For the past several years, conferences like the SEC, Big 12, and Pac-10 have been complaining that the Big Ten is overrated. I’m a Big Ten fan, but I can’t say that I disagree. After a 9 – 0 start, Iowa rose out of the ashes of the Big Ten this year, and we all held the hope that this would be the team to challenge Florida or Texas or another awesome team for the National Championship.
It doesn’t look like that will be the case. Today, Iowa fell, but not to Penn State (no, they beat them gloriously – sigh …read more

I’ll be traveling this weekend, so unfortunately, I’ll end up missing most games. Thank god for Sports Center, right? Yes, a chick really did just say that. (I get that a lot.) Here are the games I look forward to hearing about on Sunday morning:

#8 Oklahoma at #17 Miami: Word from Oklahoma is that Sam Bradford still isn’t ready to play, so he won’t be

Sam Bradford, Image: Newscomstarting against Miami. The team may not have a perfect record so far, but the Hurricanes have more than proven that they’re a solid group of players, not just lucky. Without Bradford, I …read more

Recent national security bulletins following terrorist threats in major cities and arrests made in some of these cases, Michigan has made the decision to ban bags at this weekend’s game. That include diaper bags, purses, and all other kinds of bags you could want to take into the stadium. The only exception will be for bags that hold medical supplies – and you’ll need a signed doctor’s note for those.
Is Michigan going a little too far with their terrorism concerns?
I’m all for safety, but I do think that an all-out bag ban is overkill, unless the stadium itself has received …read more

When Michigan plays Notre Dame, it’s usually not a bigger deal than any other game of the year. It’s not like they’re bff, but Michigan’s primary hatred is centered on Ohio State, and Notre Dame had much bigger rivalries with USC, Purdue, and Boston College. Historically, Michigan and Notre Dame are rivals, but not to extent that they are with other teams. This year, though, both team marked this game on their schedule. Not only was it about school pride – it was about settling a score.
You see, both Notre Dame’s quarterback Jimmy Clausen and Michigan’s quarterback come from strong …read more

Perhaps this preview is a little on the late side, since Georgia Tech (#15) already beat Clemson last night, but there are some great games happening tomorrow that I’d like to talk about before I find myself deep in Week Two games. Last week was one of the best Week Ones we’ve seen in years, and I’m hoping that this week is just as good, if not better.
Before we get into the games, let’s look at the Top 10 list for this week:

Florida
Texas
USC
Alabama
Oklahoma State
Mississippi
Penn State
Ohio State
BYU
California

The top five in particular intrigue me. #1 Florida play Troy this week, and try …read more

You won’t find the Ohio State Buckeyes speaking up on behalf of the Michigan Wolverines often ever. That is, until now. With things crumbling at Michigan amid lawsuits and practice scandals, players at the school’s biggest rival are coming to their defense – at least about the so-called “ridiculous” practice schedule.
According to reports, Michigan’s coaching staff has been pushing the players to work out many more hours than is allowable according to NCAA rules. While these extra hours are “voluntary” on paper, anonymous players have said that punishment was in store for anyone who didn’t volunteer their time.
Sez the Buckeyes, …read more

Few people at Michigan were happy when former West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez accepted the head coach position after the retirement of Llyod Carr. We’re actually still seeing players leave the team after the mass exodus that happened nearly immediately after he was given the job. It’s not that Rodriguez isn’t a good coach; few people can argue that he’s not after what he did at West Virginia. The people and players of Michigan just don’t like his coaching style, which seems to be a big departure from the coaching of greats like Carr, Bo Schembechler, and other Michigan greats.
I …read more

With so many changes to the Michigan coaching staff and team roster over the past year, head coach Rich Rodriguez isn’t sure which player is best for the top job – leading the team as quarterback. So, during the team’s Week One game against Western Michigan, he’ll play three different quarterbacks – Denard “Shoelace” Robinson, Tate Forcier, and Nick Sheridan. The three have been competing for a few weeks now, and while Coach Rod may start his personal number one pick, he isn’t ready to commit just yet.
Junior Sheridan obviously brings the most experience to the game, since Robinson and …read more

When Llyod Carr got replaced as Michigan’s head coach by Rich Rodriguez, formerly of West Virginia, there was a mass exodus of players. Everyone thought that the school would go from having a traditional, family feel to being more sterile. And they were right, at least according to offensive lineman Kurt Wermers.
Wermers is the latest Michigan player to leave the school, saying that the whole dynamic between players and coaches is just different than it was under Carr.
“I really didn’t get along with the new coaches. They were bringing in a lot of different kids that were not my kind …read more

Former Michigan State head coach and athletic director George Perles has recently announced that he intends to throw his hat in the ring to be Michigan’s next governor. He’ll be a part of the Democratic primary in August 2010.
Perles is the CEO of the Motor City Bowl, an MSU board of trustees member, and a fundraiser for the Special Olympics. He says that he’d focus on recruiting should he be voted into office. Essentially, he’d do for the state what he did on the field – try to get more people to come to Michigan.
Name recognition is big in politics, …read more