Without conference media events, could this happen?One of the last calm weekends of summer is drawing to a close.
The Big Ten's mediapalooza kicks off Monday in Chicago, followed by the opening of most NFL training camps and before you know it, the Midshipmen will be docking next to the Midwest's number one cultural attraction, ready for a fine football afternoon.
But back to Media Days. While they certainly won't be as eventful as the drama inferno that engulfed Birmingham last week1, the Big Ten will have its own storylines. And like the SEC event, bloggers will be there to cover them for the first time.
We were fortunate enough to receive passes (it's a good thing we've always been cool to Kurt Coleman in print) and of course that makes these media days the best edition ever. But we'll try to contain ourselves and from our end we're promising two things: there will be no questions related to doing it and we'll fall spectacularly short of Orson's rollicking play-by-play.
Sans face paint and on our best behavior, we'll be looking for the following:
- Status Updates for Berry and Hyde
Tressel probably won't say much on Berry's front -- his misdemeanor is still playing out, but expect him to comment on Hyde and his chances of joining the team in January. - He Did What?
Performance guy Eric Lichter said Pryor ran a 4.33 at 6-6/240. "Does this excite you, Jim?"
- Top Bunk: Worthington, Coleman or Ballard?
Seems like Worthington should take the bunk lowest to the ground regardless of anything else. Hyatts still have bunkbed rooms, right? - Getting to Know Danny Hope
Seriously, who is this dude? - Bret Bielema
Coming off the worst season in Madison in a decade, he lost a little bit of his team last year. If there is any type of hot seat this week, Bielema will be sitting on it. But he'll get help in the form of a distraction from... - Rich Rodriguez and Family Values
Another defection and another shot at the staff and environment. Though the latest was discredited, something is still not right in Denmark. Don't expect him to ask us to focus on the economy again, but he'll get his share of tough questions. Oh, and Feagin. - Anything out of Joe Paterno
He lives in that kind of rarefied air Bowden inhabited before getting smacked by the NCAA. Enough wins and tenure to say anything he damn well pleases. Joe isn't afraid to stir the pot and that's a Good Thing™ in case you haven't noticed a certain conference distancing itself a bit lately. - All coaches
What specifically are you doing to ensure your team isn't part of another stinker of a conference bowl session? Also, which one of you is going to follow the Hat and tweet during games? Besides Brewster? - Jim Delaney on the Usual
A 12th team, conference inferiority complexes, the BCS, his thoughts on playoff systems and Notre Dame. All things he's been asked about before, but there's a chance he catches a mild case of the Tourette's and drops bombs on the Irish for not getting in when they could.
We'll have an open thread for Monday and you can also follow our adventures on Twitter for the really important stuff like the color of Tressel's socks and the like. The Big Ten Network is all over the event with four hours of live coverage starting at 10am ET and overflow video and photos on their website.
In the meantime, if you have a brilliant question you'd like to hear us chicken out from asking, let us know.
1 The event was such a hit, another Gator went out and got himself arrested to celebrate. 25.
Comments
Iball's media day list of questions:
1. Fill me in, how was scUm's latest transfer "discredited"?
2. How is it that when Les Miles wants to Tweet at halftime, everyone thinks it's cool, but when OchoCinco wants to, it's disrespectful?
3. As a frequent commenter, I would like hourly updates on Jim Tressel's sitting position, facial expressions, nose itching, throat clearing and if does the old "cough, cough, douchebag" joke when Rodriguez is on the mike. Thank you.
Off topic: The Villain made third team on Dick Vitale's All Rolls-Royce Team.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn...
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn...
This is the correct link.
Dont click that.
Are you guys going to be at the Kickoff Luncheon as well? I'll be attending that as part of the BTN Fan Council.
One question I would like answered:
How do you see Taurian Washington fitting into the starting offense this year coach?
Coach Tressel,
"Do you think it will be necessary to put Thadeus Maximus in a cage during the "hive" for USC so that he doesn't run over the OSU football team and its coaches?"
any chance that any of those pictures that were uploaded onto facebook today could be made into a wallpaper. The 2 LiC pics would make good wallpapers imo
errr... that's a question for 11w, not for tressel, lol
I'd like to know whether the Buckeyes coaching staff plans on using a guy that runs a 4.33 40 yard dash at 6'6" & 240 pounds as a sometimes receiver. I expect the answer to be along the non-answer lines of "well, we would be open to every option that makes this offense better."
