Big Ten Lessons: Week 1
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by The Beast
1. Powerhouses Playing Division 1-AA teams is Stupid On Saturday, top ranked teams Michigan and Ohio State played Division 1-AA teams in Appalachian State, Youngstown State. In addition Penn State played the worse I-A team, Florida International. While the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions did manage to pull out victories, no immediate benefits were made obvious. While a win is great, a win over a lower division team means nothing. Even if a team like Ohio State wins by fifty, it is no big deal for because they are the powerhouse football program. If it is a close contest than people question whether the big-time program is worthy of their top twenty-five status. If the team loses, than it is an embarasment. It doesn't matter if they almost won or the Division 1-AA team is good or not, a loss to a lower division team is deemed to be unnaceptable and can not look good no matter what. Just ask Michigan.
2. The Hoosiers of Indiana could actually go Bowling Hoosier fans are tired of hearing that this is their year but it appers as if Indiana has a solid team this year despite the tragic death of Head Coach Terry Hoeppner this past June. On Saturday night, they cruised to any easy 55-7 victory over Indiana State. I am still wondering if Indiana football, cruised, and victory, have ever been uttered in the same sentence together. While it was just Indiana State, a Division 1-AA team, there were many positive signs for the Hoosiers. The defense was expecially stiffiling as they dominated the Sycamores, holding them to just 46 yards rushing yards, recording five sacks, and generating three turnovers. Their top receiver James Hardy also looked as good as advertised as he recorded three three catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns.
3. Minnesota is Really Bad Whatever happened to the good 'ol days of Laurence Maroney and Marion Barber III carrying the ball in the Gophers' backfield. Well those days are long gone as Minnesota lost Tim Brewster's debut in overtime against Bowling Green. What made the loss even more unbarable was the fact that Minnesota surrendered 412 yards through the air to Bowling Green, and the Falcons are surely not a passing team. Bowling Green ended up recording 511 yards of total offense. How did Minnesota get this bad?
4. Tyler Donovan will be okay During the offseason, Wisconsin fans have been wondering who will replace the highly productive John Stocco. On Saturday, fifth-year senior Tyler Donovan began to answer some of those questions, as he threw for three touchdowns and ran for another. Overall, he completed 19-of-29 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns, but Bielema was most encouraged by what he heard the quarterback say to his assistant coaches on the sidelines.
5. It's sad to say but Iowa could win the conference Iowa avoided a scare against Northern Illinois and from all accounts, it was not a very well played game on the Hawkeyes side of the ball. Running back Albert Young and quarterback Jake Christensen both were solid, but the offense just managed to score 16 points. Iowa appears to be a middle of the road Big Ten team, but because of a scheduling glitch that left off Michigan and Ohio State the Hawkeyes will be competing for a Big Ten title. The conference needs to add another team to make it tweleve or drop a team in order to play a nine game conference schedule.
