Pick your winner in a mythical Big Ten football coach battle royale
OK, how about a little fun to help get you through mid-day on hump day?
Interim Ohio State football coach Luke Fickell recently appeared on the Dan Patrick Show. Along with some harder-hitting questions (listen to the transcript here), Patrick asked Fickell: “If I put all the Big Ten coaches in an octagon, who is coming out.”
His response: “Me.”
So, we have to ask … who do you think comes out of that hypothetical octagon? Do you believe in the power of Hoke-a-Mania?
Fickell is one of the youngest (37) and biggest (6-foot-4, 242 pounds) coaches in the conference. And he claims 18 years of wrestling experience.
Here’s how we’d seed the field:
1) Fickell. It’s his show. And the credentials of the former Ohio State nose guard are legit.
2) Joe Paterno, Penn State. The way we see it, the 84-year-old legend is too respected to be on the receiving end of a pile-driver from any other coach. He’s guaranteed to be one of the last two standing.
3) Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern. He’s the youngest (36) coach in the league and was an All-American linebacker at Northwestern.
4) Bret Bielema, Wisconsin. The 41-year-old former nose guard at Iowa is still in good shape.
The rest of the field, listed in alphabetical order:
• Mark Dantonio, Michigan State. Age: 55. Background: Defensive back at South Carolina.
• Kirk Ferentz, Iowa. Age: 55. Background: Linebacker at UConn.
• Brady Hoke, Michigan. Age: 52. Background: Linebacker at Ball State
• Danny Hope, Purdue. Age: 52. Background: Offensive lineman at Eastern Kentucky.
• Jerry Kill, Minnesota. Age: 49. Background: Linebacker at Southwestern College.
• Bo Pelini, Nebraska. Age: 43. Background: Free safety at Ohio State.
• Kevin Wilson, Indiana. Age: 49. Background: Offensive lineman at North Carolina.
• Ron Zook, Illinois. Age: 57. Background: Defensive back at Miami (Ohio).
Comments
Riley Campbell
Thu, Jun 30, 2011 : 11:48 p.m.
Check out these insane rumors that are leaking from the Michigan Football team. So crazy...<a href="http://www.chatsports.com/michigan-wolverines/a/Latest-Michigan-Football-Rumors-10-2-151" rel='nofollow'>http://www.chatsports.com/michigan-wolverines/a/Latest-Michigan-Football-Rumors-10-2-151</a>
scott
Thu, Jun 30, 2011 : 6:36 p.m.
Does Dantonio get to use his posse of thugs?
scott
Thu, Jun 30, 2011 : 10:12 p.m.
Haha, I thought about going the heart attack route too, but I thought it was too soon, I stand corrected.....
goldenblue
Thu, Jun 30, 2011 : 7:06 p.m.
Funny,your giving me chest pains.
aawolve
Thu, Jun 30, 2011 : 1:37 p.m.
Hoke wins, despite having salt thrown in his eyes by Fickell when the ref isn't looking.
nittanylion
Thu, Jun 30, 2011 : 12:56 a.m.
This is sports reporting???? Have your standards gotten that low?
DonAZ
Thu, Jun 30, 2011 : 1:19 p.m.
This is a variation on a theme I heard on ESPN radio where the two hip hosts debated the same question, but with the participants being college basketball coaches. Is it serious sports reporting? No. Is is goofy/silly/fun reporting? Sure.
Keith
Thu, Jun 30, 2011 : 12:27 a.m.
Luke would perform an illegal move, maybe deny cheating and get ousted out of columbus.
Hailmary
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 8:53 p.m.
I don't know why Bret would have been angry about his loss to TCU except maybe he underestimated them because they were much smaller than his boys. TCU was a hot team last year and if you watched Oregon and Auburn last year you know what that spread can do to much bigger teams it's definately an equalizer. At any rate with the addition of QB Russell Wilson I think Bret's probably got a big smile on his face and Wisconsin just might have gone to the head of the class in the, Big 10.
DonAZ
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 9:49 p.m.
TCU had more than just a spread offense, they also had a terrific defense -- the #1 scoring defense in the country. Wisconsin's defense did a credible job holding TCU to well below their average 41 points per game. Wisconsin didn't seem to play their game ... too many over the middle passes. Their late surge was due to muscle they should have used all game.
tater
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 8:39 p.m.
Nobody would win. They would all be busy talking about how the Rose Bowl is sooooo much better than a playoff to determine the real champion.
DonAZ
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 9:50 p.m.
As opposed to what? A conclave of "spread" coaches in a ring fighting over who could recruit the smallest slot ninja?
DonAZ
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 7:48 p.m.
I think Bret Bielema is the dark horse here. He's still p*ssed off from losing to TCU in the Rose Bowl.
Blue Marker
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 7:42 p.m.
FYI...Fickell is no longer interim coach. That tag has been removed to help stop the bleeding on the recruiting trail.
David Vande Bunte
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 6:58 p.m.
Joe Paterno. What would happen is JoePa would be secretly replaced by either Tamba Hali or Paul Posluszny wearing one of those rubber JoePa masks you see at PSU games so people couldn't tell it wasn't him...
nbailey
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 6:47 p.m.
You guys do realize Luke Fickell is a 3x high school state champ in the state of ohio. Which is regarded as one of the best wrestling states in the country? lol this one is a no brainer.
Mick
Thu, Jun 30, 2011 : 3:10 a.m.
Oh yeah, oh yeah, well, well , so what! We, we, we will just put a Brady Hoke mask on Mike Martin and he'll win, he will, hah! maybe we can get away with cheating at that at least!
Mick
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 6:06 p.m.
Yeah Fickell thinks he'd win because he probably feels like he can get away with cheating somehow. Seems to be par for the course in C'bus. Well I'm sure they would be watching him so he couldn't cheat, so Fickell loses based on that fact! I like Hokes' chances cause he knows good techniques, Go Blue for TiM!!!
Mick
Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 4:29 a.m.
Hey rightmind.....bitter much?
rightmind250
Thu, Jun 30, 2011 : 7:29 p.m.
Yeah love his technique. How's that...........cram 15 hotdogs down your gullet and chase it with a 12 pack of genny cream ale. Now, thats a michigan man for you! Biggest gut in the B10. Now at least Michigan is #1 in something.
Hailmary
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 5:55 p.m.
Seems about right for Brady although could be lower he has an obvious weight problem. Most Big Ten coaches appear to be in good shape except for Brady even Joe Pa looks pretty good. I'm sure Brady has heard that he could stand to lose about 30 lbs. remember, "Brady gets it" I suspect by the end of this year Brady Hoke is going to lose some weight whether he wants to or not.