Big Ten Bloggers Roundtable :: Home Stretch

Brad over at Maize n Blue Nation was good enough to put this together.

1. With two weeks left in the season, it's safe to say that most schools have reached the point where the year has been a success or a disappointment. How has your school fared this year in your opinion? Or, is the jury still out?

ZN: The jury is still most definitely out on Penn State. If PSU had beaten Iowa, rolled over Indiana (which is still expected), and lost to Michigan State, it would have still been very successful. But now with the loss in Iowa City, Penn State could very well lose everything, if the Lions lose to Michigan State. This season has come down to one game. I know we're supposed to look at this "one game at a time," but screw that. If Penn State loses to Indiana, we should just drop football altogether. It's now about MSU, and MSU only.

2. Is your school heading to a bowl? If so, which one? And if not, WTF?

ZN: Yeah, Penn State's going bowling, but it still comes down to one game. Did I mention this already? Yeah, I did... MICHIGAN STATE. Penn State could go to the Rose Bowl, or, dare I say it, sneak into the BCS title game, if it wins on Nov. 22. But if PSU loses, it's off to the Capital One bowl, or the Outback Bowl, if MSU or OSU doesn't get an at-large bid.

3. The Big Ten has recently had a hard time getting respect among the national media as a top conference. Has the Big Ten taken a step forward or a step backward in this debate this season?

ZN: Well, I was about to say it's not as bad as they say, but then Michigan loses to Toledo, and Illinois loses to Western Michigan. Those were the ultimate WTF games. So, until the Big Ten starts beating these glorified high school teams, yeah, the Big Ten sucks ass.

4. Would the Big Ten benefit from adding another school to create two divisions like the SEC, Big 12, ACC and MAC? And if so, which school should be added? Or, should we drop one school?

ZN: How many times to we have to go through this? Notre Dame should (but won't, EVER) join the Big Ten, and split the league into two divisions. (I'm going to do my own BCS conferences realignment following the season) But since the Irish won't do that, the Big Ten should kick Penn State out. Let us go join the ACC or the Big East. Nothing makes worse sense than having the "Beast of the East" play in a Midwest conference.

5. Do you agree with President-elect Obama that college football should have an 8 school post-season playoff?

ZN: Yes, and no. There should be eight teams, all going to the traditional "Big Four" BCS bowls. Then, the following week, release one more BCS Poll. The top two teams in that poll goes to play in the BCS title game. But then again, if the conferences just get off their asses and all go to 12 teams, playing a conference title game, most of these issues would be worked out anyway. No, I don't like them either, but it would go a lot farther to solving these problems.

6a. Who is your favorite network television play-by-play announcer/color commentator/sideline reporter?

ZN: I wish they'd pair Brad Nessler with Kirk Herbstreit or Todd Blackledge. Keep Paul Maguire for some drunken fun. And because it's nearly required to say this, add Erin Andrews to the sidelines. That's a broadcast team for ya!

6b. If you listed Erin Andrews, please provide a photo/video to back
up your pick.

ZN: Fine.