NCAA Football FanHouse

Weird Moments in Big Ten Football History #3: Don Morton as Coach Dracula, 1989

Mark Hasty — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:28:00 EST

Filed under: Wisconsin Football, Big 10, NCAA FB Coaching, NCAA FB History

FanHouse is counting down the ten best, ten worst, and ten weirdest moments in the history of Big Ten football.

Of all the ephemera associated with college football, probably the worst is that dreadful institution, the coach's TV show. While I can hardly claim to have seen them all, the ones I have seen have been (a) pretty much all the same, and (b) terrible. The production values are just a notch above something you'd see on the public access channel. The game film is nothing but the highlights your local news showed the night of the game. The commentary from the coach is usually empty of any non-obvious content. And you just know they only pick the fat, juicy hanging curveballs for the "Ask the Coach" segment. The shows are just a way to generate some additional income for the coach, because as we all know, college football coaches at the ~~Division I-A~~ Football Bowl Subdivision level don't get paid very well.

So today we turn our attention to what might be the only interesting moment in the entire history of these wretched programs. It involves a coach who ... well, he made a rather curious decision about how to remind people that the season wasn't over yet.

The coach in question is Don Morton, remembered in Wisconsin as "the guy before Barry Alvarez." Morton coached the Badgers for three seasons, from 1987 through 1989. These were not great seasons for Wisconsin football. Morton had been quite successful in previous stops at North Dakota Sta.te and Tulsa. In fact, he'd never had a losing season.

Of course, there's a first time for everything.

Morton went 3-8 and 1-10 his first two years in Madison and, in the middle of a 1989 season which wasn't any better than 1987 and 1988 had been, Morton seemed like a dead man walking. To convince the remaining Wisconsin faithful that he hadn't packed it in and still had hopes that he could turn it around, Morton tried a little stunt on his TV show. He opened the program by emerging from a coffin and proclaiming, "I'm not dead yet!" It might have made for a great moment, if not for the fact that his (non-interim) predecessor Dave McClain had died on the job three and a half years earlier.

Morton might not have been dead, but his career at Wisconsin certainly was. After rattling off five straight losses to end the season (four of them blowouts), Morton was fired and you know how the next guy worked out for Wisconsin.

Don't feel too bad for Don Morton, however. North Dakota State brought him back as a fundraiser for a few years. He eventually left for the private sector, taking an executive job with a Fargo-based software company. That company eventually got bought out by Microsoft, and today Morton is the Site Leader of MSFT's Fargo campus. I'd call that landing on your feet.

Weird Moments in Big Ten Football History #3: Don Morton as Coach Dracula, 1989 originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:28:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Weird Moments in Big Ten Football History #1: Bret Bielema Blows Up Rule 3-2-5-e, 2006

Mark Hasty — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:48:00 EST

Filed under: Wisconsin Football, Big 10, NCAA FB History

FanHouse is counting down the ten best, ten worst, and ten weirdest moments in Big Ten football history.

It was a stupid rule, and everybody knew it was a stupid rule.

Rule 3-2-5-e went into effect for the 2006 college football season. The rule required that, on kickoffs, the game clock would start when the kicker made contact with the ball. (The old rule was that the clock started when the receiver touched the ball; on touchbacks, the clock didn't move at all.) The whole point of this rule was to speed up college football games, because as we all know, the biggest problem with college football is that the games just aren't over soon enough. That's why tens of thousands gather in stadiums and millions watch on TV, just so they can all share the same thought: Hurry up.

The rule was a blatant sop to the real power in college football: the television rights holders. They're the ones who want the games to fit into neat timeslots, lest they have to give money back to the advertisers because the commercials for the new Bacon-Looped Cheesy Ranch Chicken Meatball Wrap aired during the fourth quarter of the East Carolina-Duke game instead of the first quarter of Auburn-LSU, like the account executive promised.

Fortunately, Bret Bielema was there to save college football from itself.

Bielema was in his first year coaching the Badgers. When Wisconsin scored a touchdown with 23 seconds left in the first half, Bielema decided it was time for Rule 3-2-5-e to get "blowed up real good," as they say. He had players go offsides on two consecutive kickoff attempts, taking the remaining 23 seconds off the clock and keeping Penn State's offense off the field.

Supposedly, the referees were to hand out unsportsmanlike conduct penalties for a deliberate offsides in such a situation. But how do you prove that somebody went offsides on purpose? And, at any rate, the game was played in Madison. It's hard to imagine making a call like that against the home team.

As you might imagine, Joe Paterno wasn't too happy about Bielema's gambit. It wasn't very sportsmanlike, but let's face facts. The rule needed to go, and it's not like the 2006 Nittany Lions (who finished 8th in the conference in total offense) were going to move the ball 60-80 yards in 23 seconds anyway.

A humbled NCAA rescinded 3-2-5-e the following offseason, to the gratitude of football fans everywhere. It's a good thing Bielema was smart enough to recognize he had the perfect opportunity to show the world just how stupid 3-2-5-e was.

(Author's note: While the best and worst moments lists were in order of their goodness or badness, the weird moments list is in no particular order. Weird is weird; why try to rank it?)

Weird Moments in Big Ten Football History #1: Bret Bielema Blows Up Rule 3-2-5-e, 2006 originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best Moments in Big Ten Football History #8: Wisconsin's Back-To-Back Rose Bowl Wins

Mark Hasty — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:06:00 EST

Filed under: Wisconsin Football, Big 10, Pac 10, Bowl Games, NCAA FB History, Milwaukee

FanHouse is counting down the 10 best, 10 worst, and 10 weirdest moments in Big Ten football history.

There are a lot of firsts and onlys on this list, but this one surprised even me. Only one Big Ten team has ever won back-to-back Rose Bowls, and it didn't happen way back in the 1950s. In fact, it happened less than ten years ago. When the Wisconsin Badgers won in 1999 and 2000, they became the first and so far only Big Ten team to do so.

Now, it's important to remember that prior to the early 1970s the Big Ten had a rule forbidding any team from going to the Rose Bowl in two consecutive seasons. Once that rule was lifted, Ohio State went to Pasadena four straight years (1973 through 1976) but only won once, in 1974. Not to be outdone, Michigan then went to, and lost, three straight Rose Bowls themselves. Throughout the 1980s no Big Ten team would make consecutive West Coast swings. Michigan split their 1993 and 1994 Rose Bowls, but it looked as if no Big Ten team would ever win the thing in back-to-back years

But they didn't count on ... one man.

That one man would be Ron Dayne, the human bowling ball who rolled over the college football world in the late 1990s. Behind Dayne, Wisconsin won the Big Ten in 1998, sending Barry Alvarez back to Pasadena for the first time in five years. The Badgers faced UCLA in a game featuring more than 1,000 yards of combined offense. Dayne scored four touchdowns and the Badgers wound up winning 38-31.

