Big Ten teleconference notebook: Jim Tressel against moving Michigan-Ohio State after Thanksgiving

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel exhales as he walks the field during warm-ups before a game against Penn State in State College, Pa. Ohio State won 24-7.

AP photo

“I’m kind of an old-timer, you have to preface it with that,” Tressel said Tuesday on the Big Ten coaches teleconference. “I’ve always thought that the Big Ten had a great advantage in the fact that their kids could go home for an extended Thanksgiving weekend.

“Kids work out all year round, they train and so forth and play tough schedules. To have a chance to be with your families over Thanksgiving I’ve always felt was a real positive thing for our kids.”

Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said he doesn’t necessarily favor playing after Thanksgiving, but does like having a bye.

“The biggest benefit of moving the schedule back another week is that now we have an opportunity to have an open date somewhere during the season,” Rodriguez said.

More Big Ten teleconference notes
• Rodriguez said he’ll wait until Thursday to reveal Michigan’s team captains. Players voted for the honor Monday after rotating game captains all year.

• Tressel on Michigan defensive end Brandon Graham: “He’s just a great football player. Quite honestly, I was hoping a year ago he’d go out early to the NFL. He’s a great player and it says something about his character and his relationship with his staff that he wanted to stay and be a part of this building process.”

• In the context of picking an all-Big Ten team, Rodriguez was asked to name a few players in conference who've stood out in games against Michigan this year.

“Unfortunately, we’ve had a lot of guys look good against us and that’s nothing fun,” Rodriguez said. “It’s probably too numerous to mention.”

• Rodriguez on questions he gets having to defend his familiarity with the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry: "It's kind of amusing. I kind of expected it the first year, coming from outside. But even then it was like, 'Geez, I think anybody in college football understands it.' And certainly after you’re here a while, whether you’re here a year or a month or a day, you’re going to hear about the rivalry and the importance of this ballgame.

"It’ll pass in time, I’m sure. I’m just hoping that we can play a good game. I know we’ll give good effort, but I just hope that we can execute well and play good football and give us a good chance there to have some fun Saturday afternoon."

Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.