T-E-A-M

For the first time since Penn State's thrilling run in the NIT Tournament last March, the squad was able to put together a full 40 minute team effort, which in-coincidentally resulted in their first Big Ten win of the season.

After relying on the prowess of Talor Battle all season, the rest of Ed DeChellis' squad decided to show up and bail the junior out on a night he was struggling from the floor (2-8, 1-6 from three). All five Lion starters scored in double figures, and it was the first time since Penn State had two players score at least 20 points since January 24th of last year.

Leading the charge were F David Jackson and G Chris Babb, who both had career games after heavily under-performing for the majority of the season. Jackson, who has struggled to find his rhythm on the floor this season, played with confidence as he recorded his seventh straight double-digit scoring game. Jeff Brooks and Andrew Jones added 12 and 10 points respectively, on a night the Lions hit 56% from the floor and 41% from behind the arc.

However, as the Lions are traveling to Ann Arbor tomorrow (a place they've only won once in their previous 15 tries), they can't get caught up celebrating their first Big Ten victory. When Michigan made the trip to State College in early January, the Lions blew a 17 point lead, eventually losing by 9 in front of a paltry crowd of just over 5,000.

But, if they can build off Wednesday's performance, the Lions should be in good shape to contend for their second straight victory. With the exception of Babb (the only player in double figures), the Lions shot horribly from the floor against Michigan on January 7th. The Wolverines (13-12, 6-7), utilize a mix of a 1-3-1 and 2-3 zone which the Lions have traditionally struggled with, however against Northwestern on Wednesday, PSU had their way with the 1-3-1. Jones and Andrew Ott were consistently able to get inside the center of the zone, and Battle and freshman Tim Frazier had no trouble beating the Wildcats on the baseline or with the backdoor cut. While Michigan is holding their opponents to only 57 points over the past 10 games, the Lions will come into the Crisler Arena with the same game plan they had against Northwestern - get the ball to the middle forcing two guys to cover the ball, and kick out for an open look.

While Michigan's offense, led by DeShawn Sims and Manny Harris, is certainly more dynamic than the Wildcats, Penn State was able to keep them to 16 points during the first half of their last contest. If Penn State's 2-3 zone can successfully extend to keep Michigan from getting open looks from three, the inside three should certainly be able to hold their own on the defensive glass.

It's not very often you see Battle have two sub par games in a row, so you can look for him to come out hungry off the opening tip. If his supporting cast can come out with the same enthusiasm and confidence they had earlier in the week, the Lions should be able to stay close until the final whistle. Hopefully it'll be a flight home the TEAM can be proud of, not just Battle.

MICH-AGAIN

Jamelle Cornley couldn't do anything but sit and watch (and listen) as his team was serenaded by the Michigan student section with chants of "We Own Penn State," as the final seconds bled away in a 71-51 loss to the Wolverines on Thursday night. It was the team's first lost in five games, but fifteenth loss in sixteen trips to Ann Arbor.

There's only so many ways to score points in a basketball game and Penn State's options began and ended with Cornley on Thursday. The senior accounted for nearly half of his team's offense, pouring in 25 points, including an uncharacteristic 3-of-4 night from behind the three-point arc. The Nittany Lions shot just 32% from the floor as a team and missed 17 of 25 three-point attempts, while Michigan connected on a 47% clip and enjoyed a 31-9 advantage in bench production.

It was a night to forget for guards Talor Battle and Stanley Pringle who shot a combined 6-29 (20%) and had six of the team's 13 turnovers. Jeff Brooks and David Jackson continued their season-long "deer in a headlight" impersonation combining for zero points, three turnovers and five fouls in 32 minutes.

Penn State's last lead of the game was a two-point cushion with 15 minutes left in the game, but the Lions were outscored 17-3 over the next seven minutes as Michigan blew the game open.

The loss was especially frustrating since the Wolverines had no answer for Cornley inside, yet the Lions' offensive attack regressed into a series of one-on-one battles ending with contested jumpers instead of running the offense through Cornley and allowing him to control the paint and the pace of the game. Ed DeChellis even mentioned that same point on his way to the locker room at halftime, yet no adjustment was made in the second half.

