Tae Bo Tuesday

Bo Pelini, head coach at Nebraska, took his cat to their spring game. In and of itself, not a big deal. But he apparently took the cat through the tunnel onto the field and held Mr. Bigglesworth aloft.

Well, we can't pass up this opportunity, can we?



Separated at Birth?

RAFINI !



Or maybe this rings a familiar note . . .

Bo-feld                                                                 Blofeld

 

 

Déjà VA All Over Again

Last season, Sam Ficken missed a PAT and FOUR field goals, as a floundering Penn State team in Bill O'Brien's second game as PSU head coach fell 17-16 to the Virginia Cavaliers.  But Sam Ficken rebounded from that effort, set a Penn State record for consecutive field goals made, and won the Wisconsin game in OT last year with a successful kick.

But Saturday, against the Cornhuskers, it was déjà vu all over again--or déjà VA as the case would be.

Penn State scored first in a game which gave new meaning to a whiteout, as snow sprayed across the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field Beaver Stadium at times yesterday.  I don't know if that was the coldest game I have ever sat through, but it is certainly in the top 2 or 3 if not the coldest.  I don't know what the coldest game ever at Beaver Stadium was.  I guess you'd have to ask Lou Prato.

But the euphoria of a touchdown melted quickly, which was incredible in itself that anything could melt yesterday--did I mention it was COLD?--when Ficken dinked the extra point off the right upright leaving the scoreboard showing a 6-0 advantage.

Some fans are quick to point out that that miss "cost us the game" as it seems painfully obvious that a 21-20 score would not have gone to OT.  Au contraire.  I am just full of the French-y references today. That little bit of rocket science presumes or assumes that Nebraska would have kicked said field goal down 21-17 with a fourth and goal at the PSU one yard line.  They might have just punched the ball in for a 24-21 victory and no OT to miss another field goal.  Or they might have got a PI and a new set of downs.  Perhaps they would have still taken the three with the hope of getting the ball back, but WE DON'T KNOW THAT.  Mark Twain wrote, "It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so."

I ain't sure we win that game if Ficken makes the PAT.  I ain't sure we win if Ficken made the FG in OT.  Our chances certainly would have been better--but not guaranteed.  Likewise, our chances would have been better if Hack had simply RUN for the freaking first down instead of throwing a low uncatchable ball on third down.  Maybe the outcome would have been different if he hadn't thrown another rackin, frackin, hackin, berging INT when we just moved the ball from the shadows of our goal out to midfield and seemed rolling for a score.

It is what it is.  That's my new philosophy of Penn State football.

It has become tedious each week to dissect the mistakes and try to lay blame for each loss on some entity.  As I mentioned in the past, Penn State fans are spoiled from the glory years of the 70's and the 80's.  Back then we EXPECTED to win every game.  And when we failed, there must be some reason--the weather, the refs, the coaching (esp. over-used in the 2000's), the 85 scholarship limit (now the 65 scholarship limit), the phase of the moon, the turf, the lack of sideline heaters, the B1G conference (who in some way must be responsible for all this), etc. ad nauseum.

In the final analysis, it is what it is.

We are simply not a very good team.  And that conclusion is supported by the facts of the season, and not derived from any reading of tea leaves.  Good teams don't lose games like that. Or to Indiana.  We can sugar coat how much better Indiana is now than they used to be, but the Hoosiers have lost to the better competition in this conference, but BEAT US badly.

It wasn't Sam Ficken that lost the game yesterday.  It was Sam Ficken and Christian Hackenberg and Allan Robinson (who dropped a catchable pass by the way) and Bill O'Brien and all his coordinators, and the guy who fills the Gatorade bottles.  It was a team effort.  And it is not for lack of trying or a lack of heart--I have seen Penn State teams in the last 15 years give up.  This team doesn't give up.  They just don't have what it takes right now to be competitive week in and week out.

Nebraska made one fewer mistake than Penn State.  We were on the other side of that equation against THEM.  Thank God we had some bright moments to celebrate this season.  We could be wallowing around at 3-8 like 2004.

I want to thank our seniors for an exciting game on a cold Senior Day.  I really hoped to extol about how O'Brien was undefeated in OT games and make some snarky analysis that he should treat the other four quarters like OT.  I really wanted to tell some corn jokes and make fun of Nebraska, but well, they're stuck out there and I guess that's punishment enough.

