For two days the Big Ten football coaches and three players from each team gather in Chicago for Big Ten Media Days.  From what I could tell, this year’s event was pretty bland (are they ever exciting?), but I guess that’s what you get when Lane Kiffin doesn’t coach in your conference.  

So what did we learn coming out of the event?

• Ron Zook broke his regiment of water skiing and small child eating to show up, which was nice.  Zook actually spent a lot of time talking discipline and off the field issues, which I guess is disturbing.  Apparently a couple of bars are off limits to players around campus (any guesses?) and they have drafted “character teams” so either Zook is very proactive in attacking character issues, or there are some serious ones.  He also jokingly–or not so much–chided the media for picking Terrelle Pryor as preseason Big Ten Offensive POY.  Good for him.  Way to base the distinction on hype rather than, you know, the guy who won the actual Offensive POY award last year (Clark). 
• Joe Pa is still living and stuff, and he was there cracking jokes and drawing out plays on tablecloths about how they used to run the spread in the 1840′s 1940′s.  A couple years ago I thought he should just hang it up, but now I hope he lives/coaches forever.  Not because of the diagrams, just because I changed my mind. 
• So yeah, Terrelle Pryor was preseason POY for offense and Greg Jones, a linebacker from MSU, got the honor on defense.  Jones is a solid choice and if you hadn’t heard of him, try to watch him play this year.  He will only be a junior, but is a heck of a talent.  Pryor…well, it’s no secret I don’t like him.  You’re kidding yourself if you don’t think Todd Boekmann could have done just as well, if not better for the Buckeyes last year.  It’s not that hard to lob deep balls up to future pros when the other team has eight or nine in the box to stop your star running back.  Pryor can run and he throws a nice bomb, but his intermediate passing game will need to improve if he wants to live up to this hype. 
• The top three teams as voted by the media will be OSU, PSU, and MSU.  Well there’s no surprise there…wait, MSU?  This is a team that was actually outgained by its opponents last year, and loses it’s only offensive star in Javon Ringer.  The QB situation should be addition by subtraction with Hoyer out and Cousins or Nichol in, but come on.  The best thing the Spartans have going for them this year is that they miss Ohio State and Dantonio has been better at avoiding embarrassing losses in games they should win easily.  I like Illinois and Iowa over the Spartans. 
• In terms of the other coaches, Dantonio and Tressel were unbelievably boring, Bielema made some lame excuse about why UW plays cupcakes every year, Rodriguez said his team was on track to improve, but he didn’t seem to want to be there, and Pat Fitzgerald continues to look like the perfect guy to lead Northwestern and I mean that in a good way. 

Plenty more Illini coverage will be coming, along with previews for each team before the season gets started in September.  You can rejoice football fans, the long month of July is almost over.

• Blackhawks dominated the Blues last night and won 3-1.  Thank God that the “evil Hawks” didn’t show up.  [Yahoo]
• Trib article says Del Negro has “made the most” of his assistants.  So you’re saying it’s all his fault? [Tribune]
• Don Cooper talks White Sox fans down off the ledge.  First, I didn’t realize they were to the edge; second, let me try: Your team looked like it sucked last year and you still made the playoffs.  [Sun-Times]
• ESPN is reporting that ex-Bulls genius Tim Floyd will be taking over at Arizona.  It’s been a great week for shady college coaches.  [ESPN]
• Only Joe Pa can be funny when talking about “Jews” and “Blacks” on the air.  He’s like a caricature of his old self by now.  [Awful Announcing]
• The United States beat Trinidad & Tobago 3-0 last night in World Cup Qualifying.  19-year-old Jozy Altidore had the hat trick for the US.  [ESPN]
• Sporcle has a new NBA Jam quiz up and it is a bit difficult.  Go here for a quick hint, then follow the link.  I got about 40, somehow.  [Pippen Ain't Easy]
• How to keep that special person in your life happy when the NBA Playoffs roll around.  Seems funny after our April Fools ruse and reveal yesterday.  [Hardwood Paroxysm]