Muller: 5 Burning Questions About The 2011 Big Ten Season
By Shawn Muller-
(CBS) It's the most wonderful time of the year!
No, I am not talking about the impending start of the NFL regular season in 12 days.
I am talking about the college football season, and in particular, the Big Ten season.
Of course Big Ten fans know that this season will mark the first ever conference championship game—to be held December 3rd, 2011 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana – but that is not the only reason fans should be excited.
Ohio State has had a strangle hold on the league in recent years – winning at least a share of the conference championship for the past six seasons –but heading into 2011, after all of the turmoil that occurred in Columbus during the off-season, 2011 may just mark the end of that streak, potentially opening the door for a wild conference race.
Here are the five questions I have about the league this season and they begin with the aforementioned Buckeyes..
1. Can Luke Fickell handle the pressure of being the Ohio State head coach?
One of the hardest things to do in sports is take the place of a legend. And Jim Tressel was a legend in Columbus, Ohio. It is no secret that the Buckeyes are facing possible sanctions from the NCAA, but Ohio State fans expect to win no matter what. So can the 37-year-old handle the pressure of being the head man at one of America's most storied college football programs?
From what I have seen and heard from Fickell during the off-season, my guess is no. That is not meant as a slam on Fickell as a person, but to me, he looks like a deer in headlights as the head coach of Ohio State. Every time I have seen him in an interview, the guy has a look on his face that appears to be saying, "What in the hell have I gotten myself into?"
The Buckeyes still have plenty of talent to overcome the suspensions during the first five games of the season, but I don't think Fickell will be able to sustain the type of success Buckeye fans came to expect under Tressel. I do think Luke Fickell could be a good head coach down the road, just not right now at a school like Ohio State.
My guess is that a new head coaching search begins for the Buckeyes in 2012.
2. How will the Nebraska Cornhuskers adjust to life in the Big Ten?
Many college football experts across the country are predicting that the Cornhuskers will be playing in the Big Ten Championship as the winner of the Legends Division.
But as Lee Corso likes to say: "Not so fast my friend."
The scheduling gods did Bo Pelini and his team no favors in their inaugural conference slate. Nebraska's first ever conference game will take place Oct. 1, when the Huskers travel to Camp Randall to face the Badgers, followed by a home date against the Buckeyes one week later. Nebraska then closes out the conference schedule with games at Minnesota, at home against Michigan State and Northwestern, at Penn State and Michigan, then finally at home against Iowa.
While the Huskers could very well win the Legends Division, and they probably will, I am certainly not going to just hand over a division title just yet. They do get the lion's share of the tough opponents at home, but I think it would be wise to just wait and see how they adjust to the new conference, teams and stadiums. But other than that, I say welcome to the Big Ten, Nebraska.
3. Will Ron Zook be the head coach at Illinois in 2012?
It seems like we have been asking this question about Zook for the past three years. After leading the Illini to their first Rose Bowl appearance in 25 years after the 2007 season, Ron Zook was the toast of Illini Nation. Recruiting was on the upswing, fan interest was at an all-time high, and the program looked poised to make a move towards the upper echelon of the Big Ten.
But that never happened.
Zook followed up his Rose Bowl appearance with a 5-7 (3-5) campaign in 2008, a 3-9 (2-6) mark in 2009, and a 7-6 (4-4) record last season that ended with a win over Baylor in the Texas Bowl. In his six seasons as the head coach at Illinois, Zook's record is 28-45 overall and 16-32 in the Big Ten. Winning the school's first bowl game since 1999 last year was a nice step in the right direction, but with a new athletic director taking over, and a schedule that sets up very nicely in 2011, the time is now for Zook and company to make a statement.
4. Which team has the chance to surprise everyone in 2011?
I'm looking at you Mr. Zook. The Illini are coming off that nice bowl win against Baylor, they had a nice fall camp, and the schedule sets up very nicely for this team to make a run in the Leaders Division. While they did lose studs like Mikel LeShoure, Corey Liuget, and Martez Wilson, they do have some nice players coming back, including stud sophomore quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase.
The schedule is primed and ready. On top of the four non-conference home games – with the only toss-up being the game against Arizona State – Illinois travels to Indiana, Purdue, Penn State (where they always seem to play well), and Minnesota. As far as the home schedule, Illinois hosts in-state rival Northwestern, Ohio State, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
That is a schedule anyone would be jealous off. Your toughest road game is against a Penn State with a load of question marks. You get Arizona State, Northwestern, Ohio State, Michigan, and Wisconsin at home. And you avoid Nebraska and Iowa?
At worst, 9-3 should be a realistic goal for Illini fans in 2011, but anything less than 8-4 should mark the end of the Ron Zook era in "Cham-Bana". Expect for Zook to hear, "Ron, the new athletic director will see you now," if this season ends up like the latter.
5. Who will play in the inaugural Big Ten Championship game?
Honest answer: I have no idea.
In the Leaders Division, Wisconsin appears to be the clear-cut favorite on paper. Without a solid backup quarterback for Russell Wilson, the Badgers are one injury away from having a team that could challenge for a league title to one that is looking at four or five losses. Ohio State is still Ohio State and I think it is foolish to write them off completely, but I am just not sold on Luke Fickell as the head coach. Illinois has the schedule to sneak in to Lucas Oil Stadium come December, but you can just never tell with Ron Zook. Penn State can't find a running back or name a starting quarterback.
In the Legends Division, Nebraska is the popular choice by many, but they do have the league's toughest schedule. Michigan State is a popular "dark horse" pick, but part of me believes last season for the Spartans was a flash-in-the-pan. Iowa could sneak in if the cards fall for them like they did two seasons ago on their way to the Orange Bowl. Northwestern has a shot if quarterback Dan Persa can become the player he was prior to the injury to his leg last season.
Every team that is considered a "player" in both divisions has some question marks surrounding them as we get set for the 2011 season, but one thing we do know is that this is going to be one season none of us are going to want to miss.
Here is to a fun and healthy B1G football season!
Shawn Muller has lived in the great city of Chicago for 7 years. He is a 2002 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and, in October of 2010, Shawn received his certificate in radio broadcasting. In his free time, Shawn enjoys spending time with his wife Melissa and 3 year old daughter Ava, catching any live sporting event, and traveling. Check out his radio show, Grab Some Bench with Muller and Bangser" every Thursday night at 8:30 P.M., at www.blogtalkradio.com/spmuller24. Read more of his blogs here.
