ESPN College Football

Most Big Ten coaches label their jobs with a capital D for destination. When a head coach arrives on a Big Ten campus, he usually isn't looking for his next stop. Big Ten fans take pride in this.

The league has been largely immune from the wandering-eye coaches who leave programs at inopportune times for the next big thing. Even the Big Ten programs that could be classified as stepping stones haven't been left in the lurch very often in recent years. While it's not shocking that a Big Ten coach hasn't jumped to a different college job, it's a bit of a surprise that the NFL hasn't plucked one away.

The last Big Ten coach to voluntarily leave his team at a less-than ideal time was Nick Saban, who ditched Michigan State for LSU on Nov. 30, 1999. Saban had led the Spartans to a 9-2 record, a No. 10 national ranking and berth in the Florida Citrus Bowl. Although then-Michigan State athletic director Clarence Underwood praised Saban for putting the program "back on solid ground," Saban's departure put the school in a tough situation. Less than a week after Saban's departure, Michigan State promoted longtime assistant Bobby Williams to head coach, a decision that didn't turn out well.

After flirting with several bigger-name programs during his time at Northwestern, Gary Barnett finally left to take the Colorado job on Jan. 20, 1999, just weeks before national signing day. Although Northwestern immediately named Barnett's replacement, Randy Walker, the drawn-out saga wasn't much fun, given what Barnett had meant to the school.

But since Saban and Barnett, the Big Ten hasn't had any coaches voluntarily leave at bad times. There have been some midseason firings (Tim Brewster at Minnesota, Williams at Michigan State) and some late firings (Rich Rodriguez at Michigan, Glen Mason at Minnesota), but in those cases the schools, not the coaches, made decisions that put themselves in tough situations.

The most recent instances of coaches leaving Big Ten programs in tough spots involved two men who certainly didn't walk away on their own terms.

After months of scrutiny stemming from the tattoo/memorabilia scandal and his attempted cover-up, Jim Tressel resigned his post as Ohio State's coach on Memorial Day of 2011. Tressel stepped down just three months before the season and with spring practice all wrapped up. Ohio State knew it would be without Tressel for the first five games of the 2011 season, but his resignation under pressure left the program scrambling.

The school named 37-year-old assistant Luke Fickell, who had never been a head coach before, to the top job. After six consecutive seasons of Big Ten titles (won or shared), Ohio State went 6-7 under Fickell last fall, its first losing season since 1988 and its first seven-loss season since 1897. Ouch.

But the ugliest and most untimely departure was yet to come. Five days after former Penn State assistant Jerry Sandusky was arrested on child sex abuse charges, Penn State's board of trustees voted to fire longtime coach Joe Paterno. The date: Nov. 9. Penn State was 8-1 at the time, and 11 days earlier Paterno had recorded his 409th coaching victory, moving him past Eddie Robinson for the most wins in college football history. Hours before the board's decision, Paterno had announced he would retire following the season, his 46th as head coach. Instead, he was informed via telephone that his tenure was over, which triggered a backlash from Penn State students and fans.

The school promoted longtime assistant Tom Bradley to interim head coach. Bradley led the team during a hellish eight weeks that featured, among other things: a 1-3 record that knocked Penn State out of the Big Ten race; snubs by several bowl games who didn't want to deal with a p.r. nightmare; the announcement that Paterno had been diagnosed with lung cancer; a locker-room fight that left starting quarterback Matthew McGloin concussed and unable to play in the bowl; and a seemingly rudderless coaching search that took too long and put Bradley in an awkward situation.

In six months, two iconic Big Ten programs lost incredibly successful coaches under extremely messy circumstances.

A Big Ten coach bolting for an NFL job suddenly doesn't sound so bad.

There will be new leadership in Minnesota's athletic department at the start of the 2012-13 sports season as Joel Maturi announced Thursday he will retire June 30.

Maturi's retirement isn't a major surprise, as many projected the 67-year-old to step down in the next year or so. Minnesota president Eric Kaler said Thursday that Maturi will work with him on fundraising and special projects following his retirement. Kaler said he and Maturi reached a mutual decision that Maturi would step down at the end of June.

Kaler said Minnesota will look both nationally an internally for Maturi's replacement, which Kaler expects to have in place by July 1.

How should Maturi's tenure as Minnesota's AD be viewed? The athletic program had no major scandals under his watch, which hadn't been the case in previous decades. He also helped bring football back to campus with the construction of TCF Bank Stadium, one of the best new facilities in college football. Maturi also made a splash with the hiring of men's basketball coach Tubby Smith in 2007.

But if ADs are ultimately judged by the success of their high-profile programs, Maturi fell short. His hiring of football coach Tim Brewster turned out very badly, and the prolonged search for Brewster's successor last year didn't look good, either. Maturi made some candid, eyebrow-raising comments after firing Brewster and during the process of hiring Jerry Kill.

From the (St. Paul) Pioneer Press:

Last season, his football team, his men's and women's basketball teams, and his men's hockey team all failed to make a national postseason appearance. The last time all four teams did not make a bowl or NCAA tournament was the 1997-98 season. The last time there was no bowl, NCAA tournament or NIT or WNIT appearance was the 1983-84 season.

Maturi also was criticized for buyouts paid to fired coaches like Brewster, former football coach Glen Mason and former basketball coach Dan Monson.

He seemed to have respect throughout Big Ten circles, and he was always forthright in our interactions.

"I know the job," Maturi said Thursday. "Many base my success on wins and losses. I'm not worried about Joel Maturi's legacy. I leave ... feeling good."

Maturi's departure doesn't significantly impact Kill, because it always seemed likely Maturi would step down before any decision on Kill's future would be made. Kill took the job knowing he'd likely have a new boss in the near future.

Then again, new athletic directors usually like to have their guys in place, and Kill will have to prove himself to Maturi's successor. It'll be interesting to see where Minnesota goes with the hire.

Wishing everyone a great weekend and hoping for some exciting games!

