Big Ten Media Days: Forget Meyer, Hoke; Penn State at Center of Attention

So, uh, coach, what is your opinion on the Penn State scandal?

College football media day has flown by over the past couple of weeks and there has been one consistent thing throughout each conference. Every reporter wants to know what each and every coach thinks about what has happened at Penn State.

It went from what their thoughts are on the whole mess, to asking if they believe the sanctions that were recently handed down by NCAA is fair.

Every response is usually the same, as the coach tries carefully to dance around the question without getting too personal in the answer. They are all very upset with what took place during the past 15 or so years, but don't really want to get into much discussion about what happened. They would rather focus on their football team and leave their personal thoughts on the scandal behind closed doors.

That still won't stop the media from poking and prodding, trying desperately to get something to run with.

The Big Ten Conference has a lot of positive stories to talk about heading into the 2012 season. It features several new head coaches, including one of the all-time greats in Urban Meyer, who has taken his talents to coach the Ohio State Buckeyes. Michigan head coach, Brady Hoke, seems to be a coach on the rise after leading the Wolverines to an 11 win season and BCS bowl victory.

The Conference will also have many potential Heisman candidates in attendance with Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, Nebraska running back Rex Burkhead and Wisconsin running back Montee Ball representing their respective teams.

But the Big Ten will of course have Penn State in the building. Yes, the same program that has received much of the attention throughout each media press conference, despite not even being in those conferences.

If you think the amount of questions surrounding the Nittany Lions was bad during the SEC or Big 12 media days, you have seen nothing yet when Big Ten media days kickoff on July 27.

And when head coach Bill O'Brien takes the podium, everyone should duck for cover.

The Big Ten has many interesting storylines heading into the season, and one day we will actually be able to talk about football again. But during media days, it will be Penn State's off-the-field issues that receives majority of the attention, whether you like it or not.