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huh? 1st year coaches generally have a few of the veteran guys leave. so a Jr. WR who is stuck down on the depth chart transferring is expected.

but having 2 incoming freshman leave the team? that is extremely weird.

Quote:

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan tight end Chris Barnett has left the team, the third player this week to depart from the Wolverines.


The school confirmed the move Thursday.


Big Ten Blog
ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg and Brian Bennett write about all things Big Ten in the conference blog.

• Blog network: College Football Nation

The 6-foot-5, 250-pound freshman from Hurst, Texas, was a highly regarded player in coach Brady Hoke's first recruiting class.

Barnett was ranked No. 20 among all tight ends by ESPNU 150 for the class of 2011. He was projected as a future starter because No. 1 tight end Kevin Koger is a senior.

Fellow freshman Tony Posada, an offensive lineman, and junior receiver Je'Ron Stokes, who had three career receptions for 27 yards, also left the program this week.

Stokes didn't appear to be a big part of the plan on offense this fall, as Michigan returns veteran wideouts Roy Roundtree and Junior Hemingway, and younger receivers such as Jeremy Jackson have gotten good reviews during preseason camp.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/6894742/chris-barnett-leaves-michigan-wolverines

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Posada was a Rodriguez recruit who stuck once Hoke took over, and Barnett was an "athletic TE" who came into camp at 280lbs. Posada was also up around 340lbs after being recruited at 315lbs.

Itis a little odd, but these two were obviously very out of shape, and I am sure that played a big part of it.

Stokes leaving was pretty predicatble seeing as how he was a JR who wouldn't have a chance at much playing time until next year at the earliest.

Fickell just landed his first 5 star recruit as a head coach. 

DE: Aldophus Washington
DT: Michael Bennett
DT: Jonathan Hankins
DE: Steve Miller

OLB: Josh Perry
MLB: Curtis Grant
OLB: Ryan Shazier

My goodness that front 7 will be nasty in 2 years. Hell the backups could start for 75% teams.

I've heard a lot of people saying that Washington hasn't committed yet. He very well may, but it sounds like people jumped the gun.

Washington even denied it himself online.

I think the Houston Cougars will be BCS busters this year.

They just have to play some form of defense.

Getting really excited about the buckeyes, think they might surprise some people. Go Bucks.

cool

cool story bro

Texas A&M tells Big 12 it plans to leave by July 2012
CBSSports.com wire reports
Aug. 31, 2011 PrintEmail a FriendFacebookTwitterRSSShare
HOUSTON -- Texas A&M dealt a blow to the Big 12 conference on Wednesday, saying it plans to leave by July 2012 if it is accepted by the SEC or another league.

The move, which had been expected, may set off another round of conference realignment in college sports. The Aggies have made it clear they want to join the 12-member Southeastern Conference and the Big 12 has been clear that it will move swiftly to find at least one replacement for the Aggies.

The SEC said Wednesday that it had not received an application from Texas A&M to join the league and that it would have no further comment.

Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe said the nine other schools in the conference are "steadfast in their commitment to the Big 12" and that the conference will be "aggressively exploring its membership options."

University president R. Bowen Loftin notified the Big 12 in a letter and said departing the league "is in the best interest of Texas A&M." He said he hopes the move can be amicable and presumably hopes to negotiate a reasonable exit fee.

Texas A&M had been in the Big 12 since its founding in 1996.

But the school said it will submit an application to join another, unspecified conference. If it is accepted, Texas A&M will leave the Big 12, effective June 30, 2012.

"We are seeking to generate greater visibility nationwide for Texas A&M and our championship-caliber student-athletes, as well as secure the necessary and stable financial resources to support our athletic and academic programs," Loftin said in a statement. "This is a 100-year decision that we have addressed carefully and methodically. Texas A&M is an extraordinary institution, and we look forward to what the future may hold for Aggies worldwide."

The move by Texas A&M leaves questions about the future of the Big 12, which is down to 10 teams after Nebraska (Big Ten) and Colorado (Pac-12) left the league in July after a wild round of realignment that also affected teams in the Mountain West, Big East and WAC.

Missouri chancellor Brady Deaton, who serves as the chairman of the Big 12 board of directors, said Tuesday that the group has formed a committee to look at possible replacements.