Adam M. from Austin, Texas, writes: Adam, I hear all this talk about the vaunted MSU defense vs. my Badger's destructive force on offense, but what about the other side of the battle? If I can read my stat lines correctly, while the Badgers have given up 100 yards more a game (give or take), they're ahead in the only stat that really matters: Points allowed. I know their competition hasn't been the best, but after the Nebraska game, there needs to be some credit given. I know injuries are taking their toll, but they still stepped it up and clamped down vs. Indiana. The only score came on a mistake that went for a long TD run. It's not like MSU is having a blowout year on offense.

Adam Rittenberg: Glad you brought this up, Austin. Wisconsin's defense certainly has made strides after a shaky tackling performance in the opener against UNLV. The Badgers have been described as a no-name defense, which seems pretty accurate, although players like linebackers Mike Taylor and Chris Borland and cornerback Antonio Fenelus are having really nice individual seasons. The big key against Michigan State is the defensive line, especially after the Spartans ran the ball well with Edwin Baker against Michigan. Michigan State's young offensive line is gaining confidence, and the Badgers don't have a J.J. Watt this year. A huge key for Wisconsin is third-down defense, as Michigan State converted 9 of 18 attempts last year.

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Tim from St. Paul writes: Adam, had to comment after reading a Glen Mason-related question in your chat today. Why does everyone consider Mason to be a "winner" at Minnesota? He was 32-48 in the big ten. He beat no one of consequence (He won at Ohio State in Cooper's last year, the worst OSU team in 50 years). He played 3 BCS non-conference teams in 10 years. Not beat, PLAYED, and yes, he had major input in scheduling. Explain how destroying terrible non-conference teams and going 3-5 in conference going to low-tier bowls is successful? I get he was light years better than Brewster, but come on, it is illegal for MN fans to expect more?

Adam Rittenberg: Tim, you bring up some great points. I wasn't saying Minnesota shouldn't expect more than what Mason did during his tenure, and you're right that he struggled in Big Ten play and against elite competition. But he did make bowl games and avoid disastrous seasons like 2007, 2010 and this one. I understand Minnesota's desire to take the next step, and maybe things need to get worse before they can get a lot better. It's just tough to see what has happened in Minneapolis since Mason was fired. Fans shouldn't expect mediocrity. I get that. But Minnesota fans are always making the Wisconsin comparisons. Wisconsin has been pretty darn good for almost 20 years. It takes time to build that tradition and truly take the next step. Would Mason have done it? His track record suggested he wouldn't, but he also didn't have a shiny new stadium to show off to recruits.

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Mike from Martins Ferry, Ohio, writes: If all of the controversy did not happen with OSU and the players was not suspended, Do you think OSU would still have 3 losses?

Adam Rittenberg: No way, Mike. You put Terrelle Pryor, DeVier Posey, Dan Herron and Mike Adams into the Buckeyes' offense from Day 1, and you're looking at a potential national title contender in my mind. There's no way the Buckeyes lose to a mediocre Miami team, and the team likely doesn't fall apart at Nebraska with those seniors on the field. Ohio State's defense showed last week at Illinois that it can still play a little ball, but the absences on the offensive side have been felt from Day 1. You can already see significant differences with Adams and Herron back in the fold. Posey will help, too, although he's out until Nov. 19.

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Jeff from K-Zoo, Mich., writes: With Nebraska stuggling and Dennard losing pub in the process. Is Johnny Adams emerging as the top Cornerback in the B1G this year

Adam Rittenberg: Jeff, Adams has been outstanding this season for Michigan State. After a strong spring, he has put himself among the league's top cornerbacks for sure. It's a little hard to judge Dennard because he missed the first three games with a leg injury. He's still a heck of a player, and it will be interesting to see what he does against better receivers like B.J. Cunningham, Jeremy Ebert and Marvin McNutt down the stretch. Purdue's Ricardo Allen also has stood out with two interceptions, including a pick-six. But Adams has really impressed me. It will be interesting to see how he fares against Wisconsin's Nick Toon on Saturday night.

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Matt from Ann Arbor, Mich., writes: Just read the Big Ten statement regarding the 1-game suspension of Gholston. I am a little confused as to there not being anything mentioned about the obvious attempt to break Denard's neck. It would seem that the Big Ten has just set a precedent of turning their head to aggressive attempts to injure another player. Am I missing something? Also, Michigan State deserved to win that game because their defense is very good. It still would be a good defense without an attempt to break an opposing players neck.

Adam Rittenberg: Matt, I was a little surprised the Big Ten only referenced the punch and not the other personal foul William Gholston received. To me, the combination of the two fouls makes it a unique case meriting a suspension. But the punch corresponds more with the sportsmanlike conduct violation language in the Big Ten Handbook, so the league went with that. Anyway, the league did the right thing in this case. Will Gholston isn't a bad kid at all, and I don't think last week's game reflects him as a player and a person. But the combination of the two incidents merited some type of punishment.

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Kyle from West Lafayette, Ind., writes: Hi Adam, I just realized that Case Keenum received a 6th year of eligibility at Houston after only playing in 3 games last season. Keith Smith only played in 2 games last season before tearing his ACL/MCL, but the NCAA denied his request for another year. What is going on at the NCAA? This seems very inconsistent...

Adam Rittenberg: Kyle, I hated the NCAA's decision at the time and still don't understand it myself. The inconsistency with these decisions is stunning. You're happy for guys like Keenum and Minnesota safety Kim Royston, and you feel sick for a guy like Smith, who not only is a terrific receiver but a wonderful representative for Purdue and college athletics. You'd think the NCAA would want a guy like Smith around for one more year. He took a redshirt season in 2007 in part because he left the team to deal with family issues in the spring. And then he hurts his knee early in the 2010 season. I didn't understand the NCAA's decision then, and I don't understand it now.

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Matt from Bridgewater, N.J., writes: Adam, your blog keeps me sane at school!-Call me a tad optimistic, but I say Penn St. goes 10-2 with their sole loss coming from Wisconsin. Northwestern seems to be falling apart by the week, and Illinois showed that it has trouble on the big stage. Nebraska has not lived up to the hype (not to mention several key injuries), they come to Happy Valley, and we get Moye back. Finally, the entire team, especially McGloin must be looking for a measure of payback, the way they let the OSU game slip last year. Then we get blown out by Wisky. Your thoughts?

