Wednesday, November 26, 2008

MAYBIN GETS ROBBED

The Nittany Lions had a record ten players selected to the All-Big Ten First Team by the conference coaches. Six offensive starters, including Derrick Williams and Daryll Clark, along with four starters on defense joined seven Penn State players who earned honorable mention to lead the conference, greatly outdistancing the school with the second-most selections, Iowa, who had four starters and four honorable mentions.

Additionally, Joe Paterno became just third coach in conferenc history to be named conference coach of the year three times (Bo Schembechler and Hayden Frye), and senior A.Q. Shipley took home the Offensive Lineman of the Year award.

That's the good news.

The bad news is that somehow Aaron Maybin didn't win defensive player of the year, that hardware went to James Laurinaitis. The worse news was that he wasn't even named defensive lineman of the year and the worst news was that Iowa's Mitch King was.

How did this happen? You don't even need statistics to tell you that Maybin was the most disruptive lineman in the conference if not the country, just watch one quarter of one game. Teams simply had to account for #59 before every snap, whether that was rolling to the other side of the field of leaving in a tight end, running back or both to help block him.

Not convinced yet? How about the fact that Maybin is tied for fourth in the nation and leads the Big Ten in sacks per game (1.00) while King ranks 19th (0.33) in the conference? How about the fact that King has fewer forced fumbles, fewer tackles for loss, fewer solo tackles and plays on a squad that ranks behind Penn State's in every major defensive category?

Anyway you cut it, Maybin should be wearing the crown of Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the year, not Mitch King.

Monday, November 24, 2008

ROSEBOWL BOUND


"Everything was perfect today." - Senior WR Derrick Williams

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Penn State has the chance to do something Saturday that they've accomplished only once before. A win over Michigan State, and the Lions will clinch the Big Ten Championship and a berth to the Rose Bowl.

The only other time Penn State has been crowned Big Ten Champs and gone to the "Grand Daddy of them All" was 1994. That season, in only Penn State's 2nd year competing as members of the Big Ten, the Nit's slashed their way through the conference like madmen. Kerry Collins and Company capped an undefeated season by beating the Oregon Ducks 38-20.

Unfortunately, Penn State was jumped by Nebraska in the standings after week 8. That week, the Lions had already defeated Indiana, but down 35-21, the Hoosiers threw a Hail Mary pass as time expired, then ran in a two point conversion to make a 35-29 game seem closer than it really was. Because of this, Penn State never regained the #1 position in the polls.

In 2005, Penn State won their 2nd Big Ten Championship, yet did not appear in the most prestigious bowl game. That year, the Rose Bowl was slated to host the BCS title game. In what would be one of the greatest back-to-back nights in my college football remembrance, Penn State needed 3 OT's to finally outlast Florida St. in the Orange Bowl and Vince Young carried Texas to an upset over USC in the Rose Bowl to decide the National Championship.

So now, the Rose Bowl has regained its tradition in hosting the Pac 10 vs. Big Ten winners each year. (This began in 1947 when the Big Ten was the Big 9, and the Pac 10 was the PCC). With a win over Sparty, Penn State will earn its 3rd Big Ten Championship Title, and a spot in Pasadena on New Years Day, in the oldest college football bowl game.

A special opportunity awaits Penn State nation. As history has dictated, a year like this does not come along very often. Penn State has every opportunity to capture the moment. They must not beat themselves though. 2 things will be key. First, the Lions must execute the game plan, and avoid committing turnovers. Second, the energy in Beaver Stadium must be electric. Penn State players must take care of the first. Penn State fans must contribute to the second. If those two things happen, a Big Ten Crown will be granted and a Bed of Roses will await us. Mmmmm, how good does that sound?

OH, THE WONDERS....

The last ten years have been pretty eventful for Nittany Lion fans.

We've seen the Lions go from pre-season favorites to win the national title (1999) to a team that could only win three games and finished second-to-last in the conference (2003).

We've seen our beloved coach go from persona-non-grata to coach-of-the-year in just one season.

We've seen a program send four first-rounders to the NFL in one year (2003) and then be completely shunned by the league just two years later.

Along with riding the soaring and diving crests of a football program transitioning itself into a new century, Penn State fans have also been fortunate to have taken in some pretty special moments in Beaver Stadium in the last decade. Yet, despite all they've been through, this weekend fans will have a chance to see something that they've never seen before in Beaver Stadium.

They'll get to see the Lions win the Big Ten Championship at home, on Senior Day.

In each of the Lions' previous Big Ten Championship seasons, fans have either had to travel hundreds of miles or watch on television as Penn State secured the conference trophy. In 1994, it took a thrilling comeback on the road against Illinois to guarantee the program's first Big Ten title and Joe Paterno's first trip to the Rose Bowl. In 2005, it wasn't until a Week 11 win at Michigan State that fans could celebrate a second crown. This season, ending the season with back-to-back home games for just the ninth time under Paterno, the team can celebrate with 100,000+ fans if it can get by the Spartans.

Here's a look at just some of the best moments fans have witnessed in Beaver Stadium over the last ten years:

2K for LJ
Larry Johnson caps his magnificent 2002 season by running roughshod over Michigan State on Senior Day for an amazing 279 yards on just 19 carries...in the first half! The total was enough to push LJ over the magical 2,000-yard mark for the season, becoming the first running back in Penn State history to do so. He would go on to capture the Doak Walker, Walter Camp Player of the Year and Maxwell Awards that season.

#324 - Joe finally beats The Bear
Penn State started the season 0-4 in 2001, but a late comeback on the road against a ranked Northwestern team led by freshman Zach Mills gave the club its first win and tied Joe with Bear Bryant for the all-time victories record. The stage was set for the record to fall the next week at home against Ohio State. The Lions overcame a half-time deficit and blocked a potentially game-winning field goal before carrying an emotional Joe Paterno on their shoulders to a makeshift stage where he and his wife, Sue, thanked the crowd.

Adam Taliaferro
The Lions weren't figuring to have a very good team in 2001, but were opening the season at home, at night against #2 Miami. The season before, freshman Adam Taliaferro suffered a spinal cord injury against Ohio State and was told he'd never walk again. Less than one year later, Nittany Nation was buzzing at the news that Taliaferro would actually lead the Lions out onto the field before they took on the Hurricanes. Beaver Stadium was also unveiling her new south end zone deck for the first time, ensuring a record crowd.

Before the team came out, Taliaferro walked out of the tunnel amid a blitz of camera flashes and actually started to jog towards the Penn State sideline while pumping his fist to the crowd. It was one of loudest moments that stadium has ever heard.

