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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Big Ten spring meetings take place Tuesday-Wednesday in Chicago. I'll be on hand throughout, so be sure and check the blog for updates.

Onto the links.

• Michigan president Mary Sue Coleman admits the school made the wrong call in hiring RichRod. Wolverines coach Brady Hoke reminisces about Bo Schembechler.
• Iowa athletic director Gary Barta favors increasing the bowl eligibility requirement to seven victories.
• Former Nebraska running back Aaron Green is transferring to TCU. Nebraska chancellor Harvey Perlman hasn't shied away from talking athletics during his tenure. The Lincoln Journal Star looks at Nebraska's most memorable touchdowns, from 1 yard to 100.
• Texas A&M edges Nebraska to host an ESPN "College GameDay" commercial.
• The system is the star at Wisconsin, which will make it easier to replace some star power, SI.com's Andy Staples writes.
• Ohio State's shift from quarters to semesters will impact the team's preseason preparation. Tom Herman's recruiting connections in Texas have put Ohio State in the mix for some top prospects.
• A look inside Bill O'Brien's offensive playbook at Penn State.
• A Michigan State verbal commit could be swayed to stay and play at home in Texas. Another Spartans recruit draws high marks at the Elite 11 tryout.
• Illinois quarterback recruit Aaron Bailey is a humble star. Illini fans can meet coach Tim Beckman this week.
• Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany needs to get over his SEC obsession, David Climer writes.
• Former Michigan State star Jerel Worthy calls Wisconsin's offensive line the best he faced in college. Former Wisconsin center Peter Konz is bringing back the "Dirty Bird" to the Atlanta Falcons.
• Juco defender Randy Gregory remains committed to Purdue. Boilers great Jim Carter, he of "Touchdown Twins" fame, died last week at 100.
• BTN.com's Tom Dienhart breaks down Northwestern's 2012 schedule.

Part of Michigan's coaching transition from Rich Rodriguez to Brady Hoke meant a stronger financial commitment for assistant coaches.

Michigan lured defensive coordinator Greg Mattison from the Baltimore Ravens and made him the Big Ten's highest-paid assistant in 2011, at an annual salary of $750,000. Other Big Ten squads have since pledged more money to their assistants. Ohio State, for example, retained Luke Fickell on Urban Meyer's staff for $750,000.

While Mattison gets the most credit -- along with Hoke -- for fostering Michigan's turnaround last season, offensive coordinator Al Borges played a key role, too. Borges was put in a challenging spot as a pro-style coordinator working with a spread quarterback (Denard Robinson) and players recruited to Rodriguez's system. Although Michigan's offense had some hiccups last season, it still finished 13th nationally in rushing (221.9 ypg) and 26th in scoring (33.3 ppg).

Michigan has rewarded Borges with a big raise, increasing his compensation to $650,000 for 2012, the Detroit Free Press first reported. Borges, who didn't have a formal contract in 2011 and earned $350,000, signed a three-year deal in January.

From the Free Press:

Borges' contract, signed Jan. 24 and obtained by the Free Press through a public records request, has a base salary of $250,000 and additional compensation starting at $300,000 and rising by $50,000 each year. He also will have a deferred-compensation account that will receive $100,000 each year of the contract. The deferred compensation comes as long as he remains the offensive coordinator.

Michigan now employees two of the three highest-paid assistants in the Big Ten. Borges' increase is well deserved.

Borges is a career coordinator who has bounced around a lot during his career. He seems extremely happy at Michigan and will accelerate the transition toward his typical offense in 2013, after Robinson graduates. Borges has been with Hoke the past three seasons (San Diego State in 2009-10, Michigan in 2011).

Hoke last month told annarbor.com that some of his assistants had opportunities to leave after the season but didn't specify which ones. There was some chatter Borges would be in the mix for Fresno State's recent head-coaching vacancy, although it didn't gain much steam.

Barring a head-coaching opportunity, Borges likely isn't going anywhere, especially after signing the new deal.

Mail time. Let's do this.

Joel from Bismarck, N.D., writes: Last fall I seem to remember you saying that the league parity hurt its national perception. When it came to B1G basketball, however, it seemed analysts were touting its parity as an example of how strong the conference was (e.g., every team in the bottom half of the standings beat someone in the top half). My question is if you perceive different standards being used in the sports, and why do you think it is? Or is it less a matter of which sport is being analyzed but which league, and commentators will grab onto whatever stat they want to in order to reinforce their own perceptions (e.g., the B1G football teams underperform)?

