And the countdown is on.
There’s less than two weeks until Penn State’s season opener with Coastal Carolina on Aug. 30. But let’s face facts, folks. This is a preseason game for the Nittany Lions. The real season begins on Sept.
27, when Illinois comes to town for a primetime showdown.
In today’s edition of Morelli OnLion, we’ll take a look at each and every Big Ten coach. We’ll also have our No. 2 moment of the year in Penn State athletics. Beginning next week, we’ll look at that week’s game and have our weekly prediction.
But first, a closer look at each coach in the Big Ten. It’s not the Big Ten Network, but hey, what is?
It’s not always easing translating Paterno’s “coachspeak.”
(Photo courtesy of Blue White Illustrated).
Coachspeak
My first trip to Big Ten Media Days was a doozy.
As much as one tries to prepare for the first time at an event such as this, there really is nothing you can do but jump into the deep end of the pool feet first. There’s no dipping your toe in the water. You go, dive in and either learn to swim or you sink.
With all 11 Big Ten schools represented by a coach and several players, it’s hard to get around and talk to each coach. Guys like Rich Rodriguez, Jim Tressel and Joe Paterno usually have big crowds at their tables. Luckily, for reporters, each coach takes a turn at the podium on day one. They make an opening statement. They usually reflect on the previous season, look ahead to the upcoming one and field several questions from reporters.
If there’s one thing I learned at Big Ten Media Days, it gets ankle-deep in the ballroom of the Hyatt Regency in Chicago. And no, I’m not talking about the baloney coming from the mouths of reporters. I’m talking about coachspeak.
Certainly, you’ve heard enough coachspeak in your time. Even if you’re not a sportswriter, you’ve heard it. Just watch a postgame news conference. Or a weekly news conference. Or listen to a pregame show.
Coachspeak is easy — and it flows like cheap beer at a fire hall wedding reception.
At Big Ten Media Days, I enjoyed a full day of coachspeak. We don’t have enough space to tell you what each coach said. Instead, I thought I would break it down. You’ll get the coachspeak quote, then what the quote actually meant.
To keep things fair, we’ll go in alphabetical order.
Bret Bielema, Wisconsin
Coachspeak: “We’re very excited. We have a great record in night games, and any advantage you can gain on Ohio State and Penn State is a good thing. Hopefully, Wisconsin fans, if they have a couple more hours to relax in the stadium parking lot, it’s a festive environment so we’re excited about that opportunity.”
Translation: I hope our fans drink their faces off.
Tim Brewster, Minnesota
Coachspeak: “We all know that at the University of Minnesota we haven’t won a championship in a long time. We’re committed to winning a championship, doing the things necessary to win a championship.”
Translation: Gosh, I hope we win more than one game this season.
Mark Dantonio, Michigan State
Coachspeak: “When you look back at the last year a little bit of our season, it’s a season that you could really point to and say the difference between winning and losing is that big. We won seven football games and lost six by a very, very small margin.”
Translation: I can’t coach in tight games.
Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
Coachspeak: “We had our worst year off the field as far as decision making. It’s been a a really interesting year and a challenging year off the field for us in many ways.”
Translation: If these guys don’t get their crap together, I’m finished.
Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
Coachspeak: “It’s amazing, this game of football, how it really challenges you. I’m very optimistic for the season obviously with the wealth of experience we have coming back.”
Translation: I hope I have a job next year.
Bill Lynch, Indiana
Coachspeak: “We’re fortunate to have eight home football games. We’ve never had that in Indiana before. We’re proud to play in Bloomington and we want to play there as often as we can.”
Translation: Is there any chance we can trick fans into thinking there’s a basketball game going on?
Joe Paterno, Penn State
Coachspeak: “I’m waiting for grades. We’re in summer school. Some of those kids aren’t done until the 15th, 16th of August, so I really can’t tell you that. I haven’t gotten rid of anybody yet.”
Translation: I’m going to kick two guys off the team as soon as the plane lands in State College.
Rich Rodriguez, Michigan
Coachspeak: “I have great memories there, but I’m in a great place and I’m trying to stay focused on the future.”
Translation: I hate everyone in West Virginia.
Joe Tiller, Purdue
Coachspeak: “I’ve gotten along well with all the coaches. I’d like to think if you can’t get along with Joe Tiller there’s something wrong with you. I’ve never had an issue with a coach. I’ve gotten along well with guys.”
Translation: Who doesn’t like a Wilford Brimley look-alike? Want some oatmeal?
Jim Tressel, Ohio State
Coachspeak: “I think guys that choose to come to Ohio State, a large part of it is they have a chance to play in a great rivalry. It’s exciting for them. So the ball has bounced right a few times, we’re not afraid to admit that and it’s just tremendous being part of that rivalry. What’s important to us is what happens in 2008 and not what has happened in the past.”
Translation: We’re going to beat Michigan — again. We own their behinds.
Ron Zook, Illinois
Coachspeak: “The schedule gives us an opportunity, if we can go and take care of business on our schedule and play the kind of football that we’re capable of playing. I think it’s going to give us an opportunity to get back to where we were.”
Translation: Last season was a fluke.
Phil Davis has the No. 2 moment of the year in Penn State athletics.
(Photo courtesy of Blue White Illustrated.)
Moment No. 2: Davis Wins A Title
He had already secured his place in the hearts and minds of Nittany Lion wrestling fans. But after his win in the NCAA 197-pound final at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Phil Davis cemented his legacy in the record books.
With his 7-2 over Wynn Michalak of Central Michigan, Davis finally won the title that eluded him in three previous trips to nationals. He had placed seventh as a freshman, second as a sophomore and fifth as a junior.
Davis became Penn State’s fourth four-time All-American, joining Sanshiro Abe, Jim Martin and Greg Elinsky. He is Penn State’s 18th national champion and his title is the 21st those 18 individuals have won.
The Harrisburg, Pa., native finished the season with a 26-1 record to give him a career mark of 116-20 (.853).
He finished his career with a 17-5 all-time record in the NCAA tournament.
Davis’s title spearheaded a resurgent third-place team finish for the Nittany Lions.
Next week, we’ll have our top moment of the year in Penn State athletics.
In addition to writing for gantnews.com, Chris Morelli is the editor of Blue White Illustrated, a magazine devoted to Penn State sports. He is also a regular on “Front and Center,” which airs on ESPN Radio in Altoona and State College. E-mail him at morellionlion@gmail.com.