ESPN College Football

Tonight, it begins.

The wait is over and we finally get to see Big Ten teams play games that count. As opening weekend begins a little early with three games tonight, here are 10 things to watch around the league.

1. Quarterback questions at Michigan, Penn State: Two of the league's traditional powers likely will be evaluating multiple quarterbacks in their openers. True freshman Robert Bolden was named a surprise starter for the Nittany Lions, but sophomores Matt McGloin and Kevin Newsome also are likely to get some work. Denard Robinson could be poised to take control at Michigan, but head coach Rich Rodriguez expects to play more than one signal caller, so sophomore Tate Forcier and true freshman Devin Gardner likely will take some snaps in the spotlight. Penn State has to see what it has under center before a Week 2 trip to defending national champ Alabama.

2. Opportunity knocks for Marve, Boilers: No team in the Big Ten has a better opportunity to make a national statement than Purdue. All eyes will be on South Bend -- really, when aren't they? -- as Notre Dame kicks off the Brian Kelly era, but Purdue can ruin the fun by upsetting the Fighting Irish. Quarterback Robert Marve has done all the right things in West Lafayette since transferring from Miami, and he boasts a big arm and plenty of weapons to attack a suspect Notre Dame secondary. Marve should flourish in the spread offense, so expect a strong debut. It might not matter, though, if Purdue can't upgrade its run defense and protect a new-look secondary from Dayne Crist and Michael Floyd.

3. Heisman push begins for Pryor, Clay: When we last saw Terrelle Pryor in a game, the Ohio State quarterback was at his best, winning Offensive MVP honors at the Rose Bowl. By all accounts, Pryor made strides during the offseason and said he has a greater grasp of the offense and what it takes to be a leader on the big stage. His accolades heading into the season -- Big Ten preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Heisman Trophy candidate -- are based largely on hype and potential, but Pryor finally gets a chance to produce some hard evidence against Marshall. Wisconsin running back John Clay has been largely overlooked in the preseason, but he also could help his Heisman candidacy with a strong debut at UNLV, which ranked 112th nationally in rush defense a year ago.

4. Mystery team makes debut in St. Louis: Who's the Big Ten's mystery team this season? Illinois. The Illini have new offensive and defensive schemes, a new starting quarterback in Nathan Scheelhaase and plenty of unknowns on both sides of the ball. Missouri typically brings out the worst in Ron Zook's squad, and Illinois will need to show some resiliency in the Edward Jones Dome. Scheelhaase is young but skilled and athletic, and it'll be interesting to see how he handles the spotlight in an NFL stadium. Illinois' secondary faces Blaine Gabbert and Missouri's high-powered passing attack without two starters (safety Supo Sanni, cornerback Terry Hawthorne), so linebacker Martez Wilson and others need to step up.

5. Iowa's new-look offensive line: The Hawkeyes shouldn't have much trouble beating Eastern Illinois, although after last year's roller-coaster ride, you never know. The opener should give a new-look offensive line time to get comfortable and create holes for running back Adam Robinson. Iowa will start three new players up front -- right tackle Markus Zusevics, right guard Adam Gettis and center James Ferentz -- and needs to get comfortable before bigger tests the next two weeks against Iowa State and Arizona. Running back Jewel Hampton sits out because of a suspension, but Iowa really needs to get the run game going with Robinson and adequately protect quarterback Ricky Stanzi.

6. Spartans' secondary in spotlight: Most point to the secondary as Michigan State's biggest weakness in 2009, and for good reason. The Spartans ranked last in the Big Ten in pass yards allowed (267.6 ypg), allowed 11 more passing touchdowns (32 total) than any other Big Ten squad and recorded only six interceptions, the second-lowest total in the league. Several underperforming players are gone, and Michigan State hopes to be younger but better in the back four this fall. Cornerback Johnny Adams returns to the mix, and hopes are high for Trenton Robinson, Chris L. Rucker and others. The secondary needs to step up Saturday against Western Michigan, which loses standout quarterback Tim Hiller but returns top wideouts Robert Arnheim and Jordan White.

7. Line dance in the Volunteer State for Gophers, Wildcats: Both Minnesota and Northwestern boast veteran offensive lines that need to upgrade their run-blocking ability this fall. Minnesota ranked last in the Big Ten in rushing for the second straight year in 2009, while Northwestern finished eighth and had no big plays in the ground game. It'll be very interesting to see how both lines perform in what likely will be balmy weather in Tennessee. Minnesota opens Thursday night at Middle Tennessee, while Northwestern visits Vanderbilt in Nashville 48 hours later. Both squads have multiple backs competing for carries, but the performance of the two lines will go a long way toward showing what the upcoming season will hold.

8. Brock Mealer leads Michigan out of the tunnel: Doctors told Brock Mealer he'd never walk again after being paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident that killed his father and the girlfriend of his brother, Elliott, an offensive lineman for Michigan. But Brock never gave up hope and worked with Michigan strength and conditioning coaches Mike Barwis and Parker Whiteman to work his way out of a wheelchair. Saturday, he'll be walking out of the tunnel at Michigan Stadium as he leads the Wolverines onto the field for their opener against Connecticut. "He's that one percent," Wolverines defensive tackle Mike Martin told me. "People said he'd never walk again, and he's proving people wrong right there. We’ve got to come out right behind him and show what we've got."

