Proximity to the Beef House, a wonderful eatery just into Indiana off 74, should be how the Big Ten draws divisions.

I get to interview the players every week. I’ve been doing it for around 16 years and I consider it a joy. Some times are better than others, of course. Sometimes the answers and smiles are easier.

This hasn’t been a good season. You know all about it.

I kind of got goofy today. You know that DL Steve Bigach is headed to medical school and that QB James Vandenberg is considering med school or a career as a physician’s assistant.

This topic doesn’t show up on video, but it will be a post that will serve as the feature going into Friday. I asked a few players who they would want setting a broken arm or ankle or something, Bigach or Vandenberg?

Interesting answers.

Again, this wasn’t the season these guys envisioned. These players have held their composure and have repped themselves, their families and the UI very well.

Just wanted to say that.

***Note: For whatever reason, some of these videos are stuck in processing. If one you want to watch isn’t there yet, check back. I hope they eventually process even though I have no idea what exactly that means.

DL Steve Bigach

“It’s going to be the last chance I get as a Hawkeye. I’m going to give it my all. It’s all I can do.”

QB James Vandenberg

“It’s a trophy game for us, it’s a natural rivalry. They’re a really good team. Whenever you get a chance to play one of those really good teams, you can come out and just kind of swing away.”

LB Cole Fisher

“The last time we [Fisher's brother Sean is a linebacker for the Huskers] would’ve met on the football field would’ve been my freshman year of high school. It never really ended well for me.”

FS Tanner Miller

“It wasn’t fun [Sunday's video session from the Michigan game]. It was something you had to take. You had to watch it and learn from it.”

LB James Morris

“Big plays, preventing big plays [Michigan had seven plays of plus-20 yards last week]. If we don’t give them big plays, the odds of them scoring go down significantly.”

Morris also said during that really long scramble that Devin Gardner had going last week that he decided to break cover and rush the passer.

C James Ferentz

“Brian’s was very emotional, he had a very difficult path as everyone knows [talking about his brother, Brian, and his senior day, a tear-jerker for player and coach. Brian nearly had a leg amputated because of staph infection, but he came back and had an all-Big Ten caliber career]. It wasn’t looking like he’d make it to that day injury-wise, so we were all very proud.”

I joked with James about who’ll be Iowa’s center next year. He said, “You’ll have to ask the other Ferentzes.” Of course, referring to his dad and Brian, the head coach and OL coach, respectively.

WR Keenan Davis

“I think it’s headed nowhere but up. We’ve worked really hard. We all put our hearts in this. . . . The younger guys have worked so hard. This season is going to be motivation for them.”

CB Micah Hyde

“At home, I said something to Keenan [to roommate Keenan Davis, Iowa WR and fellow senior taking the walk on Friday], he said, ‘Let’s not talk about it.’ It’s a touchy subject. It’s a crazy feeling. I know it’s going to be a great feeling.”