Adam Rittenberg: Joel, while some analysts will apply different standards whenever it's convenient, there are some important differences between Big Ten football in 2011 and Big Ten basketball in 2011-12. For starters, the league had more nationally elite teams in basketball and two squads -- Ohio State and Michigan State -- considered legitimate Final Four contenders. Aside from Wisconsin, no Big Ten football team ever fit into this category in terms of national perception. Another difference is that football had one of the worst BCS programs (Indiana) and another (Minnesota) that looked like the worst early in the season. While Big Ten basketball had its doormats as well -- Nebraska and Penn State -- those teams also rose up to record some nice victories, even in league play.

Finally, one important difference is that basketball doesn't have one dominant conference like football does with the SEC, which happens to be the Big Ten's chief rival. I really think if another league was dominating college football -- Big 12, Pac-12, etc. -- the Big Ten's perception wouldn't be quite as bad as it is with the other bigwig conference winning championships year after year.

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Dave from Delafield, Wis., writes: Adam,Thank you for your commentary on the atmosphere in Boston for the Wisconsin/Ohio State games.I've been to NCAA Basketball Tournament games and several bowl games, and I don't know how anyone that has personally attended both could possibly want a football playoff.The early rounds of the basketball tournament feature half-full arenas, and small numbers of fans from both teams, along with plenty of locals that tend to cheer for the underdog, or the team from the next town over. Unless a team is local or a great game takes place, there is just no electricity. I would hate to see a team that won a conference title, have what was a dream season end in a dull, half-full stadium, because fans are waiting until a bigger game to travel to, or because the game is a home game for a superior opponent. (Think of UCLA at Oregon last year in the Pac-12 title game.)No matter what round of the tournament it is, until the final game is played, there is always the next game. Syracuse players and fans didn't have long to celebrate their win against Wisconsin because they had to prepare for Ohio State. A bowl victory, no matter what bowl, is almost euphoric. It is what makes a good season great, and it sets the tone for the entire spring.

Adam Rittenberg: Totally agree, Dave. I remember covering the NCAA tournament first and second rounds in Minneapolis in 2009. First of all, college basketball in domed football stadiums is never good, especially when it's not even a regional round. The stadium was never going to be close to full. Although Michigan State played there, we had only one "local" team in North Dakota State, which played admirably in the first round but fell short. At that point, the dome pretty much emptied out and there was very little atmosphere for the remaining games.

Any football team strong enough to qualify for a playoff -- most likely a four-team deal -- should play in an atmosphere fitting the significance of the game. Even if it's on the road. I'd rather see a Big Ten team play in a packed SEC stadium for a playoff than watch the game at a neutral site in front of 35,000 people. The event deserves better.

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Chris from New York writes: "He knows his strengths and doesn't try to coach everybody. He'll coach the defensive line, he'll coach the defense, but he's comfortable with his role and he's very good at his role." - Gerry Dinardo about Brady HokeHow come this exact sentence was such a nightmare for Rodriguez? What's the difference that Hoke gets it as a compliment and Rodriguez gets it as a major diss? Is it only success? If the offense struggled a lot this year would people be saying Hoke can't only pay attention to the defense?

Adam Rittenberg: Chris, I think there were different standards for Rodriguez, which could have been changed had he had more success on the field at Michigan. Rodriguez's work with Michigan's offense had little to do with his firing, as the Wolverines set records in his final season. But his handling of the defense, particularly when it came to hiring coordinators and assistants, ultimately led to his downfall in Ann Arbor. The perception that Rodriguez didn't care about the defense is false, but his decision-making regarding with the unit left much to be desired. Hoke should be held accountable if the offense struggles this fall, but the truth is the turnaround he and Greg Mattison facilitated on defense in 2011 helped the offense deal with some growing pains in its transition. And Michigan's offense still ranked second in the league in scoring and third in yards.

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Misplaced Gopher from Fargo, N.D., writes: Adam, last year Minnesota football fans were presented a laundry list of reasons why the Gophers couldn't win in Jerry Kill's first year: physically unfit personnel, academic nonperformance, poorly chosen recruits (blaming the previous regime), personnel mismatched to the incoming system, lack of opportunity to coach. This year, coach Kill is making no attempt to keep expectations down. He is praising the players effusively, bragging about the incoming recruits, and he says that this year he's getting to coach the players instead of spending all his time teaching them how to hustle, how to behave, and how to play. Coach Kill seems to be building up the expectations of the 2012 Gophers. Why do you think he's doing this, and how much better can Minnesotans expect our team to be this year?

Adam Rittenberg: Two questions from North Dakota in the same mailblog -- nice! I don't know if Kill is inflating the expectations too much, Gopher. I think at times last season he talked too much about the problems with the previous regime and the uphill climb he faced. While much of what he said is true, his statements sounded like excuses after a while. Kill clearly is more comfortable after going through a full offseason, but he also has addressed the odd roster makeup, which still includes small senior and junior classes (not counting the juco arrivals). But it's natural for coaches to feel more comfortable after they're established, and after they bring in more of their own players. What should Minnesota fans expect this season? Definitely more than three or four wins. It's not unreasonable at all to expect the Gophers to get back to a bowl.

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Jonathan from Athens, Ala., writes: RE: SEC Teams venturing away from the southeast to play games, don't let the facts get in the way of your agenda but Alabama played at Penn State last year and has a game scheduled in a few years at Michigan State. You claim that it's the SEC that keeps home and home games from happening. Got any facts to back that up with? I bet Urban Meyer would LOVE to play a Nick Saban team again, right? Make sure you have the ambulance ready for when Saban puts him back in the hospital. Maybe, just maybe it's that you guys don't want Bama to choke the football down your throat like we did Penn State and Michigan State recently. You're pathetic.

Adam Rittenberg: Jonathan, I should have noted that Alabama has been the exception in the SEC as far as scheduling Big Ten teams. The Tide deserve credit for being willing to venture to both State College and East Lansing, in addition to facing Michigan at a neutral site. But on the whole, how many other SEC teams would dare play a game in Big Ten territory? Florida certainly wouldn't. Vanderbilt is playing at Northwestern this year, but Vandy, while improving, isn't viewed as a premier program. The Big Ten and SEC both get heat for nonconference schedules, and both leagues are to blame for the lack of non-league games against one another. But if SEC teams play squads in the ACC and Pac-12, why can't they play more against the Big Ten? It'd be nice if more SEC programs follow Alabama's lead, just as it would be nice if more Big Ten programs followed Michigan State's lead.

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Chip from Savannah, Ga., writes: My question for you is regarding OSU and PSU, why is everyone expecting OSU to have a much better season than PSU. They're both putting in new systems in regards to offense, but I think PSU's defense is still better than OSU's which is going to be both's stronger unit. I know you have a proven commodity in Meyer, but it still doesn't take away from the fact that they have to transition as well.

Adam Rittenberg: Both defenses should be strong, Chip, and while Ohio State's will be improved with more experience, I agree that Penn State's appears to have the stronger unit because of its strength at linebacker and in the front seven. One big omission in your note is quarterback Braxton Miller. While Penn State is still looking for a clear-cut starting quarterback, Ohio State knows Miller is its future. While Miller is far from a finished product, he showed impressive skills as a true freshman in 2011 and looks like an excellent fit for Meyer's offense. Both teams need to develop more options in the passing game and Penn State has a better running back in Silas Redd, but the quarterback play separates the two in my mind. Both programs are going through transitions, but Ohio State players are a little more accustomed to it after what happened last year. That's not saying Penn State won't be fine, but the coaching change in State College has been more dramatic because of the unique circumstances.

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Mochila from Grand Rapids, Mich., writes: Adam, while you were out on vacation, Brian wrapped up the Postseason Top 25 players. I was wondering if you could explain your reasoning for why Still was placed ahead of Mercilus. For the record, I'm an MSU fan and have no horse in this race; I just thought Mercilus was more deserving given his absurd numbers, primarily in sacks, TFL, and fumbles forced. And for bonus points, what prompted your trip to Istanbul (as opposed to say, Hawaii), and what was your favorite part?

Adam Rittenberg: It was a tough call, Mochila, as both defenders had outstanding seasons. Brian and I actually differed on our Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year endorsements, as he picked Still and I picked Mercilus. As I pointed out then and as you point out in your note, Mercilus' numbers blow away the competition. That said, few positions on the football field are more significant than a dominant defensive tackle, and Still fit the description in 2011. You can't judge defensive tackles strictly by individual stats, as theirs rarely will stack up with those of the top defensive ends. The defensive tackles deal with more double teams, and their roles are more significant in run-stopping. Still was as good or better than another Penn State defensive tackle, Jared Odrick, in 2009. Odrick finished No. 2 in the countdown that year, and Still was deserving of his position in this year's rundown.