This game is not a deal-breaker, Crisler Arena proved a tough place for Duke to play earlier this year as well, but Penn State better get this loss behind them quickly with the Wisconsin Badgers coming to town on Sunday and the Lions getting ready to face ranked teams in three of its next five games.

Anytime you score 50 points in a game and one player has half of them, you're not going to have a good chance of winning. It just really sucks that this loss had to come with former coach Jerry Dunn on the other bench and those fishstick-breathed Michigan students mocking our team until the final buzzer.

ROAD WARRIORS AT IT AGAIN

The last thing Penn State fans need is another reason to hate the University of Michigan.

The second-place Nittany Lions will take their conference-best four-game winning streak into the Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor Thursday, its second of five road games scheduled in the month of February.

The Wolverines and Lions certainly represent two ships passing in the night. Behind CollegeHoops.net's national player of the week honoree, Talor Battle, Penn State is streaking to its best record in years while Michigan is plummeting after a hot start, dropping five of its last six conference games, and in the unfamiliar role of spoiler against the Lions.

To add insult to injury, two of John Beilein's players have suffered flagrant-foul ejections in each of its last two contests (both losses) against Ohio State and Purdue. The Wolverines' leading scorer, Manny Harris, was tossed out of the team's game against the Boilermakers early in the second half after an vicious elbow delivered to the face of Cris Kramer. While Harris has avoided a suspension, teammate Zack Novak wasn't as lucky after his ejection for an excessively hard foul against the Buckeyes earned him a one-game benching.

This is a dangerous time to catch the Wolverines, as it will be as desperate a team as the Lions will face all season. Penn State has only won once in 14 trips to Ann Arbor, but the Nits broke winless streaks of 15 games at Indiana and 16 games at East Lansing already this season.

The first time these two teams met this season, Penn State led by as many as 26 points on its way to a comfortable 15 point win. The Lions shot 58% from the floor that night and were led by Jamelle Cornley who left Michigan defenders absolutely dumbfounded. Don't expect it to be that easy in Ann Arbor, but this is a game the Lions must have to sustain momentum and keep pace with the upper crust of teams in the conference.

The four-game winning streak that the Lions are riding is the team's longest in 13 years. As a matter of fact, Thursday's game has a little extra meaning for those of us old enough to remember that team 13 years ago and what happened when it took on the Michigan Wolverines.

The Nittany Lions basketball program had never had its stock rise so high. Not only did Penn State have a competitive basketball team in just it's fifth season in the Big Ten, but the school had just cut the ribbon on the brand new Bryce Jordan Center, moving the team's home games across campus from venerable Rec Hall in mid-season.

The Nittany Lions had one of the best back courts in the nation with sharpshooter Pete Lisicky playing the two-guard and current assistant coach Dan Earl running the point. Inside were forwards Glenn Sekunda and Matt Gaudio and the shot blocker extraordinaire, Calvin Booth.

Remarkably, all five starters were averaging double figures as the Nittany Lions raced out to a 13-0 start, the best in school history, and a #14 national ranking. Penn State had everybody wondering if they were for real and were granted a huge stage to showcase their talent on when CBS made the Lions' game against Michigan a national broadcast in late January.

Simply put, the Lions choked.

Penn State was down by as many as eleven in the first half and committed 21 turnovers in the game, rarely looking like the team that had played so efficiently all season. Still, trailing by one, the team had a chance to keep the perfect season alive when Earl's runner in the lane was swatted away by Maceo Baston at the buzzer.

Sure, there were excuses as to why the Lions came up short:

Lisicky was nursing a bum ankle that had kept him out of the team's last game and wasn't as effective as he usually was...Sekunda claimed after the game that he was wide open on the last possession and Earl should have passed it instead of trying to loft a teardrop shot over the Wolverines' center...and many more could havea, would haves and should haves.

The bottom line was that Michigan had cracked the Lions confidence and the team would drop six of its last fourteen games before a first-round exit in the NCAA Tournament to Arkansas, the victim of a classic 12-5 upset.