Nebraska, 2002
Still the largest crowd ever to see a game in Beaver Stadium; if you weren't there, you won't understand why some that were still rank it above the original White Out against Ohio State. After Jamaal Lord led the 'Huskers to a touchdown drive to knot the score at seven, the Lions took over, scoring 33 unanswered points to bury #7 Nebraska. People watching the game in town and on campus still tell of how the roar of the crowd could be heard all the way from Beaver Stadium when Rich Gardner intercepted Lord's pass and took it back for a touchdown.

The White Out
The 2005 Lions were still searching for respect after throttling an undefeated Minnesota team at home the week before but few were giving them a shot against the sixth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. Fortunately for Penn State, the Lions had a secret weapon that night that none of the experts had accounted for. The White Out. It was the game that earned Penn State the reputation as the loudest stadium and student section in college football, and will forever be the defining night in the 2005 season.

Dan Connor sets the All-Time Tackle Record
Just one year after mentor and teammate Paul Posluzny moved past Greg Buttle for the most tackles in Penn State history, Dan Connor broke the record again against Purdue in 2007. It doesn't jump out at you the way the other moments on the list do, but seeing the tackles record fall at a school called Linebacker U was pretty special.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

GROWING PAINS

If you were like me growing up, you eagerly got off the 3rd grade bus, grabbed a couple of cookies from the highest cupboard mom could hide them in and you sat down for the 3:30 episode of Growing Pains. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the hit 80's television show, I'll briefly fill you in.

Kirk Cameron played a young Mike Seaver who, coincidentally enough, experienced his own growing pains as he grew up on Long Island in a family of six. The show revolved around Mike as he grew into a mature young man. The audience was able to not only witness the trials and tribulations that Mike got himself into, but also the struggles of the remaining family as they grew together.

After watching the past three Penn State games, I've realized that the Nittany Lions are not only playing football, they're actually reenacting their own version of Growing Pains. Quarterback Darryl Clark is playing Mike Seaver, and the rest of the team is his supporting cast.

After sailing through his first eight games of the season (this is the part of the episode where Mike has some sure-fire way to cheat on his homework and everything goes as planed), Clark has drastically slowed down performance wise. He was knocked out of the win at Ohio State in the fourth quarter by a mild concussion, and threw a late interception the following week, which led to Iowa's game-winning field goal that snuffed out the BCS championship dreams. (This is part in the episode where Mike’s failproof plan fails, and things begin to fall apart).

After 2 fumbles (one inside the 5-yard-line) and an interception in the 34-7 win against Indiana, it's obvious Clark isn't playing his finest football. He's even admitted that "it can't happen, it just can't happen", speaking of the turnovers.

However, going into this week’s game against 15th ranked Michigan State, there is room for hope. Much like how Mike Seaver was always able to learn from his mistakes and make good for them - Clark did seem to gain some confidence in his throwing and running ability as his passes were crisper and he no longer hesitated to run the ball in the second half against Indiana. (This is part of the episode right before the end credits when everything is working it’s way out, Mike realizes the error of his ways, and plays a nice game of basketball with his father (Alan Thicke) in the driveway.

The Nittany Lions have a lot of work to do, and although they have Joe Paterno helping them through these tough times instead of Alan Thicke, they should be able to come together and rally around Clark into a Big Ten Championship and the Rose Bowl.

The Growing Pains theme song might state "as long as we've got each other", but the Lions have much more than that. They have the entire Nittany Nation behind them as they move past their growing pains, past Michigan State, and into the history books as 2008 Big Ten Champions.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

IT COULD STILL HAPPEN

After the shock and pain wore off from the loss to Iowa, I am sure many Penn State fans besides me started to devise ways in their mind for the Lions to climb back into the national title game. Don't get me wrong, a Big Ten Championship and Rose Bowl berth is a tremendous accomplishment considering the Lions weren't even picked by "those who know" to finish in the top three of the conference before the season started, but once the Lions flirted with perfection for ten weeks and were on the trail to Miami anything else pales in comparison.

The combination of wins and losses (however unlikely) for the seven teams in front of Penn State is shrinking with each passing week, and the Lions didn't get any help this weekend. Have no fear, as long as there is even a faint pulse in Penn State's national title hopes, The Floating Lion will be posting scenarios to get you back to Miami. Here's this week's:

8. Penn State (10-1)
Games Left: vs. #18 Michigan State
What We Need: Win impressively. Everything becomes moot unless the Lions can take care of business in a big way against Sparty. Saturday's game is the last chance for Penn State to impress the pollsters and can deliver the Lions to the conference crown.

7. Utah (11-0)
Games Left: vs. #15 BYU
What We Need: Don't join a BCS conference. It's highly unlikely that Utah will get a crack to play for the national title no matter what happens, so, while a loss to BYU would be nice, Utah won't stand in the Lions way of the championship game.

6. USC (10-1)
Games Left: vs. Notre Dame, @ UCLA
What We Need: Even though USC might not win the Pac-10 Conference, it can still make it to the title game, and it wouldn't be the first time (see Oklahoma in 2003). So the Lions need an upset in the last two games. Could Charlie Weis call the right plays for the upset in Los Angeles? Could Slick Rick Neuheisel make good on his promise to end the Trojans' dynasty in the city of angels? Let's hope so.

5. Oklahoma (10-1)
Games Left: vs. #2 Texas Tech, @ #13 Oklahoma State, potential Big XII Title Game
What We Need: Oklahoma will have to wear two hats in the last two weeks of the season as far as Penn State fans are concerned. The Lions need Oklahoma to spoil the Red Raiders' perfect season this week, but then slip up against in-state rival Oklahoma St. the following weekend in Stillwater. This would give the Sooners two losses and eliminate them, while leaving it up to the BCS whether Texas or Texas Tech will go to the Big XII championship game. More on that later.

4. Florida (10-1)
Games Left: vs. The Citadel, @ #19 Florida State, vs. #1 Alabama
What We Need: The Gators are on fire right now, and since Penn State needs an opponent in the title game, why not let it be Florida? However, if the Gators are feeling generous, a loss to the rival Seminoles would definitely help Penn State's chances in case one of the other scenarios falls through. As far as the conference championship game against the Tide, the preferred winner of that game depends on the outcomes of the Florida/Florida St. and Auburn/Alabama games. Either Florida or Alabama (or both) have to lose its rivalry game and then beat the other team in the SEC Championship Game.

3. Texas (10-1)
Games Left: vs. Texas A&M, potential Big XII Title Game
What We Need: The Longhorns need Texas Tech to lose to Oklahoma and then finish as the highest-ranked team among the three of them in the BCS Standings to represent the Big XII South against Missouri in the conference championship game. A loss to Texas A&M would eliminate Texas from national title discussion, but even if it wins out it's not guaranteed a BCS berth. Consider that only two teams from any conference can make it to the BCS, and we are counting on Missouri being one of them from the Big XII, two of the other big three can't go (either Texas, Texas Tech or Oklahoma).

