Big Ten: Looking Ahead to 2009

I have nothing but questions for the Big Ten going into 2009.

Will Michigan return to its storied past and win again or will the grumblings about Rich Rodriguez grow louder?

Will Juice Williams catapult Illinois to a top Big Ten team like he did in 2007 or falter again like 2008?

Can Indiana find the 2007 motivation and “play 13” again?

Will Wisconsin, an early 2008 favorite, recover from finishing seventh?

Will Michigan State be able to win without Javon Ringer?

Will the change to a brand new outdoor stadium have an impact on Minnesota?

Will Iowa challenge for the Big Ten?

Or will it be Northwestern that surprises? They had the same record as Iowa just without the big win like the Hawkeyes did by beating Penn State.

Will Ohio State be able to keep this year's game with USC closer than last year's?

Will Joe Paterno ever retire?

How will Purdue do with Danny Hope as the new coach now that Joe Tiller has retired?

Will the conference put the 1-6 bowl performance behind it?

Do they still think the Big Ten Network was a good idea?

To be honest, I don’t have a single answer. I do have some thoughts, though.

Michigan fans, be patient. It took Rodriguez more than a year to get West Virginia highly ranked and winning. Given time, how can he not do it at Michigan?

Illinois looked pretty good when Williams was a sophomore. Now that he is a senior, and some of the other players have more experience, I could see the Illini getting back to a bowl—but probably not a BCS bowl.

I think Indiana is capable of a 6-6 record in 2009. I don’t know that the Hoosiers will actually do it, but it wouldn’t be impossible.

Wisconsin’s schedule looks manageable to where the Badgers could improve their conference record. So, recover to better than seventh place? Yes. Win the Big Ten? I have my doubts.

Michigan State lost four games last season. In each of the losses, Ringer ran for less than 100 yards. The Spartans won two games where he ran for less than 100 yards but they only won those by a combined margin of four points. The next back only had 97 yards for the year. I am sure they will get some wins, but I don’t see them being as good without Ringer.

I figure Minnesota plays outdoors at other stadiums and the other teams do, too. No, I don’t think it will really have an impact on the season. I have to say, the mock-ups and previews look real nice.

Iowa looked really good at the end of the season. I think they will be a legit contender in the Big Ten.

Northwestern had a pretty good year, too, but I would be surprised if the Wildcats did any better than 2008.

With the game in Columbus and OSU quarterback Terrelle Pryor playing more, combined with the losses that USC is suffering, the Buckeyes do in fact keep it closer than the 2008 game. I still see USC winning.

Joe Paterno will never retire. He will be in office as the head coach of Penn State until the end.

Purdue, with Hope, will be like what it was with Tiller. I see Purdue continuing to just miss or just make bowl games while sitting in the middle of the Big Ten. The end with Tiller wasn’t pretty, so hopefully the Boilermakers will do better than that part of his career.

I obviously can't make a prediction on whether the Big 10 will produce a better bowl record than it did in 2008 without knowing who the teams will be playing. I don’t know how they could do much worse, though.

I still question the Big Ten Network. If the attempt was to get the conference and its teams more publicity, I think they failed. It is now harder to see the Big Ten teams unless you live in the area or are willing to pay a fee to your cable or satellite provider.

I suppose they are providing more access to their immediate fan bases and television markets but they are alienating the rest of the nation.

I can’t wait for the 2009 season to answer these questions—and more—to see if I am right or wrong.