The following season the Badgers earned their way back, coming in ranked fourth nationally (but only seventh in the BCS). Their opponent was a lightly-regarded Stanford team ranked 22nd by the AP and completely unranked by the coaches. The Cardinal, under Ty Willingham, proved to have more fight than anyone anticipated. The 2000 Rose Bowl was a tight defensive struggle, but the Badgers ultimately prevailed, 17-9.

Ron Dayne was named Player of the Game in both years, a nice honor to add to his 1999 Heisman Trophy. Barry Alvarez had already achieved hero status in Wisconsin just by reviving the moribund Badger program, but the back-to-back Rose Bowl wins made him even more of a legend. And now, with the Rose Bowl more or less thoroughly infiltrated by the BCS, who knows if any Big Ten team will ever duplicate the Badgers' feat?

Oh, and just for the record, lest you think that the reason this has only happened once is that the Big Ten is hopelessly weak, the all-time tally in the Rose Bowl is Pac 10 32, Big Ten 30 in head-to-head matchups. In the past twenty years, the Big Ten actually leads, 10-7. There's another surprise for you.

Best Moments in Big Ten Football History #8: Wisconsin's Back-To-Back Rose Bowl Wins originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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QB, RB Drama Highlight Badger Spring Game

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:17:00 EST

Filed under: Wisconsin Football, Big 10, Wisconsin

When it comes to most of the starting positions, there's been little drama in Madison as the Wisconsin Badgers football team completes workouts with Saturday's spring game.

There are two positions of much interest, however. Both are in the offensive backfield, which might not necessarily bode well for Wisconsin's Big Ten title chances.

At quarterback, the battle is on to replace one-year starter Tyler Donovan, who didn't overwhelm but certainly proved his toughness and leadership last year. He's moved on to the CFL now, and the job for 2008 is down to two guys. Senior Allan Evridge waited his turn after transferring from Kansas State, sitting out a year, and then serving as Donovan's backup last year. He's up against fourth-year junior Dustin Sherer, who has appeared in just three games over his first two years.

On the surface, Evridge has to have an edge, if for no other reason than the fact that he started six games at Kansas State in his freshman year. However, since that point, he has left KSU, sat out a season, and then he threw 12 passes last year at UW. Sherer has patiently waited for a shot at this job, and Wisconsin coaches are saying (at least publicly) that nothing is decided.

The situation is also interesting at running back. P.J. Hill returns off a second injury-plagued season, and he has company in the backfield. Sophomore Zach Brown ran for 250 yards in UW's win at Minnesota, and he averaged nearly 100 per game over the last five. Junior Lance Smith was suspended for road games because of cab fare issues, but he managed to average six yards per carry. Mix in redshirt freshman John Clay, and you have a full house. Expect to see Smith used as a hybrid runner/receiver to maximize his playing time.

We should know more about the running back situation after Saturday, but the quarterback race will probably not be decided until fall practice unless something unexpected happens.

QB, RB Drama Highlight Badger Spring Game originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wisconsin Wusses Out Of Virginia Tech Game

Brian Cook — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:12:00 EST

Filed under: Virginia Tech Football, Wisconsin Football, Big 10

Oh, Wisconsin, truly your nonconference scheduling is to be mocked:

The University of Wisconsin's 2008 football schedule, released Friday, reveals that UW replaced an early season non-conference game against powerful Virginia Tech with a regular-season finale against Cal Poly, a Football Championship Subdivision program.

Wisconsin's nonconference schedule is now Cal Poly, Akron, Marshall, and Fresno State. Last year's schedule: Washington State, UNLV, the Citadel, and Northern Illinois. The year before: Bowling Green, Western Illinois, San Diego State, Buffalo.

That's one BCS opponent in three years, and that opponent was Washington State. That might be understandable if Wisconsin was struggling to pick up Motor City Bowl bids, but UW is among the second-tier Big Ten powers and should be scheduling... I dunno, anyone, especially since UW returns the vast majority of a team that ~~won~~* played in a New Year's Day bowl.

What's the common thread here? Bret Bielema, who evidently learned from the master of puff scheduling as Bill Snyder's defensive coordinator at Kansas State.

(Via the Wizard of Odds, and *correction.)

Wisconsin Wusses Out Of Virginia Tech Game originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:12:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NFL Draft Prospect Ikegwuonu Blows Out Knee

Bruce Ciskie — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 18:50:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Draft, Wisconsin Football, Big 10

We've already chronicled for you the decision of Wisconsin cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu to enter the 2008 NFL Draft.

Back in November, I said that Ikegwuonu would have a tough decision to make. In the end, I thought he would stay in school and try to prove himself a better player, person, and draft prospect. Our own Michael David Smith agreed, saying Ikegwuonu needed to show more consistency and better define what his best position would be in the NFL. That said, Ikegwuonu decided to turn pro, anyway.

Now, he's probably second-guessing that decision a bit.

Ikegwuonu suffered tears of both his anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments as well as damage to his kneecap, according to a source close to the situation, and will need reconstructive knee surgery.

He was working out at Perfect Competition, a training facility in Davie, Fla., when the incident occurred. Ikegwuonu, who earlier in the month decided to leave UW a year early, was pulling a sled designed to improve his speed when the injury occurred. He exploded out of a start, planted his leg and the knee buckled.

The injury will all but eliminate Ikegwuonu's chances of being selected April 26-27 in the National Football League draft. It's possible a team might take him in a late round and bring along for 2009.

In Bob McGinn's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel update, he quotes a scout as saying Ikegwuonu is "screwed". Among the concerns scouts had were his on-field production and character. There's no questioning his measurables, but six interceptions in three years isn't impressive for anyone trying to call themselves an elite college player.

When Ikegwuonu turned pro, he signed with agent Drew Rosenhaus. Super Agent will probably go on ESPN next week and proclaim Ikegwuonu worthy of a first-round pick in the draft.

NFL Draft Prospect Ikegwuonu Blows Out Knee originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 24 Jan 2008 18:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NFL Damage Report: Big Ten

Brian Cook — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:38:00 EST

Filed under: Indiana Football, Michigan Football, Michigan State Football, Ohio State Football, Penn State Football, Wisconsin Football, Big 10, Illinois Football

Tuesday was the deadline for underclassmen to declare their entry into the NFL Draft. Below, a look at the damage done across the Big Ten in the NFL Damage Report. Yes, the NFL is still interested in the occasional Big Ten player.

Ohio State
Gone	DE Vernon Gholston
Back	WR Brian Robiskie, LB James Laurinaitis, LB Marcus Freeman CB Malcolm Jenkins, OT Alex Boone
Damage	Gholston will be a major loss. The Detroit junior was a terror all year long -- if OSU hadn't busted three coverages at the wrong time he would have made an enormous impact on the national title game -- and perhaps the best defensive end in the Big Ten since Simeon Rice. OSU has a lot of talent, but guys like Gholston are rare no matter how many hyped recruits you've reeled in. But the unfortunate reality for Big Ten fans is that OSU got off easier than everyone expected. Jenkins and Laurinaitis have been projected in the top half of the first round by most draft services, but elected to return. A few likely first-day picks in Robiskie, Freeman, and Boone elected to stick around, as well. Despite the loss of Gholston OSU is a big winner here.

