Best Of The Big Ten: Conference Battles For Supremacy On and Off The Gridiron

The Big Ten is the oldest Division I athletic conference in the United States.  It's member institutions are located primarily in the midwest, stretching from Iowa (soon Nebraska) to Pennsylvania and Ohio to Minnesota.

The conference prides itself on competitive athletics, sportsmanship, and high academic standards.  Honestly, it's the best place to be in college -- you're getting the best athletics combined with the best academics, and that makes the conference so unique that it's time we celebrate the bests of the Big Ten...

Best Stadium: Beaver Stadium, State College, PA (Pennsylvania State University)

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STATE COLLEGE, PA - NOVEMBER 7: Penn State Nittany Lion fans cheer during a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes on November 7, 2009 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. Ohio State won 24-7. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)

Honorable Mentions:
Camp Randall, Madison, WI (University of Wisconsin)
Ohio Stadium, "The 'Shoe", Columbus, OH (Ohio State University)
Michigan Stadium, "The Big House", Ann Arbor, MI (University of Michigan)

Alright, the Big Ten is no doubt home to the nation's most prolific stadiums -- but Penn State's is an atmosphere like no other.  It is the 2nd largest stadium in the Big Ten with a capacity of 107, 282 (also, 4th largest stadium in the world), but it is not only it's massive size that makes it special -- picture all 107,000+ attendees in nothing but white.

Penn State's infamous "White Outs" (or "White House") make Beaver Stadium one of the toughest, if not the toughest, venue in all of college football.

Best Fight Song: "The Victors", University of Michigan

"The Victors" with lyrics.

Composed in 1898 by UM student Louis Elbel, Michigan had just come off the heels of defeating the University of Chicago for the Western Conference Championship (hence the "Champions of the West").  It wasn't until many years later that it became the official fight song of the university, and it is also frequently performed with Michigan's old fight song "Varsity".

American composer John Philip Sousa is quoted as saying that it is the greatest college fight song ever.

What is perhaps most unique about the song is that it is written from a perspective that the team has already won (i.e. Hail! to the Victors valiant), whereas most fight songs are composed to cheer a team onto victory.

Best Tailgating: University of Wisconsin

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MADISON, WI - OCTOBER 16: Student fans of the Wisconsin Badgers make the 'W' sign with their hands before a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Camp Randall Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin defeated Ohio State 31-18. (Photo

Honorable Mention:
Happy Valley (Pennsylvania State University)

From State College to Iowa City, from Columbus to Minneapolis, the Big Ten is the nation's prime tailgating conference.  Crisp, autumn air (read:  Football weather), beer, and meat make for some of the best tailgating experiences that college football can give.

And going along with that theme is Madison, WI.  Sure, Madison is metropolitan, so you've got to get close, but Badgers embrace the challenge.  A walk down Regent Street before a game and one will see what college football really is about -- beer, brats, cheese, and, of course, rowdy fans.

Also, Badger fans are some of the nicest people you'd meet -- even if you're wearing the opponent's colors.

Best Game Of 2010 (So Far): Illinois @ Michigan On November 6th, 2010

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ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 06: Nathan Scheelhaase #2 of the Illinios Fighting Illini is tackled by Ray Vinopal #20 of the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 6, 2010 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 67-65. (Photo by Gregory Sh

Illinois and Michigan not only burned down the barn, they nuked it into the past millennium.  The teams combined for 132 points, 16 touchdowns, 58 first downs, 1,237 yards of total offense, and 3 overtimes.

Shootouts like this are a rarity in the Big Ten and combined scores like this are difficult to come by without going back to the early 1900s and Yost's point-a-minute teams.  This game broke the record for most points scored in a Big Ten conference game, breaking Michigan's record of 130 total points (Michigan beat West Virginia 130-0 in 1904).

Michigan beat Buffalo 128-0 in 1901, Michigan Agricultural (now Michigan State) 119-0 and Iowa 107-0 in 1902, and West Virginia 130-0 in 1904

Folks, history was witnessed on Saturday, November 6th in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Best Rivalry: Michigan Vs. Ohio State

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COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 18: A Michigan Wolverines fan holds up a sign honoring the memory of late coach Bo Schembechler during the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes on November 18, 2006 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State won 42-39. (Photo

Honorable mention:
Michigan vs. Michigan State -- the intrastate rival is heating up
Wisconsin vs. Iowa -- Bret Bielema played for Iowa and has a Hawkeye tattoo on his ankle, now he coaches the Badgers

Michigan vs. Ohio State is largely regarded as the most intense rivalry in all sports, edging out other classics such as the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox in MLB.

From the Snow Bowl to the Ten Year War, from Bo Schembechler to Woody Hayes, the rivalry between the schools is overflowing with rich history and tradition.  The 2006 meeting between #1 Ohio State and #2 Michigan was probably the most anticipated regular season game in college football history.

Also, the hits are harder.  You can literally hear the difference.

It's electrifying.

