B5Q Blogopean Union: good luck, Zander Neuville

Good morning! This is going to be a daily(ish) post that discusses the goings on of the rest of the Big Ten Conference, and the country as needed. Much like the European Union, the Big Ten is a loosely confederated group of entities that sometimes have the same goals (like free movement of people between countries or not winning national titles in football or basketball) and sometimes accept new members that they later regret (Estonia or Rutgers).

We hope that you will use this post to comment on things happening around the conference and also as a sort of daily open thread to discuss breaking news or argue about Spotted Cow.

• This is a real bummer. Zander Neuville is hanging up his helmet and moving on to medical school which, good for him, but it’s also sad that he won’t get to play this year.

• A handy site to bookmark for all of your future Badger hockey player needs.

• Only one month left!

• The women’s hockey team was unanimously picked to be the No. 1 team in the WCHA. The only reason Minnesota has a vote is because the coaches couldn’t vote for their own team.

No. 1 team and No. 1 player. Should be another fun season for the Badgers.

• If you want to get into the minutiae of NCAA Division 1 men’s and women’s hockey national collegiate hockey committee, or whatever, Todd Milewski went through and got you the highlights.

• Try doing this hungover with a backpack that has the wrong books in it because you haven’t been to class since last week! Then you’ll be ready for B1G basketball season.

• Nigel Hayes is filling up the box score overseas.

• We’ll have more on this weekend’s sports calendar later today, but the men’s soccer team has a road matchup with Butler tonight.

• Big news out of West Lafayette: Markus Bailey is out for the season. Bailey is Purdue’s best defensive player and is a huge loss for the team. He’s also a really fun player to watch so hopefully he gets better and can be ready for the NFL Draft.

• Yeah, what the hell is up with B1G volleyball?
• Penn State hockey adds a transfer from Minnesota who will be immediately eligible.
• Nebraska football is still having a totally normal one.

• Dissecting Michigan football’s problems so far this season.
• Eat butt, an Ohio state university.

• Does Purdue play the most exciting style of football in the conference? Based on number of 300-yard passing games that occur when the Boilermakers are on the field, I say yes!