Michigan
Gone	WR Mario Manningham, WR Adrian Arrington, QB Ryan Mallett (transfer)
Back	DT Terrance Taylor, DE Tim Jamison
Damage	Manningham's departure was assumed from last summer, but Adrian Arrington's dynamite Citrus Bowl might have been the decisive factor in his decision to enter early; both departing leaves Michigan thin and young at wideout. Third WR Greg Mathews comes back, but he seems a steady possession type in the mold of Jason Avant, not a gamebreaker like Manningham was and Arrington was developing into. Mallett's departure will mean little to Michigan fans if Rich Rodriguez can reel in uberrecruit Terrelle Pryor. Meanwhile, a couple defensive linemen who could have gone somewhere on the first day return; Michigan brings back every contributor from a pretty decent defensive line from a year ago. They'll have to make their returns count for Michigan's defense to keep what looks like a shaky-at-best offense in games.

Wisconsin
Gone	CB Jack Ikegwuonu
Back	TE Travis Beckum
Damage	Ikegwuonu was quietly a superb performer over the past couple years. Wisconsin had the aid of a soft, Ohio State-free schedule and a full blast of the Ryan Mallett Experience against Michigan, but #1 in pass efficiency D is #1 in pass efficiency D, and that was greatly aided by Ikegwuonu's shut-down capabilities. Counterpart Allen Langford, toasted frequently as a sophomore, was capable this year but isn't likely to match Ikegwuonu's contributions in his final year. Getting Beckum back is a major bonus for new QB Allan Evridge, though. Beckum is a matchup nightmare in pads who should be the slam-dunk Mackey winner unless Evridge is a complete disaster.

Penn State
Gone	CB Justin King
Back	LB Sean Lee
Damage	King seemed a superstar in the making after a superb sophomore season and was well on his way to the first round of the draft when he ran into Indiana's James Hardy -- about whom more later -- and got owned. Owned hard. He then failed to live up to admittedly lofty expectations the rest of the year. His departure leaves Penn State's secondary looking shaky. PSU blog Run Up The Score: *Scared for 2008?* Totally. Penn State's cornerbacks are now A.J. Wallace and Lydell Sargeant, neither of whom were overly impressive while fighting for the starting spot opposite King. Another possible option is moving Tony Davis back to cornerback, but that just creates another gaping hole elsewhere in the defense. For a secondary that tended to fall apart at critical times in 2007, this is bad news for 2008. Getting Sean Lee, the latest in PSU's recent string of late-first/early-second OLB/MLB hybrids, back is a nice boost for a defense that looks stout up front. The other side of the ball? Well... I'm sure JayPa will get a guy above the median in passer efficiency one of these years.

Indiana
Gone	WR James Hardy
Back	None
Damage	Weapons like James Hardy just don't come around that often when you're Indiana. Hardy's projected as a second-rounder many places; the last time IU had a second-rounder in the NFL draft it was Antwaan Randle-El six years ago. The damage here is severe, albeit to the Hoosier's chances to repeat as bowl participants and little else.

Michigan State
Gone	WR Devin Thomas
Back	RB Javon Ringer
Damage	In the richest tradition of Michigan State wide receivers, Thomas talked big about beating Michigan, did not, and fled to the NFL. He takes with him every ounce of big-play ability MSU got from its passing game a year ago, but there are a couple promising youngsters on the way in rising sophomore Mark Dell and incoming freshman Fred Smith. Either could emerge into a suitable replacement, or MSU could fish out another JUCO. The WRs for erratic (read: bad) QB Brian Hoyer will probably be substandard. However, if MSU was forced to lose one of its offensive stars they would probably have picked Thomas over RB Javon Ringer, a talented runner held back by frequent injury and pounding power back Jehuu Caulcrick the past couple years. His most notable highlight last year was a zig-zagging cutback run against Michigan that spanned 70-some yards vertically and 50 horizontally before Shawn Crable dragged him down. Ringer averaged 5.9 YPC last year in front of a meh offensive line; he's good. The Spartans moved from John L Smith's spread offense to a traditional pounding ground game under Mark Dantonio; with a full, healthy year from Ringer he will press Chris Wells for All-Big Ten and possibly All-America.

Illinois
Gone	RB Rashard Mendenhall
Back	None
Damage	Mendenhall will vie with Gholston for the title of the Big Ten's single most damaging departure. While Illinois figures to fill the gap with promising JUCO transfer Daniel Dufrene, -- get busy livin', kid -- Dufrene can't match Mendenhall's NFL combination of speed, power, and moves. For my money, he was the top running back in the Big Ten a year ago, better than Ringer or Hart or Wells, and Illinois will miss him dearly. The offensive burden now falls more heavily upon junior-to-be Juice Williams, who may have improved radically as a sophomore but mostly because there was nowhere to go but up.

No (early) departures: Northwestern, Minnesota, Iowa, Purdue.

The Upshot: Ohio State's claim as the Big Ten frontrunner just gets stronger.

NFL Damage Report: Big Ten originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:38:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paul Chryst Won't Be Taking Joe Tiller's Job

Tom Fornelli — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Wisconsin Football, Big 10, NCAA FB Rumors, Purdue Football, NCAA FB Coaching

Earlier this week I wrote about reports that Purdue athletic director Morgan Burke had been interviewing potential replacements for Joe Tiller. More specifically Wisconsin's offensive coordinator, Paul Chryst.

Well, Bret Bielema can breathe a little easier now, because Chryst isn't going to Purdue.

According to sources, offensive coordinator Paul Chryst will not be leaving UW to replace Joe Tiller at Big Ten Conference rival Purdue. The sources added that although Chryst was on the list of potential candidates, he never received an offer.

Still, this isn't good news for Tiller because Purdue isn't done looking for his replacement. The newest name to come up is Eastern Kentucky's head coach Danny Hope. Hope has coached under Tiller twice in his career, in Wyoming in 1996, and at Purdue from 1997-2001.

If Hope were to take an offer from Purdue, should they make one, he would serve as an assistant to Tiller in 2008 before taking over the program himself in 2009.

Of course, it's important to keep in mind that Joe Tiller isn't exactly behind this plan and has made no mention of retirement that I know of. So it's still entirely possible that if Hope does go to Purdue, he won't have to spend a year as Tiller's assistant. "5-0 Joe" may just quit.

(Via Wizard of Odds)

Paul Chryst Won't Be Taking Joe Tiller's Job originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jack Ikegwuonu Is Going Pro

Tom Fornelli — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:34:00 EST

Filed under: Wisconsin Football, Big 10, NFL Prospects

The weak Big Ten just got a tiny bit weaker yesterday, and I'm not talking about Ohio State's loss to LSU. Wisconsin junior cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu announced that he'd be skipping his senior season in Madison, and is entering the NFL draft.

