Week 6 is in the books and it was a busy Saturday in the Big Ten with all 11 teams playing.  Three teams — Northwestern, Penn State, and Indiana — took on out-of-conference opponents, with the other 8 battling each other.

The only real surprise from the Big Ten was the beating Indiana took against Virginia. 

Indiana came into the game at 3-2, and while they have not beaten any particularly formidable opponents, they looked good against Michigan on the road in one of the hardest places to play a road game. Virginia came into the game at 1-3 with losses to William & Mary and Southern Miss. 

However, Indiana’s offense could not seem to get anything going while Virginia amassed 536 total yards including 231 on the ground and five rushing touchdowns. Indiana fans were surely looking for a better performance from the Hoosiers than this 47-7 romp.

To start the day off, Northwestern took care of winless Miami(OH) 16-6 with quarterback Mike Kafka running for two touchdowns and Northwestern’s defense coming up with four turnovers.

Struggling would be an understatement for the Purdue Boilermakers, whose mistake filled day turned into an ugly 35-20 loss to Minnesota.  Purdue actually won the first downs, total yards, and time of possession categories, but as we all know, that all important turnover stat killed the Boilermakers as Minnesota turned all 3 Purdue turnovers into touchdowns.

Penn State took care of business as expected in a 52-3 shellacking of Eastern Illinois with both offense and defense looking strong.

Michigan State continued its momentum from a crazy overtime win over Michigan last week with a win over the surprisingly bad Illinois squad.  Both teams started new quarterbacks in this game with MSU trying out Keith Nichol and Illinois benching Juice Williams for Eddie McGee.  Juice ended up finishing the game however as McGee completed only 2 out of 11 for 31 yards and an interception.

Ohio State’s defense (and special teams) continues to look amazing as the defense essentially won the game against Wisconsin.  Ohio State intercepted and returned for touchdowns two Wisconsin passes and also had a kick return for a touchdown.  Ohio State only had eight first downs and QB Terrelle Pryor completed only 5 passes, but with 21 pts from defense/special teams Ohio St wins 31-13.

The Big Ten came to a close on Saturday with a primetime, very exciting, and much anticipated Michigan – Iowa matchup.  Both quarterbacks threw interceptions on their first pass attempts, with Michigan taking an early 7-0 lead returning Stanzi’s interception for a touchdown.  Stanzi would calm down while Michigan’s true freshman sensation Tate Forcier looked rattled the entire game before eventually being pulled in the fourth quarter.  Iowa survived a late push led by another Michigan freshman quarterback Denard Robinson to win 30-28 and remain the Big Ten’s lone unbeaten team.

That sums up this weekend of Big Ten football, stay tuned next week as Iowa gets a tough test traveling to Madison to take on Wisconsin, a team fresh off a loss to Ohio State that  I’m sure they think they should have had.

Ohio State v Wisconsin has been one of the more exciting Big Ten matchups over the past three decades, with the Bucks holding only a 13-10-1 advantage since 1980.

In fact, there has even been some animosity that has carried over onto the field in the past.

Remember 2003 in Madison, Buckeye LB Robert Reynolds tackling then-Badger QB Jim Sorgi, choking the QB and knocking him out of the game?

Ironically Ohio State choked the game away, giving up a late 80-yard TD pass to Lee Evans, losing 17-10.

At the time, my grandpa claimed the 1993 (14-14 tie) game ended on a blocked field goal by Ohio State because they had 12 players on the field. He was old, so was that, and this is 2009. Let’s move on.

Why is this a big game?

The Buckeyes want to dominate Saturday at home and want to run the table to another Big Ten Championship. This is the last tough game on the schedule before the November gauntlet at Penn State, then at home versus Iowa, with the finale in Ann Arbor.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin wants to stay undefeated and finally get their high ranking they have been waiting for all season. The motivation factor is easy after Pryor took the victory out of the Camp Randall air with a game winning drive last year, 20-17.

Bret Bielema is still looking for his first victory (0-2) over the sweater vest (3-3 versus Wisconsin) and will surely get the Badger seniors going early.

Game Data (some info courtesy of Bucknuts.com; click here for their full Wisconsin-Ohio State report):

Wisconsin (5-0) at #9 Ohio State (4-1)

• Wisconsin-Ohio State Date: Saturday, October 10th 2009.
• Wisconsin-Ohio State Kickoff Time: 3:30 ET
• Wisconsin-Ohio State TV: ABC (Sean McDonough, Matt Millen, Holly Rowe) Coverage Map here
• Wisconsin-Ohio State Point Spread: Ohio State -16
• Wisconsin-Ohio State Spread Pick by KVB: Wisconsin +16
• Wisconsin-Ohio State Spread Pick by Jerod: Wisconsin +16
• Wisconsin-Ohio State Weather: Sunny 60 degrees some clouds (weather.com)
• StubHub: Ohio State-Wisconsin tickets as low as $85!

