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Jul. 26—The three-day Big Ten media kickoff came to a close Thursday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. I saw every second of it either in person (Tuesday) or on TV (Wednesday and Thursday).
Until the Big Ten adds more teams — which you have to figure will happen eventually — late July is reserved for the annual chat-orama.
Is it valuable? Depends on your wants and needs. For an overview of where the conference stands at the moment and the thoughts of the league leaders, it serves a purpose. If you’re looking for a deep dive into all 18 programs, better visit all the campuses … if they will even let you in.
Here are my takeaways from Day 3 as I get set for another season covering Big Ten football:
Why does Oregon coach Dan Lanning look so happy? Could it be because he has the best offensive player in the Big Ten.
Dillon Gabriel is in his first year in Eugene after three years at UCF and two at Oklahoma. He already has four 3,000-yard-plus seasons and has thrown for 14,865 yards and 125 touchdowns. No. 8 all time in both.
He would be out of eligibility except he missed most of one season with a broken collarbone.
Lanning is glad to have him.
“He really has a passion for the game and a passion to be great,” the coach said.
The Hawaii native isn’t the biggest guy (5-foot-11, 204 pounds), but he has a strong, accurate arm. Might be in the genes — his dad Garrett was a quarterback at Hawaii.
“I got the opportunity to recruit him a little bit when I was at Georgia,” Lanning said.
Gabriel enters the season as one of the favorites for the Heisman Trophy along with Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Alabama’s Jalen Milroe.
Gabriel is wearing No. 8, the same one worn by Ducks Heisman winner Marcus Mariota.
“What’s maybe impressed me the most with Dillon is his ability to connect with people,” Lanning…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/bob-asmussen-thats-wrap-lucas-154600900.html
Author : The News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
Publish date : 2024-07-26 15:46:00
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