Around the Big Ten

[Jamie H]

but he's at least as good of a coach as he is a shithead, in that sense.

Unfortunately that does seem to be true. It's a lot more fun when the shitheads are terrible coaches.

[hack]

I'm just saying the fact that he's a shithead AND a good coach AND deserves every bit of what he's going to get makes for an ideal combination for Michigan fans.

[Jamie H]

Only if we're able to deliver. It seemed that a humiliating beatdown of Williams was inevitable. A Dantonio beatdown will be much harder to manage, but would be more satisfying for sure!

[hack]

If Hoke can't deliver that then he has no business retiring here.

[WM Wolverine]

PSU commit list is sad, they weren't doing particularly good pre Sandusky but they've most all their best talent since... OSU benefitted the most, taking Spence (strong lean), Williams & Reeves.

[iam416]

And Schutt and O'Conner!

[Hannibal]

PSU commit list is sad, they weren't doing particularly good pre Sandusky but they've most all their best talent since... OSU benefitted the most, taking Spence (strong lean), Williams & Reeves.

Seems like everyone's commit list in the Big Ten outside of Michigan and OSU is pretty sad. Bucks and Wolverines absolutely cleaned everyone's clock this year.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Wisconsin never is very high in the rankings, not even within the B1G, and they seem to do alright.

Of course, their coaching staff was also gutted this offseason...

[Hannibal]

Eh. Wisconsin's overachievement is somewhat overblown. They were 2-6 in the Big Ten in 2008 and the classes that were upperclassmen the past couple of years weren't too bad in the rankings. It's much the same thing that happened with Iowa in 2009. That, and an incredibly talented fifth year senior showed up this year.

The lack of athletes on Wisky's defense was painfully obvious at times this year.

[Dr. Strangelove]

I don't think it's overblown. They've won back-to-back Big10 titles and have finished with 10 wins or better in 5 of the last 7 seasons. I'd be curious how many of those years they had a Top 25 class.

[Dr. Strangelove]

I checked. Wisconsin's recruiting via Scout

2002: #53
2003: #36
2004: #37
2005: #35
2006: #37
2007: #41
2008: #26
2009: #51
2010: #33
2011: #38
2012: #62

It's possible they've been better at spotting and developing talent than the so-called professional scouts. But they've done very well for a program that routinely recruits in the #35-50 range.

[Paul L]

I'd be curious how many of those years they had a Top 25 class.

According to Scout, 0 (back to '03).

Their ridiculously weak non-conf schedule contributed to 3-4 of those 10 wins each year, though.

[Rob F]

one day soon, Wisky's house of cards will collapse

[hack]

It collapses every year -- they don't really ever beat better teams, do they?

But good for them if they've punched their way into the national scene the way they have; with a certain style and without topline talent. Good for the league too, and it's just on Hoke et al to not lose to that sorta team.

[WM Wolverine]

Their outer division rivalry is Minnesota so they are unlikely to play M & Neb in the same year... They can go 5-3 in the B10 and win 9 games in the regular season and play in a NYD bowl game.