Day 2 of Big Ten Media Days commenced in Chicago Tuesday morning, where the big storyline was if James Franklin accused Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan, and Notre Dame of negative recruiting. (Franklin denies this, while Reading Eagle reporter Richard Scarcella doubled down on his reporting.)
Illinois' Lovie Smith, Indiana's Kevin Wilson, Michigan State's Mark Dantonio, Wisconsin's Paul Chryst, Maryland's D.J. Durkin, Iowa's Kirk Ferentz and Ohio State's Urban Meyer all addressed the media from the podium in Chicago.
A full recap of Day 1's interviews can be found over here.
Now, without further ado, the tweets and full interview videos.
LOVIE SMITH, ILLINOIS
Last year, then-Illinois head coach Tim Beckman delivered a bizarre, rambling soliloquy about the Illini's usage of "Oskee."
This year, 11-year NFL veteran head coach Lovie Smith took the podium as the frontman of the Fighting Illini. That's a talent gap the Grand Canyon couldn't accommodate.
Smith kept it real with reporters—the Illinois won't compete for a Big Ten title this year. Though, he may need to work on his slogans.
Hi Lovie, Tim Smith, Columbus Dispatch.
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) July 26, 2016
[audience erupts] pic.twitter.com/fJqysInDak
New ILL coach Lovie Smith on B1G race-"Were not there yet, but in time we would like to be a part of that conversation.
— Tim May (@TIM_MAYsports) July 26, 2016
Lovie Smith on biggest differences between college & NFL: Recruiting. "How soon recruiting starts. We've embraced it. It's been nonstop."
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) July 26, 2016
#B1GMediaDay New Illinois coach and former Bears coach Lovie Smith: "We're Chicago's team, too."
— Jon Spencer (@jspencermnj) July 26, 2016
"We're Chicago's team also" is not the best slogan that Lovie Smith could have come up with.
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) July 26, 2016
KEVIN WILSON, INDIANA
Indiana coach Kevin Wilson feels this will be his best team in his six years in Bloomington. He took to the podium in Chicago and launched into a filibuster in which he basically listed off his entire roster. It was an impressive performance of oratory stamina.
Pretty impressive 1,400 words from IU's Kevin Wilson without taking a breath.
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) July 26, 2016
I dont know much of anything, but I know that Kevin Wilson has had more caffeine this morning than I did.
— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) July 26, 2016
Kevin Wilson keeps calling the East Division his "bracket." I like it: Makes it feel like the College Football Playoff has already started.
— Austin Ward (@AWardESPN) July 26, 2016
Kevin Wilson: "Make sure you keep the TV on, because it's going to be a lot of fun when the Hoosiers play."
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) July 26, 2016
YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.
seriously kevin wilson names more players in press conferences than any coach i've ever seen
— CRIMSON QUARRY (@crimsonquarry) July 26, 2016
Kevin Wilson, Indiana: "This is by far the deepest our team has been" and Hoosiers never lacking for offense under him.
— Tim May (@TIM_MAYsports) July 26, 2016
MARK DANTONIO, MICHIGAN STATE
Reigning Big Ten champion Mark Dantonio fondly remembered deceased former punter Mike Sadler before denying allegations he negatively recruited against Penn State. He also refused to name an heir to new Oakland Raiders quarterback Connor Cook.
He did this without ever breaking from his superb Grumpy Cat expression.
Mark Dantonio asked about negative recruiting allegations from #PennState: "That's not our MO and that's not how we do business."
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) July 26, 2016
That game sort of got out of hand. My wife tells me, Get over it, you lost. Dantonio on CFP game against Alabama.
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) July 26, 2016
Dantonio smart to keep the QB competition open, but I'd be stunned if it isn't Tyler O'Connor after last spring.
— Graham Couch (@Graham_Couch) July 26, 2016
The many faces of Mark Dantonio pic.twitter.com/xvsetq3SVp
— Land Of 10 (@landof10) July 26, 2016
PAUL CHRYST, WISCONSIN
The echoes of history will not remember Paul Chryst's 2016 Big Ten Media Days opening address. But that's okay! Public speaking is difficult, and Wisconsin pays him to wow reporters with his team's play, not his speaking.
The big news to come out of his presser is that Joe Stave, who came to Madison in ~1968, finally graduated.
