Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh still speaks of his former NFL coach, Mike Ditka, in reverent tones.
And with Big Ten Media Days being held in Chicago, Harbaugh had a chance to catch up with the former Chicago Bears coach Thursday night. Harbaugh came away with a keepsake from the meeting -- a Ditka jersey, which he showed off on Friday.
"It's your coach. When you're a player, your coach is -- it's like family. ... Sometimes there's a favorite teacher that you had growing up, grade school or high school. There's sometimes a neighbor that you were very close to. Maybe somebody in the church or the clergy, and your coach," Harbaugh said. "And it's so close to your family that -- I had a chance to spend the evening with (Ditka) last night at his restaurant. And Diana (Ditka's wife) was there and Sarah (Harbaugh) was there and it was just really, really special to be with my coach. So, in fact, I picked up a Ditka jersey from the restaurant."
Asked if he had Ditka autograph the jersey, Harbaugh said he did not. Ditka's signature, however, will be all over Michigan football this fall.
Here are four other things we learned from Big Ten Media Days:
2. Calhoun projection. Michigan State defensive end Shilique Calhoun is among the hottest 2016 NFL Draft prospects in the senior class. How hot? Spartans coach Mark Dantonio said Thursday that Calhoun, whose decision to return to MSU last winter was somewhat surprising, would have been drafted in the first or second round this year had he made himself eligible. Presuming Dantonio has a reliable NFL source for that information, a big season from Calhoun, or MSU QB Connor Cook, in 2015 could propel the Spartans to their third consecutive year with a first-round pick.
3. PSU: Protection Stinks U? Former Detroit Lions president Matt Millen believes Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenbergwill turn pro early after this season. But for the junior to have a leave-early kind of season, he'll need more help from his offensive line (he was sacked 44 times last season). PSU coach James Franklin on that topic: "We came into last year with one returning (offensive line) starter. We come into this year with four returning starters. ... I think our depth is just different."
4. Buckeye buzz. Ohio State was the talk of Big Ten Media Days on several fronts, and not just because OSU is the defending national champion. It started with the news that star defensive end Joey Bosa and three other contributing receivers have been suspended for the team's opening game against Virginia Tech. It continued with coach Urban Meyer's confirmation that Buckeyes star Braxton Millerwill indeed move from quarterback to H-back -- and perhaps play a role similar to the one Percy Harvin filled for Meyer at Florida. No pressure, or anything, Braxton. Just be you.
5. A ton of pounds yards. Wisconsin running back Corey Clement isn't exactly easing his way into expectations as the Badgers' next starting running back. Just a year after Melvin Gordon parlayed a 2,587-yard season into a first-round draft selection by the San Diego Chargers, Clement said he expects to run for no fewer than 2,000 yards himself.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
