Big Ten Media Day: Press Conference

(The following article appears on www.orangeandbluenews.com, the premiere site for Illinois athletics information.)

The Big Ten conference season got officially underway Tuesday on Lower Wacker Drive in downtown Chicago.

With 8 bowl bids in play, the annual BCS bid (or two), three new head coaches, and the introduction of the Big Ten Network, there was plenty to talk about at the opening press conference. With the ESPN News cameras and even the pretty boy, Kirk Herbstreit, in the house, the league’s 11 coaches addressed the media in the Hyatt Regency’s Grand Ballroom. Each coach began with an opening statement, and then proceeded to answer questions from the assembled media.

Orange and Blue News rates the best and worst of the day’s events:

Best Opening Statements:

1. Tim Brewster, Minnesota – I came in prepared to not like this guy, but once he started talking, it became obvious immediately how he’s assembled his reputation as ace recruiter. Speaking with noticeably more volume, animation and intensity than every other coach, Brewster extolled the virtues of Minnesota football past, saying “Minnesota has always been and will always be about winning.” Brewster also said that he will take his squad to spend time around John Gagliardi at nearby St. John’s University, the winningest coach in college football history. Who knows if the fire and brimstone will translate to W’s, but one thing is certain: Brewster looks the part.
2. Joe Paterno, Penn State – There’s a lot to love about JoePa. This is my first time seeing the old codger up close and personal, and I wasn’t disappointed. He was genuine, humble, didn’t indulge in a lot of “coach speak,” cracked a few good jokes, and most importantly – was honest about his football team. “We’ll be a good team, but not a great team, we’re just a little too young for that,” Paterno told the assembled media. In person, Paterno plays like a tender-hearted Junior Soprano; tough, very funny, with just a touch of “crazy like a fox.” Good stuff.

Worst Opening Statements:

1. Bill Lynch, Indiana – Sadly, for the second straight year, a Big Ten coach takes the reins following the untimely passing of his predecessor. Although I’m wishing the entire Hoosier family the best in dealing with that situation, Lynch didn’t impress me today. There’s no creative way to say it: the man was boring. He didn’t move, he didn’t inspire, he didn’t stir much emotion of any kind outside of “I wish they’d just bring back JoePa.” Additionally, in his opening statement, he went through a verbose description of everything that even resembles a positive on his football team, trying to make the Hoosiers sound dangerous and improved. It felt like a classic case of “methinks he doth protest too much.”
2. Mark D’Antonio – Michigan State – If there’s one thing I can’t stand, its “coach speak.” In just fifteen minutes, the new Spartan sheriff gave us “Change is always tough,” “we’re still on the honeymoon here,” “we’re really excited to be here,” and didn’t really contribute much insight at all. The things he did say seemed to be designed explicitly mark himself as a tough guy. “I will not tolerate a weak defense,” he said with a scowl. I’ll believe it when I see it.

Best Question –

This one is kind of tough, because most of the material at the press conference was pretty vanilla, but I did appreciate the reporter who asked Ohio State’s Jim Tressel what he thought of the difference in speed between the SEC and Big Ten, after the Florida debacle last January. The reporter referenced an earlier question of Ron Zook which asked the same thing, based on his experiences in each conference. It put Tressel in a situation where I wasn’t really sure what he was going to say; that’s the definition of a good question in my book.

Worst Question –

1. News flash: we’re talking to coaches, not psychics. A reporter near the front of the ballroom asked Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald the following question:

“Given that you’re coaching at your alma mater, and you’re a pretty young guy, do you see yourself staying at Northwestern as long as JoePa has been at Penn State?”

First of all, how could he possibly know that? “Yes, Mr. Reporter, based on my first year in Evanston, I’m guessing that in the year 2047, I’m still going to be roaming the sidelines at Ryan Field. And its going to be great driving to work every day in my flying car.” Secondly, it really doesn’t matter what he thinks. Does that change anything about Northwestern football this year? What a bad question. Fitzgerald’s response hit the nail right on the head, and drew a laugh from the crowd: “I’m going to have to win a lot more games than 4 to stick around that long.”

