No video mailblog today, but plenty of questions and answers.
JW from Novi, Mich., writes: Can any of the sports writers tell us, with a straight face, how Jim Tressel, does not get selected as Big Ten Coach of the Year? EPSN blog predicts Wiscy or Iowa (again). In 9 years at The Ohio State University, has now won 6 Big Ten titles, 2 (or 3, depending on when you answer this) outright. We always here that he has "the talent" that other "more deserving" coaches do not have, but 1) you need to recruit that talent and 2) the cupboard was pretty bare in 2001, so he had to build it. I guess he'll have to wait for the Big Ten Lifetime Achievement Award.
Adam Rittenberg: It's still amazing that Tressel has never won one of these, and he definitely deserves to be considered this year. Ohio State really turned things around after the Purdue loss. But in terms of adversity, Iowa faced more than the Buckeyes. The Hawkeyes were hit really hard with injuries, particularly at running back, and overcame temporary losses of starting left tackle Bryan Bulaga and tight end Tony Moeaki. Kirk Ferentz should be the Big Ten Coach of the Year, but Tressel is right up there as well.
Drew from New York writes: Adam - love the new vlog segment. Cuts down on time spent viewing your blog instead of doing my job. One thing though. Maybe time for a haircut there, buddy?? I think you should go with the John Clay/O.B. style mohawk. Certainly workin' out well for those guys this season, huh?
Adam Rittenberg: You people spend way too much time thinking about my hair or my out-of-date TV! But hey, if you can sell my wife on the Mohawk idea, maybe I'll do it. But I can tell you this: I won't look nearly as cool as Clay, O.B. or my personal favorite, Illinois State basketball star Osiris Eldridge, who sports the O-hawk.
Troy from Detroit writes: Adam,If/when Kirk Cousins leads MSU to a win over PSU and outplays D.Clark, will you vote for him as 1st Team All Big Ten? I know he doesn't have the hype of Clark, [Terrelle] Pryor and others, but I wouldn't trade him for anybody. He has the stats to back it up, but I don't ever hear you media types give him the recognition as one of the conference's best QBs.
Adam Rittenberg: Troy, I actually don't have an All-Big Ten vote, but if Cousins did as you say, I would definitely consider him for first-team All-Big Ten. Daryll Clark probably is still the frontrunner at this point, but he has struggled recently. Purdue's Joey Elliott also is in the mix after a strong senior season. But Cousins has been extremely efficient for the Spartans, and if he wins a big one against Clark and Penn State, he should gain consideration.
Rob from State College, Pa., writes: Adam, Do you honestly believe is Penn State and Iowa are 10-2 that Iowa will be selected for BCS-bowl over PSU? I know Iowa beat PSU, but look at all the other factors in PSU's favor (JoePa, traveling fans, history with Orange and Fiesta, etc.). Not to mention the Nittany Lions will be ranked ahead of Iowa. I just don't see how PSU will not be selected.
Adam Rittenberg: Rob, it could go either way, but in this case, I don't think the bowls can go wrong with either team. Iowa travels extremely well and has a ton of natives/alumni in Arizona. If it comes down to the Orange Bowl, I think Penn State definitely gets the nod. The interesting thing will be whether the Fiesta Bowl sticks with its Big 12 roots and picks Oklahoma State, which survived last night against Colorado. In that case, Iowa could be in some trouble. The Joe Paterno factor definitely helps Penn State, but a bowl committee won't be disappointed with Iowa. This isn't like a Big East or an ACC team that can't bring fans.
Billy from Somerville, N.J., writes: Hey Adam! I would like your opinion to a possible solution to the issue of the Big-Ten being split on playing past Thanksgiving. Could every Big Ten team be off the week of Thanksgiving? That would satisfy the request of coaches like Tressel to be home with their families and they can still play meaningful football past Thanksgiving to keep fresh for bowl season and in the minds of the media.
