Andrew Linnehan
"Granted, none of the big-time networks or media outlets or corporate sponsors would care about such a silly thing like "being a student," but this is something that all of us Big Ten fans can be -- and should be -- very proud of."
For the better part of five years now, the media really hasn’t been that kind to the Big Ten. Mostly — actually, check that, COMPLETELY — because all it cares about in collegiate athletics is football and men’s basketball, and for some reason these nincompoops think that “the Big Ten is down” in these disciplines. But I’ll tell ya what. On a day to get all mushy and reflect on who and what you’re thankful for, I came to thinkin’ … The oldest conference in America has been really good to us this past year. Here’s the Top 5 Big Ten Things I’m Thankful For In 2009:
5. JIM TRESSEL - I know, I know, the man hates coaching in big games more than maize and blue sweater vests, but USC’s tank job this season reminded just how good of a job Tressel has done in Columbus. There are a handful of coaches that can get Top 10 recruiting classes every year: Pete Carroll, Urban Meyer, Bob Stoops, Jim Tressel, and whoever’s at Notre Dame. Does this always translate into a Top 10 performance ON the field? Ask Charlie Weis, who could only win six games this year and will be sitting on his couch in a month wondering whether Lays’ potato chips or Hostess Twinkies are a better remedy for unemployment. Ask Bob Stoops, who loses his star QB and quickly discovers that without his prized possession, he’s not a good enough coach to keep all his other 5-star athletes in the Top 25. Or ask Pete Carroll, who might have the most talent in the country year-in and year-out, how hard it is to win 10 or 11 games with a freshman quarterback (Matt Barkley). Then ask him to call up Jim Tressel, because he might have some sound advice considering he accomplished that feat merely 12 months ago. My point is this: Everyone likes big-time calls in big games and sexy wins over sexy opponents, but those will even themselves out eventually. The real coaching feat is consistently representing your program in these big games, and Jim Tressel is arguably the best coach in America at getting that done.
4. INSTANT REPLAY - Yes, it still doesn’t matter in the SEC because the refs are told to make sure Alabama and Florida win every game, but it has really helped the rest of the country. Game after game, no matter the conference, a big play is reversed in favor of the correct call. I can’t help but remember that it was Jim Delaney and the Big Ten who rolled the dice on this innovative technology. Gradually, the country has adopted this move, and college football is a much better place for it.
3. MICHIGAN STATE BASKETBALL - Talk about an answer to “the Big Ten is down.” Michigan State erased the Big 12’s best team (Kansas) and the Big East’s best team (Louisville) in back-to-back games en route to the Final Four in March. Those wins prompted this response from Digger Phelps, who, by the way, had said before the tournament that Louisville was the best team in the best conference in basketball: “Yeah, they may have beaten Louisville, but Connecticut will be too much for them. They’re too athletic for the Spartans.” Wait, so now Connecticut is the best team in basketball, Digger? Now that your precious Cardinals are out? Nice flip-flopping, you stereotypical TV analyst, you. And oh, by the way, who was the “more athletic” team on the floor in Detroit in that MSU v. UCONN tilt? The Spartans were, en route to an easy 82-73 win over the top-seeded Huskies. Sparty would then fall to a phenomenal UNC team that played a near-perfect game, but it was one helluva ride.
2. ACADEMICS - The Big Ten Conference continues to be the best model for the “student-athlete” designation. In football, it’s no different. For the fifth straight year, the Big Ten led all conferences in the number of Academic All-Americans, and we have one less team than most of the other power conferences. Granted, none of the big-time networks or media outlets or corporate sponsors would care about such a silly thing like “being a student,” but this is something that all of us Big Ten fans can be — and should be — very proud of.
1. DYNASTIC WOMEN - ESPN’s BottomLine is finally starting to get the hint. A couple of weeks ago, the Penn State women’s volleyball team moved past John Wooden’s — I’ll repeat, John Wooden’s — UCLA Bruins basketball teams for fourth all-time on the consecutive wins list. The Nits are still going, and now sit in 2nd place all time, needing about 30 more wins to eclipse the record-setting Florida men’s tennis team (137 dubs in a row in the 50’s and 60’s) for the best winning streak ever. But the Big Ten isn’t done with winning women. Northwestern will throw not one, but two dynasties into the mix. NU’s women’s lacrosse team is the only lacrosse team (men or women) outside of the east coast to win a lacrosse national championship, and they’ve now won FIVE national titles in a row! Some more Wildcat women, Northwestern’s tennis team, have won 13 Big Ten titles in a row. What?! This year, they go for 14, which would tie a record for consecutive conference titles by any collegiate sports team.