It is what it is.

BY THE NUMBERS:

From GoPSUsports:

	NEB	PSU
FIRST DOWNS...................	19	18
RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............	41-168	44-170
PASSING YDS (NET).............	192	217
Passes Att-Comp-Int...........	36-21-0	33-16-1
TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS.....	77-360	77-387
Fumble Returns-Yards..........	0-0	0-0
Punt Returns-Yards............	3-0	3-27
Kickoff Returns-Yards.........	4-143	2-37
Interception Returns-Yards....	1-0	0-0
Punts (Number-Avg)............	9-45.7	11-35.5
Fumbles-Lost..................	4-2	3-0
Penalties-Yards...............	7-54	3-25
Possession Time...............	29:16	30:44
Third-Down Conversions........	3 of 17	2 of 14
Fourth-Down Conversions.......	0 of 0	0 of 0
Red-Zone Scores-Chances.......	2-3	2-3
Sacks By: Number-Yards........	1-1	2-22

Penn State gained more yards, both rushing and passing, than Nebraska, forced three fumbles and recovered two of them, won time of possession by a small margin, yet lost the game.  Our defense held the Huskers to 3 of 17 third down conversions, but our offense only managed 2 of 15 conversions.  It is what it is.

INTANGIBLES:

I went to Happy Valley and they stole my head!
How am I going to eat this huge ear of corn?

Did I mention the game was cold?

The 98,517 listed attendance definitely included people there in spirit as well.  It was a disappointing crowd, but can you blame them?  Did I mention it was COLD?

The Drum Major stuck both flips.  He was lucky his arse didn't freeze to the turf!

Penn State won the first coin toss and deferred.  Nebraska won the one that mattered and went on defense to start OT.

Nebraska now lead the series 9-7.  I don't give a rackin, frackin, hackin, berging twit about vacated wins, as you probably already know.

By the way, it was COLD.

THE B1G PICTURE:

Buckeyes rolled all over the Hoosiers like a good team should, winning 42-14.

Iowa defeated THEM 24-21.

MSU pounded the Cats 30-6.

Wisconsin rolled out the barrel and buried the Gophers 20-7.

Illinois finally won a game.  Purdue hasn't.  The final was 20-16, so I guess neither team really wanted the win that badly.

Michigan State and Ohio State have clinched their berth in the title game, with the Buckeyes having one more meaningless game against THEM, and Sparty facing the Gophers next week.

SHEDDING TEARS:

1.  Idaho--lost 80-14 to F$U.
2.  Baylor--lost to Okie State 49-17.  No BCS Title for YOU!
3.  Oregon--lost to Arizona 42-16.  Wow.  That's just Quacked.
4.  Florida--lost to Georgia . . . wait for it . . . Southern.  Ga Southern won 26-20.
5.  Arkansas lost again.  Woo Hoo!  Bret's da Man.  For the all you can eat smorgasbord that is.
6.  Johnny Feetsball lost to LSU.  Price for his autograph fell as well.

LOOKING AHEAD:

One game left.  The Lions travel to Wisconsin to face a team that would be tough to beat with 85 scholarship players.  The Badgers are 9-2 with losses to Arizona State and the unbeatable Buckeyes.

We're going to lose.  It is what it is.  I feel like a Temple fan.

By Thursday, I'll have come up with a few insane reasons why we could and might win this game, but I'll just be full of my usual bullshit and a lot of turkey by that point.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving Nittany Nation!

And thank you to Charles Shultz--a comic genius that somehow knew Penn State football!

Weekly Game Guide: Farmer's University Edition

It's Thursday night and the Golden Knights are beating the Scarlet Knights 38-14 early in the fourth quarter.

This weekend, Penn State hosts Nebraska . . . .


They are Farmers, bum ba dum bum bum bum bum!

This appears to be a game that could go either way for either team.  Penn State opened a two-point favorite and is sitting around 1.5 points as I type this.  Nebraska's offense is ranked 45th in the country and fields a defense ranked 42nd.  How's that for balance?  On our side of the ball, the Lions are ranked 50th offensively, and a surprising 46th nationally in defense.

