Wisconsin's Bret Bielema wins close media vote for Big Ten's best coach; Michigan's Brady Hoke sixth
There was a general consensus among the 24 media members who voted in the first two installments -- best team and best players -- of preseason Big Ten awards.
Picking the league’s best coach proved to be more difficult.
Bret Bielema
AnnArbor.com file photo
Wisconsin's Bret Bielema edged out a pack of five coaches who picked up significant vote tallies in the final installment of the Big Ten Preseason Newspaper Poll.
The vote replaces the old system of polling that was conducted at the league’s media days, which was scrapped this year at the request of the coaches.
It consisted of 24 writers, two who cover each team.
They couldn’t really agree on who is the league’s best coach.
Bielema — whose Badgers were convincingly picked to win the Leaders Division, but edged out by Nebraska for overall title favorite, in voting earlier today — received seven first-place votes and 35 points.
BIG TEN PRESEASON NEWSPAPER POLL
Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz finished a close second with six first-place votes and 31 points. Nebraska’s Bo Pelini had three first-places and 30 points to round out the top three.
First-year Michigan coach Brady Hoke finished sixth with two points. Seven coaches received at least one vote.
The vote was not a preseason coach of the year prediction. It was phrased as the coach you would select to lead a team this season.
The Big Ten media days are Thursday and Friday in Chicago.
BEST BIG TEN COACH
(Voting on 3-2-1 point system, with voters picking top three. First-place votes in parentheses.)
1. Bret Bielema, Wisconsin (7) 35
2. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa (6) 31
3. Bo Pelini, Nebraska (3) 30
4. Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern (4) 27
5. Mark Dantonio, Michigan State (4) 18
6. Brady Hoke, Michigan 2
7. Joe Paterno, Penn State 1
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
Lorain Steelmen
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 3:35 p.m.
So if the Vest hadn't screwed up, and got caught....he'd be no.1. I'm more surprized at Joe PA at no.7 & Dantonio at no.4.....Joe's just 'to yesterday' for the in crowd. And Dantonio just doesn't impress me. As for Brady...sure, hey he's coming in with a losing record. It'll be a year or two until we know if he can coach. (IF he has a year or two. DB yanked the last guy, 3 years into a 6 year contract...so who knows..
Tru2Blu76
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 6:08 a.m.
I tend to agree with others; it'll be a couple years but Coach Hoke of Meeechigan will be a top pick in polls pre-season and post-season on a regular basis. We'll be seeing more of Michigan players and their coach(es) on the front covers of Sports Illustrated late and post-season issues in due time. By then, we'll be saying, "Sweater-who?" and "Rich-who?" Bielema-who and Dantoni-who: It's a hard (BLUE) rain's gonna fall on you!
DonAZ
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 11:57 p.m.
I like Bielema ... and it's Hoke's first year. Next year or the year after? Hoke is going to b*tch-slap Bielema on an annual basis. :-) Just joshing ... it's all good ... it's college football in the upper-midwest. Nothing better.
Terry Star21
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 10:59 p.m.
Sixth out of twelve Big Ten coaches, and he hasn't coached a BigTen game yet - it's gonna' be a Great Year Blue ! MgoBlueForTim.............and Brady Hoke, movin' up to #1 !!!!
EyeHeartA2
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 10:58 p.m.
Bert is a bit of a co-ed skirt chasing clown. I often wondered why Barry picked the guy. Yep, I know they won the big ten, but I can't help think the guy is smoke and mirrors. That said, it ain't like Tressel is going to win. Paterno? Maybe, but does anybody actually think he is any more than a figure head? Hoke? Even RR won more big ten games than he has so far. Wait a minute. Two writers who cover each team, and Hoke got 2 votes total? So, it looks like two AA writers threw him a third place bone. Kyle - can you tell us who voted for who? Can you FOIA it? This is very important.
Hailmary
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 10:18 p.m.
Bret has come a long ways since that loss to RR back in 2008. As far as Brady being ranked number 6 I wonder did they take into concideration his recruiting ability which is apparent.
1959Viking
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 10:18 p.m.
Interesting Joe Paterno finishes seventh. What have you done for me lately?
missionbrazil
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 9:54 p.m.
Well I guess we don't need to play any games this year. The media has already picked the top teams, the top players, and now the top coaches for 2011.
missionbrazil
Tue, Jul 26, 2011 : 1:04 a.m.
I definitely disagree with the media's pick of us finishing 4th in our division ... we will do better than that. Like you said TS, watch out for Blue.
Terry Star21
Mon, Jul 25, 2011 : 11:03 p.m.
Watch out for the underdog - it's Blue and it's coming to a field near you !