Adam Rittenberg: I actually like this plan a lot, Billy. Kirk Ferentz does as well. He recently said, "I would take Thanksgiving off and come back and play in December. NFL teams do it." You actually give most teams two bye weeks this way, one before Thanksgiving and one the weekend after. Now I'm sure Michigan and Ohio State would make a stink about playing on Dec. 4 or whatever, but it would put the Big Ten on par with the other leagues. There would be a ton of attention on the league.
Will from Columbus, Ohio, writes: hey adam First my Prayers go out to the Spielman family.Stefanie Spielman passed away today after a long battle with breast cancer.She leaves behind husband Chris Spielman and 4 children.Its a sad day for Columbus and the entire Buckeye Nation.She helped spread awareness for breast cancer and raised millions of dollars for breast cancer research.Its never easy when a fellow Buckeye passes especially one like her.
Adam Rittenberg: Will, agree with everything you said. My condolences to Chris, their children and the rest of the Spielman family. A very tragic loss.
JW from Novi, Mich., writes: Can any of the sports writers tell us, with a straight face, how Jim Tressel, does not get selected as Big Ten Coach of the Year? EPSN blog predicts Wiscy or Iowa (again). In 9 years at The Ohio State University, has now won 6 Big Ten titles, 2 (or 3, depending on when you answer this) outright. We always here that he has "the talent" that other "more deserving" coaches do not have, but 1) you need to recruit that talent and 2) the cupboard was pretty bare in 2001, so he had to build it. I guess he'll have to wait for the Big Ten Lifetime Achievement Award.
Adam Rittenberg: It's still amazing that Tressel has never won one of these, and he definitely deserves to be considered this year. Ohio State really turned things around after the Purdue loss. But in terms of adversity, Iowa faced more than the Buckeyes. The Hawkeyes were hit really hard with injuries, particularly at running back, and overcame temporary losses of starting left tackle Bryan Bulaga and tight end Tony Moeaki. Kirk Ferentz should be the Big Ten Coach of the Year, but Tressel is right up there as well.
Drew from New York writes: Adam - love the new vlog segment. Cuts down on time spent viewing your blog instead of doing my job. One thing though. Maybe time for a haircut there, buddy?? I think you should go with the John Clay/O.B. style mohawk. Certainly workin' out well for those guys this season, huh?
Adam Rittenberg: You people spend way too much time thinking about my hair or my out-of-date TV! But hey, if you can sell my wife on the Mohawk idea, maybe I'll do it. But I can tell you this: I won't look nearly as cool as Clay, O.B. or my personal favorite, Illinois State basketball star Osiris Eldridge, who sports the O-hawk.
Troy from Detroit writes: Adam,If/when Kirk Cousins leads MSU to a win over PSU and outplays D.Clark, will you vote for him as 1st Team All Big Ten? I know he doesn't have the hype of Clark, [Terrelle] Pryor and others, but I wouldn't trade him for anybody. He has the stats to back it up, but I don't ever hear you media types give him the recognition as one of the conference's best QBs.
Adam Rittenberg: Troy, I actually don't have an All-Big Ten vote, but if Cousins did as you say, I would definitely consider him for first-team All-Big Ten. Daryll Clark probably is still the frontrunner at this point, but he has struggled recently. Purdue's Joey Elliott also is in the mix after a strong senior season. But Cousins has been extremely efficient for the Spartans, and if he wins a big one against Clark and Penn State, he should gain consideration.
Rob from State College, Pa., writes: Adam, Do you honestly believe is Penn State and Iowa are 10-2 that Iowa will be selected for BCS-bowl over PSU? I know Iowa beat PSU, but look at all the other factors in PSU's favor (JoePa, traveling fans, history with Orange and Fiesta, etc.). Not to mention the Nittany Lions will be ranked ahead of Iowa. I just don't see how PSU will not be selected.