9. Indiana's new-look defense: The Hoosiers' season likely hinges on whether a historically porous defense can improve. IU will use the 3-4 alignment more this season, but the coaches also are excited about defensive ends Darius Johnson and Fred Jones. Tyler Replogle provides excellent leadership at linebacker, but Indiana needs three junior college transfers -- linebacker Jeff Thomas and defensive backs Andre Kates and Lenyatta Kiles -- to make an immediate impact. A strong debut against Towson is key.

10. Quarterback-turned-receivers: There was a time when Michigan State's Keith Nichol, Minnesota's MarQueis Gray and Purdue's Justin Siller looked like the potential answers for their teams at quarterback. All three players now will play prominent roles at wide receivers on opening weekend. All three received strong reviews in training camp as receivers, and all three could start on Saturday. Gray is the likeliest to be called upon as a quarterback, as he remains Adam Weber's backup for the Gophers. Siller makes his first appearance since 2008 after being suspended from school for the 2009-10 academic year.

You asked (nicely) for it, and this time, you get what you want.

Remember colleague Bruce Feldman's annual "Freaks" list, which examined the top workout warriors in college football for 2010? Ohio State sophomore defender John "Sandman" Simon made the rundown, along with other weight-room stars from around the country.

Several of you loved Feldman's list so much that you wanted me to create a similar one just for the Big Ten. Thanks to help from sports information staffers and strength coaches from around the conference, I've compiled the following list.

I based my selections primarily on weight-room numbers and comments from Big Ten strength coaches.

Not every player submitted made the rundown, and both Wisconsin and Iowa chose not to make any individual player nominations. While I know guys like Iowa's Adrian Clayborn and Wisconsin's J.J. Watt do some serious damage in the weight room, I'd rather only list players who have their schools' support and whose schools provided weight-room data and/or comments from strength coaches.

Penn State didn't provide weight-room statistics but singled out linebacker Michael Mauti, wide receiver Derek Moye and defensive tackle Devon Still for their weight-room performance.

Here are my selections, listed alphabetically by school:

Illinois WR Jarred Fayson 6-0, 215, Sr., Tampa, Fla.

• Bench-presses 405 pounds, squats 500 pounds, power cleans 352 pounds
• Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds
• Has just four percent body fat

Indiana LB Tyler Replogle 6-2, 238, Sr., Centerville, Ohio

• Bench-presses 455 pounds, leg-presses 760 pounds
• Has 33-inch vertical jump
• Clocked at 4.2 seconds in the shuttle run

Michigan DT Mike Martin 6-2, 294, Jr., Redford, Mich.

• Bench-presses 505 pounds, squats 700 pounds
• Power cleans 430 pounds, hang cleans 475 pounds
• Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.9 seconds
• Strength coach Mike Barwis says: "Mike is an absolute warrior. He has a never quit attitude and is a natural born leader. He is one of the most impressive physical specimens I have ever seen."

Michigan C David Molk 6-2, 270, Jr., Lemont, Ill.

• Bench-presses 490 pounds, squats 660 pounds
• Power cleans 420 pounds, hang cleans 440 pounds
• Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.9 seconds
• Strength coach Mike Barwis says: "Dave is an outstanding worker and a natural athlete. He is one of the most naturally explosive linemen I have ever trained."

Michigan State LB Eric Gordon 6-0, 228, Jr., Traverse City, Mich.

• Bench-presses 415 pounds
• Squats 600 pounds
• Best 40-yard dash time among Spartans linebackers at 4.52 seconds (Greg Jones clocks in at 4.55)

Michigan State TE Charlie Gantt 6-5, 248, Jr., Farmington Hills, Mich.

• Bench-presses 470 pounds
• Squats 535 pounds
• Has the top 40-yard dash time among Spartans tight ends at 4.72 seconds

Minnesota LB Mike Rallis 6-2, 210, So., Edina, Minn.

• Has increased his bench press from 325 to 365 pounds during the last year
• Power cleans 345 pounds and squats significantly more than 550 pounds
• Strength coach Mark Hill says: "Mike's work ethic exemplifies a guy who wants to succeed. He comes into the weight room every day and shows that he wants to contribute to this team winning. He does everything he needs to do. Mike absolutely attacks his workouts every day."

Minnesota RB DeLeon Eskridge 5-11, 198, Jr., San Francisco

• Has improved his squat from 250 pounds when he arrived at Minnesota to 375 pounds now
• Increased his bench press from 300 pounds to 340 pounds during the last year
• Has increased his power clean from 250 to more than 300 pounds as a Gopher
• Strength coach Mark Hill says: "I’ve been very impressed by DeLeon's improvements. He was a 185-pound freshman who had to play, due to depth issues. He could have used a red-shirt year to get bigger and stronger. But to see where he’s gone to achieve the strength, weight, speed, explosiveness and power needed to be a successful Big Ten back says a lot about his hard work."

Northwestern QB Dan Persa 6-1, 210, Jr., Bethlehem, Pa.

• Bench-presses 385 pounds, squats 550 pounds and power cleans 330 pounds, all top marks for Wildcats quarterbacks
• Soon will earn second consecutive "Top Cat" award as Northwestern's top weight-room performer
• Strength coach Larry Lilja says: "Dan is off the charts. No one works harder in the weight room. For his size, I doubt there is any quarterback who can match his numbers."

