There are Potentially Four Sleeping Giants in the Big 10

[Ripcord280]

Hi, fellow Hawk fans. Long-time lurker and refugee from the Scout site, which seems to have declined in the last year or so. I just thought I would write my first post to point out something that should be almost a priori to us all

None of these teams have much football tradition of late, but Illinois, Indiana, Maryland and Rutgers are all four possibly on the edge of being really good, for two different reasons. In the case of Illinois, Maryland, and Rutgers, they are all located in high population areas, and it seems evident to me that it is just a matter of time before the right circumstances (i.e., the right coach) occur and is able to lock down the respective borders and make them very, very competitive. It goes without saying that it would hurt our status because we all know where a lot of our recruits come from. Probably no one poaches Illinois better than Iowa does, but that could change soon.

In the case of Indiana, it is not a matter of "locking down the borders," as Indiana is not that populous of a state, but they have a high-octane offense consistently; however, their shortfall is obvious: Defense, or the lack thereof. All it would take to make Indiana competitive would be the right defenseive coordinator, it seems to me.

In short, I see the Big 10 as already having more and more parity, and in the next couple years there will be even more balance. I just do not even see the top teams, Michigan, Ohio State, et al., having sterling undefeated records too often.

So, it is even more imperative that we do well in 2016 and keep that recruiting class intact.

 

[icwesthawk]

Illinois and Indiana are perpetual losers. They have had everything they could want in the past and continue to screw it up. Rutgers is unknown. They have been mostly irrelevant for a long time but, like most things that could change. MD is a potential giant. They get the right coach in there and they could change the landscape of BIG football. That's what I see.

 

[Pepperman]

I will agree on Illinois (Zook had me scared for about 1 season). That's a sleeping giant if they ever get the right people running the program and start to build on some success.

Rutgers - man, I don't know. Population for sure, plenty of recruits. But out east (and I've lived there) the culture is not that focused on college football. Those that do focus on college in New Jersey are pretty much Penn State fans. Plus, there is no tradition at all...

Indiana - definitely has offense figured out, I'll give you that. But this is a program that ebbs and flows, and mostly ebbs.

Maryland - not sure I have much of an opinion. Probably similar to Rutgers in that there's just not much tradition. Most of the recruits are thinking Penn State, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, etc.

 

[HoustonHawkeye]

I will agree on Illinois (Zook had me scared for about 1 season). That's a sleeping giant if they ever get the right people running the program and start to build on some success.

Rutgers - man, I don't know. Population for sure, plenty of recruits. But out east (and I've lived there) the culture is not that focused on college football. Those that do focus on college in New Jersey are pretty much Penn State fans. Plus, there is no tradition at all...

Indiana - definitely has offense figured out, I'll give you that. But this is a program that ebbs and flows, and mostly ebbs.

Maryland - not sure I have much of an opinion. Probably similar to Rutgers in that there's just not much tradition. Most of the recruits are thinking Penn State, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, etc.

Thing to keep in the back of your mind is this: Nebraska had the weight lifting facilities/reputation in their former hay day. Iowa, WI, MSU have upped their programs. Iowa has the mojo going right now, especially with our upgraded facilities. But with the coming TV packages, any of these schools could catch up to us in facilities and have the latest/greatest shiny new toy to show recruits. It Could Happen...and they have more potential recruits in their own back yard.

 

[sadiehawkins]

Not to be a downer but you sound like trump. A sleeping giant? What program are you comparing these to. What is a giant in football Alabama, Ohio state, Texas, Michigan, Oklahoma, USC and Florida State. Probably a few others. Out of your list of 4 I see Maryland being the only one making any noise because of the UA money. Similar to Oregon. Any of them can have a run but will never be sustainable. JMHO

 

[HawkAssassin]

It takes 100% commitment from all parties to truly become great. You need facilities, coaches, administration, all that stuff. 3 of the 4 schools you list are self-proclaimed basketball schools. These schools would probably like to be good at football, but they don't put every dime they have into it like SEC schools do.

Maryland is the most likely team to break out if I had to guess because of Under Armour, but their division is tough.

 

[ichawk24]

"Sleeping giant" is a huge overstatement.

Four teams that could be pretty good some day? I guess.

 

[QChawks]

"Sleeping giant" is a huge overstatement.

Four teams that could be pretty good some day? I guess.

this, I certainly do not envision a playoff berth for any of thee four any time soon. heck, yet alone a new years day bowl game.

 

[Slappy Pappy]

"Consistently bowl eligible" would be a huge accomplishment for the lot of them.

 

[eyeohuh]

Maryland is recruiting well under their new coach. They are my pick out of the 4 to improve but they are in the East. Winning a division with UM, MSU, PSU, and OSU is asking a lot. Illinois plays in the west and has a ton of in-state talent so they should be able to get things rolling there but I doubt we will see that for a while

 

[DarkThunder#61]

Not to be a downer but you sound like trump. A sleeping giant? What program are you comparing these to. What is a giant in football Alabama, Ohio state, Texas, Michigan, Oklahoma, USC and Florida State. Probably a few others. Out of your list of 4 I see Maryland being the only one making any noise because of the UA money. Similar to Oregon. Any of them can have a run but will never be sustainable. JMHO

I'd throw Illinois in there too as a second to Maryland just because they have a lot of markets to draw from if they could ever figure out a way to win any of those battles.....which they're winning fewer and fewer of each year.

