Live from B1G media days

Welcome to the first day of the Big Ten football season. Hopefully our wireless internet continues to run like a charm.

All 12 coaches, Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany, BTN President Mark Silverman and Rose Bowl's Scott Jenkins will talk from the podium today. We also will have side interviews with the coaches and selected players.

Opening up was Northwestern Coach Pat Fitzgerald. He talked about the program's excitement after a 10-win campaign and a Gator Bowl victory last year.

"We're just getting started at Northwestern," Fitzgerald said. "Talk is talk. Now is the time for action."

Northwestern opens at California with a 9:30 p.m. CT kickoff and Fitzgerald said the Wildcats will adjust practice times leading up to that game.

He was asked how expectations have changed at Northwestern, especially after the school won its first bowl game since 1947.

"We're not satisfied with just going to bowl games anymore," Fitzgerald said. "At the end of the day, the expectation is to win championships."

On playing Ohio State at night on the team's homecoming:

"The pageantry of Big Ten football is special," Fitzgerald said.

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Next is Purdue's Darrell Hazell, who replaces Danny Hope. Hazell said he met with his players early on and told the Boilermakers should be focused on moving up the Big Ten charts.

"Purdue is a team that's always perceived to be in the middle," Hazell said, recalling that conversation. "We're going to climb out of the middle ... (and into) national prominence for a long point in time."

How will the Boilermakers change that perception?

"I think it all starts with our self-image," Hazell said. "We want to change our image. We want to be a tougher football team, we want to be a smarter football team."

Hazell said his team has enough good players to compete in the league.

"I'm very fortunate that I was able to be in this conference for seven years," Hazell said. "You got to find a way to make a play in those critical situations."

Purdue will have a quarterback competition two weeks into training camp. Senior Rob Henry and true freshman Danny Etling will alternate first-team reps, Hazell said.

"We have a nice quarterback battle going on," Hazell said

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Wisconsin first-year coach Gary Andersen spoke next. He replaced former Iowa team captain Bret Bielema, who left for Arkansas.

"I think, No. 1, I'm not interested in comparing what was different," Andersen said. "I never asked the questions about how things were."

Andersen said what he wants to instill are core values, a trust factor and accountability.

Wisconsin will look at recruiting in different areas, including his former stomping grounds of Utah.

"We will nationally recruit," Andersen said.

He said it's a three-man battle at quarterback. Returnees Curt Phillips and Joel Stave are the lead candidates, but junior-college transfer Tanner McEvoy will get an equal shot to start.

Andersen raved about linebacker Chris Borland, calling him "the heart and soul of that defense." Andersen said Borland was "not overly flashy, but he's so consistent."

"I believe he's the best linebacker in the country, in my opinion," Andersen said.

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For the second straight year Illinois Coach Tim Beckman opened remarks by wishing his mother a happy birthday. So far in his Illinois Big Ten career: 2 public birthday wishes to mom; 0 Big Ten victories.

That is all.

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Indiana Coach Kevin Wilson touted the experience of his returnees and displayed a real excitement when talking about his team.

"It's time we take a big step this year," Wilson said.

The Hoosiers are unsettled at quarterback with Tre Roberson,Cameron Coffman and Nate Sudfeld but Wilson is confident in the group.

"I haven't seen one separate," Wilson said, calling it a "healthy competition."

Wilson also is excited about his offensive line.

"I think our offensive line is extremely undervalued in this league," he said.

He was less complimentary about his returning defenders.

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Michigan Coach Brady Hoke opened with remarks about the team entering year No. 134.  He usually doesn't admit he likes his team, but he changed his mind entering this offseason.

"I like how they've handled themselves on the field and off the field," Hoke said. "I like how they've represented Michigan."

He touted quarterback Devin Gardner's team-first approach and leadership qualities He also said Gardner, who played most of the season at wide receiver before replacing an injured Denard Robinson, would have returned to quarterback this year no matter what.

When asked about the young Ohio State fan who named his cancer "Michigan" after beating it, Hoke replied, "No. 1, we were glad."

"Him beating Michigan in this context, we were all for," he said.

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Nebraska Coach Bo Pelini seemed relaxed and excited about the season. He was asked about how the team alters its defensive approach after giving up 63 points to Ohio State and 70 in the Big Ten championship to Wisconsin.

"We just have to get better," he said.

Nebraska was the most recent addition to the Big Ten in 2011. He was asked what newcomers Maryland and Rutgers could look forward to when joining the league next year.

"There's always an adjustment for teams going through a conference for the first time," Nebraska Coach Bo Pelini said.

He said with four-year starting quarterback Taylor Martinez could lead "a potentially potent offense" this year.

"I wouldn't trade our offense for anybody," Pelini said. "I really like what we're doing."

On the nine-game schedule in 2016: "It's going to be a little bit different. Probably the biggest thing it creates some different scheduling issues."

"I think it will be good. It was inevitable."

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Michigan State's Mark Dantonio said 2012 was the "year of the inches we didn't come up with." Michigan State was favored by many teams to win the Legends Division title in 2012 but instead lost six games.

"I sort of think my team has a little bit of an edge to it," Dantonio said. "The foundation has been laid, but we're still chasing the dream."

Dantonio said the "quarterback position is much stronger than it was last year." Andrew Maxwell struggled last year replacing Kirk Cousins.

"Right now Andrew is our No. 1 quarterback," Dantonio said. But Dantonio also said he's "looking forward to the competition."

On recruiting Wisconsin: "Wisconsin is relatively close to Michigan when you look at it on the map. We think we found sort of a little bit of a niche.

"We're going to continue recruiting the Midwest."

On new offensive coordinator Jim Bollman: "This is the fourth time he's been on a staff where I've been."

"He brings a tremendous feeling of security ... he's like a brother to me."

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The most popular coach in the room, Ohio State's Urban Meyer, said it's "been a tough couple of days" but he praised his team across the board for many areas. That includes academics and leadership.

Meyer said quarterback Braxton Miller is "one of the best quarterbacks in America." He touted his offensive line but said the team's defense is rebuilding.

On the tough last few days. Called some of the players "knuckleheads" who got into trouble:

"In the last 12 months, we've had three legal issues," Meyer said.

"My concern is I don't want to disrupt this team. I think disappointed ... furious might be the best word."

Meyer said he's bothered by criticism over how he handled disciplinary issues.

"I'm human ... I'm constantly evaluating to do the right thing," Meyer said.

"When you look at where some players come from, it's hard to let them go."

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Minnesota Coach Jerry Kill said his team did "an outstanding job" of working this offseason.

"I think our kids have come together over the two years," Kill said.

Kill touted the $190 million project to improve athletic facilities.

"The direction we're headed at the University of Minnesota is good," Kill said.

On finishing the season against Wisconsin beginning in 2014:

"The great thing about rivalry with Wisconsin is it's history," Kill said. "That's what football is all about. The great thing about the Big Ten is all the rivalries we have. It will be an exciting time."

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Penn State's Bill O'Brien said sophomore Tyler Ferguson and true freshman Christian Hackenberg will compete at quarterback. He said "I don't think it's unusual" that an incoming true freshman quarterback will have a shot to start. O'Brien said he'll make a decision halfway through training camp.

"We have two quarterbacks at Penn State that will compete for the starting job," O'Brien said.

O'Brien said he's more comfortable entering Big Ten media day this year than a year ago, only a few days after unprecedented NCAA sanctions were announced against the program.

"I think we're in a better mood this year," O'Brien said.

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Iowa's Kirk Ferentz said the series with Iowa State won't end any time soon.

"It's a very important game, a very relevant game for all of us involved," he said. "I can't see that ending in the near future."