Enjoy a weekend full of hoops, everybody.

• The salaries of three new Iowa football coaches were released; offensive coordinator Greg Davis will make $300,000. It's safe to say LeVar Woods and Brian Ferentz are a little more social-media savvy than their head coach.
• Speaking of social media, Drew Sharp writes that Michigan and Michigan State ought to restrict the tweeting of their players. The top recruits in the state of Michigan have had mixed results of late. If you missed colleague Ivan Maisel's story from Thursday, Rich Rodriguez thinks he baked Brady Hoke's cake.
• Mel Kiper Jr. answered some questions about Michigan State's potential NFL draftees.
• Nebraska players showed off their stuff at the Huskers pro day, where Jared Crick did the bench press for scouts for the first time since his pectoral muscle injury.
• Jeremy Ebert stole the show at Northwestern's pro day, running a 4.38 40-yard dash. Dan Persa said he's willing to switch positions if that's what it takes to make an NFL roster.
• Former Ohio State star LeCharles Bentley is tutoring aspiring NFL offensive linemen, including Mike Brewster.
• Bill O'Brien has made up recruiting ground fast and hopes to get some more good news today from Adam Breneman. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett said Penn State was right to fire Joe Paterno.

At long last, the Big Ten postseason Top 25 player countdown has reached the final five names. In case you've been in a cave for the past few weeks -- or just don't read carefully -- we'd like to remind you that this list is based on 2011 performance and impact on a given team, and not any other factors like NFL potential.

It's time to recognize one of the toughest players in the country at ...

No. 5: David Molk, C, Michigan, Sr., 6-foot-2, 286

Preseason rank: No. 12

2011 numbers: Appeared in all 13 games and started 12 (he missed the first series in the Sugar Bowl because of injury but returned). Molk finished his career with 41 starts for the Wolverines.

Why he's here: Molk was regarded as the best center in college football, earning the Rimington Trophy among many honors. Yet his value to Michigan's 2011 breakthrough season went much deeper. He played an instrumental role in the transition from Rich Rodriguez's offense to Al Borges' offense, and Borges placed a heavy burden on Molk, which the senior had no trouble handling. As Borges said, "The center is the quarterback of the offensive line, and David Molk certainly fits that mold."

A co-captain, Molk was part of a senior class that guided Michigan through transition and to an 11-2 record and a Sugar Bowl championship. He showed his toughness in the bowl by playing all but one series after severing a tendon in his foot during warmups. Molk triggered an offense that ranked 13th nationally in rushing and 26th in scoring despite some bumps along the way.

He earned Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year honors and was a first-team All-Big Ten selection by the league's coaches.

Previously

No. 6: Lavonte David, LB, Nebraska
No. 7: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State
No. 8: Marvin McNutt, WR, Iowa
No. 9: Kirk Cousins, QB, Michigan State
No. 10: Rex Burkhead, RB, Nebraska
No. 11: Mike Martin, DT, Michigan
No. 12: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska
No. 13: Riley Reiff, LT, Iowa
No. 14: B.J. Cunningham, WR, Michigan State
No. 15: John Simon, DL, Ohio State
No. 16: Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan
No. 17: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin
No. 18: A.J. Jenkins, WR, Illinois
No. 19: Gerald Hodges, LB, Penn State
No. 20: Kevin Zeitler, G, Wisconsin
No. 21: Marcus Coker, RB, Iowa
No. 22: Silas Redd, RB, Penn State
No. 23: Kawann Short, DT, Purdue
No. 24: Mike Taylor, LB, Wisconsin
No. 25: Fitz Toussaint, RB, Michigan

Your questions, my answers.

Robert from Atlanta writes: Adam, first I love the blog and continue the good work. Please explain to me why you feel Michigan State will be a strong team again. With so many key losses at QB, RB, TB, several WR's, and on defense, I see a group that will struggle quite a bit. If any team lost as much as they did they would be doomed. MSU doesnt reload like other schools. What am I missing here? I see the entire B1G taking steps back except for OSU and Michigan's losses are minimal. I see MSU ranked #7 in preseason polls. This has to be an oversight or I could be wrong on the key losses. Educate me please.

