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.

CHICAGO -- Big Ten teams will be playing fewer bowl games in the future. And they'll likely be playing some of them in different locations.

It's all part of a shifting bowl landscape that Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany discussed Tuesday at the league's spring meetings. Delany said there's a "very strong consensus" among the league's athletic directors that the bowl-eligibility requirement should increase from six wins to seven wins, a sentiment that's echoed nationally.

"We think it's better for our programs, better for our fans and better for the bowl system for us to have a winning season in order to qualify," Delany said. "... For us, it means redefining a successful year at 7-5 from the standpoint of a bowl season. We argued for 6-6. We've experienced 6-6. Now we're suggesting that it's in our best interest, the bowls' best interest as well as the other conferences that might benefit by these open slots to look at a 7-5 standard."

Teams that finished the regular season at 6-6 have been eligible for bowls the past six seasons. In 2006, the Big Ten sent two 6-6 teams (Minnesota and Iowa) to bowl games, and both lost. The Big Ten has had a total of seven 6-6 teams in bowls, including four last season (Illinois, Purdue, Ohio State and Northwestern). Only two Big Ten teams that finished 6-6 since 2006 -- Northwestern and Iowa in 2007 -- didn't make bowls.

Coaches like Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald and Purdue's Danny Hope oppose the increase from six to seven wins, but they're in the minority. Delany admits the increase "probably doesn't favor us," but he said it will help the health of the sport.

"We had one team in a bowl game last year at 6-7 [UCLA] that ended up at 6-8," he said. "... You got too much of a good thing, too much ice cream, too many bowl games, too many 6-6 seasons."

The Big Ten also could tweak its bowl lineup, which expires after the 2013 season. Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said he "would imagine it will change a little bit," and Delany suggested as much during his session with reporters. Although the bowl lineup has taken a backseat to playoff discussions and where the Rose Bowl fits in, it will garner more attention in the coming months.

Five of the Big Ten's seven non-BCS bowl partners -- Capital One, Outback, Gator, Meineke Car Care, TicketCity -- are located in two states (Florida and Texas). The three Florida bowls take place against SEC foes, while the Meineke Car Care and, in some years, the TicketCity, pit Big Ten teams against Big 12 opponents.

Translation: there's not much variety. Wisconsin played bowls in Orlando or Tampa in six consecutive years (2004-09); Michigan State has played in Orlando or Tampa in four of the past five seasons.

"When you have three bowls in Florida and you're a school that is constantly in that range for selection, your fan base could end up, in a five-year period, four times in the state of Florida," Delany said. "So does that depress the interest? Again, sometimes less is more. Is there a way to give them a taste of Florida and Phoenix and Texas and other places in California? We want to have the fan base excited about going, about who they're playing and about where they're playing.

"After 20 years of experience with bowls, how do we make the next round of bowls stimulating, interesting and responsive, not only to our coaches and our players but also our fan base."

Here are your lunchtime -- wait for it -- links.

• Playoffs are on the minds of Big Ten leaders as they gather in Chicago today.
• Penn State coach Bill O'Brien says he'd like to play Pitt on an annual basis, but the schedule may not allow it to happen. A decision on the Lions' starting quarterback should be coming soon. Penn State has gone to great lengths to help restore its reputation.
• Michigan receiver Jerald Robinson had his hearing on a misdemeanor charge postponed. A one-time Wolverines recruiting target says Michigan doesn't pressure prospects into committing. Tate Forcier signed with a CFL team.
• Le'Veon Bell is earning some high praise at Michigan State.
• Purdue athletic director Morgan Burke wants to preserve the Rose Bowl tradition.
• Concussions caused Ohio State's Andrew Sweat to walk away from football. Tom Dienhart analyzes the Buckeyes' schedule.
• Indiana's Kevin Wilson won't follow Tom Crean's lead and start recruiting eight- or ninth-graders.
• Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald was asked about the debate over compensating players in a talk with students.
• Versatility will be key as former Gopher fullback Jon Hoese tries to make the Green Bay Packers.
• An Ohio linebacker has taken notice of Illinois and Tim Beckman.
• The married life suits Bret Bielema just fine.
• Kirk Ferentz went on the road to talk about what's happening with Iowa football.
• Nebraska's nutritionist talks about how to feed a bunch of hungry Huskers. The Lincoln Journal Star's countdown of the Cornhuskers' top 100 most memorable touchdowns takes a look at the beginning of the Triplets.

You got questions, I got answers. Let's do this.

Mickey from Battle Creek, Mich., writes: Your recent "Take Two" post really has me fired up. I'm pretty sure that I speak for many of the "little 10" fans out there who are just tired of seeing nearly every future projection regarding B1G dominance including only Michigan and Ohio State. When will you guys realize that just because you get top flight recruits and a have high profile program, doesn't mean success on the field? A national title for U of M or Ohio St in the next 5 years? Not at OSU with Braxton Miller playing, or the young guy after he graduates. Michigan I will admit is much more likely than OSU. I know they aren't the "sexy" picks, but I'd be willing to wager that a team that develops its players better (Wisconsin, Michigan State, Iowa) has a better shot, but still gets no mention, even with all the success those programs have had lately. Thoughts?

Brian Bennett: Well, I laid out my thoughts in that post. I don't know why you dismiss Braxton Miller, who showed major potential as a true freshman and seems like the ideal fit for Urban Meyer's offense. As I wrote, I wouldn't be surprised if Wisconsin or Michigan State or Nebraska, etc., jumped up and played for a title. But if I've got to pick one, I'll take a team that is getting elite-level recruits and has good coaches. Ohio State did pretty well, before last season's tumultuous events, in making BCS games and even championship appearances. With a coach who knows how to win titles, why wouldn't the Buckeyes be a safe bet for doing it again?

