ICYMI: The Dirty Dozen Gets Scrambled

((HT: ESPN/SEC on CBS/Fox Sports/Northwestern Football)

Did you ever have one of those days where absolutely everything you thought was an absolute lock came crashing down around your ankles and left you in such a state that your pants wouldn't fit anymore...???

Let's face it... all hell broke loose at the top of the rankings (whether you choose to look at Brother Phil's Dozen or some other source) and sent it all in the blender for the foreseeable future...

Examples...

Starting in Oxford... it was proven once again that Alabama has SERIOUS special teams issues in their loss to Ole Miss where Bo Wallace would keep the football and stash it someplace after the game was over as he tried to escape the throng that stormed the field.
Oklahoma decided that a road game against TCU in their new digs was a great idea... It wasn't...and plays like this one Gary Patterson pulled out of the back of the playbook help. What kind of flaws do USC have...??? There seems to be the one glaring one right now... Late game focus... it came into play as Arizona State came from behind to surprise them Some would think that Miss State's win over Texas A&M was an upset... The HQ doesn't think so as their suspect defense was exposed and Dak Prescott went off in a 48-31 win But here's one last one for you to think about as we head to Sunday... Northwestern hosted Wisconsin and they weren't good hosts- beating the Badgers 20-14 in a bit of a mucker it looks like...

Cupcake Saturday: Can We Swap #MACtion For The Big 10...???

((HT: Big Ten Network))

It was ugly...

Michigan State lost to Oregon as the Ducks scored the last 28 points in Eugene
Notre Dame shut out Michigan
Virginia Tech took care of Ohio State in front of the largest crowd in the history of the Horseshoe

But, it was silly elsewhere...

Rutgers beat Howard
Nebraska needed a late TD to beat McNeese
Penn State barely beat Akron
Minnesota beat Middle Tennessee
Maryland turned the ball over six times but a blocked punt gave them a win over South Florida

The bigger news came from two MAC teams that held on...

Central Michigan sprinted out to an early lead over Purdue in Lafayette and beat the Boilermakers- who are living up to the old nickname of "Pur-don't..."
((HT: CMU Sports))


The other not-so-shocking shocker was Northern Illinois taking care of Northwestern
Defense from guys like Paris Logan helps


So, in a day that could have solidified the Big Ten/12 as one of the power conferences this season, all Saturday did was confuse the issue and give one conference a big "I told you so..." for scheduling prowess. It proved that some teams are bad, some need work, and some just aren't there yet.

A Navy SEAL Tries Out For Northwestern

((HT: Chicago Sun-Times/Lost Letterman))

Lost Letterman gets the credit for this story

Tom Hruby has had tours as a veteran in Iraq and Afghanistan and is now trying to stick with the Wildcats as a defensive player-special teamer. He is living in the dorms and is trying to make a go of it as a junior on campus.

Still as an active Navy SEAL...


Seth Gruen's article is a must-read about someone who has sacrificed, whose family is still sacrificing, and is looking toward that next challenge.

From the article:

“What’s the next step? How do we get out of here? And you’ve just got to stick to those thoughts, stick to what’s important, stick to what you know and just kind of have an attitude,” he said. “We all have an attitude of we’re always going to survive. There’s almost nothing that can beat us.”

And the HQ can't wait to see how Hruby attacks this challenge.

Northwestern Voting To Unionize Today

((HT: MyFoxChicago))

It all starts today... and goes on all day...

The vote for the Northwestern football players to unionize is going on on campus and the National Labor Relations Board has been asked to certify it. The NLRB will review the ruling, but the results won't be known for some time... and only if the board agrees with the players assessment of their status.

Coaches have campaigned against the idea of a union- openly so... even going as far as distributing "informational material" to explain their point-of-view...

Anita Padilla is outside with Lester Munson
Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News

Northwestern football-playing alums even went as far as sending a letter to the school's Board of Directors supporting Kain Colter and what his fellow players are doing as a talking point for change.

Not necessarily supporting unionization, just talking about change...

From the letter, given to CBSSports:

Collegiate Alumni Athletes for Change believes that as a private NCAA institution, Northwestern University is in a
unique position to lead. The University should begin by making modifications to the governance process to give
players a greater voice and a substantive stake in the creation of policies and regulations that impact their
interests. We believe that a greater voice for players creates an equity that is in both the University's and the
player's interests. It protects and preserves the game that we love, and also initiates a new model and practice for
the business of college sports. It will create an even more intelligent and reasonable model and framework where
schools can substantively address athletically related revenues with the individuals that are largely responsible for
producing those revenues.

And the HQ knows this is just the beginning of a long process- just ask Ed O'Bannon about that...

NLRB: Northwestern Football Players Allowed to Unionize (UPDATE: NCAA Disagrees)

That sound you heard may be the college sports landscape shaking.

Early Wednesday afternoon, the National Labor Relations Board Office in Chicago agreed with a petition filed by football players, at Northwestern University including QB Kain Colter,
to form a union.