Adam Rittenberg: Matt, I'd say you're being optimistic, but a 10-2 mark isn't unrealistic for Penn State. The Lions defense will keep the team in every game as long as the offense doesn't commit a bunch of turnovers. And if the offense makes strides in the second half like it did last year, anything is possible. The Northwestern game is big because Penn State hasn't been dominant on the road by any stretch and the Wildcats are a desperate team in a must-win situation. Illinois will make it tough for Penn State to score, and the Lions will need to score a bit to beat Nebraska. There really aren't any gimmes the rest of the way, but Penn State has held its own so far in Big Ten play, thanks to the defense.

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Tom from Columbus, Ohio, writes: Adam,Do you think you can get Michigan & Nebraska to play a meaningful trophy game? The only trophy that matters. Bring both 1997 national championship trophies to the game, winner take all

Adam Rittenberg: Tom, that would be a lot of fun. But something tells me both schools won't want to give up their hardware because of a game that took place 14 years later. Maybe I'm wrong.

Memo to Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi: If there's a team with "Dakota" in its name on future football schedules, call and cancel IMMEDIATELY.

Minnesota's struggles against its neighbors to the West continued tonight at TCF Bank Stadium.

On to the postmortem ...

North Dakota State 37, Minnesota 24: Glen Mason got pink-slipped from Minnesota after the 2006 season for failing to beat the better teams on the schedule. But Mason's teams almost always took care of business against the teams they were supposed to beat. Golden Gopher fans likely long for those days.

Minnesota fell to an FCS opponent for the second consecutive season and for the third time in five years. South Dakota was the culprit last fall. North Dakota State also beat the Gophers in 2007, as Minnesota went 1-11 in Tim Brewster's first season on the sideline. Jerry Kill can only hope for better results after his team was outclassed by the Bison. What a mess for a Minnesota team that opened the season with such promise at USC.

Kill knew his team would be tested by the Bison, but Minnesota has so many problems right now. The secondary is a mess, and if the opposing quarterback has any time, as Brock Jensen did tonight, he'll make plays. The Gophers also have a quarterback quandary, as MarQueis Gray backslid tonight, forcing freshman Max Shortell into action. Gray is undoubtedly a great athlete, but can he play quarterback at this level? He needs to be much more consistent.

Credit North Dakota State for making the big plays, none bigger and wilder than a return for a touchdown on the final play of the first half after a Hail Mary attempt by Gray. The Bison had all the momentum at halftime, and they never really relinquished it in the final 30 minutes. Minnesota has a lot of youth on its roster, and the Gophers need to grow up in a hurry as Big Ten play begins next week at Michigan.

One day away ...

• Ohio State's season hinges on the Miami game, Rob Oller writes in The Columbus Dispatch. Buckeyes safety Tyler Moeller knows it's all about takeaways against the U, Doug Lesmerises writes in The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer. Ohio State has made changes to its player ticket policy.
• The oddsmakers are overlooking the fact Michigan State is loaded, Lynn Henning writes in The Detroit News. Michigan State doesn't expect Notre Dame to keep being so generous with the football, Greg Johnson writes.
• Illinois strong man Jay Prosch prepares for the Burfict storm, John Supinie writes. Colleague Ted Miller writes Arizona State can't afford a letdown in Champaign. Illinois should be cautious about trying to win over Chicago, a pro sports town, Loren Tate writes.
• The Chicago Sun-Times predicts Week 3 here and here.
• A terrific piece by Dirk Chatelain about religion and running backs at Nebraska. Huskers wide receiver Kenny Bell boasts an excellent 'do, and he can make catches, too, Brian Rosenthal writes in the Lincoln Journal Star.
• Penn State's visit to Philly marks a homecoming for several Lions players, Mike Still writes in The Daily Collegian. Temple needs to beat Penn State to ever be considered a serious program, Mike Jensen writes in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
• Good news for Minnesota as coach Jerry Kill returns to practice. Kill has an ally in former Gophers coach Glen Mason, Chip Scoggins writes.
• Purdue has shown it can finish games, but starting them well is a different story, Mike Carmin writes in The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier.
• The Big Ten Network's Dave Revsine looks at Illinois' rise and other numbers throughout the league.
• A roundup of Wisconsin-Northern Illinois predictions and notes. Badgers defensive end David Gilbert grows into a vocal leader, Tom Mulhern writes in the Wisconsin State Journal.
• Iowa can turn around its season by slowing down a slippery quarterback, Marc Morehouse writes in The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette. Here's the latest on former Iowa football player Brett Greenwood.
• Former walk-on Jordan Kovacs never envisioned the role he'd have with Michigan, colleague Chantel Jennings writes. Annarbor.com's Nick Baumgardner looks at Brady Hoke's first 99 games as a head coach.
• Northwestern aims for perfection in limiting big plays, Teddy Greenstein writes.
• Indiana's season comes down to how the quarterbacks develop, Andy Graham writes (subscription required).

You're in Paris, got the best food in the world, and you're eating a chalupa?

• Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi speculates about whether Notre Dame tried to steal signals last year, Joe Rexrode writes in the Lansing State Journal. The Spartans should be insulted by being underdogs against Notre Dame, Jamie Samuelsen writes. Michigan coach Brady Hoke will root for the Spartans on Saturday.
• Illinois plucked LB Houston Bates from Bayou Country, Shannon Ryan writes in the Chicago Tribune. Illini players are ready for prime time.
• Nebraska's defense tries to rebound against Washington and RB Chris Polk. Huskers CB Alfonzo Dennard (leg) still hasn't returned to practice.
• Ohio State's offense will make do despite being shorthanded, Bill Rabinowitz writes in The Columbus Dispatch.
• Minnesota coach Jerry Kill isn't out of the hospital but still likely will coach Saturday. Former Gophers coach Glen Mason returns to the on-campus stadium he wanted, but as a broadcaster, Marcus Fuller writes in the (St. Paul) Pioneer Press.
• Former Michigan star Mike Hart admits Saturday will be "weird" at the Big House. Michigan LB Kenny Demens is in trouble for not paying rent.
• Iowa LB Christian Kirksey makes a rapid rise, Marc Morehouse writes in The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette.
• More bad news on the injury front for Indiana.
• Northwestern freshman center Brandon Vitabile has answered the challenge, Tina Akouris writes in the Chicago Sun-Times. The Wildcats should have strong fan support at Army, thanks to Sailgate.
• Don't be silly and count out Joe Paterno, Loren Tate writes in The (Champaign) News-Gazette. Some love for Penn State DT Devon Still here and here. Penn State is on upset alert against Temple, Steve Heiser writes in The York Dispatch.
• Purdue has problems, but QB Caleb TerBush isn't one of them, Mike Carmin writes in The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier.
• Wisconsin punter Brad Nortman doesn't mind his decreased workload, Tom Mulhern writes in the Wisconsin State Journal.

