I gave this interview to college football zealots.com who asked me to preview my alma mater, the University of Illinois for them. … [Read more...] about Big Ten Preview
big ten football analysis
Top 10 Big Ten Football Players of the Decade
By Paul M. Banks To conclude the 2006 Big Ten regular season, bitterest of rivals Ohio St and Michigan met as #1 vs. #2, and both undefeated for the first time in the well decorated history of the series. Basically, if you weren’t excited about that game, you were a terrorist. And unlike your typical game of the century, it actually lived up to the hype! However, Big Ten … [Read more...] about Top 10 Big Ten Football Players of the Decade
Live! From the Press Box! It’s the Illini Football Exchange!!
By Paul M. Banks and Paul Schmidt 10:30 AM - YAWN. What in the world are you doing here now?? Even Red Grange Statue is still sleeping....and he stands on one leg! In front of Memorial Stadium!!! Anyway, PB and I will be back here in roughly 4 hours bringing you all the news that's fit to print from the aforementioned Memorial Stadium, maybe with some campus stories … [Read more...] about Live! From the Press Box! It’s the Illini Football Exchange!!
Big Ten Power Rankings Start of Conf Play
By Paul M. Banks This will be the final week that I can feature only one set of records beside each name. It’s the start of conference play! Meaning I’ll soon be including Big Ten records. Through three weeks of play, the Big Ten is the only Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conference to feature five 3-0 teams. Four of the Big Ten’s undefeated teams will square off on the … [Read more...] about Big Ten Power Rankings Start of Conf Play
Ranking the Big Ten Football Venues
By Paul M. Banks Our friends over at Midwest Sports Fans.com have ranked the atmosphere at all 11 Big Ten football Stadiums. And Chicago's two teams, Illinois and Northwestern, did not place well. Actually, their showing was pitiful, 8th and 11th respectively. If you can use the term "respect" in regards to what the writer thought of the Wildcats and Illini home fields- at … [Read more...] about Ranking the Big Ten Football Venues
University of Illinois Fighting Illini Season Football Preview, Part 1
By Paul Schmidt The 2009 University of Illinois Fighting Illini football team is likely to be something of an enigma. It seems that any time expectations are heaped upon the school, they never live up to those expectations, and when they have no one thinking highly of them they tend to over-perform everyone's opinions. Does that mean that this year's team will fail, … [Read more...] about University of Illinois Fighting Illini Season Football Preview, Part 1
Big Ten Power Rankings
By Paul M. Banks Now that Big Ten Football Media Days in Chicago are over, and the cases have been made for the strengths and weaknesses of the league’s 11 teams in the “City of Broad Shoulders,” it’s time to sort the league’s macho men from the weaklings. And, of course these rankings are highly subject to change. Last year’s record (and when applicable, bowl appearance) … [Read more...] about Big Ten Power Rankings