The cheap shot was shown on ESPN's "SportsCenter."

"I think it's not excusable and it's not acceptable," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. "I watched the play and I think the official should have been on the play. I think there was something there that was done by the other player.

"So in the spur of the moment, sometimes those things happen. Certainly it's nothing we're proud of. Greg is not proud of it. We don't want it and we won't tolerate it."

Carr would only glare at a reporter when asked if the receiver would be disciplined.

It's been that kind of start to the season for Michigan.

The Wolverines head into Saturday's game against Notre Dame, looking for their first victory. Same goes for the Irish.

"Well, if they aren't mad and embarrassed, then they're not competitors," Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis said of his players. "I know I certainly am. I think any time you put as much time and effort (into something) and things don't go well, and you don't feel angry or embarrassed, then you're not very competitive."

Neither team has been very competitive so far.

Michigan OT Jake Long was asked his team's goal.

"It's still the same. We want to win the (Big Ten) championship," he said. "We just started off on a different path than we expected. It doesn't change our attitude; it doesn't change our work ethic. We're still coming out everyday at practice ready to work. We're still playing for that championship."

LATE NIGHT: Big Ten games have averaged 3 hours, 26 minutes so far this season.

The national average last year was 3 hours, 7 minutes — 14 minutes shorter than 2005, when lengthy games prompted the NCAA to change rules to shorten games. Those changes were rescinded this season, largely because coaches felt too many plays were being lost.

Eight Big Ten games have gone longer than 3› hours, including a 4-hour, 23-minute overtime game between Minnesota and Miami of Ohio.

The longest game in the conference this season was Indiana's pass-filled 37-27 win over Western Michigan on Saturday, which took 4:07 and went past midnight.

"I never thought I'd be involved in a game that lasted 4 hours and there was no overtime," IU coach Bill Lynch said.

KICKED OUT: Minnesota coach Tim Brewster has run out of patience with Jason Giannini after the kicker missed three field goals in the Gophers' last game. Brewster declared an open competition for the job between Joel Monroe and Eric Ellestad.

Giannini fell out of favor with previous coach Glen Mason at times, too. He missed six field goals — including four between 30 and 39 yards — and eight extra points as a freshman. Last year, Giannini also missed five field goals and three extra points, including one in overtime of a 28-27 loss to Penn State.

Monroe, a walk-on who was awarded a scholarship last week, felt bad for Giannini.

"At the same time, I just want what's best for the team," Monroe said. "When the game's on the line, the kick needs to go in regardless of who's taking it."

NO INPUT: The next time Penn State plays Notre Dame, Joe Paterno would prefer to be watching instead of coaching.

"You're talking to the wrong guy about that," the 80-year-old coach said this week after his team beat the Fighting Irish 31-10 on Saturday. "(Athletic director) Tim Curley has enough problems without having a coach who won't be here 10 years from now when you're scheduling, telling him who you have to schedule."

Penn State used to play the Irish every year in the '80s and early '90s before joining the Big Ten in 1993.

"If they come to me and say, 'Hey, we want to play Notre Dame in 2014, what do you think?' Yeah, I might like to watch that game," joked Paterno. "Who's going to be the head coach?"

HAWK D: Iowa's defense, which struggled with injuries and played below expectations in 2006, has returned strong this season. The Hawkeyes lead the nation in fewest points allowed (three) and rank second against the run (22.5 yards a game).

"The guys, they're playing hard and they're playing well together. They're looking out for each other," coach Kirk Ferentz said. "For the most part, we're not making too many errors right now, and that's something we've got to continue to do, not give up big plays."

None of this bodes well for Iowa State, which hosts the Hawkeyes Saturday in the annual Cy-Hawk Trophy game. The Cyclones rank 106th in the nation in scoring at 13.5 points a game.

QUICK-HITTERS: During the third quarter of Ohio State's home win over Akron, a commercial on the video board for the Big Ten Network was loudly booed. ... Former Michigan State coach John L. Smith was criticized for relying too heavily on junior college transfers to prop up his recruiting classes but his replacement, Mark Dantonio, has several of those JUCO kids filling spots for the Spartans (2-0). ... Illinois' 21-0 win over Western Illinois was its first shutout in seven years. ... Players of last week: Minnesota QB Adam Weber and Purdue QB Curtis Painter, Penn State LB Dan Connor and Iowa DE Kenny Iwebema. ... Wisconsin's 11 straight wins is the longest streak in the Bowl Subdivision.