Northwestern DT Corbin Bryant 6-4, 285, Sr., Chicago

• Bench-presses 475 pounds, squats 600 pounds and power cleans 385 pounds
• Has a 34-inch vertical jump
• Strength coach Larry Lilja says: "He's one of our best workers and a true champion in the weight room."

Ohio State DL John Simon 6-2, 270, So., Youngstown, Ohio

• Bench-pressed 450 and squatted 700 pounds as a high school senior
• Can do 40 bench-press reps at 225 pounds
• Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds
• Strength coach Jeff Uhlenhake says: "John Simon is the best total package workout guy I’ve ever been around, in college, in the pros, as a coach, anybody. He is amazing."

Purdue T Nick Mondek 6-5, 299, Jr., Naperville, Ill.

• Former defensive lineman bench-presses 435 pounds, squats 605 pounds, power cleans 352 pounds
• Has a 31-inch vertical jump
• Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.82 seconds
• Strength coach Jim Lathrop says: "Great worker who really has challenged himself. He has taken the position change and run with it. He is a leader in the weight room."

Purdue S Albert Evans 6-0, 206, Jr., Gary, Ind.

• Bench-presses 355 pounds, squats 500 pounds
• Power cleans 319 pounds
• Strength coach Jim Lathrop says: "Albert has really improved and is establishing himself as a leader."

Football strength training is the flavor this week on ESPN.com, as we attempt to pump ... you up! Sorry, couldn't resist.

Head coaches get most of the credit -- and, to be fair, most of the blame -- but strength coaches spend more time with players than anyone else on campus. They play major roles in developing personnel for the season.

So who are these guys? Here's a quick look at the Big Ten strength coaches.

ILLINOIS
Name: Lou Hernandez
At Illinois since: 2005
The skinny: Hernandez made the transition from Florida to Illinois with Fighting Illini head coach Ron Zook, for whom he has worked since 2003. A native Texan, Hernandez received both his bachelor's and master's from the University of Houston, where he worked from 1992-2001 as both an assistant strength coach and the head man. Hernandez spent 2002 as the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the New York Jets. Despite being just 5-foot-8, Hernandez was a competitive power lifter who could bench 507 pounds and squat 720 in his heyday. He also consults Illinois players on nutrition and helped defensive end Will Davis add to his frame in 2008.

INDIANA
Name: Mark Wateska
At Indiana since: 2002
The skinny: Wateska has spent nearly a quarter century as a strength and conditioning coach, including the last eight seasons with the Hoosiers football program. He played football at Penn State and was part of the 1986 national championship team. Wateska received both his bachelor's degree and his master's degree in exercise and sports science from Penn State and started his career there. He eventually left for Boston College, where he served as an assistant strength coach for four years before he took his first head job at Maine. Before Indiana, Wateska spent seven years as Stanford's head strength and conditioning coach. After his first year at The Farm, Wateksa was named Pac-10 Strength and Conditioning Professional of the Year by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NCSA).

IOWA
Name: Chris Doyle
At Iowa since: 1999
The skinny: Doyle has been in Iowa City for every step of the program's resurgence under Kirk Ferentz. He made his mark right away, earning Big Ten Strength Coach of the Year honors from the NCSA in 1999. Doyle has helped 149 players who have reached the professional ranks in the NFL, NHL and NBA, including 24 Iowa players selected in the last six NFL drafts. A native of Quincy, Mass., who earned two degrees at Boston University, Doyle came to Iowa after a year at Utah but was no stranger to the Big Ten. He served as Wisconsin's assistant strength and conditioning coach from 1996-98. Doyle worked both the football and hockey teams in Madison.

MICHIGAN
Name: Mike Barwis
At Michigan since: 2008
The skinny: Barwis followed Rich Rodriguez to Michigan after spending 14 years at West Virginia, where he worked with the school's Olympic sports programs before taking over strength and conditioning for football in 2003. Rodriguez is extremely loyal to Barwis and gives Barwis a lot of credit for the Mountaineers' rise to national prominence from 2005-07. Barwis has coached 24 NCSA All-Americans since 1999 and received the Bronze Award from the NCSA certification commission in 2004. A former mixed-martial arts fighter, Barwis' workout regimes at West Virginia became legendary, and the Philadelphia native has developed quite a reputation among Michigan players and fans.

MICHIGAN STATE
Name: Ken Mannie
At Michigan State since: 1994
The skinny: Mannie made the transition with Nick Saban from Toledo to Michigan State in 1994, but while Saban moved on, Mannie remained a fixture in East Lansing. He has received numerous awards and honors during his Michigan State tenure, including being named Master Strength and Conditioning Coach by the NSCA in 2002 and being inducted into the Varsity S Club as an honorary member in 2007. Mannie, who oversees the strength and conditioning programs for all of Michigan State's sports, is a regular contributor to the Scholastic Coach and Athletic Director publication. He first met Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio at Ohio State, where they both served as graduate assistants in 1984.

MINNESOTA
Name: Mark Hill
At Minnesota since: 2007
The skinny: A 1999 graduate of Tennessee-Chattanooga, Hill already has worked as a high-level strength coach in the Big 12, Pac-10 and Big Ten. He joined Minnesota's staff in head coach Tim Brewster's first season after spending three years as associate director of performance enhancement at Arizona. Hill worked closely with Antoine Cason at Arizona, helping the defensive back win the Thorpe Award. He has mentored six All-Big Ten players at Minnesota and helped coach 13 All-Americans and 28 NFL draft picks as the assistant strength and conditioning coach at Oklahoma from 2000-03. Hill was an All-Southern Conference wide receiver at Tennessee-Chattanooga.