Adam Rittenberg: Robert, this is a fair question. The part I disagree with is: "MSU doesn't reload like other schools." While this has been true in the past, Michigan State is at a point where I believe it can reload, especially at some key positions. The Spartans have recruited extremely well at spots like wide receiver and defensive back, and the 2012 class might be the best lot yet. The level of athleticism has improved substantially under Mark Dantonio, which allowed Michigan State to beat a team like Georgia in the Outback Bowl. The Spartans have enough athleticism and depth on defense to replace a few key departures (Jerel Worthy, Trenton Robinson). It actually wouldn't surprise me if MSU is better on defense in 2012. While I agree the offense has some holes to fill, I like Michigan State's young wide receivers (especially if transfer DeAnthony Arnett becomes eligible immediately). The offensive line could be a lot better after dealing with inexperience in 2011. Losing Kirk Cousins is huge, but Andrew Maxwell has been groomed for this role. Michigan State will have to be a defense-driven team in 2012, and while the Spartans could win 10-11 or 7-8, I like their D.

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Lavar A. from Silver Spring, Md., writes: Adam, I'm missing the logic. You say the B1G playoff proposal primarily benefits the B1G. But I don't see it. THe B1G wouldn't even have had a team in the 4-team playoff in 2011....or 2010....or 2009....or 2008. If this very playoff system had been in effect, we just would have had many more opportunities not to watch the SEC play home games in the south. How do you see this being a benefit to the B1G in the near (or far) future? Oh and by the way, I do find the idea very intriguing nonetheless.

Adam Rittenberg: Lavar, while you're right about the drought between 2008-2011, the proposal at least gives Big Ten teams a chance to host games with national championship implications. The current setup essentially forces the Big Ten to win road games in the major bowls. A proposal that would include the current BCS bowls doesn't change anything. Yes, you need to qualify in the top 4 to be in the discussion, and the Big Ten clearly needs to compete better at the national level. But the proposal gives the Big Ten a chance to exploit an advantage that it currently cannot.

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Jason from Dallas writes: Adam,I actually agreed with Evan from Arusha, Tanzania's comment about lack of Purdue coverage in both you and Brian's blogs. But then when I sent comments you would both answer, which leads me to believe that you do cover Purdue, but there's just not a lot to cover. Just letting you know that I do appreciate the little bit of Purdue you do cover and hope they give reason to deserve more coverage in the future. It is insulting to think we're behind Northwestern, but they are the ones who consistently get to bowl games, not us. As for an actual question: I'm one of the many that are really down on Danny Hope. He got a great recruiting class this year, so I'm willing to give him a pass for one more year. But recruiting doesn't mean much if you can't coach them up, so we shall see. Tiller had 9 guys drafted in one year back in 2004 to lead all schools. Hope is projected to have nobody drafted this year, not a good sign. Do you believe 5-7 gets him fired? What about 6-6? Obviously 7-5, 8-4 (which is what they should be) means they are heading in the right direction.

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NEW ORLEANS -- A major theme during bowl season has been teams dealing with distractions, particularly of the coaching variety.

A year ago, Michigan was one of those teams.

Rich Rodriguez hadn't officially been fired as Wolverines coach, but few believed he would survive past the team's Gator Bowl matchup against Mississippi State. Athletic director Dave Brandon had opted to wait until after the bowl to make an evaluation on Rodriguez, eschewing the common practice of determining a coach's future following the regular season.

Although Brandon's decision kept Rodriguez with his team through the bowl game, the uncertainty had its effects. Mississippi State ended up drubbing Michigan 52-14, handing the Wolverines their worst-ever bowl defeat by 18 points.

"That was definitely somewhat of a distraction," Wolverines defensive end Ryan Van Bergen said of the RichRod limbo. "We did have that kind of hanging over our head, whether our coach was going to be back. You can't say it wasn't a distraction.

"It had to be on the minds of some of us. It was on my mind."

Michigan players don't have to worry about their coach's future heading into Tuesday night's Allstate Sugar Bowl matchup against Virginia Tech. Brady Hoke claimed Big Ten Coach of the Year honors in his first season at the helm and won't be leaving Ann Arbor any time soon.

Although there are some different distractions this year -- Bourbon Street being just around the corner from the team hotel, for starters -- Michigan seniors like Van Bergen and defensive tackle Mike Martin have tried to keep the team focused.

