Tag: Big Ten Media Days

Twitter reacts to Nebraska at Big Ten media day

Nebraska participated in day two of the Big Ten media days.

Nebraska participated in day two of the Big Ten media days. Head football coach Matt Rhule spoke with the press as he prepares for his first season in charge in Lincoln.

Rhule was joined in Indianapolis by three players. Those three players were Luke Reimer, Jeff Sims and Ethan Piper. The head coach spoke glowingly about his players.

All three of those guys, they’re not just here for their own accomplishments — and they’re all very accomplished — they’re also here because they represent our team. And I know it’s just the beginning — we’re just getting started. But I like this team. I like our players. And I hope you see really good football this fall.

You can find Twitter reactions to Nebraska’s appearance at Big Ten media days below.

Big Ten media days were overshadowed by Colorado, Big 12, Pac-12

#B1G media days were supposed to be a significant college sports story this week, but the Colorado news got in the way. #USC

Big Ten media days were eagerly anticipated by USC fans this summer, given that the Trojans will enter the conference next year. However, real life and the course of current events took the focus of the college sports world elsewhere.

Colorado, the fate of the Pac-12, and a new round of realignment moves overshadowed everything which happened at Big Ten media days in Indianapolis.

Buckeyes Wire and Nittany Lions Wire covered notable stories, but they didn’t make a national splash because of the Pac-12’s existential crisis.

Ohio State coach Ryan Day addressed the topic of where the OSU-Michigan game will exist on the calendar in future Big Ten football schedules.

(h/t Phil Harrison of Buckeyes Wire)

“Remember, Day isn’t a native to this rivalry. He isn’t an Ohio guy but is from New Hampshire. Don’t get me wrong. He’s fully embraced all things Ohio State and we keep saying and believing he’s the right guy for the job despite the last two losses to TTUN. However, I don’t know that Jim Tressel, Urban Meyer, Woody Hayes, and certainly, Earle Bruce, would even entertain messing with the calendar of The Game.

“And based on comments Day made further, it sure sounds like there are conversations already taking place.

“’I know they’re talking about it, I just don’t think any hard decisions have been made, and I don’t think they’re gonna be made here real soon,’ continued Day. ‘I just want to be part of those conversations.’”

James Franklin of Penn State commented on Big Ten scheduling.

(h/t Brad Wakai of Nittany Lions Wire)

“There’s going to be some things that are gained, and there’s going to be some things that are lost. But I think for the most part, the benefits will outweigh those things. You talk about some of the historical games and some of the exciting games that have been played and opponents, I think for the most part, those will still happen, but there will be some times where there’s different teams or a lack of a team on your schedule that you’re used to playing.”

These comments would ordinarily have made news in the college sports world, but with Colorado leaving the Pac-12 and joining the Big 12 to usher in another round of realignment, these stories from USC’s future conference didn’t make a big dent in the college sports news cycle this week.

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Photo gallery: Michigan football, other teams, at Big Ten media days on Thursday

The boys looked good! #GoBlue

INDIANAPOLIS — On Thursday, it was Michigan football’s turn to partake in the 2023 edition of Big Ten media days at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh was the headliner, along with the three players in attendance — Kris Jenkins, Mike Sainristil, and Blake Corum. But Indiana, Purdue, Maryland, Wisconsin, and Nebraska all had representatives participate on Thursday.

From the press conference session in the morning to the Michigan football representatives at the podium session later in the afternoon, we caught a glimpse of some of the coaches, players, and media in attendance.

Here are our favorite shots from the big event to kick off the season.

Ohio State football: Thoughts and things we learned following Big Ten media days

What were your takeaways from what Day said? #GoBucks

It was short and sweet for Ohio State head coach [autotag]Ryan Day[/autotag] and the three players ([autotag]Marvin Harrison Jr[/autotag]., [autotag]Cade Stover[/autotag] and [autotag]J.T. Tuimoloau[/autotag]) that represented the Buckeyes at Big Ten media days.

