Big Ten Football

Having lost five consecutive games to Ohio State as Michigan head coach, Jim Harbaugh made a bold statement about his team on Thursday. 

Speaking to reporters, Harbaugh said that the Wolverines are going to beat Ohio State and win the Big Ten "or die trying."

Harbaugh didn't specify that the Wolverines had to beat Ohio State this year, so he did buy himself and his program some wiggle room with his statement. 

Regardless, it's hard to call Michigan vs. Ohio State a true rivalry at the moment. Rivalries, by definition, suggest a competitive battle between two equal opponents. 

The Buckeyes have been vastly superior to Michigan on the football field for years. They have won eight straight head-to-head matchups dating back to 2012. The average margin of victory during this streak is 14.3 points. 

Since Harbaugh took over as head coach of the Wolverines prior to the 2015 season, Michigan has been outscored 221-126 against Ohio State. The double-overtime game in 2016 is the only one that has been decided by fewer than 11 points (30-27). 

Michigan hasn't won a Big Ten championship since the 2004 season when Lloyd Carr was still head coach. The program has never played in the conference title game since its inception in 2011. 

Harbaugh has three 10-win seasons and a 49-22 overall record with the Wolverines, but he's been unable to get them over the hill against Ohio State to this point.    

Michigan Athletics' official merchandise retailer, The M Den, is now selling licensed jerseys with the names of current Wolverines football players thanks to the NCAA's name, image and likeness policy. 

On Friday afternoon, the store's website announced options to place the names of current team members on the official Jordan Brand jerseys it sells. That includes quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy and Cade McNamara, wideout Ronnie Bell, tailback Hassan Haskins and long-snapper William Wagner among the selections.  

Per The Action Network's Darren Rovell:

So far, 50 players on this year’s roster have signed deals and are available for order. [The M Den owner Scott] Hirth said The M Den was assisted by Valiant Management, a division of the Valiant brand, a line that was offered exclusively at The M Den. When name, image and likeness began, owners Jared and John Wangler, the latter of whom a quarterback at Michigan from 1976-80, sprung into action and helped The M Den aggregate the approval of players for licensing.

Each jersey has to be personalized in a custom manner by either an online or in store order, meaning there won’t be jerseys of a particular player hanging on the rack. These jerseys will cost $120 for names and numbers to be ironed on and $180 for them to be sewn.

Hirth told Rovell players will be compensated with the same percentage multiplied by how many jerseys are sold and noted each sale will net players at least $10 and is likely to produce a higher revenue flow for the players than the store itself. 

“We wanted to do the best that we could for these players,” Hirth said. “Yes, we are a for-profit business, but we are partners with the school.”

It's unclear if similar deals will be struck with the men's basketball team or the women's sports teams at the university. 

Former University of Illinois defensive end Bobby Roundtree has died at the age of 23.

The Illini football program announced the news on Friday:

Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman released a statement following Roundtree's death, per The Athletic:

All of us with Illinois Athletics are shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of Bobby Roundtree. From his first day on campus, Bobby was a leader. His work ethic, competitive fire, and drive for excellence set him apart. Following his tragic accident, those same qualities allowed him to tackle his new challenges with the same vigor and determination that we had seen on the football field. In so doing, he continued to bring light and inspiration to the lives of those around him -- and, in fact, to so many people who had never had the pleasure of meeting him.

In the face of incredible adversity, he demonstrated he was, and always will remain, a true champion. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. We will support them, and our players, coaches, and staff who knew him well, as we struggle to understand this terrible news and, ultimately, look to celebrate the remarkable young leader we have lost.

A diving accident on May 18, 2019, near Largo, Florida, where Roundtree lived, left the lineman paralyzed, per Satchel Price of the Chicago Sun-Times.

In Nov. 2020, Roundtree spoke with Steve Greenberg of the Chicago Sun-Times about his life and goals, including his primary intention to be independent.

“Just living comfortably,” Roundtree said. “Just being able to wake up and get myself dressed, not need help to use the restroom, to brush my own teeth. I would like to be able to feed myself. To just get out and be working, doing stuff I don’t need no assistance for.”

Condolences from many people, including some of Roundtree's former teammates, poured in on Twitter following the news.

Joey Wagner of Illini Inquirer compiled some reactions from Dele Harding, Jamal Woods, Kendrick Green and James Crawford on their beloved teammate.

Roundtree played for Illinois during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, amassing 116 tackles and 11.5 sacks. He was honored with the Dick Butkus Outstanding Defensive Player award in 2018 in addition to earning an All-Big Ten honorable mention.

The Jacksonville Jaguars and head coach Urban Meyer have been subpoenaed in connection to the hiring and quick resignation of former Iowa strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle.

Garry Smits of the Florida Times-Union reported the subpoenas are part of a civil lawsuit filed against Iowa by eight former members of the Hawkeyes football team.

"We respect and will cooperate with the legal process as required," the Jaguars said in a statement. "However, the Jaguars have no information that would be relevant to the lawsuit between student-athletes and the University of Iowa."

According to Smits, the plaintiffs are looking for a separation agreement between Doyle and the team, his resume, and any communication between Doyle and team officials since January 2021, among other documents.