You have Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Louis, heck even Michigan and Indiana kids to pull from with the right recruiter and they barely get any of that. Enough to get them by and stay one step out of the doldrums for the most part.

 

[MepoDawg#]

There are a few B1G schools almost as close to Chicago as University of Illinois is. They'll a tough time keeping talent in-state even if they're winning.

 

[Pepperman]

I totally forgot about the Under Armor money at Maryland. That's a very good point but again they have to do it from every angle - facilities, stadium, coaching, uniforms like Oregon, etc. with money, you have the ability to do most of those in time.

 

[Packer54]

Sleeper programs = potentially
Sleeping Giants = not real likely

If I had to pick one it would be Illinois. The basics should be there but can the right guy come in and move the needle....then stay

Let's face it a big part of Iowas success has been a coach that builds a winner and then hangs out. I am thrilled we have had two coaches that were not looking for the next job. Yes I have been pissed at them at times but all told the results are real good.

If LS has two good years at Illinois and a bigger name or nfl comes calling do you think he stays? We may or may not see. The college game has changed and with it the aspirations of coaches. Many of us believe if Iowa State begins to take a positive turn on the field their coach will be gone. They (ISU) have to figure that out long term if they ever really want to become a stable program.

I DO believe this....the next Iowa hire will be the most important for a long time and I hope all of us Hawk fans can "suffer" through another 15 to 20 year tenure.

But today I am in no hurry. I am ready for Saturday. I am drenched in enthusiasm. I believe this year because through 12 games and almost 4 quarters last year I saw it for myself. I may be misguided but I won't be confused. Love the Hawks and really believe, vs so many other programs, how fortunate we are.

Now.....lets get back to bitching about something. (Jk)

Go Hawks!

 

[Obviously Oblivious]

OP is wrong. We're reminded here almost daily by our friends from Nebraska that they are the only true sleeping giant. It's just that they're really, really sleepy. So sorry OP.

 

[mikesright]

Its hard to wake up when a program is sleeping, just ask Purdue (went to sleep) or us (20 years of non winning football in 60s and 70s)

 

[hawkeyeguy69]

Maryland has the UA cash. Once they get rolling, they will be able to sustain it for many a moon. They just need to get there....

Rutgers has committed themselves to spending the money and building a program. That will take a while. They have a long ways to go. It will take the right coach tho. If they ever get there, they have a great population base to easily run a top program. That said it might not be a couple decades.

Indiana and Illinois? Nah

 

[Hawk-A-Doodle-Doo]

Minnesota is the poster child for sleeping giant in the sense of a program that was once not merely nationally competitive and relevant, but truly nationally elite.

Despite this history as well as the sheer size of the university, the relative advantages of being in a major metro area, a new stadium, new ancillary facilities coming soon, etc....its slumber has been downright Van Winkle-like. It has not won a share of the Big Ten since the late 60s and has not participated in any of what we consider the major bowl games since KENNEDY was in the White House. Yet before that, the Gophers won multiple national championships.

THAT, folks, is the very definition of a sleeping giant.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

Sleeping Giants? No.

Agree, though, that maryland seems to have assets that give it a good shot to move up and challenge tosu, scUM, and msu.
illanoy should be better, they just can't seem to take advantage of their nearby talent pool of recruits. Having less than stellar coaching hires hasn't helped them any.
Hard to see rutgers breaking through.
indiana has been a consistent bottom dweller, don't see them moving into the upper echelons.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

Illinois and Indiana are perpetual losers. They have had everything they could want in the past and continue to screw it up. Rutgers is unknown. They have been mostly irrelevant for a long time but, like most things that could change. MD is a potential giant. They get the right coach in there and they could change the landscape of BIG football. That's what I see.

I mostly believe that the assertion of the OP is mostly spot-on. Rutgers had a history of being a perennial doormat ... however, with the right coach, Schiano, he helped to make their program respectable.

However, a counter-argument could be made that another aspect that aided Schiano's endeavors at Rutgers was the they were playing in the Big East for that period ... and the Big East was a fairly weak conference. Thus, was Rutgers success "real" or was it "fool's gold?"

Another component that has to be present is NOT ONLY quality coaches ... but it also helps to have a competent athletic department. The athletic department helps the coaches to feel at home ... and that can impact their performance. Furthermore, the athletic department provides the foundations, not only financially ... but also in terms of establishing the "athletic brand" of the institution.

As for sleeping "giant" status ... I think that Maryland has the greatest potential of those listed. Especially now considering that Under-Armor is trying to make that program ... "Under-Armor U" ... just like Oregon is viewed as "Nike U." Furthermore, the talent bed in the Maryland area is enormous. With Va Tech now being Beamer-less ... Maryland has the potential of making even greater in-roads in recruiting Virginia too.

As for Illinois ... they have a shot. However, Illinois is a state that is really hard to "lock down" in terms of recruiting. Notre Dame will always hold pretty good sway in the greater Chicago area. Wisconsin and Iowa have always had a pretty decent historical footprint within the state too. As for the St. Louis area (even focusing on the Illinois side) ... with Missouri now being in the SEC ... it seems like it's not as easy as it once was to get talent out of that area.

Ultimately, coaching, the development of talent, and the consistency is recruiting talent that fits the identity of your program ... if you can do that, you have a shot of having a good and consistent program.