ESPN College Football

As part of ESPN.com's Hate Week, we asked you on Tuesday to vote for the most hated coach of all time in the Big Ten.

Now to wrap up Hate Week -- and we promise it's only going to be love from now on in this space (ahem) -- here are some of your comments on that topic. Let's conclude the Haters' Ball with a bang.

Philip from Iowa writes: No question it's Jim Tressel. First, he wins a lot of Big Ten Championships so naturally everyone else hates him for that. Second, he lost twice in a row in the National Championship, embarrassing the conference on the national stage -- and it hasn't yet been rebuilt. To make matters worse, the 2 games were 1 where OSU was the overwhelming favorite (against FL) and the other was to a 2 loss team (LSU)! Finally, there is the Terrell Pryor saga that happens while Tressel puts out a book called "The Winners Manual for the Game of Life" There is no contest, every school in the Big Ten, including many OSU alums and fans, hate Jim Tressel. Not many coaches can manage that.

Bert from Portland, Ore., writes: Most hated Big Ten Coach.Bo Schembechler. I attended Northwestern during 1975-79 and the football program won five games during that time (with an infamous 0-0 tie agaisnt Illinois). Woody Hayes would bring his team to town and in the post-game conference at least say that Northwestern played hard. Schembechler would complain that Northwestern did not belong in the Big Ten and that Michigan did not make enough money when it played in Evanston. He was a jerk of the worst kind. I remember watching the Homecoming game in 1978 when, during a rout, Northwestern managed to score a touchdown on a trick play embodiment of a fake punt fairly late in the game. Schembechler started screaming at his players and looked like he was on the verge of having a heart attack. The Northwestern fans started chanting "Rose Bowl! Rose Bowl!" In fact, Schembechler was probably the only man in the world who could make me root for USC in the Rose Bowl (which beat Michigan that season). Woody could be gracious in victory and even humble in own way. Schembechler could accomplish neither.

Logan D. from Saginaw, Mich., writes: The most hated coach in the B1G, or who should be the most hated coach, is without a doubt Bret Bielema. The guy just radiates egotism. All you need to do is type his name into Google followed by "is" and you will know exactly what he's like from the suggested words. As a Michigan State fan, I'm not sure if I have ever been angrier with a coach than I was at the end of last year's Big Ten Championship game. After Wisconsin's punter made his Oscar-worthy dive to seal the game, I don't know if I've ever seen a coach as outwardly exuberant as Bret was in that moment. You would have thought his team just scored a touchdown on the most miraculous play in history. I don't know another coach that would be as excited over seeing a yellow flag in the backfield. Plus, not that the guy is in need of an ego-boost whatsoever, but what compels you to put up 70 on Austin Peay and 83 on Indiana? We get it. You can score a lot of points against bad teams.

Brad W. from Philadelphia writes: Most hated coach? Hayden Fry. Unsportsmanlike, completely ungracious, score-runner-upper, never giving the opposition any credit, moronic 3rd-grade stuff like the pink locker room ... just an unpleasant, vicious old man. Could never beat his butt often enough. Runners-up: Earle Bruce, Mike White.

Rich H. from Wayne, N.J., writes: Most hated coach ever? Woody Hayes without a doubt. Surly, unprofessional, a hick, temper tantrums and unpolished. Dial up an automatic loss in almost every bowl game he coached. Track record of more NFL busts than any program sans Nebraska. Unimaginative offense; never changed with the times either. Never scheduled a tough out of conference game regular season without a 2-1/3-1 deal. His famous bout with Ref Jerry Markbreit on the sideline circa 1971? Should have been fired right then and there. Of course 1978 vs Clemson and Mr. Baumann will live in infamy and is the most embarrassing complete breakdown of any major head-coach EVER and televised on national TV to boot. Good thing he wasn't around in today's day and age - that dooming episode would have gone virile in 20 seconds. Yet alums adore this basic jackwagon, go figure. Did I mention his graduation rate? Less than 70%. Should I continue? Nah, jury rests...

Paul from Johnstown, Pa., writes: Love the Hate! I nominate two coaches, one current and one former. First, Bret Bielema...a totally spineless, classless jerk. Runs up the score. Goes for 2 late in the 4th Qtr with games in hand. Whines, whines, whines, whines like a 5 year old. Loses to TCU with a completely loaded team. Makes tacky comments about how great it is to be a Badger fan when questioned about the situations at PSU, OSU and UM. Sprints across the field like a tool to shake hands quickly with opposing coach in total disprespectful fashion .Second, Bo Scumbechler ... yes, "Scumbechler." As a PSU fan, I have an obligation to hate this man for the lack of class he showed when PSU was brought into the B1G. His comments and efforts to exclude PSU and/or to make PSU's admission into the conference unwelcoming still boils my blood.

Danny from Davenport, Iowa, writes: Adam, as a Hawkeye fan it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep from hating Pat Fitzgerald. He may not be on the radar much outside of Iowa City and his body of work may leave some to question this hatred for PF. But, look at this from an Iowa fan standpoint. PF is a whiner and a coward. Take last year, for instance. PF hid behind one of his own players while that player took heat for admitting to the world that Pat Fitz hated Iowa with a passion. One cannot help but think that this is hostility boiling over from the injury incurred during a game when PF was still in pads. Grow up and get over it. Then, there was PFs whole twitter controversy, or should I say the "director of football operations" twitter controversy while he was "accidentally" logged into PFs account. SURE, man up.

Mark from Oklahoma City writes: John Cooper. I was born in Ohio in 1986. Growing up and watching the pain and anguish that John Cooper put on my father's face Saturday afternoons in late November during the 90s was enough to make me despise him. Interestingly, it's during the same period I grew to despise Lloyd Carr. I hated him more at one point until I went to Ohio State during the Jimmy T era which he spent a good amount of time of beating the same Lloyd Carr into "retirement" which cemented Cooper as my most hated coach. Go back to Arizona State, take Gene Smith with you. Give me a coach from Ohio.

Shawn from Minneapolis writes: You gotta admire talent, so I'm not picking on anyone who won, not even those [REDACTED] coaches from Michigan. Most hated B1G coach: Tim Brewster, with a pathetic record of (*googles* ... cripes it didn't feel like that many wins) 15-30 in FOUR LONG YEARS. Long live Coach Kill!

Zach from Lincoln, Neb., writes: In regards to your most hated coach ever...Can the worst coach not have ever coached in the B1G? I think universally, Bill Callahan (excuse my french) is the dirtiest word that can be spoken in 'sker country.

Joe P. from Chicago writes: My most hated Big Ten coach ever is John L. Smith. As a Spartan fan, it was bad enough getting regularly slaughtered by our rivals (and inferior programs like Indiana), but he made our program into a punchline. God Bless Dantonio.

Chris from Wisconsin writes: As soon as Urban Meyer entered the B1G he instantly became the most hated coach of all time. As a Badger fan, I didn't even really hate any coaches in the Big Ten over the years but wow do I hate Urban Meyer and I can't even figure out what it is. I can't stand the guy and he has yet to coach a game at OSU hoping Bielema runs up the score on him for many years to come "and for Urban many is about 3 which is how long I expect him to stay at OSU.

Robert V. from West Bloomfield, Meechigan, writes: Most Hated Big Ten Coach:Wayne Woodrow Hayes.

Travis form Midland, Mich., writes: As a Michigan fan, I would have to say I hate Jim Tressel the most. I was not alive during the 10-year war between Woody and Bo, so I don't hate Woody as much as some other Michigan fans. The biggest reason I hate Tressel the most would be the violations. Before "tattoogate" broke, I hated him, but I respected him for running an honest program. After the NCAA violations, I hated him and I lost most of my respect for him. Personally (and this might be my Michigan fan bias), I believe Ohio State went beyond just the tattoos. I believe that there were rule infractions as early as Maurice Clarett. To sum it up, I hate Jim Tressel because, 1. He coached at Ohio State, 2. He was extremely successful against Michigan, 3. He turned his back to NCAA violations and is labeled a cheater in my mind because of this. My second least favorite coach might just be Jerry Sandusky, for obvious reasons.

