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unusual facts about Big Ten



1990–91 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team

Entering the 1990-91 season, Illinois, faced with the loss of Kendall Gill, Steve Bardo and Marcus Liberty, who declared himself eligible for the NBA draft after his junior season, was picked to finish as low as ninth in the Big Ten by some publications.

2012 Rose Bowl

Teams playing in the Rose Bowl game were the winners of the Pacific-12 and Big Ten conference championship games, unless one team (or both teams) play in the BCS National Championship game.

Andre Tippett

In 1981 he helped lead the Hawkeyes to their first winning season, their first Big Ten title, and first Rose Bowl in two decades.

Andy Cannavino

He became one of the leading tacklers in Michigan history, played in the 1981 Rose Bowl and was the only unanimous selection as a first-team player on the 1980 Associated Press All-Big Ten football team.

Big Monday

Since debuting on January 5, 1987, it has broadcast games from numerous conferences, including: the Big East, which had been a Big Monday staple from 1987 until 2013; the Big Ten (1987–1991); the Big Eight (1992–1996); the Big 12 (1997–present); and either the Mountain West or the WAC.

Brian Hoyer

In a game against Illinois, he combined with Drew Stanton to throw seven touchdown passes, which tied the Big Ten single-game record.

Dan Wilkinson

Lining up next to Alonzo Spellman during his sophomore year, Wilkinson earned All-Big Ten honors after he had 46 tackles, 10.5 tackles-for-loss, and 6.5 sacks.

ESPN College Football Saturday Primetime

Since debuting in 1984, it has broadcast games from numerous conferences including the SEC, ACC, Big Ten and the Big East.

Maryland–Penn State football rivalry

Prior to Maryland's announcement to join the Big Ten, former Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen and Penn State athletic spokesman Jeff Nelson had previously stated that the schools had undergone discussions in an attempt to schedule a rematch.

Paul Girgash

He started 36 consecutive games at inside linebacker for Michigan from 1980 to 1982, played in the 1981 and 1983 Rose Bowls, and was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten player by both the Associated Press and the United Press International in 1982.

WSUM

WSUM has since covered every Wisconsin football road Big Ten game, select away men's basketball games, The Rose Bowl, The Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, Women's Hockey Frozen Four, WCHA Final Five, and The 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament.

Zeke the Wonder Dog

In 1978, head coach Darryl Rogers was quoted as saying Zeke was the best receiver in the Big Ten.


see also

1936–37 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team

Townsend was selected as a unanimous All-Big Ten player at the end of the 1936-37 season and later played professional basketball in the National Basketball League for the Indianapolis Kautskys, Oshkosh All-Stars and Rochester Royals.

1942–43 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team

These players were so dominant in the Big Ten, that only Northwestern's Otto Graham could crack the all-conference team.

1969 Big Ten Conference football season

None of the Big Ten Conference teams were in action during the first week of the 1969 college football season.

The 1969 Big Ten Conference football season took place during the 1969 college football season.

1969 Ohio State vs. Michigan football game

Ohio State's 1969 football team was dubbed by the media as the "greatest college football team of all time", with a handful of proven All-Big Ten players and All-Americans, such as quarterback Rex Kern, running backs Larry Zelina, Jim Otis and John Brockington, wide receivers Jan White and Bruce Jankowski, middle guard Jim Stillwagon and defensive star Jack Tatum.

1973 Ohio State vs. Michigan football game

It is unknown whether then Big Ten commissioner Wayne Duke had influenced the vote in Ohio State's favor or not.

1974–75 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team

The Hoosiers were so dominant that four starters - Scott May, Steve Green, Kent Benson and Quinn Buckner - would make the five-man All-Big Ten team.

1996 Purdue Boilermakers football team

Brian Alford received numerous post-season accolades including First Team All-Big Ten honors by both the coaches and the media, as well as breaking Purdue record for most receiving touchdowns in a single season.

1999 Purdue Boilermakers football team

All-Big Ten: Akin Ayodele (2nd), Adrian Beasley (2nd), Drew Brees (1st), Chris Daniels (1st), Matt Light (2nd), Dave Nugent (2nd), Tim Stratton (1st)

2002–03 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team

LaVell Blanchard won the Big Ten Conference statistical championship with a 43.3% three-point field goal percentage in conference games.

2010 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team

For his performance in the game, Terrelle Pryor was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.

2012 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament

The rest of the All-Tournament Team was rounded out by his teammate Brandon Wood; Pre-season Big Ten Player of the Year Jared Sullinger and teammate Deshaun Thomas, of Ohio State; and Andre Hollins of Minnesota.

2012 Rose Bowl

The Oregon Ducks, winners of the Pac-12 Championship game, represented the Pac-12 Conference, while the Wisconsin Badgers represented the Big Ten after winning the Big Ten Championship Game.

Andy Cannavino

The 1980 Michigan team won the Big Ten championship and went on to defeat Washington in the 1981 Rose Bowl.

Big Ten Championship

Big Ten Football Championship Game crowns the champion of the Big Ten football season.

The title Big Ten Championship may refer to several sporting events that are sponsored by the Big Ten Conference.

Big Ten Tournament

Big Ten Tournament can refer to any Big Ten Conference sport that has a tournament.

Darius Morris

Following the 2010–11 Big Ten Conference men's basketball season, Darius Morris was selected as a third team All-Big Ten selection by both the conference's coaches and the conference's media.

Doug Mallory

He played on the same defense as his older brother Mike, a senior All-Big Ten linebacker.

Erwin Prasse

Prasse was an All-Big Ten selection as a junior in 1938, and he was elected captain of the Hawkeye football squad for 1939 over teammate Nile Kinnick.

