Ohio State, Big 10 announce 2015, 2016 football schedules


ohio-state -cheerleaders

The Big Ten Conference released its 2015 and 2016 football schedules today and Ohio State will open each of those Big Ten campaigns with games against the Purdue Boilermakers.

Ohio State will play at Purdue Oct. 3 to kick off the 2015 Big Ten campaign and Purdue will come to Columbus Oct. 1 for the start of the 2016 conference slate.

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Michigan Wolverines, Big 10 announce 2015, 2016 conference schedules


michigan wolverines

The University of Michigan football team in conjunction with the Big Ten Conference announced today (Monday, May 21) the conference schedules for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

The Wolverines will open the 2015 and 2016 conference slate with in-state rival and Legends Division foe Michigan State.  U-M will travel to East Lansing on Oct. 3, 2015 and host the Spartans on Oct. 1, 2016 in Michigan Stadium.

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Ali Krieger: USA Soccer’s next heartthrob? (photos)


ali-krieger

Lost in the shuffle of Alex Morgan and Hope Solo, and if you know what they look like, and some of the things they wear, you’ll understand why. To see that stuff go here, and vote in our poll!

But don’t forget Ali Kreger, a stunning brunette with extremely beautiful jet black hair.

Ali Krieger began her career at Penn State University with the university’s Penn State Nittany Lions women’s soccer team. With the Nittany Lions, she was a two-time All-American, a first team NSCAA All-American, co-defensive player of the year, team captain, Big-Ten Freshman of the year and a semifinalist for the M.A.C. Hermann trophy.

While at Penn State her team won four consecutive Big-Ten championships.

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Illinois Alumni Association takes shot at Northwestern marketing slogan


illini logo

I received a mass email today from the Illinois Alumni Association.

The subject heading: ILLINOIS: Chicago’s Big Ten University

The message content:

Illinois alumni don’t need an expensive roadside billboard to let people know we’re the best public Big Ten university in Chicago!

Instead, make your case in your office space by displaying your loyalty for everyone to see. As we welcome 7,000 new graduates to the alumni family, we know that, together, we can uphold the greatness of our Alma Mater.

DOWNLOAD OFFICIAL ILLINOIS WALLPAPER

Yes another shot is fired across the bow. Hatfield vs. McCoys, Mozart vs. Salieri, Illini vs. Northwestern.

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2012 Ohio State Buckeyes football: first two deep roster


osu-hotty

The first official two-deep chart of the Urban Meyer coaching era at Ohio State was revealed today as Meyer presented it to a room of more than 40 reporters covering the news at the Woody Hayes Athletics Center.

With 18 starters returning from last season including both kickers, there are plenty of familiar names on the two-deep chart, including fourth-year starting fullback Zach Boren and three-year starters Jake Stoneburner (tight end), John Simon (defensive line) and C.J. Barnett (safety).

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2012 NBA Mock Draft-Second Round (5/18/12)


nba draft logo

The 2012 NBA Draft figures to consist of a deeper, more talented group of prospects that the 2011 class.  Team needs  HAVE been taken into consideration with this 2012 NBA mock draft and the order is based off the end of the season NBA standingsClick on the players’ name for a complete, in-depth scouting report.

(By the way, The Sports Bank was graded as the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft on the web.)

Check out our ridiculously early 2013 NBA Mock Draft.  Click here for The Sports Bank’s 2013 NFL Mock Draft.

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2012 NBA Mock Draft-First Round (5/18/12)


nba draft logo

The 2012 NBA Draft figures to consist of a deeper, more talented group of prospects that the 2011 class.  Team needs  HAVE been taken into consideration with this 2012 NBA mock draft and the order is based off the end of the season NBA standingsClick on the players’ name for a complete, in-depth scouting report and the team name for a list of off-season needs.

(By the way, The Sports Bank was graded as the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft on the web.)

Check out our ridiculously early 2013 NBA Mock Draft.  Click here for The Sports Bank’s 2013 NFL Mock Draft.

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Seattle Seahawks QB race: Badgers Russell Wilson is in the mix!


russell-wilson

The Seattle Seahawks may be located in the Pacific Northwest, but their quarterback derby certainly has an upper midwest feel to it. Tavaris Jackson was a longtime starter for the Minnesota Vikings, and Matt Flynn set Green Bay Packers passing records in his limited time running the offense.

But the starter might be a guy you saw calling the signals for a dairyland state team on Saturdays instead of Sundays last fall. Wisconsin Badgers BMOC Russell Wilson, who set the record for single season college football passer efficiency in 2011 is very much a factor in the race to be the Seahawks starting quarterback in 2012.

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Can Tim Beckman keep Illini Defensive Dominance going?


illini-rose-bowl

The Illini started to get defensive, real defensive in the 2010 Texas Bowl. In that 38-14 trouncing of Robert Griffin III and Baylor, they held RG3 and the Bears in check.

The man who would win the Heisman trophy and become the #2 overall pick in the NFL Draft the very next season was out of rhythm, out of sync versus the Illini in Houston. And that D carried over into 2011, when they Illini had a top 10 national defense.

A lot of that was the personnel, a lot of it was coordinator Vic Koenning, who unfortunately had to move on when Ron Zook was replaced by Tim Beckman.

Can they keep it going this fall, despite the coaching changes?

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Illini get Georgia Tech in Big Ten ACC Challenge


chief-illiniwek

Matchups for the 14thannual ACC/Big Ten Challenge have been determined. Illinois will host Georgia Tech at the AssemblyHall on Wednesday, Nov. 28.

The Fighting Illini and Yellow Jackets will meet for the eighth time overall and first in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Illinois holds a 6-1 advantage in the all-time series, including four straight wins. The teams last played on Nov. 23, 2001 in Las Vegas, a 105-66 Illini victory. This will mark the first meeting between the programs in Champaign since Jan. 22, 1989, when the Flyin’ Illini earned the nation’s No. 1-ranking after defeating Georgia Tech in double overtime by the score of 103-92.

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Duke and N.C. State favorites to land Amile Jefferson; decision expected Tuesday


amile jefferson college

With the late commitments from top high school basketball recruits in the 2012 class like Nerlens Noel to Kentucky, Shabbaz Muhammad and Tony Parker to UCLA, and Anthony Bennett’s recent decision to attend UNLV; there are still two McDonald’s All-American left to pick a school.  The suspense will come for Amile Jefferson as he is expected to announce his decision on Tuesday.

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North Carolina at Indiana, Ohio St. at Duke headlines Big 10/ACC Challenge


indiana-assembly-hall

The 14th annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Nov. 27-28 2012 will be headlined by North Carolina at Indiana, with a solid undercard of Ohio State at Duke. and North Carolina State at Michigan stands out as the third biggest match-up.

ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU will combine to televise all 12 games of the two-day event.

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