John from New Hampshire writes: Easy question: Lloyd Carr hands down without a doubt. His sideline ranting made it even easier to just despise Meeechigan. His BS screaming for more time on the clock won him a miracle game about five years ago when Penn State was in the Big House and winning till Lloyd's crying got the refs to make a historically insipient call, giving undue time on the clock and giving those hideously clad (...that bright yellow....) chumps the game - and costing my beloved Nittany Lions perhaps a perfect season.

Norwood Teague's fundraising success at VCU was one of the biggest reasons he landed the job as Minnesota's athletic director. Last year, Teague launched a campaign to build a $10 million practice facility for men's and women's basketball. According to Teague's VCU bio, the school's athletic annual fund has increased by more than 119 percent during his watch.

That's good news for Minnesota football coach Jerry Kill, who is making it clear to his new boss that the program needs a facilities bump in the near future. While the opening of TCF Bank Stadium marked a huge step for Minnesota after the drab years in the Metrodome, the football program's everyday facility, the Gibson-Nagurski Football Complex, lags behind the competition in the Big Ten.

From the (St. Paul) Pioneer Press:

The U's indoor football practice facility cost $5.5 million to build in 1985 under coach Lou Holtz, who left to coach Notre Dame after two seasons. The building has received only patchwork and paint since then, although new turf was installed before the 2010 football season. Among the issues are several leaks in the 55-foot-high roof.

"It's not in good shape," Kill said. "That's not a football-selfish issue. We have nine teams using that, plus everybody on campus. For about $3 million, you can fix that. That needs to be an immediate fix. Now [Teague is] the boss, but it's an eyesore in recruiting. It's not good."

The interesting subplot here is that Minnesota men's basketball coach Tubby Smith also wants a separate practice facility. During Teague's introductory news conference last month, Smith told reporters, "We shouldn't be the last school in the Big Ten without a practice facility."

So who gets a new facility first, football or men's basketball? Teague's big accomplishments as an AD have come on the hoops side, but he left VCU for Minnesota in part because he wanted to oversee a department with FBS football. While Smith is the bigger name with the national championship on his résumé, Teague is in a league (Big Ten) where football undeniably drives the bus. If Minnesota can get better on the gridiron, all the others programs will benefit.

"I have a big vision of where we need to go; Tubby does, too," Kill said. "But you've got to take care of what you have because you just don't get things like [a new facility] right away. What are we going to do immediately to help the programs?"

Teague soon will have to answer that question. It's his first big decision in a big new job.

Look, I know that you're concerned, but I'm designing T-shirts now. They're gonna be huge. Also medium and small.

• Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith says the department isn't facing any major violations right now. Former Buckeyes linebacker Andrew Sweat chooses safety over potential NFL stardom.
• Michigan State expects top quarterback Andrew Maxwell (knee) to be 100 percent by June. A look at several 2013 recruits Michigan State has offered.
• Jerry Kill says Minnesota needs a facilities upgrade soon. Minnesota's outgoing AD Joel Maturi weighs in on playoff possibilities and other Gopher-related topics.
• Penn State 2013 recruit Greg Webb talks about his recovery from a torn ACL. Lions coach Bill O'Brien reviews spring ball and looks ahead.
• Indiana coach Kevin Wilson is geared up for his second season in Bloomington. Wilson weighs in on the trickiness of non-league scheduling.
• BTN.com's Tom Dienhart looks at Week 3 in the Big Ten this season.
• Purdue offers scholarships to two teammates from Georgia (subscription required) who both play defensive end.
• Hail to the Orange writes that Illinois needs Tim Beckman to be its version of Hayden Fry.
• Great news as Iowa announcer Gary Dolphin is cancer free and ready for the 2012 season.
• Several freshmen offensive linemen could be in the mix for Michigan this year. Michigan's backup quarterbacks remain works in progress.
• A look back at Tom Rathman's 84-yard touchdown run for Nebraska in 1985.

Hump day linkage:

• Michigan AD Dave Brandon not only doesn't favor using campus sites for semifinal games, he doesn't think they should be played in the Midwest anywhere, not even indoors. Huh?
• Pat Harty argues that the Big Ten should go to geographical divisions to avoid some of the gaps between rivals on the schedule. Dallas Clark might be the best story of the Kirk Ferentz era.
• Bruce Feldman has an excellent story about how two dirty plays don't define Michigan State's William Gholston.
• Steven M. Sipple looks at some of the candidates to eventually replace Tom Osborne, including recent hire (and former Huskers player) Jamie Williams. Nebraska picked up its first offensive lineman in the Class of 2013.
• Joe Paterno earned a state pension of more than $13 million during his 61 years at Penn State. A look at four big recruiting targets for the Nittany Lions this summer. Rob Bolden is staying put.
• Purdue got a $2 million donation that could go toward some improvements at Ross-Ade Stadium (but not lights).
• Tom Dienhart breaks down the best of Week 2 in the 2012 Big Ten season.
• Minnesota's Jerry Kill shared some optimism at a Rotary Club event.
• A planned SEC Network could eclipse the revenues of the Big Ten's similar venture.
• Gene Smith says Ohio State's athletic department is in its "glory years."
• Stewart Mandel talks realignment and playoff possibilities in his SI.com mailbag.

During the course of spring practice, Big Ten bloggers Adam Rittenberg and Brian Bennett visited 11 of the 12 league schools, getting an up-close look at the players and coaches who will shape the 2012 season.

Now it's time for them to share their thoughts on what they saw and learned this spring, and you can follow along as they exchange emails. Check out the Leaders Division exchange here. They now turn their focus to the Legends Division.

Adam Rittenberg: Let's take a look at what I believe to be the stronger division in 2012. You spent a lot of time in the Mitten State last month, and while you didn't gorge yourself like you did in America's Dairyland, you got the money quote of spring ball from Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio, who said, "We're laying in the weeds. We've beat Michigan the last four years. So where's the threat?" How spicy is the Michigan State-Michigan rivalry getting, and how good do you think these two teams will be this season after visiting both campuses?

Brian Bennett: Oh, there was some serious gorging going on at Zingerman's in Ann Arbor and Sparty's in East Lansing. Good thing there's only one spring practice session per year.

Anyway, I went into the spring thinking Michigan and Michigan State were the two strongest teams in the league, and I didn't see anything to change my opinion. While the Wolverines are more focused on Ohio State and even Alabama, they know they have to end their losing streak against Michigan State. And the Spartans take serious pride in that four-game run while bristling at all the offseason accolades thrown toward Brady Hoke's team. Oct. 20 can't come soon enough, as far as I'm concerned.

If the two teams played right now, I'd definitely take Michigan State. Dantonio has done a terrific job of developing depth on both lines and all over the defense. There's not a deeper team in the Big Ten, and the Spartans' physical play has given Michigan fits. The Wolverines still need to figure some things out in the trenches, especially on the defensive line, but that's one area where Hoke and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison excel. I believe these two teams will be neck and neck all year for the Legends title.

Of course, there's another team lurking in the division, and that's Nebraska. You went to Lincoln this spring, and it sounded like the Cornhuskers are feeling mighty ambitious this season. Do they have the necessary tools to back up their lofty goals?

Adam Rittenberg: It was interesting to see a team openly discuss the national title, Brian, especially in a league like the Big Ten. Huskers safety P.J. Smith even went so far as to say a Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl championship would be "kind of disappointing." That's bold. Nebraska would have to skip a step or two to reach that point, but I can see where the confidence stems from. There's a greater comfort level between players and coaches in Lincoln, and also between the coaches and what they face in the Big Ten. Offensive coordinator Tim Beck was candid about the difficulty of preparing for so many new opponents, particularly since Nebraska's offensive and defensive systems are a little different from what we see in the rest of the league.

Quarterback Taylor Martinez received good marks from the coaches, and his focus on footwork could translate into a more consistent passing attack. Beck certainly wants to be a bit more balanced, and Nebraska returns pretty much everyone at wide receiver and tight end. We often hear the cliche that it's all about the quarterback, but it holds true with Nebraska. If Martinez actually makes strides as a passer -- he'll be operating in the same offense as the starter for the first time in his high school or college career -- the Huskers will put up points this fall. But after watching Martinez last season, it's fair to have some doubts about No. 3.

The defense expects to exploit a schematic advantage we heard a lot about last season but didn't see much on Saturdays. I like coordinator John Papuchis, and Bo Pelini made two good staff additions in D-line coach Rick Kaczenski and secondary coach Terry Joseph. They're all about details and accountability, and they believe they'll be able to replace star power with greater depth in certain areas. Nebraska also should be strong in special teams. Do the Huskers have a unit better than Michigan State's defense? Not right now. But Nebraska could end up being the division's most complete team by season's end.

