Did you know that the Big Ten Conference once included the University of Chicago? The Hokie Guru did not know this (and many former administration officials are alumni of this fine institution). In 1895, the original members of the Big Ten Conference included the University of Chicago, University of Illinois, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, Northwestern University, Purdue University and the University of Wisconsin. Indiana University and the State University of Iowa were admitted in 1899. Ohio State joined in 1912. The University of Chicago withdrew in 1946 and Michigan State College (now Michigan State University) was added three years later in 1949. The same membership base was held intact for 40 years. In 1989, Pennsylvania (Penn) State University was added as a conference member. As far as I know (mathematics undergraduate major here), that brings the total number of members to eleven. Using his public administration graduate hat, the Guru realizes that it’s not all about math. The Big Ten wants to retain its historic tradition, hence no change in the conference name to “Big Eleven.” The Big Ten likely makes a lot of money off of its name, too. Anyway, you can find more about the history of the Big Ten here.
1. The Ohio State University – Ohio State was tabbed #1 in the Big Ten Media Poll. The Hokie Guru thinks the Buckeyes have the most complete team in the nation. Chris Wells and James Laurinatis are amazing players. If the Buckeyes can get past the University of Southern California Trojans on September 13, 2008 (on the road), a third Bowl Championship Series game in three years is a very realistic possibility. The Hokie Guru is picking USC to win this game because the Big Ten is a bad, bad conference and the game is in Los Angeles (and the Guru likes Pete Carroll, coach of the Trojans). Hokie Guru Note: Snoop Dog likes the Trojans.
2. Wisconsin – The Hokie Guru reminds you to jump around and jump around!! The Badgers always have incredible depth at the running back position (P.J. Hill is the man). Mark October 4, 2008 on your calendar; the Badgers and Buckeyes meet in Madison in what will be the Big Ten game of the year. But guess what? The Badgers had better not be sleep walking on September 13, 2008 when they play the Fresno State Bulldogs (NCAA College World Series champion). Pat Hill, the head coach at Fresno State, is the most underrated head coach in college football. He will play anyone, anywhere, anytime. The Hokie Guru here thinks that Pat Hill should be the head coach at the University of Virginia.
3. Illinois – Ron Zook performed a masterful turnaround of the Illini football program in 2007 and I expect more of the same this year. Zook cares about his players (for the record, Lou Holtz, it’s not “Ill-in-noise.” The S is silent, Lou). Look at that display of emotion from the Zooker. If I was one of Zook’s players (and I’m serious when I say this), I’d run through a wall for him. The University of Illinois has incredible athletic resources and I expect the Illini to be a force in the Big Ten in upcoming years.
4. Michigan State – I like Mark Dantonio. Poor Mark usually gets the recruits that Michigan or Ohio State put to the side. If you were once a coach in Cincy, however, you are destined for success and that’s how I see Mark. The Spartans will beat the Wolverines this year and that is all that matters to the faithful in East Lansing.
5. Michigan – With apologies to the Dead Schembechlers, I’m sure that the entire State of West Virginia wanted to “Bomb Ann Arbor, Now” so that they could take out Rich Rodriguez. Rich Rod lost Jake Long, Chad Henne, Mike Hart, Adrian Arrington, and Mario Manningham to the National Football League (Rumor has it that Mario actually texted messaged Rich Rid to tell him he was leaving Michigan… don’t you just love technology?). Translation; expect a long year for the Maize and Blue. Hokie Guru Note: This is still the best radio call I have ever heard in my life.
6. Purdue – Joe Tiller retires this year; say hello to the Insight.com Bowl (this is in Arizona… not a bad retirement game).
7. Penn State – Weekend at Bernie’s, I mean, Joe Paterno is still coach at Penn State. Paterno has lost control of this football team and there is ongoing speculation regarding the next coach. They have a lot of players coming back this year (and seriously, the Hokie Guru was actually thinking of putting the Nittany Lions at his #3 spot), but do they have their heads on straight? The Hokie Guru thinks Penn State has lost institutional control of the football program. August 4, 2008 Update: The 7th Team in the Big Ten goes to the Motor City Bowl… say it ain’t so, Joe!!
Honestly, I have no idea where to put Northwestern, Indiana, and Iowa (because I know very little about their programs). If I had a three sided coin, I would likely flip. I think I could shuffle Northwestern, Indiana, and Iowa in any order. So I will save time here for my readers and only give some humorous comments about the three schools.
8. Northwestern –Washington Post senior sports columnists, Michael Wilbon, went to Northwestern. I do know that the Wildcats return many seniors, but let’s get serious… this is Northwestern we are talking about here.
9. Indiana – Bob Knight was the head coach of Hoosier basketball for years. The Hokie Guru knows this does not relate to college football, at all.
