Wisch: Ohio State Hawks Memorabilia, Big Ten Sells Soul
Ponder this: If Ohio State hadn't tattooed an "L" on the Arkansas Razorbacks Tuesday night in the Sugar Bowl, Ron Zook would have been the 2010-11 Poster Boy for Big Ten Postseason Success.
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Ponder this: If Ohio State hadn't tattooed an "L" on the Arkansas Razorbacks Tuesday night in the Sugar Bowl, Ron Zook would have been the 2010-11 Poster Boy for Big Ten Postseason Success.
In 2008, the Big Ten Conference launched a series of public service announcements with the theme of, "Big Life. Big Stage. Big Ten."
I'm a sucker for bowl games. I love their tradition. I love their pageantry. And I love the nonstop slate of college football that they provide during the holidays.
Well, I'm back from the Texas Bowl and you can color me orange. And impressed.
After getting off to a great start, the Northwestern Wildcats have stumbled as Big Ten play begins.
Winning a bowl game like the Texas Bowl may not be that big of a deal to many who follow college football, but for the University of Illinois fans and Ron Zook, they will gladly take it.
Christmas is over. New Year's is looming. And in between this week the Big Ten gets its bowl season rolling.
The NCAA is the biggest joke in all of sports. A couple of week ago, Auburn quarterback Cam Newton was deemed eligible to play in the SEC Championship game against South Carolina.
On Feb. 8, 1896 – one month after X-Rays were discovered and nine months before William McKinley was elected as the United States' 25th president – a the Midwest's premier universities held a powwow in Chicago and established the Big Ten.
The last time I checked, the Chicago Bears play their home games outdoors in Soldier Field. The home of the Bears has long been known to be one of the most unforgiving stadiums in the National Football League in terms of inclement weather.
OK, it's taken a couple of days, but I'm finally on board with this whole new Big Ten thing. The conference is bigger, it's badder (and that's just what they're saying about our divisions!) and, thanks to all those new multi-name football awards, it's also more hyphenated than ever before.
When the Big Ten announced they were adding Nebraska, the response was almost all positive. And when the Big Ten announced the names for the new divisions, the response was almost all negative.
OK. Now it's my turn! There sure has been a lot of talk around Big Ten country in the past 24 hours about the new conference logo and football divisional names.
This past summer, when the Big Ten announced that the University of Nebraska was signing on as the league's 12th team, the Conference That Can't Count hit a stand-up triple.
Of course the names "Legends" and "Leaders" have been poorly received by fans and critics. The two new Big Ten division names are uninspiring and uncreative, at best.
You know how offensive coordinators can get too "cute" with their play calling when they are already having success? That's basically what Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany has done since announcing Nebraska would join the conference, allowing for a Big Ten Championship Game to be born.
The Big Ten released it's new logo and the names for it's two divisions, today. The addition of Nebraska, next year, will allow for the conference to have two divisions and a championship game.
Adam Hoge breaks down the eight bowl games involving Big Ten teams this season.
With the Big Ten Conference winning the Big Ten/ACC Challenge for the first time in eleven tries last season, both Illinois and Northwestern looked to do their part this year in ensuring that conference bragging rights would stay in the Midwest for at least one more year.
Technically nothing is official until the final BCS standings come out Dec. 5, but if it's up to the Rose Bowl representatives, the Wisconsin Badgers will be playing in Pasadena on New Year's Day.
Illinois coach Bruce Weber said his Fighting Illini played their best first half of the season on Saturday, when they took a 25-point lead into halftime.
Adam Hoge takes a look ahead at this week's Big Ten football action.
The team is mediocre, the coach is already under fire just 11 games into his tenure, and the school's administration is taking more hits than its quarterback these days.
A witness told Lake County sheriffs that the woman hit a man riding on a motorcycle with a car, knocking him off, before chasing him with a knife on Monday afternoon.
Mayor Brandon Johnson on Tuesday unveiled a plan to eliminate the city's $85 million budget deficit for this year.
Police in west suburban Oak Brook used a new tool aimed at limiting high-speed chases to catch a fleeing van while responding to a burglary call overnight.
For some students, the year started with outside classes and classwork in unconventional spots inside the adjacent Kennedy High School.
Chicago Bears offensive lineman Braxton Jones took all of the first-team reps at left tackle during Tuesday's practice at Halas Hall, but head coach Ben Johnson didn't sound like he's close to deciding a winner in that competition.
Mayor Brandon Johnson on Tuesday unveiled a plan to eliminate the city's $85 million budget deficit for this year.
A Wisconsin prosecutor says he will not file election bribery charges against billionaire Elon Musk even though the state's bipartisan elections commission said he likely broke state law.
A federal judge on Tuesday rejected Ghislaine Maxwell's effort to toss out her 2021 conviction on sex-trafficking charges and 20-year prison sentence.
President Trump said the U.S. is considering changing the name of Lake Ontario to "Lake America" amid an escalating trade fight with Canada.
The Supreme Court divided 6-3 in granting the Trump administration's request for emergency relief.
Cook County homeowners are again facing a sharper increase in property taxes this year than businesses, the Office of Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas announced Monday.
Contracted linemen from out of state sat idle in a Griffith church parking lot for hours without work orders from NIPSCO, as residents in Northwest Indiana approach two weeks without power.