"The guys after practice, they see [the veterans] in the hotel watching film instead of going out and doing whatever," Martin said.

Martin saw a more relaxed attitude last year in Jacksonville.

"There wasn't as much of a focus as there needed to be," Martin said. "That's just watching the older guys. It trickles down. I'm a senior, and this is my time to show these younger guys how important this game is to me. That rubs off.

"Every single day, there's an intensity that you need to win a football game."

The Big Ten and Pac-12 announced Wednesday that the two leagues would join forces for annual interconference games (And if somebody hasn't already trademarked the Biggie-Pac Midwest/Coast Feud as the title of this series, I'm running to the patent office tomorrow).

Anyway, many details are yet to be hashed out about which teams will play, when, where, etc. We know the football games between the leagues won't start until 2017. That's a long time from now. But that didn't deter me from coming up with a fun potential lineup of head-to-head, Big Ten/Pac-12 showdowns if the games were to begin next season.

Here's what I suggest:

Ohio State-USC: The Compliance Bowl. Loser has to eat the scholarship reductions from the winner. Terrelle Pryor and Reggie Bush serve as honorary captains.

Michigan-Arizona: RichRod's Revenge. Wildcats practice 20 hours a day to get ready. Let's make this happen.

Nebraska-Colorado: Buffs: "Hey, we're renewing our old Big 12 rivalry!" Huskers: "I'm sorry. Who are you again?"

Northwestern-Stanford: The SAT Bowl. The combined tuition payments from those in the stands would surpass our national debt.

Michigan State-Oregon: Almost happened this year if the Spartans would have held on in Indy. There would be so much green in this game that they should play at a neutral site: Boise's blue field.

Wisconsin-Cal: The cities of Madison and Berkeley also enter into a partnership. Their shared goal: mellowing out.

Penn State-Washington: Cue up the grunge music, because this game would totally rock if it were still the early '90s.

Indiana-Washington State: Two former Oklahoma offensive coordinators square off in Mike Leach and Kevin Wilson. Worth it just for the press conferences.

Purdue-UCLA: The John Wooden Bowl. Two programs that care more about basketball and often underachieve in football.

Illinois-Arizona State: These two teams played this season in just about the last time anybody thought either one was any good.

Minnesota-Oregon State: Beavers vs. Gophers just seems to fit.

Iowa-Utah: Uh, both states have four letters? OK, so these don't all work.

What are your dream Pac-12/Big Ten matchups?

I caught up with Michigan junior quarterback Denard Robinson earlier today for a Sugar Bowl preview piece (you'll have to wait for it).

I also asked "Shoelace" whether or not he had submitted paperwork to the NFL draft advisory board.

"I did," Robinson said, "but we'll see what happens."

Asked if he's planning to return to Michigan in 2012, Robinson said, "most likely, yes."

Robinson is expected to return for his senior season and his second year in Al Borges' offense. Borges' system more closely resembles what NFL teams run than the spread offense Robinson operated under Rich Rodriguez in 2009 and 2010.

Playing in a system more tailored to the NFL game was among the reasons Robinson chose to remain at Michigan after Rodriguez's firing.

While Robinson had some ups and downs in the offense this year, he ended on a strong note with big performances against Nebraska and Ohio State. He expects even better things in 2012.

"A year under my belt is going to help me a lot," Robinson said. "I think I can do some special things next year."

Indiana assistant Rod Smith has left the program to rejoin his former boss Rich Rodriguez at Arizona.

Smith, the Hoosiers' co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, will coach quarterbacks with Rodriguez in Tucson. He joined Kevin Wilson's staff this winter after Rodriguez was fired at Michigan. Smith coached on Rodriguez's staff at West Virginia and Michigan from 2007-10.

"We appreciate Rod's efforts with us this season," Indiana coach Kevin Wilson said in a prepared statement. "We're sorry to see him leave and wish him and his family the very best. Rod has a long-standing relationship with Coach Rodriguez and we understand his decision. As we move forward, we’ll take our time to find the fit for our coaching staff that will keep our program headed in a positive direction."

