Miller: Big Ten Football Goings On



I think Penn State is in real trouble. I know they've had bad years before and bounced back from it but I just don't see them doing so again. I know Joe Pa's been doing it forever but at some point his age has to catch up to him on the recruiting trail, and with only 9 commits right now I think it might be safe to say it already has.

I see a 3-9 or 4-8 type of season looming, and I don't think the current regeime has it in them to recover again.
 


ESPN commentators already have RichRod gone. He is not now, never was and never will be a "Michigan Man". A department head at UM told me that Rod was disliked before his first season even started. This is more that just football.

Jim Harbaugh would be a home run hire for Big Blue. He is a Michigan man and is a firm believer in strong academics. The professors would love him.

RichRod will probably be hired as the new coach at Clemson. A lower academic, bend the rules school is where he belongs.
 


ESPN commentators already have RichRod gone. He is not now, never was and never will be a "Michigan Man". A department head at UM told me that Rod was disliked before his first season even started. This is more that just football.

Jim Harbaugh would be a home run hire for Big Blue. He is a Michigan man and is a firm believer in strong academics. The professors would love him.

RichRod will probably be hired as the new coach at Clemson. A lower academic, bend the rules school is where he belongs.

yeah, cause Michigan is a stickler for rules.

sincerely,
the Fab Five
 


Pat Forde was just on Sportscenter talking about JoePa's future. He made a comment that PSU was a young team and they are expecting to compete for the BT title next year.

Based on what Jon wrote about in this article, Pat Forde couldn't be more off base with his comments.

Do just a little bit of homework, Pat!
 


Pat Forde was just on Sportscenter talking about JoePa's future. He made a comment that PSU was a young team and they are expecting to compete for the BT title next year.

Based on what Jon wrote about in this article, Pat Forde couldn't be more off base with his comments.

Do just a little bit of homework, Pat!


I was under the impression that Penn State was young and returned a lot of improving players.

Then I read Jon's article.

Penn State is in big trouble for next year. I originally thought that Iowa would lose that game next season, now I'm much more confident.
 


The "young" impression probably comes from all the emphasis on young QB. However, PSU is usually able to reload rather than having to rebuild so they are likely to be contender in 2011.

PSU just got a commitment from the Mich DT that Iowa wanted so they are still doing okay with recruiting.
 


The "young" impression probably comes from all the emphasis on young QB. However, PSU is usually able to reload rather than having to rebuild so they are likely to be contender in 2011.

PSU just got a commitment from the Mich DT that Iowa wanted so they are still doing okay with recruiting.

At best I would put them at 3rd in the Leaders. Then again, in that division, they will likely never be picked any lower than 3rd. Then again, they might not be better than Illinois. Illini lose two SR on O and 3 on D. PSU could wind up 4th in the Leaders.
 


At best I would put them at 3rd in the Leaders. Then again, in that division, they will likely never be picked any lower than 3rd. Then again, they might not be better than Illinois. Illini lose two SR on O and 3 on D. PSU could wind up 4th in the Leaders.

My prediction is that Iowa misses the top three teams in the other division, which will be Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Illinois. I think Scheelhause is easily better than McGloin, and without Royster, Penn State's running game won't be good enough to compensate for mediocre QB play.

The Hawks will lose a lot of important players, but next year might be the easiest road they'll ever have to the conference title game. I am hopeful.
 


My prediction is that Iowa misses the top three teams in the other division, which will be Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Illinois. I think Scheelhause is easily better than McGloin, and without Royster, Penn State's running game won't be good enough to compensate for mediocre QB play.

The Hawks will lose a lot of important players, but next year might be the easiest road they'll ever have to the conference title game. I am hopeful.

It wasn't good enough to compensate WITH Royster, either.
 


It wasn't good enough to compensate WITH Royster, either.

Ha!

