Glenn Winston meet Brandon Graham

I don't have any real content today, I am working on Iowa's KYF today. In case you have not already figured it out, when I don't have anything prepared I will throw up a video. Thanks to Brian for splicing all up the plays. If you are a football junkie and want to learn what really happens, read this. It is what separates MGoBlog from every other site out there.

I could watch this play over and over a hundred times and it will make me smile. I know we lost, but I wonder if Glenn Winston wishes he was still in jail after this hit.

More BTN fun

Who in their right mind would ever go to Penn State to play for that crazy old man ?

Bemoaning Big Ten Network: tUOS Style

Many of you may remember the "war of words" that Bill Martin engaged in with Comcast over the Big Ten Network. In fact, he posted two letters on mgoblue.com discussing the issues. Well, apparently Gene Smith (tUOS' director of athletics) has fired the next shot........this time at Time Warner.

There's a glaring difference between the letters, however. Bill Martin speaks to the economic forces involved, the duplicity of Comcast, and the benefits of the BTN:
"The Big Ten Network is about more than just the 40 football games produced each year. We will have at least 13 men's basketball games on the BTN, at least seven of which are conference games. In total the BTN will broadcast 140 men's basketball games and 55 women's basketball games. In the past, coverage of our men's basketball game was sporadic at best (last year 10 games weren't covered at all, and 11 games were syndicated with limited local coverage), and coverage of women's basketball was virtually non-existent. When the BTN achieves its distribution goals, coverage for all of our sports will be much broader and deeper.The Big Ten Network is also more than just sports - it is really an extension of our schools, with 660 hours of campus programming and a dedication to no alcohol advertising and event-equity for men's and women's sports. We believe the network is totally in line with the values of our conference, institutions and fans."

Gene Smith's letter?????
"As the network enters it's second season, we are proud of all the Ohio State programming on the network and we are proud of how the network represents the rest of the Big Ten. In its first year on the air, the Big Ten Network featured more than 200 hours of Buckeye programming, including four football games, 22 men's and women's basketball games and two Buckeye classics, the 2003 National Championship victory over Miami and the thrilling 2006 defeat of Michigan." (emphasis added)

He also points out to his readers "Seven in 10 homes in the Big Ten states now have the network, versus 4 in Ohio. It is a shame that due to Time Warner's decision, nearly all Michigan fans have the network, but Buckeye fans do not."

That's right Geney. We win. You lose. No matter how much you pound on us on the football field we still trump. In fact, this week's BTN programming is ALL Michigan ALL the time. On Tuesday (Aug. 26), the Network will air Big Ten Legends: Lloyd Carr, debuting at 6 p.m., followed by the kickoff of season two of The Big Ten’s Greatest Games, which will feature Michigan’s 2000 Orange Bowl overtime win against Alabama, beginning at 7 p.m. (yeah, season premiere of Greatest Game doesn't involve you!) Then on Friday (Aug. 29) at 8:30 p.m., the Wolverines will be the focus on the season premiere of Big Ten Friday Night Tailgate presented by Nissan. This weekend will also mark the debut of former Wolverine tight end Tony McGee on the Big Ten Network. McGee joins the BTN this season as an analyst during the network's weekend football coverage.

So maybe you don't really want the BTN afterall........

HT: SiC

Practice on BTN--aka Rich Rod makes me swoon

The Big Ten Network was on campus broadcasting practice and yammering with the coaches today. The first thing I noticed was how fit the players look. Minimal 'dunlaps' on the linemen (as in my belly dun lapped over my belt) and some of the skill guys look down right svelte! And, is it just me, or is the adidas yellow not really maize?????

Coach Rich Rod sauntered up to the BTN desk and just charmed this ol' girl to mush!

When asked what he felt the team still needed to work on most he replied, "Oh quite a bit--I still have my voice, but we've got 2 good weeks left."
He says the team is not ready for a game yet particularly because of all the young guys. All the little things still need to be taught. But they are getting better slowly.

Coach DiNardo pointed out that 8 of 11 teams in the Big 10 are running some variety of the spread. Rich Rod says that they keep changing his version of the spread, not really to stay ahead of the pack, but instead to more readily fit the personnel and their offensive skill set. The play calling will be geared to what the kids can do.

Get ready for a load of frosh on offense: McGuffie and Shaw at tailback/Odoms and Robinson at the slot/Darryl Stonum outside receiver are all true freshman who are gonna play right away.
At QB, Threet and Sheridan are very similiar, both are very intelligent guys, and according to Rich Rod they picked up the system, terminology, and signals much quicker than anticipated.
"We're just trying to get 'em to manage the game. A quarterback in our offense is like a point guard that can shoot the three, if his 3 point shot's not fallin' then he's gotta be a distributor and be smart with the ball." (sigh. oh richie....)

O-line is still a work in progress--lots of growin' pains. Only one starter coming back--Steve Shilling. True freshmen on '2 deeps' which Coach notes is "really scary". Just today they moved John Ferrar, a D-lineman, over to the O-line where they think he can be a starter. Still looking for 6-7 guys that they think they can win with.

Coach won't talk about number of wins or whatnot, he just wants to compete every game and deserve to win each one. First goal will be conference championship every year. He's going to be relying on the more experienced defense to start things out while the offense evolves.

And, I have to say, I'm warming up to the BTN, at least as far as Michigan coverage goes. ESPN's Dream Job winner Mike Hall is an announcer and he still looks like Doogie Howser! Why'd he leave ESPNU? More chicks in Chicago than Charlotte, NC.
The other announcers leave much to be desired, and I'm thinking that I can do a better job reading the teleprompter (if they put it on the big font that is).....

oooh.....can you feel it???

FOOTBALL. SOON.

The Monolith Transformed

August 15, 2008.

The dawning.

Big Ten Network arrives.

You can now watch the Northwestern Wildcats' football practice.
Or not.