NORTHWESTERN
Name: Larry Lilja
At Northwestern since: 1981
The skinny: Lilja is the dean of Big Ten strength coaches and counts current Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald among the many Wildcats players he tutored during his lengthy run in Evanston. He was a three-year starter at Northwestern from 1973-75, serving as a captain in 1974, before returning in 1981 to run the school's strength and conditioning center. Lilja played a major role in helping Northwestern transform its football program by winning Big Ten championships in 1995 and 1996. He earned Big Ten Conference Strength and Conditioning Professional of the Year honors in 1996. The Lilja family has deep roots in the Big Ten, as Larry and his brothers George (Michigan) and Dave (Indiana) are the only siblings in league history to serve as captains for three different teams.

OHIO STATE
Name: Eric Lichter
At Ohio State since: 2006
The skinny: Lichter built his reputation in the private sector by opening the Speed Strength Athlete Training Center in Euclid, Ohio, where he trained athletes in many sports, including Ohio State NFL draft prospects like Donte Whitner and Bobby Carpenter. He served as a consultant to Ohio State's 2002 national championship team and brought Power Plate technology to the program. Head coach Jim Tressel hired him in 2006 to oversee the strength and conditioning program. Lichter has trained six Top 10 NFL draft picks and has worked with LeBron James, Ron Dayne and others. His mother, Linda Lichter Witter, is Ohio State’s synchronized swimming coach, and Eric served as a consultant for the synchronized swimming team before joining Tressel's staff.

PENN STATE
Name: John Thomas
At Penn State since: 1992
The skinny: Like pretty much every member of Joe Paterno's staff, Thomas has been in State College for quite some time, making his mark on the Penn State program. In 2002, Thomas was named a Master of Strength and Conditioning Coach by the NSCA, one of only 27 people to carry the title at the time. He also was named National Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year in 1997. Thomas is a staunch supporter of the High Intensity Strength Training System (HIT), which early last decade created some discontent that has since subsided. Thomas came to Penn State from Army, where he served as head strength and conditioning coach in 1990-91. He played both offensive and defensive line at Muskingum College.

PURDUE
Name: Jim Lathrop
At Purdue since: 1998 (sixth year as director of strength and conditioning)
The skinny: Lathrop made the trek with Joe Tiller and Danny Hope from Wyoming to Purdue after being named the WAC's strength and conditioning coordinator professional of the year in 1996. He spent seven years as strength and conditioning coordinator before being promoted to oversee strength and conditioning for Purdue's entire athletic program. Lathrop designs specific training programs for football, wrestling, and men's and women's track. A former offensive guard for Northwest Missouri State, Lathrop served as both an assistant and a director of strength and conditioning at Georgia Tech from 1988-92. Georgia Tech won the 1990 national championship during his first year as director.

WISCONSIN
Name: Ben Herbert
At Wisconsin since: 2002 (named head strength and conditioning coach in January 2009)
The skinny: Herbert cut his teeth under longtime Wisconsin strength coach John Dettman before working his way into the top football job last winter. A two-year starter on the defensive line for the Badgers, Herbert helped Wisconsin reach back-to-back Rose Bowls in 1998 and 1999. He joined Wisconsin's strength and conditioning staff as an intern in 2002 before being promoted to an assistant the next year. Herbert shook things up after becoming the head strength coach, introducing position group workouts, innovative competitions and some unique motivational props, including a WWE replica belt and two potted plants.

Michigan begins its official response to the NCAA's Notice of Allegations with a sobering statement.

The University of Michigan ("the University"), which fielded its first football team in 1878, has won more football games than any institution, all without a major infractions case. After more than 130 years, the University's football program is before the Committee on Infractions for the first time. The University admits the violations in fact occurred. The University is disappointed that its history of no major infractions cases in its football program has ended.

It can't be easy for Michigan fans or anyone associated with the football program to read those words.

In its response, Michigan admits that four of the NCAA's five allegations against the program are true, including the "failure to adequately monitor its football program to ensure compliance" regarding the number, duties and activities of countable football coaches as well as time limits for CARA (countable athletically related activities).

While much of the language in the response is harsh, the self-imposed penalties aren't too severe.

• Michigan reduced its quality staff by 40 percent -- from five to three -- and will prohibit it from attending practices, games or meetings for the rest of 2010. Despite a new NCAA rule that allows quality control staff to attend meetings, Michigan won't allow this to happen until 2011.
• The football program will forfeit 130 hours of practice time during the next two years. The university found that the football program exceeded limits on football activities by a total of 65 hours in 2008 and 2009, so it simply doubled the total for its self-imposed penalty.
• Michigan will issue letters of reprimand to seven people it deems responsible for the violations: Mike Barwis, Scott Draper, Brad Labadie, Joe Parker (senior associate athletic director, development/corporate relations), Rich Rodriguez, Judy Van Horn and Ann Vollano (assistant athletic director for compliance services).
• The university also acknowledges the dismissal of former graduate assistant Alex Herron, named in one of the NCAA's allegations for "providing false and misleading information" to both NCAA and Michigan investigators. Herron was fired after Michigan received the NCAA's Notice of Allegations in February.
• By admitting to major violations, Michigan knows it will go on NCAA probation for two years, which doesn't mean much unless more violations are committed.

