Final Big Ten injury report: Week 13
November 22, 2008 by feed · Leave a Comment
Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg
Courtesy of collegeinjuryreport.com and some of my own research.
ILLINOIS (at Northwestern)
- QB Eddie McGee, toe, probable
- LB Martez Wilson, out, suspension
- DT Josh Brent, knee, questionable
- RB Mikel LeShoure, jaw, questionable
- FB Rahkeem Smith, suspension, questionable
- S Garrett Edwards, shoulder, questionable
- OT Ryan Palmer, foot, questionable
- CB Miami Thomas, knee, out (season)
- DT Sirod Williams, knee, out (season)
INDIANA (at Purdue)
- RB Zach Davis-Walker, thumb, questionable
- S Jerimy Finch, ankle, questionable
- RB Bryan Payton, ankle, questionable
- CB Richard Council, knee, questionable
- LB Will Patterson, knee, questionable
- CB Richard Council, knee, doubtful
- OL Andrew McDonald, undisclosed, questionable
- S Nick Polk, knee, out (season)
- TE Brian Zematis, ankle, out (season)
- S Austin Thomas, knee, out (season)
- OL Dennis Zeigler, knee, out (season)
- CB Chris Phillips, knee, out (season)
IOWA (at Minnesota)
- OG Andy Kuempel, muscle pull, doubtful
- OL Wes Aeschliman, hip, out (season)
- S Harold Dalton, suspension, out
- TE Tony Moeaki, leg, questionable
- OL James Ferentz, suspension, out
MICHIGAN (at Ohio State)
- WR Zion Babb, dismissal, out (season)
- RB Sam McGuffie, shoulder/personal, questionable
- OT Stephen Schilling, knee, questionable
- RB Carlos Brown, foot, questionable
- WR Junior Hemingway, mononucleosis, out
- QB Steven Threet, shoulder, doubtful,
- LB Kevin Leach, ankle, questionable
- T Mark Huyge, ankle, out
- WR Terence Robinson, knee, doubtful
- S Brandon Smith, appendix, out (season)
- G Cory Zirbel, knee, out (season)
MICHIGAN STATE (at Penn State)
- WR Keshawn Martin, undisclosed, questionable
- CB Chris L. Rucker, leg, questionable
- WR Mark Dell, knee, questionable
- S Roderick Jenrette, personal, out (season)
MINNESOTA (vs. Iowa)
- WR Eric Decker, ankle, probable
- S Kyle Theret, leg, probable
- LB Lee Campbell, questionable, hamstring
- RB Duane Bennett, knee, out (season)
NORTHWESTERN (vs. Illinois)
- DT Corbin Bryant, knee, out (season)
- LB Malcolm Arrington, knee, out (season)
- QB Mike Kafka, concussion, probable
- DE Vince Browne, knee, out
- RB Omar Conteh, knee, out (season)
- TE/FB Drake Dunsmore, knee, out (season)
- DE Rejaie Johnson, shoulder, out (season)
- RB Tyrell Sutton, wrist, out
- CB Justan Vaughn, shoulder, out (season)
OHIO STATE (vs. Michigan)
- WR Ray Small, suspension, questionable
- CB Jermale Hines, leg, doubtful
- OL Ben Person, leg, out
- OL Connor Smith, undisclosed, questionable
- DE Curtis Terry, undisclosed, out (season)
- OL Mike Adams, ankle, out (season)
- OL J.B. Shugarts, shoulder, out (season)
- DE Lawrence Wilson, knee, out (season)
- CB Andre Amos, knee, out (season)
PENN STATE (vs. Michigan State)
- DE Josh Gaines, ankle, questionable
- OL Ako Poti, knee, out (season)
- DT Devon Still, ankle, out (season)
- RB Brent Carter, knee, out (season)
- OL Doug Klopacz, knee, out (season)
- DE Jerome Hayes, knee, out (season)
PURDUE (vs. Indiana)
- TE Kyle Adams, knee, doubtful
- LB Jason Werner, back, out
- OL Justin Pierce, groin, questionable
- OT Sean Sester, knee, probable
- G Eric Hedstrom, knee, probable
- QB Joey Elliott, shoulder, out (season)
- T Garrett Miller, knee, out (season)
- RB Jaycen Taylor, knee, out (season)
WISCONSIN (vs. Cal-Poly)
- T Eric Vanden Heuvel, foot, probable
- WR Kyle Jefferson, concussion, out
- TE Lance Kendricks, leg, out (season)
- WR Maurice Moore, leg, doubtful
- TE Travis Beckum, leg, out (season)
- DE Brendan Kelly, thumb, out (season)
- CB Aaron Henry, knee, out (season)
- DE Kirk DeCremer, back, out (season)
Final Big Ten injury report: Week 12
November 15, 2008 by feed · Leave a Comment
Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg
Courtesy of collegeinjuryreport.com and some of my own research. Michigan State has a bye this week.
