Big Ten Morning Briefing: Smith tells OSU fans to switch cable providers
August 22, 2008
Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — It’s Big Ten preview day, so check back for updates about the league’s top stories this season. If my flight to O’Hare arrives relatively on time — famous last words — I’ll be chatting today at 4 p.m. My opening act is Illinois quarterback Juice Williams, who chats at 1:15 p.m. ET. He’ll do. After finishing up a few things in Bloomington, I’m on to Ohio State tomorrow, where Beanie Wells, Brian Robiskie and others will be available.
Let’s link:
- Illinois coach Ron Zook thinks Williams can complete 70 percent of his passes this fall, CBSSports.com’s Dennis Dodd writes. The (Champaign, Ill.) News-Gazette’s Bob Asmussen hands out his Camp Rantoul awards for Illinois. Wideout Chris Duvalt takes home MVP honors.
- Investigators in the sexual assault case involving two former Iowa football players questioned the alleged victim and her family, the Iowa City Press-Citizen reports. The Hawkeyes’ receiving corps is healthy and deep, Eric Page writes in the Quad City Times.
- Indiana’s depth at the skill positions has kept expectations high, LaMond Pope writes in The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette.
- Michigan offensive lineman Elliott Mealer is struggling to regain a sense of normalcy after the car crash that killed his father and girlfriend and seriously injured his brother last Christmas Eve, Mark Snyder writes in the Detroit Free Press. Guard Cory Zirbel’s injury has prompted John Ferrara to move from defense to offense, John Heuser writes in the Ann Arbor News. Wideout Terrance Robinson is also out for several weeks with an injury.
- Greg Jones is Michigan State’s best linebacker, but which spot will he occupy this season? The Spartans are still figuring it out, Andrew Mouranie writes in the Lansing State Journal. Michigan State got a wonderful surprise Wednesday as Arthur Ray Jr., the offensive lineman who battled cancer last season and is still working his way back, visited practice, Eric Lacy writes in The Detroit News.
- Playing college football is all in the family for the Tow-Arnett brothers at Minnesota, Dennis Brackin writes in the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune. Quad injuries have dogged Ben Kuznia, but the Gophers wideout now finds himself running with the 1’s, Scott Thoma writes in the West Central Tribune.
- Northwestern hopes for a defensive resurgence with Malcolm (Arrington) in the middle, Jim O’Donnell writes in the Chicago Sun-Times. Arrington will replace standout Adam Kadela, who still stings from missing a bowl game last season.
- Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith sent a letter to fans lamenting Time Warner’s decision not to pick up the Big Ten Network and asking subscribers to switch their cable providers, Jeffrey Sheban writes in the Columbus Dispatch. Here’s Smith’s letter. Turning back to the field, the Buckeyes hope to regain their trademark excellence on special teams, Matt Markey writes in The (Toledo) Blade. Former Texas and Arizona coach John Mackovic picks Ohio State to knock off USC.
- Special teams is also on the brain at Penn State, which struggled on kickoff coverage last year, Ben Brigandi writes in The Altoona Mirror. Lions coach Joe Paterno is looking for a leader at linebacker. Todd Sponsler of the 50-yard Lion blog reveals his preseason Top 25, which includes Penn State at No. 14. Bleacher Report ranks its top 12 surprise blowouts in college football history, and Penn State’s 48-14 trouncing of No. 1 Pitt in 1981 tops the list.
- Boilermakers coach Joe Tiller weighs in on the NCAA’s decision to ban horse-collar tackles.
- Allan Evridge is Wisconsin’s starting quarterback, but the No. 2 job remains open, Jeff Potrykus writes in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Wisconsin fullback Chris Pressley welcomes the responsibility of being a captain this fall, Jim Polzin writes in The Capital Times. Central Michigan transfer J.J. Watt can’t wait to suit up for the Badgers, Tom Mulhern writes in the Wisconsin State Journal.
Related Stories
Comments
Got something to say?