Changing of the guard in the Big Ten?

[daddyphatsacs]

I've been thinking about this one for a while. After Indiana went out and got Hoeppner, and Illinois got Zook........there is a pretty damn impressive bunch of coaches in the Big Ten. I think that Indiana and Illinois are both programs who are on the rise, especially Illinois. Does anyone else see the reshuffling that is going on in the Big Ten? What do you think?

[Buckin' A]

I think somebody needs to please explain.

[daddyphatsacs]

Originally Posted by Bucknut319

I think somebody needs to please explain.

When you say somebody I'm assuming that you meant me. Next time just address me on it.

I'm simply saying that I think that the middle of the Big Ten is going to undergo a realignment over the next few years. Illinois and Indiana will go from bottom feeders to bowl contenders, and the Michigan St's and Purdue's are sinking. Hell, the same argument could be made for Iowa and Minnesota at the moment.

Did that clarify things a bit?

I just figured that it's more productive to speculate than procrastinate.

[Buckin' A]

Originally Posted by daddyphatsacs

When you say somebody I'm assuming that you meant me. Next time just address me on it.

I'm simply saying that I think that the middle of the Big Ten is going to undergo a realignment over the next few years. Illinois and Indiana will go from bottom feeders to bowl contenders, and the Michigan St's and Purdue's are sinking. Hell, the same argument could be made for Iowa and Minnesota at the moment.

Did that clarify things a bit?

I just figured that it's more productive to speculate than procrastinate.

Um no...I was simply using the "please explain" joke that we have been firing out for the last few months.

[OmahaBeef]

Originally Posted by daddyphatsacs

I'm simply saying that I think that the middle of the Big Ten is going to undergo a realignment over the next few years. Illinois and Indiana will go from bottom feeders to bowl contenders, and the Michigan St's and Purdue's are sinking. Hell, the same argument could be made for Iowa and Minnesota at the moment.

I was actually thinking the same thing while watching Illinois play today. They are starting to get some talent on that team. They have come close to beating some very good teams, and maybe a couple more years of good recruiting will help win similar games in the future.

[daddyphatsacs]

Originally Posted by Bucknut319

Um no...I was simply using the "please explain" joke that we have been firing out for the last few months.

My bad, I come around here quite a bit..........I must have missed that one. Good thing I got a new towel for Halloween, that way I am able to wipe the egg off my face.

[daddyphatsacs]

Originally Posted by OmahaBeef

I was actually thinking the same thing while watching Illinois play today. They are starting to get some talent on that team. They have come close to beating some very good teams, and maybe a couple more years of good recruiting will help win similar games in the future.

Thanks for addressing the subject.

Illinois is a team that may contend for a New Years day bowl in a year or two. That team has some excellent young talent, hat's off to Zook. Indiana isn't doing too bad either. They need to work on their defense though.

[MililaniBuckeye]

"Changing of the guard" to me means a change in leadership, and no way will Indiana and Illinois replace Ohio State and Michigan as guardians of the Big Ten.

[Cicero]

Originally Posted by MililaniBuckeye

"Changing of the guard" to me means a change in leadership, and no way will Indiana and Illinois replace Ohio State and Michigan as guardians of the Big Ten.

What a load of tripe........

Michigan?

[scarletngray]

I agree with your observation about Illinois and Indiana moving upward and teams like Mich St. and Purdue falling down.

[808 Buck]

Nice thread here. Indiana, Illinois are definitely on the rise. The Bucks, tsun, and I'll throw Wisky in here, remain the elite. Sparty, Minny, NW, and Purdue seem to be in a state of flux right now. At one time, each seemed to be on the cusp of "greatness" but have since settled. Iowa and Penn State continue to be wildcards. Consistently solid, not always dominant.

[WoodyWorshiper]

"Phat-daddy" seems spot-on here. I love the way these porgrams are going. We all want to argue about how good Big Ten football is, then wanna [censored] and whine because we only beat Illinois by 7 points. Hoeppner will make Indiana a formidable opponent for years to come. Not necessarily a championship type team, but they will be a tough team to beat, same as Illinois.

Zook had his team ready to play today, and hats go off to them. People need to realize that you don't just line up and win in the Big Ten when you're #1. That bullseye is just too damn profound. And, what makes these teams so dangerous is that THEY want to beat YOU more than YOU want to beat THEM. I think us and scUM are kinda sleep-walking right now heading into the showdown, and that [censored] better stop right now, because Indiana and Northwestern will certainly be playing "their" National Championship games next saturday.

[scooter1369]

I agree with the assessment of Illinois and Indiana. Juice Williams and Kellen Lewis seem poised to bring these two schools many happy moments over the next three years.

While these two improve, Michigan State, Iowa and Minnesota are fading fast. I thnk the "Big two, little nine" moniker will remain. But the pecking order of the other nine is shifting indeed.

Its hard to read Penn State right now. Are they as bad as they've seemed this year? Or is this an anomoly?

[Bucklion]

I think Indiana and Illinois are on the rise, but let's not forget that Kirk Ferentz was the new Godfather of coaching about 3 or 4 years ago, and Iowa was going to contend for the national championship every year until he left for either the NFL or just was elected to the Hall of Fame on general principle...remember that? Now today they lost to NW and they're firmly back to 7-5owa just like we like them. Teams come, teams go, a few seasons here, a few seasons there, but no, I don't see a true changing of the guard. Remember Illinois was 10-1 in the regular season just 5 years ago. If anything Wisconsin has replaced Penn State as the regular #3 in the conference, and Penn State has been relegated to the status of the other teams.

[Bucklion]

Originally Posted by scooter1369

I agree with the assessment of Illinois and Indiana. Juice Williams and Kellen Lewis seem poised to bring these two schools many happy moments over the next three years.

While these two improve, Michigan State, Iowa and Minnesota are fading fast. I thnk the "Big two, little nine" moniker will remain. But the pecking order of the other nine is shifting indeed.

Its hard to read Penn State right now. Are they as bad as they've seemed this year? Or is this an anomoly?

Actually Penn State has been better this year than they have since 1999, all years except last, when they were good, and 2002, when they were like this year....which is about 8-4, not beating anyone that matters but beating the rest of the also-rans. That's actually an improvement over 2000, 20001, 2003, and 2004 for them.