Big Ten Morning Briefing: Still waiting on Beanie
September 1, 2008
Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg
Happy Labor Day. It’s a day off for most of you (I hope), but not me. I’ll be back with updates throughout the day. Before looking ahead to Week 2 and a set of Big Ten games unlikely to make your must-see list, here’s a quick look at the best from the first weekend.
- You’ll want to read how Illinois coach Ron Zook described the way Missouri dominated his defense Saturday, Bob Asmussen writes in The (Champaign, Ill.) News-Gazette. Quarterback Juice Williams couldn’t be blamed for the loss after a spectacular passing performance, Terry Bannon writes in the Chicago Tribune.
- Kellen Lewis left little doubt about who should be Indiana’s starting quarterback, Pete DiPrimio writes in The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel. The Hoosiers’ wideouts and defensive backs looked good Saturday, but there’s some concern with the offensive line, Terry Hutchens writes in The Indianapolis Star.
- Iowa freshman running back Jewel Hampton sparkled Saturday, Mike Hlas writes in The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette. The Hawkeyes’ quarterback situation, er, I mean competition, remains very unsettled, Andy Hamilton writes in the Iowa City Press-Citizen.
- Michigan offensive coordinator Calvin Magee saw all of his worst fears come true Saturday, Mark Snyder writes in the Detroit Free Press. As much as the quarterbacks struggled, Michigan’s running game was worse, Jim Carty writes in The Ann Arbor news.
- Michigan State only had to look in a mirror to explain Saturday’s loss to Cal, Joe Rexrode writes in the Lansing State Journal. Coach Mark Dantonio is confident his team’s lack of discipline won’t continue, Drew Sharp writes in the Detroit Free Press.
- Minnesota’s heralded recruiting class played a minimal role in Saturday’s win, Sid Hartman writes in the Star Tribune.
- Northwestern has a decision to make at right tackle after Desmond Taylor performed well in place of the injured Kurt Mattes, Jim O’Donnell writes in the Chicago Sun-Times.
- Ohio State waits for an update on star running back Beanie Wells, who hurt his right foot/toe Saturday, Tim May writes in The Columbus Dispatch. Should Wells have been playing in the second half of a blowout? The Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Doug Lesmerises takes a look.
- Penn State faces a much bigger test Saturday when Oregon State visits Happy Valley, Jeff McLane writes in the Philadelphia Inquirer. Backup quarterback Pat Devlin put aside his frustration and performed well against Coastal Carolina.
- Joe Tiller wanted defensive coordinator Brock Spack to succeed him at Purdue but didn’t get much support and turned his attention to Danny Hope, Tom Kubat writes in The Journal and Courier.
- A deep and talented run game could take Wisconsin a long way this fall, Jeff Potrykus writes in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. But the Badgers need to improve in the red zone, Jim Polzin writes in The Capital Times.
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