2. Texas Tech
Games Left: @ #5 Oklahoma, vs. Baylor, potential Big XII Title Game
What We Need: The Red Raiders can make it easy on everybody and lose both of their last two games, but they must lose once before playing in the conference championship game if Penn State hopes to finish in front of them. Texas Tech, like the other two teams from the Big XII on this list, would need to lose the conference championship game if it make it that far. But again, since the Big XII can only have two teams represent it in the BCS, a Texas Tech loss to the Sooners would realy jeopardize the Raiders chances of being one of them.

1. Alabama
Games Left: vs. Auburn, vs. #4 Florida
What We Need: It might seem like a stretch right now, but funny things can happen in rivalry games and Auburn could upset Alabama in the Iron Bowl. Should that happen, Penn State fans can then root for The Tide to beat Florida the following week if the Gators get by Florida State.

So there it is. A few bounces and you're scrambling to get that same hotel room in South Beach you just dropped last Saturday night.

The important things to remember are: Utah can't make it so don't worry about them. Secondly, these scenarios are counting on the fact that only two teams from the Big XII can make it to the BCS and Missouri is going to be one of them by way of its conference championship game. That would eliminate two of the big three that are in the top six right now. Finally, don't forget that Penn State needs to play somebody so one of the above teams can win out and it won't affect the Lions.

Don't stop believing.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

STICK TO BASKETBALL INDIANA


During Penn State's days an an independent power, Beano Cook used to be fond of saying that The Berlin Wall would fall before Maryland defeated a Joe Paterno-coached Nittany Lion team (the Terps are 1-36-1 against PSU all-time). Now, after the twelfth victory in as many games against the Indiana Hoosiers, maybe it can be said that America will elect a black president...Philadelphia will win a championship...the moon will fall out of the sky before Indiana beats Penn State.

The Lions improved to 10-1 after a 34-7 domination of the Hoosiers in a game that was as frustrating at times as it was one-sided. Statistically, the Lions dominated Indiana in first downs (23-6), yards (442-180) and time of possession (35:11 - 24:49) but missed a field goal and turned it over three times to keep the score from reflecting that. Tied 7-7 after the first 29 minutes of the game, a Kevin Kelly field goal with four seconds left on the first half clock marked the beginning of 27 unanswered points for the Lions that decided the game.

The game was marred by intermittent rain that turned heavy at times, but it would be unfair to attribute all of the Lions' mistakes to the awful weather conditions. Penn State was expected to use this game to answer the questions facing it after the disaster in Iowa City last week, but another lackluster performance by Daryll Clark, including three turnovers, did little to silence the critics of the first-year starter.

Once again the Lions started slowly, gaining 68 yards on their first 14 plays with two punts and a fumble to show for it. Penn State would sandwich another punt and a missed field goal between a touchdown pass and a Kelly three-pointer to cap its first-half scoring at ten points, tied for the second-fewest after two quarters all season.

Thanks to its smothering defense that allowed just 56 yards and two first downs in Indiana's seven second-half possessions, Penn State was able to put the game away after halftime and now can look forward to its "Big Ten Championship Game" against Michigan State next week.

Deon Butler, after failing to hang on to the first pass thrown to him, became the school's all-time leader in receptions early in the first quarter but was overshadowed by teammate Derrick Williams on this day. D-Wheels continues to embed himself in the hearts of Penn State fans with every game he plays. Against the Hoosiers, Williams racked up 164 total yards and two touchdowns. Amazingly, his 39-yard reception that went for a touchdown in the first quarter was the longest catch of his career.

Williams and his senior classmates are just four quarters away from bookending their careers with Big Ten Championships, but another effort like Saturday's likely won't be enough against Michigan State if the Lions want to book a trip to Pasadena.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

RUN RUN ROYSTER


Although I'm sure he would trade it for a few more carries against Iowa, Penn State sophomore running back Evan Royster has been selected as one of the 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award, which is presented annually to the nation's best running back in college football.

Although Royster is most likely a long shot to be chosen when the Award National Selection Committee will narrow the list to three finalists on Monday, November 24th, this is no doubt one of the biggest honors in #22's short but successful career.

Royster, who has been one of the most successful runner's in Nittany Lion history, is a key part to the Penn State offense which features not just one, but two premier running backs (that's right I called Stephon Green a premier running back - just give him the ball).

His 1,060 yards rank 13th on the school season list, with Lenny Moore (1,082 yds, 1954), John Cappelletti (1,117 yds, 1972) and Curtis Enis (1,210 yds, 1996) next. Royster's 106.0 yards per game average ranks him No. 3 in the Big Ten and 20th in the nation. His 6.6 yards per rush average is fourth best in the nation among the nation's top 20 rushers.

As was discussed earlier this season on The Floating Lion, Royster was one of the nation's top lacrosse recruits coming out of Westfield High School in Virgina. A two-sport athlete growing up, Royster won the Virginia State Championship in football his junior year. Fast forward five years and the current sophomore has racked up 11 touchdowns in a traditionally run-stopping conference.

Although coach Joe Paterno has said there were thoughts of converting Royster to a corner back once he came to Penn State, the move never occured as he showed his promise last year by rushing for 513 yards on 82 carries in a backup role. Once he moved into the starting lineup this season, Royster wasted no time making an impact.

In what may be his sexiest performance this season, Runnin' Royster set a career rushing high, running for 174 yards on 18 carries, with a 44-yard TD run in the first quarter. He also added 3 catches for 13 yards in the 46-17 homecoming victory

He ranks 10th in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 6.6 points per game. Royster also has shown the ability to break the big play, as he has delivered 14 of Penn State's 53 plays from scrimmage of 20 yards or longer this season (13 runs, 1 reception). He also has 14 receptions for 121 yards this season.

Unfortunatley, this is not like other Penn State candidates who have been nominated for an award this season, and there is no link to attach where fans can vote. Instead, watch THIS.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

THE LOVE AFFAIR CONTINUES

Now that Penn State is out of the National Title race, it seems that the rest of the nation can breathe a huge sigh of relief, and resume their man-crush/love affair with the Big XII and SEC. It was a shaky affair, but their spouse (Big 10) will no longer invade on their space; consider a divorce being filed. As many analysts/writers have stated, the Nation gets what it deserves; A Big XII vs SEC National Championship. Here's an excerpt from ESPN's Pat Forde's weekly article, "The Forde Yard Dash"

"The Dash wishes to send a fruit basket and a set of steak knives to Kirk Ferentz and Iowa (2). Thank you, Hawkeyes, for saving college football from a third straight season of sending an overmatched, overrated and outdated Big Ten champion to the BCS National Championship Game. Now that Iowa has taken overly conservative Penn State (3) out of the title mix and Ohio State has removed itself with two losses in a season of great expectation, hopes are high for a worthy title game. "

Pat Forde went on to refer to the other conferences as "Big Boy Leagues" and said the Big 10 can gladly send its winner to the Rose to "get throttled by USC." Its a shame though, because if Oregon State wins out, then they will represent the Pac 10 in the Rose Bowl, because everyone conveniently forgets that Oregon State holds the head to head tiebreaker, but that is another story for another day. And I digress...

