Jul. 26—The three-day Big Ten media kickoff came to a close Thursday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. I saw every second of it either in person (Tuesday) or on TV (Wednesday and Thursday).
Until the Big Ten adds more teams — which you have to figure will happen eventually — late July is reserved for the annual chat-orama.
Is it valuable? Depends on your wants and needs. For an overview of where the conference stands at the moment and the thoughts of the league leaders, it serves a purpose. If you’re looking for a deep dive into all 18 programs, better visit all the campuses … if they will even let you in.
Here are my takeaways from Day 3 as I get set for another season covering Big Ten football:
Why does Oregon coach Dan Lanning look so happy? Could it be because he has the best offensive player in the Big Ten.
Dillon Gabriel is in his first year in Eugene after three years at UCF and two at Oklahoma. He already has four 3,000-yard-plus seasons and has thrown for 14,865 yards and 125 touchdowns. No. 8 all time in both.
He would be out of eligibility except he missed most of one season with a broken collarbone.
Lanning is glad to have him.
“He really has a passion for the game and a passion to be great,” the coach said.
The Hawaii native isn’t the biggest guy (5-foot-11, 204 pounds), but he has a strong, accurate arm. Might be in the genes — his dad Garrett was a quarterback at Hawaii.
“I got the opportunity to recruit him a little bit when I was at Georgia,” Lanning said.
Gabriel enters the season as one of the favorites for the Heisman Trophy along with Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Alabama’s Jalen Milroe.
Gabriel is wearing No. 8, the same one worn by Ducks Heisman winner Marcus Mariota.
“What’s maybe impressed me the most with Dillon is his ability to connect with people,” Lanning said. “Not just in our program, but outside of our program.”
Third-year coach Lanning met the moment Thursday. He said all the right things, was respectful of the new conference and the opponents he will encounter.
He made sure to talk about the important people, starting with his wife Sauphia.
Lanning also mentioned former Ducks defensive back Khyree Jackson, who was killed in a car accident in early July. Jackson was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings.
“We experienced great sorrow,” Lanning said. “I’m feeling for him and his family. We’ve got to be grateful for the time we got to spend with Khyree. That’s something that was really tough to see and tough to see a guy who had such a bright future, his life being cut short.”
Not exactly sure what point Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck was trying to make. The message got drowned out by an onslaught of words. It’s like playing a tape at high speed.
To borrow an old line that fits so well: He makes coffee nervous.
“I’m not for everybody,” Fleck said. “I don’t want to be for everybody. And I don’t think anybody’s for everybody.”
Can’t imagine what it is like to play for him.
Well, Max Brosmer is going to find out. The former New Hampshire quarterback threw for 3,464 yards and 29 touchdowns with the Wildcats in 2023.
“Did a tremendous job there,” Fleck said. “We were going to take a portal quarterback to come in and start and play right away. He’s a very curious, curious individual. Any time you have a curious leader, you can accomplish a lot. He can be a doctor and a surgeon, which he probably will be. He’ll be a phenomenal coach if he decides that one day.”
One of the friendliest guys to coach at Illinois in recent years is back in the league. Minnesota hired Bob Ligashesky to coach special teams.
Ligashesky, who worked for Lovie Smith in Champaign-Urbana, will be back in town Nov. 2, when the Gophers play at Memorial Stadium.
“Bob and I go back to Tampa Bay, we were both coaching in the NFL,” Fleck said. “He just brings a wealth of knowledge, college, NFL experience. The guy’s above 60 (actually 62). Still runs 10 miles a day. His energy is endless.”
After the Smith staff was fired, Ligashesky worked at Bowling Green and Syracuse.
Hard to believe it has been 16 years since Mike Locksley was Ron Zook’s offensive coordinator at Illinois. Now in his sixth year as Maryland head coach, slimmed-down Locksley continues to tell it like it is.
“When you have big changes like we’ve faced in college athletics the last few years, it creates angst — it creates anxiety, it can be frustrating,” Locksley said. “For us at Maryland, we see it as a great opportunity.”
He believes the Terrapins can win big.
“We’re here to challenge status quo,” he said. “There was a time as a coach where I was a little scared to dream big.”
Not anymore.
“My give-a-crap gauge is on ‘E,'” Locksley said.
Locksley has a giant hole to fill at quarterback. Taulia Tagovailoa finished as the Big Ten’s career passing yards leader.
“He left a tremendous legacy in that quarterback room,” Locksley said. “Little known fact, he and I met every day from the start of the season to the last game at 10 o’clock at night until 12, 1 in the morning.”
With the star quarterback gone, Maryland is becoming a defensive-led team.
Locksley said coordinator Brian Williams is a future head coach. The Miami native has been on Locksley’s staff all six seasons.
“Great coaches put their players in the best possible position and Brian Williams has done that each year when you look at the way our defense has improved,” Locksley said. “Brian is one of those guys I know people are going to come knocking doors down to hire him. He should be on anyone’s list…
The News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
