MSU football's talkers
We were just talking about the Big Ten media days, weren't we? As expected, Greg Jones and Kirk Cousins will represent MSU in Chicago on Aug. 3. In a bit of a surprise, Keith Nichol will be the third MSU player there.
This event usually features seniors (25 of the 33 attending this year are seniors) with a sprinkling of standout juniors. I was guessing Eric Gordon would be MSU's third player, with possibilities in D.J. Young and Colin Neely. But Nichol makes sense because his story is interesting and because MSU wants to reward him as much as possible for making the selfless move to receiver (he will be on the field for the opening offensive play of 2010, I'll bet anyone on that). Here's the list of all 33 players who will be there:
Illinois
Eddie McGee, Sr., WR
Clay Nurse*, Sr., DL
Tavon Wilson, Jr., DB
Indiana
Ben Chappell*, Sr., QB
Tyler Replogle, Sr., LB
Terrance Turner, Sr., WR
Iowa
Adrian Clayborn*, Sr., DE
Karl Klug*, Sr., DE
Ricky Stanzi*, Sr., QB
Michigan
Mark Moundros, Sr., FB
Stephen Schilling*, Sr., OL
Troy Woolfolk, Sr., CB
Michigan State
Kirk Cousins*, Jr., QB
Greg Jones*, Sr., LB
Keith Nichol, Jr., WR
Minnesota
Brandon Kirksey, Jr., DT
Kim Royston, Sr., DB
Adam Weber*, Sr., QB
Northwestern
Corbin Bryant, Sr., DT
Quentin Davie, Sr., LB
Dan Persa, Jr., QB
Ohio State
Bryant Browning*, Sr., OL
Cameron Heyward*, Sr., DL
Dane Sanzenbacher, Sr., WR
Penn State
D’Anton Lynn*, Jr., CB
Evan Royster*, Sr., TB
Stefen Wisniewski*, Sr., G
Purdue
Ryan Kerrigan*, Sr., DE
Robert Marve, Jr., QB
Keith Smith*, Sr., WR
Wisconsin
John Clay*, Jr., RB
Scott Tolzien*, Sr., QB
Jay Valai*, Sr., DB
* Indicates previous All-Big Ten selection
And that presents a perfect top-10 opportunity. Top Ten Most Quotable MSU Football Players (in my time covering the team, obviously):
1. Gordie Niebylski. A solid offensive lineman who attracted a senior-star-QB-Heisman-candidate crowd of reporters after games during his senior season (which was also John L. Smith's third season, so there were a lot of emotional quotes to be had). You had to get something from Gordie in your notebook whenever possible. He was that original and, often, that off the wall.
2. Greg Taplin. It's getting harder and harder to find guys who will just let it rip and talk trash about their opponents. Greg did it with an edge.
3. Plaxico Burress. Win or lose, Burress would deliver some passionate quotes. After Burress questioned the quarterbacking after a 1999 loss at Wisconsin, Nick Saban instituted a "seniors only" media policy -- strictly to silence Plaxico! The rest of that season was awfully boring after games.
4. Paul Harker. Offensive linemen are usually reliable sources for material. They may be the only guys who want to get interviewed at times.
5. Aric Morris. Another gem from 1999, always willing to explain things and get into some football nitty-gritty if asked.
6. Kevin Vickerson. Once called himself "Ani-Beasty" -- part animal, part beast -- after he helped take apart Wisconsin in a 2004 upset.
7. Kyle Cook. Again with the offensive linemen. Cook was a fiery player with fiery quotes.
8. Robaire Smith. What is it about that 1999 team? Robaire said some hilarious stuff, although his inside jokes with Morris and Julian Peterson weren't always decipherable.
9. Kirk Cousins. Very good about explaining football stuff, along with giving evaluations of his own performances and analyzing teammates when asked.
10. Drew Stanton. Usually kept it tidy and politically correct as MSU officials desire, but his disdain for U-M could not be contained.