Getting back to Michigan State and Michigan. Both teams lose tremendous leaders from 2011 (Kirk Cousins, Mike Martin, Jerel Worthy, Joel Foreman, David Molk, Ryan Van Bergen). Who do you see filling those roles this year?

Brian Bennett: That's a good question, and one that will have to be answered this summer. For Michigan State, Andrew Maxwell impressed me as a guy who can lead in a similar way as Cousins did; he'll just have to play well at quarterback and battle through adversity. The Spartans have some seniors on defense who can lead, like Anthony Rashad White and Johnny Adams, but they also have some highly respected juniors in Max Bullough and William Gholston.

But they are replacing some very valuable leaders, just as Michigan is doing. Denard Robinson has worked on becoming more vocal and sounded like a different guy in interviews this spring. There's no question he has the respect of his teammates. Craig Roh and Jordan Kovacs seem like natural leaders on defense, and offensive tackle Taylor Lewan says he wants to take on that role as well. But leadership can't be forced, and it remains to be seen if either team can find such strong captains as guys like Cousins and Martin were.

Speaking of question marks, I feel like Iowa and Northwestern are two of the bigger mystery teams in the league. Both have talent and potentially potent offenses, but they'll also need some players on defense to rise up out of the shadows. What did you take out of your visits to Iowa City and Evanston this spring?

Adam Rittenberg: Let's start off with Iowa, which underwent some major changes this spring with a new offensive coordinator (Greg Davis), a position coach promoted to defensive coordinator (Phil Parker) and several more assistants shuffling, arriving or being promoted. The players seemed to embrace the changes, and coach Kirk Ferentz basically said the team needed a fresh start even though he didn't want to lose his previous coordinators. There's a lot of excitement about Davis' offense, which will be more up-tempo than what we've seen in the past from Iowa. Quarterback James Vandenberg really seems to get it, but will he have enough weapons around him to execute? The running back curse struck again this spring with Jordan Canzeri's ACL injury. Iowa needs young and/or unproven players to step up there, and wide receiver isn't a deep group. It'll be a big summer for Keenan Davis.

The feeling I had coming out of Evanston is that Northwestern will be a younger team but potentially a better one. The Wildcats say goodbye to an accomplished senior class that featured some outstanding players like quarterback Dan Persa. But was it the most talented group? I don't think so. Northwestern has improved its recruiting efforts in recent years, and the team could begin seeing the benefits this year. There are a lot of new faces at spots like defensive back and defensive line. I was impressed with cornerback Nick VanHoose and end Deonte Gibson. The wide receiving corps should be one of the Big Ten's best, even if Kyle Prater isn't eligible until 2013. The Wildcats might not have many familiar names at receiver, but they boast incredible depth there. This team still has question marks -- secondary, pass rush, running back, quarterback -- but the talent level is getting a bit better.

Neither of us made it up to Minneapolis this spring, but we both talked with Gophers players and coaches. What was your sense of the second spring under coach Jerry Kill?

Brian Bennett: We swear it's nothing personal, Gophers fans. Both of us would have enjoyed a trip to the Twin Cities, but the schedule just didn't work out.

Anyway, I did sense more confidence from the Minnesota players and coaches we interviewed. That's not surprising, given that it's the second year for Kill's staff and more familiarity almost always brings a better comfort level. MarQueis Gray really started to come on late last season and appears to have made strides as a passer. He could be one of the league's top playmakers this year. Overall, the Gophers look to have a little more talent this year, thanks to some junior college imports, youngsters who got experience last year and Troy Stoudermire coming back at cornerback. The defense should have more speed, though it remains undersized. The big question for me is who will emerge as weapons alongside Gray, especially at receiver.

But I think that, with a manageable nonconference schedule, Minnesota has a chance to win five or more games this year and it will be much more competitive in Big Ten play than it was early last season. The Legends Division looks more balanced top to bottom than the Leaders and should be fun to follow all year.

The book is closed on spring football in the Big Ten, but what did the chapters reveal? Although no games are played during the spring, which fuels optimism for all 12 teams, the 15 practices provide clues for the upcoming season. The Big Ten saw few major injuries to key players, some good news (the NCAA declaring Michigan State WR DeAnthony Arnett eligible for 2012) and some potentially troubling signs.

It's time to revive the power rankings coming out of the spring. We see separation with the top two teams, while Nos. 3-5 are closely matched. The same holds true for Nos. 7-10.

Here they are ...

1. Michigan State: The Spartans' defense looks like the single best unit in the Big Ten entering the season. Spring practice only enhanced our opinion of Pat Narduzzi's group, which has no shortage of stars. While the passing game needs work, Arnett's presence should help, and the Spartans will rely more on their run game with Le'Veon Bell and an improved offensive line.

2. Michigan: Quarterback Denard Robinson and Fitzgerald Toussaint, who affirmed himself as Michigan's top tailback this spring, form arguably the Big Ten's most dangerous backfield tandem. If Michigan can fill some key pieces on both lines, where there was some shuffling this spring, it will be back in the BCS bowl mix and among the favorites to win the Big Ten crown.

3. Wisconsin: It seems hard to fathom, but Montee Ball appeared to take his game to an even higher gear this spring. The Badgers' star running back will fuel the offense again, although quarterback remains a question mark as Maryland transfer Danny O'Brien arrives this summer. Wisconsin still needs more playmakers to emerge on the defensive line and in the secondary.

4. Nebraska: Tough call on this spot, but the Huskers return their core pieces on offense from a 9-4 team. Footwork-conscious quarterback Taylor Martinez received good reviews this spring, and he should be more comfortable in Year 2 at the helm of Tim Beck's offense. Coach Bo Pelini thinks the defense will be improved and potentially deeper, although the Huskers lose a lot of star power on that side of the ball.

5. Ohio State: There were few dull moments in Ohio State's first spring under Urban Meyer, who began installing an offense unlike any seen in Columbus. After resembling a "clown show" early on, the offense made strides and quarterback Braxton Miller looks like a strong fit for the system. An improved defense, led by linemen John Simon and Johnathan Hankins, should buy the offense some time to get acclimated.

6. Penn State: New coach Bill O'Brien ushered in a historic spring in Happy Valley, and Penn State players for the most part embraced the many changes taking place. The Lions still don't have a quarterback, but they have an excellent running back in Silas Redd and an improved offense line that pleasantly surprised O'Brien this spring. Penn State's defensive front seven, led by linebacker Gerald Hodges and tackle Jordan Hill, might need to carry the team at times.

7. Purdue: Fourth-year coach Danny Hope thinks this is clearly his best team in West Lafayette, and with 18 starters back, it's easy to see why. The Boilermakers are one of the Big Ten's deepest teams at positions like quarterback, defensive tackle, running back and cornerback. Purdue must continue to absorb the new defense installed by Tim Tibesar and fill some key gaps along the offensive line.

8. Iowa: Although Iowa's changes this spring didn't make national headlines like the ones at Penn State and Ohio State, they were very significant. New offensive coordinator Greg Davis began installing a more up-tempo and multifaceted offense that seems to be clicking with senior quarterback James Vandenberg. Jordan Canzeri's ACL injury once again clouds the picture at running back entering the summer, and Iowa needs its young defensive line to grow up in a hurry.

9. Northwestern: The Wildcats showcased one of the league's top wide-receiving corps this spring, and if Kain Colter can improve his passing, the offense should surge. Defense has been Northwestern's bugaboo in recent years, and young players like end Deonte Gibson and cornerback Nick VanHoose stepped forward this spring. It's crucial for the defense to keep making progress if Northwestern wants to maintain its bowl streak.

10. Illinois: There's little doubt Illinois will be a defense-driven team, and the Illini look loaded in the front seven with players like end Michael Buchanan, who turned in a very strong spring, as well as tackle Akeem Spence and linebacker Jonathan Brown. An offense that flatlined late last season began learning a new system this spring and still lacks playmakers at running back and wide receiver. Running back Josh Ferguson's spring-game performance is encouraging.