Nobody wishes that kind of ending for this year's team, but the 2008 Lions could learn a valuable lesson from that 1996 squad. It only takes one bad game, one momentary lack of focus for all your momentum to disintegrate and there's no telling if you can get it back again before it's too late. Battle and company must play just as sharp against Michigan as they did against Michigan State, and continue to show why this team refuses to be identified with any of the underachieving teams that came before it.

WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING...

While you've been sleeping this January, the Penn State men's basketball team has been ever so quietly, sneakily, and dare I say confidently building their first NCAA tournament-worthy resume since 2001.

Although the Nittany Lions have tournament aspirations every season, they haven't been even remotely close since Joe Crispin and Titus Ivory led the Nittany Lions to the Sweet 16 in 2001, when they knocked off two-seed North Carolina.

This year, the Nittany Lions have their best team since 2001, yet their work is still cut out for them. Coming into this week, their RPI lingered in the mid-80s. The non-conference strength of schedule was not good at all, but Penn State appears to be making up for that with solid conference play. They currently sit at 15-5 (4-3). This is the fastest Penn State has ever reached 15 wins in a season.

Unlike years past, where a road game was an almost certain loss and home games were always a toss up in an empty and dark Bryce Jordan Center, they haven't had a bad loss in the Big Ten this season. The team lost at Wisconsin and Minnesota, and managed a furious comeback at home against Michigan State only to lose by 5. Last night, they picked up their second quality conference win, and did so in convincing fashion (something new for Lions fans). Michigan has been inconsistent, entering State College with two straight losses, but they still have a very respectable RPI due to several top-notch victories (UCLA, Duke). Penn State beat the Wolverines by 15 and had a lead of 26 at one point in the second half.

Everything Penn State fans have been waiting and pleading for from the Nittany Lions happened last night against the Wolverines of Michigan. Ed DeChellis used a great mix of man and zone defense, keeping the Michigan offense off balance and cold from the floor all night. Big Ten leading scorer Manny Harris was held to only 4 points. Meanwhile on offense, the Lions made all of the extra passes, hit their open shots and were patient with the ball.

See highlights HERE...

The Lions got stellar outside shooting, as Talor Battle, Stanley Pringle, and Danny Morrissey combined for 9-13 shooting from three. Inside, Jamelle Cornley was a beast as he was 8-9 from the paint, with 11 rebounds.

Games like that will clearly grab the selection committees attention, however they must come in multiple amounts.

A very winnable game against Iowa awaits Saturday evening, then the Lions will have an entire week off. After that, they have to visit both Michigan schools on the road, play Wisconsin at home, go to Purdue, host Minnesota, and head to Illinois and Ohio State. Needless to say, they better enjoy that rest period. Considering their traditional road woes (they were 2-12 in road/neutral games last season, and currently sit 4-3 this season), this will be a tough run which will truly show the Nittany Lions true colors.

However, if they can keep their momentum rolling and play as well as they (and we) know they can, those dancing shoes might just need to be polished. But the team needs to keep in mind that if they let up even a little in a tough Big Ten Conference, they'll yet again be trying to persuade the NIT brass instead of the NCAA committee at the end of the season.

MICHIGAN WEEKEND WRAP-UP

The weekend is coming to an end in a few minutes and we’ll be forced to place the memories of yet another memorable Penn State victory on the backburner as a tough road game in Columbus is only days away.

But before we turn our focus to Ohio State, let’s take a look back on exactly what took place this weekend as the Lions were finally able to end the ever-so-long losing streak to the University of Michigan.

As one of my recent posts on The Floating Lion was all about the "signs" that pointed to a Penn State victory over the Wolverines, you can be sure I was a little nervous at the way the beginning of the game unfolded.

• First off, the Blue Band’s drum major failed to deliver on both of his pre-game flips. Everyone knows this is a sign that Penn State is due for a long day.

• The F-18’s that flew over Beaver Stadium were a good 10 seconds late as they were scheduled to fly over as the National Anthem was ending. (For the record, they still made my pants a little tighter. Video can be seen HERE.)

