Will media jinx hit Michigan?

Bad news for Michigan.

The Wolverines are this year's potential victims of the historically inaccurate voting bloc known as the Big Ten media.

In seven of the last 11 years, the media whiffed on its prognostication of the conference champion.

Last year, in fact, was the only time since 1996 that the media correctly predicted the undisputed league victors.

Michigan outdistanced Wisconsin and Ohio State to receive the nod as the preseason favorite. The Wolverines retain just 11 starters -- one behind Ohio State for fewest in the league -- but five legitimate All-America candidates.

That group includes fourth-year tailback Mike Hart, who was voted the league's preseason offensive player of the year after finishing ninth nationally in rushing last fall (1,562 yards, 14 TDs)

"He's much stronger, much bigger than a year ago," said Michigan coach Lloyd Carr.

Ohio State junior linebacker James Laurinaitis earned defensive honors. The Buckeyes weren't picked among the top two Big Ten teams for the first time since 2001, when Northwestern was pegged as the favorite.

Bielema digs: In addition to being pegged as the Big Ten's No. 2 team, Wisconsin has shown up in most national top 10 polls.

Alas, the Big Ten schedule maker did the Badgers and second-year coach Bret Bielema no favors in their bid for another 12-win campaign.

In addition to traveling to Illinois and Penn State on back-to-back weekends in October, Wisconsin kicks off the November stretch run with a trip to Ohio State and a visit from Michigan.

"I would love to see the computer that spit out Ohio State and Michigan back-to-back," Bielema said. "And some schools don't play either one."

Indiana and Iowa are the schools that won that luck of the draw -- a benefit that goes for next year as well.

Painful rule change: College football's rule-makers voted in the off-season to push kickoffs from the 35-yard line to the 30.

The idea is to add more excitement to the game, but Purdue coach Joe Tiller merely envisions more pain.

A few years ago, Tiller served on a nationwide committee charged with figuring out ways to protect football players' health.

"That was pounded home again and again and again and again about the best interests of the student-athlete," Tiller said.

In his estimation, this rule change isn't exactly the best thing as more kickoff returns should result in more injuries.

"The most violent play in all of football is the kickoff," Tiller bellowed, providing the day's highest decibel level. "Now, we'll be back 5 yards so we can create more G forces as these kids are running into each other."

JoePa's rules: In the spring, Penn State coach Joe Paterno decreed his players will clean Beaver Stadium after every home game.

That's the penalty for two fistfuls of players who banded together to cause mischief early in the year. Paterno said two unidentified Nittany Lions could face more disciplinary action, but the stadium cleaning will serve as a lesson for everyone.

"Whatever money comes from that will be given to our club sports," Paterno said. "I think we all have to bear some responsibility. There was not enough discipline, not enough leadership for somebody to say, 'Knock it off.' "

Dotting the Illini: Illinois coach Ron Zook told junior tailback Rashard Mendenhall, who led all returning Big Ten backs with 8.2 yards per carry but toted the ball just 78 times, that he plans to put the pressure on him.

"I told him, 'This is your year,'Ȧ" Zook said. " 'I'm going to pump you up to the media.' "

In a side session, Zook mentioned that he expects sophomore Joe Morgan to start at split end. Morgan is a speedster who played in every game as a true freshman, but caught just 2 balls for 24 yards.

"We probably should have played him more last year," Zook said.

Senior Jacob Willis and Derrick McPhearson played most of the snaps at split end last year, but McPhearson was booted from the team for his alleged role in on-campus burglaries while Willis moved to flanker to complement returning starter Kyle Hudson.

Duke OK: Longtime Big Ten commissioner Wayne Duke fainted Tuesday outside the Hyatt Regency ballroom where media day activities took place.

Duke, who served as commissioner for 19 years before Jim Delany took over in 1989, was taken out of the hotel on a stretcher but not before insisting that he'd be OK.

Rees to practice: Trevor Rees will be on the field Monday when Northwestern opens preseason practice, but the senior center still could face discipline relating to his April 22 arrest on DUI charges. Rees had the DUI charge amended to reckless driving July 12, at which time coach Pat Fitzgerald reinstated him with the team.

Fitzgerald will confer with athletic director Mark Murphy and university president Henry Bienen to determine future punishment for Rees, who was stopped in Wilmette hours after Northwestern's spring game.

"We're not prepared to do anything with that right now," Fitzgerald said. "I'm looking forward to seeing the shape he's in on Monday when we run the conditioning test at 8 a.m.

"We don't play till Sept. 1, so I'm not in a hurry to make any decisions."

Fitzgerald has spoken with Rees, who received court supervision until June and must pay a $525 fine.

"He's very disappointed and he's very excited for the season," Fitzgerald said. "He understands the ramifications of the choices he made that night.

"He's humble about it."

Permission required: Fans hoping to watch Northwestern practice in Kenosha, Wis., must first call the football office to obtain viewing credentials. Practices in Kenosha previously had been open to the public, but Pat Fitzgerald changed the policy following training camp last season because injury reports were being posted online.

"I handle our injury report, and I'd prefer to keep it that way," Fitzgerald said. "I love the atmosphere we have in Kenosha. It's a great asset for us, but we need to also respect our football program and respect our players."

Inches to go: Northwestern tackle Dylan Thiry will be limited in contact drills for the first few days of training camp after breaking his nose this summer, Pat Fitzgerald said. Wide receiver Kim Thompson is expected to be at full strength after breaking his leg in spring practice.