A rough day to be an Illinois assistant.
Jim from Chicago writes: Adam: I've seen it 100 times. The head coach cans all or most of his assistants which gives him another year. When that doesn't work, the head coach gets canned the following year. Is that what is happening with Ron Zook at Illinois or will this move really produce a positive step forward next year?
Adam Rittenberg: Right now, it doesn't look like this will end well for Zook at Illinois. He's got a lot stacked against him right now, namely dwindling fan support, player transfers and a small group of verbal commits for 2010. Plus, he's got to hire coordinators who know they'll be fired in a year if things don't turn around. But if he finds the right people and starts to change what I thought was a dysfunctional culture around the program this fall, Illinois could get back to a bowl in 2010. Talent is there, even with the departures this year. But talent has never been the problem for the Illini. It's very difficult to turn this around, but not impossible.
Chad from Columbus, Ohio, writes: Do you think Brian Kelly will push for Notre Dame to join a conference - more specifically, the Big Ten - as a move to bring Notre Dame football into the 21st Century, and would he be welcomed at this time?
Adam Rittenberg: Nope. I think Brian Kelly took the ND job fully knowing the Irish have no plans to join a league. And like I've said many times, from a pure business perspective, it makes no sense for Notre Dame to relinquish its independent status. The Irish have a sweet TV deal, receive special treatment from the BCS and can play in big bowls by winning eight or nine games. Plus, Notre Dame's schedule isn't what it used to be in degree of difficulty. Notre Dame might have to consider joining a conference at some point, but not as long as it has the TV contract.
Matt from Washington writes: Adam, great job this season. As an Ohio State fan, I can understand that few players on this year's squad made first team all-Big Ten squads. This was a year lacking OSU star power. Typically, only Kurt Coleman makes it as a consensus player on most lists, with PSU and Iowa have multiple players on the first team. My problem with this is that you can't have it both ways--if winning Big Ten coach of the year means you make the most of the talent you have available, then you can't place multiple guys on the first team (see: Iowa) and then have your coach bag the award. It's just logically inconsistent, and while I grant that Iowa had a tough season in terms of injuries, so did OSU, and Iowa lost two of its last three. I think these awards have much less to do with who played/coached the best this year, and who was playing/coched the best as of late October--before OSU went into its great November run and before they won the conference outright (and before Ferentz lost two of his last three). If the media/coaches are going to vote on these things before the season is done, might as well not do the awards at all.
Adam Rittenberg: Matt, I have to agree with much of what you say here. The Coach of the Year award has a lot to do with preseason expectations for a team, total talent, etc. And whether it's perception or reality, Ohio State is thought to have more talent than any other Big Ten team. Now I believe that Iowa overcame more obstacles than Ohio State from an injury standpoint, and both Tressel and Ferentz did great jobs down the stretch. Iowa had a lot of first-team All-Big Ten players who weren't on the radar before the season. Whether it's fair or not, Ohio State had the Offensive Player of the Year in Terrelle Pryor, who didn't make first- or second-team all-conference. Again, all I'm pointing out is the perception. I thought Ferentz deserved to win in a very close vote, but I would have had no trouble if Tressel had won.
Joe E. from Overland Park, Kan., writes: Adam, I am an alumn of Michigan State University and am very discouraged with the negative situation revolving around our football program. I am a consitent reader of your articles and blogs, and typically enjoy your insight. However, I feel you are now taking advantage of an unfortunate series of events by writing about the latest MSU freshman accused of being a minor in possession. Had the "brawl" as some have put it not happened, this would not be newsworthy, as I'm sure this happens at every school. What's next, will you report of an MSU football player throwing a snowball?
Adam Rittenberg: Joe, our policy here is to report when players are charged with crimes, which is what happened in this case. If a player in the Big Ten gets charged with a crime and I know about it, it will appear in the blog and/or in our news section. It doesn't matter to me what team he's on or what else is going on with the team at that time. Now it's very important for everyone to know that Myles White has not been charged in the residence hall incident, but police are still investigating and more charges could be filed.
Jake from Bettendorf, Iowa, writes: Overall, I love the blog. But, can you (and the rest of the general media) please stop referring to Iowa beating PSU an "upset?" When a team is 7-1 against another team in the decade, rankings or not, it ceases to be an "upset." I realize each year is a new year, but there is something to be said for recent trends when coaches have remained constant. Iowa has the head-to-head at 8-5 since PSU joined the Big Ten, and if you go back to 1930, the series is tied at 11-11. As such, I would argue that if PSU beats Iowa, THEN you can call it an upset. Similarly, NW has not upset Iowa as NW has won 4 of the last 5 against Iowa.
Adam Rittenberg: Jake, I'll make a deal with you. If you find 10 Iowa fans who will agree that Northwestern's wins against Iowa are no longer upsets, then I'll stop calling Iowa's wins against Penn State upsets. You can't have it both ways. But I do admire the way you're looking at these recent series. I'll say this as well. Iowa likely will be favored against Penn State next year in Iowa City.
Jim from Chicago writes: Adam: I've seen it 100 times. The head coach cans all or most of his assistants which gives him another year. When that doesn't work, the head coach gets canned the following year. Is that what is happening with Ron Zook at Illinois or will this move really produce a positive step forward next year?