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Max from Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich., writes: I enjoy the blog and thinks you guys do a good job most of the time, but you seemed to have "mailed it in" today. OSU and UM on the fast track? Come on. In today's game defense wins national championships and only Michigan State has that type of defense. Speed and depth at every position, two players considered to be possible first rounders next year, and loads of experience. What am I missing here? Adam mentions that the losses on offense will hamper the Spartans then states that UM will challenge next year after they lose their only weapon. You mention OSU's lines while discounting the experience and depth of both lines at MSU. Come on, guys, you can do better.

Brian Bennett: I absolutely love what Michigan State is doing on defense. Yet I'm still not sure it's quite at the level of some of the recent SEC superpowers. Remember that the Spartans' 'D' was rated one of the nation's best a year ago, and yet it still gave up 30 points to Georgia. (OK, only 23 of those points actually came against the defense, but the 'Dawgs mustered just 10 points against LSU, for instance). A Big Ten team is going to need to score points as well to win a national title, just as Michigan State was able to put up 33 points in that Outback Bowl. I have serious questions about the Spartans' passing game this year. I think once Ohio State gets rolling, it will have a top-notch defense and a highly productive offense. But we'll see who's right in the next few years.

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Ry P. from Greensburg, Pa., writes: You understated PSU's nonconference opponents. Temple is now a Big East school AND they are a rival, especially since they are 1 of 3 PA FBS schools and that many kids go to Temple after PSU and PITT pass them over. Also, Navy is an important independent school and cannot be overlooked and disrespected like that. PSU has one of most consistent nonconference schedules with n0 FCS schools scheduled the next 3 years. Personally I'd love to see PSUs nonconference schedule be Temple, PITT, WVU, and Syracuse EVERY season.

Brian Bennett: Memphis, San Diego State and SMU are in the Big East, too. Would you like to play those teams? Temple might be in the same state as Penn State, but it's hardly a rival, given the unequal results between the two. As you said, Penn State has consistently scheduled ambitiously, and the Nittany Lions should be taking on marquee teams like Alabama or USC at least once every year.

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Jeff from Marquette, Mich., writes: Hey, Brian, how much of an impact do you really think Andre Rison can have as a coach for MSU? The current coaching staff has done a pretty good job developing receivers and it seems like we've got talent, just not experience. It's not like Rison can take the field so how much of a difference can he really make?

Brian Bennett: I see it as every little bit helps. Rison won't be the main voice in the meeting room or the practice field. But kids will listen to him, because of the success he had in his career. And he surely has some tips and advice to offer. With a group as inexperienced as this one, another mentor can only help.

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Ryan from Geneva, Ohio, writes: I think Jim Delany really needs to play hardball with Mike Slive when it comes to campus sites/neutral sites north of the Mason-Dixon. If Slive doesn't capitulate then Delany and Larry Scott (of the Pac 12) should walk out of the talks and announce plans for starting a rival, 8-team playoff on their terms and let the other conferences decide who to follow. The other conferences, particularly the ACC, BE, and the former non-AQs will be inclined to side with the Delany/Scott playoff because they have greater access to it. To entice them to come any conference champion in the top 12 would automatically qualify. What are your thoughts?

Brian Bennett: Boy, I hope that doesn't happen. We're so close to a workable college football playoff system that your scenario would be a nightmare. And can you imagine the fan backlash against the Big Ten and Pac-12 if they were basically to announce they were taking their ball and going home? Delany and Scott have no interest in expanding the playoff beyond four teams, anyway. The problem is the Big Ten doesn't have a ton of leverage against the SEC, because Slive is the one holding all those trophies. The home site idea appears to be dead or dying; at the very least, the Big Ten needs to make sure that Midwest sites are strongly considered for the championship game.

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Brian from Warrensburg, Mo., writes: Am I the only one that was shocked to see both Montee Ball and Rex Burkhead missing from Todd McShay's way too early 2013 mock draft first round? Are they both too undersized to be first rounders?

Brian Bennett: I'm not surprised by Burkhead's omission. As much as I love him as a college player, I don't think he fits the mold of what NFL scouts -- who often rigidly adhere to measurables and preconceived notions -- are looking for in a running back. But he'll play in the league. It has to be disheartening for Ball, who came back to school largely to improve his draft status after receiving a third-round grade. But after seeing Doug Martin and David Wilson go in the first round, Ball has to like his chances of moving up with a big senior season.

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Charlie from Chicago writes: As a Northwestern fan, I think it's a little lame that Fitz is copying Woody Hayes by calling Illinois "that team from Champaign." What do you think about him maybe changing it to "Champaign's Big Ten team"?

Brian Bennett: That's funny, though I've grown tired of the "Ohio" and "That team up north" stuff. Everybody knows who you're talking about. Let's find more clever ways to tweak our rivals.

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Andrew F. from Fairbanks, Alaska, writes: As a Buckeye fan, I love Terrelle Pryor -- the kid was awe inspiring on the field, and its not like he was beating up women crashing cars off of it. I don't want him to go away. Did he screw up? Did Tressel screw up? Sure. But I don't care if Urban Meyer is the coach now, I have enjoyed the best coach that Ohio State will ever see, and Terrelle Pryor gave us three wonderful years. I am proud to call them Buckeyes.

Brian Bennett: We have found Terrelle Pryor's fan base: it's in Alaska. Just kidding, Andrew. So you don't want Pryor to go away? Well, Ohio State certainly does, since it banned him from any association with the program for five years. And get back to me if he does actually write that book he promised. I've got two words for you: Jose Canseco.

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Logic from Ohio writes: Brian, I agree with your comments about Terrelle Pryor's tattoos not being much help for his family. Another thing - didn't Pryor's attorney claim that his mother bought him a car last May? (The Nissan 350Z that he showed up to a team meeting in). If she couldn't afford her rent, why was she buying him a car? It's hard to feel bad for a kid who time and time again appears dishonest, and only out for himself.

Brian Bennett: You're right, and there was also the issue of some pretty nice cars with dealer tags he drove around Columbus. Was he doing "God's work" in those? Look, I can't begrudge anyone for trying to help their family, and sometimes people go through economic ups and downs. But the point is that Terrelle Pryor has always been about Terrelle Pryor, and I don't find him credible on any of this stuff.

