Big Ten – Page 8 – North Platte Post Archive

Horrible Saturday Night Levels Big Ten’s Bullies

Posted on September 7, 2014

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — It’s barely September and the Big Ten might be out of the inaugural College Football Playoff race.

A conference that has had more than its share of epic failures in high-profile showdowns in recent years had a massive breakdown on Saturday night. Three of its biggest bullies — No. 7 Michigan State, No. 8 Ohio State and once mighty Michigan— all were soundly defeated at about the same time on national TV.

Factor in Wisconsin’s loss to LSU a week earlier and it’s easy to see why the conference could be a spectator for the next four months when the talk turns to the best teams at the college level.

It wasn’t the worst day in Big Ten football history. But it was close.

Big Week for the Big Ten

Posted on September 2, 2014

It’s a marquee week for the Big Ten.

Michigan State visits Oregon, Michigan goes to Notre Dame and Ohio State hosts Virginia Tech. The three high-profile matchups give the conference a good chance to make a statement early in the season, which may be more important than ever with the new playoff format.

A 13-person committee will select the final four teams who get a chance to play for the national championship at the end of this season. So getting quality wins before a conference season that is perceived to be not as competitive as those in the SEC, Big 12 and Pac 12 will be crucial.

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer says he is rooting for all the Big Ten teams this weekend.

Nebraska’s Abdullah is Big Ten Offensive Player of Week

Posted on September 1, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska running back Ameer Abdullah is the Big Ten’s offensive player of the week.

The senior from Homewood, Alabama, rushed for a career-high 232 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries in the Cornhuskers’ 55-7 win over Florida Atlantic on Saturday.

It was Abdullah’s 18th career game over 100 yards rushing and his 12th in the past 14 games.

He also became the eighth player in school history to surpass 3,000 career rushing yards. He now stands No. 6 on the Huskers’ all-time list.

B10 Teams Represented in 4 of 8 Neutral-Site Games

Posted on August 26, 2014

Four of the eight neutral-site games the first week of the college football season involve Big Ten teams.

Rutgers plays its first game as a Big Ten member against Washington State in Seattle on Thursday.

On Saturday, Ohio State plays Navy in Baltimore, Wisconsin faces LSU in Houston and Penn State and UCF meet in Dublin, Ireland.

The games will produce varying amounts of money for the participants. Wisconsin earns the most, at $2 million. Each of the teams hope the exposure helps in recruiting.

Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen said playing LSU will allow him to find out right away how his young team stacks up against a high-caliber opponent.

Lions Announce Name, Sponsor of College Bowl Game

Posted on August 26, 2014

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Lions have announced a name and sponsor for its college bowl game.

Team officials said Tuesday that the Quick Lane Bowl will be played Dec. 26 at Ford Field, the Detroit Lions’ home. The multi-year deal is with Ford Motor Co.’s chain of Quick Lane Tire & Auto Centers.

The bowl, set to air on ESPN, will feature Big Ten and Atlantic Coast Conference teams.

Since 2002, Ford Field had hosted the recently canceled Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, which tried to match the Big Ten and Mid-American Conference. The Lions and the Houston Texans are the only NFL teams to operate a college football bowl game.

Big Ten Announces 2014-15 Conference Basketball Schedule

Posted on August 21, 2014

Lincoln – Weekend matchups against Illinois, Michigan State, Iowa and Maryland at Pinnacle Bank Arena highlight the Huskers’ 2014-15 Big Ten schedule, as the Big Ten Conference unveiled its complete conference slate Thursday evening on BTN Live.

Nebraska, which finished fourth in the Big Ten with an 11-7 mark in 2013-14, will face a challenging slate as 12 of its 18 Big Ten contests are against teams which reached postseason last year, including a pair of matchups with Final Four qualifier Wisconsin.

The Badgers are one of the Huskers’ five opponents Nebraska will face twice this year in the Big Ten schedule, joining Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois and newcomer Maryland. The Huskers will face the other eight teams, including Elite Eight qualifiers Michigan and Michigan State, once apiece.

