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When a player like Denard Robinson comes along, the natural response is to identify a suitable comparison.

Not surprisingly, the first name mentioned is Pat White, the former West Virginia star who, like Robinson, thrived in Rich Rodriguez's spread offense. Rodriguez has acknowledged some links between White and Robinson, although "Shoelace" has a long way to go to catch up with one of the best players in recent college football history.

Others saw Robinson's quick start for Michigan and likened him to Vince Young, college football's ultimate dual-threat superstar. ESPN's Stats & Info crew produced a chart for last week's notes comparing Robinson's first five games to Young's first five at Texas in 2005. Turns out, Robinson had a better completion percentage (69.8-62.4), more rushing yards (905-355), more rushing touchdowns (9-2) and almost as many pass yards (1,008-1,021), although Young had three more pass touchdowns (10-5).

But Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz might have come up with the best comparison when discussing Robinson last week.

"What he's done is amazing, remarkable," Ferentz said. "The first thought I had was of my early years trying to prepare for guys like [Antwaan] Randle El. ... It brought back some good scar tissue."

Iowa went just 1-3 against Indiana when Randle El quarterbacked the Hoosiers between 1998-2001. The Hawkeyes aim for better results Saturday in their first matchup against Robinson and Michigan at Michigan Stadium.

Randle El preceded the wave of dual-threat quarterbacks in college football and certainly was a novelty in the Big Ten. The Indiana star earned Big Ten MVP honors in 2001 and Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors in 1998, and he still holds league records for quarterback rushing in a career (3,895 yards) and in a season (1,270 yards in 2000).

Robinson already occupies the top two spots on the Big Ten single-game quarterback rushing chart -- he set the record with 258 yards against Notre Dame and tied Mike Kafka's mark with 217 against Indiana. Randle El's name, meanwhile, appears throughout the top performances. He had five rushing performances of 150 yards or more, including bursts of 210 yards and 209 yards during the 2000 season.

"I just remember any time Iowa played Indiana, there was this guy running around," Iowa safety Tyler Sash recalled. "He could run like a running back and throw the ball like a quarterback. If coach Ferentz is comparing [Robinson] to Antwaan Randle El, who is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks the Big Ten's ever had, that speaks highly of Denard and his abilities."

Both Robinson and Randle El wasted no time making an impact as starting quarterbacks.

Robinson piled up 197 rush yards and 187 pass yards in his first career start Sept. 4 against Connecticut. Randle El passed for 385 yards and three touchdowns and added 82 rush yards and three more scores in his collegiate debut against Western Michigan in 1998, breaking Indiana's single-game total offense record with 467 yards.

"They're a little bit different players," Ferentz said, "but they put the same kind of pressure on you and they're the catalysts of a very explosive, high-powered offense. That was true when Randle El was at Indiana. They were a very tough team to defend, and I think Michigan is the same way."

Rodriguez didn't coach in the Big Ten during Randle El's run, but he admired the Indiana star from afar.

"He was such an explosive player," Rodriguez said. "He'd sure be a lot of fun to have in this offense. Denard has some of those same qualities, not only from an athletic, running and throwing standpoint, but also from what I understand from a leadership and a take-charge standpoint.

"Denard's just a young guy, this is his first year starting, but I think he has a lot of those same qualities."

Here's a look at how Robinson's first six starts compare with Randle El's in 1998 (Randle El sat out the 1997 season as a partial qualifier).

Connecticut at Michigan is one of the more intriguing opening-week matchups. The Wolverines desperately need to get off to a good start, while UConn has drawn a lot of offseason buzz. Plus, the biggest Big House yet makes its debut.

Big Ten blogger Adam Rittenberg and Big East blogger Brian Bennett break it all down.

BB: All right, Adam. No more talk of the Big Ten raiding the Big East. Just Big Ten and the Big East meeting, thankfully, on the field. How badly does Michigan need this win, and are the Wolverines aware of just how good Connecticut is?