Dexter Larimore will not suit up on the Buckeye defensive line because of injury, but everyone is saying the depth is still there to dominate like Ohio State has all year. If everyone says that, then Wisconsin should end up running the ball well in at least the second half if it is close. But we are in October so the conditioning should be on pace for the line to play well regardless of how many plays the Badgers get.

The Buckeye offense has looked efficient since the USC game and after dominating Illinois and Indiana in Big Ten play they look to control the game and the clock again this weekend. But this is definitely a game where Ohio State’s offense cannot leave points on the field because of turnovers, missed field goals or red zone inefficiency.

Wisky’s quarterback Scott Tolzien is amazingly efficient with a 154.7 passer rating, which is best in the Big Ten (minimum 100 att) and his offense averages 35 points a game. If they have to lean on Tolzien’s arm, we could see Ohio State pin their ears back and disrupt the game he is used to playing.

Wisconsin RB John Clay (photo: Bryan Faust)

Running back John Clay is the difference for the Badger offense. He leads the Big Ten in virtually all rushing categories so far this year (Rushes, Yards, Yards Per Game, TDs, and 100 yard games); so he can eat the clock and put scoring drives together, which could make it easier for Wisconsin to outscore the Bucks. This would make red zone efficiency and turnovers that much more important to Ohio State.

That said, it will be up to the front seven in Scarlett and Gray to make sure there is no rhythm for John Clay.

(Uh oh, I just rhymed…they already are in rhythm.)

I am very surprised Vegas put the two touchdown spread advantage for Ohio State, but that must be more a lack of confidence in the porous Wisconsin defense (24.6 points per game) than an abundance of confidence in the Ohio State offense (29.4 ppg).

But you can’t rule out Ohio State’s defense (11.8 ppg) as giving them such a large advantage. I would say the home field gives the Bucks a big advantage, but they’ve already lost at home. So maybe that will be their only blemish in Ohio Stadium. If I were a betting man, which JRod knows that I am, I would say Ohio State protects it’s house, but give the points to Wisconsin.

Ohio State-Wisconsin Prediction: Ohio State 30  | Wisconsin 23

Below is an example of mash-up highlight editing you can do on BigTenNetwork.com. It is pretty cool.

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* – Terrelle Pryor photo: Cleveland Plain Dealer File Photo

* – John Clay photo: Bryan Faust/wisconsin.scouts.com

After suffering a crushing 26-20 overtime loss to their in-state and Big 10 rival Michigan State last week in, the now unranked Michigan Wolverines face the undefeated and #12th ranked Iowa Hawkeyes in Iowa City this weekend.

Here is the viewing information:

Michigan at #12 Iowa

• Michigan-Iowa Date: Saturday, October 10th
• Michigan-Iowa Kickoff Time: 8:05 ET
• Michigan-Iowa TV: ABC
• Michigan-Iowa Spread: Iowa -8
• Michigan-Iowa Spread pick by Jerod: Michigan +8
• StubHub: Great deals on Michigan-Iowa tickets!
• StubHub: Great deals on all 2009 college football tickets!

The Wolverines current record is 4 and 1, with their only loss coming in Big 10 play. The Hawkeyes are 5 and 0, and boast an outstanding defense, as they have only allowed 67 points over the five game span. This in comparison to Michigan’s 117 points against. Michigan does have the edge in points for, with 170, to the Hawkeyes 124.

Freshman sensation Tate Forcier will play with his injured shoulder this week as he continues to be the Wolverines primary weapon on offense. Forcier currently has a 142.6 passer rating. He is 71 of 119 for 894 yards with 9 touchdowns to only 3 interceptions. Tate also has rushed for 149 yards and two touchdowns on the year.

According to BetUS.com at the time of this article, Iowa was favored by 8 points, with the over / under not yet released.

For Kurt Fraschetti’s prediction, click this link!

Kurt Fraschetti / ProFootballinsight

Senior Fantasy Football Writer

MidwestSportsfans.com

Kurt@profootballinsight.net

The new AP college football poll was released earlier today, and the top four are as expected — 1) Florida, 2) Texas, 3) Alabama, and 4) LSU.

But then it gets hairy.

Boise State won and slipped from fifth to sixth? Virginia Tech barely beat a team that lost to Richmond, and slides up a spot?

It’s the same in the coaches poll.

The bias against Boise State has begun.

They’re going to do all they can to prevent an unbeaten Broncos team from playing for a national title.

Ridiculous.

The AP writer calls Boise’s 34-16 win over UC-Davis “lackluster,” but Virginia Tech’s eight-point win over hapless Duke was somehow more impressive?