The Huskers were 8-1 in Big Ten play at Pinnacle Bank Arena in 2013-14, its best conference showing since a perfect 7-0 mark during the 1965-66 season.

The conference schedule commences on New Year’s Eve, as the Huskers open Big Ten action against Indiana in the only matchup between the two schools. It marks the first time since the 2011-12 season that Nebraska has opened conference play at home. The Indiana contest begins a stretch where Nebraska will play three of its first four games at PBA, including tilts with Big Ten newcomer Rutgers (Jan. 8) and Illinois (Jan. 11).

The game against Illinois starts a run of six straight games against postseason qualifiers to end the month of January, including games at Wisconsin (Jan. 15), at Michigan (Jan. 27, 6 p.m., ESPN) and a home matchup against Michigan State (Jan. 24). Nebraska will face NIT champion Minnesota twice within a two-week span, hosting the Gophers on Tuesday, Jan. 20, before traveling to Minneapolis on Saturday, Jan. 31.

The second half of Big Ten action begins on Tuesday, Feb. 3, as the Huskers welcome Northwestern to Pinnacle Bank Arena. The month of February also features a Super Tuesday showdown with Wisconsin (Feb. 10, 8 p.m., ESPN) as well as visit from Iowa (Feb. 22) along with road trips to Penn State (Feb. 7), Purdue (Feb. 15), Maryland (Feb. 19) and Ohio State (Feb. 26).

The Huskers, who play four of their final six games away from Pinnacle Bank Arena, travel to Illinois for their final Big Ten road game on Wednesday, March 4, before hosting Maryland on Senior Day on Sunday, March 8.

The 14-team conference also features an expanded Big Ten Tournament, which returns to Chicago for 2015. The event starts with a pair of first-round games on Wednesday, March 11, at the United Center and concludes on Sunday, March 15, just prior to the NCAA Tournament selection announcement.

The Huskers return all five starters, including All-Big Ten selections Terran Petteway and Shavon Shields, from a team which went 19-13 last year and reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998, Coach Tim Miles enters his third season at Nebraska after being named the 2014 Big Ten Coach of the Year.

Start times and television information, except the two games announced previously by ESPN, will be released by Big Ten in September. All conference games are nationally televised on the Big Ten’s television partners. The ticket renewal process is underway for current season ticket holders, while UNL students have already purchased all of the seats in the Red Zone for the 2014-15 season.

Nebraska Basketball 2014-15 Big Ten Conference Schedule

Day Date Opponent Location TV Time

Wednesday Dec. 31 Indiana # Pinnacle Bank Arena TBA TBA

Monday Jan. 5 at Iowa # Iowa City, Iowa TBA TBA

Thursday Jan. 8 Rutgers # Pinnacle Bank Arena TBA TBA

Sunday Jan. 11 Illinois # Pinnacle Bank Arena TBA TBA

Thursday Jan. 15 at Wisconsin # Madison, Wis. TBA TBA

Tuesday Jan. 20 Minnesota # Pinnacle Bank Arena TBA TBA

Saturday Jan. 24 Michigan State # Pinnacle Bank Arena TBA TBA

Tuesday Jan. 27 at Michigan # Ann Arbor, Mich. ESPN 6 p.m.

Saturday Jan. 31 at Minnesota # Minneapolis, Minn. TBA TBA

Tuesday Feb. 3 Northwestern # Pinnacle Bank Arena TBA TBA

Saturday Feb. 7 at Penn State # University Park., Pa. TBA TBA

Tuesday Feb. 10 Wisconsin # Pinnacle Bank Arena ESPN 8 p.m.

Sunday Feb. 15 at Purdue # West Lafayette, Ind. TBA TBA

Thursday Feb. 19 at Maryland # College Park, Md. TBA TBA

Sunday Feb. 22 Iowa # Pinnacle Bank Arena TBA TBA

Thursday Feb. 26 at Ohio State # Columbus, Ohio TBA TBA

Wednesday March 4 at Illinois # Champaign, Ill. TBA TBA

Sunday March 8 Maryland # Pinnacle Bank Arena TBA TBA

Wed.-Sun. March 11-15 at B1G Tournament Chicago, Ill. TBA TBA

#-Big Ten Conference games; Dates and Times subject to change; Times listed are Central; All games carried on the IMG Husker Sports Network and Huskers.com

B1G Preview: Michigan St. Girding for Ohio St. in Big Ten East

Posted on August 5, 2014August 5, 2014

Michigan State has played in two of the three Big Ten title games, is the defending Rose Bowl champion and on the best run in program history with 42 wins in four years.