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Drew from Milwaukee writes: I can only imagine what kind of completely outrageous emails you are receiving about this Ron Brown business, but I do have a bone to (respectively) pick with you about something you said in your chat on Monday. I find the approach of giving equal consideration to opposing view points, even when one of those viewpoints is utterly objectionable, to be completely irresponsible. Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences. If any public figure associate with a major institution like the University of Nebraska had spoken up to say the same things about laws protecting African Americans or Women from discrimination he would fired immediately (especially if he listed his residence as a campus building). Should he be arrested? No. Should he be fired? I'm not even sure about that. But lets stop saying that this is a 'complicated issue' because people have the right to believe whatever they want to. Its not complicated. Ron Brown is a bigot.

Skip from Omaha writes: I want to let you know that I come to ESPN to read about SPORTS! If I wanted to read about social issues I'd go over to a news website. There is a large Christian following that agrees with Coach Brown. You should run some articles about their points of view, but right now you are just making a lot of people like me very angry. I support Coach Brown, he is a very moral person who has had a great impact on many people. Being openly against the gay community is not uncommon, nor is it an immoral stance. The way these articles beat up on Coach Brown, you would think that he is some sort of pedophile or anomaly. He is not. I support Coach Brown and his stances, and I know a vast amount of people who would stand up for him and agree with him. You need to be careful running articles like this. There is no reason to lose sports fans and paying customers over political, social issues.

Brian Bennett: I have largely stayed away from commenting on the Ron Brown story, because you start getting into political, religious and social views that are probably a bit too much for a college football blog. Others have had strong viewpoints and have made their case well. I do know this: I really, really don't want to read any of the articles Skip is talking about.

Some Big Ten rivalries burn year-round. Others need a few gallons of kerosene and a book of matches.

The Illinois-Northwestern series undoubtedly falls in the latter category. Although the teams share a state and have played 105 times since 1892, their series never will be confused with some of the Big Ten's best and spiciest rivalries. It might not even make it on the first page. How many non-Illinois or Northwestern fans could identify this as the rivalry trophy at stake when the Illini and Wildcats lock horns.

But coaches Tim Beckman (Illinois) and Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern) are trying to fan the flames.

Beckman announced at his introductory news conference in December that, "You'll never see me wearing purple." As Toledo's coach, he had his players burn anything they had that was orange -- the color of archrival Bowling Green. He also refers to Northwestern as "the team up north" and put up this sign in Illinois' locker room.

Fitzgerald referred to Illinois as "that team from Champaign" during Monday night's Chicago Cubs TV broadcast (Fitzgerald performed the seventh-inning stretch at Wrigley).

It's not exactly Michigan's Brady Hoke refusing to wear red throughout his career -- despite stints as Ball State's and San Diego State's coach -- and calling Ohio State simply "Ohio," but at least it's something.

The Illinois-Northwestern rivalry has started to move the needle in recent years. Northwestern's marketing slogan, "Chicago's Big Ten team," rankled some Illinois players, officials and fans. Moments after Illinois finished off a 38-35 win against Northwestern last year in Champaign, "Sweet Home Chicago" was played throughout Memorial Stadium.

There have been other flash points. After a win in Evanston in 1998, Illinois players put an orange helmet on the head of a newly installed Wildcat statue at Ryan Field. Two years later, Northwestern got its revenge with a 61-23 thumping of the Illini to clinch a share of the Big Ten title.

But for the most part, the rivalry has been fairly tame. It's fair to question whether both programs consider one another a chief rival. You could argue Iowa is a bigger rival for both Illinois and Northwestern. Illinois also plays Ohio State for the Illibuck and has some tension with Michigan. And while both teams want to increase their presence in Chicago, the Windy City is first and foremost a pro town.

Beckman and Fitzgerald will be challenged to prop up the rivalry, but their efforts should be appreciated. The fact that Illinois and Northwestern are engaged in more recruiting battles, which wasn't the case before, adds to the dynamic.

Of course, the best way for the rivalry to be elevated is for both programs to start competing for Big Ten titles. The last time both programs finished in the top four in the Big Ten: 1971.

Mutual success breeds contempt.

And the wild things roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws.

RIP, Maurice Sendak.

• The date of the alleged locker-room shower incident involving Jerry Sandusky has changed, which could help two former Penn State officials in their perjury case.
• Recruit Alex Anzalone hasn't ruled out Ohio State after decommitting from the Buckeyes last week. The sex offender who posted pictures of himself and Anzalone on the Web was arrested Monday.
• Spring football accelerated the healing process at both Penn State and Ohio State, colleague Gene Wojciechowski writes.
• Northwestern might be a long shot to bring ESPN's "College GameDay" to campus, but coach Pat Fitzgerald is taking the challenge head on. Matt Micucci starred as a prep quarterback, but he'll walk on as a kicker/punter at Northwestern.
• Several former Illinois players gear up for NFL camps, John Supinie writes. A look back at the year for Illinois football.
• There's a chance Iowa's season opener at Soldier Field might not be televised. The Hawkeyes roll out the welcome mat for folks from Camp Courageous.
• Here's the latest on the arrest of Purdue wide receiver Antavian Edison. Former Purdue star Matt Light has announced his retirement from the NFL's New England Patriots.
• Michigan safety Jordan Kovacs steps into a primary leadership role. Soon-to-be baseball Hall of Famer Barry Larkin talks about how he told Bo Schembechler he was quitting football at Michigan.
• Dirk Chatelain has a very personal take on the controversy surrounding Nebraska assistant Ron Brown.
• Wisconsin's coaches need to make a stronger effort to ensure their athletes avoid bad choices. Montee Ball wasn't the only elite athlete on Mifflin Street -- oh, Kaner.
• BTN.com's Tom Dienhart ranks his top Big Ten tandems.
• Bill O'Brien is aware of the expectations he faces at Penn State. The Beaver Stadium scoreboard makeover won't be complete until 2014.
• Several former Minnesota players are chasing their NFL dreams with the Vikings.
• A defensive recruit from Florida lands his first scholarship offer from Indiana.
• The Football Writers Association of America gives some well-deserved recognition to Michigan State's athletic communications staff.
• The Naples News' David Moulton favors Jim Delany's proposal for a college football playoff.

