mikjones24
Sep 17, 2008 Jun 02, 2012 5 11026
My name is Mike Jones and I blog for Off Tackle Empire. What, like you're so special?
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B1G 2012 // Bowl Projections - Summertime
by mikjones24 on Jun 1, 2012 10:45 AM EDT
in Bowl Projections
on Off Tackle Empire
As Bama Hawkeye's successor there are certain responsibilities I have inherited here at Off Tackle Empire. Primarily: Big Ten Bowl Projections. Sure, preseason projections are a crapshoot and often look absolutely ridiculous by the time bowl season rolls around but they're fun to complain and castrate the author and talk about. Right?
Majority of the 2012 offseason talk has been dedicated to conference realignment and a potential playoff system. Thankfully, I don't have to worry about those things because: A) Phil Steele breaks down where everyone is going on his website; and B) The BCS isn't going anywhere (for now).
On the national stage you can expect to see the usual suspects contending for the BCS National Championship: Louisiana State, Southern California, Alabama, Oklahoma and Oregon. However, there are a number of other Top-15 teams like Michigan, Georgia, West Virginia, Michigan State, Arkansas, South Carolina, Florida State and Wisconsin who could run the table and find themselves playing for the crystal trophy come January 7th.
Here in Big Ten land, the upper crust consists of Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin and (arguably) Nebraska. The Wolverines are my preseason favorites as they return Denard Robinson, Fitzgerald Toussaint, Roy Roundtree and a gang of defensive starters. After that it gets muddled. Michigan State needs a new quarterback but boasts hands down the best defense in the conference. Wisconsin returns Montee Ball and has former Maryland quarterback Danny O'Brien arriving but will he pick up the offense? Finally, the Cornhuskers return 8 starters on each side of the ball but can Taylor Martinez take his passing game to the next level? Time will tell.
There's also that team in Columbus. Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes return one of the best defenses in the nation but have to find a way to get the offense going. Braxton Miller is back but uh...he only completed more than 10 passes in a game twice last year. If Ohio State is going to have a great season they're going to need to move the ball better than they did in 2011.
Had enough of me over-generalizing your favorite team? Good. We'll get to the rules and projections after the jump.
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Why Hello There
Chadnudj already pointed this out in today's Nebraska potluck but I had a brief introductory piece planned for lunchtime anyway. My name is Mike Jones (not the awful rapper) and I've been blogging about the Hawkeyes for around two or three years. I'll be taking over Iowa duties here at OTE and hope to bring you a better understanding of the Big Ten's most media unfriendly program. Snort.
I look forward to working with everyone here at OTE and engaging in discussions about 5 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, an insatiable hunger for ass, FACTS and 1-11 seasons. See you around.
PS: I didn't link to my Twitter because I'm an egomaniac or anything, I did it because I needed a link for the FanShot. But uh...you should probably click on it and follow me because I crave your attention.
4 days ago
mikjones24
15 comments
1 recs
/sobs ... Rob Henry Tears ACL
Updated with a link to an AP article. Still, this isn't even a joke anymore.
Iowa Defeats Southern Miss
When I first saw Southern Mississippi's logo a few years ago I didn't think much about it. I said to myself "Hey that looks kinda neat" and moved on with my life because it's Southern Miss and I didn't think that them creating a logo that looked exactly like the Tigerhawk would affect many people. I was wrong. The University of Iowa decided to "file an opposition" against Southern Miss from trademarking the logo in the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Today, it was sustained in favor of Iowa meaning that Southern Miss cannot trademark their logo.
Honestly, I'm not sure what that means for Southern Miss. I'm sure they'll appeal and it will probably result in a favorable outcome for Iowa but I don't know if that means they'll have to redesign their logo or if they'll continue to use it without the trademark.
Interesting stuff for those interested in patents and trademarks. So...interesting stuff for nobody.
PS: You'll have to click on: BOARD'S DECISION: SUSTAINED under the "Prosecution History" if you want to read the decision that came down today. That link will probably take you to the original complaint filed back in '05.
Where Does Stanzi Rank?
I'm not into shameless pimping or anything like that but I did feel the need to share this here as several readers of the Pants would likely miss it. I saw an article the other day with this title and didn't even discuss the issue. Here, after hours of research I did discuss where Stanzi ranks among all time Hawkeye great quarterbacks and attempted to rank them all. Please enjoy.
over 1 year ago
mikjones24
55 comments
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