• Center A.Q. Shipley snapped Penn State’s first snap from scrimmage over Daryll Clark’s head for a 12-yard loss.

• Michigan’s tailback Brandon Minor looked like he was going to be a major problem early on as had no trouble finding open holes in the sluggish PSU defense.

• Clark gave away an early fumble and nearly another one after he botched a snap.

• Kevin “I Make it Rain” Kelly missed his second field goal of the season early on, on a 45-yarder that went off the right upright.
  

Yes, as Michigan quickly built leads of 10-0 and 17-7 (both Penn State's largest deficits of the season), it appeared that their streak of nine consecutive wins against the Lions was going to stretch to 10 and State College was about to be placed on suicide alert.

“We can’t beat them, we just can’t F-ing beat them,” cried one fan in the streets.

“If we lose this game, I’ll chop off my testicles,” cried one drunken FEMALE from an overflowing Rathskeller booth.

But just as quick as Jaeger bombs that flow down eager throats, Penn State awoke on both sides of the ball and began to dominate just like they had in the previous seven games. They clearly didn't see the signs that I saw. They saw a coaching staff that stuck to the plan and had confidence in their play-makers.

Evan Royster ran around like a greased pig on slaughter day as he broke tackle after tackle, racking up 174 yards on 18 carries. It was his "I cannot be tackled" attitude that brought the crowd to life, as he broke free for a 44-yard TD run in the first quarter.

The Lions made it clear that no matter what the signs pointed on Saturday evening, they were going to put an end to the losing streak once and for all.

Penn State again achieved tremendous offensive balance, throwing for 251 and rushing for 231 for a total of 482. The Lions gained 401 yards over the final three quarters.

39 consecutive points later, Joe Paterno had his 380th career victory in the books and the Lion faithful took to the streets to celebrate the Lions 8th win of the year.

You can be sure the Penn State coaching staff was quick to place a cap on the post game celebration Saturday evening as the Lions cannot lose focus of what’s at stake next weekend.

Not only are they playing in their third primetime game of the year against a team that embarrassed the Lions in Beaver Stadium last year, but they are also playing for the hope that their hard work will be rewarded with a trip to the National Championship. You’ve read in one of the below posts that the BCS computers were not exactly in Penn State’s corner as the first BCS standings were released this afternoon. It’s clear that Penn State will need to undoubtedly finish the year undefeated if a trip to Miami is in store for early January.

However, let’s consider this the end of our Michigan celebration as the Lions now face a No. 10 ranked Buckeye team that would like to see their own BCS stock raise with a win over a top-3 team.

I hope you’re not allergic to nuts Kirk Herbstreit, there’s going to be thousands of crushed Buckeyes come Saturday night.

Things to discuss while at the water cooler on Monday:

• Penn State finally blocked a punt. It was especially nice to see Nathan Stupar be the Lion to get his hands on the ball. He's been the source of about a million collective "OOOOooo's" as he's been ever-so-close numerous times this season to blocking a punt.
• Derrick Williams...not a quarterback. I threw my tasty Miller Light bottle against the wall when I saw him toss up that wobbly dead duck.
• Texas looks unstoppable. Alabama does not.
• Jim Tressel is a big nerd.

LOSING STREAK NO MORE

It surely didn't come easy, (at least in the first half), but in the end, Penn State finally got the monkey off its back yesterday, handing Michigan a 46-17 thumping. The 114th-nationally-ranked Wolverines offense, and the seventh-ranked Penn State defense must have forgotten who they were to start the game. Michigan waltzed down the field on its first three possessions setting up an early 17-7 second quarter lead. After that though, it was all Nittany Lions. On Michigan's remaining eleven drives of the day, it was limited to eight three-and-outs, including six punts, a fumble and a sack by Jarid Odrick for safety, giving Penn State its first lead of the day, 19-17.


