Big Ten works on self-defense
With apologies to Dr. Seuss and 50 Cent, Purdue coach Joe Tiller drummed up a rhyme to soothe fears about the Big Ten's unsettling nonconference record.
"The games that they remember are played in November," Tiller said Tuesday.
True, but even Tiller can't ignore several alarming results for Big Ten teams in the first three weeks.
Purdue is among the six league squads that remain unbeaten, but missteps by the league's bottom quartet have drawn more attention.
Michigan put Appalachian State into the college football vernacular in Week 1. Then last weekend, Northwestern snapped Duke's 22-game losing streak, Minnesota lost to Florida Atlantic, and Iowa stumbled against previously winless Iowa State.
"You never anticipate an upset," Tiller said. "If we did, we wouldn't show up in the morning. The upsets occurring on the home fields were a bigger surprise."
The Big Ten already has 6 home or neutral site losses, double its amount at this point last season. Not surprisingly, the league has a saggin' Sagarin rating -- fifth out of the six BCS conferences.
But the league still has three teams ranked in the top 10 (Ohio State, Wisconsin and Penn State) and several improved squads, namely Michigan State and Purdue. Indiana can notch its first 4-0 start since 1990 by beating Illinois on Saturday.
"The Big Ten's holding its own, really," said Penn State coach Joe Paterno, noting recent losses by SEC stalwarts Auburn and Georgia. "I don't think we're any different than anybody else."
Iowa reeling: The off-field problems that began before the season continue to plague Iowa. Coach Kirk Ferentz on Sunday suspended safety Lance Tillison for two weeks because the freshman was arrested for drunk driving hours after Iowa's loss to Iowa State.
Tillison is the fifth Hawkeyes player suspended for police-related incidents since July. Last week Ferentz dismissed long snapper Clint Huntrods from the team after Huntrods was charged with public intoxication, interference with official acts and urinating in public on Sept. 6.
According to the Des Moines Register, Ferentz has added a Saturday night curfew for players, who previously had curfews for the other six nights.
"I must be a poor communicator," Ferentz said. "Obviously we address alcohol, the problems it can bring, pretty thoroughly, too. … Just when you think they got it, they don't got it."
Spartans surging: First-year coach Mark Dantonio is quick to note that Michigan State also had a 3-0 record last season, but there's no denying the team's greater discipline this fall. Though the Spartans reverted to their roots with 11 penalties last Saturday, they rank 31st nationally in penalties per game and are tied for 19th in fewest turnovers (3).
"Our players came to the conclusion that we cannot get rattled in tough times," Dantonio said.
Big Ten bits: Joe Paterno doesn't plan to use speedy backup quarterback Daryll Clark against Michigan even though the Wolverines struggled with mobile quarterbacks in losses to Appalachian State and Oregon. "The Appalachian thing was, as far as I'm concerned, a little bit of a fluke," Paterno said. "We're not contemplating running things some other people did. Two years ago, when we had Michael Robinson, we did those type of things." …
Purdue starting running back Jaycen Taylor underwent surgery to repair his broken left arm and will miss at least 4-6 weeks and possibly the rest of the regular season. Senior Kory Sheets, who started in 2006, takes over the top job.