AR: Michigan needs this game real bad, but not for the obvious reasons. We saw this team start fast last year and fall apart in Big Ten play, so a win against Connecticut might still be greeted with some skepticism. Michigan needs a win because it needs something good to happen after another rough offseason. The Wolverines need to show their fans that progress is being made, especially on the defensive side of the ball. They need to get their renovated stadium fired up again. They need to revive what's left of the Michigan mystique. This gets us to your second question (double-barrel, tsk, tsk). After the last two seasons, the Wolverines shouldn't be taking any team lightly, especially a very solid UConn team that consistently produces NFL talent and has an outstanding head coach in Randy Edsall. Michigan players know many folks are picking them to lose to the Huskies.

Let's look a little deeper at UConn. What are the two or three things Michigan must be most concerned about on Saturday?

BB: I know, it was bad question form but we're trying to save space here. Anyway, Michigan must be most concerned about the UConn running game. The Huskies have a big, physical offensive line that bulldozes people. Jordan Todman went over 1,100 yards last year, and they have a stable of other backs including USC transfer D.J. Shoemate.

Defensively, Connecticut has three standout, senior linebackers in Lawrence Wilson (140 tackles last year), Scott Lutrus and -- surprise! -- Greg Lloyd. They can all run and make plays. And mostly, Randy Edsall's team never beats itself. UConn is always very well coached, fundamentally sound and avoids mistakes.

On the other hand, the Huskies are small up front defensively and will have their hands full with Michigan's offensive line. Speed could be a major issue, as it was whenever Rodriguez played Edsall when the former was at West Virginia. The secondary is also unsettled and was the worst in the Big East against the pass last year.

What other areas should concern UConn?

AR: Michigan certainly can put up a ton of points. Everyone is fussing about the quarterback situation, but I'm not overly concerned. Denard Robinson and Tate Forcier both have experience in Rodriguez's system, and true freshman Devin Gardner might be the most natural fit for the offense. You can't underestimate the importance of Year 3 in the spread. The O-line should be solid, as center David Molk returns to a group that has a good mix of experience and promising young players.

Rodriguez hasn't announced a starter at quarterback, but Robinson seems likely to take the first snap. He's got ridiculous wheels, and he has improved as a passer after completing just 45.2 percent of his throws last year. Forcier also brings some playmaking ability to the backfield, especially when he's on the move. The receiving corps could be a strength for Michigan, as Roy Roundtree leads a group that boasts excellent speed.

The biggest questions for Michigan are on defense, especially after losing Big Ten co-MVP Brandon Graham and corner Donovan Warren. There's not much depth in the secondary, so the Wolverines need a strong performance from hulking nose tackle Mike Martin and the rest of the defensive line. The kicking game also is a concern.

Connecticut had a historic win at Notre Dame last year but fell just short against several good teams on the road. How do the Huskies get over the hump at what should be a fired-up Big House?

BB: This is a veteran, confident UConn team that won't be intimidated by the atmosphere. As long as the Huskies can keep the Michigan quarterbacks from running wild like Pat White used to do against them, I like their chances of pulling this one off. They're going to score points with Zach Frazer running the no-huddle offense and the running game pounding away. I say they get an early lead, causing Michigan and its fans to get nervous and tight. Dave Teggart kicks a winning field goal in the final minute for a 31-28 win.

Your take?

AR: I agree that UConn won't flinch at what's left of the Michigan mystique, but I still expect the Wolverines to make some big plays early and feed off of the atmosphere. Robinson doesn't need much space to take it to the house, and I expect him and some of the backs to break off several big runs behind an improved offensive line. Michigan's defense worries me, especially in the back seven, but Martin leads a strong effort from the front four to contain the Huskies' rushing attack. This one definitely goes down to the wire, but I have the more desperate team winning. Michigan, 28-27.

I asked enough questions this week. Your turn.

Mike from Kansas City, Mo., writes: A lot of college football observers have claimed that the Pac-10's ninth conference game has had the negative side-effect of knocking good teams out of at-large selections in BCS Bowls. With the Big Ten and Big XII joining the Pac-10 in adding a ninth conference game, do you feel the at-large selection process could be changed?Also, do you feel the ACC and SEC will follow suit in adding a ninth game?