Frank Harrigan

As a junior, Harrigan and Bennie Oosterbaan led the 1926–27 team to a 14–2 record and the school's first outright Big Ten basketball championship.

Groveport Madison High School

Tony Lowery, Wisconsin Badger QB, 1987 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, AFL

Huntington, Indiana

Chris Kramer, starter for the Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball team and Big Ten Defensive Player of The Year recipient

Jason Horn

In November 1995, "the digital Collegian" published an article describing Horn as "a major part of the Wolverine defense's soul." The article also described Horn as a joker who "gives interviews between bites of a bacon double cheeseburger." When asked about the style of Michigan's defense, Payne responded: "We beat the snot out of 'em." The pairing of Horn and Jarrett Irons was said to "cause Big Ten coaches to reach for the Tylenol."

Jim Bakken

He went on to play three seasons at the University of Wisconsin, where he played on the 1960 Rose Bowl team as a sophomore and led the Big Ten in punting average in 1960 and 1961.

Keith Wenning

Ball State’s season opener under new head coach Pete Lembo was an in-state cross conference match versus the Big Ten’s Indiana University at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on September 3.

Kory Sheets

The Boilermakers had a cumulative record of 25–25 // 13-19 Big Ten; with a win in the 2007 Motor City Bowl and an appearance in the 2006 Champs Sports Bowl.

Matt Light

In his senior season, 2000, Light earned first-team All-Big Ten recognition after starting 12 games at left tackle, helping an offensive line that gave up only seven sacks en route to a Big Ten title and Rose Bowl Game appearance.

Minnesota Golden Gophers football under John Gutekunst

Kicker Brent Berglund, offensive lineman Dan Liimata, tailback Darrell Thompson and defensive tackle Mike Sunvold were named All-Big Ten second team.

Minnesota Golden Gophers football under Lou Holtz

Linebacker Peter Najarian, punter Adam Kelly and offensive tackle Mark VonderHaar were named All-Big Ten second team.

Nancilea Foster

Foster also came from a sporting family, where her sister Holly Jo was a successful Big Ten diver at Ohio State University, and her father Olen Underwood, a retired state administrative judge, played for the New York Giants, Houston Oilers, and Denver Broncos in the National Football League (NFL).

Pay it forward

Woody Hayes (February 14, 1913 – March 12, 1987) was a college football coach who is best remembered for winning five national titles and 13 Big Ten championships in 28 years at The Ohio State University.

Purdue Big Bass Drum

The BBD has also gained national attention on several occasions, such as when it has been stolen, usually by students from Notre Dame or Big Ten rival, Indiana.

Ralph W. Aigler

Aigler's contributions included leading Michigan back into the Big Ten Conference, leading the effort to construct Michigan Stadium, Yost Fieldhouse and other facilities, negotiating the Big Ten's exclusive contract with the Rose Bowl starting in 1946, hiring Fritz Crisler as football coach and athletic director, and acting as a spokesman for the University and Big Ten for many years on NCAA rules and eligibility issues.

Roger Zatkoff

He started nine games at linebacker for the 1950 Michigan Wolverines football team that defeated Ohio State in the famous Snow Bowl game, won the Big ten championship, and defeated the University of California in the 1951 Rose Bowl.

Ron Warhurst

Sprinter Adam Harris was named the 2008 Big Ten Track Athlete of the Year after winning Big Ten event championships in the 60 meters (indoors), 200 meters and 4x100 meter relay.

Scott May

In his last two seasons with the school, 1974-75 and 1975-76, the Hoosiers were undefeated in the regular season and won 37-consecutive Big Ten games.

The Hoosiers were so dominant that four starters - May, Steve Green, Kent Benson and Quinn Buckner - would make the five-man All-Big Ten team.

The 1974-75 Hoosiers swept the entire Big Ten by an average of 22.8 points per game.

Tamba Hali

He was instrumental in helping the Nittany Lions finish 11–1, winning the Big Ten championship and the Orange Bowl that season.

Tony Mandarich

Recruited to Michigan State University by defensive back coach Nick Saban, Mandarich played in the 1988 Rose Bowl, was named as a First-team All-American, an Outland Award finalist and a two-time Big Ten Lineman of the Year.

Walt Downing

As a junior, Downing was the starting center in all 12 games played by the 1976 Michigan team that won the Big Ten Conference championship, advanced to the 1977 Rose Bowl, and finished the season ranked No. 3 in both the AP and UPI Polls.

Walter E. Marks

In 1954, and again in 1960, he was named by the Big Ten and the United States Department of Defense as a member of an instructional staff presenting football officiating clinics for United States military personnel in Germany.

Whitey Wistert

He was also Big Ten Conference MVP in baseball in college and later played for Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds.

William R. Reed

Reed first joined the Big Ten in 1939 before leaving for a six-year period to serve in the United States Navy during World War II and then as an assistant to Homer S. Ferguson, United States Senator from Michigan.

Willie Fleming

In 1958, Fleming helped the Hawkeyes to a 6-0-1 Big Ten clinching victory over the University of Minnesota, and led the team in scoring.

Wistert

Whitey Wistert (1912–1985), 1933 All-American, 1967 College Football Hall of Fame inductee, 1934 Big Ten Baseball MVP, Cincinnati Reds player

WJOB

WJOB continued as the "Sports Voice of the Region" with its dedication to local and Big Ten sports events and was one of the first local radio stations to broadcast WFA (Women's Football Association) games featuring the Chicago Force and Ron Kittle's Collegiate Baseball League team the NWI Oilmen games.