Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, October 22, 2015

So, Brady Hoke says that if he was Michigan coach, he wouldn?t have punted. Go away, Brady. Just, go away.

Meanwhile, this time last week, no one knew a thing about Jalen Watts-Jackson. He was just an anonymous redshirt freshman reserve DB for Michigan State who was on the Spartan punt return team. Jalen Who? Now, a week later, Watts-Jackson is conducting press conferences from a wheel chair following season-ending hip surgery as one of the main characters in one of the kookiest plays in college football annals. Life is funny.

Michigan punter Blake O?Neill also was a main actor in the game-ending theatrics in Ann Arbor. And he has felt a flurry of criticism. At times, it has been down-right ugly.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune has a neat story with ex-Gopher punter Justin Kucek, who can sympathize with O?Neill. Back in 2005, Kucek received death threats after having a punt blocked vs. Wisconsin.

[ MORE: Week 8 scoreboard | Week 8 previews | Polls: Who wins Week 8 games? | Power Rankings | Bowl Projections | Player Rankings | Mailbag | Barrett named Ohio State starter | Watch Mark Dantonio dance | Watch OSU student do jump pass vs. Barrett | Hear your coach's teleconference | Big Ten standings | Big Ten stats | Latest polls ]

***

Last year, Maryland made news by not shaking hands with Penn State players at the opening coin toss. The Terps were subsequently penalized-and went on to win. This Saturday, the teams meet again, this time in Baltimore. And Maryland players plan to ?absolutely? shake hands.

Speaking of Penn State, Nittany Lions coach James Franklin is quieting down chatter about the Pitt-Penn State rivalry. That?s too bad.

Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi took a veiled shot at Penn State?s offense this week. Check it out: When asked Monday at his weekly news conference whether Pitt quarterback Nate Peterman?s accuracy this season has been a product of his play or the staff?s play calling, Narduzzi said it was a combination of both and added a little jab at the end.

?You could have a talented quarterback with a bad play-caller and make him look bad,? Narduzzi said. ?You see that around the country, some closer than others.?

Ouch. I wonder how this went over at Penn State?

***

Count Ohio State?s Urban Meyer among those who is wowed by Rutgers WR Leonte Carroo, whom he called ?an NFL player.? Yes, I think mom could have figured that out after watching two or three Carroo film clips.

"He's a guy that we have a lot of respect for,? said Meyer. ?A dynamic, big, strong guy. I listened to our coaches on Sunday first and they started telling me about him and then I went and watched him myself and he's a tremendous player."

Let?s all hope Carroo can play with the Buckeyes visiting RU this Saturday, as he is listed as questionable (ankle).

***

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz made some subtle changes to his program after a 7-6 season in 2014. One of them: moving practices from the afternoon to 8 a.m., notes Lee Barfknecht of Omaha.com.

The Hawkeyes switched from the usual afternoon times to morning workouts - starting at 8 a.m., instead of 4 p.m., and leaving the football complex at 11 a.m., instead of 7 p.m. They also switched their day off from Monday to Thursday.

?It was something I?ve been contemplating for a couple of years,? Ferentz said before the season. ?We feel we can be better prepared mentally for game days, and there are some physical advantages to it.?

Hey, often times it?s the little things that make the biggest differences.

***

Big news-and positive news-for Purdue football: The school is seeking approval from its Board of Trustees on a $60 million football complex. It?s long overdue.

The three-level structure will become the everyday home of the program — totaling 110,000 square feet — and will include a locker room, players? lounge, team meeting room, position group meeting rooms, sports performance training area, sports medicine facility and coaches? offices, as well as a lobby that will highlight the Boilermakers? history and tradition.

***

<strong>And if you want to leave a comment on this post, use the box below. All comments need to be approved by a moderator.</strong>