[NU Sports] FORTY DAYS OF FOOTBALL: Day 23

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

The hits keep coming ...

FORTY DAYS OF FOOTBALL
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> DAYS 1-10: The top coaches of the decade

10) Glen Mason, Minnesota
09) Bret Bielema, Wisconsin
08) Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
07) Barry Alvarez, Wisconsin
06) Randy Walker, Northwestern
05) Lloyd Carr, Michigan
04) Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
03) Joe Tiller, Purdue
02) Joe Paterno, Penn State
01) Jim Tressel, Ohio State

> DAYS 11-20: The top games of the decade

10) 2000: Purdue 32, Michigan 31
09) 2001: Michigan State 26, Michigan 24
08) 2005: Michigan 27, Penn State 25
07) 2003: Minnesota 37, Wisconsin 34
06) 2004: Northwestern 33, Ohio State 27 (OT)
05) 2008: Penn State 13, Ohio State 6
04) 2009: Ohio State 27, Iowa 24 (OT)
03) 2002: Ohio State 10, Purdue 6
02) 2000: Northwestern 54, Michigan 51
01) 2006: Ohio State 42, Michigan 39

> DAYS 21-30: The top players of the decade

10) Laurence Maroney/Marion Barber, Minnesota
09) Antwaan Randle El, Indiana

> DAYS 31-40: The top teams of the decade

TOP PLAYERS
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08) Jamar Fletcher, Wisconsin

Defenders are always tough to rank on these lists - I'm sure there have been some great defensive linemen in the last decade of the Big Ten, but they never get the publicity they deserve ... and Ohio State linebackers are as indistinguishable as Minnesota running backs apparently, as it's hard to tell Matt Wilhelm or A.J. Hawk begins and James Laurinaitis ends.

But defensive backs can make a name for themselves, as Charles Woodson showed when he captured the Heisman Trophy. They get the flashy game-changing plays, can alter a coach's plans like no other and are usually pretty good interviews as well. So it should be no surprise that our first defender on the list is a defensive back, Jamar Fletcher from Wisconsin.

Fletcher only was at Wisconsin one year in this decade, but he made an impression. After being a key member of Wisconsin's defense during back-to-back Rose Bowl championship seasons, he earned national acclaim in 2000 as the Jim Thorpe Award winner for the nation's top defensive back and also was named the Big Ten's defensive player of the year.

But what set Fletcher apart was his knack for having his best performances in the big games. He was a personal demon of Drew Brees in the 1998 and 1999 games and helped the No. 6 Badgers seal an early showdown with Oregon by picking off three passes. However, a free merchandise scandal and suspensions kept Fletcher out of some key games, including a loss to Northwestern that began a 3-game spiral that knocked Wisconsin out of league title contention.

However, Fletcher still managed six interceptions in the season and took home the hardware mentioned above. It was a testament to how often he took half the field away from opposing quarterbacks and shut down the other team's top receiving option. I was glad we didn't have to face him that September Saturday in Madison.

I was sure Fletcher was a can't miss pro prospect and he was drafted in the first round by the Dolphins - but he never was able to catch on with bad luck, injuries and the like. But on the college field, Fletcher was usually the quickest, smartest and cockiest player on the field and he backed up the talk with some dazzling play.

Coming Wednesday: Mr. Allstate

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

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STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!! GEAUX SAINTS!!!
Super Bowl XLIV Champions!
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