Adam Rittenberg: It'll be very interesting, Mike. I think bowl games still see a lot to like with Big Ten teams, but will these games want to take a 9-3 Iowa, a 9-3 Ohio State or a 9-3 Penn State? The Pac-10's round-robin schedule certainly hasn't helped the league when it comes to BCS bowl selections, although poor traveling fan bases also play a major role. Will the at-large process be changed? I doubt it, but it's worth asking BCS executive director Bill Hancock. I'll definitely follow up with him. I also think the ACC and SEC will eventually go to a nine-game league schedule as well. Scheduling has become a real pain, and the fans want to see more attractive teams in their stadiums.

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David from Marshfield, Wis., writes: Adam any truth to the rumor that Joe Pa's health problems where more serious than he and the school have reported. I have heard that it may have been a possible stroke?

Adam Rittenberg: David, I haven't heard anything about that. Although we learned way too much about Joe Paterno's plumbing this week, I think we can chalk it up to dealing with a health issue at 83 years old. It's just not that easy, but Joe seems to be out of the woods now. He looks thinner and sounds older for sure, but he's still got it upstairs. He'll be fine when the season kicks off. Football always brings more life out of him.

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Tyler from Iowa City, Iowa, writes: Is the Iowa football team your hardest interview? It seems like you have to pry answers out of them all the time. Can you give us your best/worst interviews?

Adam Rittenberg: I actually really like talking with the Iowa guys, who are a lot like their head coach, Kirk Ferentz: not overly colorful but genuine and honest. Ricky Stanzi is one of the Big Ten's most insightful players, and you all know how I feel about talking with Derrell Johnson-Koulianos. I don't have many "worst" interviews, but here are some of my favorites from Big Ten media days: Jay Valai, Kirk Cousins, Troy Woolfolk, Cameron Heyward, Corbin Bryant, Keith Smith, Robert Marve (new favorite), Kim Royston, Terrance Turner and Adam Weber.

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Brad from Chicago writes: The more I've been thinking about it, the more I like the idea of a nine-game conference slate. The arguments against it that I've seen seem to be kind of frivolous. Schedules aren't equal because some teams have 5 home games and others have 5 away games? Okay, but some teams play Ohio State in the Horseshoe, and others don't play the Buckeyes at all. The BT teams will have an additional 6 losses, hurting bowl chances? Sure, but we know that strength of schedule is taken into account when determining rankings. 1- or 2-loss teams from power conferences regularly jump unbeaten teams from non-AQ conferences in the rankings. The ninth game makes our schedule stronger, and from a fan's perspective, more fun to watch. Are the opponents of a 9-game slate exaggerating (whining) as much I think, or am I missing something here?

Adam Rittenberg: Brad, you present a strong case here. And for Big Ten fans, the nine-game league slate should be a cause for celebration. It'll mean fewer conference games, which are by and large unattractive in this league. The coaches represent the strongest opposition to the change because it makes their jobs tougher and their livelihood is determined by wins and losses. Now it makes it harder to reach the six-win plateau and qualify for bowl games, but do 6-6 teams deserve to play in the postseason?

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Billy H. from Hoboken, N.J., writes: What's the historical significance of Jim Tressel's potential 100th win at Ohio State? It seems likely to come this year.

Adam Rittenberg: I'm struck by how fast Tressel will reach 100 wins at Ohio State. He has averaged 10.4 wins a season and owns seven 10-win seasons in nine years. That's silly good. People knock Tressel and Ohio State for two games -- the 2006 and 2007 national championship games -- but his body of work in Columbus is incredible. He only needs six more wins to reach 100 and should have it by mid October.

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Jerry from New York City writes: Your comments concerning the ability of Rich Rodriguez as a coach I believe are misplaced. If one were to subtract the Pat White years at WVU from his coaching record, Rodriguez's credentials look a lot leaner. White was a unique talent for running a spread offense. Without White, Rodriguez had no greatness. Miichigan is paying the price for not factoring in the effect of White when it hired Rodriguez. Comment?

