(Constant) Updates from Big Ten football Media Day

CHICAGO -- Without further ado ...

Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz:

"We're excited to get started, certainly."

First question is about 9-game league scheduling in conference and locked into game with Iowa State: "I think we're firmly locked in with Iowa State. I can't envision that thing ending in the near future."

On player discipline: "The landscape has changed a lot with social media." I have yet to see an act of physical thuggery committed via social media, but the world is changing.

On running backs: "We're certainly further ahead than we were last year (at this time)."

On the hurry-up offense and potential for injuries: "I don't have a lot of thoughts about it and haven't see statistical evidence to say it is leading to injuries. Needless to say, it has changed the complexion of the game and it is very popular." ... "Probably the best answer is to get off the field in three downs (defensively)."

The media is tapped out. Plenty of time for more questions, but no one takes advantage.

FIN

Penn State Coach Bill O'Brien:

Excited, can't wait for the first practice, and that makes 11 of 11 coaches who have said that.

The prospects of starting a true freshman at quarterback: "I don't think it's unusual." (Returnee) Tyler Ferguson and (freshman) Christian Hackenberg will vie for the starting job.

"We're thankful for our players." Tough, resilient, hard-working, and they go to class.

"It's not a time that we look at as 'woe is me.' It's more of a time that's the opposite of that."

"I don't think we use the word 'concern' too much in our program" when talking about depth.

"I think we're in a better mood this year" at media days. Last year's Media Day came just after NCAA sanctions to the Penn State program were issued.

"Summer (workouts) are voluntary, right?" Since when?

Since Big Ten teams will play Mid-American Conference teams 13 times this season, here are notes from the MAC's Media Day.

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Minnesota Coach Jerry Kill:

The Gophers return 17 starters, nine on offense. That's a bunch.

"We're really, really excited at the University of Minnesota at the direction we're going."

"I just think our kids have come together over the two years (since Kill has been there)."

Just once, I'd like one of these coaches to say "I'm not particularly excited about the coming season. I guess I should be, but I'm not. Sue me." He would be my favorite coach of all-time.

Back to Kill: "I'm doing great. I appreciate you asking. Things are going great for me. I've got a great doctor that is a specialist in epilepsy. ... I may not look it, but I feel like I'm in the best shape of my life." That is good news. 

"Our football team is getting better, and that makes rivalries more important."

Two Minnesota players are involved in the Ed O'Bannon/NCAA case, but Kill said he is keeping his distance. From the lawsuit, not the two players.

What I love a lot about Jerry Kill and his staff: They have worked their way up the back roads. No one got a job because of daddy.July 24, 2013

What I love a lot about Jerry Kill and his staff: They have worked their way up the back roads. No one got a job because of daddy.

— Tom Dienhart (@BTNTomDienhart)

Ohio State Coach Urban Meyer:

"It's been a great year, a tough couple of days."

He then said he wanted to focus on the positives. And will until he starts taking questions.

"We have depth at tailback."

"We lost our entire front seven. I believe we recruited well."

"I'll certainly answer your questions for you." He then gave a non-answer about QB Braxton Miller saying the team got good news about the situation of suspended RB Carlos Hyde.

He said he learned "after the fact" that Ohio State had turned in Florida for minor NCAA violations. "There was certainly no intent to go after Florida. That's all I can tell you."

"In the last 12 months, we've had 3 legal issues and it all happened over the course of 3 or 4 days." He said he was "furious" about those legal issues.

"To have a couple of knuckleheads ..." Those were two freshmen, since dismissed.

"Two freshmen who have been with us three weeks, did some stupid things."

"I want to make sure our discipline is as hard or harder than anything out there.

On Aaron Hernandez, who played for Meyer at Florida: "That was four years ago a player played for us."

Meyer uses the word "knuckleheads" to describe some of players in trouble. I've always liked that word.July 24, 2013

Meyer uses the word "knuckleheads" to describe some of players in trouble. I've always liked that word.