Why does the nation deserve this kind of match-up? Why do we want to see a game that will feature no defense whatsoever? Well, out of these two "power conferences", one of them has proved that they can play defense to some extent...

Oklahoma is 1-5 in BCS Bowl Games since the 2000 season, whereas Texas is 2-0. However, as a whole, the Big XII conference is 6-8 in BCS Bowl games since the 1998-1999 season. Why does this merit an immediate invitation to the BCS Championship? The Big XII has not impressed in past years, so why now all of a sudden does the nation HAVE to see a Big XII vs SEC match-up? Don't get me wrong, the 3 top teams in the Big XII are outstanding this year, but I just cannot buy into the hype.

If the past repeats itself, and Florida or Alabama (hell, I'll even throw USC in the mix) gets a crack at a Big XII team in the title game, I think you will see yet another blow-out in the National Title game. The SEC may not be known for defense, but Alabama ranks 4th nationally in total defense whereas Florida ranks 14th. USC, well, we all know where they rank for total defense; 1st overall! Oklahoma boasts the nations 51st ranked defense, Texas Tech, despite their explosive offense has only the 57th ranked overall defense to compliment that offense. If that was not enough for you football fans to stomach, Texas, who many still consider to be in the title hunt, have an eye-popping defense that ranks 60th overal (all stats are from ncaa.org).

And before anybody says how it does not matter how you play on defense, it only matters how many points you can put up, I'm going to more than likely slap you. As we saw in this weekend's Penn State game, a good defense can stop a high powered offense anyday. A strong defense can make an offense do things it does not want to do.

If the "much deserved" National Championship does occur, I will root for the SEC to rout the Big XII (it really kicks me in the pants to say that, but it must be done). This will hopefully shut the nation up, and help people realize that the Big 10 is not the only "weak conference" out there (I still feel the Big 10 is better than everyone thinks, but that's my opinion). The Big XII has proven that they too have difficulty in big games (why is it that they still refer to Bob Stoops as Big Game Bob?). Hopefully, a rout will show the nation and "experts" that the Big XII is merely just the flavor of the year.

Monday, November 10, 2008

ENOUGH ALREADY

That’s quite enough.

Think your upset? Think things can’t get any worse? Think you care too much? Forget about it.

I know you’re all depressed about Penn State’s “season ending” loss to Iowa on Saturday night. I was too. But you now have had two days to get over it, which is two days longer than any of the Penn State student-athletes had – and they were the ones really affected by that last second field goal.

Sunday morning, while we were too upset to roll out of bed or turn on ESPN, the Penn State Nittany Lion football team was awake, dressed and in the Lasch Building on campus reviewing game tape. You see, there is no “time off” to help “get over” this loss. There are two games regular season games left and those kids need to be ready for them.

I felt the same way you did after that loss. My heart was broken. But I watched THIS VIDEO this morning of quarterback Daryll Clark and it made me realize something – I had no right being heartbroken. Those kids – those Nittany Lions we cherish and follow so closely, worked their asses off on Saturday and gave everything they had. It just so happened they had an off day.

Passes weren’t crisp as they can be? So what. You’ve never slipped up on an exam you thought you were prepared for?

A couple of bad decisions were made? So what. You probably can’t count the number of bad decisions you’ve made. I know I can’t.

Defense couldn’t hold Iowa during the last minute and a half of the game? So what. When was the last time you couldn’t stand up to your nagging boss?

Every single Nittany Lion was accountable for that loss, this is true. But that is something that we all are going to have to get past. This team has already exceeded everyone’s expectations (except for maybe their own) and they now have the opportunity to win their last two football games and be crowned the Big Ten Champions, which comes with an invitation to the Rose Bowl.

Even the most optimistic Penn State fan would have told you that a Rose Bowl berth and a Big Ten Championship was a far from easy task coming into this season. Nine wins later – that dream is close to becoming a reality. They've come together as a team and we need to come together as fans and stand behind them during these two last games.

The Nittany Lions don’t have time to sit back and stew about the loss against Iowa. They’ve worked too hard and come too far. They owe it to themselves to win these last two games. And we owe it to them to still care - with as much enthusiasm as if they were 10-0.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

A SCREECHING HALT

“The minute you think you've got it made, disaster is just around the corner.”

This sentence was not said by some famous United States President, nor was it said by some ancient scholar. Instead, this was a quote from Penn State head coach Joe Paterno following Penn State’s 24-23 loss to Minnesota in 1999. Even the most casual Penn Sate fans can remember how they felt on the night of November 6th of that year. While hopes and dreams of a 6th undefeated season were atop the mind of every Nittany Lion (player and fan), Minnesota marched into Beaver Stadium and played 4 quarters of tough, determined football, putting a look on every Penn State faces like they just witnessed an unspeakable act.

Fast forward 9 years.

It’s the same scene of the same movie, only it was shown in a different theater last night and with an updated cast. As 9-0 Penn State came out of the tunnel of a frigid and wind-burned Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, dreams and aspirations of that ever-elusive 6th undefeated season again were high on the minds of Penn State fans. With only three games left to play, an undefeated season was considered written in stone – however that stone was crumbled last night by sophomore backup kicker Daniel Murray – who had one field goal to his name this season.

It didn’t look like the same team we’ve watched all season. Normally sure-handed wide receivers dropped passes in the clutch. A dominant defensive line couldn't pressure Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi on the final drive. The nation's third least penalized team drew two flags in the final five minutes. Quarterback Daryll Clark, who had displayed remarkable poise for most of the season, threw an interception that led to the decisive scoring drive.

It was these miscues which have ended Penn State’s hopes for an unblemished season and a trip to the National Championship.

Were they looking past this Iowa team as they focused on the BCS Computers? Did poor play calling limit the Nittany Lions against Iowa? Were the players unprepared? These are questions that cannot be answered in some blog post or even by the greatest of sports writers.

Penn State was just beat, and a lot of credit has to be given to this Iowa team who quickly realized they were going to be in this game all night even as they watched the Lions put together three drives over 70 yards in the first half (most of it on the ground). Iowa made some revisions at the half and only allowed 10 Penn State second half points (all coming in the 3rd quarter).

Although Penn State failed to capitalize on numerous opportunities, the Nittany Lions did cash in late in the third quarter after Iowa quarterback Stanzi fumbled. Four plays later, receiver Derrick Williams took a direct snap and scurried nine yards for the score which eased the tension of Penn State fans - but only momentarily.

