3 Players : Iowa vs. Michigan State

Coming off their most impressive Big 10 win of the season, the Iowa Hawkeyes will be back in action with another "must win" game against Michigan State to keep their Legends Division title hopes alive. 

For whatever reason, Brady Hoch decided not to utilize his biggest weapon (his mobile quarterback) last weekend, and Iowa got a few lucky breaks down the stretch.  This week, the Hawks will get the stronger defense from the state of Michigan, and my leading candidate for most disappointing player in the Big 10, Kirk Cousins, under center. 

In my view, here are the three key players for the Hawks this weekend:

1. Mika'il McCall, RB
Kirk Ferentz admitted during his weekly press conference that McCall was ready to go last week, but it was the head coach that needed a little push.  Honestly, Ferentz didn't give himself that push because the Hawks didn't need that "change of pace" running back against the Wolverines.  This week will be a different story.  Sparty's defense is much stronger than their in-state brethren, and Coker up the middle 25 times isn't likely to be nearly as effective.  While Coker is a great back, he's not exceptionally great at getting to the edge and making defenders miss- he's a back that runs into contact and bowls people over.  Even if it's just for a series or two, the Hawks will need to spread Sparty's defense out to give Coker some room, and while throwing the ball will do just that, having a back that can get to the edge can help as well.  I'd like to see McCall get 7-10 touches tomorrow and remember what it's like to be on the field before you hit the road the rest of the season.

2. Tyler Nielsen, LB
The move to the middle did him some good.  Maybe it was the switch, maybe he just woke up, but for the first time this season, it looked like the Iowa defense had a player with a "killer" instinct tracking in the Wolverine backfield.  Nielsen was able to run down Denard Robinson on a couple of key occasions and force him into poor decisions.  Kirk Cousins is nowhere near as mobile, and could be on his back more than once this weekend thanks to Mr. Nielsen.  His leadership from the LB position will be key.

3. Norm Parker, Defensive Coordinator
Just when I was ready to write Norm off, he finally decided to break from the same old game plan just enough to pull off a win.  Now, give Michigan 20 more seconds on the clock, and it might be a different story.  Parker will need to continue to mix it up, especially as the second half wears on, to keep Sparty guessing just enough to get the job done.  I used to think Iowa's defense just got fatigued late in games and couldn't finish.  I'm starting to buy into the thought that other teams knew what was coming, and were able to adjust.  Throw in a blitz or two.  Bring the DB's 3 yards closer to the line.  Bring in a nickleback once in a while.  I'm not suggesting a complete overhaul, just a wrinkle here and there.

Prediction: It will be a tall task to come up with another upset this weekend, but that being said, I didn't see last weekend coming either.  The game opened at Iowa +3 in Vegas, and has been bet down to +2.5.  I'll agree with the bookies, and take Iowa plus the points.

Penn State Reaction

Sum it up in one sentence: It makes me sick.

I could probably stop right there and still say everything that needs to be said, but I'm more of a "glass half full" type guy, and want to take a little bit different look at this situation.  The question for Penn State now becomes, how do they move forward?  How do you put this awful chapter in history behind you and start the long process of rebuilding what you've lost?  And trust me...you will lose everything, which is not even close to what the victims have lost.  Before you sit there and whine about having to start with nothing while rebuilding your program, think about the victims for a minute. 

That being said, here's what I would do.

First of all, Joe Paterno, Tim Curly, Schultz, McQueary, the President, all need to go.  In fact, I'd get rid of the entire coaching staff, support staff, basically anyone that had contact with the program - right down to the guy that writes game recaps for the website.  I'd get rid of marketing people, associate AD's, ticket office staff - basically anyone that's not a coach for a different sport.  As for Sandusky?  He'll be in prison for the rest of his life - so off to hell with him. Start completely from scratch. 

Second, I'd tear down the building where these incidents were said to have occurred.  If you can't tear it down, a major renovation should be in order that completely rearranges everything.  Don't even let the thought creep into a recruit's mind that a sex crime might have taken place where he is standing.  Awful.

Third, I'd self-impose a massive penalty on the program.  When you think about it, what happened here makes the Pony Express at SMU look like an extra dinner at a booster's house.  In this era, you obviously can't cancel a season or anything along those lines, but I would self-impose a post-season ban for at least two years, and take all TV revenues (or at least a major portion) and set up a "victim's fund" of some sort.  Don't tell me that's too much money - if that's the case, then let's put your eight year old in a room with this monster - tell me what you would spend to stop that nightmare.  Penn State could've done just that.  They didn't.  Now it's time to pay the piper. 

And that's just to start. You're going to need some good-will on your side as you start the process. 

Finally, I'd make damn sure you learn something from this whole exercise- not just at Penn State, but the entire NCAA.  Cover-ups seem to be more and more common in college sports, and it's time for a major change in the culture.  The days of "internal investigations" into these matters need to be over.  The cost of this lesson has already been too high to bear. 

The clock is running and as of now, we are officially keeping score.  It's time to make a change.

Conference Realignment

With this "new" mess really hitting the fan today, I thought it was time to pick up the pen and paper again.

First - even working in sports radio, I don't know what's REALLY going on.  Don't believe anyone that tells you otherwise.  Second, I can say with a great amount of confidence, that five years ago, this is a much more civilized debate with more fact and much less BS. 

Why?  One word: TWITTER. 

Everyone gets to be their own little breaking news reporter, and its much tougher to tell what's real and what's not.  That being said, I love Twitter, am on it every day, but be cautious as to who you trust.

To do my part to fuel the rumor mill, here's what I've heard so far today (in no particular order):

1. Mizzou has an invite on the table to join the SEC, and the SEC will wait to see the future of the Big 12 before asking Mizzou to commit (courtesy KC Star)

2. The SEC hasn't offered anyone an invitation except for Texas A&M (courtesy USA Today / SEC)

3. Oklahoma will stay in the Big 12 only if Dan Bebee is gone, and if there is equal revenue sharing

4. Pitt and Syracuse have been accepted into the ACC, but may have to give 27 months notice before leaving the Big East, and pay $5 million to the conference

5. The Pac-12 may only be lukewarm on inviting Texas and Oklahoma to join their league. 

6. The Big 12 and Big East may combine to form one league for football.

7. West Virginia may have been shot down in trying to join the SEC and ACC

8. EVERY conference in America will gladly open their gates for Notre Dame, should they want to join a league.

So, of those eight statements, how many would you bet will still be true tomorrow?  I'll say one, but don't bet on two.  Stay tuned for more.