I should clarify, though-- when I say fail to compensate, I mean complete and utter failure to the point where I think they're much more likely to go 4-8 than 8-4. Their schedule next year is brutal: they play Alabama again and their crossover games are Iowa, Nebraska, and Northwestern. Plus road games at Ohio State and Wisconsin. Look at this thing:

Sept. 3 INDIANA STATE
Sept. 10 ALABAMA
Sept. 17at Temple
Sept. 24 EASTERN MICHIGAN
Oct. 1 at Indiana
Oct. 8 IOWA
Oct. 15 PURDUE
Oct. 22 at Northwestern
Oct. 29 ILLINOIS
Nov. 12 NEBRASKA
Nov. 19 at Ohio State
Nov. 26 at Wisconsin

Prepare yourself right now: they'll start 4-1, keep it low-scoring and reasonably close against Alabama, and there will be a million "the crafty JoePa's still got it" feature stories. And then... well, things could get ugly fast.
 


That is a brutal B10 schedule. Purdue at home is the only semblance of a break. At least they get a bye before Nebraska. That one's winnable if only because PSU staff > Nebraska staff and it's Nebraska's first Happy Valley trip.

I enjoyed Jon's lead "as we begin the countdown to Iowa vs Tennessee Tech, just 242 days away…" I love football :)
 


ESPN commentators already have RichRod gone. He is not now, never was and never will be a "Michigan Man". A department head at UM told me that Rod was disliked before his first season even started. This is more that just football.

Jim Harbaugh would be a home run hire for Big Blue. He is a Michigan man and is a firm believer in strong academics. The professors would love him.

RichRod will probably be hired as the new coach at Clemson. A lower academic, bend the rules school is where he belongs.

I think Harbaugh gets the 49er job, and as far as Michigan HC I don't know any high profile Michigan men out there.

RichRod to SEC seems like a (sl)easy fit.
 


ESPN commentators already have RichRod gone. He is not now, never was and never will be a "Michigan Man". A department head at UM told me that Rod was disliked before his first season even started. This is more that just football.

Jim Harbaugh would be a home run hire for Big Blue. He is a Michigan man and is a firm believer in strong academics. The professors would love him.

RichRod will probably be hired as the new coach at Clemson. A lower academic, bend the rules school is where he belongs.

For those of you with Scout memberships, reading Tom Beaver's postings on their Michigan site has been eye-opening. Without over-sharing subscription info: There is an anti-Harbaugh faction due to his negative remarks about Michigan, but they'll get over it... as one alum said, if JH can't unite the alumni nobody can. The big rumor right now continues to be JH mulling NFL vs. Michigan, and what Plan B would be if JH doesn't come. Everyone believes RR is gone, announcement to come later this week.
 


There is almost a total revolt in Happy Valley over Bolden's announcement. Most fans seem to prefer JoePa leave rather than Bolden. So now they are saying Paul Jones is the alternative to McGloin....and holding their breath on another frosh qb taking the reins vs Bama and Iowa. I originally thought Iowa's run vs the Nits would end in 2011,but now..not so sure. If Iowa can steal another win at PSU, and take back Floyd at Minny, they should be playing for the title in Indy.
 


Penn State has no problem getting highly rated QBs in the fold. The only problem is, they can't seem to keep them on campus for more than a few months.
 


ESPN commentators already have RichRod gone. He is not now, never was and never will be a "Michigan Man". A department head at UM told me that Rod was disliked before his first season even started. This is more that just football.

Jim Harbaugh would be a home run hire for Big Blue. He is a Michigan man and is a firm believer in strong academics. The professors would love him.

RichRod will probably be hired as the new coach at Clemson. A lower academic, bend the rules school is where he belongs.

Once again proving what a fool you are.
Clemson has a head coach: Dabo Swinney. He just canned two of his o-coaches. He's making changes and appears to be secure for the 2011 season.
Also, Clemson (#64 USNews 2011 ranking) might be 'lower academic' compared to UM (#29 USNews 2011), but it's a very good school and doesn't have any current or recent (29 years ago is not recent) history of 'bending rules'.
FYI, Iowa was ranked 72 by USNews for 2011.
 
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Also, Clemson (#64 USNews 2011 ranking) might be 'lower academic' compared to UM (#29 USNews 2011), but it's a very good school and doesn't have any history of 'bending rules'.
FYI, Iowa was ranked 72 by USNews for 2011.
They might not have a history of bending rules, but they do have a history of flat out breaking rules. Check out the Danny Ford era.
 








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