Wisconsin cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu, a two-time All-Big 10 defender who is projected by scouts as a high-round selection, will forego his final season of college eligibility to enter the 2008 NFL draft, ESPN.com has learned.

Ikegwuonu, who turned 22 on Monday, has filed the appropriate paperwork with the league office for entry into the lottery.

Ikegwuonu was considered a top NFL prospect before the season started, but a slow start to his season at Wisconsin tempered a lot of scouts takes on his overall ability. Thankfully, Jack's play to finish the season re-established him as one of the better corners in the country.

I did notice at times during the season that Ikegwuonu seemed to play better when he was matched up against the Big Ten's better receivers like Mario Manningham than he did against the lesser knowns of the conference. So maybe motivation is something he's going to have to work on in the NFL.

Whatever the case may be for Jack's slow start to the season, the fact that this years class of corners entering the NFL draft isn't as deep as we've grown accustomed to seeing means it's a good a time as any for Ikegwuonu to leave school for the NFL. Staying at Wisconsin for another year may have ended up costing him a few million dollars based on draft position.

Jack Ikegwuonu Is Going Pro originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:34:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bret Bielema Knows Not Whom He Rips

Tom Fornelli — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 12:43:00 EST

Filed under: Wisconsin Football, Big 10, Bowl Games, NCAA FB Coaching

Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema wasn't the happiest man in the world after Wisconsin lost to Tennessee 21-17 in the Outback Bowl on Tuesday. Bielema was of the opinion that there were quite a few missed calls, and some plain bad ones as well during the game that cost his team a chance.

He wasn't shy about his feelings after the game, either.

"You guys in the offseason are going to give me some questions about scheduling and different things like that," Bielema said. "I guarantee you I'm never going to schedule a game that's officiated by WAC officials, that's for sure."

Well, coach, that's fine if you truly feel that way, but I feel the need to tell you that those weren't WAC officials out there. They were from the Mountain West Conference.

I find it pretty annoying when coaches start blaming the officials for everything. One of Bielema's biggest complaints about the officiating came on plays that had no outcome on the game. There was an illegal shift called against the Badgers when they had a 3rd and goal from the 1-yard line to move them back five yards. Bielema came running out onto the field to yell at officials about that call. Then on the very next play when Tyler Donovan scored on a six-yard run, which made the illegal shift a moot point, Bielema was ticked off there was no call for helmet to helmet contact on Donovan as he crossed the goal line.

There was also an overturned call on a fumble late in the game that pretty much sealed things for Tennessee, but I don't think Bielema could have too much of a problem with that call, as I'm pretty sure the refs got that one right.

Maybe instead of being mad at the officials on Tuesday, Bielema should take out some of that frustration on his players, coaches, and himself. After all, they had a lot more to do with Wisconsin's loss than any official did.

Bret Bielema Knows Not Whom He Rips originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 02 Jan 2008 12:43:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Overturned Fumble Call Hurts Wisconsin; Lackluster Play Sinks Them

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: Tennessee Football, Wisconsin Football, Big 10, SEC

A controversial play with 3:19 left in the Outback Bowl held the game up for upwards of ten minutes, as replay officials tried to discern whether Wisconsin recovered a Tennessee fumble along the sideline.

The reversal of the call on the field, which was a fumble by Tennessee and a recovery by Wisconsin, was a key in Tennessee's ability to hold on for a 21-17 win over the Badgers. Wisconsin missed numerous opportunities to win the game, just as the Vols missed out on more than a few chances to put it away earlier.

Jai Valai clearly was out of bounds before he had control of the fumble, and the reversal gave Tennessee a valuable first down and three more chances to run time off the clock late in the game.

Wisconsin's missed opportunities centered around their defense's stunning inability to get off the football field. Ten of Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge's 24 completions, along with 178 of his 340 passing yards, came on third downs. The Volunteers converted short, intermediate, and long third-down attempts in the game. The reversed fumble recovery call came after another third-down conversion where Wisconsin put up little or no resistance.

Offensively, Wisconsin was inept in their pass-blocking and lackluster in their all-around play. The defense was, frankly, as terrible as it was for most of the season. Ainge and his coaches did a great job formulating and executing a game plan that took full advantage of safeties for Wisconsin that couldn't fairly be described as "inadequate". They're worse than that. If it weren't for a couple of miscues, Tennessee would have won this game handily. They were clearly the better team on the field today.

(This, by the way, should not be taken as an indictment of the Big Ten. Wisconsin was probably the fourth-best team - perhaps fifth - in the Big Ten, while Tennessee deservedly played for the SEC Championship, then got bumped down the SEC bowl ladder by the Capital One Bowl's selection of Florida.)

Tennessee completed a ten-win season with the victory, while Wisconsin was denied a second straight season of double-digit wins under second-year coach Bret Bielema.

Overturned Fumble Call Hurts Wisconsin; Lackluster Play Sinks Them originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 01 Jan 2008 14:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Badgers' QB Donovan Roughed Up

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: Tennessee Football, Wisconsin Football, Big 10, SEC

As the Outback Bowl continues in Tampa, the Wisconsin Badgers are struggling to slow down the pass rush of Tennessee. They probably smell blood now.

Badger senior QB Tyler Donovan took a shot to the head as he dove into the end zone for Wisconsin's only touchdown so far. Head coach Bret Bielema wasn't pleased, as no penalty was called (hard to say whether a call was justified after viewing replays). Donovan was dinged up, but appeared to pass the "concussion test" - or whatever they call it - on the sideline. He didn't miss a play.

Tennessee brought some serious heat throughout much of the first quarter, hitting Donovan numerous times and forcing him to rush his throws.

In the second quarter, Donovan slid awkwardly on a scramble, then took another shot to the upper body. It looked like he injured his knee. His return looked to be up in the air at best, though he was smiling on the sideline and he had the look of a player who was going back into the game. Yet after Tennessee scored to take a 21-7 lead in the game, Donovan jumped off the bench and ran back out to take over the offense once again.

On his second play back, Donovan completed a pass to tight end Garrett Graham, and he took another late hit. This one led to a flag and a 15-yard markoff against Tennessee.

Donovan's average arm and small stature probably prohibit him from having much of an NFL future as a quarterback. However, there is no question Donovan has great leadership skills, a huge heart, and that he is an incredibly tough competitor.

Badgers' QB Donovan Roughed Up originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 01 Jan 2008 12:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Badgers, Volunteers Looking Rusty

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 11:07:00 EST

Filed under: Tennessee Football, Wisconsin Football, Big 10, SEC

If there was ever an argument against having a layoff ranging from a month to six weeks before bowl games are played, this is it.

I mean, if NFL teams are worried about their star players getting out of rhythm after a week or two off, how do you expect less mature and less experienced college athletes to handle up to six weeks off?