Our Big Ten spring game recaps roll on with Northwestern's spring exhibition, which took place Saturday at Ryan Field.

Check out recaps here and here and here. Here's the full stat sheet from the scrimmage.

Star of the game: Redshirt freshman defensive end Deonte Gibson capped a strong spring with 2.5 tackles for loss, including two "sacks."

How it went down: Rather than split into teams, Northwestern's offense went against the defense and the defense prevailed 47-43, thanks to a modified scoring system.

Northwestern's defense has struggled for the past season and a half, but the unit stepped up Saturday, recording six sacks and eight tackles for loss. The line had a big performance as four players contributed sacks, and defensive tackle Chance Carter returned an interception 19 yards for a touchdown, which earned the defense 17 points.

"It should be a pick-17 every time -- especially for a defensive tackle," Carter joked.

The defense recorded two takeaways and limited third-down conversions (6 of 18) -- a major problem last season.

"That side of the ball ... was very grateful for the negative comments about them," head coach Pat Fitzgerald said. "They've used that as fuel. As they said at the start of the spring, 'We deserve it. We didn't play very well last year at times.' What are you going to do about it? How are you going to respond? That's something we value here and they've taken that external motivation a little bit to really band together."

While the defensive line surged, the offensive line struggled to protect the pocket or generate a rushing attack. Top quarterback Kain Colter completed 7 of 12 passes for only 56 yards and took five sacks, and the unit finished with just 47 net rush yards on 36 carries. The running back spot looks wide open entering the summer, as Mike Trumpy returns from knee surgery and two freshmen enter the mix.

Fitzgerald didn't seem too concerned with Colter's performance, saying, "Maybe today's snapshot might not be his best practice of the spring, but he's done a really good job throughout." Backup Trevor Siemian appeared to help his cause, completing 8 of 14 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Redshirt freshman receiver Cam Dickerson ended a nice spring with three receptions for 61 yards.

Fitzgerald had the position coaches, rather than the coordinators, call plays during the scrimmage, calling it a professional growth opportunity. The team got some good news off the field as decorated quarterback recruit Matt Alviti verbally committed after the scrimmage.

Northwestern had several young defenders emerge this spring and should feel better about the defense entering the summer. Running back and offensive line are areas that need improvement, and Colter still has some strides to make as he becomes a full-time starting quarterback in the Big Ten.

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Pat Fitzgerald doesn't deny the hard evidence, but he also feels there's more to Northwestern's case.

Yes, the Wildcats have seen their wins total drop in each of the past three seasons, from nine in 2008 to eight in 2009 to seven in 2010 to six last fall. After back-to-back 5-3 marks in Big Ten play in 2008 and 2009, Northwestern has seen its league record flip in each of the past two seasons.

It doesn't take a mathematics major at Northwestern to see where things are going and ask the question: Has the program lost momentum?

"You can nitpick everything you want, but there has never been more positive momentum in the history of our program," Fitzgerald told ESPN.com. "If you're going to choose one thing to make it be whether or not you have momentum, that's unrealistic. But we've got to win football games and we've got to finish games better than we did a year ago.

"The program's definitely getting better. You can analyze that one area of wins and losses, which obviously I understand is critically important, but the difference between one or two games is not very much. We could have easily had six wins when we won nine. There's such a fine line."

It's Fitzgerald's job to look at the entire picture, and he notes some of Northwestern's recent accomplishments: four consecutive bowl appearances for the first time in program history; the winningest departing senior class in the program's history; a team GPA of 3.14; a 2012 recruiting class rated by many as the best in Fitzgerald's tenure. The school is also working on a facilities plan that could be a game-changer for the football program, which lags behind most of its Big Ten brethren.

Still, college football is a bottom-line business, and if Northwestern can't reverse the won-loss trend, its bowl appearances streak will end this season.

"Have we achieved our goals? Absolutely not," Fitzgerald said. "Are we hungry to do that? Absolutely. Are we working diligently to tweak the areas we need to improve? Absolutely."

Northwestern will try to make upgrades with a younger roster -- only 11 total starters return on offense and defense -- but quite possibly a more talented one. The team must fill several gaps, none more significant than Dan Persa's at quarterback, and hopes to do so by having what it believes to be stronger recruiting classes begin to pay dividends.

It's no secret the defense needs help after backsliding sharply in the past year and a half. Since a 6-2 start in 2010, Northwestern has surrendered 30 points or more 11 times. Last fall, the defense couldn't get off of the field (114th nationally in third-down defense at 50 percent conversions), fell victim to explosion plays and generated barely any pressure (106th in sacks, 104th in tackles for loss).

"You've got to make 'em earn everything," defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz said. "If they make great throws and great catches, you can live with those things. But we had some situations last year where we busted a coverage because of communication or we didn't have anybody back there. They didn't have to make the perfect throw or the perfect catch.

"We can execute better, no question."

The challenge is to improve communication and execution with a group heavy on youth. Although Northwestern returns all three starting linebackers, it will use young players in all three sections of the defense, including redshirt freshman cornerback Nick VanHoose, sophomore linebacker Chi Chi Ariguzo and redshirt freshman defensive end Deonte Gibson.

Consider that Ibraheim Campbell, a redshirt sophomore safety who led the team with 100 tackles in 2011, is viewed as the clear leader of the secondary.

Communication has been a focal point this spring, as players are taking extra measures to ensure they're on the same page.

"When I yell out a call to the D-line, the only way I know they got it is if they tap their hip," linebacker David Nwabuisi said. "We started forgetting about little stuff like that [in 2011]. Now when I make a call, if the D-lineman doesn't tap his hip, I keep on yelling at him until he does. Same thing with DBs to linebackers."

