6 packers… ASSEMBLE!

1-RG3 and Andrew Luck headlined the NFL Draft over the weekend.  Any picks that made you go hmm…or how did you think your team did with their picks?

Matt – I’m still shocked that McNutt went so late, and that the likes of Nick Toon went ahead of him.  Did these scouts miss the whole Big Ten football season?  The pick of Kirk Cousins by the Redskins is a head scratcher too.  They took RG3 with the #2 pick…that pick looks like they aren’t completely confident in that pick?  I think Cleveland Browns fans will love Trent Richardson too!

Wendt – I'm not sure why the Bears didn't go after some offensive lineman and why in the world did Washington draft Cousins? Just silly. 

Painter – I didn't follow the draft very closely this year but I am happy with Green Bay taking Mike Daniels

Blake – The one that everyone is talking about is Kirk Cousin's being taken a few rounds after RG3 to the Redskins.  That makes no sense.  It puts pressure on RG3 right out of the gate, and takes away a position player that could have helped the team

Majors – I was ok with our picks. (Raiders) It is a new regime, no more just picking fast guys, we actually picked real players. I am looking forward to the new direction of the team

2-Marvin McNutt, the Hawks all time leading receiver, was drafted in the 6^th round by the Philadelphia Eagles, shocked at how far he fell?

Matt – Totally shocked!  I was thinking 4^th round.  Thought he’d look great as a Bear too.  The Eagles totally got a steal here. 

Wendt – There had to have been questions on his speed because his pass catching was unbelievable

Painter – Yes and no.  I thought he would have been a 4th or 5th rounder but Iowa WRs haven't produced well in the NFL (for the most part)

Blake – Absolutely.  I remember talking about him as a late 1st, or 2nd rounder at one point during the season.  I think a lot of teams went Defense this year, because of the offensive explosion in the last few years

Majors – I was a little. Iowa doesn't have a huge rep for WRs, per se, and with Marvin only being a WR a couple years, I guess it makes sense. Will be fun to see what he does

3-Speaking of the Hawks, they’ve had the most draft picks from the Big Ten in the last 2 years and in the last 3 years they have 18 picks but only 14 Big Ten wins?  Good talent and bad breaks or bad coaching moves? 

Matt – 2009 the Hawks got all the bounces….2010 they went the other way.  2011 was a transition year.  Of those 14 Big Ten wins 5 are over Michigan (3) and Penn State (2).

Wendt – Bad coaching moves/bad breaks

Painter – The coaches are ultimately responsible when you have that much talent but can't get the wins.  Good for them that they can develop players, bad for them for not using that talent to win

Blake – Most of the bad breaks have been associated with bad coaching moves

Majors – I think there are some bad breaks in there, (see RB depth chart/injury report), but I think coaching has been an issue. There is a definite need to shake things up a little

4-Bryce Harper made his debut this weekend for the Nationals.  He’s already made a leaping catch.  Will the kid live up to the YouTube hype?

Matt – The Nats have a couple guys with a lot of hype with him and Starusburg.  I hope for the kids sake he is half as good as the hype.  It would be good for that city and team. 

Wendt – I don't know much about him to be honest

Painter – Who?

Blake – I can't stand the guy.  I think he might turn out to be the cockiest thing the game has ever seen.  That being said, the kid can swing a bat

Majors – If he doesn't, he will be the next Todd Marinovich

5-Derrick Rose blew out his knee in game one of the Bulls opening playoff series vs the 76ers.  How much does this hurt the Bulls chances of title number 7?

Matt – Well I put on Google+ my NBA playoff prediction.  I had the Bulls over the Thunder in the finals.  This really hurts that pick. I think they can get past the first 2 rounds but beating LeBron will be near impossible now.

Wendt – I didn't think the Bulls would get out of the East with Rose so without him they are dead man walking

Painter – Doesn't hurt at all, they weren't going to win the championship anyway

Blake – Uh, did you see game 2?  It might even be a mental block with the team, knowing Rose isn't coming back this time.  I'm still in shock over it all.  They legitimately had a chance at the title

Majors – A LOT. See you next season, guys, and that isn't a guarantee since he will still be recovering

6-The Avengers opens this Friday in what could be a record breaking weekend.  Of the 7 heroes (Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Capt America, Hawkeye, Nick Fury, & Black Widow) who is your favorite Avenger…and are you going to see the flick this weekend?

Matt – Of the 7 I like Iron Man, he’s like Batman, rich dude with a lot of toys!  And he’s confident, cocky and just has fun kicking tail.  And yes I’ll be seeing the movie on the 4^th!

Wendt – I actually watched Iron Man for the first time on Sunday, it was really good. Will I go see The Avengers in theaters? No, but maybe on DVD

Painter – If my life depended on picking a favorite I'd go with Iron Man (the suit is amazing), otherwise I really have no favorite.  I will be catching the movie on Friday night.

Blake – Love me some Captain America.  Uh, no, I go to 2 movies a year

Majors – Capt. America has always been one of my top 5 superheroes, top 3 really. (He, Batman, & Green Lantern). I doubt I see the movie this weekend, but will definitely check it out

Big Ten Awards – Week 12

Team of the Week:  Penn State – Throughout all the drama that is going on in State College, these players have had nothing to do with it.  They had an emotional last game at home the week prior vs Nebraska and came up short.  This weekend they went into the Shoe and kept their Big Ten Championship Game hopes alive with a win over the Buckeyes in what is probably the last Columbus see’s of Luke Fickell as Head Coach.  Penn State now heads to Wisconsin for a Big Ten Semifinal game with the Badgers.  The winner heads to Indianapolis.