Neither Wisconsin nor Tennessee look particularly sharp, with turnovers and penalties joining general lapses in concentration in ruling the day thus far. A Wisconsin fumble on their third offensive play took away a chance to score early, and it led to the Volunteers taking an early 7-0 lead. Later, after Wisconsin drove down to tie the game, Tennessee tried a trick play deep in Wisconsin territory, but fumbled the ball away to the Badgers, blowing a chance to take the lead back.

As of this writing, the Volunteers have a 14-7 lead in the second quarter. Wisconsin's early fumble led to the Volunteers' first score. Erik Ainge just threw a touchdown pass to give Tennessee the lead again.

It's not pretty so far, but give the edge in play to Tennessee. They look a bit sharper on offense, though that isn't saying much.

Badgers, Volunteers Looking Rusty originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 01 Jan 2008 11:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Badgers Starting Freshman RB in Bowl

Bruce Ciskie — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 17:55:00 EST

Filed under: Tennessee Football, Wisconsin Football, Big 10, Pac 10, NCAA FB Injuries

Starting Tuesday's New Year's Day bowl bonanza (not the bonanza it used to be, but it still qualifies as one) will be the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida. SEC powerhouse Tennessee meets Wisconsin of the Big Ten at Raymond James Stadium, which serves as home to the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Even though Tennessee and Wisconsin have both been pretty consistent over the last 15 years or so, this will mark their first meeting since the 1981 Garden State Bowl (won by Tennessee, 28-21), and just their second meeting in history. The SEC and Big Ten have hooked up for many a bowl game in recent years, but none pairing these two.

Even though the fanbases have the reputation for being rather rabid, Tennessee failed to sell out their allotment of tickets for this game.

The big story to come out of the pregame coverage is the change Wisconsin has made in their starting offensive backfield. You might remember that sophomore P.J. Hill, who ran for 1,500 yards as a freshman in 2006, was injured and unavailable down the stretch for Wisconsin, appearing only briefly in the win over Minnesota November 17. When he did that, it began to look like he would return to the starting job in time for the Badgers' bowl game.

However, something else happened in that win over Minnesota, and as a result, it appears Hill has lost his starting job, at least for now.That "something" was the performance of freshman Zach Brown. Brown seized the opportunity to start at Minnesota (Hill was still dinged up, and Lance Smith was barred from traveling on regular-season road trips because he got mad over cab fare), and he ran for 250 yards and two scores on 29 carries. That, combined with his 100-yard effort the week before against Michigan (he was platooning with Smith in that game), seems to have propelled Brown into "alpha dog" status in the Wisconsin backfield.

The youngster has been revealed to be Tuesday's starter for Wisconsin, with Hill and Smith following him on the depth chart. Is this a potentially permanent move? I honestly don't know. However, it stands to reason that Hill's propensity for getting hurt has become a cause for frustration among the Badger coaches, and it is also possible that Hill is better served being a complimentary back in Wisconsin's offense. Brown's combined speed and power are an element that can't be brought by Hill, a bigger back who has good feet and is very strong, but just doesn't have that second gear.

If you're looking for a sign that Brown is the guy for 2008, watch how head coach Bret Bielema and his offensive staff use Brown, Hill, and Smith in the game Tuesday. Hill and Smith will both be juniors next year, with Hill technically eligible to enter the NFL Draft in April should he (stupidly) choose to do so (he is a redshirt sophomore, meaning he is completing his third year out of high school). Brown is a true freshman, while Smith is a "true" sophomore. If they get the bulk of the work in a close game, it means Hill is probably being phased out. If Hill sees action as a short-yardage and change-of-pace back, it may be a more positive sign for him.

As much as I like Hill, it's maddening to deal with his injuries, and he is simply not fast enough to create his own plays when the blocking breaks down. He's not a perimeter back, and he hasn't flashed much as a receiver. Brown has much more upside as an every-down back, and he also flashes more ability as an all-purpose player.

Not only that, but I think he's a better matchup for the Tennessee defense. That bodes well for Wisconsin's chances on Tuesday.

Badgers Starting Freshman RB in Bowl originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 31 Dec 2007 17:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Big Ten Gets Smart, Approves Post-Turkey Pigskin

Mark Hasty — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:12:00 EST

Filed under: Iowa Football, Michigan Football, Ohio State Football, Wisconsin Football, Big 10

Don't think that this is just a step on the road to a conference championship game, but the presidents of Big Ten universities have decided to join just about every other conference by permitting teams to schedule games after Thanksgiving. The move will allow teams to have a bye week during the regular season, and it will cut down on the length of time which passes between the last game of the season and the bowl games.

The change won't be fully implemented until 2009, but there is the chance that some games could be moved as soon as next season. Indeed, the Big Ten's designated iconoclast (Wisconsin's Bret Bielema) has already approached his alma mater about moving next year's Iowa-Wisconsin game (scheduled for October 18 at Kinnick Stadium) to the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

It's a good move for the conference, and for that game in particular. The Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend is already designated as "Rivalry Saturday" by the media. Wisconsin-Iowa may not seem like a huge grudge match to the rest of the country, but it's got its very own trophy and everything.

Who knows if the Big Ten Championship Game (a/k/a Ohio State-Michigan) will move to "Rivalry Weekend?" It's been played then before, as recently as 2001, and maybe the thought of a week off somewhere else in the season will force the change.

As for me personally, as a resident of Big Ten country, I've got mixed feelings. The tactical advantages of playing later in the season might translate into Big Ten teams looking less rusty in bowl games, but I would miss having one weekend where I can fully check out the action in other conferences. I'm pretty sure, though, that just about every Big Ten team will make the switch to a post-Thanksgiving game.

Big Ten Gets Smart, Approves Post-Turkey Pigskin originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:12:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pickin' On the Big Ten: End-of-Season Special

Mark Hasty — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:45:00 EST

Filed under: Iowa Football, Michigan Football, Ohio State Football, Penn State Football, Wisconsin Football, Big 10, Illinois Football

Every Thursday, Pickin' on the Big Ten breaks down action across the conference.

The bowl bids won't be fully known for a few more days so there are no games to pick this week, but it's a perfect time to look around the conference to see who can expect a Wii under the tree and who's getting a lump of coal in their stockings.

We all know, of course, that this was the worst year ever for Big Ten football, breaking the dizzying record previously held by 2005, 2004, 2003, 2001, and 2000. The Big Ten was so pathetic this season that ten teams won at least six games, and every team save Minnesota (somebody please save Minnesota) is theoretically eligible for the post-season.

So congratulations to the Ohio State Buckeyes, undisputed Big Ten champs, which, as usual, is sort of like being voted the best calf roper in Rhode Island. (Seriously, it is; just ask any SEC fan.) With a little help from outside sources, the Buckeyes might even play for the national title. Again. And as for the rest of the conference? They should be glad I'm not grading on a curve. The Bucks would wreck it for everyone.

ILLINOIS: A-

Hey, they fooled me. I was still in the "Ron Zook is a disaster" camp at the start of the season and, in all likelihood, so were you. The Illini are still just shaky enough on offense that I can't call them a completely unqualified success, and there's still that inexplicable loss at Iowa to account for. (Wait, no. Bruce Pearl had to be involved somehow.) Then again, they're the only team that beat Ohio State. So far.