No scholarship losses or loss of recruiting time for coaches to be found here. Will the NCAA deem this too light? We'll find out Aug. 13-14 in Seattle.

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez often became emotional Monday as he defended his program against allegations of NCAA rule violations on time limits for practices and offseason workouts.

In a 15-minute statement to begin his weekly news conference, Rodriguez reaffirmed that he and his staff follow NCAA guidelines and care about the players in their program.

Some of the key quotes:

• "The thing that bothered me the most that were recently written or said ... was the perception that was out there that we did not care for our players' welfare. That is heartbreaking. That is misleading and inaccurate, and goes against everything I have ever believed in coaching."
• "Nobody on my staff would ever tell a player to miss a class ... never have, never will."
• "[Strength and conditioning director] Mike Barwis is such a great asset to this university. ... What he has done is unprecedented."
• "Mike truly cares about every one of the young men and women that he has worked with and to imply otherwise couldn't be further from the truth. There's nobody that has a greater passion in helping young men and their careers than Mike Barwis and his staff. He has always complied with the rules, as has all our staff."

Michigan offensive lineman David Moosman told reporters that most or all of the team will be meeting with the school's compliance staffers as part of a full-scale investigation into the allegations.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

In addition to the statements from Michigan athletic director Bill Martin, football coach Rich Rodriguez and compliance director Judy Van Horn, the school released its list of athletically related activities that are both counted and not counted toward the NCAA-mandated time limits for in-season and out-of-season sessions.

One item on the non-countable list could benefit Michigan's strength staff in the forthcoming investigation:

Non-countable Athletically Related Activities. The following are considered non-countable athletically related activities and are not counted in the weekly or daily time limitations: 

m. Voluntary individual workouts, provided these workouts are not required or supervised by coaching staff members, except that such activities may be monitored for safety purposes or conducted by the institution's strength and conditioning personnel who have department wide duties. 

Michigan strength and conditioning director Mike Barwis and his assistants can cite this item in explaining their presence during voluntary offseason workouts that went beyond the eight-hour-per-week limit mandated by the NCAA.  

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

A week before Year 2 of the Rich Rodriguez era is set to begin, Michigan players have made very serious allegations against the program regarding the time they spend in training and practice sessions.

Six current or former Michigan players, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told the Detroit Free Press that the program repeatedly violated NCAA rules by exceeding the allotted time for practice and offseason workouts.

The allegations include:

• In-season football activities that far exceeded the 20-hour-per-week allotment from the NCAA. Players said they often spent nine hours on football activities the days after games -- the NCAA mandates a four hour daily limit.
  
• Offseason workouts that lasted two or three times longer than the eight hours per week allowed. Though players are voluntarily allowed to work out as much as they'd like, the allegations suggest the Michigan training staff required such a commitment from its players. 
• Members of the team's quality control staff were present for 7-on-7 drills during the offseason, which violates NCAA rules. Only trainers are allowed to attend these workouts.
  
• The time demands on players negatively affected their academic performance. 
• Several current Wolverines freshmen spoke openly to the Free Press about daily workout regimens that violated NCAA rules. 
• Players were forced to sign NCAA forms stating all rules had been followed and not informed the school's compliance department of any violations for fear of punishment from the program.
  

Many of the allegations concern Michigan strength and conditioning director Mike Barwis, who received a lot of positive press before the 2008 season, and Barwis' staff.

A former Michigan player told ESPN's Joe Schad that the Free Press report was accurate. 

The player, who asked not to be identified for fear of repercussions from fans, said in-season Sundays at the football facility lasted from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., including a one-hour lunch. That would be an 11-hour day. The NCAA daily limit is four hours, the weekly limit 20.

The same player said required offseason workouts included three-hour lifts on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays and two hours of speed and agility on Tuesdays and Thursday. That's a total of 13 hours, with the limit at eight hours of required workouts.

This player said he would tell the Big Ten or NCAA what players were required to do and believes most of his former teammates would, as well.

Rodriguez and Michigan's compliance director Judy Van Horn issued statements to the newspaper, saying the program conforms to NCAA rules and does spot checks on practice.

"We have not had any reason to self-report any violations in this area with any of our sports," Van Horn said.

Needless to say, these are very serious allegations that could prompt investigations by the NCAA and the school.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

CHICAGO -- The days are long gone when simply putting on the winged helmet automatically meant 10-14 points on the scoreboard.

Michigan learned that lesson the hard way last fall.

As the Wolverines regroup for the 2009 campaign, head coach Rich Rodriguez has urged his players not to expect success without earning it the hard way, just like everybody else. Any reminder of the team's 3-9 season hammers home the point.  

"Are you hungry to prove yourself and not have a sense of entitlement? We talked quite a bit about not having the sense of entitlement," Rodriguez said. "It's good to have pride, but when that pride becomes too much, you're going to get humbled pretty quick. I think, in a sense, that happened to us."   

Rodriguez thinks the pain Michigan players endured on the field last season has served them well during the summer months. The players are also more accustomed to the demanding workouts that have generated both positive and negative attention for the Wolverines' program.

"Last year, they did it, but they were probably doing it because you were telling them to, [strength and conditioning coach] Mike Barwis was telling them to," Rodriguez said. "This year, they did it because they know they need to and they want you. And there's a difference."

Much of the discussion Monday at Big Ten media days centered on how to fix a league that has dropped six consecutive BCS bowl games and struggled in marquee nonconference matchups. All agreed that having Michigan be Michigan again was a critical step in the process. 