Iowa hung in there and quietly put together two scoring drives in the 4th quarter which had Penn State fans feeling queasy and shocked. This couldn’t be happening, not again. But as the field goal split the uprights with :01 second remaining – a silence fell over Nittany Nation as everyone realied that they had been tricked into watching the same movie twice.

That Minnesota loss in 1999 came on a game-ending 32-yard field goal. With one second left on Saturday, the young Iowa kicker split the uprights from 31 yards, setting off a wild celebration.

"Their balloon still isn't busted," Paterno said. "If we win the next two we'll have an opportunity to go to a big bowl." However it’s going to take a few days for Penn State’s players and fans to buy into that thinking as the “what ifs” and “whys” will still linger for a while longer.

Penn State has a chance to win the Big 10 Championship and represent our torn and tattered conference in the Rose Bowl. Something tells me that Penn Stater's will be thinking of something else for years to come.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Iowa City, IA-11/08/08

"There were sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground."
-James Taylor

Friday, November 7, 2008

WHEN POINTS DON'T MATTER

I was trying to find an interesting angle for Penn State's game this weekend against the Hawkeyes and I think I found it.

Since Penn State joined the Big Ten, the Lions have a losing record against just three teams. The two obvious ones are Michigan (4-10) and Ohio State (6-10), but you might not have guessed that Iowa (5-6) is the third. The Lions won the first three games in the series after joining the Big Ten, but Iowa has won six of the last eight matchups, including five in a row from 2000-2004.

The series has featured some memorable moments over the years, including the first overtime game in Penn State history in 2000 (a double OT loss to the Hawkeyes) and the lamentable 6-4 homecoming loss in 2004. Back to that interseting angle that I was talking about though (click on it to enlarge)...

Notice that only two teams, Michigan and Ohio State, in the Big Ten average more points than the Lions in head-to-head matchups against Penn State since 1993. But look at Iowa and remember that they are the third team that has a winning record against the Lions. Although the Hawkeyes are leading the series, Penn State outscores Iowa, on average, by nearly ten points every time they play.

If that shows anything it's that this series can't be predicted. It doesn't matter that Penn State has the better team this year or is favored to win the game on Saturday, it's going to take a strong effort from the Lions to come away with a victory against Kirk Ferentz and company at Kinnick Stadium, a place and a team that has always given Penn State problems.

FIGHTING AGAINST THE UNSEEN

Sometimes, when people are watching you, even the most mundane tasks can become difficult. How do you feel when some well-meaning stranger asks you what time it is? (try to remember before you had cell phones and actually had to look at your analog watch and think) How about speaking or even reading in front of a large group of people? Hell, I even know guys that can't pee in a public restroom if there are other people in there.

For weeks now, and especially after the big win over the Buckeyes, Penn State fans have been clamoring and begging for some attention. Now they have their wish. The Lions' game this weekend against the Iowa Hawkeyes won't break any television rating records, but one can safely assume that almost every college football fan, and most coaches and writers, will be paying close attention to what goes down in Iowa City on Saturday. Going into Kinnick Stadium and playing against the Hawkeyes on any weekend is no mundane task, but the Lions will have to guard against a new kind of pressure this Saturday, one that's only going to grow over the team's last three games.

The number of people who think that the Lions deserve a crack at the national title this season with three games still left to play is shrinking fast. Pundits will offer that the Lions' schedule isn't as strong as some of the teams behind them in the rankings or that the Big Ten isn't deserving of a third straight representative in the title game. They'll hypothesize that Penn State couldn't stay on the field with teams like Texas, Florida or USC and that the Lions' win against Ohio State was boring and unimpressive. And they'll watch.

They'll watch to see if they're right so they can write their snooty columns and wave their fingers at the Big Ten. They'll watch to look for chinks in Penn State's armor and hope to see the Lions fall to a lesser opponent to clear the path for a sexier national championship game matchup, and they won't be alone. Fans from Gainesville, Fl to Austin, Tx to Los Angeles to Norman, Ok will be just as interested in Penn State's game against the Hawkeyes as they are about their own team's game, hoping that the Lions slip up and open the door to the title for their school.

The perceived weight of a nation full of doubters won't be the only invisible obstacle for Penn State, the lingering lethargy of a week away from live competition will have to be shaken off quickly if the Lions wish to complete their first perfect road record since 1994. Since joining the Big Ten, this year marks the 14th season that Joe Paterno has had the "benefit" of at least one bye week, but the first since 2005. In the games immediately following the previous 19 off-weeks in Big Ten play, the Lions are 13-6.

Although many of the players on this year's squad haven't yet had to deal with a regular season bye week during their career, Penn State has successfully negotiated long breaks before winning bowl games in each of the last three seasons. For those looking for a bad omen, the last two losses for Penn State after bye weeks have both come against the Iowa Hawkeyes, in 2003 and 2004.

Staying focused in the face of extra adversity is nothing new for this Lions' team. All pre-season and season long, they have had to show terrific focus when being asked about off-field transgressions or the health of their coach, and they've successfully stared down the pressure of the long losing streak to Michigan and the horrors in the Horseshoe. Through it all, the Lions have won; nine in a row to be exact. If Penn State hopes to give its coach his ninth 10-0 start, it will have to put the blinders on one more time and show distractions won't derail this team's run to a Big Ten championship.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

NOT TO WORRY PSU FANS

Penn State fans have been talking about it all week. As we all sat around on Saturday night cheering our guts out for Texas Tech, nobody conceived that with a win, the Red Raiders would play leapfrog to Penn State. Tech was ranked 7th in the BCS standings, and had a computer ranking of 10th. Furthermore, when the USA Today Coaches poll, and Harris poll came out around 1:00pm on Sunday afternoon, Penn State was listed at #2, behind only Alabama. Clearly, there was no way that Penn State could be ranked anything other than #2 when the BCS Standings were released later that day, right? Wrong.

With Tech's win over #1 Texas, they catapulted themselves to a tie for first place in the computer rankings with Alabama. The BCS standings are generated through percentages, and because Tech had nearly as many votes as Penn State in the two human polls, the computer portion put them ahead of the Lions. Actually, the computers think so highly of Texas, that even with one loss, Texas remains ahead of Penn State in the computers. (Texas is 3rd, Penn State is 4th). That is completely absurd.

With that said, let's all just chill. There's no reason to get in a big tussy about anything yet. Let Texas Tech enjoy their time as the #2 ranked team. It's not going to last very long. After a home game with #9 Oklahoma State, the Red Raiders would have to win 3 consecutive games. At #6 Oklahoma, then Baylor, then a Big 12 Championship against Mizzou. I just don't see that happening.

Alabama would be more likely to win their remaining games, but still has a very tough road ahead. An interesting homecoming for Alabama's head coach Nick Saban awaits this weekend when Bama visits #16 LSU. (Saban was the head coach at LSU before fleeing to the NFL for 2 seasons. This is Saban's first trip back to Baton Rouge). Many Tigers fans feel betrayed by Saban and are hoping to spoil his return. If Alabama finds a way to beat LSU, they will have to play Mississippi State and Auburn to remain undefeated and clinch a spot in the SEC Championship game. There, they would likely be playing Florida, a team that looks unstoppable right now.