Yes, a 34-26 win at Duke — the same Blue Devils that lost to a I-AA team, and whose only two wins are against a bad Army team and I-AA North Carolina Central. Duke played even with the Hokies for all but one quarter, but Tech’s win was apparently more impressive than Boise’s.

Crazy talk, I tell you, crazy talk. 

Remember Week One when Boise St. beat up on Oregon — at least during the game anyway — and Virginia Tech lost to Alabama? Yes, remember that.

Virginia Tech lost a game, and Boise State has not.

Another thing to consider is that Oregon hasn’t lost since the Boise defeat, and is up to 13th in the poll.

You scroll a little further down the list, and you have to wonder why Wisconsin isn’t getting any respect.

The Badgers went on the road for the first time Saturday, and held off a late rally by Minnesota to retain Paul Bunyan’s axe for the sixth straight year.

Wisconsin led most of the way, but did voters just look at the 31-28 score and deem the win over a 3-1 team unworthy of praise?

A 5-0 Wisconsin team left out of the top 25? Seriously?

The Badgers are 2-0 in the Big Ten, and better than Missouri, South Carolina, Ole Miss, and Kansas. The coaches’ poll has Wisconsin at No. 25, but how does anybody justify leaving an undefeated Big Ten team out of the rankings?

Is it because Wisconsin hasn’t beaten a ranked team? Well, guess what. Neither has Florida, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Cincinnati, Ohio State, TCU, Penn State, Oklahoma State, Auburn, Ole Miss, or Nebraska. None of those teams have beaten ranked teams either, and they’re all ranked.

Mizzou’s schedule is pathetic, and it’s in the top 25?

Wisconsin has a chance to prove itself in the coming weeks against No. 9 Ohio State and No. 12 Iowa. Two wins there, and the Badgers just might vault into the top 10 at 7-0. Unfortunately, it could be at the expense of a team like Boise, which just keeps winning, but probably has no chance of cracking the top 5 again.

It’s a shame, and just another reason why a post-bowl, four-team playoff is a necessity.

Let the national title participants be decided on the field, instead of at the desks of ignorance and bias.

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* – Chris Peterson photo credit: Koze950.com

* – Bret Bielema photo credit: Badger Nation

I was in Memorial Stadium the last time Indiana beat Michigan in football.

The year was 1987, and Indiana was just a few years removed from a winless season. With Bill Mallory as head coach, and led by Anthony Thompson and Dave Schnell, the Hoosiers put together one of the best seasons in school history that year. They beat both Michigan and Ohio State and found themselves in the top 10 for the only time since I’ve been alive.

Today, the Hoosiers — this edition coached by Bill Lynch and led by freshman RB Darius Willis and junior QB Ben Chappell — almost knocked off the Michigan Wolverines for the first time in two decades, but ultimately fell just short.

And the Hoosiers should justifiably be feeling cheated as they fly home.

Who knows what would have happened if the referees had not awarded possession to Michigan on a controversial interception with 2:30 left in the 4th quarter, but it sure would have been nice to see the Hoosiers have a chance to drive down the field.

(Follow the link to ESPN’s recap of the IU-Michigan game, including video of the controversial play and Bill Lynch going nuts.)

The team, its coach, and its fans deserved better.

But Indiana has been getting screwed in The Big House for years. One of the only times I ever saw the great Bill Mallory lose his composure was after a game against Michigan.  I don’t remember the exact nature of the call, but I know it was on special teams and went against SS James Summerall. Mallory rightfully called out the officials in the post-game press conference and was disciplined for doing so.

I haven’t seen Bill Lynch’s press conference yet, but I hope he spoke his mind. The Hoosiers deserved better.

Congratulations on a great effort IU. There are no moral victories, but there are losses that you can be more proud of than others. This was one of those days for IU.

And you can bet that Jim Tressel and the Buckeyes won’t be sleeping on IU next weekend.

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* – Bill Lynch photo credit: Herald Times Online

Tate Forcier is only the third freshman quarterback to start for Michigan in the school’s history, with the others being Rick Leach and Chad Henne. He looked sharp and passed for three touchdowns in his debut. 

Even better than his three touchdowns, he had no completions to the other team, finishing 13-20 for 179 yards.  He also rushed for 37 yards on 11 carries.

Denard “Shoelace” Robinson was 2-4 for 18 yards through the air, but his running game was more impressive.  Robinson rushed 11 times for 74 yards, with an impressive touchdown run of 43 yards. The video of Robinson’s incredible debut run is below.

Denard “Shoelace” Robinson Runs for TD Against Toledo

The only letdown in this game was Rodriguez’s thought that putting Nick Sheridan into the game was a good idea.  Sheridan continued his stellar quarterbacking abilities that he so finely displayed last year by going 0-2 with a completion to the other team.  I had instant flashbacks to every game he played in last year. It seems that some things will never change.