But it won't happen automatically. 

"The fortunate thing about Michigan is you have a national name brand, and you want to use that," Rodriguez said. "But outside of helping you in recruiting and helping you maybe get your program established quicker, you've still got to put the same kind of work in, you've got to do the same kind of things you would anywhere else ... to build a program the right way.

"The name will only carry you so far. I knew that coming in, but it was a hard lesson."

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

On the field, Michigan's Terrance Taylor is a disruptive nose tackle with a fondness for dropping ball carriers in the backfield.

In the film room, Taylor is a 319-pound peanut gallery.

When Michigan's defensive linemen get together to review tape from practices and games, coach Bruce Tall's voice isn't the only one bouncing off the walls. Taylor always chimes in.

"If a coach yells at me for missing a play," defensive end Tim Jamison said, "[Taylor will] try to reiterate, like, 'Yeah, man, you did mess up on that play,' and ask coach to keep rewinding it, try to make us mad."

Taylor admits he never misses a chance to jokingly prod his linemates. But he's not the only one.

"Especially if somebody gets put on their back or misses a tackle, the running back makes 'em look stupid, I definitely want to see it over again," Taylor said. "They do the same thing for me when I do something like that."

Fortunately for the Wolverines defensive linemen, film-room humiliation has been at a minimum so far this season. After a poor showing in the first half of the opener against Utah, the front four has looked like the strength of a transitioning Michigan team, as many expected it would be.

Michigan has racked up 7 sacks in its last six quarters of play and ties for second nationally with 9 sacks on the season. Seven sacks have come from the front four of Taylor, Jamison, end Brandon Graham and tackle Will Johnson -- all of whom are returning starters. The group isn't too shabby against the run, ranking fourth nationally in fewest yards allowed (41.5 ypg).

"Because we do have a lot of experience that came back this year, we're looked upon as being the leaders of this defense," Jamison said.

Michigan expects another strong performance from the defensive line Saturday when it visits Notre Dame. Both teams are struggling on offense, and the game could be won at the line of scrimmage.

Last year's meeting with the Fighting Irish turned into a highlight reel for Michigan's defense, which manhandled a new-look Notre Dame offensive line.

Graham had a career-high 3.5 sacks in the 38-0 win, and Jamison also dropped Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen behind the line.

"It was a pretty good memory," Jamison said, "but I'm sure Notre Dame is remembering it as well and they're going to be prepared."

Though the Wolverines expect to see an improved Irish offensive line in South Bend, their own expectations haven't changed.

"We're conditioned and we're ready to play four quarters hard, and run around and hit people," Taylor said. "We know what we need to do, and we're not going to let anything stand in our way."

No position group on Michigan's team comes close to matching the defensive linemen in terms of experience.

Taylor will make his 27th career start at nose tackle Saturday and has played alongside Johnson and Jamison since 2005. Graham, the only non-senior, led the team in sacks last fall (8.5) in his first season as a starter.

"I really think of them as my brothers," Taylor said. "We're probably the closest group on the team."

And arguably no Wolverines position group made greater strides during the offseason. Strength coach Mike Barwis' work with the whole team is extremely well documented, but quite possibly his biggest impact came with the defensive linemen.

"We got most of the records on the board, the squat and the bench press and the clean, stuff like that," Taylor said. "You want to be the best."

A chest injury limited Taylor in the bench press, but he increased his squat to about 700 pounds. Johnson did two bench-press repetitions of 545 pounds and improved in other areas, including speed work.

"When Barwis first came in, the power clean, I had like no technique," Johnson said. "I'm a lot more explosive now. My speed's also getting better, I feel, balance-wise and going in and out of movements."

The results are showing so far, but there's room for growth. Jamison said Tall wants greater consistency from the front four, starting Saturday in South Bend.

"We want to do everything that's needed to be the best defensive line in the nation," Taylor said, "which I think we are."

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Michigan safety Stevie Brown tries to block negativity from his life whenever he can. The problem is he also owns a TV.

	Leon Halip/Getty Images
	Stevie Brown and Michigan still remember last year's season-opening loss to Appalachian State.

When Brown flips through the channels, he's often comes across those unsightly images, the ones showing the little team with the funny name stunning the big team with the famous name. There might as well be a station called WLAS -- Wolverines lose to Appalachian State.

"It was hard to get over because every week, we saw the clips being played," Brown said. "It's still being played right now. So it's always something that stays in the back of your mind."

Does Brown relive Michigan's 34-32 loss, considered by many to be the biggest upset in college football history?

"Nah, I change the channel right then and there," he said.

Brown might want to unplug his set this week. The Wolverines enter a new era with head coach Rich Rodriguez and dramatically different schemes and personnel, but the Appalachian State loss will undoubtedly be rehashed as another season dawns Saturday at Michigan Stadium.

Rodriguez and most of his assistants weren't in Ann Arbor for Michigan's historic setback last fall, and though they focused on installing new systems with mostly unproven players this summer, there have been some not-so subtle hints about the game. Brown remembers a particular conversation he had with one of Michigan's graduate assistants.

"The one thing the GA told me was, he didn't believe it and the coaching staff didn't believe it, but when they came in, they heard that No. 3 would just have mental mistakes and blow coverages every now and then," Brown said. "I didn't ask where it came from, they didn't tell me where it came from."

