All-Time Big Ten Football Team
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by user Coreyisarealboy
In preparation of the upcoming college football season (yes, it's just over a month away), I have compiled a list of who I think are the greatest players to come out of the Big Ten. I am an avid fan of the Big Ten, and actually wanted to see--objectively--where the greats of the University of Wisconsin fit with the rest of them. As you'll see, no Badger made anything more than an honorable mention appearance.
The list includes even any player that played for a now-Big Ten team, so that means any Penn Staters that played pre-1993 were eligible.
QB - Drew Brees, Purdue
In a conference as storied as this, no other school in the Big Ten has produced better collegiate quarterbacks than Purdue, and Brees was simply the best. Brees holds two NCAA records, 13 Big Ten records, and 19 school records. In his senior season, he won the Maxwell Award and Big Ten MVP. He was also a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist and two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.
Honorable Mentions: Bob Griese, Purdue; Len Dawson, Purdue; Chuck Long, Iowa; Tom Brady, Michigan; Jeff George, Illinois
RB - Nile Kinnick, Iowa
To most, Kinnick may only be a stadium name, but there was a great man behind that name. Kinnick came to Iowa in 1937 and suffered through two horrible seasons as their neighbors to the north, Minnesota, had run rampant through the college football ranks. In 1939, that all changed. After losing an early game to Michigan, the Hawkeyes rebounded as Kinnick passed for the winning touchdown against Wisconsin, then using only 14 healthy players beat Purdue, 4-0. Iowa, having only 15 healthy players this time, then toppled No. 1 Notre Dame, 7-6. Kinnick scored the only Iowa touchdown and also punted the ball 16 times for 731 yards, including a 63 yarder that pinned Notre Dame at its own six-yard line late in the game. The Hawks then went on to beat Minnesota, and Kinnick won the Heisman. Kinnick went on to become a Navy pilot instead of an NFL star. In 1942, during a test flight in the Caribbean, Kinnick's plane went down. Kinnick's body was ever found. Today, the coins that the referees flip before each Big Ten game bear his face.
RB - Archie Griffin, Ohio State
As if four straight Rose Bowl appearances during his four-year tenure at the school weren't enough, Griffin still remains the only player ever to win the Heisman Trophy twice. The feat is even more impressive when you consider he beat out the likes of Tony Dorsett, Earl Campbell, and Chuck Muncie to do it.
Honorable Mentions: Red Grange, Illinois; Ron Dayne, Wisconsin; Howard "Hopalong" Cassady and Eddie George, Ohio State; Otto Graham, Northwestern; Bruce Smith (1940s) and Paul Giel, Minnesota; John Cappelletti, Penn State; Tom Harmon and Bob Chappuis, Michigan
FB - Bronko Nagurski, Minnesota
Considered by many to be the greatest player in college football history, Nagurski was the first player to ever be named an All-American at two different positions. In those days, the biggest football players were around 190 pounds, but Nagurski was 6-2, 225 pounds, and probably could've been the best player at any position. Legend has it that when Nagurski was playing with the Bears, he cracked a brick wall at Wrigley Field after a touchdown run.
Honorable Mentions: Alan Ameche, Wisconsin; Bob Ferguson, Ohio State; Mike Alstott, Purdue
WR - Anthony Carter (football), Michigan
Even in Bo Schembechler's run-first program, Carter scored 37 touchdowns in his career with the Wolverines. He was an All-American three years in a row from 1980-82 and was named Big Ten MVP in 1982.
WR - Charles Rogers, Michigan State
Winner of the Fred Biletnikoff Award in 2003, Rogers caught 135 passes for 2,821 yards and 27 touchdowns in his collegiate career, and had he played for Michigan or Ohio State, probably could've been an easy Heisman candidate as well.
Honorable Mentions: Cris Carter, Ohio State; Lee Evans, Wisconsin; David Boston, Ohio State; Braylon Edwards, Michigan; Al Toon, Wisconsin; David Williams, Illinois
TE - Ted Kwalick, Penn State
Kwalick was the face of Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions before JoePa was considered one of the greatest coaches of all time. Kwalick caught 86 passes in three years for 1,343 yards and 10 touchdowns, and was fourth in the Heisman voting in 1968.