This win was nice, but basking in the glory of a Week 1 victory is something that Michigan cannot afford to do, as they have a real test at home next week against Notre Dame, who rolled Nevada 35-0.

Kurt Fraschetti

Become a fan and follow me on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/pages/ProFootballInsight/87454057557

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* – Denard Robinson / Tate Forcier photo credit: Said Alsalah/Daily via Michigan Daily

On a side note, that is why I was a huge opponent of the Miami Hurricanes leaving the Orange Bowl and moving 20 miles north of their campus to Landshark Stadium. It is also home to the lackluster fan bases of the Dolphins and Marlins.

But let’s talk Big Ten since this is by and for Midwest sports fans.

I was excited to see Indiana’s newly renovated stadium on the Big Ten network and I am equally excited to see Minnesota leave the horrible Metrodome. Maybe their awesome new outdoor field will give them a home field advantage and some college atmosphere that they have been lacking. At least, they have since I have been alive.

That said, having a unique and imposing home field gives football teams the advantages they need to compete in the Big Ten, hosting visiting fans to a good experience, and sometimes an edge in recruiting.

(And, by the way, if you’re interested in attending any Big Ten games this year and don’t yet have tickets, click here to get great deals on Big Ten tickets from StubHub, or click on the name of each stadium to find tickets by team.)

1. Ohio Stadium (Ohio State) – 102,329 capacity

Nicknamed “The Horse Shoe,” but not a horse shoe anymore since the 2001 renovation. The top spot is really a toss-up between Penn State and Ohio State. Penn State just joined the Big Ten in 1993 though, so the tie-breaker goes to the Buckeyes (and include in that tie-breaker my years growing up in Columbus). 

Ohio State has a raucous crowd that usually makes it deafening for the opposing squads.  Plus “The Best Damn Band In All The Land” marches across Woody Hayes Drive and onto the field before every game to form the famous Script Ohio, as seen below.

Fans run with the marching band and into the stadium as if they were scrambling to see an approach shot by Tiger Woods after a drive on the 18th hole. Other teams’ fans are annoyed at the obnoxious Buckeye fans as much as the British golf commentator is at the “GET IN THE HOLE!” guy at Augusta.

I just got goose bumps thinking of the craziness that occurs once the senior tuba player high steps his way to dot the “I” and the band belts out the oft played fight song. Everybody sings the words and yells O-H-I-O, each side owning one of the letters in order.

The Olentangy River runs right next to the stadium and serves as a great sight when walking through the miles of tailgates on fall Saturdays. The capacity expands to 105,000+ during big games, especially the Michigan game. You will have a hard time finding a sizeable road crowd during Big Ten games as the home fans just won’t give up their tickets so road fans can watch their team lose.

There is a reason there is a recruiting “fence” around the Ohio border and that reason is the memories conjured, the tradition, the size, and the atmosphere inside and out of Thee Ohio Stadium. I wanna go back to Ohio State, to old Columbus Town!

[Editor's Note: And those of us who don't bleed scarlet and gray like you are now ready to vomit.]

2. Beaver Stadium (Penn State) – 107,292 capacity

The capacity is 107,282 and they have stuffed 110,000+ during big match-ups. Kirk Herbstreit deemed Happy Valley with the best student section in college football with the senior student section forming a block “S” in blue and white shirts or body paint.

I absolutely agree with Kirk. And so do my dead brain cells after partying with some of the craziest party people I ever met when I lived on South Beach. “They Were! Penn State!” (graduates).

The “White Outs” and the noise make this the hardest place for a road team to get any sort of rhythm in the Big Ten. If the crowd wasn’t loud enough, they have a huge Jumbotron and booming sound system that plays a cat-like roar, making the crowd’s roar just as intimidating.

Unlike Ohio Stadium, it is nice to see they have the crew smart enough to keep lush natural grass every year. This Saturday afternoon football church in Happy Valley reeks of Preparation H for old alumni, liquored up party people with flasks, and sexy college co-eds. In a good way.

3. Camp Randall Stadium (Wisconsin) – 80,321 capacity

Though not as large as Beaver Stadium, Wisconsin’s student section rivals that of Penn State. To reference dead brain cells again, some of the craziest party people I know in Indianapolis and Chicago are Wisconsin graduates.

The UW band sets off the crowd playing drinking songs, pop songs, and dance songs. And, of course, the sound man gets everyone jumping before the fourth quarter during “Jump Around” by House of Pain, a tradition that started against Purdue in 1998. The video below takes place during an Indiana game…which I am sure Wisconsin won.  By a lot.

Video: Fans Jump Around at Camp Randall Stadium

Come to think of it, that would be a great nickname and slogan for the stadium: “Welcome to the House of Pain.”

The marching band was also suspended in 2006 and 2008 because of some off-the-field antics including hazing and sexual misconduct on road trips (sounds like a good time to me).