If Bama managed to win these last 4 games, finishing the regular season at 13-0, they would be deserving of a spot in the title game. Likewise, if Texas Tech found themselves at 13-0 a month from now, they would also be deserving of a spot. This is a month down the road. Last year, teams ranked 1-2 in the BCS finished the season 3-7. A ton of football is left to be played.

There is also a notion that Penn State could be jumped by a 1 loss team from a better conference. Although technically, anything could happen, this is highly unlikely. #4 Texas, #5 Florida, and #6 Oklahoma are not in position to jump Penn State in either human polls, and only Texas has a higher computer ranking. Texas does not have any remaining games on their schedule that would suggest more votes in the human polls, Florida's computer ranking can not improve until the SEC Championship game, and Oklahoma is just too far behind right now to jump an undefeated Penn State.

Undefeated is the key. Joe Paterno said in his Tuesday press conference, the only thing he is worried about is Iowa. He's worried for good reason. Iowa, although 5-4, is a pretty good football team. All of their losses have combined for only 12 points, and they have outscored their opponents at home 160-46. They would love nothing more than to spoil Penn State's undefeated dream season. Before worrying about anything else, let's jump on board with Joe. Take care of Iowa.

One last thought to leave you with. The last time Penn State was 9-0 was 1999. That year, Minnesota kept the Lions from becoming 10-0 with a 24-23 heart breaker. Also that year, the Nittany Lions had a different group of players. Soon to have the #1, and #2 picks in the NFL draft, Penn State did not have the kind of focus that this year's team has. Maybe it was because of a star-studded cast looking ahead, I don't know. I just don't see this team doing that.

Since ESPN's Outside the Lines broadcast in August, the entire country has seen the obstacles this 2008 squad has had to overcome. Aside from the off field incidents, lets not forget the on field adversity Penn State has faced. Twice, Penn State came back from touchdown deficits against a ranked Illinois team en route to a 38-24 victory. After an atrocious start against Michigan, Penn State battled back to trounce the Wolverines for the first time since 1996. Then, the team effort against Ohio State, in Columbus, at primetime, showed how special this 2008 team really is.

Up to this point, the Nittany Lions have proved they can win. With three games remaining, they're going to have to keep it going. There is a lot of football left to be played, everywhere in the country. If Penn State can continue their winning ways, everything else will take care of itself. LET'S GO STATE!

Monday, November 3, 2008

LIONS MUST CARRY THE FLAG FOR THE BIG TEN

The Penn State Nittany Lions football team spent more than a century carving out a life for itself. Since way back in 1886, the Lions built themselves into an eastern power thanks to strong scheduling and the invaluable help of an English major from Brown who decided to make it his life work to show that a special blend of football and academics could thrive at an agricultural school in central Pennsylvania.

Through its first 100 years program had racked up undefeated seasons and national championships, building a brand easily recognized from coast to coast. Then, in the early 1990s, Penn State decided that it had had enough of going alone. Penn State accepted an offer to join the Big Ten in all sports, playing its first football season in the conference in 1993. However, an argument could be made that Penn State hasn't really been a part of the Big Ten until now.

With much of the nation taking every possible opportunity to insult the Big Ten and point out its inferiority to conferences like the SEC and Big XII, the fans of the eleven schools that make up the country's most popular conference must rally behind Penn State to save its image.

When the Lions became the eleventh team in the Big Ten, the excitement generated in the Penn State program wasn't exactly matched by the other conference members. As a matter of fact, Northwestern didn't want to vote Penn State in until it was assured that it wasn't going to be sacrificed to make room for the Lions.

For the first few years, the traditionally Midwest conference did not take too kindly to the newcomer from the East. Situated about five hours east of Ohio State, the former easternmost school in the Big Ten, Penn State was certainly treated like an unwanted adopted brother by the other conference powers.

The Lions didn't help themselves when they whipped the rest of the league in historic fashion in just their second year as a member, becoming the first Big Ten school to ever go 12-0 and win the Rose Bowl. Over time; however, Penn State started to become assimilated to its new home. Intensifying rivalries with schools like Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin and others helped legitimize the Lions as an official member of the conference, but, perhaps ironically, it was the Lions' struggles that may have done the most to cement the Lions' place in the league.

When Penn State suffered through four losing seasons in five years earlier in this decade, it satisfied fans of the other ten schools to know that not even a team of Penn State's continued success could come in and dominate their conference. It had to bother those fans to see the Lions come into the Big Ten and put up double-digit wins in three of their first four seasons.

Of course, it wasn't just the Lions gaining from its new relationship. Penn State gave the Big Ten a doorway to the Philadelphia and New York television markets, it gave the league a third "national program" along with Ohio State and Michigan, it provided high-profile out-of-conference wins against schools like USC (twice), Texas, Auburn, Texas Tech, Nebraska, Miami, Florida State and Oregon and it provided success in bowl games. As a matter of fact, the Lions are responsible for 18% of all bowl game victories for the conference since 1993.

This season, after fifteen years as a member of the Big Ten, Penn State has seen the top and the bottom of the league standings. Forged by the fires of a decade and a half of close games, upsets and blowouts, the Lions are no longer the odd man out in the history-rich conference. This season, more than any other in the past, the Big Ten is depending on Penn State to save it from the attacks of pundits, experts and fans who have cruelly and unexpectedly turned on the traditionally-revered conference.

Now, it is Penn State that must carry the flag for the conference that absorbed it just a short time ago and prove that the Big Ten is not the paper thin league it has been wrongly labeled as. It is Penn State that must deliver back to the conference the respect it once had, by taking on a giant from the Big XII or SEC and be the one left standing. And, for perhaps the first time, it will be the entirety of the league's fans that will be in its corner.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

A LETTER TO THE BCS COMPUTERS

Dear BCS Computers,

Before I start this letter, I just want to say that I’m a fan of yours. While everyone is out there bitching and moaning about you, I’ve stuck up for you – I know I couldn’t do that job! However, I feel that you’ve made a big mistake this weekend. Now I know that the Texas/Texas Tech game was one of – if not the most exciting game so far this season. But you’ve made a mistake and ranked the Red Raiders above the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Texas Tech is a great team without a doubt Mr. BCS Computers, however you clearly weren’t paying attention in the second quarter of Saturday’s game. If it wasn’t for Texas’ sluggish start (on the road with a hostile crowd), the Red Raider’s would have lost that game as they lost the second half by a score of 27-17. That’s 27 points given up in the second half! Penn State has only let up more than 17 points once (24 to Illinois). Tech has given up 24 points to Eastern Washington, 19 points to Nevada, 28 points to Kansas State, and 25 points to Texas A&M. It's clear that they've had to out gun each and every team they've played this year.

