Big Ten (Bowl) Season - We Are Who They Thought We Were

By Jordan Loperena, 1/6/2009

When did this all begin? Was it the thrashing Ohio State faced against Florida in the 2007 National Championship Game? Was it Appalachian State kicking off the 2007-08 season by blocking a last second field goal attempt to knock off perennial national powerhouse Michigan at The Big House? Was it another SEC beatdown of Ohio State in the 2008 Nat...you get the point.

This year's Big Ten football season got off to a great start - no one lost to an FCS team opening weekend. Did it really get any better from there? Michigan still lost their home opener but to a potentially undefeated Sugar Bowl champion Utah team. They then went from juggernaut status to a team that loses at home to a poor MAC team (Toledo) that actually replaced their head coach at the end of the season. At least Appalachian State was a defending national champion in their own right. Ohio State got blown out again by another conference's top team in the "Collision at the Coliseum". It was a collision alright - a collision course for Ohio State's dreams of South Beach. Our poor excuse for a 2008 Rose Bowl representative failed to even qualify for a the Motor City Bowl (or any bowl for that matter) - after losing primarily one key player on both sides of the ball (Ra. Mendenhall and J. Leman). Their athleticism and recruiting is still there, no doubt - but their coaching and discipline is about that of a middle of the road Pop Warner team. Knowing one of your players broke his teammate's jaw, not suspending him, then calling his number on a touchdown pass the following Saturday? All do respect, Mr. Zook - what were you thinking? One of our top ranked preseason teams in Wisconsin squeaked by what ended up being a mediocre Fresno State squad then went on to finish 7-5. They did make a nice run to end their season and qualify for a bowl game, but they didn't meet anyone's preseason expectations. Heck, our conference's biggest win all year (Iowa over Penn State) made the rest of the nation happy for eliminating a Big Ten team from National Championship contention.

As if I even needed to get started on the Big Ten Bowl Season, that IS what this piece is about in the first place and I'll kick things off with Mr. Bielema's Badgers.

CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL - 12/27/2008
Florida State 42 - Wisconsin 13

In a game that may have started off with the most impressive, consecutive string of three punts (all downed inside the 5 yard line) that I have ever seen by Florida punter (and Lou Groza winning placekicker) Graham Gano, Florida State just took it to Wisconsin. Wisconsin was outplayed by a much more athletic Florida State football team and having bobby Bowden as their coach didn't hurt. A coach many had thought might have lost control of his team, Coach Bowden did nothing but prove that he still knows what he's doing out there and has now outlasted two sons for the moment in the college football head coaching realm. Did we think Wisconsin would win this game? It was hard to tell - Florida was just one of multiple Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde teams out of America's Children's Conference (the ACC) this season. The "Mr. Hyde" in them showed up in Orlando and playing at full tilt, they had no problems with the Badgers.


VALERO ALAMO BOWL - 12/29/2008
#21Missouri 30 - #23Northwestern 23 (OT)

It's safe to say that Northwestern thought they deserved to be playing in a New Year's Day bowl game. It's also safe to make an argument that they belonged in the Outback Bowl at 9-3 over Iowa (8-4) especially since they had beaten Iowa in Kinnick Stadium. Statistically, maybe it made sense but when traveling fans come into play for considering teams for a bowl game, few in the nation compare to Iowa. That being said, no one knew how to pound that chip onto Northwestern's shoulder more than their fearless leader, Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald. One of the Big Ten's bright spots on the year, Northwestern improved from mediocrity in 2007 to respectable bowl game status in 2008. In a game that they were given underdog status, they came out firing on all cylinders, forcing a more athletic (yes, another more athletic opponent) Mizzou squad to have to come from behind to win this overtime thriller, despite great efforts from seniors C.J. Bacher, Eric Peterman, and Tyrell Sutton (who actually played this game with a cast on his arm) just to name a few. Unfortunately, the Big Ten lost out on a great chance for an impressive bowl victory but those Cats from Evanston showed some fight from our conference that most of the nation was not aware of.


