The Wiz of Odds

Massachusetts Falls Flat to Indiana in Home I-A Debut

Everything appeared to be in place for Massachusetts before Saturday's game against Indiana at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. There was an Air Force C5 Galaxy flyover from an all-Minuteman crew out of nearby Westover Air Reserve Base. Comedian Bill Cosby, who has a doctoral degree in education from UMass, participated in the ceremonial coin toss. Former players greeted the current team as they ran onto the field.

Then they kicked it off and it was clear the Minutemen, who were playing their first "home" game as a member of Division I-A, were overmatched. UMass lost, 45-6, and the margin could have been worse had Indiana quarterback Tre Roberson not been lost in the second quarter because of a season-ending broken left leg.

As for the Minutemen's new home field — Gillette Stadium — it's approximately 100 miles from the Amherst campus. Moving up to college football's big-time level is a calculated risk for UMass, and there are plenty of critics.

The announced crowd was 16,304, including Wiz correspondent Greg Laughlin, who sent along several photos from Saturday afternoon's festivities. There are more photos after the jump and can view Greg's full gallery by clicking here.

Indiana Coach Wilson in Radio Spat With Trudeau

Indiana coach Kevin Wilson's interview Thursday on WNDE-1260 in Indianapolis got off to a bad start. Then it got ugly.

Wilson, who has yet to coach his first game in Bloomington, appeared on the Zakk and Jack Show, hosted by Dominic Zaccagnini and former Illinois and Indianapolis Colt quarterback Jack Trudeau. Listen to the interview by clicking here.

Trudeau clowned before introducing Wilson, saying he didn't hear the Indiana fight song much when he played at Illinois because, "I don't remember them even scoring on us."

That set Wilson off.

"I remember putting 61 up on the Illini a few years back when I was at Northwestern and they kind of stunk it up, too. But anyway, I've got some things to do guys, what do you guys need?" he asked.

Trudeau jumped in and said he didn't care for Wilson's attitude and that his comment about the fight song was merely a joke.

Wilson didn't back down.

UI vs. IU: Hawkeyes Hang On and Beat Hoosiers

It was party time Saturday morning in Bloomington, where the hometown Indiana Hoosiers played host to the Iowa Hawkeyes in a Big Ten game. Wiz correspondent Greg Laughlin was in attendace for the Hawkeyes' 18-13 victory, and you can view his gallery by clicking here.

A Bad Weekend for Big Ten Officials

Here is one of the controversial plays from Saturday's Indiana-Iowa game. Receiver Terrance Turner scores a touchdown that would have given the Hoosiers a 28-14 lead, but the score is nullified by the replay official. 

The reversal helped the Hawkeyes rally for a 42-24 victory, and although Indiana coach Bill Lynch didn't raise a stink afterward, others were doing it for him.

Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star wondered if fans should direct their anger "at an inept group of officials who took 14 IU points off the board with bogus calls on obvious touchdown passes?"

He added: "If IU fans thought they got pick-pocketed at Michigan, this felt more like the Brinks robbery."

Saturday in Iowa City

Yet another cool time-lapse video, this one from Iowa's Kinnick Stadium, shot during Saturday's game between the Hawkeyes and Indiana. Thanks to Marc Morehouse of the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

Game of the Weak

Mike Hlas is an award-winning columnist with the Cedar Rapids Gazette and force behind The Hlog. Each week, he will break down the biggest mismatch in college football. Considering the increasing number of uncompetitive games, Mike's task is more challenging than keeping the neighbor kids from taking the helium balloon for a spin.

Ron Zook pumped life into a dormant Illinois program. Then the air immediately seeped out of the tires, and things are right back where Zook found them.

The Fighting Illini were more like the Comatose Illini before Zook arrived and in his first two years in Champaign-Urbana.

Illinois was 1-11 in 2003 and 3-8 in 2004. Enter Zook, who somehow transformed Florida from a national power to a face in the SEC crowd.

Zook's first two Illini teams were 2-9 and 2-10, but the man recruited hither and yon to bring big-time talent to the eastern Illinois prairie. Everything came together nicely in 2007 with a dynamic sophomore quarterback named Isaiah "Juice" Williams.

Illinois won nine games and reached the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1983. Then the Illini played a team that really knows how to recruit. USC brutalized them, 49-17.

Juice is still in Champaign (Isn't that called a mimosa?), but the winning is long gone. Illinois went 5-7 last year, and things have only gotten worse.

The Illini are 1-4 this season, and 0-3 in the Big Ten. They got systematically destroyed by Missouri, Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan State.

But now Zook (career-record 42-48) faces a foe on his team's level. Illinois visits Indiana in the Game of the Weak.