The NLRB ruling gives those players collective bargaining rights and as employees of the school opens the door to them getting paid. The reasoning behind the ruling is fairly cut and dried: (a) They are compensated for their services (scholarships), (b) have supervisors (coaches), (c) must abide by rules and regulations and (d) are held to different standards then normal students in that they can lose their scholarships for violating any set rules and/or standards and (e) must abide by the set rules by agreeing to them to maintain their scholarships

A link to the ruling from ESPN.com is RIGHT HERE

For now, the ruling only applies to student athletes at private schools, but it does open the door for public schools to make the same petition to their state labor boards.

The players filed the petition based on pretty good reasoning: They wanted fully guaranteed scholarships, improved medical protections for injured players and a fund to help them continue their education after they exhaust their scholarships.

For their part, the school (Northwestern) has stated they will appeal to the National NRLB Office in Washington, D.C.

This is a pretty important ruling for several reasons:

1) It opens the door for College Football and Basketball players to become paid employees.This is going to happen. Soon. And it will further split the College Sports landscape. Only the top 50-60 Division I schools can afford to do this.

2) The NCAA is going to lose some money. Between the Ed O'Bannon lawsuit and a few other pending legal challenges, the group is in trouble. They (the NCAA) have been profiting from players and their likenesses for years. That is likely to stop.

3) Even if Northwestern's appeal overturns the decision, there will be more attempts at doing this. Now that someone has made a ruling in the players favor, look for more teams to file petitions on the regional, state and national level. They will win again at some point.

Stay tuned folks, College Sports as you and I know it are beginning to change. It's not going to happen overnight, but this is another in a long series of steps that are going to do it.

1645 UPDATE: The NCAA has responded and, naturally, they're not liking what the courts are saying...

“While not a party to the proceeding, the NCAA is disappointed that the NLRB Region 13 determined the Northwestern football team may vote to be considered university employees. We strongly disagree with the notion that student-athletes are employees.

We frequently hear from student-athletes, across all sports, that they participate to enhance their overall college experience and for the love of their sport, not to be paid.

Over the last three years, our member colleges and universities have worked to re-evaluate the current rules. While improvements need to be made, we do not need to completely throw away a system that has helped literally millions of students over the past decade alone attend college. We want student athletes – 99 percent of whom will never make it to the professional leagues – focused on what matters most – finding success in the classroom, on the field and in life.”

Bonnie Bernstein discusses with Kristi Dosh
((HT: Campus Insiders))

Long Night For Ranked Teams In The B1G

((HT: BTN))

Two huge Big Ten upsets last night...

Penn State won in Columbus for the first time in a decade with a 71-70 win over Ohio State in overtime. DJ Newbill's jumper with two seconds left in overtime was the difference there...

And Northwestern followed with another huge upset, a 65-56 victory over No. 14 Wisconsin in Madison.
It was Northwestern's first win in Madison since 1996...



And Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan gave this answer when asked about the 3-point shooting of Northwestern that put the Wildcats out on the horizon early and kept Wisconsin doing nothing but catching up...

Really, Bo Pelini...??? Really...???

((HT: BTN))

In B1G action today, it has been a rough week for the Pelini family...

We have chronicled the sheer stupidity that allegedly got brother Carl fired in Boca, and it almost hit critical mass in Lincoln...

Northwestern had a lead and could stop their four-game losing streak if they could just hold on...
Only thing was, everyone forgot to check with third-string QB Ron Kellogg III...


So, just how safe is Pelini's job anyway...???

Bo Ryan Jumps Around, So Does Wisconsin

((HT: David Stluka))

A bucket list item for all should be a home game at Camp Randall- especially for the intermission between the third and fourth quarters...

Based on this...


The Wisconsin fans do this, normally...


Head men's hoops coach, Bo Ryan, does this today...


Props to him for having fun...and the Badgers had fun today blowing out Northwestern...
((HT: BTN))

ICYMI: Ohio St. Takes Care of Business at Northwestern

It was a rainy night in Evanston, but it wasn't enough to stop Ohio State running back Carlos Hyde.

Hyde ran for 168 yards and 3 TD's, leading the Buckeye's to a 40-30 comeback win against Northwestern.

It wasn't always pretty, but the win moved tOSU to 6-0 on the season and cemented them as a BCS contender despite the overall lackluster state of Big 10 football.

Northwestern came out inspired and jumped out to 20-13 halftime lead and was looking for a statement victory.

They almost got it.

Wildcat QB Trevor Siemian threw for 245 yards and 2 TD's, but the defense, despite 2 fumbles and an interception by Ohio State QB Braxton Miller, couldn't slow down Hyde.

Ohio State gets next week off, Northwestern, now 4-1 has a trip to Wisconsin next week.