[Editor's Note: Midwest Sports Fans does not explicitly endorse KVB's idea of a good time.]

Established in 1917, Camp Randall is the oldest stadium in the Big Ten and the atmosphere (literally) is host to horrible weather conditions that stifles many road teams. The visiting locker room has been painted pale pink in the past and now a pale blue supposedly to distract the road teams.Wisconsin is currently 30-3 at home since painting it the distracting “prison blue” color.

If you travel there for a night game, expect the bad weather and bad play by your team. Even the Green Bay Packers play one preseason game a year at Camp Randall Stadium. In turn the Wisconsin marching band attends at least one Packers game at Lambeau Field a year.

4. Michigan Stadium aka “The Big House” (Michigan) – 106,201 capacity

They are adding more seats to reach 108,000 plus by 2010. Insert “The Big House” and the fans that sit on their hands in silence here.

M. (for Michigan) Night Shymalan, Super Wolverine, and the Wrist Band Warrior

 

One of two things is happening here. A) Michigan just lost to Appalachian State; or B) The guy in the bottom right hand corner of the picture just farted. Or perhaps both? (photo credit: LON HORWEDEL, THE ANN ARBOR NEWS)

 

And by the way, if you don’t remember what inspired the despondent looks on the faces of the Michigan turds fans above, watch the first few minutes of the video below:

Video: Appalachian State Upsets Michigan

Interesting to me is that Ann Arbor only has an 114,000 person population so you know the town basically shuts down until football is over. That is how college football Saturdays should be.

You have no idea the size of the stadium on the outside since it is built with the stands and the field going down and underground from where you walk up to the ticket gates. One thing I will say about Michigan fans (like Buckeye fans) is that a road fan will be hard pressed to find extra tickets because the fan base is so loyal. Even if they are not that loud or intimidating, or that idiotic or drunk.

Michigan Stadium has hosted Wolverine football since 1927 and the famous Fielding Yost. As an Ohio State fan, I find it funny that they played on “Ferry Field” before Michigan Stadium. I couldn’t make that up. Never.

5. Kinnick Stadium (Iowa) – 70,585

Another stadium holding a pink-painted visitors locker room, but this wasn’t done by mistake like perhaps the drunk and stoned Wisconsin students in Madison. Former coach Hayden Fry majored in psychology at Baylor University and believed the pink color had a calming effect that could make visitors have less mental toughness and be less aggressive after pissing in a pink urinal.

Some women and those in the gay/lesbian community have protested for it to be changed saying it is a slap in the face to their lifestyle. (This furthers my believability that grassroots campaigns did in fact legalize gay marriage in the state earlier this year.)

Back to the stadium, it is about as boring as the dunkards who live in Iowa. But I will give Iowa’s only Heisman Trophy winner (Nile Kinnick) and Hayden Fry credit for instilling some excitement on Saturdays and creating a real loyal fan base. Iowa, which stands for Idiots Out Walking Around, takes a break from doing that every Saturday and they travel well as I noticed at the 2003 Orange Bowl.

6. Ross-Ade Stadium (Purdue) – 62,500 capacity

And here we have the first major drop off in atmosphere on this list.  I have a hard time giving a lot of Purdue football fans any credit. Unfortunately I’ve probably been to 30 or so games at Ross-Ade, so I can say that.

Every top-10 matchup in Ross-Ade is invaded by the road team’s fans. Most Purdue fans were born and bred on Hoosier basketball, thanks to the movie and Coaches Knight and Keady. Hence, they know nothing about football, how it is played, and of all people the likes of Jim Everett and Joe Tiller taught the fans what winning takes. No, not loyal support, hard work, and consistency; but rather gimmicks and repetitive passing systems that have a hard time lining up when smash mouth, goal line situations are needed.

Tiller first took the Big Ten by storm with the spread and now every time there is a run up the middle the crowd groans and boos. That takes stupidity like calling an offense “Basketball On Grass” as some do. I’ve never seen a more boring ragtime marching band entertainment at halftime than Purdue’s, the “World’s Biggest Drum” and a dance team of fatties dancing the charleston included.

Purdue fans hate it when I say this stuff, but that is because it is true.

A good thing is they did a great renovation enclosing the stadium, have an incredibily large video board, and there is not really a bad seat in the house. So you might as well go see your favorite team in West Lafayette and piss in one of the troughs installed in the restrooms (it’s a Northern Indiana thing, you wouldn’t understand).

Now back to crappiness.

About 15,000 University of Oregon fans took over Ross-Ade last year! The natural Bermuda grass is supposedly a credit to Purdue’s agricultural department finding prescription athletic turf. Good for them. I personally love natural turf. (This paragraph is brought to you by, “Obnoxious Ohio State Fan” mentioned earlier in the article. He’s righteous!)