11. Minnesota: The second spring of the Jerry Kill era brought greater comfort for both players and coaches alike. Quarterback MarQueis Gray made strides in his second spring session as the starter, although the Gophers are still looking for more weapons to surround No. 5. The defensive line should be an improved group after several lifeless seasons. Minnesota still needs to develop depth in the secondary and at wide receiver.

12. Indiana: After playing an insane number of freshmen in 2011, Indiana began to reap the benefits this spring. An influx of junior-college defenders, including linebackers David Cooper and Jacarri Alexander, also should boost a unit that needs all the help it can get. The Hoosiers have some nice building blocks on offense at both quarterback (Tre Roberson) and running back (Stephen Houston, Isaiah Roundtree), but they still have a lot of work to do before the season.

There's a lot going on, even for May. Let's get to your emails and talk about it all.

Andrew from Brooklyn writes: I know you've been over this ad nauseum, but can you explain one more time, how [Jim] Delany and the ADs justify allowing the bowls to host semifinals? I can't think of a single advantage in such a situation for Big Ten institutions or their fans. 1. It takes tourism dollars out of the region. 2. It enriches the bowl committees, perhaps the most corrupt element in all of college sports (not only the indictment of John Junker, but also the excessive compensation of directors, the kickbacks involved in room guarantees, etc). 3. It puts Big Ten teams at a locational disadvantage. 4. It forces Big Ten fans to potentially travel long distances three weeks over the course of a month. Is this really just about a sentimental attachment to the Rose Bowl?

Brian Bennett: Well, there is one advantage: Bowls allow people to get out of the upper Midwest in the winter and enjoy some sunshine. But other than that, I agree with everything you wrote. I simply don't understand the illogical attachment to an outdated bowl system that is neither financially nor competitively advantageous for the league. Then when you see comments from Ohio State's Gene Smith saying he doesn't think teams should be playing in cold weather, well, frankly that's mind-boggling. (And even more so as the Big Ten says basically in the next breath that it would like to play a bowl game in New York City, well known for its tropical late December climate.)

I get that bowls are rewards for players, but this isn't Little League. On the plus side, improvements to the college football postseason have traditionally come at such a glacial pace that we should be happy that so much positive change is coming. Set up a good system now for selecting the four teams, and then the debate over where to play the games can be revisited in the future, especially if it becomes obvious that the bowl site situation is too much of a burden on fans.

---

Dan from Lincoln, Neb., writes: What are the chances that when all is said and done, the B1G will have nothing to show for all the posturing it has done during the playoff debates? We've given up helping fans not have to travel three times (twice to somewhere south) to see a team play the NC, given up on any advantage for the local team/area (financially, weather wise), and at this rate the Rose Bowl will go strictly to the four-team event. No wonder the SEC and Pac12 have just sat back and let the spoils fall in their lap...

Brian Bennett: Delany piqued interest with his comment that, "It will be demonstrably clear how flexible and how open the Rose Bowl has been in this process." I'm not sure what that means just yet, but the Big Ten had better come out with a good deal involving the Rose Bowl, given how much it has staked its future to that game. It appears as though the league's priorities have been protecting that game and securing a playoff model that rewards conference champions as much as possible. The ACC has come out in support of the same idea, which bolsters the Big Ten's case there. Ultimately, regardless of where the games are played or what the Rose Bowl's status is, the Big Ten's goal has to be getting teams into the Football Final Four (or whatever it ends up being called) as consistently as possible. The champions model no doubt benefits the conference in that regard, because it would be tough to omit a Big Ten champ most years.

---

Mike from Denver writes: With the upcoming Pac12/B1G series, I haven't seen anything anywhere regarding how the lineup will be set. Is there any possibility we can get a set-up similar to the B1G/ACC b-ball series where match-ups are set only a year in advance based on anticipated strength of the teams in the coming season? I know it is more difficult with football, but if they lock a date and designate home/away years in advance, why wouldn't it work?

Brian Bennett: Well, we know one matchup, as Northwestern-Stanford already have agreed to a series that will take place during the start of the agreement. (How smart do the Wildcats look, locking up one of the potentially more attractive Pac-12 opponents already?). I doubt we'll see the games be set only a year in advance, because football scheduling simply doesn't work that way. With games being held on different weekends and teams needing to fill the rest of their schedule, it becomes too impractical. Even with just a year lag time, you can't always accurately predict teams' strength. The best bet will be to create compelling matchups based on programs' name value. I'm pretty sure we'd all watch Ohio State-USC, Michigan-Washington, Penn State-Oregon (just to name some random potential examples) regardless of how good the teams in the game actually were.

---

Alex from Venice, Calif., writes: I was reading your Big Ten Spring Wrap piece, and I wanted to bring something up. I have to disagree with you about Michigan (or any team) being too modest when they say that their top goal is to win a Big Ten championship. You can't play in the National Championship without first taking care of business in your conference (unless, of course, you're in the SEC). The conference championship is something that is in your control. Of course schools want to play for the National Championship, but they know in order for them to do that, they must take care of business within their conference. Rich Rodriguez, shudder, was lambasted over stating that the Big Ten championship was their priority. He got the "why are you not aiming higher -- this is Michigan and we expect more!" His response was that in order to be in that discussion you better be tops in your conference. He was right, Brady Hoke is right and Bo was certainly right.

Brian Bennett: Alex, you make some good points, and I have no problem with Brady Hoke making the Big Ten title the main goal this year, especially given the Wolverines' recent Big Ten title drought. Winning a league championship is clearly the next step for the program to truly be "back." I just find it interesting that the league hasn't had a national champion since 2002 and hasn't been in the BCS title game since 2006, yet only Nebraska is really openly talking about getting to that level this year. The Big Ten needs to aim higher than just the Rose Bowl.

---

Peter from Seattle writes: Why is it that whenever Taylor Martinez's name is brought up, people also bring up his completion percentage and how low it is? Denard Robinson had a lower completion percentage and people don't talk about that being an issue every time his name is brought up.

Brian Bennett: Well, I don't know about "people." But we're always saying on this blog that Robinson has to improve his accuracy and cut down on the 15 interceptions he threw in 2011. Robinson's completion percentage in 2010 was actually pretty good. For comparison's sake:

Martinez 2010: 59.2 percent completions
Robinson 2010: 62.5 percent

Martinez 2011: 56.3 percent
Robinson 2011: 55 percent

Both players' percentages went down in 2011, but remember both were in the first year of new offensive systems. They should each improve upon that with an extra year in the respective systems.

---

Alex H. from Louisville writes: I appreciated the Spring wrap up article on the Hoosiers. Our football program is the easy target for kicking and it is nice to see fresh eyes on the product. If you didn't cover the Hoosiers much the last few years, we are to put it mildly "under construction." Last year was actually a huge year for us because we flushed 30 years of complacency out when the new staff ran everyone out. Some agree and some don't on this subject, but I do know that what we had been doing didn't work. Our coach indicated last week that there is still probably a few hanger-ons still, but he thinks he has flushed most of it. ... I really believe we have the ingredients finally to make noise in the Big Ten in the next 5 years with our best coaching staff, facilities, and Athletic Director that wants to win the right way. Perfect Storm???

Brian Bennett: I'm happy to get a Hoosiers question in the mailbag. Frankly, it doesn't happen very often. Anyway, I feel like the Indiana program was starting to turn into something under Terry Hoeppner, but his tragic death was just a terrible setback. After visiting Bloomington for the first time in several years, I was impressed by the facilities improvements and commitment the school has given to football at long last (that Big Ten Network money sure helps). The program seems like it now has the tools to compete, but it still must overcome the lack of tradition, a small fan base and the difficulty of recruiting head to head against bigger Big Ten teams. I like what Kevin Wilson is doing, and it would be a lot of fun to see Indiana become a factor. But there is much work still ahead.

---

Mike from Apple Valley, Minn., writes: Hey, Brian, barring major surprise, the Vikings will not be moving from the Twin Cities. Does that help or hurt the Gophers? On one hand, the Gophers would have had more attention and may attract more of a following in the area, look at any other Big Ten team not in an NFL market (about all of them). But on the other hand, it could hurt recruiting because there would have been one less amenity in the Twin Cities. Or is there something else I'm missing? Thanks!