Yet the Spartans cling to an underdog mentality. It’s the product of being overshadowed historically by Michigan and Ohio State. Coach Mark Dantonio never wants his team to stop playing with that edge.

The Spartans likely will have to beat the Buckeyes to win the East Division. They also have a major September test with a road game against Oregon.

Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin are the top contenders in the West.

Big Ten Announces Football Preseason Players to Watch List

Posted on July 30, 2014July 30, 2014

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference announced today its fourth annual football Players to Watch list, with 10 players earning preseason recognition. The preseason Players to Watch list is selected by a media panel and consists of five student-athletes each from the East Division and West Division.

Representing the East Division are Maryland wide receiver Stefon Diggs, Michigan wide receiver Devin Funchess, Michigan State defensive end Shilique Calhoun, Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller and Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg. Miller was named to the Big Ten Football Players to Watch list for the third straight season.

Nebraska and Wisconsin lead the way with two players each on the West Division Players to Watch list. Husker running back Ameer Abdullah and defensive end Randy Gregory are joined on the list by Badger running back Melvin Gordon and right tackle Rob Havenstein. Iowa offensive lineman Brandon Scherff rounds out the division’s honorees.

The Players to Watch list includes the reigning two-time Big Ten Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year and Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year in Miller. Other individual award winners from last season to claim preseason honors include the Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year in Hackenberg, the Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year in Funchess and the Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year in Calhoun.

Abdullah, Calhoun and Scherff were each named All-Americans last season. All 10 players earned all-conference honors in 2013, including first-team accolades for Abdullah, Calhoun, Funchess, Gregory, Miller and Scherff.

The complete list of Big Ten football preseason Players to Watch appears below:

EAST DIVISION

Stefon Diggs, WR, Maryland

Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan

Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State

Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State

Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State

WEST DIVISION

Brandon Scherff, OL, Iowa

Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska

Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska

Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin

Rob Havenstein, RT, Wisconsin

Huskers Featured on BTN School Days this Friday

Posted on July 17, 2014

Lincoln – Take a look back at the 2013-14 year on Friday, as BTN will feature the Huskers as part of its “School Day” summer programming. Several Husker teams will be featured, as programming begins at 5 a.m. (central) Friday morning and runs for the next 24 hours.

Watch the Husker football team’s wins at Michigan and the Gator Bowl victory over Georgia, as well as the Big Ten Elite special on the 1994 National Champions. The day will also feature a replays of the 2012 win over Wisconsin, as the Huskers battled back from a 17-point deficit to beat the Badgers, and at Michigan State, when Nebraska scored 10 points in the final eight minutes to win 28-24 on Jamal Turner’s five-yard touchdown with six seconds left.

Husker men’s basketball fans can watch the Huskers’ win at ninth-ranked Michigan State as well as home wins over Indiana and No. 18 Ohio State, while the Big Ten champion Husker women’s basketball and soccer programs will also the featured during the day. In addition, several of the best features from The Journey in both football and basketball will air on Friday.

A complete schedule is listed below, and all time listed are Central.