Loftin sent a letter to the Big 12 last week formally telling Beebe they were exploring all options and asked the conference to outline the process if they decide to leave. On Monday, the university said it had received a letter from Beebe outlining the withdrawal procedure.

The SEC said earlier this month it was happy with its current membership but left the door open to expansion, and the Aggies certainly wouldn't have made this move if they didn't believe they could eventually join the conference.

The Big 12, including Texas A&M, agreed to a 13-year television deal with Fox Sports in April worth more than $1 billion. There is a chance the contract could be voided by the Aggies leaving the conference, which could lead to legal issues for Texas A&M and its new league.

The Aggies will also likely face an exit fee for leaving the Big 12, although it's unclear how much that could be. Nebraska paid $9.25 million and Colorado paid $6.9 million.

Welp, from the beginning Texas acted like they were the alpha team in the conference and refused to share the wealth. Nebraska, Colorado and now A&M all flip Texas the bird and leave for greener pastures. Who is next? Oklahoma or Mizzou?

I always thought Missouri would be a logical addition to the Big Ten. Oklahoma would be huge but they seem too far away....though that doesn't matter. And we're not just talking football, Kansas basketball would be a good addition to the Big Ten too.

I think ND is staying independent and Texas will go that route too. The Big 12 will dissolve. The SUPER Conference is an unstoppable force now.

Yeah, I can see Missouri coming to the Big 10, and heavy duty pressure being out on Notre Dame to join, or be left out forever. (as much as forever exists in sports)

If Notre Dame doesn't join, then Oklahoma would be huge. You would get the Oklahoma/Nebraska rivalry back ...... and would add another top tier football school to the conference. As you said, Kansas would be a huge school for Basketball. Really, both would be great choices.

Without Notre Dame, and with Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas, this could give the Big 10 15 teams ..... so then the pressure would really ratchet up on Notre Dame as being an independent in a Super Conference world would be dicey at best. They would never see another National Championship as an independent, because they would never be able to play anyone. Playing 1AA schools, the service academies, and small schools desperate for a payday won't give their schedule enough heft to compete for a National Championship. It would seem that once one conference shows signs of becoming a "Super Conference" that others will immediately make moves on the best remaining schools available.

It could almost be that the off-field moves could be as exciting as half the games that will be played in the first 3 weeks of the season. lol

I know the Big Ten expressed interest in the NY market too. IMO, I think they'd be better served nailing down Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas and then trying to add Rutgers (for the NY market). That gets you to 16 teams. Forgetaboutit!

Sure, ND would be a huge feather in their cap, or any conference that can add them, but ND is way too stubborn to join a conference. They'll fall off the college football map before accepting an invitation. They pound their chests because they are and always will be an Indy. I just don't see them changing.

If the Big Ten expands again, and they will, hopefully they'll have the brains to rename the conference AND get the division names to make sense too.

what about west va? i would love that. maybe bring both pitt and west va in.

I forgot about them.

Missouri - new market, existing rivalry with Illinois
Oklahoma - new market, BIG time football program, existing rivalry with Nebraska
Kansas - new market, BIG time Bball program
West Virginia - new market, good logical fit but I thought they don't meet the academic restrictions, and good rivalry with Pitt and Penn State
Pittsburgh - same market at Penn State (and really a lesser team in the market) but good rivalry with WVU is they were added (and Penn State)
ND - No chance.
Rutgers - new market....not sure what else.

i would love west va, pitt, and mizzou in the b10, that would be incredible. I think pitt would get a giant boost from playing in the b10 as well.

Yeah, New York would make sense. That would help TV rights for sure.

I will have to laugh when I see Notre Dame playing their annual rivalry game against YSU ........... because they were too stubborn to make a move when they could. lol

Yup. ND fans felt it was their birthright to always contend for the national championship every year....well, that's gone. Their birthright of also being relevant could also fade away too.

So.....two 8-team divisions is the goal? That would mean you play 7 divisional games and then maybe half of the other division. So that's 11 games per year. Each Big Ten team could have their 12th game be the "North Dakota State College for the Blind" type OR go play an SEC team if you think you're a contender for the NC.

I like it!

I would lean towards adding Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas and then a NY school. Not sure.

I would be SHOCKED if the Big Ten honchos aren't drooling over all this news. They have to be planning a move to add schools, at least two.

the list:

Missouri - KC and St.Louis markets. AAU member. Good academics including world-renowned journalism school (NW will approve). Most logical add outside the real wish-list types (ND and Tx).