2. Speaking of stuff that doesn’t matter at all right now, the following was asked of Tim Brewster: “How do you think the brand new TCF Stadium set to open in fall 2009 will affect your program?” Yeah, you know that stadium that is going to be built a full two years from now, how is that going to long-term affect the program you’ve been at for only six months? Nevermind all the interesting things to discuss: this year’s schedule, the recruiting class, coaching his son, a new conference, his NFL experience – let’s talk about a stadium that opens in 26 months.

Best Answer –

1. Describing backup fullback Chris Pressley’s recent academic trip to China, Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema explained his team’s new conditioning philosophy: “Pressley went over there at 265, and came back three weeks later at 250. So that’s our new weight loss program – send ‘em to China.”
2. In responding to a reporter who asked how he motivated his team and himself after dropping the National Title game to Florida last January, Jim Tressel responded without any abrasiveness, and related to the reporter on a personal level, saying that he and Tressel were probably very much alike, that whenever the reporter didn’t write a story as well as he’d liked, he probably couldn’t wait to get after it the next time and make sure he didn’t make the same mistake twice. It was friendly, smart, human – great answer to a tough question.

Worst Answer –

1. Lloyd Carr was asked how Chad Henne stacked up, after three years as a starter, with some of the other great QBs in Michigan history. Carr’s response, “I don’t compare players.” Ok, fair enough. But then, in Henne’s support, “Let’s not forget, this was a guy who was probably the only quarterback in Big 10 history to win a league title as a true freshman.” Yeah, we may have forgotten, since it happened in 2004! That’s the best you can do in reflecting on your man’s three year career?
2. A reporter asked Kirk Ferentz how he felt about the Hawkeyes’ schedule, which includes neither Michigan nor Ohio State. “I haven’t really thought about it at all.” Really, Kirk? Because its worth thinking about, when the combined 2006 conference record of Iowa’s 10 BCS conference opponents is 29-50. Forget thinking – just throw yourself a “soft schedule we don’t deserve” party.
3. Joe Paterno attempted to answer questions about members of his football team that have run afoul of the law. JoePa, who has made statements in the past which indicate he may not see rape as a serious crime, said “we’ve had some members of our team who may have…taken advantage of a woman…while she was drunk.” Not only does Paterno’s description of the crime allegedly committed by Nittany Lion Anwar Phillips in 2003 place some measure of blame on the victim by playing up her intoxication, but it also dodges the issue, by not calling the crime what it is. Can you imagine the attention would draw if a coach of Paterno’s stature said simply and firmly: “Men who rape women have no place on my football team.”

Best Media Guides

1. Ohio State – A beautifully simple cover design, complete with the patented Buckeye stickers and a shimmery silver finish; the best looking media guide I’ve ever seen.
2. Minnesota – I’m a sucker for stadium architecture, and the detailed drawings of TCF Bank Stadium are enough to make me want to see the place close up.
3. Illinois – I like that the Illini guide features Ron Zook, and the foreground image of players mobbing one another gets me pumped.

Worst Media Guides

1. Iowa – Two big, ugly Hawkeye football helmets with a nothing gray background is the best they could do? Seriously? The cover of this thing looks like my high school brother did it on Print Shop.
2. Michigan – A very close second. At least they put SOMETHING in the background behind their hideous guide cover. How does a school with Michigan’s tradition pull off such a weak marketing campaign for this media guide?
3. Purdue – I guess I just don’t think you should use the phrase “Boiler Up!” in a positive way, especially to introduce yourself to the media.

Best Philosophical Quotes –

“Young men will go wherever you want them to go, as long as you tell them how to get there,” Wisconsin Coach Bret Bielema

“Our nation is intoxicated with sport,” Purdue Coach Joe Tiller.

Coaches I’d want to Have a Beer With:

1. Ron Zook, Illinois
2. Jim Tressel, Ohio State
3. Anyone but Lloyd Carr.