Adam Rittenberg: Jerry, with all due respect, this is a ridiculous argument. You can subtract a lot of individual players from teams and their coaches wouldn't look nearly as good. Doesn't Rodriguez deserve credit for molding Pat White into a record-setting quarterback? Who's offense was White running? Not to mention the fact that Rodriguez had a lot of success at both Clemson and Tulane as offensive coordinator. Let's take Ron Dayne away from Barry Alvarez. Does Wisconsin win those Big Ten titles? Is Alvarez in the Hall of Fame? Coaches need players, but players also need coaches, and White needed Rodriguez.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

A quick note from Penn State: Linebacker Josh Hull said fellow 'backer Navorro Bowman (groin) was limited at Tuesday's practice. Don't expect to see Bowman out there when the Lions face Temple on Saturday. There's no need to risk further injury before Big Ten play begins next week.

• Those expecting Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel to give up play-calling duties will be disappointed, Ken Gordon writes in The Columbus Dispatch. Tressel might tick off Buckeye fans with this quote. A breakdown of why Tressel-ball no longer works, Chris Brown writes at Yahoo! Sports.
• Fixing the offensive line is Penn State's top priority before the Temple game, Joe Juliano writes in the Philadelphia Inquirer. The Lions pick up their fullback for the future.
• Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio faces some adversity and his first real test, and he takes it with a smile, Drew Sharp writes in the Detroit Free Press. Kirk Cousins is leading Michigan State's quarterback race, but Keith Nichol hasn't given up hope.
• Despite fan complaints, Wisconsin won't stop scheduling FCS teams, Jim Polzin writes in The Capital Times.
• Iowa left tackle Bryan Bulaga (illness) will be back, but when he returns remains a bit fuzzy, Marc Morehouse writes in The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette.
• Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez says Tate Forcier's poise reminds him of Pat White, Mark Snyder writes in the Detroit Free Press. Rodriguez and Michigan are featured prominently in colleague Ivan Maisel's piece about the difficulty of defining a coaching "fit."
  
• Minnesota's offense strives for greater consistency against Cal, Kent Youngblood writes in the Star Tribune. The Gophers likely need to put up points because of this guy, Marcus Fuller writes in the (St. Paul) Pioneer Press.
• Purdue quarterback Joey Elliott doesn't dwell on his mistakes, Mike Carmin writes in The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier.
• Indiana brought officials to practice after the team was flagged for 13 penalties last week, Dustin Dopirak writes in The (Bloomington) Herald-Times.
• Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald and Syracuse's Doug Marrone have a lot in common, Lindsay Kramer writes in The (Syracuse) Post-Standard.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- When Michigan quarterbacks coach Rod Smith went down to Florida and asked to speak with Denard Robinson, he quickly learned that his recruiting target went by a different name.

"His coach goes, 'Hey, Shoelace!'" Smith said.

Shoelace?

The story goes that Robinson hasn't tied his shoelaces since elementary school. Not for football games. Not for track competitions. Not for anything.

The odd practice seemingly would hinder an athlete's ability to stay on his feet. For Robinson, it's just the opposite.

Robinson's speed has become one of the top storylines during Michigan's preseason camp. After gaining attention in March for running a 10.44 in the 100-meter dash at a meet in Florida, the true freshman has amazed his Michigan teammates and coaches with his warp-speed, unlaced feet this month.

"Damndest thing I've ever seen," Smith said.

Like fellow quarterbacks Tate Forcier and Nick Sheridan, Robinson is practicing with the first-team offense in camp and likely will play in the season opener Sept. 5 against Western Michigan

True to form, Robinson showed up Sunday at football media day with his shoes untied. When Michigan opens the season, Robinson will go sans tied laces.

That is, unless the coaches make him lace up.

"I really don't know [if they will]," he said. "I don't think so."

Not if he continues to dazzle in camp.

He had a 58-yard touchdown run in Friday's practice and tossed a short touchdown pass to Je'Ron Stokes in Saturday's scrimmage. Robinson accounted for two plays of longer than 40 yards on Wednesday, including a 40-yard scoring strike to Greg Mathews.