ND - outside of TX, the obvious choice. they will want to remain independent so it will depend on if there is a door opened for non-super-conference teams. if no door exists, they will be forced into a conference and I don't see them joining the SEC. They could join the ACC though just to spite the Big10 (huge rivalry with the conference as a whole for over 100 years, so I could see it).

Maryland - no, I doubt they jump ship from the ACC, but I also don't doubt we ask. Huge DC market, great academics, and their teams can have good years (plenty of talent in the area).

Rutgers - ugh. the 'TV market' choice. decent enough academics, AAU member. good at 'non big sports' but not a fun addition for anyone or anything though it gives the Big10 yet another team with 'red and white' of some sort.

Kansas - not the dominant academic school, but an AAU member. they need to break their ties with K-State though and they don't have a huge TV market that we wouldn't already be getting with Mizzou.

Oklahoma - as mentioned above, I doubt they come to the Big10 over SEC/Pac??

Pitt - makes geographic sense, they are AAU member. but, they add little in terms of football cachet and they add nothing in TV market (Penn State already captures Pitt). They are a fall-back plan.

Syracuse - less of a fall-back than Pitt, but still a fall-back. I doubt the Orange get us the NYC market, but there are still plenty of Orange Alum in the western NY state as well (Buffalo and Rochester). Plus, if you pair them with Rutgers, then maybe you start chipping into the NYC market.

Navy - my personal favorite 'under the radar' pick. Prestigious academic school with a huge following. Another 'national' brand for football. Also, adding Navy might help convince ND to join. Would be huge for the conference and be extremely forward thinking.

the not going to happen for various reasons:

Texas - I think they eventually are forced into a league (once they go 4 16-team leagues, it's going to be tough for independents. unless they allow to lump them in with the non-super-conference schools for the 1slot that will be left in the "we're not calling it a playoff/playoff"). But, they have made it pretty clear that the Pac?? is where they would join. And ANY conference would jump to add them.

West Virginia - academically will not be in Big10.
Iowa State - no reason other than Iowa lobbying.
Cincinatti - academically, resources and market.
Louisville - academically will not be in Big10. plus, they would be a real fun addition to the SEC. i'm cheering for that to happen.
Kstate, OkieState, TxTech, Baylor, BYU, etc.

Haven't seen it posted yet

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Dressed in a white oxford shirt with an Ohio State logo on the chest -- no tie, no sweater vest -- Luke Fickell made the first big call of his head coaching career.

Fickell, an assistant elevated to replace Jim Tressel who was forced out in the midst of an NCAA investigation, said that fifth-year senior Joe Bauserman would most likely be the starting quarterback when the 18th-ranked Buckeyes open their season on Saturday at home against Akron.


Bauserman and true freshman Braxton Miller had battled for the starting job in recent weeks in camp. They were listed with an 'or' separating them on Ohio State's two-deep roster this week.

"Joe would probably take the first snap," Fickell said at his first weekly news conference. "Just talking with those guys, talking with the offensive staff, we know we're going to need them both. The whole idea is we want to make sure that we can put them out there in front of 106,000 and see how guys respond."

He said Bauserman got the edge because he's seen more game action -- although he has seldom played with a game on the line because he was behind departed three-year starter Terrelle Pryor.

"It's leadership," he said when asked what separated Bauserman, a former minor league pitcher for three years in the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system. "It's also what this team, where we were at the time. He's done a really good job through camp. I've been impressed with the things we've asked him to do and what he's done."

Fickell, formerly the linebackers coach, stressed that the job wasn't permanently Bauserman's.

"It doesn't mean I haven't been impressed with Braxton as well," he said. "That's why we've been impressed with him enough to list him in the 'or' category. But, again, the whole idea is we want to continue to create competition and to make sure that those guys understand that by saying 'or' that we need both."

Offensive tackle J.B. Shugarts said the 25-year-old Bauserman was more knowledgeable about the playbook.

"Joe's an older guy, he's been around. He knows the system a little bit," he said. "Joe's a little more of a pocket passer, but he's a lot more athletic than people give him credit for when he gets out of the pocket. We all know Braxton can make some plays on his feet if he has to scramble or step up."


Center Mike Brewster will be counted on to make things as easy as possible for whomever is taking the snaps.

