Midseason Reports
Midseason
All-America Teams
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ACC
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Big 12
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C-USA
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M-West
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Pac 10
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Sun Belt
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WAC
- 2006 CFN
Midseason All-America Teams
Offensive Player of the Midseason
Mike Hart, RB Michigan
Defensive Player of the Midseason
Jonal Saint-Dic, DE
Michigan State
Ten best Big Ten players in the first half of the season
1. Mike Hart, RB Michigan
2. Jonal Saint-Dic, DE Michigan State
3. Rashard Mendenhall, RB Illinois
4. Sean Lee, LB Penn State
5. Javon Ringer, RB Michigan State
6.
Dan Connor, LB
Penn State
7.
P.J. Hill, RB Wisconsin
8. Kellen Lewis, QB Indiana
9.
Shawn Crable,
LB Michigan
10. J Leman, LB Illinois
Biggest
Surprise
– Indiana
Oh sure, Illinois has been a great story so far, but Indiana has
overcome the tragic death of head coach Terry Hoeppner to get
off to a 5-2 start and get within range of a bowl game. The
defensive has been aggressive and regulars at getting into the
backfield, while Kellen Lewis and the offense have been
explosive at times. The overall talent level isn't there, but
the team is good enough to make plenty of noise in the Big Ten
race.
Biggest
Disappointment – Minnesota
Michigan's start would be the biggest disappointment if the team
didn't quickly change things around. Minnesota has been awful,
taking things to another level of bad on defense, while the
offense hasn't been consistent. The running game has slipped
big-time since the Glen Mason era, and now the pressure is on
early in the Tim Brewster era.
The Big Ten
Champion will be ...
Ohio State.
And it probably won't even be close. Penn State appears to be
hitting its stride, and Michigan is right in the thick of
things, but everyone will keep picking each other off, while the
Buckeyes, thanks to their defense, will keep on rolling.
Best Game of
the First Half
Appalachian State 34 ... Michigan 32,
Sept. 1
Appalachian State pulled off one of the
biggest stunners in college football
history after Corey Lynch blocked a
37-yard Jason Gingell field goal attempt
as time ran out. ASU gave the Wolverines
all they could handle in the first half,
as QB Armanti Edwards completed all
seven of his passes with two touchdown
throws to Dexter Jackson, a nine-yard
scoring strike to Hans Batichon, and a
six-yard touchdown run on the way to a
28-17 lead. But Michigan would come back
as Mike Hart took over with touchdown
runs from four and 54 yards out. A
missed two-point conversion, and a
failed field goal attempt, left the door
open, and ASU kicked it in with a
69-yard drive in seven plays finished up
by a 24-yard Julian Rauch field goal.
Michigan got within field goal range on
a 46-yard completion to Mario Manningham,
but Lynch came through with the blocked
kick to pull off the upset
Second Best Game –
Minnesota 41
... Miami University 35 3OT, Sept.
8
Third Best Game –
Northwestern 49 ... Minnesota
48 2OT, Oct. 13
Worst Game of
the First Half
Ohio State 58 ... Northwestern 7, Sept 22
Ohio State ended it before everyone got settled in their
seats. Brian Robiskie caught touchdown passes from 42 and 28 yards
in the first four minutes, and later added a 19-yard score. The
running game got into the act with two short Maurice Wells
touchdowns and a 36-yard Chris Wells dash. Northwestern was held to
120 yards of total offense and only scored on a 99-yard Sam Simmons
kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half.
Coach of the Midseason
–
Bill Lynch, Indiana
In a league full of big name coaches, legends and rising stars,
Lynch is the one unknown of the bunch, has come up with a great
year under trying circumstances. This is Terry Hoeppner's team
he's coaching, and he's building on what was started to get a
great defensive year, by IU standards, and another strong year
from Kellen Lewis, James Hardy and the offense.
Player who'll step up in the second half
–
Chad Henne, QB Michigan
Now he's relatively healthy, he's starting to find a groove, and
Mike Hart is dinged up and can't run as much. It's Henne time.
The senior leader will start working with Mario Manningham more
to get the high-octane passing game going, as the offense will
have to open things up.
Best performance so far - Michigan RB Mike Hart ran 44 times
for 153 yards and a touchdown in the 14-9 win over Penn State.
Top Freshman – Adam Weber, QB Minnesota
With the Gopher running backs inconsistent, and the defense
giving up points by the bucketload, Weber has had to do
everything possible to keep Minnesota's head above water. He
hasn't been able to pull off wins, but the offense is 18th in
the nation cranking out huge yards in shootout after shootout.
Coach who needs to have a big second half – Tim Brewster,
Minnesota
It's not like the Glen Mason era was that bad. 1-6, with the one
win coming in overtime over Miami University, isn't exactly what
the Minnesota brass had in mind when it made the controversial
call to hire the unknown Brewster. Losing to Ohio State is one
thing, but losing to Florida Atlantic, Bowling Green, Indiana
and Northwestern is another.
Player who needs to have a big second half – Wisconsin QB
Tyler Donovan
All of a sudden, the Badger running game has struggled, with
defenses loading everyone up to stop P.J. Hill, and not being
afraid of the young, banged up, receiving corps. Donovan will
likely have to bomb his way to wins, and he'll have to be far
sharper than he was against Penn State if Wisconsin is going to
get in the Big Ten title hunt again.
Best remaining conference game – Ohio State at Penn
State, Oct. 27
Oh sure, as always, Ohio State vs. Michigan will mean
everything, but before then, the real danger for the nation's
number one team will be the trip to Happy Valley in what should
be a killer defensive battle. If Penn State is back on track
after a rough Big Ten start, it might be able to pull off the
win and show it belongs in the hunt for the Rose Bowl.
Team Mid-Season MVPs & Predictions
Illinois – RB Rashard Mendenhall
predicted wins: Michigan, Ball State, at Minnesota,
Northwestern
predicted losses: at Ohio State
predicted record: 9-3
Indiana – QB Kellen Lewis
predicted wins: Ball State, at Northwestern
predicted losses: Penn State, at Wisconsin, Purdue
predicted record: 7-5
Iowa – LB Mike Humpal
predicted wins: Minnesota, Western Michigan
predicted losses: at Purdue, Michigan State, at
Northwestern
predicted record: 5-7
Michigan – RB Mike Hart
predicted wins: Minnesota, at Michigan State
predicted losses: at Illinois, at Wisconsin, Ohio State
predicted record: 7-5
Michigan State – DE Jonal Saint-Dic
predicted wins: at Iowa, at Purdue, Penn State
predicted losses: at Ohio State, Michigan
predicted record: 8-4
Minnesota – S Dominique Barber
predicted wins: North Dakota State
predicted losses: at Michigan, Illinois, at Iowa,
Wisconsin
predicted record: 2-10
Northwestern – QB C.J. Bacher
predicted wins: at Eastern Michigan, Iowa
predicted losses: at Purdue, Indiana, at Illinois
predicted record: 6-6
Ohio State – WR Brian Robiskie
predicted wins: Michigan State, at Penn State, Wisconsin,
Illinois, at Michigan
predicted losses: None
predicted record: 12-0
Penn State – LB Dan Connor & Sean Lee
predicted wins: at Indiana, Purdue, at Temple
predicted losses: Ohio State, at Michigan State
predicted record: 8-4
Purdue – QB Curtis Painter
predicted wins: Iowa, Northwestern, at Indiana
predicted losses: at Penn State, Michigan State
predicted record: 8-4
Wisconsin – RB P.J. Hill
predicted wins: Northern Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, at
Minnesota
predicted losses: at Ohio State
predicted record: 9-3
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