Big Ten represents on ESPN.com's All-Bowl Team

Penn State Center AQ Shipley and Linebacker Sean Lee were named to ESPN.com's All-Bowl team. But just as impressive was the high number of Big Ten players selected. Wide Reciever Adrian Arrington (UM), Tight End Dustin Keller (PU), Linebacker James Laurinaitis (OSU) and Punter Chris Summers (PU) made the cut.

In another shocking compliment towards Penn State football, Mark Schlabach--the same guy who did the All-Bowl team--wrote in his column What's Hot (and Not):

Joe Paterno. Penn State's 81-year-old coach won an NCAA-record 23rd bowl game in his 500th game on the sideline, beating Texas A&M 24-17 in the Valero Alamo Bowl. Paterno became only the second man to coach in 500 games, joining Amos Alonzo Stagg (548 games). Paterno has three more bowl victories than Florida State's Bowden and eight more than legendary Alabama coach Paul "Bear" Bryant.

Oh, yeah, that was under the "hot" column. Nice.

I'm desperately trying to not let this sound like an ESPN.com love-fest today, but I can't help it. After having met Bruce Feldman on a trip to NYC in 2006, and talking with him in person over lunch, I gained a newfound respect for his column. No, I'm not star-struck--that wore off after a few days. It was just interesting to hear what someone like he has to say, off the record and in a casual setting. So, in his mailbag this week, he got this question. I love the answer.

From Matt in Atlanta: Are you not aware of how bad of a coach Dave Wannstedt is? This is a guy that almost single-handedly ruined the Bears and Dolphins franchises. As a Bear fan told me when he was named coach of the Dolphins, "Trust me, he is worse than bad." So be careful before jumping on the Pitt bandwagon. Good recruiting … bad coach.

Feldman: People said the same thing about Ron Zook, and after this year, that doesn't sound so accurate. The reality is the gap between great coaches and bad ones isn't very big. If Jimmy Johnson thinks you're a good coach, I think that tells you something more than what you read on some message boards.

POW! Bitch slap royale!