For Penn State fans, there was reason for panic early in the football game. Before many people even got to their seats, center A.Q. Shipley launched the first snap of the game over Daryl Clark's head, setting up a 2nd-and-26. Penn State was unable to rebound and was forced to punt the ball away. After a long sustaining Michigan touchdown drive, Daryll Clark fumbled the ball away on Penn State's next possession. A Michigan field goal would shove Penn State in its deepest hole yet this year, down 10-0. Like any good heavyweight fighter though, Penn State kept on swinging. Thanks to a big kickoff return from redshirt-freshman Chaz Powell, the Nits responded quickly with a 44-yard Evan Royster touchdown run. On that play, it looked as if Royster would be brought down at the line of scrimmage, but he managed to break off a few tackles and take it to the house for Penn State's first score. After another touchdown by each squad, Penn State would go into the locker room trailing for the first time at the halfway point this season.


Clearly, some adjustments were made. The Nittany Lions came out in the third quarter sticking it to Michigan. Freshman Drew Astorino replaced Anthony Scirrotto, who suffered a concussion, and big play from true freshman Michael Mauti, (the next great Penn State linebacker), and sophomore Bani Gbadyu, led a stifling Penn State defense that allowed only 79 total yards in the second half. Penn State's offense overcame its early jitters too, racking up 36 straight points en route to a 482 yd performance.

Maybe it would be better for Josh Hull to be publicly criticized more often. The junior linebacker, looked awful Saturday. (Following the Illinois game, Hull was called out for misreading plays and not making tackles. He followed up with a 12-solo tackle outing at Purdue). Against Michigan, Hull looked fundamentally challenged. He was never in the right place, got pummeled by Michigan running back Brandon Minor, and had to be replaced by Mauti. The young man from Louisiana made a case for himself to be the new starter, looking fast and aggressive, while making big play after play (7 stops, 1 TFL, and a forced fumble on a kick return). Hull will get his chance again, but he better make the most of his next opportunity, or Mauti might be anchoring the Penn State defense earlier than expected.

The special teams continued to play well. Backed in a corner and down 10-0, the Nittany Lions' kick return team wedged a hole that a Mack Truck could have driven through, leading Powell to the 48 yard line, and setting up terrific field position for the offense. Kevin Kelly became the Big-Ten career scoring leader with 376 points after converting three of four field goal attempts, and five extra points. And punter Josh Boone pinned Michigan deep in their territory with big punts almost the entire day.

Royster has a running style that no Penn State back has ever had before. Maybe it's because he was a high-school standout in lacrosse, (Royster was recruited by every major lacrosse program in the country), that makes him so dangerous with the football. It seems that every time his number gets called, he is able to keep his shoulders square downfield while making Chris Berman-style "whoops" as he slashes his way to big plays. His vision is tremendous, and his lower body is so powerful. Another huge day for Royster, tallying 174 yards and a touchdown on only 18 touches. That's an amazing average of 9.7 yards per carry. He now has 893 yards and 10 TD on the season. Look for him to go over the 1,000 yard mark next week in Columbus.

State College local, Nathan Stupar is quietly making a name for himself. The redshirt-freshman is leading the kick coverage team by making tackles all over the field. He contributed in a huge way Saturday by blocking a Michigan punt at a crucial point in the game to set up Penn State's offense with excellent field position.

Yes, like all losing streaks, this one had to come to an end at some point. Penn State has beaten Michigan finally, sits atop the Big Ten at 8-0 overall and will likely be #3 when the BCS rankings come out Saturday night. Certainly, life is good in Happy Valley right now, but there is still much to be accomplished. Let us not celebrate too long (nobody can probably drink today anyway after last night) because next week is the newest "game of the year" for Penn State. Big start to the season so far, yet a few more challenges lie ahead. Only time will tell if this dream season is truly meant to be.

THIS WEEKEND'S MENU

The Penn State vs Michigan game is always a big event for both teams (no matter how hard Michigan fans protest that Penn State is not the Wolverines' rival), but with the boys in Ann Arbor struggling this season, it's not getting much national attention.

Designated for a national TV audience before the season began, Saturday's 4:30 kickoff has been relegated to the appetizer menu with several entrees occupying the nation's appetite for football.

