While we patiently (yeah, right) await for August 30 to come and attempt to settle down from the hype surrounding the upcoming season, rumors continue to swirl. As usual, that the Big Ten is once again considering an expansion to twelve teams. While there are advantages and disadvantages to expansion, the agreed upon results of such a move would lead to two divisions and a championship game within the conference, and of course, more revenue. DTI looks at the possible candidates for the potential 12th team in the Big Ten.
Rutgers- The Scarlet Knights would probably be target number one for the conference due to many reasons. First and foremost, the location of the school is the biggest draw. Located in Piscataway, New Jersey, RU is not too far from New York City and is the only major college football program in the Metropolitan area. Adding Rutgers to the conference would generate a ton of money and the Big Ten would have control of the television market in the area. Secondly, Rutgers is a program that has been on the rise the past few years, and will continue to improve, especially with a way above average recruiting class in 2009 expected. Finally, Coach Greg Schiano, Michigan’s top target (after Les Miles stayed at LSU) last season, has ties in the Big Ten with Penn State and plays a Big Ten style of football. Schiano has been rumored to be Joe Paterno’s successor at Penn State, but a move for Rutgers to the Big Ten could keep him in the Garden State for years to come.
Rutgers Facts:
- around 38,000 undergraduate students and about 13,000 graduate students
- Location: Piscataway, NJ
- Famous for the ‘Grease Trucks’, the originator of the “fat sandwiches” (better than OSU’s PJ’s)
- 27 varsity teams
- Home Field: Rutgers Stadium
- Nickname: Scarlet Knights/ Colors: Scarlet, Black, and White\
- Coach: Greg Schiano
- “Birthplace of College Football”- Defeated Princeton 6-4 in the first-ever college football game
- Big East Conference member since 1991
- Last 3 Bowls- 2005: Lost 45-40 in Insight.com Bowl to Arizona State-2006: Won 37-10 in Texas Bowl vs. Kansas State-2007: Won 52-30 in International Bowl vs. Ball State
- NFL Players include RB Ray Rice, FB/RB Brian Leonard, TE Clark Harris, TE L.J. Smith, QB Mike McMahon, DB Nathan Jones, P Mike Barr, DB Jay Bellamy, LB Gary Brackett, DT Eric Foster, C Shaun O’Hara, OL Pedro Sosa, Ol Jeremy Zuttah
While having your starting cornerback (Donald Washington) and top reserve safety suspended for the first two games of the 08′ season (Jamario O’Neal) is never an auspicious way to start the season, providing two vacant openings for games against Youngstown State and Ohio University does have its advantages. The fact of the matter is, in a typical college football season, matters such as injury and suspension are part of reality. This unfortunate circumstance allows for several players in the secondary rotation to see significant game time and this experience/in-game work could pay large dividends in the long run. Coach Jim Tressel made it a point to say the two athletes in question will need to “Earn their car keys back,” DTI takes a look at the Buckeyes who will help drive the BCS bus in their stead…
The day that 50,000+ people have been waiting for has finally arrived. As of yesterday, August 13, OSU Student Football tickets were available to be picked up at the OSU Ticket Office, located in the Jerome Schottenstein Center. Season tickets can only be picked up if Autumn Quarter fees are paid in full, but don’t get down on yourself if your fees aren’t paid yet. You can still pick up tickets to the “pre-season” games, including Youngstown State, Ohio University, the away game at USC (if you were lucky enough to get a ticket to that game), and Troy University, as long as you are enrolled for fall quarter.
We learned this week that incoming freshman Willie Mobley will be out for the year due to a pre-existing shoulder injury that occured while he was in high school. The 6′3″ 265 lb frosh defensive end from Eden Prairie, Minnesota will be out all year and will look to redshirt while rehabbing his shoulder 