It doesn't take much detective work to find the likely source. Brown started the Appalachian State game, got burned on a 68-yard touchdown and several other plays, and began the second half on the bench.

Don't expect a re-run Saturday against Utah.

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Dust off those depth charts, people. Practice is finally here. Every Big Ten team --except Purdue -- lifts the curtain on preseason practice Monday. I'll be at Michigan's first workout at 2:30 p.m. ET, wearing a West Virginia shirt, of course. Relax, I'm joking.

Check back later today for interviews with Michigan offensive coordinator Calvin Magee and defensive coordinator Scott Shafer, as well as other maize and blue-related items. For now, here's a look around the league:

• Much has been made of Michigan's new conditioning program under Mike Barwis, but the Wolverines' archrivals didn't exactly lounge around this summer, the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Doug Lesmerises writes in his blog. Ohio State tackle Alex Boone said of the team's regimen: "It was the most unbelievable thing I've ever seen. People keeling over, and just vomiting everywhere. It was sick. If people are going to say they outran us or outworked us, I don't believe that."
• Can chemistry take Ohio State back to the title game? The Columbus Dispatch's Tim May takes a look.
• Buckeyes running back Beanie Wells can finally practice at full strength.
  
• Forget about the quarterback spot. Michigan's fate on offense largely depends on a revamped offensive line, Mark Snyder writes in the Detroit Free Press.
• Today won't be easy for injured Penn State linebacker Sean Lee, who will watch from the sidelines as the Nittany Lions open practice. But, as always, Lee will find a way to contribute, Ron Musselman writes in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Musselman also answers five questions about the team entering practice. Can you guess the first one?
• Penn State needs player-driven leadership in what will be a crucial month, Frank Bodani writes in the York Daily Record.
  
• It's open season on Wisconsin's quarterbacks as practice opens, Jeff Potrykus writes in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Badgers defenders can't wait, though they're more concerned about stopping the spread offense after struggling against it last season.
• Potrykus also looks at five things to watch at Badgers' practice. The competition at kicker and punter looms large after the losses of Taylor Mehlhaff and Ken DeBauche.
  
• Senior quarterback Brian Hoyer doesn't have to worry about his starting job, but Michigan State is looking for some insurance under center, Shannon Shelton writes in the Detroit Free Press.
• Purdue doesn't open camp until next Monday -- the Boilermakers have a bye in Week 1 of the season. Finding a third linebacker will top Joe Tiller's agenda when he steps on the practice field, Tom Kubat writes in The (Lafayette, Ind.) Journal and Courier.
• Some good stuff from the Champaign News-Gazette's Bob Asmussen, who looks at an Illinois program on the rise and releases his top 25 (Illini are No. 15).
• Rantoul looks nothing like the Rose Bowl, but that's the idea for Illinois as it opens camp in an all-football, all-the-time environment, Lindsey Willhite writes in the Daily Herald.
• Illinois has become a passing team, at least according to top receiver Rejus Benn, Herb Gould writes in the Chicago Sun-Times. 
• Will Shonn Greene establish himself as Iowa's top running back? The Des Moines Register's Randy Peterson is excited to find out.
  
• Iowa's having a mini-turnaround in recruiting, as wide receiver Keenan Davis became the latest member of the Hawkeyes' 2009 class.
• The Indianapolis Star's Terry Hutches sees no way quarterback Kellen Lewis doesn't start Indiana's season opener, but who Lewis throws to and who blocks for him are somewhat in doubt entering practice.
• Wide receiver and cornerback top Indiana's priority list today, LaMond Pope writes in The (Fort Wayne, Ind.) Journal Gazette.
• Close games dogged Minnesota last season, and coach Tim Brewster made the fourth quarter a greater emphasis during the offseason, Myron Medcalf writes in The (Minneapolis) Star Tribune. Here are five focal points in Gophers' practice, which begins today.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Hope you enjoyed Hater Tuesday. There will be a little carry-over today, as I boldly make predictions on the league's top rivalries. But first, here's a look at what's happening around the league.

• High praise for Ohio State's Beanie Wells from two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, who thinks the junior running back is "the closest thing to Jim Brown that I've ever seen," The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Doug Lesmerises writes in his blog.
  
• Former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr sounded off on several topics, including Rich Rodriguez's nasty departure from West Virginia and the outlook for the season.
  
• Mike Barwis isn't the only strength coach in the state of Michigan, Dave Dye writes in The Detroit News. The Michigan State notebook also has an item about running back Javon Ringer possibly returning kicks this fall. Interesting.
  
• A big check is supposed to travel from Ann Arbor to Morgantown by Thursday night, Mickey Furfari writes in The (Martinsburg, W.Va.) Journal.
• In case you missed it, Illinois basketball player Jamar Smith may be in trouble again. If the allegations are true, this brings even more embarrassment to a program that should have cut ties with Smith a long, long time ago.
• The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Jeff Potrykus continues his position-by-position look at Wisconsin. Next up are the running backs, considered the team's deepest position group despite the legal problems of junior Lance Smith.
  
• Joe Paterno's reaction to the Outside the Lines piece about Penn State's off-field issues could play a role in getting the longtime coach out the door, Bob Smizik writes in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  
• Interesting but sad story about former Minnesota star Dominic Jones, who has gone from wearing No. 2 as a cornerback to wearing No. 00425759 as an inmate serving time for sexual assault, Rochelle Olson writes in The (Minneapolis) Star Tribune.
  