It's not a big surprise to see Smith rejoin Rodriguez, who has assembled several other members of his Michigan staff in Arizona, including offensive coordinator Calvin Magee. Smith's departure is a blow for Indiana, as he helped develop freshman quarterback Tre Roberson into a dynamic player during the second half of Big Ten play. Smith is an excellent mentor for quarterbacks in the spread offense. Wilson lost several assistants shortly after hiring them this past winter, but Smith is the first to leave after spending the season in Bloomington.

Kevin Johns remains as the team's co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach. It will be interesting to see where Wilson turns for Smith's replacement and what title the new assistant will have.

As Big Ten blog loyalists know, I rarely let Rich Rodriguez off the hook for Michigan's struggles the past three seasons, but I also came to his defense about one common criticism.

(After all, someone needed to defend for RichRod. Ba-dum-ching! I'll be here all night, folks. Be sure and tip your waitress).

OK, here's the deal. I never understood the incessant desire by media members and fans to have Rodriguez prove how much he valued the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry. Every Monday before The Game, Rodriguez received a barrage of questions about his view on the rivalry. No matter what answers he gave, no matter how he responded, how passionate his voice sounded, it was never good enough.

Each Michigan loss to Ohio State fueled the belief that Rodriguez simply didn't get it and never would. That's why Michigan kept losing.

Sorry, folks. Never bought that argument. Michigan lost to Ohio State because Michigan wasn't good enough to win. When Michigan had the better team, it would start beating the Buckeyes more often.

Why bring this up now?

Because of what Ohio State coach Luke Fickell had to say Tuesday about The Game.

"It's about passion and will," Fickell said. "You don't win these types of games based on talent."

Really? Superior talent certainly appeared to be a factor in Ohio State's seven-game win streak against Michigan. The Wolverines didn't seem to lack passion or will when they missed countless tackles against Ohio State during the last three seasons.

"There's a fine line between better teams in college football sometimes," Fickell said. "It still comes down to playing. When you have the rivalries and the different things and two obviously great programs, they've got players on both sides. Whether one side's playing better than the other, it's still not about talent. It's about a team. It's about a passion. ...Take talent and those things out of it."

I get that rivalry games are different, and inferior teams win them more often than they do other games. I also get that playing up rivalry games is important, not only to fans but to players as a motivational tactic.

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel always put The Game on a pedestal, and his approach played a role in his sparkling record against Michigan. New Michigan coach Brady Hoke, with his "Ohio" references and his countdown clock and his refusal to wear red, has placed a great emphasis on The Game for his players, who never have beaten Ohio State.

But if Michigan wins Saturday, to say it's solely because Hoke never says "Ohio State" or never wears red or puts countdown clocks around the football building would be shortsighted. Michigan would win because it has the better team than Ohio State.

An Ohio State win might add credence to Fickell's case. The Buckeyes undoubtedly would display great passion and willpower to beat Michigan in Ann Arbor. But Ohio State isn't exactly void of talent, either.

Intangibles matter in rivalry games, and Ohio State-Michigan is no exception. But in most cases, talent is the deciding factor.

Why wouldn't I be all right? Barney is single again. It's what America has been clamoring for.

• Yahoo! Sports' Dan Wetzel writes that Jim Delany's recent decisions hurt the Big Ten's quest for a national title.
• Nebraska has a chip on its shoulder again, but as Sam McKewon writes, "You can't nurse a grudge after a big win." Huskers coach Bo Pelini discusses the large number of Michigan defenders going down with "injuries" in Saturday's game.
• Michigan and Ohio State have reversed roles heading into this year's Game. The Wolverines' seniors hold the key heading into the Ohio State game. Former Wolverines coach Rich Rodriguez has a new gig -- at Arizona.
• Ohio State's big key heading into the Michigan game is what Jim Tressel mastered -- embrace the rivalry, Bob Hunter writes. Assistant Jim Heacock admits the Buckeyes "don't have a real confident group right now" on defense.
• Several unlikely heroes have stepped up for Penn State in its late-season push. Lions star DT Devon Still is very much on Wisconsin's radar. Former PSU coach Joe Paterno reportedly resisted the school's discipline for football players who got in trouble.
• The recently introduced Wild-Lion has Wisconsin preparing for three Penn State quarterbacks this week. Fan behavior is on the minds of Wisconsin officials heading into the Penn State game.
• Northwestern likely has already locked up a bowl berth, but the good news is the players don't think so, Teddy Greenstein writes. After getting mousetrapped last year, the Wildcats know they can't fall for Michigan State's trick plays.
• Six Indiana football players won't return for their fifth years.
• A look ahead to Illinois' regular-season finale at Minnesota. John Supinie writes that win or lose, Ron Zook likely is done.
• Despite clinching the division, Michigan State has no plans to rest its starters at Northwestern. The Spartans' opponent in Indy doesn't matter as much as you think, Joe Rexrode writes.
• Here are the latest Big Ten power rankings from Athlon Sports.
• Iowa star WR Marvin McNutt earns high praise from his opponents this week.

