Why the big Ten Stinks - Indiana 19, Eastern Kentucky 13

People from Big Ten country have been a little miffed lately about the bad rap that the Big Ten has been getting the last few years. Big Ten fans say, "So what Ohio State lost to Florida, LSU and USC - so would 110 other teams, and badly. Fair enough. But it is more than just the Buckeyes biting it in the big games. It is things like what happened on Thursday evening.

Indiana opened their season against perennial powerhouse ... Eastern Kentucky??? Quick, name where the Eastern Kentucky University (had to look up if it was EKU or UEK) is located. Quick, name their mascot. (Richmond, KY and the Colonels, if you are curious.) There's nothing innately wrong about playing Eastern Kentucky to open the season. Florida has Charleston Southern. But when you open with Eastern Kentucky the goal is to blow them away. So how did Indiana do?

Indiana didn't blow out anyone, Colonels or otherwise. In fact, it took an Eastern Kentuckky fumble early in the 4th quarter at IU's 5 yard line to preserve a 19-13 win over the Colonels. Yep, the Hoosiers almost got fried.

You know why the Big Ten stinks? Because Indiana stinks. And Michigan stinks. And Purdue stinks. Heck, the fourth and fifth best teams in the conference last year were .... Northwestern and Minnesota??? Wait, they stink too.

The Big Ten needs a big boost from teams like Michigan and Wisconsin to make it respectable again. The Indianas and Purdues of the Big Ten will never be amazing. The conference needs Ohio State, Penn State, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin to be rock solid, and they are not.

That is why the Big Ten stinks. Come on, Indiana. That's sad.

No Excuses for Buckeyes vs. USC

A starting cornerback is now out. A true freshman will start at QB for the first time ever. They lost a load of NFL talent. If the Buckeyes don't beat USC in the Shoe on September 12th, there are no excuses. The Buckeyes just stink. If there was any Pete Carroll team that the Buckeyes could beat, it would be a team led by a true freshman QB - and that is what they will (likely, barring injury or a total flop vs. San Jose State) see in two weeks time.

I think Pete Carroll wants to play the freshman just so he can show that he can win the big games with anybody. True freshmen. It doesn't matter. Pete Carroll wants to show that any players he puts out on the field can beat San Jose State, Ohio State, or anybody. His program is just that good.

Jim Tressel has been talking up his team big time. Pryor is going to be better. The O-line is nastier. The defense will still be tough. The wideouts are talented. The Buckeyes will have to prove it on the field. Talk is cheap. Can they beat the big boys from Troy on September 12th? We'll see.