The intangibles, though, lean toward Penn State . . . home game, senior day.  I think if PSU can get the running game going and minimize the mistakes (is it even possible to play a game without a fumble anymore?) they can and will win this game.  But if the defense is on the field a lot, and we make mistakes that give the Huskers field position or cost us points, senior day may not be so happy in Happy Valley.

My prediction:  Penn State wins by a touchdown.  Unless the refs review it.

IN THE B1G TEN:

Ohio State is a 34.5 point favorite over Indiana.  Can the Hoosiers make some magic?  I really doubt it, but we can dream can't we?

Illinois faces off as a favorite over Purdue, neither of which has won a conference game yet.  That will change this weekend.  Personally, I'd like to see Purdue get the W, but my Gawd they look awful.  I don't think they could beat an egg, in a bowl, with a mixer.  Of course, there's no chance of that happening--they won't be in any bowl this year.

The Spartans travel to Evanston to face a Northwestern team that also has not won a conference match-up yet.  MSU is favored by 7.  Barring a breakdown on the green and white side of the ball, I don't think that will change this week.  GO SPARTY!

Wisconsin is a 16.5 point favorite over Minnesota.  Really don't care who wins this one.  We've already mucked up the Minnesota game, and have a theoretical chance of beating the Badgers, so GO GOPHERS!  (I have a theoretical chance of winning the lottery, so keep that in perspective.)

Iowa is a 6 point favorite over THEM.  I'm okay with that.  GO HAWKEYES!

Future members:  Rutgers is losing to UCF tonight, and Maryland is a pick against Boston College.  GO TERPS!

IN OTHER GAMES:

Alabama plays Chattanooga (no line).  ROLL TIDE ROLL!

F$U is heavily favored (57 points) over Idaho. 

Baylor is favored by 9.5 over Oklahoma State and hopes to jump O$U in the BCS bonanza.  The Buckeyes could beat Indiana by 1,000 and the BCS won't care.  Sucks to be them.

Notre Dame and BYU are a pick.  GO COUGARS!

And that's a wrap!

Nebraska Fiasca

I have not been so angered by a group of referees since the 2005 game in Ann Arbor that marred Penn State's nearly undefeated season.  But thanks to a poorly called--and then more poorly reviewed-- play at the goal line, combined with a safety when it appeared McGloin had left the tackle box, what should have been a close game--perhaps even a Penn State win--was instead a 32-23 decision the other way that was influenced by the stripes more than the solids.

In 2005, I splintered the door frame of our house slamming the door as I stormed out.  I learned from that lesson.  I went next door to my neighbor's house (he's a Pitt fan) and slammed his door this time.

It's the same old story since joining this bush league 19 years ago.  Sure, we'll get a PI call once in a while--against Minnesota.  But name me one game changing call in favor of Penn State against THEM, O$U, Wisconsin, and now Nebraska.  Most Penn State fans can rattle off half a dozen without much thought.

Even McGloin called out the league indirectly.  From Rudel in the Altoona Mirror:

"We'll never get that call here," McGloin said after replays showed tight end Matt Lehman appeared to score before fumbling into the end zone with 7:39 remaining and the Lions down 27-23. "We'll never get that call anywhere."

Of the dozen PSU representatives brought to the visitors' media quarters at Memorial Stadium, including Bill O'Brien, only McGloin came off like Yosemite Sam.

If calling a spade a spade is being Yosemite Sam, then McGloin should be proud to be put in that category.  The rest--O'Brien included, have to be politically correct.  But that doesn't make it correct.

Other sources question the validity of the call, including Dr. Saturday and the USA Today.



Some fans have suggested that this is "payback" for bad calls against Nebraska in 1982.  First of all, that was before replay.  Secondly, the situation was magnified by virtue of two undefeated teams clashing for a potential National Championship.  Granted, Nebraska has a potential Big Ten Title on the line, but 2012 is hardly an equivalent scenario.  On the other hand, if Nebraska fans want to consider the debt paid for a perceived slight in 1982, so be it.  We are even.

But if the Big Ten has any integrity left, it would be well served to fire the replay booth official who made this atrocious call. 