— Doug Lesmerises (@PDBuckeyes)

Urban Meyer getting asked primarily questions about off-field problems. Focus is on that rather than team that could compete for natl. titleJuly 24, 2013

Urban Meyer getting asked primarily questions about off-field problems. Focus is on that rather than team that could compete for natl. title

— Cory Giger (@CoryGiger)

Michigan State Coach Mark Dantonio:

"2012 was a year of the inches that we didn't come up with. We're excited about 2013 coming."

"A foundation has been laid, but we're still chasing the dream right now."

"I really don't want to talk too much about our injuries as such."

MSU has a quarterback battle, too. But Andrew Maxwell is No. 1.

"Our quarterback position is much stronger than last year."

"Wisconsin is relatively close to Michigan when you look at it on the map."

OK, that sounds absurd without some background. MSU has been recruiting Wisconsin for quarterbacks under Dantonio.

"If you take the ferry, you're 60 miles away. So there you go."

Ferry ride for a December recruiting visit could be toughJuly 24, 2013

Ferry ride for a December recruiting visit could be tough

— Gerry DiNardo (@gerrydinardo)

When Mark Dantonio says he's "excited" for season, you just have to take his word for it, b/c, as always, his facial expression says ANGRY.July 24, 2013

When Mark Dantonio says he's "excited" for season, you just have to take his word for it, b/c, as always, his facial expression says ANGRY.

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel)

Nebraska Coach Bo Pelini:

"We like where we are as a football program right now."

"It's about going to work now. ... trying to find our power line."

On why freshman defensive end Thomas Brown was dismissed from the team:  "Violation of team rules. I won't speak in specifics about it but I wish him luck."

You can hear people in the media eating potato chips from their box lunches.

"I really like our offense. ... Some really dynamic weapons around (QB Taylor Martinez). ... It's potentially a very potent offense. I feel really good about it. ... I wouldn't trade our offense for anybody's, I really like what we're doing." Texas A&M probably wouldn't trade its offense for anybody's, either.

On Martinez: "He's not even close to what his potential is. I look forward to what he's gonna bring to the table this year. ... He can make any throw there is."

Question to Pelini: "What's it like to open with Illinois five straight years in Big Ten play?" His answer should be: "Freakin' great!"July 24, 2013

Question to Pelini: "What's it like to open with Illinois five straight years in Big Ten play?" His answer should be: "Freakin' great!"

— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken)

Michigan Coach Brady Hoke:

"The expectations never change, and that's to win Big Ten championships. A year ago we were 8-5, and that's unacceptable."

"I like our football team. I usually don't say that. Me liking them doesn't guarantee anything."

The guy next to me asked Hoke how Detroit filing for bankruptcy has affected his players and program. "Everything's a little different for every kid," Hoke replied. "Obviously, we're pulling for Detroit. ... It's a great city. ... Our kids, maybe they haven't thought in detail about it, but it's all been positive."

Not much from Hoke today.

Hoke on cancer patient/OSU fan who called tumor "Michigan": "Him beating Michigan in this context we were all for"July 24, 2013

Hoke on cancer patient/OSU fan who called tumor "Michigan": "Him beating Michigan in this context we were all for"

— angelique (@chengelis)

Indiana Coach Kevin Wilson:

"Our long-snapper is a big-time player." OK, he mentioned several other returnees, too.

He's just as excited as Tim Beckman. Why is it that the better a program is, the lower the volume from the head coach?

"We're unsettled at quarterback. We have three guys at a dead heat. ... I'd love to see one emerge."  Is this a Big Ten condition this season?

"They're three great leaders."

"Quite honestly, it's been a little bit embarrassing how we played (defensively) the first two years." Indiana defeated Iowa last season.

"It's time we take a big step this year." Many think the Hoosiers will do just that. 

"We're still maybe a sophomore-junior team. ... We're really a junior team. ... We are, though, a veteran team. ... There's a lot of growth potential brewing in the next few years."

"We need to be dynamic at quarterback. ... We will be a lot more mobile at quarterback.

