Big Ten Network To Air Conference Media Days

Coming next week, the Big Ten Network will air live coverage from the Big Ten’s Media Days. It’ll happen on Monday, August 2 so you can plan accordingly.

Big Ten Network to Air Four Live Hours from Football Media Days Aug. 2

Network to televise, stream press conferences with head coaches, Commissioner Delany

Big Ten Kickoff Special to air on Aug. 7

CHICAGO – The Big Ten Network will tee up its coverage of the 2010 Big Ten football season with comprehensive television and internet coverage of Big Ten Football Media Days from the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago on Aug. 2.

The network will offer four hours of live televised coverage that day, including the full press conferences for all 11 head coaches and Big Ten Commissioner James E. Delany. Mike Hall and Chris Martin will anchor the network’s coverage from the Big Ten Network studios beginning at 11 AM ET.

The network’s preseason football coverage continues later in the week with the 90-minute Big Ten Kickoff Special at 2 PM ET on Saturday, Aug. 7. The show, which will also re-air at 7:30 PM ET, will feature interviews of Big Ten head football coaches by the Big Ten Football Saturday crew of Dave Revsine, Gerry DiNardo and Howard Griffith to get their thoughts just days ahead of preseason camp. 

The Big Ten Network’s online coverage will include the media sessions on both Aug. 2 and Aug. 3, with the Monday press conferences streamed live on www.bigtennetwork.com. The website will also feature Twitter and blog updates, frequent video clips and interviews with Big Ten newsmakers.

Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema leads off the press conferences at 11 AM ET. The Badgers ended the 2009 campaign by securing their 10^th win against Miami (Fla.) in the Champs Sports Bowl. Running back John Clay powered past the Hurricanes for 121 yards rushing, and he is expected to remain the catalyst to Wisconsin’s offense. The Badgers open the season at UNLV.

Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald follows Bielema to the podium at 11:15 AM ET. The Wildcats are coming off a season in which they went 8-5, and completed the year at the Outback Bowl against Auburn. Northwestern opens its 2010 season at Vanderbilt. Fifteen starters return for Fitzgerald, including the entire offensive line, which will protect first-year starting quarterback Dan Persa.

At 11:30 AM ET, Illinois’ Ron Zook speaks to the media. The Fighting Illini will once again open the season against Missouri.  Zook’s team looks to a fresh start after last year’s 3-9 record, and have turned to new quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase. Also, the Illini are counting on seven returning defensive starters to bolster the team’s effectiveness on that side of the ball. Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez, entering his third season in Ann Arbor, comes to the podium at 11:45 AM ET. The Wolverines went 5-7 overall a year ago.

Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio will be next to speak at 12:15 PM ET. The Spartans feature one of the top linebackers in the country, Greg Jones, who led the team in tackles (154), sacks (9) and tackles for a loss (14) in 2009. The Spartans have reached the postseason in every year under Dantonio. Indiana’s head coach Bill Lynch will address the media at 12:30 PM ET. The Hoosiers totaled four wins a year ago, but a potentially explosive offensive returns starting quarterback Ben Chappell, who averaged just over 245 passing yards per game last season as a junior. This year the Hoosiers open the season Sept. 2 with a home game against Towson that will be aired on the Big Ten Network.

Second-year Purdue head coach Danny Hope will meet with the media at 12:45 PM ET. Hope and the Boilermakers will look to build upon a 5-7 overall record from a year ago, and a .500 finish in Big Ten competition. Miami transfer Robert Marve takes over the starting quarterback position, and the defense is bolstered by senior defensive end Ryan Kerrigan, who led the Big Ten with 13 sacks last year.

Entering his 45^th season as Penn State’s head football coach, Joe Paterno will speak at 1:15 PM ET. The Nittany Lions earned 11 wins a year ago, including a 19-17 win over LSU to cap the season in the Capital One Bowl. Penn State returns senior running back Evan Royster, who has the school’s career-rushing record within reach. A year ago, Royster rushed for more than 1,000 yards and averaged nearly six yards per carry.

The Minnesota Golden Gophers are looking to become bowl eligible for the third season in a row, and head coach Tim Brewster will discuss his team’s chances at 1:30 PM ET. Along with senior quarterback Adam Weber, the Gophers bring back a triumvirate of running options with Duane Bennett and DeLeon Eskridge in the backfield and back-up quarterback MarQueis Gray, each of whom ran for more than 250 yards a season ago.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz heads to the podium at 1:45 PM ET. His Hawkeyes team is coming off a stellar 11-2 season, which ended with a 24-14 win against Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl. Quarterback Ricky Stanzi returns with Ferentz to lead the Iowa team into its season opener against Eastern Illinois on the Big Ten Network.

The coach of last year’s Big Ten champions, Jim Tressel of Ohio State, will conclude the parade of coaches at 2 PM ET. On Thursday, Sept. 2, the Buckeyes will open their season against Marshall on the Big Ten Network. Terrelle Pryor, the team’s leading passer and rusher from a year ago, will be paired with big-play target Dane Sanzenbacher, a senior wide receiver who averaged nearly 16 yards per reception a year ago.

The network’s coverage of Big Ten Media Days concludes with Commissioner James E. Delany’s press conference at 2:30 PM ET. Delany will address the media with an opening statement and then conduct a question-and-answer session.

Press Conference Schedule (live on Big Ten Network
and www.BigTenNetwork.com):

All times Eastern

11:00 AM             Bret Bielema (Wisconsin)

11:15 AM             Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern)

11:30 AM             Ron Zook (Illinois)

11:45 AM             Rich Rodriguez (Michigan)

12:15 PM              Mark Dantonio (Michigan State)

12:30 PM              Bill Lynch (Indiana)

12:45 PM              Danny Hope (Purdue)

1:15 PM                Joe Paterno (Penn State)

1:30 PM                Tim Brewster (Minnesota)

1:45 PM                Kirk Ferentz (Iowa)

2:00 PM                Jim Tressel (Ohio State)

2:30 PM                James E. Delany (Big Ten)

More stuff coming up.