5 AM	Big Ten Women’s Soccer: B1G Tournament Championship – Iowa vs. Nebraska
7 AM	Big Ten Elite: 1994 Nebraska Football
8 AM	Big Ten Men’s Basketball: Ohio State at Nebraska
10 AM	The Journey: Big Ten Basketball
10:30 AM	B1G Football Game of the Week: Nebraska at Michigan
12:30 PM	The Journey: Big Ten Football
1 PM	Big Ten Men’s Basketball: Indiana at Nebraska
3 PM	Big Ten Elite: 1994 Nebraska Football
4 PM	Big Ten Men’s Basketball: Nebraska at Michigan State
6 PM	B1G Football Game of the Week: Nebraska at Michigan
8PM	B1G Football Replay: 2014 Gator Bowl – Nebraska vs. Georgia
10 PM	B1G Football Game of the Week: Wisconsin at Nebraska (2012)
Midnight	Big Ten Elite: 1994 Nebraska Football
1 AM	B1G Football Replay: Nebraska at Michigan State (2012)
3 AM	Big Ten Women’s Basketball: Minnesota at Nebraska

62 Huskers Named Big Ten Distinguished Scholars

Posted on July 9, 2014

A total of 62 Nebraska student-athletes across all sports earned recognition as Big Ten Distinguished Scholars during the 2013-14 academic year, including 14 Huskers who posted perfect 4.0 grade-point averages.

The Husker honor winners were among 684 student-athletes across the Big Ten’s 12 participating schools in 2013-14 to earn the prestigious academic award, including 101 with perfect 4.0 GPAs. The award requires a 3.7 GPA or better for the academic year (excluding summer school). The student-athletes must also be in at least their second academic year at the institution and letterwinners in their sports.

Coach Gary Pepin’s track and field program was honored with 21 Big Ten Distinguished Scholars across the men’s and women’s sports. A total of 11 student-athletes from the women’s side, including five with 4.0 GPAs were joined by 10 Husker men, including a pair with 4.0 GPAs for the track and field team.

Coach John Walker’s Big Ten champion women’s soccer team added a strong contingent of seven Big Ten Distinguished Scholars, while Coach Pablo Morales’ swimming and diving program contributed seven more.

Big Ten Faculty Representatives established the Distinguished Scholar Award in 2008 to supplement the Academic All-Big Ten program.

Nebraska’s Big Ten Distinguished Scholars (2013-14)

(Bold indicates 4.0 GPA during academic year; Class year listed is athletic eligibility in 2013-14)