LOS ANGELES -- When the time came for J.J. Watt to provide a senior quote for his high school yearbook, he started to search for the perfect words.

Watt studied several possibilities, including famous quotes from legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi. But the most meaningful words had to come from within.

"I came up with dream big, work hard," Watt said.

Anyone who has followed Watt's career at Wisconsin knows the phrase well. The Badgers' All-American junior defensive end ends many posts on his popular Twitter page with those four words or the acronym DBWH.

The motto carries Watt through everything he does.

"It really exemplifies what I am as a person," he said. "I want to get the message out that if you dream big, you can do anything you want in the world. But that's only half of it. If you're not willing to work hard, put in the time and the effort that it takes, you're just going to be dreaming."

Watt is living the dream this week in California as he and his Wisconsin teammates prepare to face TCU in the Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO.

Watt blossomed for the Badgers this season, earning consensus first-team All-Big Ten honors and appearing on several All-America squads. He ranks third nationally in tackles for loss with 21 and is arguably the Big Ten's most versatile defender, recording every defensive statistic except safety this fall, and blocking three kicks on special teams.

College football fans know J.J. Watt, the finished product. He's a 6-6, 292-pound force projected to be an early-round pick in the 2011 NFL draft if he chooses to forgo his senior season.

It's hard to believe the same guy was a tight end in the MAC in 2007.

"I've never heard of it before," Badgers defensive coordinator Dave Doeren said. "His journey, it's unreal. To think that he was 6-4, 210 in high school and nobody recruited him, and now he's 6-6, 290, and everyone is telling him he should leave college early.

"What he's done is tremendous."

Badgers linebacker Blake Sorensen remembers the first time he saw Watt.

Both attended a football camp at the University of Minnesota as high school players. Sorensen was "Mr. Football" in Minnesota; a two-time all-state selection who led his team to back-to-back state championships.

And Watt?

"He's was this lanky, awkward-looking, random kid," Sorensen said.

Doeren, who served as Wisconsin's recruiting coordinator at the time, remembers discussing Watt. But Wisconsin didn't offer a scholarship.

Watt initially committed to Central Michigan, switched to Minnesota when Brian Kelly left CMU and then switched back to the Chippewas after Minnesota fired Glen Mason.

Although Watt appeared in every game for Central Michigan in 2007, he didn't feel right there. He returned home for six months, delivered pizzas and took classes at a local community college before transferring to Wisconsin and walking onto the team.

"Obviously, we didn't look very good when he transferred back and became our best player," Doeren said. "But it all worked out in the end."

The coaches didn't have high expectations for their new walk-on transfer, and Watt had to ask head coach Bret Bielema if he could try out at defensive end.

"I don't know if they really thought I was going to be much of a football player when I came here," he said. "I tried to make the most of it."

He began by transforming his body.

"It took a lot of hard work in the weight room, a lot of hard work in the kitchen, eating," Watt said. "It was tough to put on as much weight as I put on."

Watt left high school at 228 pounds. When he started his first game at Wisconsin in 2009, he weighed 286 pounds.

"It'd be like telling you," Sorensen said, looking at me, "that you'll look like Arnold Schwarzenegger."

In addition to super-sizing himself, Watt also faced the mental challenge of mastering a new position at the college level. After earning Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year honors in 2008, Watt started all 13 games last season and finished second on team in tackles for loss (15.5), pass breakups (5) and fumble recoveries (2) and third in sacks (4.5).

He ended the season strong, recording five tackles for loss, three sacks and two quarterback hurries in the final two games.

"If you look up a quote from last season, someone asked me who is going to be the unnamed guy who is going to be a good player, and I said J.J.," Badgers star left tackle Gabe Carimi said. "He's the one that I said. So it's not surprising. He's big, strong, powerful.

"There was no question that he was going to be a good player here."

Watt took his game to another level this fall, especially in Big Ten play. He recorded multiple tackles for loss in six of eight conference games and made more game-changing plays than any defender in the league.

Despite his size and ability to play both line positions -- there was some talk Watt would play defensive tackle this season-- he grew his pass-rushing repertoire.

"I've seen more finesse out of him than anything," said TCU tackle Marcus Cannon, who will oppose Watt in the Rose Bowl. "He has some really nice moves. I think power would be probably second to his speed."

The combination could prompt Watt to enter the NFL draft in April. He boasts an impressive college résumé, both on and off the field.

Watt this year established the Justin J. Watt Foundation, which raises money for local elementary and middle schools that lack funding for athletics. Like several of his teammates, he's a regular visitor at American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison.

Few were surprised when Watt won the Lott IMPACT Trophy, which recognizes both on-field performance and personal character.

It has been a long and unusual journey to Pasadena, but Watt wouldn't change a thing.

"I wouldn't have the work ethic I have," he said. "I wouldn't have the outlook on life that I have right now if it wasn't for everything that I had to go through to get here. So being in the Rose Bowl right now means that much more to me. ...

"I've seen everything," Watt continued. "I've seen the bottom, I've seen being out of college football, and now I'm seeing the top of college football. I was talking to my high school coach the other day. He told me, 'You've reached the Mecca of college football.' That's essentially what it is. The Rose Bowl is the biggest thing you can really do in the Big Ten.

"I'm just taking it all in and having a blast."