Splitting the links again between the Penn State scandal and actual football:

Penn State

• An excellent piece by Sara Ganim on all the missed opportunities to investigate former Penn State assistant Jerry Sandusky.
• Joe Paterno's neighbor talks about her shell-shocked community in a good piece on State College by The Columbus Dispatch's Todd Jones.
• Cory Giger writes that Joe Paterno's supporters think the former coach did enough in reporting what he'd heard. Former Penn State players show support for JoePa, Audrey Snyder writes.
• Penn State should cancel Saturday's game, Bob Ford writes.
• A clean sweep was necessary at Penn State, David Jones writes.
• A lawyer for some of the alleged Sandusky victims expresses concern his clients will become scapegoats following Paterno's firing.
• Penn State assistant Mike McQueary should be the next man to go, Pat Forde writes. So should AD Tim Curley, Andy Staples writes.
• Lisa Olson wonders, what is Penn State?
• Penn State now must lead the fight against child abuse, Frank Bodani writes.

Elsewhere in the Big Ten

• The Cleveland Plain-Dealer's Doug Lesmerises breaks down the latest NCAA charges against Ohio State, including booster Robert DiGeronimo's version of events. Braxton Miller has a natural gift for breaking ankles.

• Bo Pelini says Nebraska players have shown good focus despite the bizarre circumstances surrounding this week's game. The Huskers' secondary is starting to make strides.

• Rich Rodriguez looks back on last season's crazy Illinois-Michigan game.

• Marc Hansen says Kirk Ferentz won't be the next Penn State coach. The Iowa-Michigan State game is usually an intense affair.

• The Spartans must find a way to slow down Marcus Coker and Marvin McNutt.

• Michigan's Taylor Lewan (remember him from the William Gholston punch?) has cut down on his penalties this season.

• The picture is becoming clearer for improving Minnesota quarterback MarQueis Gray.

• The game against the Gophers is big for a couple Minnesota natives who play for Wisconsin.

• Purdue has three chances to get two wins, and the team has a sense of urgency down the stretch.

Gettin' linky with it.

• Michigan State's team chemistry has made the Spartans a championship-caliber team, Lee Barfknecht writes. The Spartans are establishing themselves as a Big Ten power, Bob Wojnowski writes.
• Colleague Chris Spielman weighs in on Bo Pelini, his former Ohio State teammate.
• Big plays stung Wisconsin's defense in East Lansing. Wisconsin's mindset could determine who wins Saturday night in Columbus, Doug Lesmerises writes.
• The sons of former Indiana coach Bill Mallory all caught the coaching bug, Terry Hutchens writes. Current IU coach Kevin Wilson keeps the faith.
• JoePa might be slowing down, but Penn State is not, John Supinie writes. Penn State RB Silas Redd is running toward the record book but could be a bit banged-up entering this week's game.
• Brady Hoke provides some updates on Michigan's running backs. More from John U. Bacon's book, which states Michigan's loss to Illinois in 2009 was the beginning of the end for RichRod.
• Ohio State expects to have a more balanced offense against Wisconsin. The tattoo parlor owner at the center of the Ohio State scandal is sentenced to three years in prison.
• Tom Osborne nearly became Michigan State's coach in 1999, Joe Rexrode writes.
• Illinois could face a big decision on coach Ron Zook about a month from now, Loren Tate writes. The Fighting Illini offense looks for answers.
• Purdue offensive lineman Trevor Foy plays through pain.
• The Big Ten Network's Dave Revsine breaks down Michigan State's rapid rise.
• Iowa's wide receivers have changed perceptions during the Kirk Ferentz era. The Hawkeyes' needs on defense have them pursuing two juco players.
• Former Minnesota LB Sam Maresh gets a new start at a small school. Gophers coach Jerry Kill needs to excel in local recruiting, Marcus Fuller writes.
• Northwestern reserve QB Trevor Siemian is quite a character.