7. Memorial Stadium (Illinois) – 70,000 capacity

Sorry I’ll be much more positive the rest of the way. Just make sure you send #6 to an IU fan. They need some cheering up come football season.

And speaking of Memorial Stadium, also the name of IU’s stadium, the older of the two is in Champaign and opened in 1924 with Red Grange scoring six touchdowns against Michigan on its official dedication game in October. This Memorial Stadium is a dedication to the men and women who died in the World Wars and has sported artificial turf since 1974.

I love that the original drawing for this stadium was to support more than 80,000 people and have a tall phallic monument in the North end zone.  They eventually settled on the smaller capacity and no monument.

In 2002 the stadium hosted the Chicago Bears while Soldier Field was getting renovated.

Oh, and Ron Zook coaches there now. When he’s not water skiing or bitching at Urban Meyer.

8. Spartan Stadium (Michigan State) – 75,505 capacity

Spartan Stadium fell a lot on my list because I have seen too many big games blown on their own field. Most people blame the coach for this, but I just drop their home field advantage down a notch. Heck, their best win in the 90s was against #1 Ohio State in Ohio Stadium. How do this not hurt Ohio Stadium instead of Spartan Stadium? Simple. The ineptitude since then.

The most exciting things Spartan fans see on TV or at the stadium lately have been an introduction to the basketball team or a sideline reporter interviewing Tom Izzo in the middle of the second quarter while the team was losing. I can hear Mark Dantonio now…”I get no respect, no respect.”

Well, you’re right considering the high school talent that floods your stadium’s gates.

9. TCF Bank Stadium (Minnesota) – 50,300 capacity.

Gopher fans finally have a stadium on their campus and outdoors. This really makes me happy. There probably wasn’t a worse college football atmosphere than the Metrodome. This new stadium, on the other hand, could move up in the rankings once it opens this year.

TCF Bank Stadium includes an apparent easy-to-80,000 person capacity renovation that could take place if the team shows success on the field and makes some extra money in bowl games. It will also include the third largest outdoor HD video board in the nation.

The con here is it is outdoor and cannot bat down opposing team’s punts during games. Though I cannot imagine anyone in the Minnesota administration would have the arrogance of Jerry Jones, refusing to move such a video board if it did get in the way. HD really has us by the nuts doesn’t it?

10. Memorial Stadium (Indiana) - 53,500 capacity.

I love how this Memorial Stadium in Bloomington is dedicated to a rock while Illinois’ is dedicated to war heroes. That’s solid, solid as a rock. Very Charlie Brown in the Halloween episode. I did see the renovations to the stadium on TV and it is finally a Big Ten-worthy stadium. Too bad it wasn’t built for a better program, but I suppose IU does have its moments. While most people complain the top Big Ten teams don’t have a tough conference, IU fans complain their conference schedule is way too tough to compete.

[Editor's Note: As an IU fan and alum, I can categorically say that I've never complained about the conference schedule being too tough. Except when we play Minnesota and Northwestern at home.  Those games are haaarrrrrddd!]

11. Ryan Field (Northwestern) - 49,256 capacity.

I know I said I would get shorter with my writing as the list fell lower on the list. So in lieu of saying anything about Ryan Field, just watch the video below. It makes me happy, and unless you’re a douche it will make you happy too.

 

Really though, Evanston is a great section of Chicago because of this campus.

Well, now you’ve seen my rankings.  What do you think?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

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* – Ohio Stadium Script Ohio photo credit: Ames Photos

* – Beaver Stadium S-Zone photo credit: Ames Photos

* – Super Wolverine and the Wrist Band Warrior photo credit: DawgSports.com

* – Michigan fans reacting during App State loss photo credit: Lon Horwedel, The Ann Arbor News via MLive.com

* – Kinnick Stadium pink locker room: Sondrak.com

* – Ross-Ade Stadium penis photo credit: Deadspin.com

* – TCF Bank Stadium photo credit: GopherSports.com

Apparently Northwestern is attempting to schedule a football game or two at Wrigley Field during the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Naturally, the proposed opponent for the game appears to be the Illinois Fighting Illini and their water-skiiing maniac of a coach Ron Zook.

Zook Eyes Game at Wrigley Field – (ESPN Chicago)

Zook, appearing on the “Waddle and Silvy” show on ESPN 1000 on Monday morning, said he would love the chance for the two Big Ten rivals to square off in the “Friendly Confines.”

“Well, to be honest with you, we were there last night and walking around with the people there and I just think it would be an awesome venue,” Zook said. “Obviously, until just a couple years ago, there had been more NFL games played in that stadium than any other stadium, and there hasn’t been a game played there since 1970.

“And can you imagine the national media? I think it would be great to have that opportunity. I’m probably speaking out of turn, the higher-ups make the decisions, obviously.”