It was Harold, and I ate all of him. Even the face, in case of a tie. I ate him, sir! I ate my father pig!

• Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany says the NCAA missed an opportunity to come down harder on Cam Newton, Pete Thamel writes in The New York Times.
• Big Ten awards from AOL FanHouse's Mark Hasty, who thinks Jim Tressel is the league's coach of the year.
• Congrats to those selected to the Big Ten's fall academic All-Conference team.
• Former Michigan star Jamie Morris says the school must make a decision on Rich Rodriguez now, Drew Sharp writes in the Detroit Free Press. Michigan will receive a $4.7 million guarantee for playing Alabama, Angelique Chengelis writes in The Detroit News. AD Dave Brandon hints Michigan could play in a Jan. 1 bowl, Mark Snyder writes in the Free Press.
• Ron Dayne thinks Wisconsin's John Clay should stay in school for his senior year, Adam Mertz writes in the Wisconsin State Journal. Bret Bielema is providing reasons to believe in him, Andy Baggot writes in the Wisconsin State Journal.
• Indiana isn't the job for an elite football coach, Ben Smith writes in The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette.
• Iowa's athletic director is disappointed in the team's poor finish, Marc Morehouse writes in The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette. Iowa could soon pop the bubble and upgrade its practice facilities.
• There's a lot on the line for Illinois tonight at Fresno State, Herb Gould writes in the Chicago Sun-Times.
• FoxSports.com looks at the Great Rose Bowl Debate.
• Tim Brewster left Minnesota's program in better shape than the one he inherited from Glen Mason, Marcus Fuller writes in the (St. Paul) Pioneer Press. It looks like you can scratch Al Golden's name off of Minnesota's wish list, Phil Miller writes in the Star Tribune.
• A closer look at Penn State's 2011 recruiting class from the Centre Daily Times' Jeff Rice.

Indiana has been down this road before.

The school is no stranger to hiring offensive-minded coaches.

Cam Cameron came to Indiana in 1997 after coaching quarterbacks at Michigan and then with the Washington Redskins. He was succeeded in 2002 by Gerry DiNardo, who won a national title as Colorado's offensive coordinator before becoming a head coach at Vanderbilt and LSU. Indiana broke the mold in 2005 with Terry Hoeppner, a longtime defensive assistant at Miami (Ohio) before taking the top job in Oxford. But when Hoeppner died tragically in 2007, Indiana handed the head-coaching duties to Bill Lynch, the team's offensive coordinator.

After firing Lynch on Sunday, Indiana once again is looking for a coach to lead its football program.

It might be time for the Hoosiers to look to the other side of the ball.

Indiana's defense has dragged down the program for more than a decade. The Hoosiers have scored points and produced offensive standouts like Antwaan Randle El, Kellen Lewis, James Hardy and Ben Chappell, but their repeated inability to field adequate defenses has kept them out of bowl games. It still baffles me how IU couldn't make a single bowl game during Randle El's four years as the starting quarterback.

Defense was a large part of Lynch's downfall. His offenses fared well, but Indiana couldn't stop the opposition on a consistent basis.

Here's where Indiana's defense has ranked nationally in the 11 years:

2010: 89th (410.2 ypg)
2009: 88th (401 ypg)
2008: 107th (432.2 ypg)
2007: 71st (403.4 ypg)
2006: 109th (402.3 ypg)
2005: 93rd (417.7 ypg)
2004: 110th (453.2 ypg)
2003: 94th (429.7 ypg)
2002: 101st (428.4 ypg)
2001: 72nd (393.8 ypg)
2000: 112th (457.3 ypg)

Just dreadful.

I've been told most of the candidates for the Indiana job come from the offensive side, guys like Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, Michigan State offensive coordinator Don Treadwell, Northern Illinois coach Jerry Kill and former Minnesota coach Glen Mason.

Not saying these guys wouldn't work well at IU, but given the deficiencies on defense in Bloomington, the Hoosiers might be better off with a defense-oriented head coach.

Here are a few suggestions:

Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Doeren: Doeren has the charisma, the recruiting skills and the track record to succeed as a head coach. His defense ranks in the top four of the Big Ten in all the key categories, including second in takeaways and third in yards allowed, despite losing star linebacker Chris Borland in September. Doeren has helped mold standout players like Borland, defensive end J.J. Watt and defensive end O'Brien Schofield.

San Diego State coach Brady Hoke: I doubt Indiana could lure Hoke away from the West Coast, but he would qualify as a very good hire for the Hoosiers. He knows the area as the former Ball State coach, and he has a background in defense as the former defensive line coach at Michigan, among other spots. Hoke coached three All-American defensive linemen at Michigan.

Toledo coach Tim Beckman: Beckman led Toledo to an 8-4 mark in his second season at the school. He previously served as defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State, cornerbacks coach at Ohio State and defensive coordinator at Bowling Green. Beckman coached six All-Big Ten defensive backs in Columbus, including Donte Whitner.

Offense sells these days. I get that. But Indiana might be wise to hire a guy who knows a thing or two about defense.

In a perfect world, college football's classiest coaches could also be the best ones.

If so, Bill Lynch might be hoisting a crystal football in early January.

Instead, Lynch's Indiana Hoosiers players hoisted the Old Oaken Bucket on Saturday at Purdue. Indiana had ended a 12-game Big Ten losing streak and beaten its archrival on the road for the first time since 1996.

It was a great moment for Lynch and the Hoosiers, but that's all it was. A moment. Reality set in Sunday, as Indiana athletic director Fred Glass looked at the football program under Lynch's leadership through a wide-angle lens.

For all the good things that Glass saw -- and that so many of us see in Lynch -- the AD couldn't turn a blind eye to the number three.

As in, three Big Ten wins in the past three seasons.

Glass proceeded to make a bottom-line decision in a bottom-line business and fired Lynch on Sunday after the Hoosiers finished 5-7. It was the first major personnel move for Glass, and it likely will be one of the toughest choices of his career.

"I take no joy in this at all," Glass said at a news conference Sunday afternoon, "but I'm confident that it's the right thing to do."