Brian Bennett: Mike, we did an interesting series last summer looking at the challenges faced by college programs in NFL cities. I suggest you check it out. It's not always easy, but schools like USC, Miami, TCU and Washington have made it work. The Gophers are never going to get all the attention in their city or state because of the pro teams in the Twin Cities. But as you mentioned, the benefits of living in a big city with pro teams can help in recruiting as well. Ultimately, I think there are certainly enough fans who will support the program if it starts winning big under Jerry Kill and that players won't really care whether they're in a pro or college town. It all comes down to leadership and success.

The depravity and decadence of Derby weekend await me. But first: your emails.

Bryan from Chicago writes: Regarding your handicapping of the B1G race, I'm betting on all teams. With the odds you gave each team, if you add them up, the player has about a 33% advantage over the house! If you ever decide to open a casino, let me know and I'll be the first one in line. But, if I'm taking 1 team, betting with emotions I'm taking my Huskers -- hoping they can outscore a lot of teams this year. Betting with brains, I'm taking Wisconsin -- no Ohio State to worry about, gives them the easiest road to the title game and who knows once you get there, and 8-1 is a good payout.

Brian Bennett: In defense of my admittedly poor math skills, Indiana is much higher than the listed 99-to-1, but the toteboard can only handle double-digit numbers. And Ohio State's scratch threw off the odds. But I agree with you about Nebraska and Wisconsin being pretty good value plays. I'd add Penn State to that mix as well.

---

Brian from Newark, DE, writes: Am I the only person not completely overjoyed with this whole playoff deal? To me, it's a real stretch to call a two game tournament a playoff. There's four teams involved. Granted, that's double what the current system allows. But it's still not exactly opening the championship up like the basketball tournament does. All this really amounts to is one extra game for two teams. So can we stop calling it a playoff and start referring to it as what it really is: The one more game after the bowls so we can all make a little more money and appease the fans bowl?

Brian Bennett: Brian (great name, by the way, and correct spelling), I'm perfectly fine with the four-team format. It keeps the value of the regular season, keeps the season from dragging far into January and still opens the championship up to more teams. How many years have there been more than four legitimate national title contenders at the end of the year, anyway? I've never been in favor of a 16-team format because that's too many teams and not enough quality. An eight-teamer would be a lot of fun, and I think we will eventually see an expansion of any playoff system. But for now, while we can quibble with the details, let's rejoice that the sport is actually giving us something we want.

---

Zach from Lincoln writes: Why are we even listening to the "on campus semi-finals won't work" [sentiment]?? I understand they are worried about teams with small stadiums not being able to host large crowds, but how many times since the BCS model was created has 1 of those teams been #1 or #2? Zero is the correct answer. Also, even if one of these teams did eventually finish #1 or #2 doesn't the fact that college stadiums are in general larger than NFL stadiums make up for the fact that there could be a smaller venue every once in a blue moon?

Brian Bennett: Couldn't agree more with you, Zach. The capacity of the Superdome is just over 72,000, while Sun Life Stadium -- home of the Orange Bowl -- seats a little more than 75,000. There would be a whole lot more seats (and money to be made) with games at the Big House, Horseshoe, Bryant-Denny, etc. MGoBlog does a good job of breaking down the difference in capacity and how campus sites would have meant more, not less, seats during the BCS era in this post.

---

Josh S. ? @josh_sim writes: Re: Big 6. Won't voters change their voting patterns and work around the rules for best matchups?

Brian Bennett: That's a concern with any system, including the one we have now. Which is why we need to take this out of the hands of voters, especially one with obvious biases like the coaches themselves.

---

Roger from Denver, Colo., writes: Really, 25 [for Ohio State in your rankings]? Come on, Blue had the easiest schedule in the conference, barely beat an extremely down The Ohio State team and you have Blue ranked top 10 not to mention in ACC bowl game that they really lost but got a bogus call in their favor on a touchdown.

Brian Bennett: The mountain air might be getting to you, Roger. Fact is, Michigan went 11-2 last year while Ohio State was 6-7. Michigan brought back its coaching staff and arguably the most productive backfield in the league (Denard Robinson and Fitz Toussaint), while the Buckeyes will be going through a coaching transition and lack offensive playmakers. I like Ohio State to be much improved this season, and there's no question the team has talent. But given last year's results, I think a ranking at the bottom of the Top 25 is fair for this point in the year.

---

Dying for The Gophers To Be Relevant Again from Minneapolis writes: I find it interesting how people get excited about the new A.D. at Minnesota. Everyone is giddy over his fund raising abilities. Sure, raising funds is important for all programs, but winning is the key. Some would say that fund raising will help winning, I believe that winning will hep fund raising. Your thoughts?

Brian Bennett: An athletic director absolutely has to be able to do two things right: hire good coaches, and keep the money fountain flowing. Since Norwood Teague didn't hire Jerry Kill, the best thing he can do is make sure donations are coming in so the Gophers can keep up with facilities, salaries, etc. Winning solves a lot of ills, but ultimately that will be up to Kill and his staff to it make happen.

---

David from Houston writes: I just saw your 4/26 mailbag and the Wisconsin coach and AD answers concerning their non-conference scheduling. As a Badger, I'm calling "BS" on Bret Bielema. His answer of "people don't want to play here" may be right in some rare instances, but that is most definitely not what is going on with Badger scheduling. The real issues are this: 1) The Badgers will only play one road game per year (at least Barry was honest about that one). 2) Wisconsin is not willing to schedule more than one BCS opponent per season. They went through a nice stretch for 2001-2003 of playing two such schools, but that turned out to be an aberration. 3) They won't even do that if they think a future year's Big Ten Schedule is "too tough." See the 8-year postponement of the Virginia Tech games. ... The Pac-12 deal is nice, but this team is not going to then start scheduling 2 BCS foes each season. This will just take their one good game out of their hands, leaving them to deal with the 3 buy games each year.

Brian Bennett: David, I can understand your frustration as a fan in not getting to see great nonconference games at Camp Randall. At the same time, Wisconsin is not alone in only scheduling one BCS AQ school per year in its nonconference slate. In the Big Ten alone, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State and Purdue all only have one such opponent on their schedule this season. Indiana has none.

While I'd love to see the Badgers schedule more aggressively, it just doesn't pay many dividends for schools to do so. The Badgers went to the Rose Bowl the past two years and were a couple plays away from being in the national title mix both times. I hope the new playoff format rewards strength of schedule to encourage all teams to play better nonconference opponents.

---

Max from Madras, India, writes: Brian, what do you think is more detrimental to the season? QB competition and playing 4 guys in your spring game, a la PSU? Or pretty much knowing who your starter is going to be, and not having him for your spring game, a la MSU? Or at this stage does it really matter?

Brian Bennett: It's early enough to not really matter. Remember Wisconsin won the Big Ten last year, and its starting quarterback didn't arrive in Madison until the summer. But in the scenario you mention, I'd much rather be Michigan State. The Spartans know Andrew Maxwell will be their starter, and his injury wasn't serious. He's been in the program for four years, so playing in a spring game means very little. Penn State still doesn't seem to be settled at the position. Maxwell can confidently lead the offense all summer. I'm not sure any of Penn State's quarterbacks can do the same.

---

Paul from Orlando, Fla., writes: Last season, Nebraska had All Big Ten-caliber players at each level of the defense in Crick, David and Dennard. Although these players made major contributions in 2011, the defense ranked a mere 36th nationally in total defense; well outside the norm for a Pelini coached defense. It appeared, especially early in the season, that offensive coordinators could simply pick on the young guy lined up opposite Crick, David or Dennard and these players didn?t really impact their game plans. This spring Pelini has been vocal about how much he likes his secondary and expects the defensive line and linebackers to be a solid veteran group. Do you think having a veteran defense without any weak links and a potentially dominate group at one level of the defense can lead to a better 2012 defense despite the loss of such great players?

Brian Bennett: It's an interesting question, and one I've been thinking about a lot this season. In fairness to the 2012 Huskers, Crick, David and Dennard were never really all healthy at the same time. But a big problem, as you mentioned, was the obvious holes on that defense. Bo Pelini seemed optimistic this spring about the defensive play, but aren't all coaches optimistic in the spring? Still, I think this defense has a chance to be very solid. I just want to see a couple of players take the next step into becoming major difference-makers, whether that's a guy like Will Compton or Cameron Meredith or Daimion Stafford. You need special players to be a truly special defense.

