Saint-Dic Chopped off Bowl Roster

No, it wasn't a lightning-quick running back or a bad set of knees that led to the demise of Jonal Saint-Dic. Turns out it was one of Michigan State University's notoriously difficult math classes (Honors Multiplication, I presume).

There were a lot of long faces today in East Lansing as the news came down that fTV's ™ Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year will not play in the Champs Sports Bowl for the Michigan State Spartans.

His voice quivering, St. Dic addressed the media after the announcement: "Everybody has their subjects, and I haven't taken math in five years. I studied and studied, but I came up short. It's a shocker." St. Dic said he was overwhelmed by a rigorous schedule that included two classes, one of which was sociology.

You've got to feel for this kid. We're greedy as fans; we expect these student athletes to be busting their butts in the library until the wee hours of the night, and then find the time to perform like world-class athletes on Saturdays. Don't let this deter you, Jonal. I don't see that St. Dic staying down for long.

Air Tressel grounded

The NCAA should be ashamed of themselves. Once again, they have the gall to pick on Coach Tressel for being a kind, warm-hearted human being. You know what? These college football players at Ohio State lead a grueling, difficult existence, all for the pleasure and satisfaction of demanding Big Ten football fans like you and I. I'll be damned if someone tells Coach Tressel that takings players on private jets is against the rules.

Rich Rodriguez: the next John L. Smith?

Folks, Andy Gamm (Your Source for Big Ten Sports) is back from his annual winter golf trip. And boy, is the scribe formerly known as "The Professor" bringing it strong this holiday season!

If you haven't bookmarked Andy's blog yet, you're missing out. Check his latest blog entry, breaking down Michigan's recent hire of Rich Rodriguez:

Rich Rodriguez will bring the same style that Illinois runs to the Big Ten. Hey,
as they say, if you can't beat 'em (spread offenses with fast QBs) join 'em. My
ony question for the ogling M fans - how is he any different than John L. Smith? Good luck coach and welcome to the Big Ten.

As usual, a real astute, objective take from Mr. Gamm. If you're not familiar with his work, Andy has achieved a cult-following in the blogosphere, mainly due to his innovative-style of journalism, attributable to being under the tutiledge of esteemed sports writer Jack Ebling. Not surprisingly, Andy is the first person to compare Rich Rodriguez to John L. Smith; he's always been at the forefront of pushing new, cutting edge ways of analyzing the Big Ten sports world. Now hear him out on this.

Coach Smith spent nine seasons combined at Louisville and Michigan State. In those nine seasons, Coach Smith won a whole one bowl game -- the prestigious Liberty Bowl. He also led his schools to a combined zero New Year's Day bowl appearances. And who will forget his near victory over Marshall in the Motor City Bowl, or his heartbreaking loss to Boise State in the Humanitarian Bowl? A gawdy track record, I know.

Meanwhile Coach Rodriguez spent seven seasons at West Virginia. He just happened to piece together a rather uneventful string of three consecutive seasons of 10 wins or more, winning only two bowl games, including a crumby BCS win over a weak Georgia program. Coach Rodriguez also managed to lead the Mountaineers to five straight bowl games, all of which coincidentally were staged on New Year's Day or later.

As you can see, these two coaches couldn't be any more similar. Andy, you've done it again. One more time, you're ahead of the curve and beat us all to the punch on this sweet comparison. Well done.

Celebrating 2000 hits!!!

Thanks to one and all for making fTv one of the most popular Big Ten blogs on the web!

And to attract even more attention to our cause, here are some search terms for Google to pick up!

Rich Rodriguez spread offense Michigan
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pancake nipples
Tyrelle Pryor quarterback recruit
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Rich Rodriguez hillbilly redneck West Virginia
quixtar legitimate business
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Hoke says no; Rodriguez says yes

Shortly after Michigan AD Bill Martin's long courtship of Ball State head man Brady Hoke ended Saturday evening, the Wolverines bounced back to snag West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez.

While this hire won't quite excite the masses in Ann Arbor like the return of Lloyd Carr's protege, it's a solid pick-up nonetheless for the Wolverines.

Hoke Playing it Cool

Despite constant overtures from the University of Michigan football braintrust, and repeated inquiries from the Muncie paparazzi, Ball State head coach Brady Hoke has been as cool as a cheshire cat.

In a brief but heated International Bowl presser Saturday, the much-coveted Hoke set the record straight with a throng of reporters in attendance:

"This may be disappointing to you but I'm not going to talk about any rumors, or any innuendos, or jobs or whatever else is floating out there. We'll talk about this year's team, this year's season, the bowl preparations, aspects of recruiting that we're heavily involved in right now, but that's about it. All that other stuff I don't want to talk about it."

Showing the steely resolve and short temper of his mentor Lloyd Carr, Hoke berated a beat writer who dared to challenge his mandate. With your source for Big Ten sports on a winter golf hiatus, stay tuned to fTV ™ for further developments in this "made-for-TV" saga.

The envelope, please ..

Offensive Player of the Year: C.J. Bacher, Northwestern

One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble

Can't be too careful with your company

Move over Yao Ming and Judge Ito, there's a new Asian-American breaking down barriers in this country. This guy just happens to be a Big Ten quarterback, and fTV's ™ Offensive Player of the Year. How he juggled his Engrish major with a rigorous football schedule is beyond me. But not only did Bacher "wok the wok," he talked the talk as well.

