[NU Sports] Midterm marks (was Re: MSU)

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

> I agree that their defense has been underwhelming given the pre-season

> expectations (though better than Northwestern's defense), but I think 


Um, that's not a high bar to jump over there. :)

> your 'week to week' comment is premature just two games into their 

> first Big Ten season, especially with the 'welcome rookie' schedule 


Perhaps, but I think it will hold up with MSU, Michigan, PSU and Iowa left on the schedule.

The point was that they just escaped at home against a team that will finish around 6-6 ... granted OSU is a bit better now with Herron, but still, would Husker fans be pleased with a late escape against Texas Tech or Baylor in Lincoln?

Just a shot at the Big XII and their perpetual overrated-ness in recent years as the folks at ESPN and elsewhere try and find a clear #2 to the SEC that is not named the Big Ten -- and a shot at those who seemed to forget PSU in 1993 and predicted the Huskers would roll through the Big Ten since, as they had been told by ESPN and elsewhere, the league is basically Ohio State and no one else. :)

> It's time for the Big Ten to play its annual version of Ring around 
> the Rosie, where A beats B, who beats C, who beats D, who beats A.  


Yup ... though I think it will shake up pretty much as expected in the preseason, with Iowa @ Nebraska and PSU @ Wisconsin on the final weekend deciding the ridiculously named divisions and securing a Husker/Badger rematch in Indianapolis. Illinois/Michigan had their fun and OSU/MSU could still play spoiler (and Purdue/NU need a lot of help to go bowling) ... but in the end the schedule worked out well for the league with those final weekend games. PSU and Iowa aren't really big threats to the Big Reds, but they are sitting there under the radar. PSU doesn't have any gimmes left, but they are at home for some key games and the D will allow them to stay in games and win ugly. And Iowa's schedule opens up now with the IU, PU and Minny along with both Michigan schools at home -- they could be heading into Lincoln on a big roll if they defend home turf.

But the Big Ten hype machine needs to forget about selling their stupid division names to us in the commercials and start selling the league like the SEC folks do, because this perception of the Big XII (or even Pac 12) being a superior league needs to be deflated. Wisconsin is going to be battling OU and Stanford (until they go to Oregon at least) for B(C)S title game position and the Big Ten's runner-up will be jockeying for that extra B(C)S bid with the same two leagues since the SEC has one locked down and Boise State looks to have a hold on another. That's big money for the league and they need to start demanding that respect back.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT