In his speech, which lasted a little more than seven minutes, Cousins touched on issues ranging from his recruitment to MSU, scandal in college football and the place of role models in college football, among others.

“I don’t believe it’s too far-fetched to think that we as college football players could make a significant, positive difference in the youth culture in America simply by embracing the responsibilities that accompany this place of privilege,” Cousins said in his keynote speech.

Following his speech, Cousins received much praise from national writers and college football fans across the country including Sports Illustrated columnist Joe Posnanski.

“College football has flaws, problems. Then Mich. St. QB Kirk Cousins speaks and you think: Damn, they’re doing something right,” Posnanski tweeted on Friday.

Elsewhere at the 2011 Big Ten Media Days, MSU head coach Mark Dantonio had a mini-feud with Michigan radio broadcaster Jim Brandstatter.

Following Dantonio’s address to the media — in which he referred to former Ohio State head coach and mentor Jim Tressel as a “tragic hero” — Brandstatter apparently didn’t agree and countered with a response on Twitter.

“Sorry…but tragic hero remark about Tressel is wrong on a lot of levels,” Brandstatter tweeted on Thursday. “When is lying to your boss, to the NCAA heroic? Is it heroic to teach young men that wrong isn’t wrong unless you get caught? Gimme a break.”

On Friday morning, Dantonio was confronted about Brandstatter’s comments, which he was unaware of at the time. After hearing the comments, Dantonio quickly dismissed Brandstatter and his comments

“I don’t even know who that guy is,” Dantonio said to reporters on Friday. “As far as I’m concerned, he’s never coached one day of college football or had a relationship with college players, a real meaningful relationship.

“But I know I’m going to be criticized. I figured I would be, but that’s OK. It wouldn’t be the first time.”