#1 Texas vs #11 Missouri
- The first of three straight games against top-11 teams for the newly-crowned Longhorns and Heisman Trophy front-runner Colt McCoy. Another great Big XII quarterback, Missouri's Chase Daniels, threw three interceptions last week in home loss to the Oklahoma State Cowboys and must have the best night of the career if he wishes to salvage the Tigers season.

#10 Georgia vs #22 Vanderbilt
- The 'Dores were tugging at America's heartstrings when they shot out of the gates to a 5-0 start and a top-15 ranking. A setback against Mississippi State has brought them back down to Earth, where the Georgia Bulldogs are waiting for them. The Dawgs are trying desperately to get back to the top of the polls, where they were slotted when the season began, but must navigate the gauntlet of Vandy, Death Valley and The Cocktail Game with the Mighty Gators in consecutive weeks if it wants any shot at the title.

#4 Oklahoma vs #16 Kansas
- The Sooners reign at number one didn't last long, dropping a shootout to the Longhorns last weekend at the Texas State Fair. Kansas might not be as scary as it was last season, but it's not a team that the Sooners can afford to sulk against. Oklahoma can reassert itself as a serious contender if it can get by the Jayhawks.

#20 Michigan State vs #12 Ohio State
- The Buckeyes need this game. After beginning the year at #2, Ohio State was embarrassed by USC in the Coliseum and undergone a quarterback switch that has produced victories, but little offensive firepower. Michigan State dropped it's opening game on the road at California and has run off six straight wins since, carried on the strong shoulders of Javon Ringer. This game also has some implications on Penn State's season, as the Lions play each of these teams and would like both to be as highly ranked as possible when they meet up.

Thankfully, somebody is paying attention to the Lions and Wolverines' matchup. Here's what they're saying:

The Daily Collegian - State College, Pa
Players Visit Paternoville to Pump Up Students
Revenge on the Mind of Some Nittany Lions
Daryll Clark...A Mountaineer?

The Patriot News - Harrisburg, Pa
The Wolverines Can Win on Saturday...with a lot of help from Penn State
Brent Brackett Cleared to Play on Saturday

The Pittsburgh Post Gazette - Pittsburgh, Pa
Aaron Maybin Can't Be Stopped

The Ann Arbor News - Ann Arbor, Mi
Derrick Williams is a Special Teams Weapon
Daryll Clark the Driving Force Behind Penn State Success

SIGNS POINT TO VICTORY

There are signs everywhere around us. These visible and invisible signs constantly overtake our lives, telling us how to drive, when to walk, when we’re getting sick, and when not to masturbate into Michigan’s plumbing system. But for the most part, we’ve been taught to ignore them, or at least brush them off.

Like last weekend when you were on your 11th beer during the Wisconsin game and you started feeling that nauseous feeling in your stomach? That was a sign that you were going to vomit that night into your neighbors porch swing, a sign that many of us ignored as we cracked our 12th beer.

You see, it’s due to the sheer convenience of blocking out these signs that we’ve managed to put ourselves in potentially damaging situations, whether it be legally, physically or mentally.

That’s why I’m writing this post. I want to bring signs back into your life. There are signs everywhere pointing to a big win over Michigan this weekend, and you’ve probably been ignoring them all week.

SIGN #1

• Kerry Collins is the starting quarterback on the only undefeated team in the NFL (Tennessee Titans). You may remember that the last time Collins was the quarterback of an undefeated team this late in the season; it was the 1994 Nittany Lions. That year he broke Penn State season records for total offense (2,660), completions (176), passing yardage (2,679), completion percentage (66.7), yards per attempt (10.15) and passing efficiency (172.86).

• When Collins faced off against Michigan in the 1994 season, the Lions were ranked 3rd in Nation. Which, uncoincidentally, is their current ranking coming into Saturday’s contest. The Lions also finished that year undefeated.

Sign? I think yes.

SIGN #2

• This isn’t your normal Michigan team. Aside from their Wisconsin comeback feat, Michigan has looked more like their sister school a few miles east of campus, Eastern Michigan University (which uncoincidentally has the same amount of wins as the Wolverines…2).