What's next? At the very least, a New Year's Day bowl game; at best, a BCS bid. They graduate a lot of talent (wow, are they going to miss J Leman, and so are the rest of us.), but Juice Williams and Rashard Mendenhall will return as the key elements of what promises to be a powerful offense. Also, as usual, the Zooker is recruiting better than he has a right to. Gator fans know this season is just a stepping stone on the way to 7-5.

INDIANA: A+

Ron Zook was named Big Ten Coach of the Year, but Bill Lynch should have been. IU had every reason to mail this season in, but they didn't. Their reward is, in all likelihood, their first bowl bid since Kurt Cobain was still alive. They did all this with underclassmen at every offensive skill position. Uh, that's pretty impressive.

What's next? The aforemetioned bowl bid, probably to the Insight Bowl to face a Big XII team. Please, please, please let it be Texas Tech, so some poor reporter can ask Bobby Knight about it at a press conference in the near future. I would pay $2.98 to watch streaming video of that.

IOWA: D

I'm trying not to be too hard on Iowa since they're my team. I really had no idea going into the season if this was a four-win team or a ten-win team. There was just too much unknown. Hawkeye fans were disappointed by another .500 season. It can't be called a complete failure, however, because the defense was awesome until the Western Michigan game, and they did put together a nice little run from midseason on.

The offense, however, was beyond dreadful. Iowa finished 109th nationally in total offense. This should not be. Part of the problem was a lack of experience on the offensive line. Part of the problem was a spate of injuries and off-field incidents that left the Hawkeyes dangerously understaffed at all pass-catching positions. And part of the problem was playcalling which at times was as predictable as an episode of "Dora the Explorer." Not that I'm bitter or anything. (How do you say "overthrown" in Spanish, anyway?)

What's next? Well, if any 6-6 team gets a bowl bid, it will be the Hawks, who always bring lots of fans to their bowl game. As for next year, anything less than eight wins would have to be considered a disaster for Ferentz and the Iowa program.

MICHIGAN: C-

What other grade can you give? The Oregon and OSU losses alone would've made this season a little suspect. Appy State is just piling on. The Wolverines proved this season that their zone coverage wasn't great and the offense wasn't anything at all without Chad Henne and Michael Hart. Now Lloyd Carr has hung it up and the Wolverine faithful are awaiting their new coach, some dude named Kirk Miles Kelly.

What's next? Maybe the Capital One Bowl, maybe the Champs Sports Bowl, along with a brief but excruciating wait for a new coach, and a major offensive construction/reconstruction project in 2008. Whoever the new coach is, he'd better bring a broom.

MICHIGAN STATE: B+

Over the years, I've learned that Sparty is the easiest team in the Big Ten to predict: Just figure out what they should do in a given game, then predict that they will do the exact opposite, and you'll probably be right. I guessed before that Mark Dantonio would be able to give some order to the usual Spartan chaos, then figured that that meant he probably wouldn't.

It's a push. The Spartans beat Penn State, who they shouldn't have, but lost to Iowa and Northwestern, who they should have beaten. Of course, a true Spartan team would have lost to Notre Dame, then beaten Michigan.So maybe Dantonio will be the one who finally rids East Lansing of its rampant Spartyism after all.

What's next? The Champs Sports Bowl, unless Michigan winds up there. Graduation will blow up the defense, but defense is Dantonio's forte, so maybe they'll be able to maintain some momentum.

MINNESOTA: F

1-11 record + giving up almost 300 yards of rushing to North Dakota State's fullback + being the only team in the conference that isn't bowl-eligible = Flunk City.

What's next? Five long months of winter and many Grain Belt-fueled discussions over whether Glen Mason was really that bad.

NORTHWESTERN: C-

I was going to mark them higher, but they lost to Duke.

What's next? Technically NU is bowl-eligible; realistically, the season is over. Graduation (and since this is Northwestern, it really is graduation) hits the defense and offensive skill positions lightly, but the Wildcats will have several new starters on the offensive line next season. Mr. Bacher, learn to duck.

OHIO STATE: A+

Ohio State is like French toast: They're so familiar to college football fans that nobody really gets too excited by them. But in the end, they're almost always good. I felt like, after the title-game pantsing and the loss of so many offensive playmakers, the Buckeyes were due for a step back (like to 9-3) but it didn't happen. The loss to Illinois (in Columbus, no less) is rather inexplicable, but this year, everybody but Hawaii has lost one.

What's next? At worst, the Rose Bowl; at best, a chance to play in the BCS Title Game. That's pretty not too bad. And, given how few starters this team loses after the season, if Ohio State is not the preseason #1 in '08, I'll be shocked.

PENN STATE: B

You just had the feeling coming into the season that this Nittany Lion team wasn't anything special, and it wasn't. The only unexpected result of the season was the Michigan State loss, but remember, according to the Big Ten, that's a rivalry game, and we all know you have to throw out the expectations in those.

The run defense carried this team. In every other statistical aspect, the Nits were as average as average gets.

What's next? Uh, the Alamo Bowl? Champs Sports? it's hard to tell until we know if Illinois gets a BCS at-large bid. As for the run defense that saved the Nits' bacon this year, they'll lose both outside backers and a safety after the season, along with two offensive linemen, Anthony Morelli, and Rodney Kinlaw. They may not see eight wins next season.

PURDUE: C-

If Purdue football were an e-mail, it would involve a recently deceased, corrupt government official overseas and $6.1 million that just somehow needs to be transfered to the United States. Every year Purdue puts up Tecmo Bowl numbers in their first four or five games. Every year we all think that maybe this is the year Tiller's crew finally turns the corner and makes some noise.

And every year they go all Lucy Van Pelt on us, jerking away the football of respectability just as it's about to be kicked through the Ross-Ade uprights. Why do we fall for it every year?

What's next? Every year one Big Ten team gets to learn the definition of something that's both a blessing and a curse: They get to go to the Motor City Bowl to face a MAC team that's actually excited about being there. This year it just might be Purdue's turn. Serves 'em right. They'll also lose half their starters, as if that will make any difference.

WISCONSIN: A-

It was probably unrealistic to expect Bret Bielema's second year to be as good as his first, and it wasn't. The only really shocking loss was to Penn State, but remember, the Bielema Rule came out of last year's Penn State game, and JoePa is known for being a bit crotchety. The signature win of this season was the 37-21 domination of Michigan.

What's next? The Outback Bowl wanted to get the Badgers, and got them. The Badgers lose few starters after this season, even though I swear it seems like Jonathan Casillas has been around since the Darrell Bevell era. Wisconsin figures to be in the mix for a conference title next season.

Next week: Bowl predictions!

Pickin' On the Big Ten: End-of-Season Special originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Capital One Bowl Threepeat?