A law firm has filed a class action lawsuit against NIPSCO, alleging the utility's failure to manage trees and vegetation has left thousands of Northwest Indiana residents without power for up to two weeks.
Dozens of cases of E. coli and salmonella in multiple states are linked to an alfalfa grower in Minnesota, health officials say.
A new Illinois law signed by Gov. Pritzker offers up to $1,000 to eligible homeowners hit by storm damage, but the money won't be available until next year — and the program only covers certain areas of Chicago.
Possible measles exposures have been reported at a high school in Maple Park, Illinois, and a pediatric clinic in South Elgin, Kane County health officials said.
Dozens of cases of E. coli and salmonella in multiple states are linked to an alfalfa grower in Minnesota, health officials say.
Moderna and Merck announced study results that reflect a "landmark moment" in treatment for one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer.
Researchers from the University of Chicago have uncovered some information on how space travel affects — or actually doesn't affect — the heart.
As people age, it becomes crucial to do whatever possible to protect from issues like memory loss. But leading neurologist Dr. David Perlmutter said the process actually starts well before advanced age.
A Wisconsin prosecutor says he will not file election bribery charges against billionaire Elon Musk even though the state's bipartisan elections commission said he likely broke state law.
An expert blames Illinois lawmakers and "internecine political problems" for the failure to seal a deal for a new stadium within the state for the Chicago Bears.
Real estate investment and development firm Concord Capital has acquired nine apartment buildings on Elaine Place, a single-block residential street in Chicago's East Lakeview community.
The Chicago Plan Commission voted Thursday to approve a plan to redevelop Ford City Mall into an industrial complex, despite objections from some neighbors.
A new Barnes & Noble bookstore opened in the heart of downtown Chicago on Wednesday, while separately, a building that used to house an old Barnes & Noble store in the Gold Coast was being demolished.
Dolly Parton was a native and lifelong resident of Tennessee, but she made numerous visits and forged numerous ties to Chicago over the years.
Dolly Parton became an icon over her six-decade career as a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, movie and TV star and theme park owner who donated millions to help others.
Madonna leads all artists with 11 nominations at this year's MTV VMAs, and a full sweep would tie her with Beyoncé and Taylor Swift for the most VMA wins in history.
Hayden Panettiere, who starred in "Remember the Titans" as a child actor and rose to fame in the series "Heroes," has died at the age of 36. The coroner's office says she was found in cardiac arrest.
Buddy Guy was honored with the Chicago Music Legend Award at the Obama Presidential Center's Chicago Culture Ball this weekend.
Mayor Brandon Johnson on Tuesday unveiled a plan to eliminate the city's $85 million budget deficit for this year.
The 28-inch Lielaphis slashi snake was discovered in the forests of New Guinea, the second-largest island in the world, according to the Field Museum.
Online auction house Joopiter says the jersey is the only known white game-winning jersey from the 98 finals available for sale.
Meteorologist David Yeomans is tracking the latest in First Alert Weather.
On Saturday, the United States began imposing 50% tariffs on hundreds of Canadian goods after negotiators failed to reach an agreement, prompting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to promise new retaliatory tariffs.
Border patrol officers seized more than 1,000 pounds of the illegal stimulant khat at Chicago O'Hare International Airport in two busts last week.
Indiana State Police are currently searching for an escaped prisoner in Northwest Indiana.
A new plan was announced Tuesday for express transportation between O'Hare International Airport and downtown Chicago.
Dolly Parton became an icon over her six-decade career as a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, movie and TV star and theme park owner who donated millions to help others.
A witness told Lake County sheriffs that the woman hit a man riding on a motorcycle with a car, knocking him off, before chasing him with a knife on Monday afternoon.
Police in west suburban Oak Brook used a new tool aimed at limiting high-speed chases to catch a fleeing van while responding to a burglary call overnight.
The program was launched by the utility company last year, with some saying it makes it easier to address problem poles.
She was counting down the days to the first day of 5th grade until her school district told her she didn't have a spot there. Now, a federal judge has ordered the district to put the 10-year-old girl with autism back in her neighborhood school.
Who you gonna call if someone locks you out of your own charity? That's the question members of a Ghostbusters-themed nonprofit say they're asking.
Residents of Ogleby Towers on Wednesday morning spoke out about the system that constantly changes their rent, which they say makes it hard to budget.
Chicago Bears offensive lineman Braxton Jones took all of the first-team reps at left tackle during Tuesday's practice at Halas Hall, but head coach Ben Johnson didn't sound like he's close to deciding a winner in that competition.
A White Sox fan went viral after spilling her purse as celebrated picking up catcher Jake Rogers' walk-off home run ball on Friday at Rate Field.
Michael Conforto and Carson Kelly hit back-to-back homers, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 7-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night.
The rate is much higher than is seen in the general population. CTE is a brain disease linked to repeated blows to the head.
The Texas Rangers rout the Chicago White Sox on Monday night to grab the AL West lead.
One person was killed and another was wounded in a shooting Sunday night at a hotel in northwest suburban Wheeling.
At least four people were killed, and 17 more were injured, in weekend shootings across Chicago as of Sunday, according to police.
Chicago police this weekend issued a warning about a string of armed robberies in the city's Bronzeville community.
Illinois State Police and the FBI announced this weekend that they may have a new lead, though not a suspect, in the 1992 murder of college student Tammy Zywicki.
Chicago police were investigating early Sunday after a man was slashed to death the night before in Washington Park.