Helmet Sticker: Marvin McNutt : WR : Iowa – the converted quarterback is rewriting Hawkeye record books.  With his 9 catch 151 yards and 2 scores Marvin is the all time single season leader in touchdowns.  Next week vs Nebraska he has a chance to become the all time leader in receptions for a career and season.  He’s also making NFL scouts drool!

Game of the Week: Penn State 20 – Ohio State 14 : As Ole JR would say it was a sloberknocker.  All the points were scored in the First half.  Penn State kept its hopes for a Big Ten Championship alive with the win, and now heads to Madison for a show down with the Badgers for the Leaders division title.

Big Ten Take Away: Monte Ball is taking a moniker away from Cris Carter.  All Ball does is SCORE.  30 touchdowns this year!  Dude isn’t getting a lot of Heisman love but should be.

Jimmy John’s Big Ten Challenge

Chad (66-24)        Matt (65-25)        Kyle (64-26)

National Take Away: Bill Hancock must have his offices in SEC country because its an SEC world.  Iowa State started the shocking weekend with a win over #2 Oklahoma State in OT.  Baylor knocked off Oklahoma behind the arm and legs of Robert Griffin III.  If that wasn’t enough USC upset Oregon in Autzen and Clemson got embarrassed by Clemson.  What it means now is the top 3 teams in the BCS are from the SEC…WEST!

Heisman Ballot – Robert Griffin III : QB : Baylor / Case Keenum : QB : Houston /  Marvin McNutt : WR : Iowa

Big Ten Awards – Week 11

Team of the Week: Michigan State

Sparty had a lot to play for this week in what has been a house of horrors for them.  It’s been since 1989 since Michigan State had won in Kinnick Stadium.  They came out and punched Iowa in the mouth and got 2 big turnovers and turned them in to 14 points and eventually a 37-21 win over Iowa and took a HUGE step in moving forward to the Legends Division title and a trip to Indy for the inaugural Big Ten Title game.  Northwestern and Indiana stand in the Spartans way.  A win this week end clinches a tie for the  division for Michigan State.

Helmet Sticker: Jeremy Ebert : WR : Northwestern.  The Wildcats stepped away from conference play this week with a game vs Rice.  The Wildcat WR had a big day too.  Ebert had 7 catches, 208 yards and 2 scores.  The Cats are now a win away from bowl eligibility.

Game of the Week: Purdue 26 – Ohio State 23

The Boilers fought the Buckeyes nose to nose and took a lead, punched them in the nose.  Ohio State scored a late touchdown when trailing 20-14, and blocked a field goal to send the game to overtime.  The Boilermakers then held off the Buckeyes just enough to get the win.  The Boilers have won 2 straight vs. OSU at Ross-Ade Stadium and are a win away from bowl eligibility.

Big Ten Jimmy John’s Challenge

Chad (62-22)          Matt (61-23)          Kyle (60-24)

Big Ten Takeaway:  Lots of respect to Bo Pelini this week.  His statements after the Penn State-Nebraska game were more powerful and meaningful than any explosion he had on the sidelines at the refs or a player in his comments about the situation at Penn State.  He said that the game should have been cancelled.  As a university it was a teaching moment to the young kids on his team and also those watching sports center.  Props to him.

National Takeaway: I thought one unbeaten would fall this weekend with Oregon upsetting Stanford.  I never thought Boise State would go down to TCU.  The BCS may have gotten messier with the Broncos unbeaten no more, Oklahoma State and LSU both have tough games ahead.  We may still be in for one big mess!

Heisman Ballot:  Kellen Moore : Boise State / Case Keenum : Houston / Andrew Luck : Stanford

Big Ten Player of the Year Top 3: Montee Ball : Wisconsin / Russell Wilson : Wisconsin / Marvin McNutt : Iowa

Big Ten Awards - Week 8

Team of the Week : Really there isn’t a question…Michigan State.  The Spartans took one on the chin quickly from the Badgers going down 14-0…then fighting back to take a 23-14 lead into half time.  Russell Wilson lead a charge back in the 4^th quarter to tie the game up at 31 all.  The teams swap time outs back and forth and then the final play is the hailmary, tipped, knock it down then catch and drive past the goal line by the slimmest of margins.  Also props to Purdue for the upset of Illinois.  The Boilers controlled the Illini the whole game and then held them off in the end.

Game of the Week :  Michigan State 37 – Wisconsin 31, no question at all.

Helmet Sticker – Marvin McNutt : Iowa : WR – The Iowa wide out eclipsed the school’s career mark for touchdowns with a 3 score game in the route of Indiana.  McNutt passed Danan Hughes and Tim Dwight on the all time list with his first score and then blew it out of the water with 2 more.  McNutt will most likely destroy this record along with the all-time yardage mark at Iowa by the time he finishes his last 6 games of his senior season.  Not to bad for a one time quarter back.

Big Ten Takeaway – The Big Ten’s only hope for the National Title is all but gone with Wisconsin losing to Michigan State.  Also gives Sparty a leg up on the Legends Division with a 1 game lead over Iowa, Michigan and Nebraska.  Other side, look who’s on top – Joe Pa and Penn State.

National Takeaway – This was Bill Hancock’s favorite weekend of the year.  He doesn’t have to sweat out a handful of BCS champions (maybe) all unbeaten at the end of the season.  OK State, and SEC team and Stanford could all be unbeaten when the season is over, along with Boise State.   But the loss by Wisconsin and Oklahoma may have helped to eliminate some power conferences.