[NU Sports] FORTY DAYS OF FOOTBALL: Day 30

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

We're 3/4 of the way to a pigskin perfection and opening weekend! Let's wrap up the third series of countdowns.

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
04) Braylon Edwards, Michigan
03) Chris Gamble, Ohio State
02) Larry Johnson, Penn State

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

TOP PLAYERS
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01) Drew Brees, Purdue

How can you not like Drew Brees? Long before he led my Saints to the Super Bowl championship, I couldn't help but like the guy as he led Purdue past NU and on to the 2001 Rose Bowl. He was always undersized. Always doubted. Always dismissed as just someone with big stats because of the offense he played in.

But in a decade bookended with two of the more iconic images in sports -- Brees grinning while carrying a rose around Ross-Ade Stadium and Brees tearfully holding his son as the Vince Lombardi trophy was handed out -- Brees has proven that he's a leader, a competitor and a winner.

And I think that looking back now, we can cross out Chris Weinke's name and hand Brees that Heisman Trophy as well. Although - like Larry Johnson - the Maxwell Award at least got it right. :)

Brees was certainly no stranger to Big Ten fans when the decade began, but a lot of people doubted whether Purdue could win those key games against big-name foes. After an early loss at Notre Dame where Brees made some key mistakes late, and another setback in Happy Valley, a lot of people thought that it was another Alamo Bowl trip and some big yardage stats for Brees and the Boilers.

But then came that October that no Boilermaker fan will ever forget. It began with Brees leading a hectic comeback and outdueling Drew Henson to clip Michigan 32-31 in West Lafayette. Brees then led the Boilers to their biggest road win of the year in Evanston, where they went blow for blow with Northwestern's high-powered offense early and capitalized on mistakes to pull away late. Brees was simply a machine who picked apart NU's defense that day and sure looked like the best player in the nation.

The Boilers next traveled to Madison and outgunned the Badgers in overtime on a day when Brees became the Big Ten's all-time leading passer. And the fourth game of Purdue's gauntlet was the clincher against Ohio State, where Brees threw for more than 450 yards and overcame a 4-interception game with a 64-yard touchdown in the final two minutes to get the victory. In a four-week span, the Boilers had defeated their nearest four contenders in the Big Ten race and earned their trip to Pasadena.

Brees finished his career with Big Ten records for yards, TD passes, completions and attempts and was also an academic All-American his senior year. The Cinderella season did not have the fairy tale ending in the Rose Bowl, as a powerful Washington team jumped on the Boilers early and held off a rally late. Brees was drafted by the Chargers and enjoyed success there before being dumped for a young "protype" punk quarterback - but their loss was New Orleans' gain as the city gained a natural born leader and Saint for life who led the team to the NFC title game in 2006-07 and the Super Bowl championship just three years later.

Sometimes nice guys finish first, and I can't think of a better player or better person in Big Ten football this past decade than Drew Brees.

Coming Wednesday: The final countdown begins!

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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