ILLINOIS (vs. Ohio State)
- RB Mikel LeShoure, jaw, doubtful
- FB Rahkeem Smith, suspension, probable (suspension lifted)
- S Garrett Edwards, shoulder, questionable
- OT Xavier Fulton, shoulder, probable
- OT Ryan Palmer, foot, probable
- CB Miami Thomas, knee, out (season)
- DT Sirod Williams, knee, out (season)
INDIANA (at Penn State)
- RB Zach Davis-Walker, thumb, questionable
- S Jerimy Finch, ankle, questionable
- RB Bryan Payton, ankle, out
- QB Kellen Lewis, ankle, probable
- QB Ben Chappell, probable, head
- LB Will Patterson, knee, out
- CB Richard Council, knee, doubtful
- S Joe Kleinsmith, undisclosed, questionable
- OL Pete Saxon, undisclosed, questionable
- OL Mike Reiter, abdominal, questionable
- OL James Brewer, ankle, questionable
- OT Rodger Saffold, knee, probable
- OL Andrew McDonald, undisclosed, questionable
- S Nick Polk, knee, out (season)
- TE Brian Zematis, ankle, out (season)
- S Austin Thomas, knee, out (season)
- OL Dennis Zeigler, knee, out (season)
- CB Chris Phillips, knee, out (season)
IOWA (vs. Purdue)
- OG Andy Kuempel, muscle pull, doubtful
- OL Wes Aeschliman, hip, out (season)
- S Harold Dalton, suspension, out
- TE Tony Moeaki, leg, doubtful
- OL James Ferentz, out, suspension
MICHIGAN (vs. Northwestern)
- RB Brandon Minor, shoulder/wrist/ribs, doubtful
- RB Carlos Brown, foot, questionable
- OL David Molk, toe, probable
- WR Junior Hemingway, mononucleosis, out
- QB Steven Threet, concussion, probable
- LB Kevin Leach, ankle, questionable
- T Mark Huyge, ankle, questionable
- WR Terence Robinson, knee, questionable
- S Brandon Smith, appendix, out (season)
- G Cory Zirbel, knee, out (season)
MINNESOTA (at Wisconsin)
- WR Eric Decker, ankle, out
- RB Duane Bennett, knee, out (season)
NORTHWESTERN (at Michigan)
- LB Malcolm Arrington, knee, out (season)
- QB C.J. Bacher, hamstring, probable
- DE Vince Browne, knee, out
- RB Omar Conteh, knee, out (season)
- TE/FB Drake Dunsmore, knee, out (season)
- DE Rejaie Johnson, shoulder, out (season)
- RB Tyrell Sutton, wrist, out
- CB Justan Vaughn, shoulder, out (season)
OHIO STATE (at Illinois)
- WR Ray Small, out, suspension
- OL Ben Person, leg, out
- DE Thaddeus Gibson, ankle, probable
- DE Curtis Terry, undisclosed, out(season)
- OL Mike Adams, ankle, out (season)
- OL J.B. Shugarts, shoulder, doubtful
- DE Lawrence Wilson, knee, out (season)
- CB Andre Amos, knee, out (season)
PENN STATE (vs. Indiana)
- CB Drew Astorino, thumb, probable
- DE Josh Gaines, ankle, probable
- OL Ako Poti, knee, out (season)
- DT Devon Still, ankle, out (season)
- RB Brent Carter, knee, out (season)
- OL Doug Klopacz, knee, out (season)
- DE Jerome Hayes, knee, out (season)
PURDUE (at Iowa)
- QB Curtis Painter, shoulder, probable
- TE Kyle Adams, knee, doubtful
- LB Jason Werner, back, doubtful
- OL Justin Pierce, groin, questionable
- OT Sean Sester, knee, questionable
- G Eric Hedstrom, knee, questionable
- QB Joey Elliott, shoulder, out (season)
- T Garrett Miller, knee, out (season)
- RB Jaycen Taylor, knee, out (season)
WISCONSIN (vs. Minnesota)
- T Eric Vanden Heuvel, foot, doubtful
- LB Jaevery McFadden, concussion, probable
- TE Lance Kendricks, leg, out (season)
- WR Maurice Moore, leg, questionable
- TE Travis Beckum, leg, out (season)
- DE Brendan Kelly, thumb, out (season)
- CB Aaron Henry, knee, out (season)
- DE Kirk DeCremer, back, out (season)
Big Ten internal affairs: Week 11
November 5, 2008 by feed · Leave a Comment
Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg
Here’s our weekly look inside five Big Ten teams.