• They’ve given up an average of 24.8 points per game against a schedule that includes, Utah, Miami of Ohio, Toledo and Notre Dame. They gave up 45 points and a record 431 total yards to Juice Williams two weeks ago. The last time the Wolverines played Penn State while giving up an average of over 24.8 points per game? 1996. The last time PSU has beaten Michigan? November 16, 1996.

Sign? I think yes.

SIGN #3

• Senior Wide Receiver Jordan Norwood is due to have a huge game on Saturday. After missing two games due to injury, Norwood returned last week against Wisconsin and had only 3 catches, but racked up 59 total yards, bringing his season total to 21 receptions for 377 yards and 4 touchdowns. Norwood is leading the Lions with an average of 18.0 yards per catch. Michigan’s secondary, which has been hurt by the big play all year, is giving up an average of 241.7 passing yards a game. Norwood should have no trouble getting free behind the linebackers all evening on Saturday.

Sign? Maybe not, but it’s a good thing.

SIGN #4

• Last night during the MNF telecast on ESPN, there was an interview segment where Braylon Edwards (Michigan class of 2004) spoke about what it would mean for the Browns to beat the Giants. Well they did beat the Giants, however....Edwards was wearing a Penn State shirt during the interview. Now after some swift investigating by myself and Tim Metzger, Edwards either lost a bet to the sole Penn State alum on the Browns, Joe Jurevicius (class of 1997), or is just showing his disgust with the start to the Rodriguez era in Michigan. Either way, he clearly is predicting the winner of this weekend's game at Beaver Stadium.

Sign? I think yes.


SIGN #5

• Tom Hanks was stuck on an island for 1500 straight days, and although he lost some of his sanity to a volleyball named Wilson, he still remembered that Michigan still sucks.

Sign? I think yes.

Be on the lookout this week as more signs that point to a Penn State victory this weekend present themselves. I’ll be on the lookout as well, and will certainly bring them to you.

SEVENTH HEAVEN

The Lions are 7-0 after a 48-7 throttling of the Wisconsin Badgers Saturday night. More analysis is forthcoming, but Penn State fans can't help but be encouraged by the effort tonight in Madison. As mentioned before on The Floating Lion, tonight marked the first time that Penn State won back-to-back games on the road since 1999. The Lions did just about everything well in earning their seventh straight win to open the 2008 season and the strong performance couldn't have come at a better time.

The weekend was full of upsets as the numbers one, three and four teams all lost, leaving Penn State fans expecting a top-three ranking when the polls come out on Sunday. Here's a few early reactions to the big victory over the Badgers:

• Penn State, for the second straight week started slowly on the offensive side of the ball. Not including the Illinois game at Beaver Stadium, Penn State has totaled only three points in its last three first quarters. Those slow starts could have hurt the Lions if the defense hadn't played so well.
• Speaking of the defense, the Lions held Wisconsin running back PJ Hill to just 58 yards on 15 carries and chased starting quarterback Allan Evridge from the game after three quarters.
• Evan Royster had his least productive day as a Nittany Lion, gaining only 60 yards on 15 carries. Broadcaster Mike Patrick pointed out that the sophomore came off the field favoring his hand in the fourth quarter, but Royster was shown smiling on camera towards the end of the game.
• Aaron Maybin
• Aaron Maybin
• Aaron Maybin
• Did I mention Aaron Maybin?! He just continues to play with youthful exuberance and Maybinize everything in his path. It's getting to the point where you expect him to come up with the big play every time the defense needs one.
• Lydell Sargeant gathered two interceptions and led a secondary that held Wisconsin signal callers to just 11-of-27 for 165 passing on the night.
• The Lions' offense scored on four straight possessions spanning from the end of the first half into the third quarter to put the game out of reach.
• Jeremy Boone, for the first time this season, looked very much like the punter who won All Big Ten honors a year ago. The sophomore averaged 44.8 yards per punt and dropped three of his four kicks inside the 20 yard line.
• The Lions next take on Michigan at Beaver Stadium next week. We've said it before, but we'll say it again. If Penn State doesn't beat the Wolverines this year, it may never happen. RichRod's boys look as hapless as ever after losing at home to Toledo (remember 2000 anyone?).