Big Ten 2006

[Moodini31]

Since most of us are taking the number approach, I'll follow suit.

1. Ohio State is good, but vastly overrated. How can you be a preseason #1 if your team's success was due largely to your defense and you lose 9 starters including A.J. Hawk, Schlaegel, Ashton Youboty, Nate Salley, Donte Whitner, etc. I know there's still talent there, but losing 9 starters is a big deal. You can't replace experience.

2. No cornbread here, but Michigan is going to bounce back in a big way. Their 7-5 record from last year has fueled the off-season workouts and everyone is coming back stronger, leaner, and most importantly, hungry. Kevin Grady has lost 15 pounds, still has his power running ablility, but is more agile and quick. Michigan's runningbacks are by no means overrated. Hart will have a big year again, Grady will be solid spelling Hart and in short yardage situations, and just wait until you see Carlos Brown. I've never heard the Michigan coaches go off about a players speed like they have about him. Look out. Speaking of the coaches, the coaching changes will help out in a big way. Ron English runs a more aggressive defensive scheme, the new LB coach served under Bill Belichick in New England, and Mike DeBord is the OC again and does anyone remember what happened last team he was the OC? 1997 National Champions, 1999 Big Ten Champions, 2000 Orange Bowl champions. He's promised a more aggressive scheme as well, acknowledged the game has changed and is planning on throwing the ball down the field more. Bottom line, I think Michigan will finish at 9-3, possibly 10-2, and will challenge for the Big Ten title. I think we'll lose to ND, Ohio State, and possibly Iowa. I think we'll beat PSU. We own Penn State.

3. That brings me to my next point. PSU will be good, but not as good as last year. They return a lot of talent, but I think Michael Robinson did a lot more for that team than he was given credit for. The offense will change drastically with WB Morelli running the show, but he's very accurate and the Nittany Lions will move the ball, just in a different way.

4. MSU will have their typical season, but won't beat ND this year. They'll finish somewhere around .500 and Stanton will have gaudy numbers, but defense will be a big problem. He will not contend for the Heisman because of the W-L record. Ringer will have a big year, hitting 1000 yards, but the whack D will be too much to overcome.

5. Minnesota will be horrible with the loss of Maroney and last year's Wolverine killer Gary Russell, who's been suspended due to academic issues. "The Big Wheel" is scary good though.

6. Iowa will do a lot of damage. Tate scares me and Albert Young is a great RB. You know their O-Line is stellar every year, but the loss of Chad Greenway and Abdul Hodge, two "impact players" will be tough to replace. If their defense steps up, they will contend for the B10 title.

7. I'm with Tre, Wisconsin will be horrible. Calhoun was their team last year. I'm glad he's a Lion.

8. Offensive player of the Year-Troy Smith, OSU, Defensive player of the year-Paul Posluzny, PSU.

9. Players from out of nowhere-Adrian Arrington, LaTerryal Savoy, Michigan, Jamario O'Neal, Anthony Gonzalez, OSU, Anthony Morelli, PSU.

10. Freshman of the Year-Chris Wells, OSU

11. 2006 Big Ten Champion-Ohio State

[SpartyNick]

I really hope you switched because (like everyone else) got easily accepted to MSU and feel like you should root for them, and/or are a big basketball fan. Because if those are not your reasons, you are retarded. Sparty football is one of the biggest jokes in all of NCAA athletics. Every year, they beat some clowns and pull one out of their ass to beat Notre Dame and then the ship sinks like the Titanic. Just brace yourself and expect the inevitable. But I don't think you guys are going to beat ND this year because they are way too talented now, have a great coach, and some jick stuck the State flag on their field last year, and I'm pretty sure they remember that.

In other words, go to Spartanmag.com and read your basketball articles and get hyped about the 2007 basketball recruiting class.

Great idea. As a Spartan fan I'm just going to ignore football because we struggle in it and walk around talking about the 2007 basketball recruiting class. Saying the football program struggles is true, saying it's retarded to cheer for MSU football because they struggle isn't.

[SKelly]

I'm more excited about this football season then any other season before, because this is my first year of being a Spartan fan. Next year I'll be a freshman in East Lansing. Any advice from veteran Spartan fans on how to handle the many heartbreaks and dissapointments?