Communication shouldn't be an issue for Kain Colter, who started three games at quarterback in place of the injured Persa last season and evolved into arguably the Big Ten's most versatile offensive weapon (654 rush yards, 673 pass yards, 466 receiving yards, 18 total touchdowns). Colter is the best athlete to call signals at Northwestern since the team implemented the spread offense in 2000, but to maintain the program's recent run of top-shelf quarterbacks, he needs to become a more polished passer.

The junior emphasized velocity and arm strength during the winter -- he tore the labrum and the biceps in his throwing arm as a high school senior -- and expects to execute the high-percentage passes that drive the Wildcats' offense this fall. He'll have plenty of weapons as Northwestern boasts most likely its deepest receiving corps ever, even if USC transfer Kyle Prater can't play right away.

"My timing's getting a lot better, my arm strength's a lot better," Colter said. "I feel like I can make all the throws on the field. That hasn't been a problem this spring."

Northwestern loses four-year starters on both sides of the ball, an NCAA record holder in Persa, two-time All-Big Ten honoree Jeremy Ebert and Drake Dunsmore, the inaugural winner of the Kwalick-Clark Award as the Big Ten's top tight end. Fitzgerald likened the personnel turnover to a shift change at a factory and acknowledges the team dynamic is different.

Given the declining wins total, though, some new blood might not be a bad thing, and the coaches feel the team's overall talent level is on the uptick.

"There's better talent than people think," offensive coordinator Mick McCall said. "The cupboard's not bare. We've got guys who can play football. They just haven't had the experience yet.

"It's just their time. Let's go play."

The quarterback hurry is one of the more misleading statistics in football. It seems to be subjectively recorded and varies widely from team to team.

But Northwestern can take something away from the category known as QBH. According to statistics recorded by each Big Ten team, Northwestern finished third in the league (behind Michigan State and Nebraska) with 24 hurries in 2011. According to the official Big Ten statistics, the Wildcats ranked dead last in sacks with 17.

Translation: pressuring the quarterback isn't horseshoes.

"We left a lot of sacks out there last year," Northwestern defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz told ESPN.com. "We had a lot of missed tackles. And we got hurt on some quarterback scrambles where we got pressure and he was able to find a crease."

Tyler Scott takes Hankwitz's words to heart. Scott, a junior defensive end, showed snippets of promise last fall, displaying good speed and recording 31 tackles, an interception, two pass breakups, a team-high three fumbles recovered and, yes, two quarterback hurries.

But he only recorded one sack, two shy of the team lead. Only two Big Ten teams, Northwestern and Minnesota, didn't have a player ranked among the Big Ten's top 20 in either sacks or tackles for loss in 2011.

Not surprisingly, spring practice has been all about the pass rush for the 6-foot-4, 265-pound Scott.

"Many times I was not getting to the quarterback or not squeezing the pocket," he said. "I've started to make some improvements in that. My problem was I was going up the field too much and not attacking the man. So I'm trying to focus on attacking a spot every time and being more active with my hands."

Run defense became the peak priority for Northwestern after the 2010 season, when it surrendered 185 rush yards per game and 5.1 yards per carry. While the defense made slight improvements there -- 177.3 ypg, 4.5 ypc -- the pass rush suffered for the second consecutive year.

After recording 30 sacks in 2009, the Wildcats have just 33 combined in the past two seasons. Twenty teams had more than 33 sacks in 2011 alone. The lack of pressure particularly hurt Northwestern on third down, as opponents converted exactly half of their attempts (90 of 180) against the Wildcats, the highest percentage in the Big Ten and the seventh-highest percentage nationally.

Northwestern had been decent to good on third down in Hankwitz's first three years as coordinator -- ranking 28th, 23rd and 42nd nationally -- but the bottom fell out last fall.

"We were aware of it, but we didn't have that mentality to say, 'Yeah, we're getting off the field,'" Scott said. "It was just another down."

The mentality should change during the offseason, and Hankwitz is evaluating what he can do schematically, including whether he rushed only three linemen too often on third down. But the easiest solution is to have an effective pass-rusher or two emerge.

Scott seems to be the obvious choice.

"Tyler Scott to me is on the cusp of being a breakout guy nationally," coach Pat Fitzgerald said following last Saturday's scrimmage. "He's got some special qualities."

Scott wants one of those qualities to be putting quarterbacks on the ground this fall.

Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald discusses the first half of spring practice and the direction of the program entering 2012.

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Ever since Northwestern captured a share of the 2000 Big Ten title thanks to several dramatic come-from-behind victories, the program has been known as the "Cardiac Cats."

Close and chaotic games became the norm for Northwestern, and the program built its rep on winning many of them. In fact, Northwestern is 30-11 in its past 41 games decided by seven points or fewer, and 20-10 in coach Pat Fitzgerald's tenure as coach. Players and coaches welcome the "Cardiac Cats" label and seem to expect white-knuckle games every time they take the field.

Perhaps until now.

"Our fans love 'Cardiac Cats,' but I'm good with not being the 'Cardiac Cats' any more," senior linebacker David Nwabuisi told ESPN.com.

The alternative? "Just step on teams' throats every game," Nwabuisi said.

As good as the Wildcats have been at winning close games, they've repeatedly struggled to put away opponents, even in their best seasons. While they've been on the wrong end of lopsided contests, they've rarely delivered beat-downs, despite being in position to do so. Of Northwestern's 19 Big Ten wins between 2007-11, just four came by more than seven points.

Clutch play might be a hallmark of Northwestern's program. Killer instinct certainly is not. That's what Nwabuisi wants to see change.

"To a point, it's OK to be comfortable being the 'Cardiac Cats.' That means we're composed in those situations," Nwabuisi said. "We're used to being here. But that's something that was happening when we were improving as a program. We were working on being in the game at that point. But our standards are rising every year. We know we're talented now. When we're better than a team, we've got to show everyone else we're better.