Bruce Ciskie — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:45:00 EST

Filed under: Wisconsin Football, Big 10

I am not the world's most intelligent soul, and sometimes I have trouble picking up on things that are pretty simple (just ask Mrs. Ciskie for confirmation).

However, as I look at the 2007 college football bowl season (mainly how it relates to Wisconsin), I see that one thing is pretty clear.

Wisconsin isn't a good fit in the Capital One Bowl.

It's not because the Badgers can't compete in the game. They've won back-to-back Capital One Bowls, after all, and it's not like the SEC has been tearing up the college football world this season. Outside of LSU and maybe Georgia, there aren't any teams in that league that should scare Wisconsin.

It's because the Badgers have played in that bowl game two straight years. Even for the well-traveling Badger fans, this isn't the most attractive option on the board. Common sense would seem to indicate that the Capital One Bowl people might be wise to look elsewhere for a Big Ten representative (Michigan for Lloyd Carr's last game, maybe?).

Bowls aren't run by common sense, however. They're run by dollar signs, and the bowl committee apparently sees dollar signs when they look at Wisconsin. While it doesn't make much sense, the Capital One Bowl is still a very real possibility for Wisconsin.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Dave Heller found an interesting point from the Patriot-News (Pennsylvania). Wisconsin's men's basketball team plays a game at Texas December 29, the same day as the Alamo Bowl. The Texas campus - in Austin - is about 80 miles from the Alamodome. It's not as glamorous as the Capital One Bowl, and it's not on New Year's Day like the Outback Bowl (the other bowl that appears a good possibility for UW). However, Wisconsin hasn't played in the Alamo Bowl in some time, and the fact that fans could potentially invade the Erwin Events Center before catching the football game could be attractive.

Or maybe the Badgers will go back to Orlando. It doesn't appear to be the best option, but a shot at a three-peat would at least be interesting.

Capital One Bowl Threepeat? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pickin' On the Big Ten, Week 12

Mark Hasty — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 12:04:00 EST

Filed under: Iowa Football, Michigan Football, Ohio State Football, Penn State Football, Wisconsin Football, Big 10, Illinois Football

Every Thursday, Pickin' on the Big Ten breaks down action across the conference.

As the Big Ten heads into its final weekend of football, the bowl picture is becoming a little more clear. Unfortunately, the picture seems to be a Pollock.

You can hear it everywhere in the Midwest: "There are ten bowl-eligible teams in the Big Ten." If only it were true. I don't want to get off a rant here, but ... wait a minute, yes I do. A six-win team is only bowl-eligible if 1) A bowl bid is affiliated with their conference, and 2) All of the teams with seven or more wins have received bids.

A six-win team can only receive an at-large bid after every team with seven wins in any Football Bowl Subdivision conference has received a bid. If there's one at-large bid left and it's down to six-win Alabama or seven-win Florida Atlantic, the Tide ain't gonna roll. Six-win teams should really only be called "provisionally bowl-eligible." Whether any six-win team is bowl-worthy is another question, the answer to which should be "no."

Heading into this weekend's games, there are four Big Ten teams with six wins: Indiana, Iowa, Michigan State, and Northwestern. If they all win this weekend (and they could, since none of them play each other), and if Minnesota beats Wisconsin, and if Ohio State beats Michigan, the Big Ten will end the season with one ten-win team (Ohio State), four eight-win teams (Illinois, Michigan, Penn State, and Wisconsin), five seven-win teams (the aforementioned six-win teams plus Purdue), and one two-win team (Minnesota).

That's significant because the Big Ten doesn't require bowls to pick teams in order of the conference standings, so long as there are fewer than two wins separating the teams. A nine-win team must be picked over a seven-win team. If my strange scenario comes to pass, any of those nine teams with seven or eight wins could find themselves going to any bowl from the Capital One Bowl to the Motor City Bowl ... or no bowl at all.

Odds are, it won't happen. Here's what I think will happen.

NORTHWESTERN @ ILLINOIS

The Wildcats beat the Illini in 2005 and 2006, but then again, who didn't? This year is a bit of a different story. Illinois needs this game very badly to keep its (slim) BCS hopes alive, while Northwestern has to know that without a win here they're not going bowling. It'll be Pat Fitzgerald's creepy brand of ninja football against Ron Zook's more traditionally aggressive attack. But it will be the defenses which make all the difference in this game. That is not good news for Northwestern.

WE CAN STILL GIVE YOU FITZ, 17
YOU CAN'T SPELL 'HUBCAPS' WITHOUT 'BCS,' 27

PURDUE @ INDIANA

Nope, nothing at stake here. Just your standard in-state rivalry with one team (Indiana) trying desperately to lock up a bowl bid, since it will probably take seven wins for any Big Ten team to go bowling. The Hoosiers have enough offense to hang with the Boilers, but just barely. Both teams are interchangeably putrid on defense.

If ever a team needed a cosmic break from the football deities, it's Indiana. They haven't been to a bowl since 1993. Their coach died in the off-season. And the basketball games that count have started now, so they need to do somthing to get the state's attention, lest they be forgotten about until Fall. Not to mention that Purdue is usually a fraud. They drop fifty points on the nobodies but can't beat anybody good. Well, guess what? This is the first time in quite a while that Indiana has a good football team.

GENE KEADY'S FORMER EMPLOYER, 34
BOBBY KNIGHT'S FORMER EMPLOYER, 37

WESTERN MICHIGAN @ IOWA

It's rivalry weekend in the Big Ten. You can tell by the fact that the Hawkeyes and Broncos are going at it. What a long-standing feud there is between these two schools: They played each other once before, back in 2000, and the Broncos won that game, 27-21. So there's a score to settle.

The Hawkeyes need this game. It'll be win #7, the one that locks up a bowl bid, and more importantly, the one that guarantees this season winds up being more successful than last season. But nothing comes easily for this year's Hawkeyes. And that will certainly include this game. Still, you've got to figure the Broncs will be looking ahead to next week's big showdown with Temple.

SLOUCHING TOWARDS KALAMAZOO, 14
WHISTLING PAST THE GRAVEYARD, 20

OHIO STATE @ MICHIGAN

Oh, are these two playing this week? I didn't realize.

Jim Tressel hasn't lost back-to-back games since 2004. And he's only lost to Lloyd Carr once. Not only that, but he has the better team. This game really isn't that hard to pick.

EVERYTHING'S COMING UP ROSES, 28
TAMPA-TATION, 24

PENN STATE @ MICHIGAN STATE

According to the Big Ten, these two schools are traditional rivals who must-must-play each other every year. Since joining the Big Ten, PSU is 11-3 against Sparty. But, like they say in the mutual fund ads, "Past performance is no guarantee of future results." Nobody has blown out the Spartans this year, not even Ohio State. MSU is a better team than their 6-5 record might indicates, and Mark Dantonio will turn them into a factor in the Big Ten.

But JoePa has the Nit offense in tune, finally. The Spartans may have a ferocious pass rush, but that doesn't translate into a great pass defense, and they're only slightly better than average against the run. Penn State should be able to do just enough to win a real slapfight of a game.