First year being a Spartan fan? It the famous words of Ron Burgundy "That was a baaaaad choice".

I really hope you switched because (like everyone else) got easily accepted to MSU and feel like you should root for them, and/or are a big basketball fan. Because if those are not your reasons, you are retarded. Sparty football is one of the biggest jokes in all of NCAA athletics. Every year, they beat some clowns and pull one out of their ass to beat Notre Dame and then the ship sinks like the Titanic. Just brace yourself and expect the inevitable. But I don't think you guys are going to beat ND this year because they are way too talented now, have a great coach, and some jick stuck the State flag on their field last year, and I'm pretty sure they remember that.

In other words, go to Spartanmag.com and read your basketball articles and get hyped about the 2007 basketball recruiting class.

Oh I fully expect my new team to suck this year. I'm just hoping to have a good time at the tailgates and being obnoxious to opposing teams' fans for no apparent reason. That's what being a Spartan is all about, right?

[Jethro34]

Blue Ribbon Index predictions per ESPN

Big Ten Conference
1. Ohio State
2. Iowa
3. Penn State
4. Michigan
5. Purdue
6. Wisconsin
7. Michigan State
8. Minnesota
9. Northwestern
10. Illinois
11. Indiana

All-Big Ten Team

Offense
WR: Dorien Bryant, Purdue
WR: Ted Ginn Jr., Ohio State
OL: Joe Thomas, Wisconsin
OL: Levi Brown, Penn State
OL: Mike Jones, Iowa
OL: Jordan Grimes, Purdue
OL: Doug Datish, Ohio State
QB: Troy Smith, Ohio State
RB: Tyrell Sutton, Northwestern
RB: Antonio Pittman, Ohio State
TE: Matt Spaeth, Minnesota

Defense
DL: Ken Iwebema, Iowa
DL: Jay Alford, Penn State
DL: Quinn Pitcock, Ohio State
DL: LaMarr Woodley, Michigan
LB: Paul Posluszny, Penn State
LB: Mark Zalewski, Wisconsin
LB: Dave Harris, Michigan
DB: Marquice Cole, Northwestern
DB: Marcus Paschal, Iowa
DB: Leon Hall, Michigan
DB: Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State

Specialists
K: Kyle Schlicher, Iowa
KR: Ted Ginn Jr. , Ohio State
P: Ken DeBauche, Wisconsin
PR: Steve Breaston, Michigan

Offensive Player of the Year
Troy Smith, QB, Ohio State

Defensive Player of the Year
Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn State

Newcomer of the Year
Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State

Wow. Michigan picked 4th? No Spartans at all on the All-Big Ten team.
Both of those facts will be a mistake, a big mistake.

[SpartyNick]

Wow. Michigan picked 4th? No Spartans at all on the All-Big Ten team.
Both of those facts will be a mistake, a big mistake.

You know what's funny about that? There was a poll on ESPN.com's frontpage yesterday asking who would win the Big Ten. The choices were Michigan, Iowa, OSU, and Wisconsin. PSU wasn't even listed and now they place them above Michigan pre-season? Ridiculous.

[UxKa]

its funny how much you talk down on wisconsin as a whole. yeah they dont have the history of um or osu, but they arent that bad. who has won three rose bowls in the last twelve years compared to no more than one by any other school? wisconsin. and i was there for all three. who has regularly been voted as the best party school in the country mainly because of the football environment? wisconsin. who became the ncaa's all-time leadring rusher? ron dayne. calhoun was the only offense last year? well teams would have stacked against him if it werent for williams, daniels, and before he was injured, bernstein. last year wisconsin had one of the top defenses in the country, and set a school record for points in a season. i agree they will have a down year this year, but you really cant knock em for their tenure under barry alvarez who is also the only coach in history to have won three rose bowls.