Playing a football game at Wrigley would certainly not be unprecedented, as the Bears played there from the 1920s through the building of Solider Field in 1970. Additionally, Northern Illinois played Iowa at Wrigley Field back in 2007.

Northwestern Pushes for Football Game versus Illinois at Wrigley Field — (Chicago Tribune)

We are continuing a dialogue with Illinois,” Phillips said. “Within the next month or so, we’ll decide if it’s something that can work. There are a lot of moving parts, but it’s something I will pursue aggressively.



“I thought of how good the Northern Illinois-Iowa game was at Soldier Field. This may be the next great venue for a special game.”



As NIU’s athletic director at the time, Phillips was the point man for the Huskies-Iowa game, which sold out Soldier Field on Sept. 1, 2007. Iowa won 16-3, and Hawkeyes fans filled at least two-thirds of the 61,500 seats.

Among the details still to be worked out (ALERT! Someone please notify the AP that I am about to link to them and send traffic their way…) for any Northwestern-Illinois game at Wrigley are the financial considerations and the logistics of turning Wrigley Field into a stadium where the home team actually wins venue fit for a college football game. One of the biggest questions is about player safety and about whether there is enough space behind the end zones and on the sidelines to ensure the well-being of the players.

We’ll see what happens with this one. All kidding and Cubs hatred aside, I think this would be a pretty damn cool thing for Northwestern, Illinois, the Big Ten, and sports fans in Chicago. Plus, no one would have to worry about Northwestern or Illinois winning a National Championship and spoiling the history of home team futility at Wrigley.

* – Football at Wrigley Field photo credit: Tribune File Photo

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Other links:

• I don’t want to hear Bob Kravitz or any other ESPN hack lecture me about journalistic integrity ever again — (Stampede Blue)
• Splain it! Chubbs Charleston — (Straight Pinkie)
• 15 awful car tattoos — (Philly Edge)
• Danielle Moinet of the Lingerie Football League — (Gunaxin)
• Tiger Woods > the field — (Sparty and Friends)
• Steroids or gambling, cheating is cheating — (MoonDog)
• Spilled beer led to Philly fan-on-Philly fan violence — (Busted Coverage)
• Part II of Bill Simmons Almost Famous-NBA Offseason mashup — (The Sports Guy)
• Jeff George is creating NFL buzz again? Really? — (Pro Football Talk)
• ESPN Radio host in Dallas quits over ESPN’s non-coverage of Roethlisberger story — (The Big Lead)
• Living Legends — (Hugging Harold Reynolds)
• Michael Vick reinstated, but relax — he isn’t a savior — (Black Sports Online)
• Bad news for Bears and Charles Tillman — (Midway Illustrated)
• Jimmy Fallon works it out — (My Sports Rumors)
• Baseball’s most immovable players — (Rumors and Rants)
• Soriano starting to hit; Cubs in 1st Place — (Zoner Sports)
• Baseball rules I’d change: Part 1 — (Major League Jerk)

Deerfield Beach Head Coach Art Taylor stated that Robinson picked Michigan over the University of Florida, and other schools as well. Robinson was described by Taylor as a 6-foot, 179-pound quarterback with a 40-yard dash time of 4.3 seconds. Taylor stated that playing in a spread offense was something that Robinson really wanted, adding that the chance to compete for time as a freshman was appealing to Robinson as well.

Taylor was also quoted as saying, “Oh my god, Michigan is going to get an explosive, explosive quarterback.  He is a leader, he pushes his will to win on others. I’ve never seen a kid so competitive.”

Robinson will face competition from Tate Forcier from California, who is currently enrolled in classes at Michigan. Both of these guys should be a huge upgrade at the quarterback position for the Wolverines from last year.

This news should be pleasing to every Wolverine fan who had to endure the mess we called an offense last year. Last year’s offense looked like they were in a constant race to punt the ball as fast as possible. I have never seen a team go 3-and-out with the speed that the Wolverines pulled it off in last year. My heart went out to the Wolverines defense that played its ass off, only to have to go back onto the field 45 seconds after forcing a punt.

I have faith in Rich Rodriguez and his system. This was a talented football team last year that was missing, in my opinion, only one key element: a quarterback. Yes, Steven Threet grew on me over the year, but was way too inconsistent. Nick Sheridan just grew on my patience. His uncanny ability to complete passes to the other team with great regularity that  made me want to gouge my eyeballs out every time I saw #8 take the field. The only time #8 did not offend me was when Michael Phelps wore a #8 jersey and walked onto the field.

At any rate, I am looking forward to the Wolverines returning to the top of the Big 10 in the near future so I can walk the streets of Ohio again with my head up high. God I miss John Cooper in Scarlet and Gray.

Go Blue!

Kurt Fraschetti, fraschetti@midwestsportsfans.com

Robinson signing information courtesy of John Heuser at annarbornews.com.