Paul Chryst: I think theres a lot of people who thought Joel [Stave] was at Wisconsin forever.
— Tim Shoemaker (@TimShoemaker) July 26, 2016
Honestly thought he was coming back again
Meanwhile, back inside, Paul Chryst is probably the least compelling speaker to ever walk the earth
— Ryan Ginn (@RyanGinnBSB) July 26, 2016
Wisconsin's Paul Chryst not the most dynamic speaker of the day, but one of his players on a plane told me: "Love him, love him, love him."
— John U. Bacon (@Johnubacon) July 26, 2016
"I think that gets lost sometimes. We hope to [make an] impact but we as coaches get impacted by our student athletes, too. - Paul Chryst
— Hail Varsity (@HailVarsity) July 26, 2016
D.J. Durkin, MARYLAND
D.J. Durkin attacked his first Big Ten Media Days presser with an enthusiasm previously unknown to mankind. Terrapin cornerback and return specialist Will Likely will likely play in all three facets of the game, according to Durkin, who probably spent the morning slugging coffee with Indiana's Kevin Wilson.
DJ Durkin, Maryland coach and adult Bart Simpson, at the podium
— Bill Landis (@BillLandis25) July 26, 2016
Maryland's D.J. Durkin is by far the most excited I've ever seen a head coach be for a media day.
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) July 26, 2016
DJ Durkin is the oldest 38-year-old Ive ever seen.
— Eric Seger (@EricSeger33) July 26, 2016
Maryland coach D.J. Durkin: "Its nice to talk about football as opposed to satellite camps.
— Tim Shoemaker (@TimShoemaker) July 26, 2016
SHOT AT HARBAUGH?!?!?!
DJ Durkin: Pro with the media. Thanks them in intro, answers questions by saying reporter's name, "That's a great question."
— Jim Weber (@JimMWeber) July 26, 2016
KIRK FERENTZ, IOWA
Kirk Ferentz, contrary to my pre-conference speculation, did not take to the podium in a suit of stitched $100 bills while holding chalice of Hawkeye fans' tears.
He did, however, handle the conference in typical Ferentz fashion, even going as far to call his punting and kicking situation "significant."
Up next is four-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, Kirk Ferentz....
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) July 26, 2016
[Reminder: An Ohio State coach hasn't won that award since 1979.]
Weve reached peak #B1G.
— Tim Shoemaker (@TimShoemaker) July 26, 2016
Ferentz: As significant as anything is our punting and kicking situation."
Kirk Ferentz just dropped a "three yards and a cloud of turf" here at Big Ten media day. #turfcloud
— Brian Hamilton (@BrianHamiltonSI) July 26, 2016
From the things I never thought Id hear department: Kirk Ferentz just admitted to having seen Spotlight
— Luke Zimmermann (@lukezim) July 26, 2016
"Personally, I think it's great. We really enjoy it." Kirk Ferentz on playing Nebraska on Friday instead of Saturday.
— Pat Harty (@PatHarty) July 26, 2016
That happens every single year at #B1GMediaDay to Kirk Ferentz at the podium. combo of answers too short/not enough questions
— Paul M. Banks (@PaulMBanks) July 26, 2016
URBAN MEYER, OHIO STATE
A full recap of Urban Meyer's presser can be found over here.
Meyer denied allegations he negatively recruits against Penn State, tabbed redshirt freshman Mike Weber as his starting running back entering fall camp, and said true freshman Michael Jordan would "probably" be in the starting lineup when Ohio State kicks off its season Sept. 3rd against Bowling Green.
Urban Meyer asked abt #PennState's negative allegations: Absolutely not.That's the 1st I've heard that. I will address that w Coach Franklin
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) July 26, 2016
Urban Meyer on taking young team to Oklahoma early in 2016: I dont really have a choiceI wouldnt say I like it. pic.twitter.com/23S4WKvpCb
— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) July 26, 2016
Meyer on Noah Brown: He will be a starter.
— Bill Rabinowitz (@brdispatch) July 26, 2016
There's no chance Bri'onte will come back. Urban Meyer, closing the book on that chapter.
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) July 26, 2016
Meyer: "Michael Jordan, a true freshman, is probably going to be in the starting lineup. Jordan started at guard all spring.
— Tim Shoemaker (@TimShoemaker) July 26, 2016