---

Mr. Pewter from Farmland, Iowa, writes: I hate the new Cy-Hawk trophy. I am still going to rally around my family with a basket full of corn. Come with it now!

Brian Bennett: You keep raging against that machine.

Here's your Thursday linkage.

• Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany reveals a proposal that would create playoff access for the best conference champs. It's important for the Big Ten to protect its Rose Bowl partnership.
• Athletic directors Dave Brandon (Michigan) and Mark Hollis (Michigan State) weigh in on the playoff issues.
• Penn State is moving defensive lineman Kyle Baublitz from end to tackle. Lions coach Bill O'Brien has "a pretty good idea" of how the team's quarterback situation will shake out. O'Brien understands the challenges he faces at Penn State.
• Take it from Minnesota coach Jerry Kill: "You hang around with turds, you'll finish third."
• Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio likens Le'Veon Bell to former Ohio State great Keith Byars. The Kirk Cousins-Keith Nichol connection could continue with the NFL's Washington Redskins.
• Tom Mulhern projects what Wisconsin's depth chart looks like coming out of the spring. The Badgers pick up a verbal commit for 2013.
• Kawann Short's decision to stay at Purdue could pay off for the standout defensive tackle.
• The Big Ten can embrace both the Rose Bowl and the national title, Tom Shatel writes.
• Iowa is paying lower guarantees for nonconference games this season. Like Iowa's other receivers, Kevonte Martin-Manley could see his production surge in the new offense this fall.
• A breakdown of Illinois' 2012 schedule.
• Assistant Ron Brown's remarks shouldn't be tolerated at a public institution like Nebraska, Blair Kerkhoff writes.
• Ohio State assistant Kerry Coombs has settled in well to his new role.
• A look inside draft night for Michigan's Mike Martin.
• Indiana linebacker Jeff Thomas gets a tryout with the Buffalo Bills (subscription required).

The Kentucky Derby is Saturday, which is about all anyone in my hometown can talk about this week. (And if you've never been here for the Derby, put that near the top of your bucket list).

Anyway, since I've had one eye on the racing form for the past few days, I got to thinking about how the Big Ten would be handicapped if it were a horse race. Get your mint juleps ready, because I think it might go a little something like this ...

Michigan: 6-to-1 odds

The Wolverines are the hot horse now, at least in the mind of the general public, after an 11-2 season and Sugar Bowl win in 2011. They certainly have the pedigree to win the Big Ten derby. But they also face a potentially bumpy trip (Alabama, at Notre Dame, at Nebraska, at Ohio State) to the finish line. That's why I have them at somewhat tepid offs for a favorite -- er, make that the co-favorite.

Michigan State: 6-to-1

You have to like the past performances, as the Spartans have put together back-to-back double-digit win seasons, and they have looked strong this spring in workouts despite needing a new jockey to replace Kirk Cousins. They've beaten Michigan to the wire four straight times, so there's that. There could be a photo finish between these two stablemates in 2012.

Wisconsin: 8-to-1

Some see the Badgers as too much of a plodder, but they've won the Run for the Rose(s) Bowl two years in a row. With its offensive line and Montee Ball in the backfield, you know this contender can run all day. And Wisconsin appears to have an easier path to the home stretch because its division may not be as top-loaded.

Nebraska: 10-to-1

The Cornhuskers moved to a new circuit and endured a sometimes bumpy ride in 2011. That experience could prepare them for a stronger run this time around. They get a favorable draw, with Michigan, Wisconsin and Penn State coming to Lincoln, and they have the epitome of a war horse in Rex Burkhead.

Penn State: 15-to-1

The wild card in this race. The Nittany Lions get a new trainer (Bill O'Brien) and a new running style (the Patriots offense) for the first time in ages. This has felt like a program sitting on a big race. Enviable post position (Wisconsin and Ohio State at home, no Michigan or Michigan State on the schedule) could lead to a surprise victory.

Iowa: 25-to-1

This is a young but potentially frisky colt. The Hawkeyes have undergone major equipment changes for the first time under Kirk Ferentz (new coordinators on both sides of the ball) and may not have the horses in the backfield to go the distance. But Ferentz has made many a handicapper look silly in the past.

Purdue: 35-to-1

The wiseguy pick as a potential upset special. The Boilermakers broke their maiden under Danny Hope, finally making a bowl game last year, and looked healthy and sharp during the spring prep season. They're still facing a jump in class, but don't be shocked to see them at least hit the board in this race.

Illinois: 50-to-1

Ownership changed trainers (from Ron Zook to Tim Beckman) after some disappointing finishes. This talented contender was a big-time pacesetter last year (6-0 start) but faded badly down the stretch (0-6 regular-season finish). Perhaps some new training methods will help and the defense sure looks great in the paddock. But past performance indicates this is an underachiever.

Northwestern: 75-to-1

Always good for an upset or two along the way, the question remains whether these Wildcats are a one-trick pony (all offense, little defense). Plus, the traffic from the Legends Division seems a little too heavy for a clean trip.

Minnesota: 85-to-1

The Gophers showed decent closing skills last season, beating Iowa and Illinois in the second half of the year after a horrid start. Jerry Kill has a strong track record of bringing his charges along. Yet this still remains a longshot that might need another year or two of training (and recruiting) to be a real contender.

Indiana: 99-to-1

The Hoosiers didn't belong in the field last year, going 0-11 against FBS competition. They should stay a little closer to the pack this time around, but a victory in this race would be even more shocking than Mine That Bird or Giacomo winning the real Derby.

Ohio State: Scratched

DQ by the NCAA stewards. The Buckeyes are gearing up for 2013, when they might just be the favorites.

So there's how I'd write the program. What kind of odds would you give to each team, and who would you put money on in 2012?

Hey, didn't you use to be Albert Pujols?

• A group is considering a start-up bowl game in St. Louis that could include a Big Ten team.
• Michigan State fans should feel reassured by the play of Connor Cook in the spring game. The Spartans' fullbacks could give the offense a new dimension.
• Michigan coaches are pleased with the progress of centers Ricky Barnum and Jack Miller. Stacked with commitments for 2013, the Wolverines are already working hard on the '14 class.
• James Vandenberg will have to be a chemistry major while stirring a young Iowa offense.
• Jesse James hopes to make his own name at tight end for Penn State. Hershey lineman Andrew Nelson talks about his commitment to the Lions, plus some names the team is focusing on now in recruiting.
• Illinois reportedly picked up a defensive lineman.
• Former Indiana linebacker Jeff Thomas will get a shot with the Buffalo Bills (subscription required).
• The Big Ten Network's Tom Dienhart has a Q&A with Minnesota coach Jerry Kill.
• Former Nebraska stars Roy Helu and Prince Amukamara are hoping for bigger things in their second NFL seasons, though Amukamara already owns a Super Bowl ring.
• Northwestern got a commitment from an Illinois offensive lineman.
• Ohio Stadium has a story worth celebrating as it approaches its 90th anniversary.
• Former Wisconsin star Michael Bennett was charged with fraud.

Minnesota wisely chose to introduce Norwood Teague as its next athletic director Monday in the home locker room of TCF Bank Stadium. It was a reminder that football, more than any other varsity sport, drives an athletic program and must be supported and enhanced by the man leading the athletic department. Teague brings superb basketball credentials to the U, not least of which is his ability to both hire and retain Shaka Smart at VCU, where Teague has served as AD since 2006. He also has shown tremendous clout as a fundraiser. What he hasn't done is lead a department with an FBS football program, although he has worked in three departments that have them: North Carolina, Arizona State and Virginia.

Teague will start his new job July 1 if approved by the school's regents. He takes over for Joel Maturi, the Gophers' AD for the past decade.

"It's great to be back at a football school," Teague said at his introduction.

ESPN.com caught up with Minnesota's new AD on Monday to discuss the football-specific elements of his new job.

You mentioned your desire to be at a school with football. Why was it important for you?

Norwood Teague: I worked around football for 13 years, and I missed it. I love football and enjoyed my time at Virginia and Arizona State and North Carolina, and just wanted to get back into it. I'm excited for the opportunity.

What are some of the challenges that football presents when you're leading a department?

NT: It's just more demands. It's more demands on you financially, it's more demands as far as workload for a department. But that comes with it. Football, in so many ways, is the driver of college athletics. It's can be high-maintenance, but you love it, and you have to support it in the highest level, and that takes a lot of work, both from a funding standpoint and a headcount standpoint.