The four all spoke on Wednesday, during the first half to the event and everyone who was set to speak wrapped up on Thursday afternoon.

There was so much to learn from what Day said. I caught both of his podium conversations, a recap of the main talk is here while his other chance with the media was much longer and more thorough.

Find out below what I thought stood out the most from Day’s time with the media and a few other thoughts around the Big Ten.

Everything Jim Harbaugh said at his Big Ten media days press conference

Great stuff from Coach! #GoBlue

INDIANAPOLIS — First, Lucas Oil Stadium saw seven head coaches take to the stage for day one of Big Ten media days in Indianapolis on Wednesday. On Thursday, it was Jim Harbaugh’s turn, along with six other coaches.

Harbaugh, per usual, was the last of the day, and got 15 minutes to speak about the state of the Michigan Wolverines as they prepare for the 2023 college football season. The maize and blue headman discussed the NCAA violations, Cade McNamara’s impact on the team prior to his transfer, how J.J. McCarthy has progressed, the NCAA transfer portal, and how the One More Year Fund has helped the team retain stars from the year before.

Here is everything he had to say.

Wisconsin HC Luke Fickell gives injury updates entering training camp

Luke Fickell spoke on the team’s injury status at Media Days:

Wisconsin opens training camp for the 2023 season in about a week. As we count down the days, head coach Luke Fickell took to the podium at Big Ten media days to discuss his start in Madison and the upcoming season.

One note from his availability related to injury updates entering camp, this after several of Wisconsin’s big transfer portal additions missed much of spring practice.

Players to miss time during the spring included wide receiver Bryson Green, offensive lineman Jake Renfro, defensive lineman Darian Varner and WR Chris Brooks Jr. Fickell’s update at Big Ten media days noted he will have most of the team healthy for training camp.

Unfortunately for myself and others who have waited years to see Aaron Witt on the field again, that will have to wait another few weeks it seems.

Otherwise, Renfro figures to start along the offensive line this fall, and Varner could serve as a valuable piece of the defensive line. The team generally seems healthier than it was entering the spring period.

Jim Harbaugh asked about NCAA suspension at Big Ten media days

Expected answer. #GoBlue

INDIANAPOLIS — Jim Harbaugh has often been the main character of Big Ten media days and 2023 was set to be no different.

On the eve of day one at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis, Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger reported that there was a potential four-game suspension coming down the pike for the Michigan football head coach due to his alleged misleading of NCAA investigators looking into violations.

Harbaugh took to the dais on Thursday, day two, and he was asked whether the suspension is confirmed. He demured, saying he’s not allowed to discuss it at this time.

“So, as you already know, I’m not allowed to talk about any aspect of that ongoing situation,” Harbaugh said. “I’m with you. I’d love to lay it all out there. Nothing to be ashamed of and but now it’s not that time and that’s about all there is to say about that.”

Par for the course, in that it makes sense that he cannot say anything until any punishment is finalized.

Harbaugh still has a 45-minute session coming up later on Thursday at the podium.

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Bret Bielema has a strong take on Wisconsin’s new air raid offense

Media Days have been eventful thus far…

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema stole the headlines entering Big Ten media days this week when he hired former Wisconsin DC Jim Leonhard as a senior analyst.

The hire led to a reaction from fans online, comments by Bielema and even a statement from legendary Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez.

There is much more to take away from the event in Indianapolis. But before the page is turned to what Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell, Braelon Allen, Tanner Mordecai and Maema Njongmeta had to say, there is one more comment from Bielema to highlight.

Related: Where Paul Chryst, Wisconsin’s entire 2022 coaching staff ended up

Given he is a former head coach at Wisconsin and knows the fabric of the program quite well, he was asked for thoughts on the shift to an air raid offense under Phil Longo:

There’s a weird dynamic going on with older Wisconsin coaches and fans. It feels like if the Badgers’ new system falls on its face and fails, many will take joy in the downfall and point back to what the program’s approach used to be.

