June 28, 2009
[ONE // football, football, and more football]
The Big Ten released Wednesday the game times and television plans for every home non-conference contest during the first three weeks of the 2009 football season along with some additional games later in the year. The 2009 pre-conference schedule will feature 25 home matchups televised by ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 or the Big Ten Network. Conference action begins with Indiana hosting a Thursday night contest against Eastern Kentucky on Sept. 3 on the Big Ten Network. The other 10 conference teams will begin their seasons on Saturday, Sept. 5.
[TWO // nu gets fitz for another six]
Northwestern University Director of Athletics and Recreation Jim Phillips announced this past Tuesday that one of the country’s rising young football coaches will remain in Evanston through the 2015 season. Pat Fitzgerald, who is 19-18 in three seasons as the Wildcats' head coach, led Northwestern to a nine-win season in 2008 and has been a part (as a player and coach) of three of the five most successful campaigns in school history. The Wildcats achieved bowl-eligibility the past two seasons and earned a trip to the Valero Alamo Bowl last December. Fitzgerald has been a member of the Wildcats' football coaching staff since 2001 and NU's head coach since 2006.
[THREE // pair of big ten hoops stars picked in nba draft]
The Big Ten saw two players selected in the 2009 edition of the NBA draft Thursday night at Madison Square Garden in New York. Ohio State’s B.J. Mullens was selected 24th overall by the Dallas Mavericks and Michigan State’s Goran Suton was selected by the Utah Jazz in the second round (50th pick overall). The Big Ten extended its streak of having at least one first-round draft pick in 34 consecutive NBA drafts.
[FOUR // big ten standouts representing on team usa]
Following an 85-81 exhibition win over Canada this past week, the USA Men’s World University Games Team dropped a 98-82 decision to host Serbia in the 2009 Serbia International Invitational on Sunday night in Belgrade. Ohio State’s Evan Turner came off the bench for team-highs of 16 points and six rebounds, while Penn State’s Talor Battle chipped in 10 points. Purdue’s Robbie Hummel totaled three points, four rebounds and a pair of assists in the loss. Wisconsin’s Bo Ryan is serving as head coach of Team USA.
[FIVE // big ten golfers honored by golfweek]
Eight Big Ten men’s and women’s golfers were recently named All-Americans by Golfweek magazine. Congratulations to first-team honorees Jorge Campillo of Indiana and Maria Hernandez of Purdue. On the men’s side, Illinois’ Scott Langley and Kevin Foley were third-team selections, while Ohio State’s Bo Hoag was named as an honorable mention. Three additional women were recognized as Michigan State’s Laura Kueny and Purdue’s Maude Aimee LeBlanc were second-team picks, while her Boilermaker teammate Thea Hoffmeister was an honorable mention.
[SIX // purdue’s patterson perfect again]
Speaking of Purdue, congratulations to Kara Patterson, who once again claimed the USA Championship in the women's javelin on Saturday – her second-straight event title. Patterson topped the national field with an impressive career-best throw of 63.95 meters (209-10). The mark and victory advances her to the 2009 World Championships, to be held August 15-23, in Berlin, Germany. Patterson won the U.S. Olympic Trials last June, earning a trip to the 2008 Beijing Olympics and becoming the first female track and field Olympian in Purdue's history. Several other conference student-athletes were in action this past week in Eugene, Ore., and complete results can be found here.
[SEVEN // grappling with adversity]
Here’s a great story posted this week about three Big Ten wrestling teams making a difference off the mat. Mark Palmer of the College Wrestling Examiner shares some great stories of the Minnesota and Wisconsin wrestling teams doing what they can do to help U.S. veterans just back from tours of Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as what the Iowa grapplers are doing to help one of their own. Definitely worth the read!
[EIGHT // michigan’s maxwell finds a new home]
Nearly two years ago to the day, in conjunction with the Big Ten’s 25th Anniversary of Women’s Championships, bigten.org chronicled the post-graduate success of former Michigan volleyball player Annie Maxwell. In just a few years, Maxwell went from an unpaid intern to Chief Operating Officer of Direct Relief International -- one of the nation's biggest charities. This past Thursday, the former Wolverine team captain was named by President Obama as one of 15 White House Fellows. For more on the White House Fellows program, view the official press release here.
[NINE // end of an era for michigan golf]
Staying in Ann Arbor, we also learned Thursday that Kathy Teichert has stepped down as the head women’s golf coach at Michigan. The most successful coach in the 33-year history of the program, Teichert led the Wolverines to 24 team titles and 15 runner-up finishes, while 11 U-M players accounted for 19 individual championships during her 16 seasons as head coach. Prior to her coaching days, Teichert was a standout on the course at rival Michigan State where she was twice named captain and earned her degree in 1985. Thanks for everything Kathy and best of luck to you in the future!
[TEN // football four pack]
This past week we were introduced to the Big Ten Network’s exciting new approach to the upcoming football season. As they say, if you have been searching for the most in-depth coverage of Big Ten football, your quest is over! The Big Ten Football Four Pack features four brand new shows from the Big Ten Network that get you so inside Big Ten football, you might need a helmet. Get everything you need to know about the conference games on Saturday by watching the Big Ten Football Four Pack Tuesdays through Fridays at 10 p.m. ET. Nightly shows consist of the Breakdown, Sites & Sounds, Behind the Schemes, and Big Ten Football and Beyond. For more information on the Big Ten Football Four Pack, click here.
[ELEVEN // football kickoff right around the corner]
Finally this week, just a reminder to all football fans that the Big Ten will hold the 2009 Football Media Days and 38th annual Kickoff Luncheon just one month from now on Monday and Tuesday, July 27-28, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. The event will once again feature all 11 head coaches and some of the conference's top returning players. For ticket information to the largest preseason gathering in college football, contact the Big Ten office at (847) 696-1010.