"It's not good enough to just be in the game. We should be killing this team right now. It's not good enough to be down one touchdown against this team. We should be ahead two touchdowns."

Like other Northwestern players in the past 12 years, Nwabuisi acknowledges that the team is most comfortable in tightly contested games and those that require dramatic comebacks. But holding leads and playing complete games has been a problem as of late.

Northwestern blew double-digit leads in losses to Michigan State and Penn State in 2010. Last season, the Wildcats blew halftime leads against Illinois, Michigan and Penn State, dropping all three contests. And this is the program that ended up on the wrong end of the biggest comeback in FBS history, squandering a 38-3 lead against Michigan State in 2006 and going on to lose 41-38.

While Northwestern is usually good for one significant upset per season -- last year's win at Nebraska, for example -- the team also has a letdown against a seemingly inferior team, like last year's 21-14 setback at Army, which finished the season 3-9.

"A lot of those games, we let slip away," Nwabuisi said. "We're disappointed in the last couple years."

During Northwestern's five-game losing streak in 2011, Fitzgerald discussed how the "law of averages" might be catching up to his team. Some considered Northwestern extremely fortunate in 2009, when it won eight games, six by seven points or fewer.

Last year, the script flipped, as Northwestern was just 2-4 in games decided by 10 points or fewer.

"We're definitely playing with fire," Nwabuisi said.

Asked about Nwabuisi's comments, Fitzgerald smiled and said, "I just want to win."

"Trust me, I'd much rather be eating hotdogs and hanging out in the fourth quarter," he continued. "It just doesn't seem to go that way at times."

Fitzgerald said the nature of college football, particularly within the Big Ten, calls for a lot of close games. He'd rather have a team comfortable with being under pressure, but he also knows why Northwestern couldn't hold leads or close out games in 2011.

"Offensively, turning the ball over," he said. "Defensively, giving up explosive plays. And then the kicking game not being consistent enough when it mattered. Other years, we had been. Those things fell the right way. A ball that got tipped and picked last year, we caught it for a touchdown maybe the year before."

Like his coach, Nwabuisi wants to win any way possible. But he feels the program can win in more convincing fashion.

"We've got to get that mentality," he said, "to put teams out of their misery."

EVANSTON, Ill. -- My Big Ten spring practice tour continues today at Northwestern, where I'm spending the day after making the short drive up Ridge Road. I watched most of Northwestern's morning practice -- the team's first full-pads workout since spring break -- and visited with head coach Pat Fitzgerald, defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz and several players afterward.

The big moment in practice came when wide receiver Kyle Prater, Northwestern's coveted transfer from USC, caught a pass from Kain Colter before absorbing a massive hit from safety Jimmy Hall. Prater held onto the ball but spent several moments on the ground. Fortunately for the Wildcats, he only had the wind knocked out of him -- and some vomit -- but returned moments later and caught several more passes. Fitzgerald noted that Thursday marked just Prater's third practice with Northwestern and his first in full pads for quite some time, as injuries slowed him down during his two years at USC.

As Prater walked back to the huddle, Fitzgerald high-fived him and yelled, "Welcome back!"

"Kyle got welcomed to the Big Ten today," Wildcats linebacker David Nwabuisi said.

Should Prater become eligible for the 2012 season -- Northwestern has applied for an NCAA waiver -- he'll add to what might be the Big Ten's best receiving corps. The Wildcats are loaded at receiver with holdovers like Christian Jones, Demetrius Fields and Rashad Lawrence, along with the return of speedster Tony Jones and redshirt freshman Cameron Dickerson, who made several impressive catches Thursday.

The depth at receiver should help Colter, who split time between quarterback and receiver in 2011 but is practicing exclusively at quarterback this spring. Fitzgerald told me Colter would be his starter if the season began now, and he has been pleased with the junior's development. Colter, who has put on a bit of weight and checks in at 195 pounds, told me he worked on shoulder strengthening throughout the winter to improve his arm strength. Running back Treyvon Green has stood out for the offense and made some nice moves Thursday in practice.

There are more question marks on a young defense that struggled mightily in 2011. The unit had a few breakdowns Thursday, but there were some nice plays in the secondary, including an interception by redshirt freshman cornerback Nick VanHoose, who is right in the mix for a starting job. VanHoose also had a pass breakup during team drills, and safety Davion Fleming had a nice hit on Lawrence. Hankwitz said the mix of youth and older players on defense reminds him a bit of the 2008 team, which had the best defense during Fitzgerald's tenure.

I'll have more on the Wildcats later today and Friday, so stay tuned.

I was promised a jetpack.

• Bret Bielema is using the ACC as a quarterback farm system. Pre-Snap Read says Wisconsin needs to do a better job recruiting quarterbacks.
• Here's a Q&A with incoming Penn State running back recruit Akeel Lynch. With Danny O'Brien out of the picture, the quarterback competition heats up for the Nittany Lions.
• Purdue's Robert Kugler has moved from tight end to center and is embracing the change.
• Urban Meyer got a reality check at his first Ohio State practice. Meyer says the Buckeyes have "no choice" but to get big production out of former hotshot recruit Curtis Grant.
• Pat Fitzgerald talks about Kyle Prater in this video. He also preached sportsmanship at an elementary school.
• Nebraska's Justin Jackson moved from defensive line to center and has the coaches' attention this spring in a three-way competition to replace Mike Caputo. Young Huskers offensive tackles Jeremiah Sirles and Tyler Moore are making their move after a year of learning.
• Indiana defensive lineman Nick Sliger has overcome a learning disability and will earn his degree.
• Iowa running backs coach Lester Erb has another challenge on his hands this spring. The Hawkeyes' spring practice will be all about tracking changes.
• Enigmatic Michigan defensive lineman Will Campbell says he's no longer lazy. Ricky Barnum is confident he can fill David Molk's shoes at center.
• Taiwan Jones is getting a great opportunity to impress as a first-team linebacker for Michigan State this spring. Kirk Cousins as a first-round pick?
• This is basketball-related but still interesting, as Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis tweeted advice to Michigan basketball player Trey Burke, and Wolverines AD Dave Brandon didn't appreciate it.
• Beer could be flowing at Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium soon.