[Unibomber]

Blue Ribbon Index predictions per ESPN

Big Ten Conference
1. Ohio State
2. Iowa
3. Penn State
4. Michigan
5. Purdue
6. Wisconsin
7. Michigan State
8. Minnesota
9. Northwestern
10. Illinois
11. Indiana

All-Big Ten Team

Offense
WR: Dorien Bryant, Purdue
WR: Ted Ginn Jr., Ohio State
OL: Joe Thomas, Wisconsin
OL: Levi Brown, Penn State
OL: Mike Jones, Iowa
OL: Jordan Grimes, Purdue
OL: Doug Datish, Ohio State
QB: Troy Smith, Ohio State
RB: Tyrell Sutton, Northwestern
RB: Antonio Pittman, Ohio State
TE: Matt Spaeth, Minnesota

Defense
DL: Ken Iwebema, Iowa
DL: Jay Alford, Penn State
DL: Quinn Pitcock, Ohio State
DL: LaMarr Woodley, Michigan
LB: Paul Posluszny, Penn State
LB: Mark Zalewski, Wisconsin
LB: Dave Harris, Michigan
DB: Marquice Cole, Northwestern
DB: Marcus Paschal, Iowa
DB: Leon Hall, Michigan
DB: Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State

Specialists
K: Kyle Schlicher, Iowa
KR: Ted Ginn Jr. , Ohio State
P: Ken DeBauche, Wisconsin
PR: Steve Breaston, Michigan

Offensive Player of the Year
Troy Smith, QB, Ohio State

Defensive Player of the Year
Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn State

Newcomer of the Year
Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State

Wow. Michigan picked 4th? No Spartans at all on the All-Big Ten team.
Both of those facts will be a mistake, a big mistake.

Who?


And what the hell makes Wisconsin so damn special? They'll probably fall upset at least twice this season.

[Baker]

SKelly, I think you made the right choice.

Jethro rips State's party atmosphere. I think that's funny because anybody that goes to MSU or has been there knows that it is a hype college campus filled with ridiculously hot girls all over. Lets take a look at the alternative in Ann Arbor. 90% of their students just came over from another country and most of them will not stay here. 1/2 of their students spend their time in coffee shops discussing where to put their next rainbow sticker on their car.

Think I'm full of it? I've had currently enrolled UM students state these things to me themselves.

I also think it's funny when UM fans rip people for being State fans because they got accepted there. Newsflash: You wouldn't have gotten accepted into UM either! MSU students are just like us. They are generally 3.0-3.5 gpa hs students from middle to upper class homes. Sure they accept more and they might even accept a 2.8 student here and there. That is because they are one of the 10 biggest universities in the country! They have more room for more students.

Now to athletics, actually I should say Football and Basketball since that's what we talk about.

Moodini, if MSU is one of the biggest jokes in the NCAA when it comes to football. They are far surpassed by UM's clown bball program.

Skelly, MSU and UM are virtually identical in terms of bball/fbball. Both have one amazing program and both have one joke program. So, if I'm making the college choice, I'll watch my sports around hot girls and normal dudes just like me, not foreign dudes that are reaching for my balls.

You make the call.

[SKelly]

Good stuff Tre.

You know at first I was a little "icky" about going to MSU. It had always been my plan, and sort of a dream, to go to U of M. But now that I'm about to go to East Lansing at the end of the month, I wouldn't want to have it any other way.

Spartan girls are WAY hotter than Michigan's. It's not even close. The few guys from my class going to Michigan admit that. There is this one Indian girl from our class going there with them. They said, "She's the hottest girl in our class."

I'll have a lot more friends in East Lansing too. They are just cooler people to be around. The few guys from my class that I mentioned are going to Michigan, I wouldn't want to hang out with any of them. I've got a lot of friends going to State. And I'll make more too, not every other guy is wearing a turban.

With football, yes, of course, Michigan's program is much better. However, Spartan games are more fun. I've been to a few games in E.L. as a Michigan fan. That place is so loud. The tailgate parties are so much fun. And at the Big House, you can hear a pin drop. The huge expectations almost always lead to dissapointment at Michigan. A loss as a Spartan, "Oh well." When Michigan took a loss it took me a the rest of the weekend to recover.

Lastly, at Michigan, I would have to be graded on a curve with a bunch of brainiacs. I will be one of the smarter people in my classes at State. My grades should be good.

And I'm still hoping to go to grad school at U of M.

[Artis Gilmore]

If you were wise enough to truly consider tranferring, you never would have enrolled at State in the first place. (unless you just wanted to do all the steps before the shooting yourself and THEN transfer instead)

I would have loved to go to U of M. If only I were an arab girl.

I'm Arab, and my cousin has a friend whos arab, and she is going to MSU too.