One Coach Voted for Iowa Punter Tory Taylor As Big Ten’s Best Player

A Big Ten coach either has a deep appreciation for punting or a wicked sense of humor.

One Big Ten coach has a deep appreciation for punting. Or he has a sense of humor when it comes to postseason awards voting. 

Iowa punter Tory Taylor received one first-place vote for the Chicago Tribune 2023 Silver Football, awarded to the Big Ten’s best player as voted upon by the conference’s 14 head coaches.

Most fans would guess that Taylor’s coach, Kirk Ferentz, must have listed his guy first on his ballot. Who would have a better appreciation of punting than Ferentz? Iowa’s inept offense gave Taylor the opportunity for 86 punts, the most in the nation.

However, coaches are not allowed to vote for their own players for the award. So one of Ferentz’s peers viewed Taylor as the best player in the Big Ten for the 2023 season. Which coach could it have been?

Nebraska’s Matt Rhule was the opposing coach during the Nov. 24 matchup with Iowa which was a punting showcase. Perhaps Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck or Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell were the culprit. Both of them slogged through low-scoring clashes with the Hawkeyes. Illinois’s Bret Bielema is an Iowa alum. Maybe he chose this moment for some school pride.

Taylor’s punting prowess was crucial to the offensively-challenged Hawkeyes’ success in 2023 :: Jeffrey Becker/USA TODAY Sports

From the ballots cast, seven first-place votes went to Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who won the award. Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy and Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton each topped two ballots. Receiving one first-place vote apiece were Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, Michigan running back Blake Corum and Taylor.

Unfortunately, the coach who gave Taylor his first-place support probably won’t be revealed. But the first-place vote is an amusing footnote to the Big Ten season.