INSIGHT BOWL - 12/31/2008
Kansas 42 - Minnesota 21

The Gophers were without a doubt the most improved team in the Big Ten and the nation in 2008 (1-11 in 2007, 7-6 in 2008). However, the way they ended their season hardly makes that claim relevant after losing their last five games of the season. At 7-1, the Gophs were turning some heads, even if it was the kind of turn you try to attempt after waking up with a kink in your neck and you nearly fail to turn your head at all, it was still a turn. Then came one of the more surprising finishes to a game this season as a near-walkoff interception was returned for a touchdown by Northwestern's Brendan Smith. That was the beginning of the end as they would eventually finish their regular season getting blown out 55-0 to Iowa in the Gophers' Metrodome Finale. The Insight Bowl proved to slightly resemble the pattern of Minnesota's season. They were up early on the Jayhawks 14-7. Kansas then managed to tie it up by the end of the quarter, take a 14 point lead by half, and score their 28th unanswered point to take a 35-14 lead at the end of the 3rd. Final score - Kansas 42, Minnesota 21. This game was an interesting matchup as both teams headed in at 7-5 but Kansas found holes in a Minnesota team that had forgotten how to win, allowing Todd Reesing (27/35, 313 yds, 4 TD) and Dezmon Briscoe (14 rec, 201 yds, 3 TD) to have tremendous games. Both will be back in Lawrence next year to give the Big XII North's secondary a workout. That being said, it was disappointing for me and several other members of the Hawkeye Faithful to watch the Big Ten close out 2008 in this fashion while dining at Lee Roy Selmon's Restaurant in Tampa. (Outstanding BBQ by the way - I highly recommend for anyone who visits the Tampa area)


OUTBACK BOWL - 1/1/2009
Iowa 31 - South Carolina 10

Iowa came into this game hotter than almost anyone in the Big 10 and as hot as almost anyone in the nation. The Hawkeyes finished their regular season by winning five out of their last six games to finish 8-4, highlighted by a last-second victory over then #3 Penn State and a 55-0 blowout win to capture Floyd of Rosedale up in Minnesota.The Big Ten's second highest scoring offense and one of their most stout defense's were able to start licking their chops when they found out they were paired up against The Old Ball Coach's Gamecocks. In what was possibly the Big Ten's luckiest matchup of the bowl season, it was the only one in which they were favored in. Down in Tampa, it was apparent that Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz was still running very physical practices and South Carolina Head Coach Steve Spurrier was running practices with a more laid back attitude. This proved to be true to their team's performances on the field as the Hawkeyes began their blowout of the Gamecocks with an opening drive that took up close to half of the first quarter, converting on three 3rd-and-long situations. It didn't take long for the flood gates to open as South Carolina QB and Tampa native Stephen Garcia threw three first-half interceptions (two to Iowa Freshman Safety Tyler Sash)and added a fumble just for fun, helping give Iowa a 21-0 lead at the half. South Carolina QB Chris Smelley replaced Garcia after halftime, completing the first pass of the second half only to have it fumbled away to the arms of the Iowa Hawkeyes' defense, who recorded an Iowa Bowl Game Record 5 turnovers in the game. Iowa led 31-0 after three and went on to win 31-10. This was a great statement win for the Big Ten. Mitch King and Matt Kroul wrapped up outstanding Iowa careers, as did all of the Iowa seniors who played in the game, and Doak Walker Award winner Shonn Green was named Outback Bowl MVP right after declaring for the NFL Draft on the field following the game. Despite South Carolina being the SEC's bowl team version of that crazy relative no one wants to invite to Christmas dinner - the Cousin Eddy of the Griswold Family if you will, the Big Ten needed to beat an SEC team and Iowa did so in fashion.


CAPITAL ONE BOWL - 1/1/2009
#15 Georgia 24 - #18 Michigan State - 12

Michigan State surprised many in this game by leading Mark Richt's Georgia Bulldogs 6-3 at halftime. However, in yet another game in which the Big Ten was outmatched in athleticism, Georgia took control of the game early in the second half and never looked back. Georgia RB and Doak Walker finalist Knowshon Moreno exhibited his outstanding receiving qualities out of the backfield and Matthew Stafford had a solid game as well in what may have been his final game at Georgia. Not quite what Georgia had expected at the start of the season, but a solid bowl win over a quality Big Ten team nonethheless, helping cancel out the SEC's loss to the Big Ten earlier that day in the Outback Bowl.