Illinois — Eddie McGee showed promise last year when he spelled Juice Williams at quarterback. But with Williams entrenched under center for the rest of this season and 2009, Illini coaches aren’t letting McGee’s talents go to waste. McGee made his debut as a wide receiver last Saturday against Iowa and caught two passes for 14 yards, including a critical 9-yarder that helped to set up the game-winning field goal. McGee will remain Williams’ primary backup at quarterback, but he won’t be spending much time holding a clipboard. “We all know when he gets the ball in his hands he can fly,” head coach Ron Zook said. “We’ll be able to expand on that. He’s a heck of an athlete.”
Iowa — Linebacker Dezman Moses returned to practice during the bye week after being suspended four games. Moses was charged Sept. 21 with public intoxication. He played in Iowa’s first few games and will be available Saturday when the Hawkeyes face Penn State. Senior safety Harold Dalton’s future looks grim after an arrest early Sunday for his role in an Iowa City bar fight. Head coach Kirk Ferentz said its “very doubtful” Dalton will return this year. “The common denominator, alcohol, is so often involved,” Ferentz said. “That’s a common denominator. Our uncommon denominator in this case is that [Dalton is] an older player. We’ve talked about that before. I’m a little more understanding with younger guys. But it’s really disappointing.”
Northwestern – The Wildcats likely will play two quarterbacks Saturday against Ohio State, but the prospect of using both players on the field at the same time is highly unlikely. Backup Mike Kafka showcased his dynamic running skills at Minnesota with a Big Ten quarterback-record 217 rushing yards. Kafka might be an effective weapon in the backfield with starter C.J. Bacher or lined up as a wide receiver, but head coach Pat Fitzgerald doesn’t want to take the risk with his second-string quarterback. Third-stringer Dan Persa, who already is being used on special teams, would be a likelier candidate to see playing time elsewhere. “We’re not opposed to doing that,” Fitzgerald said, “but not necessarily with the second quarterback.”
Ohio State – The starting offensive line from the Buckeyes’ Oct. 25 loss to Penn State will remain intact Saturday at Northwestern, but the second unit could have a different makeup. Ben Person, who has started games this season at left guard, might need surgery for a leg injury and likely will miss Saturday’s game. True freshman J.B. Shugarts — previously ruled out for the season with a shoulder injury — will be available in reserve duty if needed. Another freshman, Mike Adams, remains out with a foot injury.
Wisconsin – Tight end is one of the most important positions in Wisconsin’s offense, but it’s a spot where injuries have hit especially hard. After losing Garrett Graham earlier this season, the Badgers have seen Travis Beckum and Lance Kendricks sustain broken left legs in consecutive weeks. Graham and Mickey Turner now will share the duties at tight end for Saturday’s game at Indiana. Turner is more of a blocking tight end but can be effective as a receiver, an area where Graham shines. Wisconsin will continue to emphasize double tight end sets in the offense. “Can you get out of it what you need? Yeah,” offensive coordinator Paul Chryst told the Wisconsin State Journal. “Can you get out of it what you got in the past? No.”
Bielema doesn’t think age factored into penalty
November 3, 2008 by feed · Leave a Comment
Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg
Wisconsin’s players have drawn more penalties (56) than any group in the Big Ten this season, but a flag thrown against head coach Bret Bielema has dominated the discourse since Saturday. 
With Wisconsin leading Michigan State 24-13 in the fourth quarter, Bielema drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for his comments to an official after Badgers safety Jay Valai had been penalized for delay of game. Bielema’s penalty put the ball in Wisconsin territory and Michigan State eventually drove for a touchdown and rallied to win, 25-24.
Wisconsin drew eight of its 12 penalties in the fourth quarter.
Bielema’s maturity is being questioned, but the nation’s fourth-youngest coach downplayed his age as a factor in the penalty.
“Age is just a number,” Bielema said today. “I’ve seen some very upset 40-, 50- and 60-year-olds that go about their business in a certain way. The situation that got me, the penalty, that by far was not the most strenuous or vigorous comment I’ve ever made to an official. But the timing of it went against me because of the reaction I received from him.
“It’s not having to do with age or maturity. That’s an easy circumference to draw. … It’s a growing experience, a learning experience and one that probably has a bigger effect on me than you can ever imagine.”
There was more bad news for Wisconsin on Monday, as Bielema announced that reserve tight end Lance Kendricks broke his left fibula against Michigan State and likely will miss the rest of the season.
H-back Travis Beckum suffered the same injury the week before and underwent surgery.