CHICAGO -- Chalk it up to one of the fringe benefits of hiring a head coach with ties to the football programs at Ohio State and Wisconsin as well as the state of Iowa.
Despite coming off a losing season marred by off-field controversy, Rutgers was significantly more of a talking point at 2016 Big Ten media day than it was a year ago after registering eight wins as the surprise story of the conference.
Chris Ash's first appearance at media day drew reporters asking about his days growing up in Ottumwa, Iowa, his first experience as a coordinator with the Badgers and his head coach internship under Urban Meyer with the Buckeyes.