this is the first time since the 1980s when MSU's football coach, basketball coach, hockey coach and athletic director are all on the same page. Back then, George Perles, Jud Heathcote, Ron Mason and Doug Weaver held those jobs.
• On Dantonio's demand to regain fans' respect: "For two years (2005 and 2006), we led the conference in penalties. I don’t know everything, but there just seemed to be, maybe people didn’t think we competed all the time. Win or lose, these guys have competed all the time."