Between some rather ludicrous travel from Philly International to Chicago O'Hare and back to State College, I spent the last two days in the Windy City covering the Big Ten Media Kickoff.

For those of you not familiar with the event, every Big Ten coach stands up and talks about his team and answers questions from guys like me. What's cool is, we reporters also get to talk to a few players from each team as well.

Day one -- Thursday -- was spent listening to coaches behind the dais. On Friday, any reporter could go to any table to talk to any coach or player at any time. Neat-O, huh?

I'm not going to let on to anything too exclusive here, but I figured I'd use this space to give out a few Travvies.

What's a Travvy? Well, it's an award that I invented.

Enough. Let's begin.

BEST DRESSED PLAYER
And the Travvy goes to ... JUICE WILLIAMS (QB/Illinois)

Juice looked classy on Thursday, in a blood red button down shirt and tie, black pants and shiny black shoes to match. The diamond earrings finished off the look. Juice saved his best for the second day, opting for a white shirt with half-black collar. His tie-of-choice was black with silver diamonds. If he wasn't a dual threat QB entering his third year in Ron Zook's offense, Juice could've easily walked onto the set of the Sopranos and taken over the lead role.

I have to give Indiana's Marcus Thigpen an honorable mention here. On day two, Thigpen went all out with his orange crush, checkered suit.

BEST ACCESSORY
And the Travvies go to ... MALCOLM JENKINS (CB/Ohio State) & MORGAN TRENT (CB/Michigan)

Both wore Big Ten championship rings on day two. Those things are big, they're shiny and when you see them, you wish you had one.

BEST DRESSED COACH
And the Travvy goes to ... PAT FITZGERALD (Northwestern)

Lavender tie with a simple white shirt and black jacket and slacks. Coach Fitzgerald's classic approach made up for Northwestern's mascot's attire. Willie the Wildcat looks like he hasn't had a bath for years.

BEST QUOTE
And the Travvy goes to ... JOSH GAINES (DE/Penn State)

Gaines is quite animated. It was funny to watch multimedia guys squirm as he slapped his hands down on the table enthusiastically -- bumping their recording devices -- as he answered questions.

Here's an excerpt:

"I'm always hyped. I'm always energized. Guys will tell you I'm always running around. I'm always doing crazy stuff. I'm a guy that makes outlandish comments. There's some things I say that I don't understand either, but that's just me."

BEST FREE SWAG
And the Travvy goes to ... MICHIGAN STATE

The Spartan sports information office spared no expense at the fan autograph session on day two. While other most other schools brought free schedules and stickers, Mark Dantonio's boys outdid them all. At the Spartan table one could get their hands on mini footballs, foam fingers, media guides, shiny green beads, keychains, pompoms, pens and drink coasters. How much do foam fingers retail for at Spartan Stadium?

BEST MASCOT
And the Travvy goes to ... the MSU Spartan.

It's just a cool suit. It kind of reminds me of Russel Crowe in Gladiator.

"ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?"

MR. POPULAR
And the Travvy goes to ... RICH RODRIGUEZ (Michigan)

If yesterday would have been a high school homecoming dance, Rodriguez would have been crowned king. There wasn't a single second where there were less than 10 reporters at the former WVU coach's table.

We'll be taking votes at the end of the week for queen.

MOST LIKELY TO STAR IN HIS OWN ACTION FLICK
And the Travvy goes to ... CURTIS PAINTER (QB/Purdue)

Christian Bale is set to play John Connor in the upcoming Terminator: Salvation, so why not let Painter play the Terminator?

He's got the ammo (29 TDs thrown last season), he's got the cannon (356 for 569 with 3,846 yards) and he's even got his own highlight video and hang-up wall calendar -- called "Painting a Masterpiece.

MR. DAREDEVIL
And the Travvy goes to ... JOSH LANGENBACHER (The Daily Collegian)

It was dark in downtown Chicago. The orange hand on the crosswalk sign was flashing. No time left to cross the busy street, but that didn't faze Collegian football reporter, Josh Langenbacher. After all -- there is ice water in his veins. As the orange hand turned steady, forbidding a street crossing, Langenbacher took off. The junior journalism major was nearly chopped in two by a speeding Honda Accord, but made it back to the Red Roof Inn in one piece. Kudos.

- Travis