Blake Headley (Baseball), Jr., Criminology & Criminal Justice, Omaha, Neb.
Trevor Menke (Men’s Basketball), Jr., Social Science Education, Beatrice, Neb.
Jordan Hooper (Women’s Basketball), Sr., Psychology, Alliance, Neb.
Sadie Murren (Women’s Basketball), So., Business Administration, Colon, Neb.
Isabel Andrade (Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field), Sr., Elementary Education, Petaluma, Calif.
Tyler Evans (Football), Jr., Biological Sciences/Psychology, Waverly, Neb.
Lane Hovey (Football), RFr., Business Administration, Adel, Iowa
Brent Qvale (Football), Sr., Nutrition, Exercise and Health Science/Applied Science, Williston, N.D.
Ryan Grassel (Men’s Golf), Sr., Economics/Global Studies/Political Science, Chesterton, Ind.
Josh Reinertson (Men’s Golf), Jr., Business Administration, Gibbon, Neb.
Steffi Neisen (Women’s Golf), Sr., Social Science Education/Coaching, New Prague, Minn.
Ryan Irick (Men’s Gymnastics), So., Nutrition Science, Wichita, Kan.
Ethan Lottman (Men’s Gymnastics), So., Art, Omaha, Neb.
Eric Schryver (Men’s Gymnastics), Sr., Nutrition Science, Richardson, Texas
Amanda Lauer (Women’s Gymnastics), Jr., Nutrition Science, Sioux City, Iowa
Jennifer Lauer (Women’s Gymnastics), Jr., Nutrition Science, Sioux City, Iowa
Emily Wong (Women’s Gymnastics), Sr., Nutrition Science, Grand Forks, N.D.
Sunny Russell (Rifle), Sr., Child, Youth & Family Studies, Stratford, Texas
Stacy Bartels (Soccer), Sr., Elementary Education, Omaha, Neb.
Alyssa Flannery (Soccer), So., Child, Youth & Family Studies, Omaha, Neb.
Caroline Flynn (Soccer), So., Communication Studies, Lincoln, Neb.
Karlee Gansebom (Soccer), RFr., Pre-Nursing, Bennington, Neb.
Kylie Greischar (Soccer), Sr., Communication Studies, Overland Park, Kan.
Maritza Hayes (Soccer), Sr., Psychology/Advertising & Public Relations, O’Fallon, Mo.
Katie Kraeutner (Soccer), So., Nutrition, Exercise & Health Science, North Saanich, B.C.
Mattie Fowler (Softball), Jr., Finance, Tucson, Ariz.
Cecilia Hall (Volleyball), So., Biochemistry, Linkoping, Sweden
Michaela Cunningham (Swimming & Diving), So., Biological Sciences/Mathematics, Severna Park, Md.
Shannon Guy (Swimming & Diving), Sr., Psychology, Omaha, Neb.
Samantha Hardewig (Swimming & Diving), So., Art, Cincinnati, Ohio
Ciara Jenkins (Swimming & Diving), Jr., Elementary Education & Mild/Moderate K-6, Mesa, Ariz.
Rebekah Land (Swimming & Diving), Jr., Communication Studies, Hannibal, Mo.
Bailey Pons (Swimming & Diving), Sr., Geology/English, Cedar Falls, Iowa
Kristin Strecker (Swimming & Diving), Sr., Biological Sciences, Topeka, Kan.
Scott Elsass (Men’s Tennis), So., Finance, Eden Prairie, Minn.
Chris Schindler (Men’s Tennis), RFr., Business Administration/Economics, Frankfurt, Germany
Brandon Videtich (Men’s Tennis), Sr., Business Administration, Lincoln, Neb.
Bradford Zitsch (Men’s Tennis), So., Agronomy, Columbia, Mo.
Maggy Lehmicke (Women’s Tennis), So., Journalism, Kirkland, Wash.
Maike Zeppernick (Women’s Tennis), Sr., Economics, Hamburg, Germany
Nolan Border (Men’s Track & Field), So., Nutrition Science, Lincoln, Neb.
Travis Englund (Men’s Track & Field), Sr., Psychology, Grand Island, Neb.
Guy Fenske (Men’s Track & Field), RFr., Nutrition, Exercise & Health Science, Sargent, Neb.
Levi Gipson (Men’s Track & Field), So., Nutrition, Exercise & Health Science, Lincoln, Neb.
Jacob Griess (Men’s Track & Field), Jr., Psychology, Grand Island, Neb.
Mark Hilderbrand (Men’s Track & Field), Jr., Agricultural Engineering, Gothenburg, Neb.
Sean Pille (Men’s Track & Field), So., Elementary Education, Oakland, Neb.
Patrick Raedler (Men’s Track & Field), Sr., Biochemistry, Baiersbronn-Obertal, Germany
Cody Rush (Men’s Track & Field), So., Nutrition Science, Grand Island, Neb.
John Welk (Men’s Track & Field), Jr., Nutrition Science, Bismark, N.D.
Melanie Blum (Women’s Track & Field), RFr., Forensic Science, Wahoo, Neb.
Ellie Grooters (Women’s Track & Field), Sr., Speech-Language Pathology, Fargo, N.D.
Mary Lloyd (Women’s Track & Field), Sr., Hospitality, Restaurant & Tourism Management, San Diego, Calif.
Maggie Malone (Women’s Track & Field), So., Business Administration/Management, Geneva, Neb.
Anne Martin (Women’s Track & Field), Sr., Teaching, Learning & Teacher Education, Waverly, Neb.
Anna Minnick (Women’s Track & Field), Sr., Art Education K-12, Omaha, Neb.
Carlie Pinkelman (Women’s Track & Field), Jr., Elementary Education, Cozad, Neb.
Jillanna Scanlan (Women’s Track & Field), Sr., Communication Studies, Plattsmouth, Neb.
Tristen Sharp (Women’s Track & Field), So., Special Education, South Sioux City, Neb.
Lauren Welch (Women’s Track & Field), Jr., Animal Science, Papillion, Neb.
Eric Coufal (Wrestling), So., Agribusiness, Howells, Neb.
Tim Lambert (Wrestling), So., Environmental Restoration Science, Forest Hills, Mich.