Big 10 Coaching Boards - Week 1

For more information about the coaching boards, click here.



1 Jim Tressell
Ohio State W
Tressell's the best in the conference. We'll get to see the two best in the PAC-10 and Big 1 go at it next week. Until then, nada.

2 Bret Bielema
Wisconsin W
Bret Bulimia stays at the number two position. They won against a name non-BCS opponent. In the Big 10, apparently that's all you have to do to stay at the top.

3Joe Paterno
Penn State W
JoePa looks like he's going to make one more run at the Big 10 championship. I'd like to see him do it; and I'd like to see him go for it again next year.

4 Rich Rodriguez
Michigan L
The Rodriguez era got off to a rousing start. Still, it's not like WVU took off immediately with RichRod's hire in 2001, so there's no reason to think that Michigan would be great right out of the gates. While he's getting a pass through most of the season, anything less than 7 wins will have him sink in these rankings. It's Michigan - they should be competitive regardless. And they need to beat Miami of Ohio on Saturday.

5 Pat Tiller
Purdue DNP
Purdue decided that after taking eight months off from their bowl game victory that they needed to rest up, take a bye for the opening week, and come on strong in week 2. They'll face Northern Colorado on Saturday, and who doesn't need 36-and-a-half weeks off to prepare for the Bears of Greeley?


6 Kirk Ferentz
Iowa W
I'll check back in on Iowa when they play a real team. Should be in late October.

7 Ron Zook
Illinois L
The Zooker got 42 points against Missouri and yet still took another season-opening loss to the Tigers. And yet it could still translate to a Rose Bowl blowout loss against this season. Thanks Big Ten; Thanks Ohio State.

8 Mark Dantonio
Michigan State L
MSU lost a big game against the Bears, but Dantonio's squad didn't look horrible; well, at least they didn't blow a lead... They never actually had one. I still think Dantonio will change the mentality at MSU. This game was a chance to prove that, and he couldn't get it done. There will be others, and I expect a difference.

9Pat Fitzgerald
N'western W
Fitz lead his team to a big BCS win over Syracuse, showing just how far Greg Robinson has depleted the men of Orange.

10 Bill Lynch
Indiana W
So is Western Kentucky a BCS team yet? Or are they still provisional? And does that even matter anymore when it comes to bowl games? The Hoosiers get on a roll with the States, with each getting progressively better - Murray, Ball and Michigan States all come to town over the next four weeks. If Lynch can leave the month of September unbeaten, he'll probably deserve a little more recognition. Of course, I think it'll be more like 2-2.

11Tim Brewster
Minnesota W
Apparently I was wrong about people in Minnesota liking Brewster. Turns out they were frozen to death.