10. Iowa – Kevin Costner’s movie, Field of Dreams, was based in Iowa.
11. Minnesota – The Golden Gophers lost to the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Bison last year (the Hokie Guru was at this game because North Dakota is his home state). In fairness, NDSU was the #1 team in the Football Championship Subdivision (the artist formerly known as NCAA Division I-AA). The Bison could beat every team in the Mid-American Conference, including teams like Central Michigan (who the Bison did beat last year) and Miami University (sorry, GovLoop, but this is true). But what does this tell you about the state of Gopher football? It is massively pathetic.
Bring the noise to the Guru if you loved the post!! 🙂
Even though I’m an Ohioan, I don’t like the Buckeyes or the Big 10 (Go RedHawks). I hope Penn State comes out of nowhere and wins the league so Paterno can go hang out on the beach. I’m ready for the Pac 10 preview – where are the Ducks going to be?
GovLoop, you’ll probably get the SEC preview next, followed by the Pac 10, and then the Big 12… and then my analysis of the USA Today Coaches Top 25… by that time, the first week of the college football season will be here and I will tell you that LSU will pound App State… no Michigan there.
SEC is a powerhouse. Love the analysis. Can’t wait for the season to start.
Thank you for bringing the noise!! Turn it up, bring the noise!!!
OSU and Michigan need to beat SEC teams more often before anyone starts talking BS about Joe Pa. The Big Ten would be more respected if they stopped losing to other conferences in Bowl Games. We rarely ever have that problem because Joe Pa’s philosophy is if you’re going to a bowl game you better win or not show up at all especially against the SEC and PAC 10 in a fricken BCS bowl. His record as one man at one school is stronger than the entire school football record over the past 40+ yrs of several of the schools mentioned above. However, I do respect how the Illini have come back to fight. If our quarterback plays well and our Linebackers hold up this yr without Lee then all our starters who’ve won 3 straight Bowls (two BCS bowls against SEC teams) the past few yrs will do the rest and we’ll see who comes out where at the end of the season. WE ARE…PENN STATE!!!
Also if we beat Michigan this yr and don’t go to a bowl I’ll still be happy lol we need to get rid of the fricken curse lol. Thanks for the Big Ten history lesson also.
It was hard for me to put Penn State at the seven slot… I could have had them as high as three… I just felt that the off the field problems may take a toll on this team… and it’s been tough at Penn State… according to the article above, “Since 2002, 46 Penn State football players have faced 163 criminal charges, according to an ESPN analysis of Pennsylvania court records and reports. Twenty-seven players have been convicted of or have pleaded guilty to a combined 45 counts. Most recently, former wide receiver Chris Bell pleaded guilty July 22 to making terroristic threats for an April incident in which he pulled a knife on a teammate in a university dining hall.” I do realize that some times pull together when times are tough… the jury is out on that… I did make a correction to my post, though… there is no 8th bowl spot in the Big 10.
I will say that Penn State did played and won a great game against Texas A&M in the Valero Alamo Bowl last year; Michigan played and won a great game against the University of Florida last year. It is true that the Big Ten won’t get respect until it beats the SEC, but Ohio State has done a pretty good job winning the championship in 2002 and making the title game the last two seasons. Penn State has been in two BCS Bowls in the last decade. The Outback (the victory against the Vols) is not a BCS Bowl so Penn State did not play the top SEC competition. In fact, most of their bowl games in the last decade have either been in the Outback Bowl, the Florida Citrus Bowl, or the Alamo Bowl… but they have not played in two straight BCS bowls… their last BCS Bowl game was the triple overtime thriller against Florida State in 2006 (the 2005 regular season)… and then 1997 (the 1996 regular season) was their last BCS appearance (the BCS only includes the Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Rose Bowl, and the National Championship game). And I don’t see an appearance for Penn State in any BCS game this year. Isiah, the Hokie Guru thinks you’ll beat Michigan…
Thanks for the vote of confidence against Michigan lol. I could’ve sworn that when we played Tennessee that was a BCS bowl lol. Our BCS chances will depend on the Quarterback and our Linebacker U tradition without Lee being healthy, everyone else will do their part. BCS or not Joe Pa still has more Bowl wins and appearances under his belt as one man than many schools have in their past 40+ yr history. Joe Pa and Bowden are living legends, two of the best of all time etc. All the coaches doing great now still have a long ways to go, if they last, to catch up. I don’t think any of them will ever catch Joe Pa and Bowden’s bowl records BCS or not but that’s just me lol.
The Hokie Guru knows one coach that has a very good chance at catching Paterno and Bowden… he is third among active NCAA Division I Football coaches in wins… and that is Frank Beamer… lol… and we’ve had our share of law enforcement problems, too… lol.