[NU Sports] FORTY DAYS OF FOOTBALL: Day 27

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

Hooray for weekends ... and only two more regular weekends until they become those extra special super college football weekends!

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
08) Jamar Fletcher, Wisconsin
07) Dallas Clark, Iowa
06) Troy Smith, Ohio State
05) Damien Anderson, Northwestern

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

TOP PLAYERS
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04) Braylon Edwards, Michigan

For a school that's not well known for offensive innovation, Michigan has had more than its share of wide receiving superstars, and the 2000s were no different. David Terrell got the decade kicked off, and Steve Breaston and Mario Manningham stood out before the RichRod debacle began. But it was Braylon Edwards who stood out not just as Michigan's #1 "No. 1" of the decade, but as the Big Ten's best wideout.

Edwards burst onto the big stage in 2002 with a 1000-yard season, and the totals increased each of the next two years. He wound up holding most of the Michigan receiving marks and a few Big Ten ones as well. In 2004, Edwards won the Silver Football Award and was an All-American for the Big Ten champion Wolverines and had a personal high 189 yards in a 3-score game against rival Michigan State.

When you play for Michigan, though, there's really only one game that matters. And although the Wolverines only beat Ohio State once out of three games with Edwards starting, it certainly wasn't because he failed to show up. Edwards topped 100 yards in all three games against the Buckeyes. The Wolverines also only won one of the three bowl games from 2002-2004 (beating Florida in Tampa and dropping two Rose Bowls), but Edwards again put up big numbers and topped 100 yards in each game.

The crowning moment came in Edwards' final game for Big Blue in Pasadena against Texas. In what was one of the most consistently entertaining bowl games of the decade, Michigan fell to Texas 37-38 on a field goal at the final gun. Along with Vince Young of Texas, Edwards was the star of the game, catching three touchdowns and nearly pulling off the upset for the Wolverines.

Cleveland didn't quite work out for Edwards after being drafted by the Browns, but the J-E-T-S may be more to his liking with their talented lineup this season.

Coming Sunday: Doubling down

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

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