UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State's division
name will remain the same for the second-straight season, but the Big Ten
Leaders Division will certainly have a new look in 2012.
Headlining the division changes will be three new head coaches. Joining Nittany Lion head coach Bill O'Brien will be new Ohio State leader Urban Meyer and Illinois coach Tim Beckman. The six Leaders Division coaches combine for 10 years of Big Ten head coaching experience.
In addition to the head coaching changes, the six Leaders Division teams will field
33 new assistant coaches out of a total of 54.
In 2011, Penn State, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Purdue played in bowls from the Leaders Division.
Penn State returns 10 starters (five on offense and four on defense) from its 2011 Leaders Division co-champion team. Among the key returnees is junior tailback Silas Redd, who finished fourth in the Big Ten in rushing with 1,241 yards. Coach O'Brien and the Lions are taking things one day at a time is they prepare for the 2012 season.
"We're just trying to get better everyday and that's my main concern," Coach O'Brien said. "I know that this is a great conference with a lot of great coaches and great players so it will be a huge challenge for us next fall."
The defending division champion and Big Ten title game champion Wisconsin Badgers will enter the season with a target on their back. However, it will be a year of transition for Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema with six new assistant coaches on his staff. The Badgers return 11 starters (five on offense and six on defense). While Wisconsin is the defending conference champion, Coach Bielema's squad enters the season focused on getting better each day.
"We have won two-straight championships, and I think it is because we take one day at a time," Bielema said. "Our kids don't worry about outside influences or outside voices. They worry about taking care of their own business."
Despite the graduation of several key pieces, including All-Big Ten QB Russell Wilson, Wisconsin returns the nation's top rusher from 2011 in Montee Ball. Ball tallied 1,923 yards and 39 total touchdowns last season.
Ohio State returns 18 starters (seven on offense and nine on defense) during the first year of Meyer's tenure in Columbus. However, the Buckeyes are not eligible for postseason competition (Big Ten or bowl) in 2012.
Coming off a victory in the Little Caesars Bowl, Purdue head coach Danny Hope returns to West Lafayette for his fourth season at the helm of the Boilermakers. Purdue returns 19 starters (nine on offense and nine on defense), most of any team in the division.
Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson kicks off his second season in Bloomington with 16 starters (seven on offense and eight on defense) back from 2011. The Hoosiers went 1-11 overall and 0-8 in the conference during Wilson's first season.
"This year, with the changes, it will be interesting," Wilson said of the new-look Leaders Division. "There are some great coaches. A lot of those guys are at great programs where they ought to do well."
Following three seasons as head coach at Toledo, Beckman will now lead the Illinois program. The Fighting Illini return 17 starters, including seven on offense and eight on defense.
"It is Big Ten football," Beckman said. "It is about grinding it out. It is about being physical. I see that, having to play against it when we were at Toledo. And now I am seeing the same Big Ten football."
With the personnel and coaching changes, the race for a berth in the 2012 Big Ten Championship Game could be wide open in the Leaders Division when the conference season kicks off on Sept. 29.
Headlining the division changes will be three new head coaches. Joining Nittany Lion head coach Bill O'Brien will be new Ohio State leader Urban Meyer and Illinois coach Tim Beckman. The six Leaders Division coaches combine for 10 years of Big Ten head coaching experience.
In addition to the head coaching changes, the six Leaders Division teams will field
33 new assistant coaches out of a total of 54.In 2011, Penn State, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Purdue played in bowls from the Leaders Division.
Penn State returns 10 starters (five on offense and four on defense) from its 2011 Leaders Division co-champion team. Among the key returnees is junior tailback Silas Redd, who finished fourth in the Big Ten in rushing with 1,241 yards. Coach O'Brien and the Lions are taking things one day at a time is they prepare for the 2012 season.
"We're just trying to get better everyday and that's my main concern," Coach O'Brien said. "I know that this is a great conference with a lot of great coaches and great players so it will be a huge challenge for us next fall."
The defending division champion and Big Ten title game champion Wisconsin Badgers will enter the season with a target on their back. However, it will be a year of transition for Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema with six new assistant coaches on his staff. The Badgers return 11 starters (five on offense and six on defense). While Wisconsin is the defending conference champion, Coach Bielema's squad enters the season focused on getting better each day.
"We have won two-straight championships, and I think it is because we take one day at a time," Bielema said. "Our kids don't worry about outside influences or outside voices. They worry about taking care of their own business."
Despite the graduation of several key pieces, including All-Big Ten QB Russell Wilson, Wisconsin returns the nation's top rusher from 2011 in Montee Ball. Ball tallied 1,923 yards and 39 total touchdowns last season.
Ohio State returns 18 starters (seven on offense and nine on defense) during the first year of Meyer's tenure in Columbus. However, the Buckeyes are not eligible for postseason competition (Big Ten or bowl) in 2012.
Coming off a victory in the Little Caesars Bowl, Purdue head coach Danny Hope returns to West Lafayette for his fourth season at the helm of the Boilermakers. Purdue returns 19 starters (nine on offense and nine on defense), most of any team in the division.
Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson kicks off his second season in Bloomington with 16 starters (seven on offense and eight on defense) back from 2011. The Hoosiers went 1-11 overall and 0-8 in the conference during Wilson's first season.
"This year, with the changes, it will be interesting," Wilson said of the new-look Leaders Division. "There are some great coaches. A lot of those guys are at great programs where they ought to do well."
Following three seasons as head coach at Toledo, Beckman will now lead the Illinois program. The Fighting Illini return 17 starters, including seven on offense and eight on defense.
"It is Big Ten football," Beckman said. "It is about grinding it out. It is about being physical. I see that, having to play against it when we were at Toledo. And now I am seeing the same Big Ten football."
With the personnel and coaching changes, the race for a berth in the 2012 Big Ten Championship Game could be wide open in the Leaders Division when the conference season kicks off on Sept. 29.
Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on
Twitter @GoPSUTony
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