Smith was asked Sunday if Robinson reminded him of a young Pat White, who thrived in Rich Rodriguez's spread offense at West Virginia.

"I don't want to blow [Robinson] up, but he's fast," Smith said. "It's fun to watch, and if he breaks through, I love Pat to death, but I'm not too sure this kid is faster. They're close."

Robinson's speed has helped him offset the natural struggles that come with learning a new offense as a freshman.

"I get away with a lot," he said. "I'll probably make a mistake and get back on it with my speed."

Robinson didn't really have an explanation for his shoelace habit. Despite the risk of tripping or having a teammate step on his laces, he'll plan to continue the practice.

Though he's making it easier on opposing defenders to make shoe-string tackles, they might not even get a chance.

"I just enjoy running," Robinson said. "When I get the ball, I think about not getting caught. If I'm in front of everybody, I feel I shouldn't be caught. Nobody's caught me from behind [in practice]."

Robinson's speed might be too valuable to keep off the field, even if he's not the starter at quarterback. There are lingering questions about his arm and accuracy, but offensive coordinator Calvin Magee said the freshman can "throw the heck out of the ball."

So he's not totally anti-laces.

"Everybody says I can't throw," he said, "but I'll show you different when you see me start and see us play."

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

He could still be in high school and has yet to take a snap in a college game. So why is Tate Forcier such a popular man this spring at Michigan? Because he plays the most important position on the field for a program trying to expunge a historically bad season and move forward behind second-year coach Rich Rodriguez. Perhaps most importantly, Forcier appears to fit the spread offense, something that couldn't be said for Michigan's quarterbacks last fall.

The true freshman from San Diego, who enrolled at Michigan in January, is taking the majority of snaps this spring after Nick Sheridan broke his leg and Steven Threet transferred. Forcier is considered the frontrunner for the top job, at least until classmate Denard Robinson arrives this summer.

As his spring education winds down -- Michigan's spring session wraps up Saturday -- the 6-foot-1, 187-pound Forcier took some time to discuss his progress and the outlook for the season.

You're almost done with spring ball. Has it flown by?

Tate Forcier: I've had a lot of fun. Just picking up the offense and getting in more of a rhythm with the plays and everything, it makes it fun when you start to understand what you're doing. That's kind of the stage I'm at right now.

Do you have any idea what you'd be doing right now if you were still in high school?

TF: I'd probably be sitting on my butt. I'm happy I'm here. I'd actually recommend it to kids who graduate early. You'd be surprised how much these 15 practices help you. Just how far coach [Rod] Smith has brought me along, it's unreal. I learned more from him in this period of time than I've learned my whole life. So it's an advantage and I'm happy I'm here.

What was the hardest thing to pick up? Was it the differences between this spread offense and the one you ran in high school? Was it the speed or the number of plays?

TF: Really, it was more understanding why they're calling this specific play at this specific time. A spread is a spread, no matter how you run it. I ran the same type of spread in high school, so there's no difference between it, except it's a little more complicated, obviously, because there's signals and everything, rather than just getting a play from a coach. It's more understanding why they're calling that specific play. But speed wise, I heard it was such a different speed, but I'm still playing at the same speed. It's not like my game's slowing down. You get used to it. You're going against kids that are just as good as you. The way I looked at it, I stepped my game up.

In terms of the pace of the install, was it faster than what you thought? Did you expect them to throw a lot at you?

TF: They throw a lot early in the week, and that first practice of the week, you're so lost out there, you don't know what you're doing. And then you'll go back and watch film, and then that next practice, you had that week and you understand it more. And then when you have practice that Saturday, you understand exactly the full play, the progressions and everything. They help you build on it so you understand it more. Coach Smith and coach Rodriguez, they've done a great job at bringing me along. They're not making me do too much. They're just trying to get me to understand the playbook and the plays and everything. Right now, I feel like I have a pretty good understanding of the playbook.

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

The departure of a three-year starter at quarterback is never cause for celebration, but Northwestern offensive coordinator Mick McCall could get exactly what he wants in the backfield this fall.

	Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
	Mike Kafka is one option for the Wildcats at quarterback in 2009.

Northwestern's spread offense works best with a mobile quarterback who poses a legitimate rushing threat. After all, the roots of the Wildcats' system can be traced directly to Rich Rodriguez, who has directed dynamic offenses with mobile quarterbacks (Shaun King, Woody Dantzler, Pat White) and struggled mightily when his quarterbacks lack foot speed (Michigan's 2008 season).

McCall also enjoyed his best coaching success when he mentored mobile quarterbacks Josh Harris and Omar Jacobs at Bowling Green.

Outgoing Northwestern starter C.J. Bacher and his predecessor Brett Basanez showed decent mobility at times, but the team has lacked a true rushing threat since Zak Kustok finished his career in 2001.

McCall will have two when spring practice opens March 30.

"It puts a lot of pressure on the defense when the quarterback can run and be able to break some things open that way," McCall said. "The defense definitely has to be a lot different."

Projected starter Mike Kafka already has established himself as a rushing threat in the Big Ten. Making his first start in three years Nov. 1 against Minnesota, Kafka set a Big Ten quarterback record with 217 rushing yards. He followed with 83 rushing yards the next week against Ohio State.

Backup Dan Persa can move a bit, too.

As a high school senior in Bethlehem, Pa., he became the first player in state history to eclipse 2,000 passing yards and 1,000 rush yards in the same season. Despite serving as Northwestern's third-string quarterback last fall, Persa was used regularly on special teams, even returning a kickoff against Michigan.

Kafka and Persa should enhance a rushing attack that loses Tyrell Sutton, a four-year starter at running back, but McCall chooses to focus more on their arms than their legs.

"We've still got to find ways to move the football through the air because you cannot sit there and pound the quarterback and pound him and pound him, and expect him to throw for 65 percent completion or 70 percent completion," McCall said. "[Tim] Tebow can't even do it, and you're talking about a guy who's won a Heisman.

"We've got to be realistic about what our guys can do and how many hits they can take."

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Michigan fans everywhere are itching for any morsels of information about the team's ongoing quarterback competition, and no one is more captivated than a certain high school senior in Deerfield Beach, Fla.

As Nick Sheridan, Tate Forcier and David Cone compete for the top job in spring practice, a fourth candidate is monitoring the Ann Arbor arms race from afar.

"I'm always keeping an eye on what's going on up there," Denard Robinson said.

Robinson is finishing his senior year at Deerfield Beach High School, where he starred as a quarterback and cornerback. He expects to join his new teammates at Michigan immediately after graduation.

Although the other three quarterbacks get a head start in the competition this spring, coach Rich Rodriguez has no plans to name a starter until well into preseason camp. Robinson will arrive a bit late to the party, but his pedigree and skill set might put him in the spotlight very soon.

If fellow true freshman Forcier doesn't create some distance with a strong spring, Robinson could close the gap in a hurry.

"The whole time, they've been telling me the same thing," Robinson said, "that I have a real good chance to contend."

For now, he remains clued into the competition through Wolverines quarterbacks coach Rod Smith, with whom he talks every other day, and Michigan slot receiver Justin Feagin, a fellow Floridian who started off as a quarterback last year before making the switch. Smith updated Robinson on Michigan's first spring workouts when the two spoke Monday night.

"Going over it with coach already, I think I'll be able to catch up fast, real fast," Robinson said. "I'm just going up there to handle business."

Despite a smallish frame (6-foot, 180 pounds), Robinson boasts top-end speed and the ability to freelance with his feet, keeping plays alive and gashing defenses for big gains. He hopes his playmaking skills match those of quarterbacks like Shaun King and Pat White, who starred in Rodriguez's offense at Tulane and West Virginia.

Robinson kept close tabs on White the last few seasons.

"He had a pretty good, strong arm, but nobody really recognized it because he didn't have so many good receivers," Robinson said. "Me going to Michigan, they've got good receivers like [Greg] Mathews and [Martavious] Odoms, so it's going to be a good thing. Then we've got Je'Ron [Stokes] coming in. I think I'm going to have a good receiving corps, and I could probably do better things than Pat White did because I have those wide receivers."