Glass had three options with Lynch following Indiana's third consecutive bowl-less season:

• Extend Lynch's contract
• Allow Lynch to coach in the final year of his deal
• Make a change

"Three Big Ten wins in three years isn't the basis for an extension," Glass said.

You might remember Glass, after being hired, talked a lot about how contracts needed to be honored and needed to mean something again at Indiana. Some might view Sunday's decision as hypocritical because Lynch still had a year left on the extension he received in November 2007 after leading Indiana to its first bowl appearance in 14 seasons.

But in today's college football, a coach with one year left on his deal might as well have no years left. A coach can't recruit without some semblance of security, and going through a season as a potential lame duck would be tortuous.

"That wouldn't serve Bill or Indiana University very well," Glass said.

Glass made the right call Sunday, even though it was a tough one.

Lynch is the consummate gentleman, a total class act and an excellent representative for Indiana and its football program. His players stayed out of trouble for the most part, and he and his staff upgraded recruiting in recent years.

Lynch viewed Indiana like few coaches do -- as a destination job. He grew up in the state, starred as a player at Butler and coached at three in-state schools (Butler, Ball State and Depauw) before taking over at Indiana in 2007 following Terry Hoeppner's death.

But he didn't win enough, plain and simple. Especially in the Big Ten, where he went 6-26 with two last-place finishes in his four seasons. Indiana came so close so many times in league play, especially last season and also this year, but the Hoosiers couldn't get over the hump.

The Big Ten is a tough league that is about to get tougher in 2011 with the addition of Nebraska. Indiana needs a coach who can help the program take the next step. It will take time.

"Any change often results in one or two steps back," Glass said.

Glass called Lynch "a fabulous guy" and "a great teacher" and said several times how hard the decision was to make.

"It’s been really hard on me," he said. "But boo hoo for me. It’s part of being an athletic director. It’s my decision."

The next coach also will be Glass' decision, and he's willing to take his time to find the right man. Indiana won't use a search committee, although Glass will consult many people, including Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian, former Colts coach Tony Dungy and Chuck Neinas, who runs the Neinas Sports Services consulting firm.

Dungy, for the record, now is being used as a consultant for both Big Ten vacancies (Indiana and Minnesota).

Glass declined to outline the specifics he's looking for in Indiana's next coach but mentioned several times that he'll reach out to the Black Coaches Association. I'd be surprised if Indiana doesn't strongly consider some minority candidates in its search.

Some early possibilities for IU: San Diego State coach Brady Hoke, former Minnesota coach Glen Mason, Houston coach Kevin Sumlin, Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst and Michigan State offensive coordinator Don Treadwell.

Glass might not find many coaches who view Indiana as a dream job, as both Lynch and Hoeppner did. But Indiana certainly is a better job than it was several years ago, as the school has upgraded its stadium, its football training facilities and, perhaps most important, its home attendance.

“I think it's a fantastic job," Glass said. "Properly understood, it will be highly sought after. Indiana University is clearly committed to the football program."

Indiana can show its commitment by paying its next coach appropriately. Lynch made $650,000 this season, well below the bar for a coach from a major conference.

"We’re prepared to make the resources available to get the group that we want," Glass said, "and understand that it's probably going to be significantly more expensive than what we're spending now."

It takes tough decisions to become a better program. Indiana made one today.

Last Big Ten coaches' teleconference of the year today. Be sure and follow me on Twitter throughout.

• Michigan's lack of bluster on defense likely spells trouble at The Shoe, Rob Oller writes in The Columbus Dispatch. Athletic director Dave Brandon sees improvement on the field, but the football program "is still not where it needs to be," Lynn Henning writes in The Detroit News. Coach Rich Rodriguez remains confident that things are coming together, annarbor.com's Pete Bigelow writes.
• Bret Bielema directly lobbied awards committees to consider Wisconsin's top players this season, Tom Mulhern writes in the Wisconsin State Journal. Northwestern has been a thorn in Wisconsin's side, Jeff Potrykus writes in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Joe Paterno's health looks good enough so he can return in 2011, but whether it stays that way remains to be seen, Cory Giger writes in The Altoona Mirror. Whether or not the Lead Lion steps down, Penn State fans should treat Saturday like it's Paterno's final game, Frank Bodani writes in the York Daily Record.
• Winning in Happy Valley has been next to impossible for Michigan State, Joe Rexrode writes in the Lansing State Journal.
• Indiana AD Fred Glass has a big decision to make in the coming days, Dustin Dopirak writes in The (Bloomington) Herald-Times (subscription required).
• Minnesota wants to hire a coach before the December holidays, Phil Miller writes in the Star Tribune. The Gophers could be a dangerous team on Saturday against Iowa, Marc Morehouse writes in The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette. Some interesting thoughts from former Minnesota coach Glen Mason on his future and the Gophers', Rivals.com's Tom Dienhart writes.
• Ohio State quarterbacks coach Nick Siciliano doesn't go easy on Terrelle Pryor, John Kampf writes in The Morning Journal.
• Iowa has reached elite levels in football, but the Hawkeyes have a tough time staying there, Pat Harty writes in the Iowa City Press-Citizen.
• Northwestern is open to playing another game at Wrigley Field, but only if the field fits. The Wildcats missed a whopping 31 tackles against Illinois, Lindsey Willhite writes in the Daily Herald.

  
  
• Illinois' Mikel Leshoure is piling up the awards after his historic performance at Wrigley Field.

Tim Brewster came to Minnesota talking big and dreaming bigger.

I can't remember how many times I heard Brewster mention Minnesota's 18 Big Ten championships and six national championships, never mind the fact that neither event had happened since 1967.

Brewster knew the bar needed to be raised in Minneapolis. You couldn't blame him for aiming high. Why else would the school fire a coach (Glen Mason) who consistently made bowl games?

But Brewster couldn't make Minnesota into a championship program. In fact, he couldn't get the Gophers to the level Mason had them at the time of his termination following the 2006 Insight Bowl. Brewster never won a trophy game and went 1-9 in November games, with his lone win coming against FCS South Dakota State. His teams have been outscored 67-0 in their past two meetings with rival Iowa.