"We led the conference in passing, blah, blah, blah, all that junk. But once our quarterback got hurt we lost five games."

IU offensive line definitely under valued. Based on our spring tour they are at least in the top half of the conference.July 24, 2013

IU offensive line definitely under valued. Based on our spring tour they are at least in the top half of the conference.

— Gerry DiNardo (@gerrydinardo)

Illinois Coach Tim Beckman:

"What the Big Ten means to the community, what the Big Ten means to this country ... it's so, so gratifying to be a football coach and see the progress the Big Ten has made and what the Big Ten has meant to college football."

Then he wished his mother a happy birthday.

"I've seen progress." The Illini were 2-10 last year, 0-8 in the Big Ten.

"We're not gonna let negativity infiltrate our program."

Beckman is about six times louder than Gary Andersen of Wisconsin was before him. He used the word "excited" seven times before taking his first question. "We're excited about being Illini. We're excited about being Fighting Illini.''

"The inherited depth was an issue." To say the least. Illinois brought in 33 new players over the offseason.

"We will be a very eager football team."

Gawd, I can't wait for Rutgers and Maryland to hop aboard so we can have 14 coaches for 15 minutes instead of the current 12.

"Go Illini, and Happy Birthday, Mom."

I always wonder why it's so hard to win at Illinois. Last three coaches left with losing marks. Last to leave a winner: Mackovic (30-16-1)July 24, 2013

I always wonder why it's so hard to win at Illinois. Last three coaches left with losing marks. Last to leave a winner: Mackovic (30-16-1)

— Tom Dienhart (@BTNTomDienhart)

Wisconsin Coach Gary Andersen:

Andersen didn't come out with fire and brimstone in his introductory remarks. I like fire and brimstone at these things. Fitzgerald brought it. Hazell did for the most part. Andersen looks and sounds like he's going to try to just ride out his 15 minutes.

"I'm not interested in comparing what was different (from the previous Badgers' coaching regime) ... I've never asked the question of how things were. There's a lot of ways to do it."

He mentioned a "world-class education" at Wisconsin.

Wisconsin, after all, has won three straight Big Ten titles. It also was 8-6 last season.

I have a short attention span, this guy is speaking in a monotone, and I don't think he's saying anything.

"It's a three-man battle right now (for quarterback)." Iowa fans, you are not alone.

On his team's Chris Borland: "I believe he's the best linebacker in the country."

Andersen coached with Urban Meyer for one season at Utah. The Utes went unbeaten. So Andersen said it was a positive experience. Seems logical.

I have no doubt Andersen is a terrific coach. But he's no Bret Bielema at the podium.

Purdue Coach Darrell Hazell:

"Purdue is an excellent academic institution."

"We have a coaching staff that I'm proud of, and they all have the vision to change Purdue to where it needs to be."

"The cause is to make Purdue football special on the football field in 2013."

"Purdue is always a team that is perceived in the middle of the Big Ten. ... We're going to climb out of that. ... We're going to put this program in a position of national prominence for a long time."

Hazell mentioned "the bullets that are flying" during Game Day. Oh, I hope not.

Hazell's Kent State team was a lot of fun to watch last season, very entertaining. That's me saying that, not him.

"There isn't a significant difference between the first and last teams in this confernece.'' Let's remember that when Ohio State plays Illinois.

Northwestern Coach Pat Fitzgerald:

He mentioned playing a conference-championship team in Syracuse. That startled me. Then I Googled it. Syracuse was one of four teams to share the Big East title at 5-2.

Then the league broke up. Well, it will have one final hurrah this season, but then it goes away.

The Wildcats have been to bowls the last five years and finally won one last season, but Fitzgerald said "We're just getting started." He sounded like he means it.

Discipline begins in recruiting," Fitzgerald said.

Also: "We're not satisfied going to bowl games anymore."

"At the end of the day, the expectation is to win championships. ... We've never shied away from that, but maybe now more people are listening externally."

"We're far from where we're going to be."