His remarkable campaign was highlighted by wins over stiff defensive units in Minnesota and Michigan State. Bacher hung (no pun intended) nearly 100 points and 1,000 yards combined on those two squads. And nobody in Evanston will soon forget the "where were you when ..?" comeback win over Indiana.

And Bacher didn't just do it with his arm, folks. He did it with his legs as well. How many times did we see C.J. get in the huddle and call the play "Hello Kitty" (the QB draw), only to scramble for a much needed first down.

Honorable Mention: Anthony Morelli, Penn State

My prediction of four Heisman trophies for Mr. Morelli didn't come to fruition, but the kid had a hell of a career. If I had a nickel for every big win this kid had in Happy Valley, I'd be .. well .. anyways. Moving on ...

Defensive Player of the Year: Jonal Saint-Dic, Michigan State

St. Dic burst onto the scene in East Lansing this season, reeking enough havoc to be affectionately coined "Sackmaster." St. Dic -- an imposing 73 inches (height, that is) -- forced many a fumble this year. Opposing players can testify: when that St. Dic takes you down, you're gagging and fighting just to come up for air. Coach Dantonio should be thanking his lucky stars for that kid; the Spartans rode St. Dic hard, all the way to the prestigious Champs Sports Bowl where he'll have a chance to break the NCAA's all-time forced fumbles record. Beware Boston College; he's come this far, don't expect St. Dic to blow it now.

Honorable Mention: J Leman, Illinois

This hunkalicious linebacker was a dominant force this season on America's sexiest team (yes, I'll admit it. Ron Zook makes me question my heterosexuality). Word is that USC coach Pete Carroll has been laughing when watching gamefilm in preparation for the Rose Bowl. Something tells me those are nervous laughs of fear. Snubbed by Butkus voters, Leman will be out to prove a point in Pasadena.

Coach of the Year: Joe Tiller, Purdue

This season really couldn't have gone much better for the Boilermakers. As has become commonplace in West Laffayette, Tiller's squad admirably handled one of the nation's toughest slates, somehow scoring seven victories. Take a look at the scalps Purdue laid claim to this year, and tell me you're not impressed (Toledo, Eastern Illinois, Central Michigan, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Iowa, Northwestern).

Lo and behold, the best team of that bunch (Central Michigan) gets another shot at Tiller's boys. This time on the big stage -- Ford Field. If Purdue can somehow overcome the Chippewas for the second time in one season, minus injured star WR Selwyn Lymon (a sore liver), the College Football Hall of Fame might as well just go ahead and clear some space for Tiller's bust.

Honorable Mention: Lloyd Carr, Michigan

Another season with high expectations ends with another trip to a New Year's Day bowl game. Life is good in Ann Arbor. I'd bet a lot of money that Jim Tressel is happy Coach Carr is hanging them up. And I'd bet he's trembling in his boots at the thought of having to face the thickest limb on the Carr coaching tree -- Brady Hoke.

Les Miles will be coming to Ann Arbor after all

Miles is reportedly working a signing bonus into his new contract with LSU worth several million dollars.  Once he has that in hand, he intends to immediately terminate his contract, come to Michigan, hire Tenuta, and give the rest of the money to Mario Manningham and Adrian Arrington as advances on the coming summer's bail money.

But you didn't hear it from me.

Latest on UM search

The information I'm getting on this search is as good as gold.

Yours truly was the first to leak Ball State coach Brady Hoke's candidacy at Michigan. Just hours later, esteemed college football analyst Tom Dienhart (my second-favorite read after the controversial, but dynamic scribe Andy Gamm) piggybacked off my information and named Coach Hoke as his leader as well.

Well folks tonight my mobile phone was ringing off the hook with calls from my moles in both the Ball State Athletic Department and the US Coast Guard. Sources have confirmed that Michigan AD Bill Martin set sail Monday evening off the coast of Florida with just one passenger. It was also leaked to me that Coach Hoke was spotted early Monday morning at the Indianapolis airport wearing nothing but swim trunks and a snorkel. Coincidence? I think not.

There's no question Bill Martin has found his man. The only question that remains is whether Martin can lure Hoke from Muncie and win a bidding war against Ball State University for his services. Stay tuned, this is really starting to heat up.

F#@!K YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO A BOWL!

99.9% of the time, this blog is dedicated to all things Big Ten. For a brief moment, I must claim a bit of "me" time. My alma mater, Ball State University, has accepted a bid into the prestigious International Bowl in Toronto on Jan. 5.

My wife Dale and I are ecstatic. We hedged our bets on a post Christmas mini vacation and chose Toronto. This selection is awesome! We've never traveled outside the country before, so this should be quite a treat. My friends tell me that Toronto is full of hot, leggy women.

If this is indeed Coach Brady Hoke's swan song at Ball State before taking the Michigan job, what a way to go out!

Breaking News on Michigan Coaching Search

My sources have told me that off the heels of a second-place finish in the MAC West Division, Ball State head coach Brady Hoke will accept the Michigan job next week, and bring his offensive coordinator (and ex-Michigan OC) Stan Parrish along with him.

[EDIT: Ball State is announcing that they have scheduled a press conference Sunday afternoon, with various sources reporting that Coach Hoke will sign an extension with the Cardinals, making him Muncie's richest man. Stay tuned; this is a fluid situation. More updates to come as we learn of them.]