Your highlights from ESPN:

"The Download With Bonnie Bernstein"- September 24, 2013

((HT: Campus Insiders))

Today, on "The Download" as they tell us:

We show some love to the undefeated and underrated teams across the country, including Georgia Tech, Baylor and Northwestern. Plus, Neal McCready, from the Rebel Grove, tells us why this weekend's game between Ole Miss and Alabama could usher in a new era of SEC football.

Hoops Carousel: Northwestern Fires Carmody

((ht: chicagotribune.com))

Modest success will only get you so far.

That's why Northwestern decided Saturday morning to part ways with head coach Bill Carmody on the heels of a 13-19 season and a 1st round departure from the Big 10 Tourney.

Northwestern has never had much success in basketball and many call their facilities the "Worst in the Conference". That is evident as Carmody went 192-210 in 13 seasons though he did get the team in the NIT a couple of times.

Read more from the Chicago Tribune RIGHT HERE

The list of replacements is already floating and according to the Trib include Duke assistant Chris Collins, Valparasio's Bryce Drew and Northern Iowa's Ben Jacobson.

Interesting names all, but all are considered "Up and Comers". The obvious question would be "Why take a no-win job" like Northwestern.

Gophers' Kill Suffers Post-Game Seizure (SUNDAY UPDATE)

Minnesota coach Jerry Kill suffered another seizure- this time after Saturday's loss to Northwestern. He was taken to an undisclosed, local hospital.

Kill has had a seizure disorder since being diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2005.

He also suffered a seizure on the sideline during a game last September and had to be hospitalized. He returned the following week.

Here was that event as it aired on Big Ten Network...


Here's the release from the University of Minnesota:

“Kill was immediately attended to by team medical personnel before being transported to a local hospital by ambulance as a precaution. He is currently alert and resting comfortably.

To respect Kill’s privacy during this time, the name of the hospital where he is receiving care will not be released.

University officials said that they do not anticipate further information on Coach Kill’s condition being available Saturday night, but are hopeful about being able to provide an update on Sunday.”

The school hopes to have an update tomorrow.

SUNDAY UPDATE: They do have an update...

Thankfully, Kill was released from the hospital. Gophers DC Tracy Claeys told local reporters that were assembled for a quick, day-after press conference that the seizure was "minor" and that Kill could be with the team as early as this afternoon for team activities.

Awesome: Minnesota RB gets hit so hard logo falls off

((ht: yahoo/dr.saturday))

Those of you watching Big 10 football early Saturday afternoon might have noticed something odd during the Minnesota/Northwestern game.

Take a CLOSE look at this video. In it, Minnesota RB Donnell Kirkwood breaks clear...briefly during a draw play. Kirkwood gets hit.

Gets hit hard.

In fact...he gets hit so hard that something flies off his helmet.

That "Thing"...the "M" logo from his helmet. You could say, Northwestern knocked the "M" out of him.

Thank you very much, we'll be here all week. Make sure to tip your waiters and waitresses.

TWTW: Upsets And People Just Upset... Alabama, LSU, Nebraska, Michigan, UCLA, Louisville...

Hey... did you know that there was a football game in Tuscaloosa Saturday night...???

Apparently, it was the lowest scoring game between the top-two ranked teams since the immortal tie between Army and Notre Dame back in 1946...

Don Hawes and Chris Pollone stayed up way past bedtime...
((HT: Alabamas13.com/WVTM-TV))


Whaddya wanna bet Saban Claus will be auditioning kickers this week...???

Hey... Northwestern led in LINCOLN for the whole game and won against Nebraska...
It's the sport of kings... better than diamond rings...


Football...
Maybe the Iowa Hawkeyes should play ranked teams more often...
Michigan had issues in losing in Iowa City...
((HT: WHO-TV Des Moines))
 

Nice goal-line stand, you...

Rick Neuheisel officially threw a big wrench into the Pac-10/12's southern division monkey with a 29-28 upset win over Arizona State in the Arroyo Seco...

Remember, USC can't go to the title game because they were bad boys. That meant it looked like Arizona State was in line to play Oregon until...

Well, until...
((HT: NBCSports.com/Versus/Pac-12 Conference))

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

One more...

In the soon-to-be-irrelevant Big Least...
How 'bout Louisville and their upset of WBGV...
Blocked kicks returned for scores will help out in that regard...
So, if you're a head coach... how do you celebrate...???

Crowd surfing...
((HT: WHAS-TV Louisville))

Nebraska Upset: Huskers Hustled By Northwestern

Nebraska Cornhusker fans are finding out nothing is easy in the Big Ten Conference.

Northwestern marched in Lincoln, Nebraska and led by their backup quarterback Kain Colter, was 4-6 passing for 115 yards and a touchdown filling in for Dan Persa, surprised Nebraska 28-25.

The Wildcat defense held the Huskers to 118 rushing yards.

It's Northwestern's first win over Nebraska since 1931.

Here are the highlights from Lincoln, NE. (Thanks BTN)



Here's Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini meeting the media after the game. (Thanks Omaha.com)