Best Academics: Northwestern University

According to USA Today, the Big Ten stacks up (in terms of academics) like this:

1) Northwestern University
2) University of Michigan
3) University of Illinois
4) University of Wisconsin
5) Pennsylvania State University
6) Ohio State University
7) Purdue University
8) University of Minnesota
9) Indiana University
10) University of Iowa
11) Michigan State University

Best Party Scene: University of Wisconsin

You betcha Bucky knows how to party!

Honorable mention:
Pennsylvania State University
Indiana University

"Win or lose, we booze"

Wisconsin has a plethora of bars, a Thursday night outdoor bash, and enough alcohol to warm the soul -- even on the coldest autumn nights.

Also, I distinctly remember hearing the student section chant "Let's Get Wasted" after a Wisconsin victory last year.  I was watching on ESPN.

Yep, Badgers know how to party!

Best Cheerleaders: Indiana University

Honorable Mentions:
Purdue University
University of Michigan

Alright, so, their uniforms aren't flattering at all for the cheerleaders, but if they all look like this underneath, I ask you gentlemen -- who cares?

Just a bit more proof that yes, there is more than corn in Indiana.

Up and Coming Football Coach: Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern

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EVANSTON, IL - OCTOBER 23: Head coach Pat Fitzgerald of the Northwestern Wildcats watches as his team takes on the Michigan State Spartans at Ryan Field on October 23, 2010 in Evanston, Illinois. Michigan State defeated Northwestern 35-27. (Photo by Jona

Pat Fitzgerald arrived at Northwestern and didn't have immediate success -- winning just 4 games his first season and 6 the next, but he has taken Northwestern, a perennial bottom-dweller, and made them into conference contenders.

Northwestern is definitely a team on the rise within the league and all of the Wildcat faithful owe it to coach Pat Fitzgerald.  What makes Fitzgerald unique is that he is accomplishing these feats on the football field while adhering to stringent academic requirements and not getting the best recruits in there.

Future's looking bright for the Wildcats.

Best Tradition: Script Ohio, Ohio State University

Honorable mentions:
Touch the "Go Blue, M Club Supports You" banner to "The Victors" - Michigan
Jump Around - Wisconsin

In a conference rich in tradition, many are worthy of this spot, but script Ohio just stands out in my mind.  First performed by (ironically) the Michigan Marching Band in 1932, Ohio State took and modified Michigan's idea and rolled it out against Michigan in 1936.  Ever since then the script Ohio has been an important part of every Buckeye game, and it's one of the most widely recognized college football traditions.

Best Mascot: Sparty, Michigan State University

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INDIANAPOLIS - APRIL 03: Sparty, the mascot of the Michigan State Spartans, performs on the court before the Spartans take on the Butler Bulldogs during the National Semifinal game of the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship on April 3, 201

Honorable mentions:
Bucky the Badger
Herky the Hawkeye

In probably the Big Ten's weakest area, the mascots are less than impressive.  This is of course outside of the tough, rugged, and recognizable "Sparty the Spartan".  He's the only mascot in the Big Ten that has the potential to strike fear into the opponent's hearts.

Never would've thought I'd be talking about a man in the skirt as striking fear into the hearts of people, but Sparty pulls it off.

Best Football Coach: Kirk Ferentz, University Of Iowa

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IOWA CITY, IA - OCTOBER 23- Kirk Ferentz head coach of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes looks on from the sidelines during the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers during the first half of play at Kinnick Stadium on October 23, 2010 in Iowa City, Iow

Honorable mentions:
Joe Paterno, Penn State
Jim Tressel, Ohio State

Ferentz came to Iowa in 1999.  He promptly went 1-10.  He followed with a forgettable 3-9 season in the year 2000, but by 2002 he had Iowa among the top of the Big Ten.  He has responded well to adversity, pulling Iowa to a 9-4 season in 2008 following a 3 year slump.  Ferentz appears to have Iowa poised for another period of glory after capturing the Big Ten crown twice from '02 to '04.  Iowa is tied at the top of the Big Ten this year and coming off a BCS (Orange) Bowl victory last season.

What makes Ferentz so special is that he gets the job done with less-than-blue-chip talent.

Most Beautiful Campis: Purdue University

Honorable Mention:
Michigan State University

Purdue's campus may not be the most lavish, but it's certainly crisp and pleasing to the eye.  The buildings have a very distinguished look and the sculpture right in the middle of campus really pulls everything together.  The common theme throughout the buildings helps set the university apart from its surroundings.  It's quite the gem!

Bonus: Who Will Be Nebraska's Prime Rival In The Big Ten?

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LINCOLN, NE - OCTOBER 30: Running back Roy Helu Jr. #10 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers break a long run against the Missouri Tigers during second half action of their game at Memorial Stadium on October 30, 2010 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska Defeated Missou

Welcome to the Big Ten, Nebraska.

Old rivalries will die, and new ones will be forged -- but who will be Nebraska's new prime rival?

My guess is Iowa.

Iowa is the only Big Ten state that Nebraska borders and the two plains schools will be together in the same division starting in 2011.  Yes, everyone, this is the beginning of something beautiful.  Plus, both states have a ton of corn.

Honorable Mention:
University of Michigan.  Only because we shared the 1997 national title with them, and being the same division will help.