When he stopped winning in September and October this season, his days became numbered. And after Minnesota lost its sixth consecutive game Saturday at Purdue, dropping to 1-6 on the season, the school pulled the plug on the Brewster era.

Brewster went 15-30 at Minnesota and 7-18 since November 2008.

"While I appreciate the passion and commitment that Coach Brewster has shown, it is clear that a change in the leadership of Gopher football is necessary," athletic director Joel Maturi said in a prepared statement. "We have high aspirations for our football program and we are not satisfied with its current direction. The results so far this season have been unacceptable and the program has simply not shown enough improvement over the past three and a half years to continue with the status quo."

Co-offensive coordinator Jeff Horton will take over for Brewster on an interim basis. I hate to see lame-duck coaches in college sports, so this seems like the right move.

Firing Brewster only cost Minnesota $600,000, a buyout lowered in his recent contract extension.

Brewster never lacked passion, and his recruiting abilities as a former Mack Brown assistant showed at Minnesota. I loved the way he upgraded Minnesota's schedule, which had been a joke during the Mason era, and added showcase nonconference games against teams like USC.

But he also showed too many signs of a first-time college head coach.

His decision to replace veteran offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar and switch from the spread to a pro-style offense didn't pay off. He replaced Dunbar with an NFL assistant in Jedd Fisch whose complex concepts flew over the players' heads. Brewster kept shuffling his staff, a formula that rarely works in a sport where sticking to your guns usually is the way to go.

Minnesota is the first FBS program to make a coaching change in 2010, and the school now begins what could be an extensive coaching search. There are some dream candidates Minnesota can pursue (alum Tony Dungy, former assistant Kevin Sumlin, Mike Leach) and some more realistic ones (Montreal Alouettes coach Marc Trestman, former Iowa State coach Dan McCarney).

It will be interesting to see how much control Maturi has in the search since he was the one who hired Brewster.

Minnesota is a challenging job, but it's a better job now with a beautiful on-campus stadium to sell.

There are no excuses why Minnesota shouldn't be a middle-of-the-pack Big Ten team, building toward the high bar Brewster set but never could reach.

I know that this isn't a symbol for the crossroads of ideas. I now know it's a butt.

• The Big Ten surprisingly has the best crop of quarterbacks in the country, The Associated Press' Luke Meredith writes. A good look at the Big Ten at the midpoint and picks for Week 7 from the Chicago Sun-Times' Herb Gould.
• Don't expect Ohio State and Michigan to start building statues outside their stadiums any time soon, Doug Lesmerises writes in The Cleveland Plain Dealer.
• The Star Tribune's Jim Souhan outlines how Minnesota should replace Tim Brewster, including the hiring of Glen Mason as interim coach. Minnesota's MarQueis Gray makes strides at receiver while waiting to play quarterback, Jeff Rabjohns writes in The Indianapolis Star.
• Wisconsin needs to find more big plays on offense, Tom Mulhern writes in the Wisconsin State Journal. A roundup of Wisconsin-Ohio State predictions from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Dave Heller.
• Former Ohio State star Santonio Holmes assures a Buckeyes assistant that he didn't take money from an agent, Ken Gordon writes in The Columbus Dispatch. SI.com's Bill Trocchi breaks down the Buckeyes' quest to remain No. 1.
• Illinois linebacker Nate Bussey earns style points both on and off the field, Shannon Ryan writes in the Chicago Tribune. Illini punter Anthony Santella is reaching new heights this fall, ESPNChicago.com's Scott Powers writes.
• Several Big Ten teams make an appearance in this week's Bottom 10.
• Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon talks more about the 2012 game against Alabama, Angelique Chengelis writes in The Detroit News. Rich Rodriguez is a little envious of the time Kirk Ferentz has had to build Iowa's program, The Associated Press' Larry Lage writes.
• Iowa is the favorite in Saturday's game, but winning in Ann Arbor still has historic implications for the Hawkeyes, Andrew Logue writes in the Des Moines Register.
• Michigan State football is finally owning the spotlight in hoops-crazed East Lansing, Matt Charboneau writes in The Detroit News. The Lansing State Journal's Joe Rexrode and Barry Kiel debate whether Michigan State looks like a champion. An interesting view of Michigan State from The (Champaign) News-Gazette's Bob Asmussen.
• A look at five reasons for Northwestern's football rebirth from the Chicago Sun-Times' Rick Telander.
• Indiana has to respond from adversity Saturday against Arkansas State, Pete DiPrimio writes in The (Fort Wayne) News-Sentinel.
• Purdue is confident that quarterback Rob Henry can develop as a passer, Mike Carmin writes in The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier.
• Penn State is learning that it's more damaging to lose games in the current media environment, statecollege.com's Mike Poorman writes.

This is all you need to know about where the Minnesota football program stands right now.

Twice the Golden Gophers faced fourth-and-1 in the second half against a MAC defense on Saturday night, and twice they came up short. That's simply unacceptable for a program priding itself on a "Pound the Rock" mantra and a pro-style offense that still leaves many scratching their heads. If you want to be a tough football team, you convert those plays. End of story.

Not only did Minnesota struggle to run the ball, but the Gophers couldn't stop Chad Spann and the Northern Illinois rushing attack in a 34-23 Huskies victory. Spann racked up 223 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries, including a 61-yard scoring burst to put away the game midway through the fourth quarter. I know Minnesota is young on defense, but the breakdowns just can't happen.

You have to feel for Gophers quarterback Adam Weber, who had another big passing performance (373 yards, 2 TDs). Weber deserves a better situation than he's got right now in Minneapolis. A lack of discipline hurt the Gophers, who were flagged nine times for 59 yards.

Under Glen Mason, Minnesota was the program that beefed up on nonconference wins and eeked its way into bowl games. Things are worse now, as the Gophers have dropped three consecutive nonconference home games for the first time since 1898. The calls for Tim Brewster's head are increasing, and the fourth-year coach needs a major turnaround to make them go away.

Big Ten play beckons, and it doesn't get any easier for Minnesota, which has the league's toughest home slate (Ohio State, Penn State, Iowa and Northwestern).

