Big Ten at Ten 4.2.13: Spring Ball & The "Final Four"

Remember when Taylor Martinez said that he wanted to complete 70% or more of his passes and was confident he could do it? That was at Nebraska's fall press conference last year. And to his credit, he did improve his completion percentage to a career high 62% by throwing the ball nearly 400 times. He also threw a career high number of interceptions (12) and took a career high number of sacks (34). But that's to be expected when: 1) You're throwing more; and 2) Your throwing motion is like a catapult winding up. Well...T-Mart is "confident" again this spring.

He's setting his sights high, according to an article by Brian Bennett of ESPN's Big Ten Blog. He wants to throw for 70% or better, has been working on his mechanics and decision-making and has mastered what James Vandenberg never could: the audible. As he told Bennett:

"I can change a play any time depending on what I see, you might see a little more audibling from me this year."

/throws interception

/gets yelled at by Pelini

/confidence blown

Gerry Dinardo talks about the Nebraska Red-White game which will take place this Saturday at 2PM ET on BTN.

A few more spring practice links:

• Cedar Rapids Gazette writer Marc Morehouse talks Iowa in this "On Iowa Live" video.
• Michigan backup QB Russell Bellomy tore his ACL during spring practice on Friday. Ugh. Hate ACL tears. Purdue and Iowa RBs know what I'm talking about.
• This has nothing to do with spring football but I wanted to post something about Michigan State so uh...here you go.
• Not a lot of Minnesota news these days. They're still looking for a basketball coach, though.
• Northwestern offensive coordinator Mick McCall talks the two-quarterback system, among other things, in this ESPN B1G video. Did you hear Northwestern won a bowl game? Big news round these parts.
• The hype surrounding Brax Miller is not a concern for the young QB.

Meanwhile, in Gotham City, the Iowa Hawkeyes prepare to take on the Maryland Terrapins in Madison Square Garden for the NIT "Final Four". Maryland had an up and down season, beating Duke twice but also losing to Georgia Tech and Boston College. They finished the season with a losing record in the ACC and were sent to the NIT along with Florida State and Virginia. The game is on ESPN2 tonight at 8PM CT. Here's some game specific links:

• Franimal Planet: the Iowa v. Maryland preview by Patrick Vint.
• There's no conspiracy on Iowa's seeding, via the Cedar Rapid's Gazette.
• Mike Gesell will play through the pain of a stress reaction tonight. It's not a stress fracture so we don't have to worry about his bone going through his leg or something.
• Devyn Marble talks about the NIT "Final Four."

Finally, never quit, Bret Bielema. Never quit.