Robinson watched Michigan's offense sputter last season, as the Wolverines finished 109th nationally in total offense, 108th in passing and 99th in scoring. But he wasn't discouraged by what he saw.

Quite frankly, Robinson thought he could do better than the men taking snaps in 2008.

Soon enough, he'll get the chance to prove it.

"I love competition," he said. "That's what I live for. That's why I play the game of football, for competition. I guess it boosts my confidence. It makes me play better."

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

When Minnesota head coach Tim Brewster checked into his hotel Tuesday morning in Shreveport, La., the woman working at the front desk spotted the Golden Gophers logo on his shirt and smiled.

"The coach from Michigan just left," she told him.

Both Minneapolis and Ann Arbor, Mich., are located more than 850 miles from Shreveport, making it an odd place for Brewster and one of his Michigan counterparts to cross paths. But these days, Big Ten coaches are just as likely to bump into one another in Shreveport, Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and Houston as they are in Chicago, St. Louis, Pittsburgh and Detroit.

When Purdue head coach Danny Hope called ESPN.com on Wednesday afternoon, he was navigating a road near Bay City, Fla. An hour earlier, Wisconsin defensive line coach Charlie Partridge phoned in from the Fort Lauderdale area.

The Big Ten recruiting range is expanding far beyond the Midwest, and coaches are spending much of their time in the fertile states of the south and southeast.

If one incoming recruit symbolizes the recruiting change in the Big Ten, it's a safety expected to sign Wednesday with Wisconsin.

His name: Dezmen Southward.

His hometown: Fort Lauderdale.

"There's certainly great, great players in the Midwest, but just in terms of numbers, all you have to do is look at Division I signing day and the number of kids who play Division I out of this region here," said Partridge, who has recruited the Florida area for Wisconsin, Pitt and Iowa State, among others. "You can come down and get two to three kids who can have an impact on your program.

"People are recognizing the value of recruiting down here."

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

The RichRod-WVU case has settled, and it seems like both sides are content the drawn-out dispute is over. Rodriguez, despite being $1.5 million poorer, can move on with his duties at Michigan. West Virginia got the money it wanted from Rodriguez, and can now look ahead to a very promising football season without him.

"I'm just glad it's over," Mountaineers coach Bill Stewart told The Charleston Gazette. "Both sides need to be able to focus on what's really important, and that's the football programs at West Virginia and Michigan."

Identifying clear winners and losers in this convoluted case isn't easy, but let's take a look.

West Virginia: The school got the $4 million it sought after Rodriguez left for Michigan in December. Waiting out seven months of squabbling to get the full compensation must provide a degree of vindication. But West Virginia still must pay its attorney fees and court costs associated with the case, so it's not a complete W. Much of the venom West Virginia had for Rodriguez was justified -- the coach should have handled his departure differently -- but the focus on this very public case didn't paint anyone in a good light. West Virginia football has a good thing going: a likable new coach (Stewart), one of the nation's most accomplished seniors (Pat White) and an improving league. To quote Les Miles, it's time for West Virginia to focus on its damn fine football team.

Rodriguez: This definitely wasn't the outcome he had hoped for, and though Michigan is picking up most of the tab, it's never fun to part with $1.5 million. Rodriguez wanted to see this through, but as the case dragged on, with his new bosses possibly having to give depositions, he agreed to settle. He clearly made mistakes during the process and should have settled this long ago. At least he can focus now on his extremely difficult task on the field at Michigan without the distraction off of it.

Michigan: Athletic director Bill Martin's post-settlement statement reconfirmed the school's faith in Rodriguez but acknowledged the positives of having the issue resolved. The much-publicized dispute wasn't the start Michigan envisoned to Rodriguez's tenure. Hiring an outsider was already a concern for the Old Blues. The school will shell out $2.5 million plus Rodriguez's legal fees, all from the athletic department's reserve funds, but at least it makes this p.r. headache go away.