The mail didn't come on Friday because I didn't have time to deliver it. My bad. Here's my attempt at making it up to you.

Mike from New Haven, Conn., writes: Adam,Is it possible PSU is keeping the qb situation a mystery in order to keep Alabama in the dark? Any chance the true starter doesn't start vs YSU to have bama prepare for the wrong type of offense? or do they play all 3 equally and force bama to prepare for 3 different looks?

Adam Rittenberg: I like the conspiracy theory there, Mike. But I really think if one player had separated himself, Penn State would announce the starter for the opener. The staff did so in 2008 with Daryll Clark, although I recognize this is a different situation with three relative unknowns. I think it's more likely we see multiple quarterbacks against Youngstown than Penn State deciding to conceal the starter's true identity until Week 2. Whomever starts in Tuscaloosa really needs some game experience before heading down there.

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Bob from New Orleans writes: Adam, if the Buckeyes win the NC, and they will, where do you think JT goes?? I don't see him moving on to the NFL, and there's no way he's moving to another college, so retirement?

Adam Rittenberg: Bob, retirement from coaching would be the likeliest option for Jim Tressel. While I'm not saying there's a strong chance he moves on after 2010, I wouldn't be totally shocked to see him retire if Ohio State wins the national title. Take a look at this picture of Tressel after the 2002 national title and how he looks now. The job has taken a toll, which is totally understandable. Plus, his wife had some health issues this summer. And he has always said he doesn't want to coach into his seventies. Unlike some coaches, Tressel has other interests and could be very successful in other arenas (athletic administration, politics). I couldn't see him coaching in the NFL and certainly not at another college.

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Scott from Kansas City, Mo., writes: Looks like NU (104) fell out of the USNWR Top 100, and MU (94) back in. So much for all Big Ten schools being in the Top 100. But then again, why add the 18th largest state to your footprint when you can add the 40th? And why add a school that has been relevant in recent years, when you can add another school that hasn't?Cheers

Adam Rittenberg: Husker fans, you want me to handle this or do you have it covered? Scott, while Mizzou has had some nice seasons lately, Nebraska clearly is a better addition to the Big Ten. The size of the state and the U.S. News ranking matters a little bit, but Nebraska brings national championships, legendary coaches and a program recognized around the country. Go up to a casual fan in L.A. or New York and ask them to name 10 college football teams. They'll probably include Nebraska. Missouri? Not so much. The Big Ten can put Nebraska in games against Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan or even Iowa and Wisconsin and draw national attention. Missouri doesn't move the needle nearly as much. Again, Missouri brings a lot to the table, but the Big Ten clearly made the right call with Nebraska.

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Chris from Philly writes: How annoyed is the Michigan faithful when they see what a stud Ryan Mallet has become at Arkansas and know that RichRod ran him out of town with his spread offense? Is that one of the main factors that will bite him when he does get fired that he did not utilize the talent already there and possibly could have won 8-10 gameshis first two years then slowly implement his style?

Adam Rittenberg: Chris, there are a lot of reasons why Michigan fans can knock Rich Rodriguez, but the Ryan Mallett thing isn't one of them. Before Michigan, Rodriguez had been incredibly successful winning games in his style, with the spread. You can't expect people in leadership roles, especially college football coaches, to completely scrap what had made them successful. I recognize the transition to the spread hasn't gone smoothly in Ann Arbor, but you have to stick to what you know and who you are. Rodriguez couldn't run a pro-style offense just for Mallett, who clearly has benefited from one at Arkansas.

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Stephen from Ankeny, Iowa, writes: Do you think that Dantonio has really raised the bar at Michigan State the last three years. I would argue that he has been the benficiary of a couple of wins each year that could have gone either way (also because of a down Michigan). Do you think that his three years there has really shown improvement over the John L. Smith years or are they merely treading water? In a larger context, are there programs in the Big Ten that are kind of in the same boat with no real chance to move up in the pecking order (e.g.: Minnesota)? It's pretty apparent that the moves by both Minnesota and Michigan State to fire their coaches (Glen Mason and John L. Smith) have not resulted in better results on the field and in Minnesota's case worse results. Thoughts?

Adam Rittenberg: Stephen, I respectfully disagree with your take on Mark Dantonio. He has lost a ton of close games, several of which could have taken the 2007 and 2009 seasons from average to very good. Although 2010 is very big for Dantonio and the Spartans, who have a great opportunity with a very favorable schedule, the program has stabilized since John L. was sent packing. Just look at the recruiting. Michigan State has really upgraded in that area, especially locally, and brought in players like Larry Caper and William Gholston. The Spartans certainly have benefited a bit from Michigan's struggles, but Dantonio definitely has things headed in the right direction. The one thing he can't afford is another bad off-field incident. ... It's a different case with Minnesota, where the jury is still out on this coaching regime. Tim Brewster and his assistants have recruited well and played tougher schedules, but the big wins haven't come, especially late in the season. Brewster needs some quality wins this fall to show he can take the program further than Mason did.

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Keith from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, writes: Adam there is a possibility that the big ten could end in a three way tie between Iowa, Wisconsin, and Ohio State (asmunig they all win out). I know its alot of work but could you break down the scenario? Who do you think will be ranked high enough to get the BCS bid is national title still open to a one loss big ten team which team goes? it would be a hudge mess! a three way conference championship! thanks adam

Adam Rittenberg: Keith, here's how the BCS/Rose Bowl tiebreaking procedures work in the Big Ten (in order). I'm guessing Option 4 would be the most likely scenario with an Ohio State/Iowa/Wisconsin tie. Option 1: If one of those three teams beat the other two, it wins the tiebreaker. Option 2: If two of the teams beat the other squad, the other squad is eliminated. Then it would be head-to-head for who wins the tiebreaker (this is unlikely unless all three teams finish 6-2 in league play). Option 3: Overall record. The tiebreaker winner would have a better overall record than the other two teams. Option 4: If Ohio State, Iowa and Wisconsin all finish at 11-1, with all three losses taking place within the group, the highest-ranked team in the final BCS standings would go to the Rose Bowl or BCS title game.