I realize that talking about the selections of the 2nd Team All-Big 10 teams is nitpicking to say the least, but it's also a good way to discuss what statistics and skills are really valued by football fans. Its also another excuse to go over the just finished Big 10 season, especially when I feel like some good arguments remain over which players truly excelled this year.

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A shift of power was legitimately felt in the Big 10 this year. Highly hyped traditional powers suffered once-in-a-generation upsets and surprising losing streaks, while mediocre programs followed their new coaches to in-conference success. Don't believe me? Check the statistics from the past ten years. (Note: The numbers in parentheses are the finishing Big 10 ranking of the team in 2008. For ranking the teams that had the same in-conference record in 2008, I went to overall record. If that didn't resolve which team was ranked higher, I went to head-to-head match-up.)

Michigan's well-documented fall from perennial power is shown in its -8 difference. Wisconsin's -3 difference, while not as dramatic as the Wolverines, seemed especially steep because of the Badgers #8 preseason national ranking. Michigan State and Northwestern, spurred on by their intense coaches and solid defenses, both show a +5 difference thanks to their strong play.

In one of your recent rants against Bobby Bowden, a throwaway line of yours read something like:

So, while we pretend that Bowden isn't literally the worst coach in America (and it's debatable between him and Paterno), and wait for the day that he finally ceases to exist (whether at FSU or on earth, both seem equally likely), we can do something about the defensive staff. 

Paterno is the worst coach in America? What a skewed view of college football you have. Paterno presides over a 11-1 Penn State team that changed its entire offensive philosophy and was rewarded with a Rose Bowl berth. His Penn State team was one last second field goal away from playing in the BCS title game. Of course he's a figurehead who lets his assistants run the program, but that's where his brilliance lays. He was aware enough to recognize his monstrous physical and mental limitations and allow others to make the strategy decisions, while at the same time using his "legend" status to recruit top players and remain the face of the program. 

The main job of a "football school" coach like Paterno is to help his program retain its status as a top program. He has done that successfully, especially this year. He could have nixed his sons Spread HD offense and stuck with the traditionally bland Penn State offensive system. But he was flexible and they profited immensely.

Maybe Paterno doesn't always know what day it is (I'm slightly exaggerating Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --&gt; <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]-->).But while Bowden has allowed the the best college football program of the 1990s to be surpassed by its hated in-state rival, Paterno has taken steps to assure that Penn State is improving and relevant on the national level. That doesn't sound like bad coaching to me.

Graham Filler

The Rivalry, Esq. "SBN's Big 10 Blog"

www.rivalryesq.com

I stumbled onto this ESPN Classic game while flipping channels and figured I would give a quick synopsis of this unbelievable matchup. Make note of who the announcers are.

Scene: Columbus, Ohio

Date: November 23, 1974

Matchup: #3 10-0 Michigan v #4 9-1 Ohio State

Announcers: Keith Jackson and Joe Paterno (A solid pairing: Paterno's sentimentalism and knowledge of strategy went perfectly with Jackson's iconic voice. Plus, they are solid 10's on the "Legend Scale," so the pairing is even better in 2008.

Introductions: The best part of this game was the intro's. One by one, the players walk in front of the camera and are announced - Archie Griffin, Dick Mack, Gordon Bell. The haircuts are legendary and the players were obviously hyped up (one guy is pounding on his chest and scowling like Lattimore from "The Program")...

Game Notes: The heralded Michigan defense had led the Wolverines to an undefeated season so far and the only bump in Coach Schembechler's road to the Rose Bowl was hated Ohio State. The atmosphere was especially intense in Columbus because of the 1973 Rose Bowl controversy, when OSU was picked to represent the Big 10 through a secret ballot process, leaving the whole state of Michigan fuming.

The Buckeye defenders played their hearts out, forcing incompletitions and hitting UM quarterback Dennis Franklin all day. Eventual Heisman winner Archie Griffin helped the Bucks control the game and the clock, but Michigan would not go away. Down 12-10 and down to its last timeout, Franklin completed a 20 yard pass to put the Wolverines in field goal range with 16 seconds left. Out game Mike Lantry, a straight on kicker who had missed two potential game winning field goals against OSU in 1973. Lantry lined up the 33 yarder and his kick started straight, but slowly drifted left. Jackson said it might be good, Paterno agreed, but the referee waived his arms violently, signalling "no good."

The crowd prematurely rushed the field and ripped the goal posts down. Woody Hayes grabbed the field microphone to ask the crowd to please leave the field, but it didn't matter now. The Bucks had pulled an upset over Schembechler and would be attending another Rose Bowl.

I spent this Saturday in Columbus, Ohio, enduring the coldest football game I've ever attended and watching my Wolverines get blown out. Afterwards, the boys and I watched a ton of football and had a couple beers, roaming around traditional Columbus restaurants and cigar shops. I hope you enjoy my picture-filled recount of this epic day.

11:00 AM: Parking Lot Next to the Stadium

After we stopped at the Blackwell(?) Inn to pick up my ticket ($125 bucks to watch a blowout in 21 degree weather, I'm brilliant), we met Jon's parents and other Buckeye fans tailgating next to the stadium. The breakfast casserole was amazing and thank god for that propane space heater, which kept me sort of warm and singed the clothes of people who got too close. I also encountered a nice and extremely dedicated Buckeye fan (above). His quote as people were booing me:

"Hey, I don't hate Michigan, you make Ohio State who we are. Without you, there is no me and no rivalry."

The days most emotional and clear-headed words came from a 250 lb man wearing 10 pounds of beads and sporting a Block O shaved into his head. Figures.

