Tomorrow the Big Ten gets their time in the media frenzy spotlight as Big Ten media days officially get underway in Chicago’s Hyatt Regency. Nittany Lion’s Den will be represented and will be looking to provide some unique perspective in to the event. Be sure to be following all of our updates on Twitter and Facebook.
If you are wondering just when Joe Paterno will be talking with the media here is a run down of the tentative schedule for the entire conference and where you can get coverage through the Big Ten Network and/or ESPN and more. Keep in mind that these times are based on Chicago time, which is in the central time zone. For those of you in the Eastern time zone, add one hour to the schedule.
Thursday, July 28
10 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. – Media session with coaches
Watch it on Big Ten Network, or follow our live tweets.
Each Big Ten coach will address the media with some comments about their program and answer some questions from the media. This is generally when all of the out-of-town writers covering other schools and national writers get their questions in, so expect the local guys covering the Nittany Lions to hold off on some of their own questions. Hopefully somebody from USA Today doesn’t ask Joe Paterno how he feels about death this time around.
The Leaders Division coaches will go first, with Paterno scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
11:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Radio, Local TV availability for coaches and players
Each school will determine where their representatives go and for how long for radio appearances. As far as Penn State is concerned, Joe Paterno is scheduled to be available between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. We will have to wait and see which radio stations will be talking to Paterno but hopefully we will be able to get our hands on some radio podcasts when they become available. During this same time frame (actually from 10:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.) the coaches and players from each school will be making their rounds through local television outlets. Penn State’s representatives will be doing this between 12:00 p.m. and 1:15 p.m.
1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. – Media session with Big Ten and Big Ten Network representatives
Watch it on Big Ten Network, or follow our live tweets.
Bill Carollo (Big Ten Coordinator of Football Officials), Mark Silverman (Big Ten Network President) and Jim Delany (Big Ten commissioner) will each meet with the media following the coaches. Delany is scheduled for 2:15 – 2:45 p.m. It will be interesting to see how he responds to some of the topics addressed by Mike SLive (SEC), John Swofford (ACC) and Larry Scott (Pac 12) in their respective media day press conferences.
Friday, July 29
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. – Breakfast with Iowa and Nebraska
There will be a special breakfast hosted by Iowa and Nebraska Friday morning at the Hyatt-Regency McCormick Place. The purpose of the breakfast will be to formally introduce the Big Ten’s newest trophy which will be awarded to the winner of this year’s Iowa-Nebraska game, because Iowa is always in search of mroe trophy games. We can only speculate at this point and guess that corn will somehow be associated with the trophy. Here is a look at the invitation. Maybe you can pick up some hints yourself.
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – One-on-One interviews
This will be one of the least structured of the events. Players and coaches will sit at round tables and media will come up to each to ask questions at their leisure. This will be more of an opportunity for local media to focus on the schools they are covering but will also be one last chance for national writers to grab a quote or two. Big Ten Coordinator of Officials Bill Carollo will also be available at this time.
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – Autograph session
Coaches and players will sign autographs for fans.
11:00 a.m. – Coaches and Players Group Photos
A chance for the Big Ten to organize a group shot of their coaches and players. Nothing special to see here.
11:30: a.m. – 40th annual kickoff luncheon
One last free meal for those in attendance, and one last chance to rub elbows with the coaches and players before heading home.
We’ll have full coverage of the media days for you right here on Nittany Lion’s Den, so be sure to check back on Thursday and Friday.
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