Not sure what all of these horrific and disgusting experiences have in common? They are all things I would rather do than watch Big Ten Football today.

Just take a look at these quick-hit facts about the Big Ten football schedule for November 1, 2008:

– The only two good teams in the conference, Penn State and Ohio State, are both off today.

– The most important game in terms of the standings is Northwestern at #17 Minnesota.

– The least important game involves Michigan, as the Wolverines and Purdue have a combined 1-7 record in Big Ten play.

– Indiana is actually taking a step up in competition this weekend by playing a non-conference game…against a MAC team, Central Michigan. Seriously. The Chippewas are 6-2 overall and 5-0 in the MAC. It is not a ridiculous question to ask if they are the best team in the state of Michigan. Michigan State would probably beat them behind Javon Ringer, but does anyone think Michigan would beat them? Right — just like they beat Toledo.

– Iowa and Illinois somehow tricked ABC into broadcasting their game. Truth be told, this game could be exciting to watch. Iowa has an exciting running back, Illinois has Juice Williams, and there is always the joy of watching Ron Zook pace around the field appearing to be in a perpetual state of confusion.

– Wisconsin and Michigan State are playing. Do you care?

I grew up around Big Ten football and have always enjoyed watching the typical noon game on ESPN. And there always seemed to be at least one important game being played on any given Saturday. But in a season where there are really only two teams in the entire conference worth watching, and neither of them is playing this weekend, it makes it pretty difficult to get excited about Big Ten football today.

KVB is a defensive Ohio State fan and likes to defend the Big Ten against attacks on the conference’s credibility, so he will probably post some hippie-infused, I-miss-Woody-and-Bo bullcrap that means nothing in the era of three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-bust appearances by Big Ten teams in BCS title games, and bowl games in general.

Big Ten football has been down for awhile now, and I officially submit this Saturday for consideration as the low point of Big Ten gridiron competition this decade.

[tags]big ten football, ncaa football, college football[/tags]

by KVB

Often I read my college friend’s Off The Tracks Purdue blog and he has gotten the attention of the Big Ten Bloggers Roundtable for his site on the Boilermakers. If I’m not mistaken he got slammed last year by readers for crossing the line in a rant about Notre Dame Football, but otherwise he’s a great writer and Notre Dame still sucks.

Soon maybe Midwest Sports Fans could have some writers in the Big Ten Bloggers Roundtable (even though I got rejected by the MAC Conference Bloggers) but until then below I answered their preseason questions. Keep in mind I’m wearing a sweatervest with no pants right now….

1. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg recently ranked the top 5 rivalries in the Big Ten and there were some controversial results (Illinois v Ohio State as #3?). Clearly Ohio State vs. Michigan is the #1 rivalry in the Big Ten, but give me your next three. It is obvious the Illinois upset over the undefeated Buckeyes last year made that a sexy pick at #3; as well as the game being in Illinois this year and probably on ESPN/ABC. But the ugly wooden “Illibuck” turtle trophy and Ohio State’s 60-30-4 all-time advantage make this not so sweet. The Wisconsin-Minnesota Paul Bunyan Axe gets the award for best trophy. Also, if you are a Big Ten fan you love every stadium in conference except the house that Kent Hrbek built, so be glad for the new outdoor Gopher football church set to be used on Saturday’s in 2009. Anyway…

// –>

Michigan-Michigan State – Some players say these inter-state rivals mean a lot more to them than any others (i.e. Florida-Florida State, Alabama-Auburn, Texas-Texas A&M, USC-UCLA). This is definitely attributed to those same in-state players feeling they got shafted in the recruiting process by “the bigger school” or players at said bigger school feeling embarrassed if they lose to the “weaker program.” Especially at the states big on high school football like Texas, Florida, and California.

Penn State-Ohio State – The Buckeyes took the all-time advantage (12-11) in this one after last year’s beat down in Crappy Valley, 37-17. Before joining the Big Ten, Penn State beat Earle Bruce’s squad 31-19, in the 1980 Fiesta Bowl. Compared to Joe Pa’s 7-12 career record, The Nittney Lions got 4 wins against Ohio State before Joe was the man, obviously pre-leather helmets era. I myself have a “Michigan Sucks, Penn State Swallows” t-shirt. Going through my head: I hope I don’t get reamed by the editor for mentioning a state outside of the cornfields.

5. Brian at MGO was kind enough to post a diary entry which gives us and new coach Rich Rodriguez a list of Michigan traditions that maybe we were not all aware of. This has inspired two final questions…

Similar to the succulent Buckeye candies (a peanut butter ball dipped in hot fudge to look like the buckeye tree nut); there is the lesser known, Michigan Cookies! Easy to make too! Put them in a big Bowl and beat them for three hours. Note: Despite the first game on January 1^st, the Outback Bowl in not a big bowl.

KVB