Minnesota has a big piece in place with the stadium. From your perspective, what's next for football? What needs to be done to further enhance that program?

NT: Well, the stadium certainly is a tremendous step in the right direction. Moving forward, I've got to evaluate the soft spots that we have with the football program. Coach [Jerry] Kill and I have had some dialogue, and I'll find out a whole lot more there. Marketing is always key. We've got a great marketing staff here, but I need to support them as best I can in order to fill seats and build the atmosphere in and around games. So, there's plenty to do. I've got a lot of evaluation in the next six months to get there, but I think the future's very bright.

What did you know about Coach Kill coming in, and what's your opinion of the head coach?

NT: Certainly the opinion with Gophers fans is very positive toward him. He is a relentless guy, and he is building a really solid program. Really I've heard nothing but great things about him here. I knew of him from a variety of different people who had worked with him in the past. I know the current athletic director [Jeff Compher] at Northern Illinois [where Kill worked previously] and I knew the previous one [Jim Phillips, who hired Kill at NIU]. So I've been thoroughly impressed. He's doing a great job, and he'll continue to do so here.

You mentioned in your news conference that [Big Ten commissioner] Jim Delany had a role in you going to VCU. What happened there?

NT: I called him, I think the day before I took the VCU job, because I was a little hesitant about going to a non-football job within college athletics. He was great in that he said, 'Your experience is vast in football over the last 13 years, so don't worry about that. I would go ahead and take that job, enjoy it, get great experience and you'll have the chance to take the next step soon.'

Did you have a chance to talk to him about this job?

NT: I have not. I looked forward to doing that. He is certainly arguably one of the more powerful guys in college athletics. I look forward to working with him, and he's really a visionary to say the least, someone who is very well respected.

You went up to Minnesota during Easter weekend before things really got going with the job. In talking to people, what was their feeling about the football program and what needs to happen to get it to the next level?

NT: I detected right away a very, very strong interest and passion in the program in wanting to win and wanting to compete at the highest level in the Big Ten and in the nation. I detected also that people believe that we can, and we should be. There's a strong, strong passionate following and a following that wants to succeed.

You did a lot of fundraising at VCU. How much easier was that process after a breakthrough like the Final Four last year? Does that need to happen at Minnesota before you make a lot of progress, or can you do so without a Big Ten title or a big-time bowl appearance?

NT: We had made some real progress before that and had a multimillion dollar expansion to our basketball arena, and 90 percent of the money was already committed before we went to the Final Four. Now when we went to the Final Four and had a shot in the arm like that, if anything, your expectations for yourself go up. I felt like as soon as that happened, we had to capitalize, so my sense of urgency was even greater. With that, there was a lot more work, and we were able to capitalize on it, but we had done so much good work beforehand and had so much in place, and I felt wonderful about that. The Final Four was more a sense of, 'Oh my gosh, we've got to capitalize on this.' We ran even harder and did a good job at capitalizing.

From talking to people there, do you get a sense of why it hasn't happened for Minnesota football? Great tradition going back decades and decades, but recently, they haven't had a breakthrough in football.

NT: There's probably a number of things I could venture to guess, but to be fair to the program, I've got to analyze that a little deeper. I'm sure playing in the Metrodome was not a help in the long run. Having an on-campus facility, that's just brilliant. I'm going to evaluate other areas to really get to that point, so it wouldn't be too fair for me to comment on that too much right now.

How familiar are you with the Big Ten, and what does it take to succeed in a conference where football really is the driving force?

NT: I'm very familiar. I have several good friends who are ADs in the league, and several that I've worked with. I know Mike Thomas very well at Illinois, Jimmy Phillips at Northwestern. I know Gene Smith at Ohio State very well. So I'm well aware of the league. I've never been in the league, but I know what it takes, and I'm excited to get rolling here.

We're wrapping up the three Big Ten spring games from over the weekend. Let's review Minnesota's Maroon and Gold Game from Saturday.

You can find coverage of the game here, here and here.

Star of the game: Sophomore defensive end Michael Amaefula had four tackles and a pair of "sacks," helping keep the Gold team scoreless.

How it went down: Offensive fireworks? Not so much. The Maroon squad beat the Gold 3-0, with 21-yard field goal from Chris Hawthorne providing all of the scoring. Though that may sound rough, the Gophers were encouraged by improved play, especially on the defensive end.

Minnesota's defense had a difficult time stopping opposing passing attacks last season but did well against its own quarterbacks in the scrimmage. There were seven pass breakups on the day.

"We've got some guys in the secondary that can run, and we're getting a little bigger in the secondary, which we needed to continue to do," head coach Jerry Kill told reporters. "I can tell you just physically watching that, that was better."

On offense, starting quarterback MarQueis Gray completed 4 of 8 passes for 62 yards, and backup Max Shortell went 4-of-10 for 68 yards and rushed for 30 yards, showing off much improved mobility. Gray sat out the second half.

"I felt like I did a lot better than last year, taking control of the huddle and being a leader," Gray said. "That's one of the positive things I look forward to [this season]."

It was a tough day for prized recruit Philip Nelson, who went 0-for-6 and was sacked three times.

Brandon Green led all the receivers with three catches for 59 yards, including a 35-yard grab that was the game's longest play. Freshman JoJuan Harper finished with a game-high 44 yards on nine carries.

Overall, the Gophers showed off more depth and better competitiveness than they had early in Kill's first season. The victorious Maroon team got a postgame steak dinner, while the losing Gold team members were served beans.

Three more Big Ten spring games are on tap Saturday, and we're here to get you ready for each one. Let's take a look at what to expect from Minnesota:

When: Noon ET, Saturday

Where: TCF Bank Stadium

Admission: Free. Maroon, Gold and Ski-U-Mah lots will be open for tailgating at 9 a.m local time. Cost will be $10. Gopher lot opens at same time at the same price but will not allow tailgating.

TV: The game will be streamed live on the Big Ten Digital Network and BTN2Go. The Big Ten Network will broadcast the game at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Weather forecast: A 50 percent chance of showers, with a high of 57 degrees.

What to watch for: Jerry Kill says the spring game will be "some good old-fashioned competition," with the team and coaches split up. The winning side will eat pork and the loser gets beans.

That Kill feels he can have a true, competitive spring game speaks volumes to how far this team has come since a year ago and how much more comfortable he is with the roster. The Gophers have more depth and understanding of the system, and that could show on Saturday.

MarQueis Gray continues to develop as a passer; keep an eye on a deeper receiving corps that has been coming on at the end of spring practice. Coaches have also been high on junior college transfer James Gillum, who'll get a chance to show off his running skills in a game day setting.

It's always about the lines in the Big Ten, though, and the defensive line has been suspect at Minnesota for some time. That position seems to be improving, and while it's hard to judge a pass-rush during a spring game, it would be encouraging to see that group play well.

I'm just beginning my Wisconsin weekend adventure. But in between bites of cheese curds, I've found some time to answer your emails. So let's see what's on your mind.

Dan from Monroe, Mich., writes: What was your question to Mark Dantonio when he gave this answer: "We're laying in the weeds," Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio says with a half smile. "We've beat Michigan the last four years. So where's the threat?" That quote has blown up and its all over the internet and Dantonio rarely mentions U of M unless he is asked about them specifically. Seems like U of M fans are looking to hate Dantonio even more even after the 4 straight L's they have taken from MSU.

Brian Bennett: The questions was very similar to the lead-in to the quote that you read in the story. I asked Dantonio about all the hype Michigan was getting and the Wolverines' recruiting success and if that worried him. He didn't need a lot of prompting. Some people took that quote as arrogance, but that's not how it came across to me. They call rivalries bragging rights games for a reason, and Michigan State has the right to brag a little when it comes to Michigan right now. It's clear the Spartans are comfortable with the state of their own program right now, and they should be.

Scott from Yakima, Wash., writes: Brian, nice to see the MSU on ESPN FB frontpage. And then I see you lead off the article with reference to those rodents from AA. Now, I know you are trying to do your best and you always probably have someone chipping at you for this or that. Just would have been nice to see an article (especially one so prominently displayed) without reference to that infestation in AA. After all, I'm not even sure it is much of a rivalry now. We (MSU) have had our way with them so routinely as of late, maybe Wisconsin is a more worthy rivalry? Hmmm. Don't know. What you think?