I’m sure any Wisconsin fan would agree with Bielema’s words on the surface. If the new offense doesn’t work, the situation could get rough on the field. But pair the Leonhard hire with all of this, and it feels like the Illinois head coach wants to say karma at the end of the day.

David Braun had a clear message to Northwestern football: ‘Go attack the opportunity’

David Braun responds to questions about taking over Northwestern football as interim head coach.

David Braun, the interim head football coach at Northwestern, knows and understands that there is an uphill battle for his program this season. Complicating matters is that Braun, who has never been a head coach, opens the season in five weeks at Rutgers football.

Speaking at Big Ten Media Days on Wednesday, neither Rutgers or the season opener was mentioned by Braun or the media during his press conference. Northwestern, embroiled in the fallout of a hazing scandal that took down head coach Pat Fitzgerald, was picked to finish last by the media in the Big Ten’s West division.

Braun has had to address the team, doing so against the backdrop of what is a huge scandal in college football. Asked about his message to the team in the wake of the firing of Fitzgerald, the message from Braun has been one of unity.

Braun was hired two weeks ago to be Northwestern’s head coach.

“The first thing I told them was my responsibility moving forward to give them clarity and direction. My intent was to be there to support and serve them moving forward,” Braun told reporters.

“I challenged the group. A lot of people have been impacted by decisions made, by the decisions that have been made over the course of the last couple weeks, and our guys right now in that facility are going through a lot.

“We have an opportunity to either run from that or an opportunity to truly stare that adversity in the face, stare it down, and go attack this opportunity to make this fall an incredible story that truly embodies what this team is all about. I’ve challenged them with that, and I can say that they have responded to that challenge in an absolutely inspiring fashion.”

Last season, Northwestern went 1-11, a rare down year for a program that had been overall consistent under Fitzgerald. In 17 seasons under their previous head coach, the Wildcats had 10 bowl game appearances and won five of them.

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Braun was hired by Northwestern in January to be their defensive coordinator. Prior to that, he was the defensive coordinator at North Dakota State.

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Gary Danielson: 2023 Michigan football is Jim Harbaugh’s best team

Can’t wait to see him calling #Michigan games! #GoBlue

INDIANAPOLIS — It’s been a long time since former Purdue quarterback Gary Danielson politicked for Florida to get the opportunity to face Ohio State in the championship game following the 2006 season. Then, he drew the ire of Michigan football fans, but nearly two decades later, with CBS joining in on Big Ten media rights, the prolific color commentator will be on the call for Wolverines games this fall. And he’s a bit more high on the maize and blue now than he was back in 2006.

On Wednesday at Big Ten media days, several CBS personalities were made available to the media at a breakfast. WolverinesWire asked Danielson at his roundtable (he was the most popular of those made available) what he sees in Michigan and why it’s been getting a lot of hype lately in his eyes.

“I think there should be growth at quarterback, I think (J.J. McCarthy) should have that next step,” Danielson told WolverinesWire. “And he if he does, they’re going to be dynamic. I mean, they’ve got two running backs, receivers, they’re loaded on defense. This could be a really — I think it’s going to be Jim’s best team. And having Ohio State at home, beating them twice, I think they’re a legitimate contender.

“But I do think there’s three contenders in the conference. I really do. And then will somebody from the West pop up? I’m not sure. I don’t know if they can play to that level. We’ll see.”

So those are a series of strengths, but does he see any weaknesses? Danielson says he hasn’t delved in too deep just yet, but from what he has seen — well, the answer is clear.

“No, not that I’m aware of,” Danielson said. “Not that I’ve studied close enough yet.”

Michigan’s first game on CBS will come in Week 2 on Sept. 9 in the contest against UNLV. That game will kick off at 3:30 p.m. EDT.

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