"I can't do too much for them, but the thing I can do is make sure that they're protected, make sure that I have the line all on the same page, make sure that I am picking up the blitzes with different calls and putting them in a position to be successful," he said. "By doing that, I think it'll make them feel more comfortable in the pocket, give them more time and let the receivers do what they need to do."

Pryor took almost every snap the past two seasons. He led the Buckeyes to a Rose Bowl win two years ago and to a 12-1 mark last year, including a victory over Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl.

But he left Ohio State this summer, giving up his senior season, while caught up in the middle of the NCAA investigation into improper benefits to players. Tressel was forced out on May 30 after 10 years as the Buckeyes head coach, admitting he knew some of his players broke NCAA rules but didn't tell anyone for more than nine months.

Fickell said the quarterbacks, like everyone else, would be graded on their performance against the Zips.

"Everything's a test, we tell them," he said.

Fickell also said that third-year sophomore Jaamal Berry has a hamstring injury and will probably not play in the opener. In his stead, the tailback rotation will be Jordan Hall, Carlos Hyde and Rod Smith.

Linebacker Etienne Sabino, who broke a bone in his hand 10 days ago, had surgery last week and is expected to play with a cast on his hand.

The two-deep roster that was unveiled featured seven new starters on offense and seven on defense, taking into account that the Buckeyes will be without three frontline players (wide receiver DeVier Posey, top tailback Dan Herron and offensive lineman Mike Adams) who are suspended for the first five games for taking cash and free tattoos.

Maybe because those top players will not be with the team for the start of the season (in addition, backup defensive lineman Solomon Thomas is also sitting out the first five games, and backup linebacker Jordan Whiting will miss just the Akron game), Ohio State will go with game captains instead of season-long captains. Nominated for the Akron contest are Shugarts, Brewster and defensive lineman John Simon.

The 38-year-old Fickell said he was anxious to be a head coach after spending the last nine seasons on the Ohio State staff.

Tressel was known for his conservative game plan -- repeatedly saying that the punt was the most important play in football -- as well as his prep-school white shirt, tie and sweater vest.

Fickell was asked what he would be wearing on the sidelines in the opener.

"Whatever my wife lays out," he said with a laugh.

the thought about A&M crossed my mind too, but it is a procedural matter.

the SEC can be sued if the proper steps are not taken and part of that is what A&M is going through now. they cannot state that they have made up their minds because they still have to apply to the SEC.

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for TV markets, the most sense for the Big10 is to add: Mizzou, Maryland, Navy, ND

Add KC, St.Louis, DC-area, and 2 national brands. That would be huge. Not to mention they all "fit" very well with the current members.

I still think that Kansas and Kansas St. are a package deal.

Hows bout we just have
Pacific Conference (Pac-12+Others)
Central Conference (Big10+Big12+Others)
Atlantic Conference (SEC+Big East+ACC+Others)
And throw the other Major Colleges left in a Conferance...

And the 4 winners play in a tournament to crown a NC....

basically how I think it will play out, but you can't just add the 9 schools to the Big10 to take it to 21. I think the 'cap' for now will be at 16.

I've noted it before, but here's how I see it going (actual school additions can vary):

SEC to 16 (A&M, WV, Louisville, Kansas)
Big10 to 16 (Mizzou, Maryland, Syracuse, Navy)
ACC to 16 (Rutgers, Pitt, UConn, ND, Villanova)
Pac? to 16 (Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Tech)

Big East to non major conference. BYU upset but left out (Pac? has issues wtih BYU that go back decades even more severe than the ones between ND and the Big10).

Biggest surprise of the above list is obviously Villanova. ACC is extremely academic based and with Wake/Duke they don't mind private schools (and are a basketball school at heart). It was between Temple and Villanova to me in terms of which school would be invited. I went with Nova because they are a better overall academic school, but the size of Temple could push the Philly market to them (and the fact they already have a D1A football team while Nova would have to make the jump).


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now, you take these 4 conferences and do the following:

1. break them each into 2 8team divisions.
2. you play everyone in your division once + 2 crossover games
3. conference championship game for each
4. conferences play each other in a playoff that mimics the current NFL.
A. 2 wild card slots (allow non super conferences a possibility, but it will be excruciatingly hard for them to earn one with the way the deck is now stacked. Sorry to Boise, TCU, and BYU).
B. Top 2 BCS teams (or whatever it's called) get a bye (this heightens the importance of late season games in case someone runs away with a division)
C. Enjoyment by all.