Another great hoops weekend on tap, and then Big Ten spring ball gets in full swing next week.

Mail time.

Max from Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich., writes: I enjoyed your take on MSU as they enter spring ball. With all of their returning talent, how can the "so called" experts continue to dismiss them? Every team losses their quarterback from time to time. Why is the loss of Cousins taken as a sign that MSU will some how fall back to the John L days. With our defense Andrew Maxwell will be a more than adequate replacement. After all both Alabama and LSU had quarterback play that was average at best last

Adam Rittenberg: You make some good points, Max. While Michigan State has had tremendous success in recent years, the Spartans haven't quite put themselves in the category of squads that outsiders expect to reload every year. Those who really study what MSU returns on defense will see the potential for the 2012 squad to be as good or even better than its predecessor. We shouldn't underrate the loss of Kirk Cousins, a three-year starter and a three-time captain. But it's not as if Maxwell is some true freshman being thrown into the fire. He has been prepared for this. That said, he'll likely have some growing pains. But as a mostly unproven quarterback, he'll inspire some skepticism about Michigan State's chances. Alabama and LSU have won national titles in recent years and have recruited consistently among the nation’s elite. Michigan State, fairly or unfairly, is viewed as a notch below those programs. The Spartans can do a lot to change that perception this fall with a third consecutive 10-win season

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The Roaming Badger from The Burrow writes: Hey Adam,I haven't heard much talk about Illinois as a contender for a division title. They have been recruiting some top shelf talent for years under Ron Zook, what are the chances someone comes in and takes that talent to a title? Last time he left a team a coach took his recruits to a NC within two years. In fact, that coach could probably have taken over the Illinois HC position this last offseason if he wanted to. Now that would make for some fun speculation!

Adam Rittenberg: Always good to hear from The Burrow. While I wouldn't dismiss Illinois in a wide-open Leaders division, you might be overrating the talent level just a bit. Zook’s top recruiting classes were 2007, 2008 and 2009, and most of those players are no longer in the program. Illinois certainly has its share of talent, particularly in the defensive front seven with players such as Akeem Spence, Michael Buchanan and Jonathan Brown. But the overall depth of the past three recruiting classes doesn’t seem as strong.

Illinois has to find several playmakers on offense to help quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase. The Illini also need to build depth in areas like offensive line and the secondary. The defense should be good enough to make some noise in the division, but after watching the offense flounder so much in the second half of the 2012, the jury is out and Tim Beckman's staff has plenty of work ahead.

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Brian from Whiteman Air Force Base writes: Hey guys, i need you to explain somethin to me regarding the future annual series of B1G vs Pac12. I understand it will generate more revenue and beef up the non-conference schedules of both conferences, BUT with the entire nation trying to play catchup to the SEC, wouldn't it be kindof detrimental for the best teams from the B1G and Pac12 to hand eachother losses so early in the year? I feel like we should be scheduling against more SEC teams to try to give them losses so we avoid more situations like last year's national championship game!

Adam Rittenberg: Brian, I see your point about the Big Ten and Pac-12 cannibalizing one another in the race to catch the SEC. But in terms of scheduling more games against the SEC, it’s easier said than done. How many SEC teams venture away from the southeast to play nonconference games? Still waiting … Anyone? Bueller? Yeah, it doesn't happen very often. SEC athletic directors would rather sacrifice their first born than give up home games, particularly in exchange for a trip to Big Ten territory. And Big Ten teams aren't going to visit Dixie without getting a home game in return. It's why we could see more neutral-site matchups like Michigan-Alabama. While I hope the Big Ten-Pac-12 partnership doesn’t totally stop Big Ten ADs from trying to schedule SEC foes, don't hold your breath. Nonconference scheduling goes both ways, and the SEC schools have to change their approach for anything to work. And right now, there's really no incentive for SEC schools to do anything differently.

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Jim from Winchester, Va., writes: Nebraska played a few true freshmen at a few key positions (RB, WR, LT) and some young new corners on defense. What are the chances the Huskers creep up on folks and surprise some teams who might think they will be mediocre on defense and Martinez in his second year of a new offense shines.

Adam Rittenberg: There's a good chance, Jim. While Michigan State and Michigan likely will enter the season as the Big Ten favorites, Nebraska shouldn’t be overlooked. As you point out, the Huskers return most of their core on offense, and those young players, including quarterback Taylor Martinez, just a junior, will have another year of experience under their belt. Although Nebraska loses a few starting offensive linemen, I actually think the overall depth up front will be better as a lot of young players got their feet wet in 2012. The Huskers are strong at running back with Rex Burkhead leading the charge, and the wide receiver and tight end positions should get a boost.

The key on defense will be replacing star power -- Lavonte David and Alfonzo Dennard -- with better overall depth. You hear baseball managers talk about up-the-middle defense, and the same holds true for football. Nebraska needs to be better at defensive tackle and safety, and it needs to find someone to step in for David, the league’s top linebacker. Too many teams attacked the deep middle against the Huskers. I think the offense will need to win a few tough games, but Nebraska should be right in the mix in a competitive Legends division.

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Kevin from Mt. Prospect, Ill., writes: Pat Fitzgerald has said in the offseason that he wants to keep his current staff around. The offense is certainly working for the Cats but the defense hasn't been doing their jobs in years. Is keeping Mike Hankwitz as defensive coordinator a liabity for the Wildcats after the poor defense the past couple years. How many more poor defensive seasons will it take for Pat to get rid of him and do you see the Cats improving to being an average defensive team in the big ten this year?

