The Big Ten: Why We Suck

I worked very diligently on crafting a title for this this article but ultimately, this was the one thing that kept coming around. Our fall from grace as a dominant NCAA Division I power conference has been fast and painful. The fall has been different for every team in the conference. Like most conferences we have our less relevant football programs (stupid Northwestern so concerned with actually GRADUATING players) but the fact remains that, in the past, when our power teams came to play your school, it was time to break out the Icy Hot because a severe beating was nothing short of imminent.

Oh how the mighty have fallen.

Where do we currently stand? Iowa players are telling their own fans to be quiet. Minnestota forgot there were more than 4 games in the season. Wisconsin did too. Michigan decided to field their understudy ballet students instead of actual football players. Both Penn State and Ohio State had the unfortunate mishap of checking their talent on the airplane to L.A. rather than carrying it on and somehow it wound up on a plane headed for Pewee Valley, Kentucky. Oh, and Ohio State can’t seem to beat the SEC even if the referees would let them bring crowbars on the field. I mean, in what sane world does tOSU go nearly undefeated on the season only to have the entire college football world question, not whether they should go to the National Championship or not, but whether they even deserve to be CONSIDERED?!

No doubt we’ve all thought and thought about this and I would imagine you’ve come to the same redundant conclusion that I have: We suck because we suck. No doubt we’ve all read that iron sharpens iron. That’s what we used to be for each other. The Michigan-Ohio State game was such a vehement battle to the death, that any competitor after was like playing in a pick up game at the park on Sunday afternoon. The rivalries so legendary that watching the game for the 5th, 6th or 95th time still gets you on the edge of your seat and out of your chair. Now the rivalries are harder fought in the stands and after the game than they are on the field. We’re just not good enough to make each other better anymore.

One of the problems is that the decline happened for all of the teams at a quick pace simultaneously. The conference has not adapted to a more modern style of football, one that relies somewhat less on braun and more on strategy and speed. This is made evident when we play schools like USC who have more strategy than 70% of the NFL teams out there. When we play the SEC, they run away like we’re standing still because, regardless of the attempts we’ve made as a conference of teams to get out of our concrete boots and into the new style of warfare, we just haven’t caught up. They’re shooting smart bombs and laser guided missle systems while we’re reloading our muskets with paper patch bullets and screaming hateful chants in olde english. We just aren’t that relevant outside of our own conference. People look at us like that fighter going into the ring when he should have retired. Yeah, they respect his history and the amazing things he’s done, but they’re not afraid of him anymore. They’re not afraid of us anymore.

In the end, our games are still hard fought battles in the trenches. Our sense of tradition and honor is greater than anyone else’s. We hate each other but we hate them more.

I, for one, am tired of this. I’m ready to read a USC writer talk about how Michigan or Ohio State is more than likely going to ruin Pete Carroll’s season. I’m ready to be confident in saying that no matter who goes into the national championship game against us, the Big Ten will ride out of town with a tan and a crystal football. Every other conference should be complaining and making excuses about why we slaughter them year in and year out. It’s time for this trend to stop and it has to stop quickly.

We are the greatest conference in the NCAA. It’s time to remind everyone else of that fact.

Draft Analysis: Expectations of Iowa Players

After months of 40-yard dash times and answering questions about their favorite animals, eight former Iowa football players finally learned their career destinations on Sunday.

A few Iowa players, like the third-round picks of running back Shonn Greene and cornerback Bradley Fletcher, are virtually locks to contribute on NFL rosters this fall. Meanwhile, free agents like…
Continue reading at Bleacher Report – Big Ten Football

Fire still burns for Iowa’s Angerer, Spievey

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
When the pieces come together as seamlessly as they did for Iowa's defense last season, it's critical to maintain an edge and guard against a letdown. 
As long as Pat Angerer and Amari Spievey are on the field, the Hawkeyes shouldn't worry. 
    Stephen Mally/Icon SMI   Iowa's Pat…
Continue reading at ESPN.com – Big Ten – Blog

Clayborn included in Iowa leadership group

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg
It seems like every Big Ten team names a leadership council these days, so the fact Iowa announced its 2009 version doesn’t come as major news.
But what stands out about Iowa’s leadership group is the inclusion of junior Adrian Clayborn.
The starting defensive end was arrested in March for assault causing injury after allegedly punching a taxi…
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Hawkeyes offensive line on the uptick again

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Mention the 2007 season to Bryan Bulaga, and the Iowa left tackle contorts his face in disgust.
A number comes to mind.
"Forty-six," Bulaga said. "We try to forget it."
Iowa's offensive line allowed 46 sacks that season, which placed 114th out of 119 FBS teams.
Any line can have an off year, and there were certainly…
Continue reading at ESPN.com – Big Ten – Blog

Iowa RB Hampton Sits Out Spring Game

With top running back Jewel Hampton nursing a sore hamstring on the sidelines, the Hawkeyes spent much of their spring scrimmage working on pass protection.
Continue reading at College Sports for NBC4i.com

Big Ten lunch links: Iowa’s McNutt steps up

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Happy hump day to you, happy hump day to you. Now make a wish.  Iowa's coordinators made a rare media appearance Tuesday and discussed filling gaps at defensive tackle, wide receiver and offensive line, Marc Morehouse writes in The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette. The coaches are looking for more from Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, last year's leading…
Continue reading at ESPN.com – Big Ten – Blog

Wisconsin’s Clay, Iowa’s Hampton tough it out

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
There are two primary concerns with Wisconsin's über-talented running back, John Clay.     Jeff Hanisch/US Presswire   Wisconsin coaches will be keeping a close eye on John Clay's weight this season.
1. Can he maintain a proper playing weight, ideally between 235 to 240 pounds?
2. Will his…
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Spring Q&A: Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Kirk Ferentz's calm and controlled demeanor is his hallmark, but the Iowa head coach has run through the full gamut of emotions in the last two years. His team endured three mediocre seasons from 2005-07 and stumbled off the field with a wave of player arrests in 2007 and the first half of 2008. With some suggesting Ferentz was on the hot seat, Iowa…
Continue reading at ESPN.com – Big Ten – Blog

Big Ten Football: An Early Schedule Review—Iowa Hawkeyes

The 2008 season started amid a flurry of off-the-field issues for Kirk Ferentz.  At least 14 Iowa players were either arrested or charged with breaking some law between April 2007 and April 2008.
Ferentz dismissed five players from the team, including starting receiver James Cleveland for reasons ranging from domestic assault to drug charges.
Still, through all those distractions, the Iowa…
Continue reading at Bleacher Report – Big Ten Football

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