PLEASE BURN THIS AARP CARD, 23
PERENIALLY A YEAR AWAY, 17

WISCONSIN @ MINNESOTA

I know what this game looks like. It's a team with a strong chance to make it to a New Year's Day bowl game going up against a team with double digits in the loss column. But the Gophers have been lying in wait for somebody all season. They almost got Iowa last week. The Gophers are last in the conference in every defensive category but they could still . . . wait a minute, what am I saying? This is a team that gave up almost 300 yards to North Dakota State's fullback. Badgers are gonna roll.

CHEESE, 45
WHINE, 17

So, when it's all over, Ohio State will be your Big Ten champ with an 11-1 record. Illinois, Penn State, and Wisconsin will finish 9-3. Michigan will have 8 wins, and Indiana, Iowa, and Purdue will have 7. There is a slight chance that Illinois could get a BCS at-large bid. That's what beating the #1 team in the country can get you. I don't think it'll happen, though.

That still leaves us with a "seven brides for eight brothers" situation, though. Who goes bowling? Probably all eight teams. One of those seven-win teams will pick up an at-large bid. The only question is, "Who gets snubbed by the Motor City Bowl?" The answer should be Iowa, since they lost (quite convincingly) to both the Hoosiers and Boilermakers.

However, the Insight Bowl really wants the Hawkeyes. There are thousands upon thousands of former Iowans in the Phoenix area, and Hawk fans are known to travel well. It'll make the whole state of Indiana pitch a fit, but look for Iowa to get picked for that bowl.

Likewise, the Capital One Bowl people are too smart to pass up a Zook Bowl (Illinois v. Florida). Michigan to the Outback Bowl would make sense, but the Outback Bowl would take either 9-3 team before a 4-loss Michigan squad. Since they just had Penn State last year, they'll take Wisconsin. The Alamo Bowl picks next, and they haven't had Penn State since 1999. So put Michigan in the Champs Sports Bowl ... gadzooks. There's a bit of a disconnect there.

If Michigan wins this Saturday, they go to the Rose Bowl; if not, Orlando the day after Christmas? Thanks, Appy State. Iowa to the Insight, I'll say Indiana to the Motor City Bowl, and Purdue for an at-large bid, either the Armed Forces or Las Vegas Bowls. I think. It'll be at least a week until all the bowl bids start coming out.

Pickin' On the Big Ten, Week 12 originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 15 Nov 2007 12:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wisconsin Upsets Michigan

Bruce Ciskie — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 15:25:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan Football, Wisconsin Football, Big 10, The Word

Leading at halftime, Wisconsin knew it wasn't over against Michigan. The Wolverines would come back and try to make things interesting in the second half. They did, but Wisconsin was up to the task.

The Badgers used two late touchdowns to pull away and beat Michigan 37-21 on Senior Day at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. Wisconsin (8-3, 4-3 Big Ten) still has a shot at a ten-win season if they can beat Minnesota next week and then win their bowl game. Michigan (8-3, 6-1 Big Ten) can still earn a trip to Pasadena if they beat Ohio State at home next weekend.

After closing the gap to 23-21, Michigan quarterback Ryan Mallett was intercepted on third-and-long by Jack Ikegwuonu. That pick led to a touchdown run for freshman Zach Brown that made it 30-21. Michigan was called for holding on the kickoff return, and Mallett couldn't get them out of that poor field position. After a fourth-and-20 pass fell incomplete, Brown ran another one in to give the Badgers a 37-21 lead with just over two minutes left.

Michigan went three-and-out, punted, and watched the Badgers run the clock out. Mallett threw for 245 yards, thanks in part to a 97-yard catch and run by Mario Manningham in the third quarter, but he was a hideous 11 for 36 passing. The Wolverines were held to 47 rushing yards, playing without injured senior Mike Hart.

Brown ended with his first career 100-yard game and his first two-touchdown game. He got the bulk of the work after Lance Smith left the game with a shoulder injury in the second quarter. P.J. Hill came off the bench for his first action in two weeks, but only carried five times. Wisconsin ran for 232 yards on the day, and they totaled 477 yards of offense. Senior quarterback Tyler Donovan left the game with an apparent wrist injury in the fourth quarter after a hit by Michigan's Obi Ezeh, but managed to throw for 245 yards and a touchdown before he left. Both Travis Beckum and Paul Hubbard topped 100 yards receiving.

Wisconsin Upsets Michigan originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 10 Nov 2007 15:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Donovan Leads Wisconsin to Halftime Lead

Bruce Ciskie — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 13:25:00 EST

Filed under: Michigan Football, Wisconsin Football, Big 10

I'll be more careful this time, after my "Upset Alert" of last week flopped badly.

Michigan has won eight straight entering play today. The Wolverines have recovered nicely from that horrific 0-2 start. They've done it with some seriously banged-up players. Chad Henne has been hurt and missed time. Mike Hart is out for today's game, and he has not been healthy for most of the season.

But Wisconsin isn't sympathetic to these issues. Running back P.J. Hill is dressed but not playing today. Defensive starters Allen Langford and Jason Chapman are out. Wide receiver Luke Swan has been out since the Illinois game, and he is watching Senior Day from the sidelines on crutches.

So far, the banged-up Badgers are getting the best of the banged-up Wolverines. Wisconsin holds a 20-7 halftime lead in Madison, thanks in large part to the guts and leadership of senior quarterback Tyler Donovan.

Henne just didn't have it today. A third-down pass on Michigan's opening drive was badly underthrown, and then he was picked off by Shane Carter on Michigan's second series. That pick set up Wisconsin with a short field, and they used that (along with two incredibly stupid personal fouls on Michigan's Shawn Crable) to strike first. Donovan, who will need to get used to being hit, found Travis Beckum in the end zone for a 7-0 Wisconsin lead. Donovan took seven hits total in the first three Wisconsin possessions, would not be intimidated. He kept getting up, and he kept standing in there to throw the ball.

Henne came out after the interception, and hasn't been seen since. Given the fact that he's getting treatment for his bad shoulder on the sideline, it's not likely he'll return in at least this half. Ryan Mallett came in, and he's been shaky, taking a few hits and missing a wide-open Adrian Arrington down the right sideline after Wisconsin had kicked a field goal to make it 10-0.

The Badgers tacked on a score to take a 17-0 lead, as Donovan took it in from two yards on a bootleg. Michigan answered, as Mallett hit Mario Manningham on a screen pass. It was Manningham's first touch of the game, and it went for six. Wisconsin added a field goal right before halftime.

Even without P.J. Hill, the Badgers are running the ball well. Lance Smith has 52 of Wisconsin's 108 rushing yards in the first half, and Donovan has chipped in 194 total yards (163 passing). He has a touchdown pass and a touchdown run. Beckum is already up to 97 yards receiving on five catches.

Donovan Leads Wisconsin to Halftime Lead originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 10 Nov 2007 13:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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