"that guy" is terrelle pryor.....our starting QB brother..
Plant seeds of a Pryor, Saine (FB), Thomas (RB) backfield to mix things up !
Every coach should be asked this question word-for-word:
"Coach, what are you doing each day to restore the conference's national dignity?"
Jim Delany should be asked this question:
"The Big Ten had the worst season in bowls...ummm...wtf is going on, you idiot?!"
And every coach who lost a bowl should be asked this question:
"What are you doing to make sure your team represents the conference in a winning fashion?"
Kirk Ferentz should be asked this question:
"You beat an SEC team last year...please tell us what's the secret?"
Lamaar Thomas would literally die at running back. Dude's almost as skinny as Dane.
Probably. I'll be the best looking dude in the room if you want to say hello.
If you guys could ask Tressel if he's heard about this new-fangled thing called a "tight end" that would be great.
You're Danny Hope?!
Tressel's definition of a tight end...
Tight end: A linemen on the line considered to be either a right, right tackle or a left, left tackle. Generally used to give the QB "so called" more time in order to defend heavy pass rushers biting off the edge.
Well, we both have the same killer 'stache.
Sullinger and All Ohio Red on ESPNU at 730
A few days after he dropped bombs on his way out, word leaked that Wermers was not in good academic standing.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/...
Dickie V loves basketball so much there are SEVEN All-Rolls-Royce teams.
Yea, the guy is almost too nice. He probably could of came up with 17 teams. As for ET, being one of the top 6 forwards in CBB aint bad.
Agree %100. Im watching Wisky get their ass handed to them by FlaSt. The b11 is really sad.
Must of missed that.
On a serious note, will you guys get to ask any questions of the coaches?
I think the dominance of the SEC really does need addressed, it's too big to ignore. Also, the fact that the b11 has really fallen off. Its not just perception, there's some really bad football being played in the midwest. Im sure you'll get the usual run-around BS though.
Power football is a thing of the past, with all the conditioning and supplements going around, everybody is big and simply lining up and cramming it up the middle doesnt work. Problem is that the b11 has traditionally been this kind of conference, so there is going to be some struggles in the transition period.
Is Thadues Gibson the scariest ---- he has ever met?
And should Thadeus Maximus be allowed to play opposing offenses alone like the kung-fu dude in Neccesary Roughness?
I just realized that I used to lift with the current Buckeyes strength coach, Troy Sutton, at Jesse Owens South back in 2003. Dood was a beast, as well as a very classy and humble guy. Good for him.
Ought to be a requirement of all Purdue coaches to sport that Jeff Drew style porn 'stache. I'll be driving over Monday but I'll check in as often as possible to see your coverage of the events.
It's not like these games are ending 10-3...they're ending 35-3, Purdue blew a big lead and lost in OT last year to Oregon, Penn State was down 3 scores at half-time in the Rose Bowl. Wisconsin didn't just get smacked by FSU, they also almost lost to Cal-Poly.
There are major, major, major concerns, not the least of which is the disappearance of elite defenses. It also used to be a league of hard-hitters and run-stoppers. The SEC is still a run-first league from top to bottom.
Meanwhile, every coach goes into their weekly press conferences after these games denying the fact that the conference has lost its competitive edge. Well, I'm sick of hearing that because even middle-schoolers know what's happening. These guys need to start feeling the heat. There should be a "if-you-don't-win, then-you-don't-belong," mentality. Zook got a contract extension despite the fact that he got blown apart by USC in a Rose Bowl that he lucked into, and then went 5-6 last year. The press needs to own up to that role.
The SEC is so bored with dominating that they have to make up stories to fill air time at their media days. Meanwhile, we're wondering if any Big Ten teams are going to win their lackluster sh*tfest known as their non-conference schedule. It's Beat-USC-or-Bust this year, and unfortunately it's all on the shoulders of a bunch of sophomores in Columbus, OH that do not possess a reference as to how to win a big game. WTF?!
dont forget about the 26 inch pythons brother!
The secret is to play a crappy SEC like SC.
Three out of the four SEC teams they played had 8 or more wins.
4.33 40... Mother of God.
Bret Bielema
Im sorry, Bret Bielema almost said " I have a tattoo of a hawkeye on my cock." That would have been the greatest moment in Big Ten history.