I just hate how everyones main argument against any kind of playoff is that it'd "ruin the bowl system"

1. It doesn't have to. You can still have your 300 Bowl Games and a tournament, it's not THAT ridiculous of an idea...

2. Why do we NEED 35 bowl games? What's with today's society that everyone needs a fricken trophy? Do they think people REALLY care about the Papa John's-Goodyear-Jeep Cherokee Bowl? Theres a reason teams occasionally turn invitations down...

What I love, is that all this conference junk, Proves Football is King...

I don't see a problem with a bunch of bowl games. It shouldn't bother you as a viewer, just change the channel to another bowl game.

It's a great experience for players.

When it's a cop out excuse for not going to a playoff system... it bothers me...

Quote:

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Maryland - no, I doubt they jump ship from the ACC, but I also don't doubt we ask. Huge DC market, great academics, and their teams can have good years (plenty of talent in the area).

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The "huge" DC market doesn't support Maryland all that much now when they are playing UVA and VA Tech which both have a big presence in the DC/NoVA area... I seriously doubt that Maryland playing Iowa or Michigan or Purdue is going to be all that enticing.

I think the Big Ten will want to add four of these schools.

Rutgers - Adds NYC & New Jersey Market, AAU member.

Mizz - AAU member, adds a state to the Big Ten, new a state borders a state already is part of the Big Ten.

Kansas - AAU member, adds a state to the Big Ten, new a state borders a state already is part of the Big Ten.

Maryland - AAU member, adds a state to the Big Ten, new a state borders a state already is part of the Big Ten. Not sure if they would leave the ACC.

Virginia - AAU member, IF Maryland joins, would add state to Big Ten and would boarder New Member Maryland. Not sure if they would leave the ACC.

Syracuse - Only if they regain their AAU membership, would add a state and would boarder a current Big Ten State.

Pitt - AAU member, Only if they can't get to 16 else where.

Iowa St - AAU member - Only if they can't get get to 16 else where.

ND - Not an AAU member - Would bring many States to the Big Ten network and since Nebraska lost its AAU membership it could be over looked. Big East must die first. Rivalry with Michigan already there.

If I had to guess:

1. Syracuse - Has good academics, tradition and the New York market

2. Rutgers - New Jersey market

3. Notre Dame - Good academics and makes sense

4. Pittsburgh - Locks down Pennsylvannia market and is already rivals with Penn State.

Re: General Expansion Reply

There's not a chance the Big Ten expands without a marquee school. I.e. if they can't get Texas or ND, it makes no sense to widen the footprint.

Schools like Missouri or even Va Tech (it's my opinion the ACC dissolves) would certainly be attractive but you have to have a MAJOR football power to entertain spreading out monetary resources. They have to be packaged with an ND, or someone in that class.

The Big Ten is in a great position. They're flush with cash and their TV market is expanding its' reach. Each school is getting 20+ million from the network and that was maybe the biggest factor in Nebraska ditching the Big 12.

Don't discount the conferences position. They'll get to pick and choose. These few elite schools looking to shift probably aren't going to want to join the SEC cesspool.

The dream scenario, for me at least, is:

ND
Va Tech
Boston College
Missouri

All bring new markets, strong academics and good athletics. Obviously Texas would be great but I just don't see that happening. ND brings more national eyeballs, Va-Tech the east coast, BC the NY / Boston area and Missouri the St. Louis market. In terms of BTN subscriptions, that's a big, big win (as are the quality of those institutions).

Should be interesting. Without someone like ND, Texas, etc. I think the Big Ten doesn't expand. Financially (and academically), it has to make sense.

Schools I think won't really be considered:

Pitt - Already have PA market with PSU and I doubt they want in state competition.
Syracuse - Awful football program, doesn't really expand BTN viewership.
WVU - Not even close academically.
Kansas - I guess I'll give them a maybe but academics an issue (as is the football team).
Maryland - Not the draw some other ACC schools are...decent fit but not a huge asset financially.

In the Big Ten you can float a few so-so athletic programs with great academics and increased BTN footprint but it's not going to work the other way around.

Joe Bauserman reminds me too much of Todd Boeckman and not in a good way. Is there really any point in starting Bauserman? Why not start Braxton Miller and let him have his growing pains this season instead of next?