• Missed this one from CBSSports.com's Dennis Dodd, who lists five things to watch in the Big Ten this fall. He likes Ohio State and Wisconsin, while Michigan should expect seven or eight wins in RichRod's first season.
  
• After losing stud offensive tackle David Barrent to Michigan State, Iowa's 2009 recruiting needs a boost in a hurry, Andy Hamilton writes in the Iowa City Press-Citizen.
• Michigan State's Brian Hoyer hasn't forgotten the Champs Sports Bowl, as if anyone would let him, Alex Altman writes in The State News.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

	AP Photo/Reinhold Matay
	With the high-profile West Virginia lawsuit behind him, Rich Rodriguez wants to focus on the future.

CHICAGO -- The last seven months might not have changed Rich Rodriguez, but they took a toll on the new Michigan coach.

"After a while, it was like, just stand in line, they're going to throw some darts our way," Rodriguez said Thursday at Big Ten media days.

Most of the damage stemmed from the lawsuit between Rodriguez and his former employer, West Virginia, which was settled earlier this month. The drawn-out dispute involved athletic directors, school presidents, coaches, agents, lawyers and even a governor before Rodriguez agreed to pay a $4 million buyout to West Virginia.

There were also unflattering comments from former Wolverines offensive lineman Justin Boren, who, before transferring to rival Ohio State, said the program's family values had eroded. Purdue coach Joe Tiller also called Rodriguez "a guy in a wizard hat selling snake oil" after losing a recruit to the Wolverines.

Rodriguez was asked if his image needed some repair after all the bad PR.

"I've not changed who I am, I never have," he said. "It just seemed what was portrayed was changed. That was probably the most disappointing part about it. I mean, what have I done wrong, image-wise? Did I cause anybody to leave? Everyone wants to talk about the guy that leaves. What about the 99 that stayed?

"It's disappointing in that regard. I still have my health, still have my family and I'm in a great place. If the reputation's been damaged, that is upsetting because I've just changed jobs."

Rodriguez can improve his image with a strong season this fall. A self-proclaimed "realist," he didn't minimize the difficulties Michigan will face, particularly on offense. Though he confirmed the offseason progress players have made under new strength coach Mike Barwis, training camp will bring a new set of challenges.

Settling the lawsuit before the season became a priority for Rodriguez, who wants to focus on the future but spent most of Thursday recapping the last seven months. The public nature of the West Virginia dispute made the coach "afraid to open up a paper," but Boren's comments rankled him the most.

"That was the one that really upset me the most because that's the one we take the most pride in," Rodriguez said. "Any player that's ever played for us, in my 15 years as a head coach, will tell you just the opposite. And we think there's nobody that's going to have a closer, family-type unit than our football program."

Rodriguez was able to show his sense of humor regarding Tiller's comment, saying, "I can't wait to see Joe because I've been working all summer on my new snake-oil concoction."

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg 

Happy Friday to all. Big Ten media days are less than a week away and every team but Purdue opens preseason practice on Aug. 4, so gear up. The season's almost upon us. Here's the daily look around the league:

• College Football Hall of Fame enshrinement awaits Joe Paterno this weekend, and the coach spoke at a benefit dinner Thursday night in Johnstown, Pa. The 81-year-old is already in preseason mode: He's starting to ignore his grandkids, Sam Ross Jr. writes in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. As for his energy level? "I feel great," he said. "My health is fine. I can't throw the ball 40 yards any more, but I never could."
  
• Who ends up making those 40-yard throws this fall remains to be seen, but JoePa would prefer having one quarterback lead the offense, Cory Giger writes in The Altoona Mirror.
• Paterno also discussed the head-coaching potential of Nittany Lions defensive coordinator Tom Bradley, the man most consider to be Paterno's choice as a successor, Mike Mastovich writes in The Tribune-Democrat.
  
• Former Minnesota running back Amir Pinnix sees brighter days ahead for the program, Sid Hartman writes in The (Minneapolis) Star Tribune. "You have to stay optimistic, always," Pinnix said. "That's why I love coach [Tim] Brewster, because he's so optimistic. He uses motivation, and he can inspire you to go out and make things happen."
• A quick hoops detour: Ohio State has gone Greek again, as center Zisis Sarikopoulos -- say that 10 times fast -- is transferring from UAB, The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. Perhaps Thad Matta knows he won't have B.J. Mullens for long, and a team can never have enough 7-footers, right?
• Mike Barwis mania continues, as CBSsports.com's Dennis Dodd takes a look at Michigan's enterprising new strength coach. Wonder if Barwis' colleagues around the country are getting jealous yet.
• The Lansing State Journal's State of State series continues with a look at ticket prices. Michigan State hasn't raised them in football since 2005, and athletic director Mark Hollis wants to keep it that way, Joe Rexrode writes. But a hike seems inevitable, especially with football season-ticket sales projected to drop by 1,000 this season.
  
• Student season-ticket sales haven't suffered at MSU. They're at the highest level in 20 years, so the school is expanding the student section at Spartan Stadium by roughly 3,300 seats this season. Last fall, student season-ticket sales were the highest in 20 years. I mistakenly wrote last week that the section is in the southwest corner; it's in the southeast corner.
• Recent struggles aren't turning away Iowa fans. Games against Wisconsin and Iowa State are already sold out. Tickets went on sale Thursday.