BTN: Suh is the #1 Big Ten defensive linemen of the decade
So I just finished watching an episode of the "Big Ten's Best: Defensive Linemen of the 2000s," and Ndamukong Suh was ranked # 1.
Is it just me, or is this completely abusrd? Yes, Suh is an unbelievable talent. He is arguably one of the best linemen to play in college football in a long time.
Am I out of order to get upset when Suh is considered THE BEST Big Ten lineman of the previous decade, when he never played a down in the conference?
FWIW, Kerrigan was # 2, Graham # 3, and Woodley (Lamarr Woodley Kills People) # 5.
/rant
Yes to your first question no to your second question.
Who was #4?
Edit: (Waits for someone to make an I Am Number Four movie reference)
happy now?
Nick Fairley was #4 of course.
The BTN lists are awful. Chris Webber didn't even make the best basketball players of the '90s top ten because they bought into the ridiculous "never happened" campaign.
Kerrigan at #2 is questionable enough (although he's very good), but his best season was in 2010. That's not the aughties.
That was a joke. They didn't have a highlight against a Big 10 team or a comment from a Big 10 coach. Whoever came up with that at the Big 10 network is a total asshat.
I'm with you. Using similar logic, Jerry Rice was the greatest Oakland Raider of all time, Allen Iverson was the greatest Detroit Piston of all time, and Gordie Howe was the greatest Detroit Viper of all time.
At least all three of them played for those teams.
True. I tried to back off my original language, but let's go with "Using similarly stupid logic, ..."
How about Terrelle Pryor? Best Michigan Wolverine of the last decade.
Yes, but they all did all of their accomplishments on other teams.
A 70 year-old Gordie Howe would still be the greatest Detroit Viper of all time.
It's like saying Suh was the greatest defensive lineman in the Big Ten
it is totally idiotic. this even dumber than including former penn state players in the list of big ten icons when they never played in the big ten.
certainly no disrespect towards suh or nebraska but he never played in the big ten and nebraska hasn't yet either!
seriously, does the big ten network also count penn state's national championships from before they joined the big ten towards the conference's tally?
That's the way the BCS counts it. As far as MNC's go, it makes sense. Now if they counted Nebraska conference championships, that makes no sense.
AKAIK, Nebraska is not even in the B10 until July 1st, 2011. Is this a welcoming present for them?
Typo, AFAIK.
BTN must be trying to up their subscriptions in Nebraska before the fall.
I agree that it is an absurd idea that the best DL from a decade never played a down in the conference. On the other hand it shows how commited the B1G is to making Nebraska fell at home, and gives their fans reason to watch the B1G Network. And if/when they decide to add more teams to the conference, they can use this as a bargining chip to show that the new teams would be given the royal treatment. It is the B1G way to share the limelight and the money. It could be argued that this is a very calculated move (not just this instance, but all of things the B1G has done to make N feel at home and equal) designed to garner more intrest from teams that they deem to be a good fit. Here's looking at you ND.
The major requirement for being in the Big Ten is being a member of the AAU. Nebraska was just kicked out for not meeting requirements. It'll be interesting to see what happens if Nebraska doesn't do what is necessary to become a member in good standing again. Will the Big Ten kick them out of the conference? Would Nebraska even be considered now that they are no longer a AAU member if they weren't already accepted?
I'm a big fan of THE TRUTH. Holy crap, you don't rewrite history just to serve your own agenda. Nebraska fans should be offended that BTN thinks they're such stupid sheep. I'm sure the B12 has already showered Suh with plenty of awards/recognition.
BTN credibility just crashed and burned.
Seems a bit ridiculous considering Suh never played a down as a Big Ten player.
This is kind of along the same vein as when the BTN shows the Big Ten's Greatest games and has Penn State games on from before Penn State joined the conference. I always kind of scratch my head when I see those too.
This is pretty stupid but it's just about television. Nebraska is now in the Big Ten and so the network needs to ease their fans into watching the BTN. We can now assume that Nebraska will be included in any new content on that station.
but Nebraska fans won't have any trouble finding their way to BTN once the season starts.
This is beyond absurd...I bet even Nebraska fans are going: "WTF?".
Yes, definitely. Having said that, it is pretty fun watching Ndamukong Suh clips because he is just amazing.
is that the Lions didn't blow the pick. After all, there were plenty of good WR's on the board!
Actually another reason it is really stupid is that Nebraska technically is not in the Big Ten now, since they join on July 1st. So... yeah, BTN is dumb. But I think we knew that
...thing was silly but it's to be expected. Nebraska's integration into the B1G has officially started with this list.
But enough about that. Woodley #5 and Graham #3? Anyone else besides me think that Woodley deserved to be up around #2 (with Suh included) and Graham at #3?
U-M, Purdue, PSU and OSU had 2 each on the list. Wisconsin and Nebraska had 1 each.
I was surprised to see that too. Always thought the concensus was Woodley over Graham.
Since Graham graduated, I've thought he was the better of the two. He didn't have any help around him (sophomore MIke Martin is about as close as he gets to help). Woodley played on some really talented defenses, but he wasn't doubled nearly every single play. Graham was keyed on in every team's gameplan and he still did what he wanted.
On the plus side, at least they were fair this time. On some of the other 10 best, they made sure to give each school one and only one place (campus traditions, best fans, etc.). It gives them some credibility to give some schools multiple awardees.
As far as Woodley v. Graham goes, I feel that the legend of Woodley has outstripped the reality. Graham was at least as good and did it on a team where he was the only weapon so had to deal with more attention. So, I would keep Graham before Woodley, but would probably put them back to back.
was also recently listed by BTN as the #1 player currently on the LPGA, The current #1 athlete in qualification rounds of the Olympic Biathlon Committee, The all-time #1 author of children's fiction in the United Kingdom, and The Prettiest Smile of the Joliet High School Class of 2011. Srsly.
I think Fairley should be #1 DL in the Big 10 because he played against Northwestern in the 2010 Outback Bowl.
Suh is No. 2.
I would go with Warren Sapp at #3 because he played in the NFL against Brian Griese, Drew Brees, Tom Brady and other Big 10 qbs. So he should be on the list too.
We need some football to start. Soon.
You guys are getting worked up over...NOTHING.
But that's par for the course, of course.
Eric Crouch was in the top 2, horseshit.
I think the best comparison would be claiming that Michael Irvin was the best Big East wide receiver of the 1990s.
Big Ten Network completely oblivious, news at 11.
So, did two Big Ten teams share the 1997 title? How far back does Nebraska's retroactive integration go?
Not sure about Kerrigan being #2 on that list.
In terms of player, taking out which conference they're playing in.... I don't know, who was a better DL than Suh this decade? Nationally.