I know you’re a fan of offense, don’t worry I am too. But we can’t forget about the defensive side of the ball. Did you know that Texas Tech is giving up an average of 349.6 yards a game? That doesn’t seem like a team either of us would like to see play for the National Championship. I know you’re probably scrambling your mega bytes right now trying to figure out how many ypg Penn State gives up – don’t hurt yourself, I’ll tell you…it’s 265.9. That’s almost 100 yards less. Hmm, it makes you think, doesn’t it?

I know…I know. I can already hear you grumbling. Texas Tech has a higher strength of schedule than Penn State. Before you say a word – let me remind you that Penn State pummeled Oregon State out of the Pac 10 earlier in the year by a score of 45-14. That’s the same Oregon State team that beat your beloved USC Trojans. I know you must have shorted out a few circuits on that night after your Trojan baby boy’s lost. Never fear, we all know you have the power to make them jump Penn State too.

Who has Texas Tech beat computers? Yes, they beat # 19 Kansas – I’m aware of that. However before you start telling me about Penn State’s schedule, remember that the Red Raider’s have played Eastern Washington, Nevada, SMU, UMASS, Kansas State, Nebraska and Texas A&M. Not exactly the cream of the crop. UMASS? Marcus Camby is is probably their offensive coordinator. You bite your tongue the next time you try to bitch about Penn State’s strength of schedule.

I apologize, that was rude. But I can't help it, I feel like I’m writing this letter to you with the help of thousands of other angry college football fans. I know it's not completely your fault, but this season is beginning to remind us Penn Stater's of 1994. You weren’t even a twinkle in our eye then, but Penn State finished undefeated that season and had to watch the National Championship from home.

I’m not asking you to change your mind and put Penn State into the number two spot right now. I’m simply asking you to take a step back next week when making your choice. There’s a lot on the line here and a lot of different angles to look at the situation from. I know that there a lot of other great teams too. Yes, you’re correct – Florida did look pretty good on the road in Georgia. So did USC and Oklahoma. But Joe Paterno’s boys have looked just as good as anyone else in the country – and more disciplined (Penn State had zero turnovers on the road against a very strong Ohio State team – with a very loud crowd). You just don’t see that type of disciplined and well-coached football from many other teams in the Nation (certainly not from Texas Tech who had 8 penalties for 79 yards at home against Texas).

Thanks for your time BCS Computers. I know you are swamped this time of year. We do, we really do appreciate all the hard work you do, but please, please rethink your decision and put the correct teams in the top two spots next weekend. You’ll be doing the whole country a favor.

Sincerely,

Daniel A. DeMonte

P.S. I know you don’t have a heart – but if you did, you would want to see Joe Paterno have the chance to win another National Championship.

GATOR HATERS


Maybe it was just the tint on my television malfunctioning or maybe it was CBS's broadcast going haywire, but I thought the usually bright orange helmets of the Florida Gators looked black on Saturday during its game against Georgia.

The Gators avenged a 42-30 loss to the Dawgs in 2007 by handing head coach Mark Richt his worst loss ever, 49-10. But anybody who watched that game couldn't help but notice the cockiness that seems to flow from head coach Urban Meyer down to his players. Whether it was the dozen or so throat slashes, the dancing on the sidelines during the game, the pushing and shoving and after the whistle, the embarassing antics of Brandon Spikes, the taunting of the Georgia fans in the crowd, still throwing touchdowns with the game well in hand, calling a timeout with 30 seconds left, the disgusting "walk-back" of a kick by Chris Rainey, nothing was as despicable as the way Meyer let it all go unchecked and then took his own dig at Georgia and Richt after the game was over. Maybe he'll explain that in his next book.

It wasn't always that way though. Almost two decades ago, when Steve Spurrier took over the head coaching reins in Gainesville, Florida was an easy team to root for. The Gators were set against the filthy Miami Hurricanes and the not-much-better Florida State. They were the Fun-n-Gun offense, who played in the stadium with the awesome nickname. They scored points by the ton and had a head coach that would break out quips like, "You can't spell Citrus without UT," or the classic one about Auburn's library burning down and two books being lost, one of which wasn't colored in yet. But times have changed, and the Gators, more successful than ever, are also finding themselves in the unfamiliar role as the villians in college football.

Florida found its greatest success in 1996 when the Gators lost just one game and were lead to the national championship game by Heisman-winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel. The Gators' image took a little bit of a hit when Florida was awarded a second-chance game against Florida State after several other teams lost late in the year and Spurrier whined about his quarterbacks being roughed up by the 'Noles. Spurrier would last a few more years in Florida, having fully entrenched the Gators in college football's upper echelon.

The Ron Zook era that followed is remembered not only for falling short of expectations but also for the fireronzook.com website that was launched by Gator fans the day after his hiring. The Zooker lasted only three seasons and his departure marked, in my opinion, the end of innocence in Gainesville.

The Gators brought in Meyer, an easily unlikeable fellow roundly described as arrogant by fellow coaches and recruits alike. Meyer publicly begged and lobbied for his team to play in the national title game in 2006 and got his wish, marking the tenth anniversary of the school's first title with a second trophy. The accusations of Meyer run the gambit from running up the score (see Miami and Georgia 2008), illegally contacting recruits (see the story of Meyer handing a cell phone to Tim Tebow moments after the sophomore stepped off the Heisman podium last December to tell a high-profile recruit to come to Florida) and a lack of discipline in his program (see Ronnie Wilson and Jarvis Moss). Still, these are just accusations and much of the distaste for Meyer and his sanctimonious quaterback probably stem from the huge success that he's enjoyed over the last four seasons.

Tim Tebow, while breaking records and winning Heismans, is quickly becoming the JJ Redick of college football. Sporting a goofy "please-slap-my-face" smile when things are going right and crying when he loses, Tebow, and his reported 890 SAT score, has transformed the Gators from a likable program to one whose losses bring joy to legions of fans.

While nothing can be known for certain for a few more weeks, I have a sneaky suspicion the "Boys from Ol' Florida" will have something to say about this Penn State's team fate before it's all said and done. Whether the Gators will be the one-loss team that leapfrogs Penn State and cause my hunger strike outside of Dolphin Stadium or its Florida that the Lions line up against on January 8th for the National Title, I feel that Gainesville and State College are on a collision course.

WHO'S NUMBER 1?

Now what? After an unbelievable ending in Lubbock, Tx on Saturday night, more questions were raised than answered on this weekend of college football. The biggest question...who's number 1?

The Texas Longhorns' improbable string of wins against stellar competition finally came to an end against Mike Leach's Red Raiders on Saturday night. The 'Horns had defeated #1 Oklahoma, #11 Missouri and #6 Oklahoma State in consecutive weeks, but were outscored by the seventh-ranked Red Raiders, 39-33, thanks to a sensational last-second touchdown by Michael Crabtree.

