32 BIG TEN TRAVERSE CITY RECORD-EAGLE Defense could have its day BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 2003 STANDINGS as the Boilermakers led the conference in turnover mar- Following a mass exodus of Conference Overall gin. ... The 24th-ranked offensive stars and starting WL WL Boilermakers play Ohio State, quarterbacks, defense could MICHIGAN 7 1 10 3 Ohio State 6 2 11 2 Michigan and Wisconsin at dominate the Big Ten this sea- Purdue 6 2 9 4 home. son. Iowa 5 3 10 3 — The Golden Six of the league’s top seven MINNESOTA Minnesota 5 3 10 3 Gophers again feature twin quarterbacks from last season, MICHIGAN STATE 5 3 8 5 the top three rushers and the Wisconsin 4 4 7 6 1,000-yard runners, Marion two leading receivers are all Northwestern 4 4 6 7 Barber III and Laurence gone. On the other hand, many Penn St. 1 7 3 9 Maroney. Bryan Cupito takes Indiana 1 7 2 10 over at QB. ... Minnesota might top-shelf defensive stars Illinois 0 8 1 11 return. have the easiest schedule in “I always believe champi- the Big Ten, with four of the onship football starts on An experienced and talent- first five games at home and defense, and if we’re going to ed quarterback is a luxury no no matchup with Ohio State or make a run at this champi- other Big Ten contender has. Purdue. onship, we’re going to have to Michigan fans loved to criti- PENN STATE — After losing play outstanding defense,” cize John Navarre, but adjust- records in three of the last said coach Lloyd Carr of No. 8 ing to life without him might four seasons, including 3-9 Michigan, the preseason pick be one of the few things hold- last year, the Nittany Lions to win the league title. ing back the stacked are looking to bounce back. ... The Big Ten will also make Wolverines. Coach Joe Paterno has 339 big news off the field this sea- Matt Gutierrez, a junior with wins, second only to Florida son, becoming the first confer- limited experience, is first in State’s Bobby Bowden in ence to use instant replay to line to replace Navarre, ahead Division I-A. ... The Nittany review officials’ calls. of Clayton Richard. And with The Associated Press Lions are 5-10 in games decid- The NCAA authorized the Heisman finalist Perry gone, Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk (47) races upfield after an ed by seven or fewer points conference to use video replay the tailback spot is also open interception against North Carolina State. over the last three years. in the Michigan backfield. MICHIGAN STATE — See to correct officiating mistakes Championship Series to be at beat Kansas State in the While the offense looks for Pages 30-31. on a one-year trial basis. Big stake. Fiesta Bowl and finished at new leaders, the defense is NORTHWESTERN — Wildcats Ten administrators are quick No. 19 Iowa, No. 21 No. 4. ... Freshman CB Ted loaded with linebackers return every starting lineman to point out that its replay sys- Wisconsin and No. 25 Ginn Jr. is being compared to Lawrence Reid and Pierre on both sides of the ball. ... tem bears no resemblance to Minnesota are the teams most Deion Sanders and should Woods and defensive backs Brett Basanez is one of the that of the NFL’s. likely to keep Ohio State and make an immediate impact. Ernest Shazor and Marlin few returning starters at QB in The league’s coaches say Michigan from claiming IOWA — Coach Kirk Ferentz they have been assured the Jackson. another Big Ten crown — and has led the Hawkeyes to a the league, but he’ll need to replay system won’t cause the Much like their archrivals to all of them are breaking in school-record 21 wins the past be a lot better. He was the long delays that can make the the north, the Buckeyes’ new quarterbacks, too. two seasons. ... QB Drew Tate ninth-rated passer in the con- NFL’s system so tedious. biggest question lies behind The Hawkeyes boast the stel- replaces departed Nathan ference and completed only The NFL is where you’ll find center. Unproven sophomores lar linebacking duo of Abdul Chandler. RB Jermelle Lewis 53.6 percent of his passes in many of the Big Ten’s best Justin Zwick and Troy Smith Hodge and Chad Greenway steps in for Fred Russell, who 2003. playmakers from last season. will try to replace the heady and the Badgers defense is gained 1,355 yards last season. ILLINOIS — Hope for a turn- Wisconsin wide receiver Lee and clutch Krenzel. Coach Jim anchored by defensive tackle But the biggest losses are up around after a 1-11 season Evans, Michigan State quar- Tressel may take an even Anttaj Hawthorne, who might front with OT Robert Gallery comes from a schedule that terback Jeff Smoker, Purdue more conservative approach be the league’s best NFL in the NFL and center Brian starts with four straight home wide receiver John — if that’s possible — to pro- prospect. Ferentz (the coach’s son) out games. Just three seasons Standeford, Michigan tailback tect his novice passers. The Golden Gophers return with a spring knee injury. removed from a Big Ten title, Chris Perry and Ohio State “We seem like a young group most of a defense from a 10- WISCONSIN — Allowed an coach Ron Turner needs to get quarterback Craig Krenzel all out there, but it’s an exciting win team that wasn’t satisfied uncharacteristic 306 points the Illini back on track. ... QB moved on to the NFL, leaving group that has a lot of talent with its season. last year while slogging Jon Beutjer received a sixth almost every team searching and lot of passion to become a “Last year we won 10 games through a 7-6 season. That’s year of eligibility because of for a go-to guy when it has the very good team,” Tressel said. and we’re not that happy not likely to happen again injuries. ball. Defense will again be No. 9 about it,” coach Glen Mason with eight returning starters INDIANA — The Hoosiers Not to worry, Purdue coach Ohio State’s calling card with said. “I know we’ll be the best on defense. ... A healthy RB have 21 starters back, includ- Joe Tiller said. linebackers A.J. Hawk and Air football team in the last seven Anthony Davis should help ing QB Matt LoVecchio, lead- “Sometimes what’s more Force transfer Anthony or eight years at Minnesota.” new QB John Stocco’s transi- ing rusher BenJarvus Green- important than who went out Schlegel, end Simon Fraser A capsule look at the teams tion. Davis gained 682 yards Ellis, WR Courtney Roby and the door is who went in,” and cornerback Dustin Fox in predicted order of finish: despite missing five full the top four tacklers on Tiller said. leading the way. MICHIGAN — See Pages 29-30. games last season. defense. Of course, those play- Of course, that’s easy for The Buckeyes and OHIO STATE — A record 14 PURDUE — Returns just ers lost eight of their last nine Tiller, who’ll place his offense Wolverines meet Nov. 20 in Buckeyes were taken in the three defensive starters, but games last season. ... For the in the capable hands of quar- Columbus and, as usual, NFL draft, leaving Tressel the offense should be wide- first time in three seasons, terback Kyle Orton, one of the expect the Big Ten champi- with only nine returning open again. Orton threw 15 Indiana has 85 scholarship top passers in the country. onship and a spot in the Bowl starters from the team that TDs and seven interceptions players..