Brian Bennett: Scott, 90 percent of the article was about Michigan State and only a little bit concerned Michigan. But let's be honest. The Spartans are always going to measure themselves at least in part on what's happening in Ann Arbor. It's the same way with Auburn and Alabama, Clemson and South Carolina, UCLA and USC, etc. When you have a major instate rival that's so close, especially one that's been so historically successful and one that's now in your same division, that's always going to be part of the context.

Max from Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich., writes: Great article about the depth that the Spartans have built under Dantonio. I always get a kick listening to our wolverine brethren talk about the great season in store after only one good recruiting class. They seem to think that true freshman will be able to compete with redshirt sophomores and juniors. Laughable isn't it? It reminds me of all those September Heisman's they have won recently. What is your take on this? I think it will take at least two more years before um can actually compete with MSU.

Brian Bennett: Believe me, Brady Hoke and his staff know that they have work to do to build up their depth, especially on the lines. That's why you've seen so many linemen in their recruiting class. I think Michigan's frontline players are good enough for the Wolverines to win the Big Ten. But if they don't get the same fortune with injuries they had last year, their lack of depth could become a real problem. Michigan's roster and body types will look a lot different in a couple of years.

Adam from Baltimore, Md., writes: Quick Question. Was William Gholston sitting on the floor when you were interviewing him or are you secretly 7 feet tall and none of us knew it? I guess the other more serious question is, even as congenial and well-spoken as Gholston was in the interview (he seems charismatic when he pops that smile) he just seems so physically imposing and intimidating, even sitting down. Would that be a fair assessment for those of us who never get to talk to these guys?

Brian Bennett: I've been taking nonstop doses of human growth hormone this spring. No, Gholston offered to sit on a desk, which I much appreciated. I interviewed him on camera last year with both of us standing up, and it was quite a challenge to fit both of us in the same frame. Gholston is a large human being at 6-foot-7, 280 pounds, but he doesn't come across as intimidating in person. He's a real mild-mannered and polite kid who's fun to be around. That's why the people who know him best at Michigan State kept insisting his actions in last year's Michigan game were completely out of character.

Matt from Livonia, Mich., writes: I remember hearing that the hesitation for a playoff system is potentially devaluing the regular season. However, in 2011, we had multiple teams compete in BCS bowls that didn't win their conference or division. Will a playoff help to eliminate the human element (voting) that (in my opinion) harms college football today? For example, it was fairly obvious that B1G coaches voted Michigan higher than MSU in order to get a second B1G team in a BCS bowl and increase conference revenue. Will we ever see a football selection committee similar to basketball?

Brian Bennett: Matt, I've written several times that I'm wildly in favor of a selection committee. I don't mind using computers as a guide in the selection process, a la the RPI in basketball, but inescapably biased voters in polls should not have any impact on the process. The BCS commissioners are meeting again next week and say they won't decide anything, so who knows how this will turn out? As for your other point, I strongly disagree that coaches voted Michigan higher to prove some sort of point. We've seen it happen time and again that the team that loses in its championship game often misses on the BCS while a division also-ran goes instead. Losing late always hurts in the polls.

Andy from Columbus, Ohio, writes: Brian, I think it was you that has been outspoken against a conference champions requirement for a 4-team playoff (sorry if I'm mistaken!), and I tend to disagree. But doesn't it ultimately come down to what the goal of your postseason is? The professional leagues all define their champion as the team playing best at the end of the season, which is fine. But the NCAA has always said that every game counts, which would suggest that the champion should be the team with the overall best season, not the one who gets hot at the end. And although the BCS has shifted the mentality more towards the professional thinking in recent years, if the NCAA truly wants every game to count, the postseason's purpose needs to be to determine which team has the best overall season, and there's no better way to weed out contenders than making a conference championship a requirement. Thoughts?

Brian Bennett: I see what you're saying in theory, Andy, and I agree the full season should count. But it doesn't always work out that cleanly. Look no farther than last year. Yes, Alabama didn't win its conference championship, but the Tide in my opinion had a better regular season than Oklahoma State (which lost to unranked Iowa State) and Stanford (which also didn't win its conference), both of whom ended up in BCS games. So should we have shut out Alabama just because it happened to play in the same division as LSU? Should we have included a two-loss Oregon or two-loss Wisconsin instead? My belief is we should pick the four best teams, period, based on their overall body of work.

Steven from Madtown writes: You and Adam have mentioned a bunch of times how Nebraska players are talking about the national championship. Does the lack of this sort of talk from other teams mean they aren't aspiring to the championship, or are they just trying not to jinx it? To paraphrase Don Draper about the Midwest: "Where I come from it's not polite to talk about yourself."

Brian Bennett: Love the "Mad Men" reference, Steven. I think it's mostly a matter of expectations. At Nebraska, fans and alumni still expect national titles, even if it's been a while since Big Red won a conference championship. Other teams obviously aspire to that, but a team like Ohio State knows it's not feasible this year because of probation, while others like Michigan State and Wisconsin are looking to get over a hump (for the Spartans, making a Rose Bowl; for the Badgers, winning one). I would expect Michigan to talk like that at some point in the future, though Brady Hoke is such a traditionalist that the Big Ten title means everything to him, as I wrote earlier today.

Dano from Columbus, Neb., writes: What impact do you thing cancelling the spring game had on the recruits that were visiting that weekend in Lincoln?

Brian Bennett: It's always difficult -- and scary -- to try and read the minds of teenagers. But I'd say it probably had a marginal impact. Sure, it would have been great for those recruits to see the Sea of Red fill Memorial Stadium for their beloved Cornhuskers. But I'm betting most of those kids have either been to a Nebraska game before or have an idea of what great fan support the team has. They still got to meet the coaches and see Nebraska's impressive facilities. I doubt many spring games have sealed the deal in recruiting.

Phil H. from Vancouver, Wash., writes: The ESPN 150 is out. Am I missing something or once again does Wisconsin not have any commitments? How long can this go on if they want to be a top school?

Brian Bennett: The Badgers have three commitments for the 2013 class, but none so far in the ESPN 150. Remember that Wisconsin is going to sign another very small class next year. I wouldn't worry too much about rankings. This program has shown it can locate and develop players. Montee Ball wasn't an ESPN 150 type guy. He turned out OK.

Megan from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, writes: Hey, Bennett, what do you think about the decision to bring the design for the new Cy-Hawk trophy to a vote in this poll after last year's disgrace of a trophy? Which will you be choosing?

Brian Bennett: Since the original designers had such little feel for what a football trophy should look like, I'm all for putting it in the hands of the people. Glad to see there are no kneeling farmers in the options. Of the three choices, I like the one with the football coming out of the corn stalk. Simple, and says it all. But all three are perfectly acceptable and light years ahead of this limp attempt.

Darren from Minneapolis writes: I know, because of recent performance, the Gophers are the neglected stepchild of the BIG and do not get the attention that the other programs do. There is, however, reason to be optimistic of the upcoming season. Offensively, the Gophers return MarQueis Gray at QB and he is an exciting player. James Gillum should bring a significant boost to the running game. I believe the receiving corps. will be much improved with DCT as the home run threat. ... Defensively, there remain questions, but the starting group could look very different than it did last year, which brings some hope for success. The defensive line is a big question mark, but Hageman, by all accounts, is poised for a break-out season. ... The LB corps. is strong and has some decent depth to it. The defensive backfield is very exciting this year. ... I look at this as a team that very likely will win 7 games with a chance at an upset or two for an 8 win or even 9 win season. Your thoughts?

Brian Bennett: Darren, I admire your optimism. I do expect Minnesota to be much improved, partly just from the natural effect of having a second year in the system under Jerry Kill and his staff, who are very good coaches. And I think the nonconference schedule sets up well and could result in four wins for the Gophers. But that still means Minnesota would have to exceed last year's two conference victories to get to seven wins. I'm not sure where those are going to come from. Northwestern and Purdue come to TCF Bank Stadium, and those could be winnable games. The Gophers go on the road to Iowa and Illinois, two teams they beat last year who will be looking for revenge. I'm cautiously optimistic for five wins and think getting to 6-6 and a bowl should be the goal this year.