ROSE BOWL - 1/1/2009
#5 USC 38 - #8 Penn State 24

Well, at least the Big Ten didn't get blown out ... on the scoreboard. Despite only losing this game by two touchdowns, USC took this game over in the 2nd quarter with 24 unanswered points, giving them a 31-7 halftime lead. Penn State's loss of star running back Evan Royster did nothing to help their cause as they struggled to get back into the game. Coming within two touchdowns, Penn State was deep into USC territory in the final minute in hopes of bringing the score within one touchdown but a Darryl Clark thrown interception ended hopes of any kind of miracle comeback. This is probably one of the only times I was disappointed with Penn State all season. Having a chance to score quickly to activate the looming thoughts of a miracle comeback, they failed to do so and killed any hopes of a comeback by completing a short passing play, staying in bounds and failing to stop the clock. Several seconds ran off the clock and this all but ended the game. A poorly thrown ball into the back of the endzone ended hopes of what could have been a very respectable 38-31 final score. Losing 2 of their last 4 games in no way resembled the season that Big Ten Coach of the Year Joe Paterno and the Penn State Nittany Lions put together. Hardly predicted in the top 2 spots of the conference pre-season, Penn State took the Big Ten by storm in 2008, winning the conference and earning a Rose Bowl berth. Not quite the finish they were hoping for, but a much more respectable representation of the Big 10 in the Rose Bowl than the previous year.


FIESTA BOWL - 1/5/2009
#3 Texas Longhorns 24 = #10 Ohio State Buckeyes 21

The last shot the Big Ten had at winning a second bowl game this bowl season fell short in the final minute of the 2009 Fiesta Bowl. The Buckeyes gave another valiant effort for an underdog Big Ten team, but came up just short. Creative playcalling and the double threat use of quarterbacks Todd Boeckman (Senior) and Terrelle Pryor (True Freshman) helped Ohio State come back and take a 21-17 lead with just over 2 minutes remaining in the game. While rejoicing for the Big Ten, we all had the though "too much time left on the clock" in the back of our minds. That proved to be correct as Texas used the final 2 minutes of the game to mount an impressive last drive on the arm of Colt McCoy and the hands and speed of WR Quan Cosby. Another disappointing loss for the Big Ten. Although it was a great effort by a Big Ten team to knock off an offensive powerhouse from the deadly offensive Big XII South Division, in the end there were no cigars, no locker room t-shirts, no hoisting of a BCS game trophy for the Big Ten.

We Let Them Off The Hook

It's like beating a dead horse, but there's no other way to lay it out on the table. Once again, the Big Ten underachieved in their bowl season. Yeah, we can all be proud in our hearts for the efforts of Northwestern and Ohio State in games where no one gave them a chance on paper. The rest of the nation, however, does not have the place in their heart for the Big Ten. At least not at the moment. Do they have reason to? I don't see one. Alright one - Iowa. The lone win for the Big Ten this bowl season came out of Kirk Ferentz's bunch from Iowa City. If at the beginning of the regular season, any professional would have predicted Iowa as the only Big Ten team to win a bowl game in the upcoming year - they would have jeopardized their job security and been laughed at. That's just how this year turned out in the Big Ten. One Big Ten bowl victory, an astonishing six bowl losses. The Big East and ACC get their fair share of criticism in their bowl success and sure, they get the "Do they belong as an automatic BCS conference?" talk. No one expects anything too fantastic out of them though. The Big Ten has proven over time that they are annually capable of producing winning teams, competitors, national champions. The ugly fact is that the Big Ten is quickly entering that "Do They Belong?" discussion. Of course they belong. The difference between the Big Ten and the other conferences falling into the "Do They Belong?" discussion is that people have grown to expect so much out of the Big Ten that at the first sign of failure, the conference's credibility is questioned. Right now, the Big Ten still has something to prove. This Big Ten Bowl Season itself, especially in the close and devastating losses suffered by Northwestern and Ohio State (that could have knotted us up at 3-3 and shut up a fair amount of people) proved that the Big Ten is becoming College Football's competitive and feisty little brother. We play our hearts out in the backyard but just can't quite hack playing with the big kids yet. Heading into this bowl season, Iowa was the only Big Ten team favored going into their bowl game and they were the only Big Ten team to win their bowl game. Are we THAT predictable? It seems as if we are. We are who they thought we were, and in our chances to shock the nation and flourish, we let them off the hook.

-Jordan Loperena, Sports Director, KRUI Radio 89.7