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Posted on Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 2:30 p.m.

5 storylines you'll hear out of the Big Ten Conference football meetings in Chicago

By Kyle Meinke

The Big Ten Conference will host its annual football media days in Chicago this week, just as it has done for years.

It’s just that pretty much everything else has changed.

The league’s 12 — still strange to say, no? — head coaches and 36 of its best players will descend upon McCormick Place on Thursday and Friday with plenty to talk about ahead of this landmark season in a typically staid conference.

Here are five storylines that will be on the minds of players and coaches with just 12 days remaining before the start of Michigan’s fall camp Aug. 8.

Who’s at the Big Ten meetings

Players schedule to attend (All head coaches will be there)

LEGENDS DIVISION
IOWA: Mike Daniels, Sr., DT* Marvin McNutt Jr., Sr., WR* Tyler Nielsen, Sr., OLB

MICHIGAN: Kevin Koger, Sr., TE Mike Martin, Sr., DT* Denard Robinson, Jr., QB*

MICHIGAN STATE: Edwin Baker, Jr., RB* Kirk Cousins, Sr., QB* Trenton Robinson, Sr., S*

MINNESOTA: Duane Bennett, Sr., RB MarQueis Gray, Jr., QB Mike Rallis, Jr., LB

NEBRASKA: Rex Burkhead, Jr., RB* Jared Crick, Sr., DT* Lavonte David, Sr., LB*

NORTHWESTERN: Jordan Mabin, Sr., CB* Al Netter, Sr., OT* Dan Persa, Sr., QB*

LEADERS DIVISION
ILLINOIS: Jeff Allen, Sr., OL* AJ Jenkins, Sr., WR Tavon Wilson, Sr., DB*

INDIANA: Damarlo Belcher, Sr., WR* Max Dedmond, Sr., TE Jeff Thomas, Sr., LB

OHIO STATE: Mike Brewster, Sr., C* Orhian Johnson, Jr., DB Andrew Sweat, Sr., LB

PENN STATE: Michael Mauti, Jr., LB Derek Moye, Sr., WR* Joe Suhey, Sr., RB

PURDUE: Albert Evans, Sr., S Joe Holland, Sr., LB Carson Wiggs, Sr., K/P*

WISCONSIN: Patrick Butrym, Sr., DT Aaron Henry, Sr., FS* Nick Toon, Sr., WR*
-- indicates previous All-Big Ten or All-Big 12 selection

1. Divisional play
When it was announced the league would split into “Leaders” and “Legends,” much was made about the names themselves.

But that won’t matter to players and coaches — particularly a month before the season starts — as the divisional split might have the single greatest impact of the past century on how this league is played and won.

For Michigan, as an example: Will the prospects of a championship game looming after the regular-season finale against Ohio State diminish its rivalry with the Buckeyes? How will being split into separate divisions affect The Game?

Will a loss to divisional foe Michigan State hurt more than a loss to the cross-divisional rival Buckeyes? Both are rivalry games for Michigan, but there’s never been any question about which game meant more. Things aren’t quite so clear now.

There has been a seismic change in the dynamics of this conference. Expect the coaches to share their thoughts, because they’ll surely be asked about them.

2. The new guy
Of course, the league split into two divisions for football to accommodate the addition of Nebraska.

There’s little question it will have immediate implications on the Big Ten title chase.

The Cornhuskers were a big winner in the media’s preseason Big Ten awards voting. They were named the overwhelming favorite to win the Legends Division and appear in the league’s first championship game, finished one vote ahead of Wisconsin for overall title favorite and had the top two players for defensive player of the year.

Clearly, big things are expected of Nebraska in its first jaunt through the Big Ten, although that journey begins with perhaps its biggest test of all. The Cornhuskers travel to Wisconsin for their Big Ten opener Oct. 1, a prime-time game on national TV. The Cornhuskers’ entrance into the league and journey through it will be memorable.

3. Black-eyed Buckeyes
It wouldn’t be a major-college media day without talk of NCAA violations.

A year after Michigan was fettered with NCAA trouble, Ohio State is going through its own strife for an alleged memorabilia-for-gifts scheme that led to the off-season departure of coach Jim Tressel and quarterback Terrelle Pryor.

