Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, July 17, 2013

In case you missed it, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer turned in Florida for a potential minor violation. Well, Gators coach Will Muschamp took a swipe at the Buckeyes at SEC media days.

?We appreciate our friends from Ohio making sure we follow NCAA rules,? Muschamp said, according to Sports Illustrated reporter Andy Staples, among others. ?They certainly know something about NCAA rules.?

This has to make you laugh, doesn?t it? And, Muschamp even showed good jabbing form by calling Ohio State ?Ohio.? Brady Hoke would be proud.

Now, will Meyer be asked about this at Big Ten media days next week in Chicago? Sure he will! And I can?t wait.

BACKING KIRK FERENTZ: Is Kirk Ferentz one of the five worst coaches in the nation? According to Stewart Mandel of SI, he is.

?The simple answer is I?ll just disagree,? Barta told HawkCentral.com. ?Obviously, people know how I feel about Kirk. But in fairness to the criticism if there is any fairness in that statement, which is crazy, we were 4-8 last year. So for last year, we didn?t get it done.

?But Kirk is a great leader. It?s laughable for him to be considered one of the worst coaches in America. I?ll make an argument that he?s one of the best coaches in America. He?s on my list as one of the best in the country at any time, understanding that 4-8 isn?t acceptable.?

Here is the link to Mandel?s item on Ferentz.

NELSON READY TO ROLL: Looks like Minnesota sophomore QB Philip Nelson is ready to take his game and the Gophers to another level, says Chip Scoggins of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. He better be, as the Legends Division is full of heavy competition as Jerry Kill begins his third season in the Twin Cities.

Nelson had a baptism by fire last season as a true freshman, and showed flashes of promise. But he will be pushed for the job by redshirt freshman Mitch Leidner. Regardless of who is under center, the Gophers need steady play at quarterback, a commodity that has been in short supply in recent seasons.

WIDEOUTS IN HAPPY VALLEY: Penn State?s offense has some nice weapons, especially at receiver. Here is what WR coach Stan Hixon thinks of the progress of his guys.

Of course, it all begins with Allen Robinson, who paced the Big Ten in catches and receiving yards in one of the most surprising individual performances of 2012. Brandon Moseby-Felder also is good. Now, a quarterback must be found. If so, this could be a VERY good offense.

CLOWNEY HIT REVISITED: That massive hit that Jadeveon Clowney laid on Vincent Smith in the Outback Bowl last season lives on. And well it should. Here is Clowney on video discussing it at SEC media days.

RANKING THE HAWKEYES: Hey, Iowa fans: Get caught up on the Cedar Rapid Gazette?s Marc Morehouse?s Top 45 Hawkeye countdown here.

NORTHWESTERN'S BIGGEST COMPETITION? It?s true: Northwestern is going to be really good this year. So, who will be the Wildcats? biggest competition in the Legends Division in 2013? Inside Northwestern debates it.

Me? I think the division is Nebraska?s to lose. And, the fact the Cornhuskers play Northwestern in Lincoln gives Nebraska an edge. But, then again, the Wildcats won the last time they visited Lincoln in 2011.

GILL BELIEVES IN GROCE: Count Illini legend Kendall Gill among those who think that Illinois is right on track under John Groce.

?I texted him after the last game in the NCAA tournament and told him, ?Good job and thanks for putting us back on the map,? said Gill to the Champaign News-Gazette. ?With his enthusiasm, his ability to coach, recruit, we?re going to be right back in the thick of things as one of the top programs in the country.?

I?m gonna agree. Now, if Groce can just lure some of those boffo recruits from Chicago. You know who I?m talking about.

TWEETS THAT MATTER

My take: I?m not gonna disagree. These are grown men.

My take: Touché.

My take: Hmmmm.

My take: Just weird.

My take: Nice hire who will help in recruiting in a key area for Penn State.

About Tom Dienhart BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart is a veteran sports journalist who covers Big Ten football and men's basketball for BTN.com and BTN TV. Find him on Twitter and Facebook, read all of his work at btn.com/tomdienhart, and subscribe to his posts via RSS. Also, send questions to his weekly mailbag using the form below and read all of his previous answers in his reader mailbag section.

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