Adam Rittenberg: Right now, it doesn't look like this will end well for Zook at Illinois. He's got a lot stacked against him right now, namely dwindling fan support, player transfers and a small group of verbal commits for 2010. Plus, he's got to hire coordinators who know they'll be fired in a year if things don't turn around. But if he finds the right people and starts to change what I thought was a dysfunctional culture around the program this fall, Illinois could get back to a bowl in 2010. Talent is there, even with the departures this year. But talent has never been the problem for the Illini. It's very difficult to turn this around, but not impossible.
Chad from Columbus, Ohio, writes: Do you think Brian Kelly will push for Notre Dame to join a conference - more specifically, the Big Ten - as a move to bring Notre Dame football into the 21st Century, and would he be welcomed at this time?
Adam Rittenberg: Nope. I think Brian Kelly took the ND job fully knowing the Irish have no plans to join a league. And like I've said many times, from a pure business perspective, it makes no sense for Notre Dame to relinquish its independent status. The Irish have a sweet TV deal, receive special treatment from the BCS and can play in big bowls by winning eight or nine games. Plus, Notre Dame's schedule isn't what it used to be in degree of difficulty. Notre Dame might have to consider joining a conference at some point, but not as long as it has the TV contract.
Matt from Washington writes: Adam, great job this season. As an Ohio State fan, I can understand that few players on this year's squad made first team all-Big Ten squads. This was a year lacking OSU star power. Typically, only Kurt Coleman makes it as a consensus player on most lists, with PSU and Iowa have multiple players on the first team. My problem with this is that you can't have it both ways--if winning Big Ten coach of the year means you make the most of the talent you have available, then you can't place multiple guys on the first team (see: Iowa) and then have your coach bag the award. It's just logically inconsistent, and while I grant that Iowa had a tough season in terms of injuries, so did OSU, and Iowa lost two of its last three. I think these awards have much less to do with who played/coached the best this year, and who was playing/coched the best as of late October--before OSU went into its great November run and before they won the conference outright (and before Ferentz lost two of his last three). If the media/coaches are going to vote on these things before the season is done, might as well not do the awards at all.
Adam Rittenberg: Matt, I have to agree with much of what you say here. The Coach of the Year award has a lot to do with preseason expectations for a team, total talent, etc. And whether it's perception or reality, Ohio State is thought to have more talent than any other Big Ten team. Now I believe that Iowa overcame more obstacles than Ohio State from an injury standpoint, and both Tressel and Ferentz did great jobs down the stretch. Iowa had a lot of first-team All-Big Ten players who weren't on the radar before the season. Whether it's fair or not, Ohio State had the Offensive Player of the Year in Terrelle Pryor, who didn't make first- or second-team all-conference. Again, all I'm pointing out is the perception. I thought Ferentz deserved to win in a very close vote, but I would have had no trouble if Tressel had won.
Joe E. from Overland Park, Kan., writes: Adam, I am an alumn of Michigan State University and am very discouraged with the negative situation revolving around our football program. I am a consitent reader of your articles and blogs, and typically enjoy your insight. However, I feel you are now taking advantage of an unfortunate series of events by writing about the latest MSU freshman accused of being a minor in possession. Had the "brawl" as some have put it not happened, this would not be newsworthy, as I'm sure this happens at every school. What's next, will you report of an MSU football player throwing a snowball?
Adam Rittenberg: Joe, our policy here is to report when players are charged with crimes, which is what happened in this case. If a player in the Big Ten gets charged with a crime and I know about it, it will appear in the blog and/or in our news section. It doesn't matter to me what team he's on or what else is going on with the team at that time. Now it's very important for everyone to know that Myles White has not been charged in the residence hall incident, but police are still investigating and more charges could be filed.
Jake from Bettendorf, Iowa, writes: Overall, I love the blog. But, can you (and the rest of the general media) please stop referring to Iowa beating PSU an "upset?" When a team is 7-1 against another team in the decade, rankings or not, it ceases to be an "upset." I realize each year is a new year, but there is something to be said for recent trends when coaches have remained constant. Iowa has the head-to-head at 8-5 since PSU joined the Big Ten, and if you go back to 1930, the series is tied at 11-11. As such, I would argue that if PSU beats Iowa, THEN you can call it an upset. Similarly, NW has not upset Iowa as NW has won 4 of the last 5 against Iowa.
Adam Rittenberg: Jake, I'll make a deal with you. If you find 10 Iowa fans who will agree that Northwestern's wins against Iowa are no longer upsets, then I'll stop calling Iowa's wins against Penn State upsets. You can't have it both ways. But I do admire the way you're looking at these recent series. I'll say this as well. Iowa likely will be favored against Penn State next year in Iowa City.
Adam Rittenberg | email
College Football- ESPN.com Big Ten blogger
- Joined ESPN.com in 2008
- Wrote for Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald
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 TEAM COVERAGE
RECRUITING NATION
Michigan: WolverineNation
Follow everything Michigan at WolverineNation: Michigan Wolverines football, basketball, news, recruiting and more.
You must be signed in to post a comment