Adam Rittenberg: I thought there was a chance Fitz would make some staff changes after the season, especially with some of the admitted communication problems the defense had. Then again, he preaches the importance of continuity and has been extremely loyal to his assistants, firing only one -- defensive coordinator Greg Colby -- in six years on the job. Hankwitz played a big role in Fitzgerald’s best season, 2008, as he turned around one of the nation's worst units and made them respectable. But the past year and a half has been pretty awful on the defensive side. The challenge for Hankwitz is that the 2012 defense will be younger than its predecessor, and Northwestern loses its top two defensive backs in a secondary that struggled mightily last season. The coaches feel they've recruited well, but they need to have some players take significant steps this fall.

While Northwestern has struggled on defense since Fitzgerald played, the program produced a number of NFL defenders in the first part of the last decade. Other than Corey Wootton, there haven’t been many during Fitzgerald's tenure as head coach. So is it a talent issue or a lack of development? I think Northwestern has some intriguing players such as end Tyler Scott and safety Ibraheim Campbell, but they need to become difference-makers in 2012. Hankwitz is a seasoned coordinator, but his scheme relies on generating pressure strictly from the line and Northwestern generated virtually none last year. Will he mix it up more with blitzes? He might have to.

If Northwestern’s defense has another season like 2011, I don’t know how Fitzgerald retains the entire defensive staff again.

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Kelley from Los Angeles writes: Hey Adam, I hope you had a great vacation! Let's just assume (and hope against hope) for the moment, that Danny O'Brien comes to State College for next season. With that vastly improved QB situation, do we have a legitimate shot at a B1G title? Or at least the Leaders division? I like how our schedule looks this season, but unless we get a good QB it could all be four naught. So does O'Brien squared get us the title?

Adam Rittenberg: Kelley, always great to hear from you. I think Danny O'Brien puts Penn State in position to challenge for the Leaders division title. It's not to say PSU can't win the division without him, but if O'Brien provides the upgrade the Nittany Lions desperately need under center, they could really make a run in a wide-open division. I think the Big Ten champion comes out of the Legends -- Michigan, Michigan State or Nebraska -- but we could see a mini-upset in Indy as well. I agree that Penn State's schedule sets up well, particularly within the division as both Ohio State and Wisconsin visit Happy Valley. You can also argue Penn State brings back the division’s top defense, although there are some question marks in the secondary and at the second defensive tackle spot. But everyone knows that with Penn State, it comes down to the quarterback spot and getting much better play than we've seen the past two years.

Did you miss me? I'm back at your service after a trip to Turkey. While I unfortunately didn't meet this guy in Istanbul, it was an excellent vacation, filled with sightseeing, history and even a Turkish soccer match. If you think you get upset at your team, you should have seen the Karþýyaka fan who broke three stadium seats after a questionable call. Good times.

Brian Bennett took good care of you during my absence, and I had a few thoughts on some of the happenings while I was away.

• As an advocate of more night games, it's great to see Michigan and Notre Dame meeting under the lights for the second consecutive season. The Big Ten/Notre Dame have been a bit late to the party in scheduling more night games, which most fans and players absolutely love, but the movement is picking up. Despite the Big Ten's policy opposing November night games, we're seeing more primetime contests in September and October. Although Michigan won't play a home night game this year, the Wolverines will be playing at least two primetime contests (Alabama, Notre Dame) and most likely at least one more during Big Ten play. Michigan AD Dave Brandon says the school will host a night game in 2013, and Brandon told the Detroit Free Press, "Everybody has come to the conclusion that they should schedule 1-2 night games a year." While the Big Ten reached this conclusion a little later than most leagues, it's better late than never.
[+] Enlarge
Rob Carr/Getty ImagesCould former Maryland QB Danny O'Brien play for a Big Ten school in 2012?
• Wisconsin and Penn State both need help at quarterback, and either team would welcome Danny O'Brien into the fold. While Wisconsin has always been mentioned as a potential destination for O'Brien, Penn State coach Bill O'Brien confirmed last week that the former Maryland quarterback has expressed interest in the Nittany Lions, too. I figured Danny O'Brien would head to Vanderbilt after Maryland reluctantly did the right thing in granting his release, but it's interesting to see two Big Ten programs in the mix. Wisconsin's biggest selling point is Russell Wilson and the success the NC State transfer had last year. Penn State's biggest selling point is Bill O'Brien and how he can help quarterbacks.
• Speaking of O'Brien, can a coach have a honeymoon period despite being mostly panned after his hiring? O'Brien faced a lot of skepticism after being named Penn State's coach in early January, but his approval rating has improved in recent weeks, and rightfully so. In addition to saying all the right things and making some important changes to the program's culture, O'Brien and his staff are off to a strong start to 2013 recruiting. Penn State has five strong verbal commits, highlighted by quarterback Christian Hackenberg and tight end Adam Breneman. O'Brien coaches his first practice a week from today, but he has impressed so far.
• It's not a big surprise to see coaches like Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald and Purdue's Danny Hope opposing the proposal to increase the bowl-eligibility requirement to seven wins from six. Both men, after all, coached 6-6 teams to bowl games in 2011. While Fitzgerald's Wildcats lost yet another bowl game, Hope's team built a bit of momentum for 2012 with a win in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl. I don't expect coaches to support anything that would reduce the number of bowls and increase pressure on coaches to make the postseason, but they'll likely lose this argument. As Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany and others have pointed out, when bowl games are pairing 6-win teams with fired head coaches -- as we saw in the most recent Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl (Illinois-UCLA) -- there's something wrong.
• Offensive line will be one of the more intriguing position groups to watch around the Big Ten this year. Teams like Minnesota, Michigan and Northwestern already have discussed some personnel shuffling along the offensive line or new players joining the mix. Michigan must replace a superstar in center David Molk and Northwestern loses some experience, while Minnesota needs to find the right group after using many different combinations of lines in 2011.
• I'm excited to visit Lincoln early next month and check out Nebraska's spring practice. There seems to be a renewed sense of urgency for the Huskers, who didn't reach their goals in 2011 and ended the season on a down note in the Capital One Bowl. Quarterback Taylor Martinez drew some good reviews in the first few spring workouts.