12:45 PM, Upper Level South Stands, The Horseshoe

I don't need to say much about the game. I had dreams of a close contest for one half, but the third quarter put an end to those dreams as Ohio State hit on big play after big play. After Zoltan Mesko pinned the Bucks at the OSU 9 yard line, the Bucks spit out a 91 yard drive to take a two touchdown lead with 11 minutes left in the third, effectively ending the game in my mind. As I've written so many times, this Michigan team didn't have the passing capability to make comebacks, especially with Nick Sheridan showcasing the worst throwing arm in Michigan history. Someone should tell Sheridan that he is trying to complete passes, not skip rocks.

The fans around me would cheer for big plays and dance before kickoffs, but most people were muffled by the cold, both literally and figuratively. Fans complained the whole game, not about football, but about the lack of feeling in their feet. Ah, Midwest football. Live it.

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As Daryll Clark was dissecting Michigan State's pass defense on Saturday night, Jon and I pondered an important question:

Was the Buckeye defense that slowed Daryll Clark that good, or did Clark just have a bad day throwing the ball in Columbus?

The former thought seems to be more accurate. The Buckeye defense was solid, smashing Clark out of the game and not allowing him time to complete wheel routes or deep slants. You see, the Spread HD is made up of many moving parts and a tremendous variety of options. Plus, Clark has proven he can make every kind of throw this year: stutter routes, posts, sideline fades, screens. Against Ohio State, the Spread HD passing options were never allowed to develop effectively, limiting Clark's effectiveness.

Thanks to the Buckeyes, MSU had a blueprint for stopping the Nittany Lion's passing attack. But the defense and All Big 10 linebacker Greg Jones never were able to hurry Clark and we all saw the results. In the first half alone, Clark completed passes of 49, 26, 37, 28, and 32 yards - most of these passes were on routes that took some time for the receiver to get open. Michigan State ended up allowing 419 yards passing. Not a great day for Mark Dantonio and the East Lansing faithful.

Dedicated Spartan fans followed this guy's lead after the PSU game.

(My thanks to Shannon Snee for the creative idea and the scrapbooking conversation)

I have visited some famous places in my life, thanks mostly to the historically-inclined vacation tendencies of my mother. I played 18 at St. Andrews, drifted around the Bloody Angle in Virginia, visited the Old North Church in Boston...But according to this website, all my travels were in vain. Why? Because I haven't enlisted my family members or fellow travelers to hoist their arms in the O-H-I-O salute.

Oh that church was nice, but LOOK at the form on that last "O"!

This degradation of historic monuments and destinations would be a lesser issue if it wasn't so popular and celebrated. Buckeye students and family members have filled the University's O-H-I-O picture web page with over 2200 images of pure Buckeye egotism. I'm sure the scrapbooking conversations are wonderful:

Jim Buckeye: O hunny look, there we are touring Chichen Itza, one of the worlds most mysterious and historic places.

Jill Buckeye: Oh yes, and there we are doing the O-H-I-O with the kids in the Temple of Warriors! Go Bucks!

Note 1: The Leaning Tower hates American football and isn't willingly participating in this family moment. Note 2: That first "O" is a square Dad - bend those arms.

Let me just say, there are few things more annoying than hearing that damn O-H-I-O chant all year. As I wrote this summer:

As a Michigan football fan, I am disgusted and underwhelmed whenever I see Buckeye fans chant O-H-I-O and accompany this intellectually challenging chant with arm motions. This repetitive chant is not original or witty (i.e. when an inspired crowd cleverly mocks an opposing player). The chant is not deep and meaningful, like an English soccer crowd singing a one hundred year old drinking song. The O-H-I-O chant leads me to believe that many Ohio State fans are not very educated and truly rejoice when they realize they can spell the name of their beloved state.

But that doesn't mean I can't be understanding of this behavior. It's not their fault that the whole state rallies itself by screaming a word fit for a 2nd grade geography spelling bee. Included in my last summer piece was this conciliatory note:

As a college football fan, I think the O-H-I-O chant is the kind of ritual that is as important as football game and the players themselves. The chant shows pride and tradition (however simple that tradition is). The chant breeds familiarity: if you're an OSU fan screaming O-H-I-O in the Horseshoe, you're surrounded by 100,000 of your closest friends.

Butttttttttttt it's Michigan Week, so I'm annoyed.

Great minds think alike.

My final QB rankings of the year are here and I am getting the feeling that QB rankings are sometimes insufficient in telling the whole story. Ricky Stanzi beat Penn State, but only threw for 71 yards against Purdue. Juice Williams' passing rating is leading the Big 10, but probably won't make a single 1st or 2nd All Conference team. Just like in the past, I want to use a combination of four factors to rate the QB's: 1) Stats, 2) Leadership, 3) Teams effect on QB play, 4) Intangibles. I hope you enjoy The Rivalry's Big 10 Quarterback Rankings, 2008 Final Edition.

Miami University (Ohio). Ohio University. University of Toledo. Bowling Green State University. University of Dayton. University of Cincinnati. University of Akron. These are some excellent Ohio colleges, worthy of sending your son or daughter to.

But people, let's be honest. There is only one Ohio school worthy of lifting up a giant THE before its name and having its fans correct people about the use of this illustrious THE. The effect of this self imposed grandiosity can be felt throughout the state. When I attended Miami (OH), I noticed that some of the students from Columbus were doubly rabid Buckeye fans. It was almost like the kids felt bad for leaving the C-bus mothership to matriculate elsewhere, so they made up for this betrayal by cheering extra loud for the Bucks.  

So in case there was any confusion about the pronunciation, or usage, let me clear things up. It's: THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY...And they call us pompous.