The loss leaves the top slot in the BCS Rankings open, and there are a number of willing candidates to fill that honor. Let's take a look at some of the top teams as we try to answer, who's number one?

ALABAMA
The most obvious choice to take over the top ranking could be #2 Alabama, who rolled over Arkanasas State (a team PSU was scheduled to play this year before the Lions swapped it out for Oregon State) at home, 35-0. But the Tide, despite all the hype it's gained, has not played consistently all season long and only has one victory against a top-25 BCS team.

That win came a few weeks ago against the Georgia Bulldogs, who forgot that they had a game today against the Florida Gators.

FLORIDA
The Gators sure do look mighty right now. Since losing at home to Mississippi, Florida has outscored its four subsequent opponents 201-43, including a 39-point beatdown of the Dawgs Saturday in Jacksonville. Had Florida not slipped up against the 'Rebs in the Swamp, they would probably be the new #1, but there still three BCS conference undefeated teams, and that's just too many right now to put the Gators up there.

OKLAHOMA
The Sooners were completely neutered by Texas in the Red River Rivalry a few weeks ago. One of the best teams in the country, the loss to the Longhorns put Oklahoma 1.5 games behind Texas and left them little chance to win their own division, let alone the conference or the national title. Oklahoma could play with, if not beat, any team in the country - but they'll need a lot of help before they regain number one.

PENN STATE
The Lions have been as consistent as anybody else in the country this year while dominating their schedule and rolling to a 9-0 record. They have lead every team they've played, except Ohio State, by at least 17 in the fourth quarter and have won every game by at least 14, except for the seven-point at the 'Shoe. Penn State has just as strong a case as Alabama to be ranked #1 after the Texas loss, but it would be unthinkable to have the Lions jump over the Tide during a week when they didn't even suit up to play.

TEXAS TECH
There's no question the Red Raiders had the most impressive victory this weekend, upending Texas, but Tech was only ranked seventh coming into the game and still has its toughest games ahead of it. Next week, the Raiders host Oklahoma State and a trip to Norman follows in a few weeks. An undefeated Texas Tech squad would have the strongest argument for the top spot at the end of the regular season, but right now, they haven't done enough.

USC
The Trojans have arguably the most talented roster in America, but a lack of focus against the Oregon State Beavers on a Thursday night in September continues to haunt USC. The Trojans would be a worthy number one, but they just haven't proved as much on the field as some of the other teams above. Still, like Oklahoma, if the right teams lose, USC could find itself back in the top spot, just not this week.

At this point in the season, arguing over who is number one does little more than waste the six unimportant days of week between Saturdays, but it could be an indicator of how the voters will lean when the poll really does matter. Expect to see Penn State in the top two when the polls are revealed tomorrow, but that could change as early as next week if both Alabama and Texas Tech win on Saturday.

The Longhorns' loss was great news for Penn State fans, but the Lions aren't homefree yet. Along with winning its final three games the way it won the first eight, Penn State likely needs either Alabama or Texas Tech to lose once if it wants to play in Miami on January 8th.

LONGHORNS LOSE

Texas Tech pulled out a win against Texas.

Penn State WILL move to #2, or #1 tomorrow at 12:54pm, EST.

Check back then for more info...

Saturday, November 1, 2008

9:45 UPDATE

If nothing else happens this evening, Penn State fans can celebrate one thing for certain. For the first time in 33 years, the Michigan Wolverines will not be invited to a bowl game. They lost a pitiful game today to Purdue, and will win no more than 5 games this season.

In other news, #7 ranked Texas Tech is beating #1 ranked Texas 22-6 at the half. The Red Raiders look to be the one team who can knock off the Longhorns, and spoil Texas' undefeated season. With a Texas Tech win, Penn State will surely move to #2, and put themselves in control of their own destiny.

Mix up a Jack & Coke, or grab a cold Busch Pounder, and enjoy the 2nd half. What a great day of football this has been so far. (Pitt beat Notre Dame in 4 OT, Florida pounced on Georgia, and MSU needed a last second FG to outlast Wisconsin). If Mack Brown can't find an answer for Michael Crabtree in the lockeroom, Penn State is moving themselves as the #2 team in the country.

WHERE WE STAND


Put on your favorite sweatpants, take your famous buffalo chicken dip out of the oven, and prop up your feet. Today is Penn State's bye week, and it's time to sit back and enjoy some college football. At 9-0, and ranked #3 in the country, the Nittany Lions are coming off a win for the ages. Going into last Saturday night's showdown, Ohio State had only lost 3 home games in the previous 7 seasons. Penn State went into Columbus, and made it their 4th.

To first time viewers of the Nittany Lions, perceptions might be somewhat skewed. Lack of offense made it appear that Penn State does not deserve to be ranked near the high powered teams of the Big 12 and SEC Conferences. Let's not forget, the Nittany Lions have scored at will on every other opponent this season, averaging over 42 points a game. They put up 45 points against an Oregon State team that would beat the mighty USC Trojans just two weeks later. Ohio State was fighting for their season. They were ranked #9 nationally in total defense, were playing in front of a record home crowd, and had beaten Penn State every meeting in Columbus since 1978. I don't care who you are, in this matchup, a win is a win.

While other teams are winning high scoring shootouts, or consistant defensive struggles, Penn State is doing it on both sides of the ball. Among the other top 10 teams, only USC ranks in the top 14 in both scoring offense and scoring defense. Texas, the #1 ranked team in the country ranks 5th in offense, yet 28th in defense. Alabama, just the opposite, is the nation's # 5 team in defense, but only stacks up as the 34th best offensive team. The Nittany Lions are 3rd in scoring defense, and 8th in scoring offense, making them the most balanced football team in the land. Remember, just because a conference might be better from top to bottom, doesnt mean that the best team in that conference is better than the best team in another conference.

So now, Penn State has solidified themselves as the consensus #3 ranked team in the country. (The Lions were already ranked #3 in both the Harris Poll, and Coaches Poll, but have now moved from #7 to #3 in the computer rankings as well). It is very unlikely that Penn State will be able to jump over either #2 Alabma or #1 Texas unless one of those teams loses. It is also very unlikely that both of those 2 teams will remain undefeated.

Texas plays in Lubbock tonight at undefeated Texas Tech, at Kansas in 2 weeks, and a probable Big 12 Championsihp game. Alabama still has to play in Baton Rouge against LSU, Auburn at home, and a possible SEC championship game against the winner of today's Florida vs Georgia game. So hop on your lazy boy, put on the surround sound and enjoy some football today. If Penn State can finish what they started, and either one of these top two team stumbles, look for the Nittany Lions to be in Miami on January 8th.