Adam Rittenberg: Rob, it could go either way, but in this case, I don't think the bowls can go wrong with either team. Iowa travels extremely well and has a ton of natives/alumni in Arizona. If it comes down to the Orange Bowl, I think Penn State definitely gets the nod. The interesting thing will be whether the Fiesta Bowl sticks with its Big 12 roots and picks Oklahoma State, which survived last night against Colorado. In that case, Iowa could be in some trouble. The Joe Paterno factor definitely helps Penn State, but a bowl committee won't be disappointed with Iowa. This isn't like a Big East or an ACC team that can't bring fans.
Billy from Somerville, N.J., writes: Hey Adam! I would like your opinion to a possible solution to the issue of the Big-Ten being split on playing past Thanksgiving. Could every Big Ten team be off the week of Thanksgiving? That would satisfy the request of coaches like Tressel to be home with their families and they can still play meaningful football past Thanksgiving to keep fresh for bowl season and in the minds of the media.
Adam Rittenberg: I actually like this plan a lot, Billy. Kirk Ferentz does as well. He recently said, "I would take Thanksgiving off and come back and play in December. NFL teams do it." You actually give most teams two bye weeks this way, one before Thanksgiving and one the weekend after. Now I'm sure Michigan and Ohio State would make a stink about playing on Dec. 4 or whatever, but it would put the Big Ten on par with the other leagues. There would be a ton of attention on the league.
Will from Columbus, Ohio, writes: hey adam First my Prayers go out to the Spielman family.Stefanie Spielman passed away today after a long battle with breast cancer.She leaves behind husband Chris Spielman and 4 children.Its a sad day for Columbus and the entire Buckeye Nation.She helped spread awareness for breast cancer and raised millions of dollars for breast cancer research.Its never easy when a fellow Buckeye passes especially one like her.
Adam Rittenberg: Will, agree with everything you said. My condolences to Chris, their children and the rest of the Spielman family. A very tragic loss.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Adam Rittenberg
Rittenberg joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four years at the Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald, where he covered sports at Notre Dame, Northwestern, DePaul and several other colleges. He lives in Chicago.
Brian Bennett
Bennett joined ESPN.com in August 2008 after nine years at The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., where he covered college sports and the University of Louisville beat. He lives in Louisville.
BIG TEN SCOREBOARD
Saturday, 12/17
Final Temple 37 Wyoming 15 Final Ohio 24 Utah State 23 Final San Diego State 30 Louisiana-Lafayette 32
Tuesday, 12/20
Wednesday, 12/21
Final 18 TCU 31 Louisiana Tech 24
Thursday, 12/22
Saturday, 12/24
Final Nevada 17 21 Southern Miss 24
Monday, 12/26
Tuesday, 12/27
Final Western Michigan 32 Purdue 37 Final Louisville 24 North Carolina State 31
Wednesday, 12/28
Final Toledo 42 Air Force 41 Final California 10 24 Texas 21
Thursday, 12/29
Final Florida State 18 Notre Dame 14 Final Washington 56 12 Baylor 67
Friday, 12/30
Final Brigham Young 24 Tulsa 21 Final Rutgers 27 Iowa State 13 Final Mississippi State 23 Wake Forest 17 Final Iowa 14 14 Oklahoma 31
Saturday, 12/31
Final Texas A&M 33 Northwestern 22 Final/OT Georgia Tech 27 Utah 30 Final Illinois 20 UCLA 14 Final Cincinnati 31 Vanderbilt 24 Final Virginia 24 25 Auburn 43
Monday, 1/2
Final 19 Houston 30 22 Penn State 14 Final Ohio State 17 Florida 24 Final/3OT 17 Michigan State 33 16 Georgia 30 Final 20 Nebraska 13 9 South Carolina 30 Final 10 Wisconsin 38 5 Oregon 45 Final/OT 4 Stanford 38 3 Oklahoma State 41
Tuesday, 1/3
Final/OT 13 Michigan 23 11 Virginia Tech 20
Wednesday, 1/4
Final 23 West Virginia 70 15 Clemson 33
Friday, 1/6
Final 8 Kansas State 16 6 Arkansas 29
Saturday, 1/7
Sunday, 1/8
Monday, 1/9
BIG TEN TEAM COVERAGE
RECRUITING NATION
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