It also will play without five key players for the first five games of the season.

The Buckeyes have won at least a share of the Big Ten championship six consecutive seasons (although they’ll relinquish last year’s title when they officially vacate their 2010 wins). They’ll be hard-pressed to make it seven — especially with a new starting quarterback, first-time coach and Big Ten favorite Wisconsin in their division.

How will the Big Ten deal with having its two flagship programs run through the ringer the past two years?

4. Player compensation

Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for 010510_DAVID_BRANDON2.JPG

Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon said this week he expects discussions about compensation for college athletes to remain a hot topic among athletic directors.

Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon said he expects this topic — which has been in the news for much of the summer — to be on the agenda for his meetings with the league’s ADs.

“My sense is there is a high level of interest, across the conference, at really taking a hard look at this cost of education issue because it seems fair,” he said Monday. “If you could put a program in place that was workable, it would take out some of the bad elements, the people who try and come in with their money and try and influence families and players.

“I think it would be a good thing. We’re interested in it, it’s complicated, but I think the discussions will continue.”

The Big Ten has been forward thinking on a lot of fronts the past few years, so it makes sense the league’s leaders would at least weigh in on the issue.

5. Who’s calling the shots?
The Big Ten had quarterback questions long before Pryor made his exodus to the pro ranks.

Is Rob Bolden the answer for Penn State?

Nebraska returns promising sophomore Taylor Martinez, but will he be the guy who shredded opposing defenses the first seven games of last year, or the guy who looked struggled the final six?

Who is starting at quarterback for Purdue: Robert Marve or Rob Henry?

Minnesota at least has a returning player at quarterback — but he played receiver last year.

Things are so uncertain at the position, even two of the Big Ten’s best quarterbacks aren’t sure things.

Michigan’s Denard Robinson returns as the league’s Offensive Player of the Year, but he left 10 of 12 games last year with injury and now is learning the pro-style offense. How quickly will he adapt?

Northwestern’s Dan Persa, who went 7-3 as a starter last year and set a Big Ten record for completion percentage (73.5), is returning from a ruptured Achilles’ tendon that ended his season Nov. 13. When will he return to full strength?

That’s a lot of question marks — and doesn’t even include the league’s five new offensive coordinators.

We’re certainly in store for an unprecedented Big Ten season. It will be highly interesting to see how the coaches and players expect this thing to play out.

Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.

Comments

Hailmary

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 10:37 p.m.

Wasn't long ago maybe 30-40 years ago that I worked all week occasionally picked up the Ann Arbor new sports section and read a few lines about the team and occasionally somthing about Bo and Don Canham. I watched the game on Sat. and that was it for the rest of the week till the next game. I had one or two friends that I would analyse the previous game with and hear a bit on the radio that was about it for the week. Occasionally I miss the old days and the Ann Arbor news paper sports and stories about Mich. in the Sunday morning paper. It all seems a bit stressful now.

Terry Star21

Thu, Jul 28, 2011 : 12:52 a.m.

Agree hailmary....I stop reading comments and commenting on September 1st as it brings too much anxiety. Go to the games, read the Sunday paper and enjoy life - but look out, I'll be back in February.....

Wally the Wolverine

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 9:08 p.m.

Storyline #6: The mighty Wolverines to beat osu & msu enroute to the B1G Championship! Go Blue!!!

Terry Star21

Thu, Jul 28, 2011 : 12:49 a.m.

I still can't figure you out sometimes. You trash the coach earlier on a comment, get deleted - and now show some mighty good intelligence.

a2miguy

Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 8:28 p.m.

"Of course, the league split into two divisions for football to accommodate the addition of Nebraska." This is exactly backwards. The addition of a 12th team allowed the league to split into 2 divisions. The Big Ten didn't go through all that for Nebraska's benefit. They did it for the league's benefit, and it could've been some other team they were reported to have been considering, such as Rutgers, Missouri, or Pitt. Nit-picking, of course... but can't let the 'new guy' come in thinking they're all special and whatnot. GO BLUE!