The school reached a separation agreement with Doyle in June 2020 after he faced allegations of mistreating players.

Former defensive back Emmanuel Rugamba alleged Doyle told a player once during a weightlifting session that he'd "put you back on the streets."

Former linebacker Terrance Pryor said Doyle once suggested he should take up rowing before adding, "Oh wait, Black people don't like boats in water do they??"

Iowa commissioned an investigation into the program by the law firm Husch Blackwell. The scope of the investigation expanded beyond Doyle and into the wider culture the coaches had cultivated.

"In sum, the program's rules perpetuated racial or cultural biases and diminished the value of cultural diversity," the firm said. "The program over-monitored players to the point that they experienced heightened anxiety and maintained a culture that allowed a small group of coaches to demean players."

That led many to criticize the Jaguars for bringing Doyle onto the staff. He had never worked in an NFL coaching role, either, which was another point of contention.

The Fritz Pollard Alliance said Meyer's explanation for the hire "reflects the good ol' boy network that is precisely the reason there is such a disparity in employment opportunities for Black coaches."

Doyle resigned in February, one day after accepting the job of director of sports performance.

Meyer also addressed the situation in March and told reporters he "saw the impact of the decision and the distraction it caused."

Former Ohio State star Terrelle Pryor shared a statement Tuesday on behalf of himself and former teammates who want the NCAA to officially recognize the Buckeyes' 2010 season.

"We are calling for our school records and legacy to be restored so that Buckeye Nation can look at us with the same love and fondness that we've always had for them," the statement read.

Ohio State went 12-1 and won the Sugar Bowl in 2010. However, the school vacated its results from that season after the NCAA determined Pryor and four others received improper benefits.

The NCAA suspended Pryor, Dan Herron, DeVier Posey, Mike Adams and Solomon Thomas for five games each for selling championship collectibles and receiving improper benefits from a tattoo parlor.

Head coach Jim Tressel resigned as well.

After the suspensions were issued, Posey's mother, Julie Posey, chastised the NCAA and argued the organization wasn't providing the players with enough financial support relative to the revenue they were helping to generate.

She was making the argument that others had made for years. The outcry eventually led the NCAA to open the door for college athletes to receive compensation for their name, image and likeness.

If NIL legislation had been around in 2010, then the Buckeyes players would've had an easy option available to collect cash.

The shifting of the NIL tides is also leading to questions about whether the NCAA should rewrite history—again—to nullify punishments that were issued in the past.

The plea from the OSU group follows a similar statement from former USC star Reggie Bush about being recognized as the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner again:

Bush forfeited his Heisman in 2010 after allegations of improper benefits.

The Heisman Trust said July 2 it cannot reinstate him as the winner until the NCAA walks back its decision to vacate USC's 2005 season.

Rutgers wide receiver Carnell Davis is recovering after being injured in a fight over the weekend, which was shown in a video posted on social media Monday.

"Our main concern is Carnell's health and well-being," a Rutgers Football spokesperson told Ahmad Austin of The Press of Atlantic City on Tuesday. "He is home with his family and continues to make progress in his recovery. We look forward to getting him back on campus soon."

The incident took place in Margate City, New Jersey. Davis played his first three years of high school football in New Jersey before transferring to Eau Gallie High School in Florida for his final season.

Per TMZ Sports, police have charged 26-year-old Alexander Denafo with simple assault. He is due in court on July 26.

Davis, a 3-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting class, committed to Rutgers in Feb. 2020 and formally enrolled at the school in January, according to 247Sports. He had scholarship offers from Auburn, Baylor, Oregon and Tennessee, among others.

He was a three-sport athlete in high school, also playing basketball as well as track and field.

The person who provided the video of the fight said Davis was in the area playing football with friends when the incident occurred, per Austin.

Further details about the injuries the 6'1'', 175-pound incoming freshman suffered weren't immediately released.

Rutgers, which is also located in New Jersey, is scheduled to kick off its 2021 football season by hosting Temple on Sept. 2.

Twenty-nine new lawsuits have been filed against Ohio State University stemming from alleged sexual abuse by former team doctor Richard Strauss. 

Per Kantele Franko of the Associated Press, the 29 men suing the school include former athletes in baseball, lacrosse, cheerleading, soccer, football, basketball, gymnastics and fencing. 

The plaintiffs also included non-athletes who received treatment at the student health center where Strauss worked until his retirement in 2005. 

According to Franko, one of the new plaintiffs "alleges Strauss abused him during more than 10 medical exams in the 1980s, starting when he was a 16-year-old high school wrestler whose team competed on the Ohio State campus."

Another lawsuit from a former Buckeyes wrestler alleges that Strauss "fondled him during more than 50 medical visits."

After at least 41 new lawsuits were filed earlier this year against Ohio State University related to alleged abuse by Strauss, Sheridan Hendrix of the Columbus Dispatch noted that brought the total number of plaintiffs up to at least 360 plaintiffs in 23 lawsuits alleging abuse by Strauss and a lack of action by the school amid complaints. 

Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz unveiled a hype video Monday, though it wasn't the highlights of the Badgers' play that stood out. Mertz's trademarked logo at the end of the eight-second clip grabbed all the attention.

As the NCAA braces for the impact of name, image and likeness policies that go into effect July 1, Mertz becomes the first college athlete to release a trademarked logo, according to The Athletic.

Mertz is likely just the first of numerous college athletes who will release similar videos, logos and more as name, image and likeness rights are opened to student-athletes.

The move—a likely placeholder for the NCAA while federal legislation is debated—allows college players to earn money off their names, images and likenesses regardless of which state they live in. Multiple states have already passed NIL laws, and those in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Texas, Georgia and Kentucky go into effect July 1 as well.

Similar laws in California, Michigan, Colorado, Tennessee, Maryland and South Carolina will kick in over the next few years.

While the state of Wisconsin hasn't passed an NIL law, its flagship university is working to get ahead of the curve. 

"College athletics is entering a new era and we are excited to embrace the opportunities that will come with changes in student-athletes' name, image and likeness rights," athletic director Chris McIntosh said earlier this month (h/t CBS' Barrett Sallee). "At our core, we exist to prepare student-athletes. Our approach to preparing them for success in the NIL arena will be no different than our commitment to setting them up for success on the field of play, in the classroom and in life beyond their time at UW."

The Badgers have already launched a program titled "YouDub" in partnership with Opendorse to help players get the most of out the NCAA's NIL policies. 

Mertz wasted no time getting himself up and running. By the end of the week, videos like these may become the norm in college sports.   

Carl Nassib's former college coach is standing with the defensive end following the Las Vegas Raider publicly coming out as gay Monday.

In a statement of support for Nassib, Penn State head coach James Franklin praised the one-time Nittany Lion for his strength, courage and generosity as the 28-year-old became the first active player in the NFL to announce he's gay.

Nassib's video announcement included the revelation that the NFL veteran donated $100,000 to The Trevor Project, which provides suicide prevention and crisis intervention for LGBTQ youth across the world.

Franklin announced he and his wife, Fumi, will donate $10,000 to The Trevor Project as well after being inspired by Nassib's actions.

"[Nassib's] generosity and advocacy for The Trevor Project is yet another shining example of his huge heart," Franklin wrote. "He has inspired Fumi and I to donate $10,000 to The Trevor Project as well. Carl's brave announcement will forge a path for others to be true to their authentic self."

Nassib went from a walk-on at PSU in 2011 to a consensus All-American in 2015. The Cleveland Browns drafted him with the No. 65 overall pick in 2016, and he's since gone on to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before joining Las Vegas in 2020.

His announcement has been met with an outpouring of support both across the league and within the NFL offices itself.

In a post on Instagram following up on his video, Nassib explained he was drawn to The Trevor Project after learning about their mission as well as the fact that LGBTQ youth are five times more likely than straight youth to consider suicide. He also cited studies that say it takes one accepting adult to decrease the risk of an LGBTQ youth attempting suicide by 40 percent.

Franklin quickly followed his former player's lead.

Two former Michigan football players joined Matt Schembechler, son of longtime Wolverines head coach and athletic director Bo, in speaking about the sexual abuse they suffered at the hands of former team doctor Robert Anderson.

Dan Kwiatkowski, Gilvanni Johnson and Matt Schembechler said Bo Schembechler ignored repeated warnings about Anderson's behavior, including an assault on Matt Schembechler when he was 10 years old. 

"[Bo] believed no man is more important than the team. Dr. Anderson was part of Bo's team, therefore he was more important than any man," Matt Schembechler said during a Thursday press conference. "I'm coming forward for my own healing and to help prevent people and institutions from exploiting the trust and power given to them in the future."

More than 800 have accused Anderson of sexual abuse, according to a Detroit News investigation by Kim Kozlowski last October. Anderson died in 2008. Matt Schembechler, 62, said Anderson molested him during an exam in 1969. After telling his father what happened, the coach told his son he didn't want to hear anything more and became violent with both Matt and his mother, Millie. 

"That was the first time he closed-fist punched me," Matt told ESPN's Dan Murphy. "It knocked me all the way across the kitchen."

Nearly a decade later, in 1977, Kwiatkowski claims Anderson assaulted him during his first physical. He also told the coach about his experience with the doctor only for Schembechler to allegedly tell the offensive tackle to "toughen up." 

In 1982, Anderson abused Johnson for the first time. After telling his head coach about what happened, nothing changed. Johnson alleged Thursday that Anderson assaulted him 15-20 more times in the following years. 

“He never discussed it with me again,” Johnson said. “Other players told me not to bring it up with Bo again, that Bo might pull my scholarship. I was told not to rock the boat.”

On May 1, the University admitted the sexual assaults occurred, noting the "sad reality" suffered at the hands of a school employee. Bo Schembechler's knowledge of that abuse apparently predated whatever the rest of the University knew. 

“Bo was a good coach, a legendary coach but my remembrance of him at this point is you allowed kids, 17-year-olds, 18-year-olds, to continue to be assaulted when you could’ve did something about it," Johnson said. “Being a great coach doesn’t give you a pathway to let other things happen to kids."