Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald and Iowa's Kirk Ferentz usually scour published quotes for bulletin-board material to pump up their players, not provide it to other teams.
So, it wasn't much of a shock when the coaches of the two surprise teams in the Big Ten West declined to declare themselves favorites to win the division. Then, of course, is the reality that there really isn't a clear favorite as conference play kicks off Saturday.
"I see everyone's record, and it looks like it's wide open." said Fitzgerald, whose Wildcats (4-0) play host to Minnesota (3-1) in the conference opener for both teams in Evanston, Ill.