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2 unusual facts about Big Ten Conference


Big Ten Championship

The title Big Ten Championship may refer to several sporting events that are sponsored by the Big Ten Conference.

Big Ten Tournament

Big Ten Tournament can refer to any Big Ten Conference sport that has a tournament.


1950 Michigan Wolverines football team

The 1950 Michigan Wolverines football team, coached by Bennie Oosterbaan, won the Big Ten Conference championship with a record of 6–3–1 (4–1–1 in conference) and defeated the California Bears in the 1951 Rose Bowl, 14–6.

1964 Michigan Wolverines football team

Despite throwing three interceptions, Iowa quarterback Gary Snook completed 13 passes and broke the Big Ten Conference record for the most pass completions in a season.

1985 Rose Bowl

The 1985 Rose Bowl Game was a postseason college football bowl game between the USC Trojans of the Pacific-10 Conference and Ohio State Buckeyes of the Big Ten Conference, held on New Year’s Day in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

1997 Rose Bowl

The 1997 Rose Bowl Game was a postseason college football bowl game between the Arizona State Sun Devils of the Pacific-10 Conference and the Ohio State Buckeyes of the Big Ten Conference, held on New Year’s Day in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

2005 Alamo Bowl

The Nebraska Cornhuskers, second place finishers in the Big 12 Conference's North Division, defeated the Michigan Wolverines, third placed finishers in the Big Ten Conference.

2005–06 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball team

The team's head coach, Dan Monson, was in his seventh season with the Gophers and the team played their home games at Williams Arena in Minneapolis, Minnesota and are members of the Big Ten Conference.

2007 Insight Bowl

The opponents were the Indiana Hoosiers of the Big Ten Conference and the Oklahoma State Cowboys of the Big 12 Conference.

2010 Insight Bowl

It featured the Missouri Tigers from the Big 12 Conference versus the Iowa Hawkeyes from the Big Ten Conference.

Andy Cannavino

He became one of the leading tacklers in Michigan history, played in the 1981 Rose Bowl and was the only unanimous selection as a first-team player on the 1980 Associated Press All-Big Ten football team.

Ben Hesen

At the BIG TEN Championships at the University of Michigan, Ben took the 100 backstroke title in a time of 45.92, breaking the Canham Natatorium record of 46.48 set by Michael Phelps in 2005.

Bert Husting

A two-sport star, Husting was a fullback in the same University of Wisconsin–Madison football team that included legendary Pat O'Dea, and later pitched his baseball team to the 1898 Western Conference championship.

Big Monday

Since debuting on January 5, 1987, it has broadcast games from numerous conferences, including: the Big East, which had been a Big Monday staple from 1987 until 2013; the Big Ten (1987–1991); the Big Eight (1992–1996); the Big 12 (1997–present); and either the Mountain West or the WAC.

Bill Putich

Putich proved Mayhew correct in leading the 1950 team to a 9–3 win over Ohio State in the famed Snow Bowl game, a Big Ten Conference championship, and a 14–6 win over the University California in the 1951 Rose Bowl.

Dan Wilkinson

Lining up next to Alonzo Spellman during his sophomore year, Wilkinson earned All-Big Ten honors after he had 46 tackles, 10.5 tackles-for-loss, and 6.5 sacks.

Dennis Fitzgerald

Fitgerald also competed as a wrestler, winning Big Ten Conference championships in 1960 and 1961 and winning a gold medal representing the United States as the 1963 Pan American Games in São Paulo, Brazil.

ESPN College Football Saturday Primetime

Since debuting in 1984, it has broadcast games from numerous conferences including the SEC, ACC, Big Ten and the Big East.

Frank Harrigan

He was the leading scorer on the 1925–26 and 1926-27 teams that won consecutive Big Ten Conference championships.

As a sophomore, he was the leading scorer on the 1925–26 basketball team that finished in a tie for the Big Ten Conference basketball championship.

Gloria Soluk

During the 1981–1982 season, the team was led by All-American Diane Dietz, who broke the Big Ten Conference scoring record.

Guy Murdock

He was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten Conference center in both 1969 and 1970 and was a co-captain of the 1971 Michigan Wolverines football team.

Harry Newman

In 1932, Newman was a unanimous first-team All-American, and the recipient of the Douglas Fairbanks Trophy as Outstanding College Player of the Year (predecessor of the Heisman Trophy), and the Helms Athletic Foundation Player of the Year Award, the Chicago Tribune Silver Football trophy as the Most Valuable Player in the Big Ten Conference.

Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball

The Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team represents the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, as a member of the Big Ten Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Jon Heacock

The next two seasons, he was a graduate assistant on Bo Schembechler's staff at the University of Michigan, where he worked with both the defensive backs and special teams during a stretch in which Michigan won two Big Ten Conference titles and the 1989 Rose Bowl.

Lorenzo Clemons

From 1988-1994, Clemons was a football referee in the Big Ten Conference and he worked the 1991 Citrus Bowl and also the 1991 Liberty Bowl.

Paul Girgash

He started 36 consecutive games at inside linebacker for Michigan from 1980 to 1982, played in the 1981 and 1983 Rose Bowls, and was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten player by both the Associated Press and the United Press International in 1982.

Rick Volk

Volk played college football for the University of Michigan from 1964 to 1966 and was a member of the 1964 team that won the Big Ten Conference championship and defeated Oregon State in the 1965 Rose Bowl.

Samuel Woodworth

The Old Oaken Bucket trophy has been awarded every year since 1925 to the winner of the Big Ten Conference college football game between Purdue University and Indiana University.

Shelbyville, Indiana

William Garrett, Indiana Mr. Basketball of 1947 and first African-American basketball player in the Big Ten Conference

WSUM

WSUM has since covered every Wisconsin football road Big Ten game, select away men's basketball games, The Rose Bowl, The Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, Women's Hockey Frozen Four, WCHA Final Five, and The 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament.

Zeke the Wonder Dog

In 1978, head coach Darryl Rogers was quoted as saying Zeke was the best receiver in the Big Ten.


see also

1969 Big Ten Conference football season

None of the Big Ten Conference teams were in action during the first week of the 1969 college football season.

The 1969 Big Ten Conference football season took place during the 1969 college football season.

2002–03 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team

LaVell Blanchard won the Big Ten Conference statistical championship with a 43.3% three-point field goal percentage in conference games.

Ralph W. Aigler

Aigler's contributions included leading Michigan back into the Big Ten Conference, leading the effort to construct Michigan Stadium, Yost Fieldhouse and other facilities, negotiating the Big Ten's exclusive contract with the Rose Bowl starting in 1946, hiring Fritz Crisler as football coach and athletic director, and acting as a spokesman for the University and Big Ten for many years on NCAA rules and eligibility issues.

Walt Downing

As a junior, Downing was the starting center in all 12 games played by the 1976 Michigan team that won the Big Ten Conference championship, advanced to the 1977 Rose Bowl, and finished the season ranked No. 3 in both the AP and UPI Polls.

Whitey Wistert

He was also Big Ten Conference MVP in baseball in college and later played for Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds.

Wildermuth Intramural Center

The dedication game was a sold-out gala that included Indiana Governor-elect Harry Leslie and Big Ten Conference Commissioner John Griffith.