Honorable Mention: Pat Richter, Wisconsin
T - Orlando Pace, Ohio State
To give you an idea of how good this guy was, even in college, the term and now offensive linemen statistic "Pancake" was coined because of him. He once recorded 10 of them against Illinois defensive end and future NFLer Simeon Rice. Pace also didn't allow a sack in his final two seasons with the Buckeyes.
T - Tony Mandarich, Michigan State
Nevermind the fact that he was, at that time, the biggest bust of the NFL Draft ever, especially when you consider Barry Sanders was taken immediately after him, Mandarich, at 6-5 and close to 300 pounds, was considered mammoth in 1989 and certainly dominated in college like one too.
Honorable Mention: John Hicks, Ohio State
DL - Courtney Brown, Penn State
At a school known for its defense, Brown owns the schools' career records for tackles for loss (70) and sacks (33). He was also named Outback Bowl MVP in 1999 and was the first selection in the 2000 NFL Draft.
DL - Bubba Smith, Michigan State
Smith was a two-time All-American, who in 1966 helped Michigan State finished in second in the national championship voting behind Notre Dame, a team the Spartans fought to a 10-10 tie that season.
DL - Mike Reid, Penn State
In his senior year, Reid led Penn State with 89 tackles and was a unanimous All-America selection. He also won the 1969 Outland and Maxwell Awards.
LB - Dick Butkus, Illinois
The namesake for the award now given to the best linebacker in college football, Butkus was an All-American twice, a Big Ten MVP, and a Heisman Finalist twice. He finished third in the Heisman voting in 1964 while playing both center and linebacker for the Illini.
LB - LaVar Arrington, Penn State
A first team All-American and winner of the Butkus and Bednarik Awards, Arrington was the best linebacker in this generation to come through the Big Ten. His perfectly timed fourth down leap against Illinois is still one of the most memorable plays in the last decade.
LB - Randy Gradishar, Ohio State
A three-year starter at Ohio State, Gradishar helped the Buckeyes to two Big Ten championships. OSU went 25-6-1 during those three years, and finished at No. 2 in his senior year. He was a two-time All-American.
LB - Jack Ham, Penn State
A member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Ham finished his career at Penn State with 251 tackles. He also blocked four punts in one season, a school record that stood by itself for 21 years until it was tied in 1989.
Honorable Mention: Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern, A. J. Hawk, Ohio State
CB - Charles Woodson, Michigan
Though he recorded many interceptions in his career as a Wolverine, Woodson's biggest takeaway may have been his Heisman Trophy. Many believe Peyton Manning was more deserving, but nobody could deny the talent Woodson possessed.
S - Jack Tatum, Ohio State
Tatum was nicknamed "The Assassin" for a very good reason. He was one of the hardest hitting players in all of football. Tatum was a member of two Buckeye national championship teams and was an All-American both years.
S - Tom Curtis, Michigan
In 1968, Curtis set a then-NCAA record with 431 interception return yards and led the nation with 10 picks. He holds the Michigan career interception record with 25 and ranks second all-time in the Big Ten and fourth in NCAA history.
Honorable Mention: Al Brosky, Illinois
PR/KR - Desmond Howard, Michigan
You were probably wondering where he was. No, I didn't mention him as a wide receiver because he will most likely go down in history known more for his returning abilities, something that later won him a Super Bowl MVP to go along with his Heisman Trophy.
Coach - Woody Hayes, Ohio State
Though his understudy, Bo Schembechler, may have walked away with a better head-to-head record than Hayes and an equal amount of Big Ten titles (13), Woody walked away with five national championships to Schembechler's none, produced three Heisman winners to Bo's zero, and won two National Coach of the Year Awards to Bo's one.
Date
Thu 07/13/06, 11:36 am EST