Yet, despite the thievery of nine points in favor of the Huskers, Penn State continued it's disconcerting trend of playing a great first half, but then following it with a dismal performance in the second act.  Penn State actually led this thing 20-6 at the half, but was outscored 26-10 (although only 3 points actually counted) in the second half.

Why is this?

Under the Paterno regime, stale coaching, stubbornness, conservatism, and strength and conditioning were always trotted out by arm chair quarterbacks on Sunday Morning.  But you certainly can't accuse this coaching staff of being stale, stubborn or conservative.  And while I think our defense did whither in the heat against Ohio, I honestly believe that was the fault of the offense that couldn't move the ball and give the defense a rest.  Even well-conditioned athletes can have problems when they overdo things in high heat and humidity.

So now we must create some new excuses, as the old ones simply don't apply.  Are O'Brien and Roof simply poor at adjusting at halftime?  The evidence seems to point that direction.  Yet there were games, such as Northwestern, when we seemed to do better in the second half at adjusting than our opponent.  We had no problems with Purdue or Illinois coming back in the second half of those games either.

Also keep in mind that this group of coaches does not have the players that they recruited for their system.  They have also lost key players to defections, particularly on offense.  And strength and conditioning changes may take several seasons to see optimal results.

In the end, nothing will change.  Maybe there isn't a conspiracy against Penn State.  Maybe there isn't even a bias against the Nittany Lions.  Maybe it is just part of the game and bad luck of the draw.  If that is the case, than these things tend to equal out over time.  And if that is really true, then Buckeye, Wolverine, Badger and Husker fans better get prepared for a couple of decades of bad calls against them when playing Penn State.  I have a feeling they are not all that worried.

And if you are looking for a silver lining in all this . . .Nebraska's win hurts the wolverine's chances of getting into the title game.  That's not a bad thing right there.

BY THE NUMBERS:

From GoPSUsports:

I said before this game that Penn State would need to do better on third down conversions (we did not) and control time of possession (we did not) to beat Nebraska.  We also needed to control their running game (we did not) which would be a key factor in their conversions and ability to control the ball.  The end result . . . we lost.  The bad calls certainly didn't help.

INTANGIBLES:

Nebraska won the toss and deferred.  By taking the ball in the second half, PSU should have chosen which direction they would have the wind in the fourth quarter.  O'Brien either chose to go with the wind in third thinking he could add to their lead, or he made a bad choice, having PSU play into the wind in the fourth.  I didn't see too much made about this, but the wind certainly seemed stiff and could have been a factor.

Penn State is 7-8 all time against Big Red.

The crowd was 85,537.  Nebraska continues their record of sell-out crowds dating back to the 1300's.

THE BIG (TEN) PICTURE:

The league is hell-bent on a Nebraska-Wisconsin match up and that is all but assured, unless the cornhuskers fail against Minnesota or Iowa, which is not likely.

THEM came back against Northwestern, with a Hail Mary-esque pass with seconds remaining to kick a tying field goal.  They prevailed in OT.  How can you let a receiver make that catch?  Take him out.  Take the fifteen yards.  They still wouldn't be in field goal position--or at least it would be a longer kick.  Poor decision by the defensive back or safety.  The wolverines won 38-31.

Wisconsin pounded the Hoosiers into submission 62-14 and pretty much sealed up the asterisk filled Leaders division.

Purdue beat Iowa 27-24.  Did anyone notice?  Or care?

Minnesota beat the Illini 17-3.

SHEDDING TEARS:

1.  Alabama--beaten by the Aggies 29-24.  Thanks for playing.
2.  College Football--the Irish inch to #3 on the Bama loss like a worm crawling through dead meat.
3.  Louisiana-Lafayette had a punt blocked and returned in the waning seconds to lose to Florida.
4.  Miami (FL) lost to Virginia 41-40

LOOKING AHEAD:

Indiana.  Beaver Stadium.  Whatever.  Refs will probably blow a call in our favor and call it even.  Shitheads.

Statistically Speaking: Corn Field Edition

Looking at the NCAA stats for Penn State and Nebraska . . .

NCAA Stats Comparison
Category:	Penn St.	Nebraska
Rushing	85	6
Passing Offense	37	79
Total Offense	55	17
Scoring Offense	62	20
Rushing Defense	26	87
Turnovers Gained	42	72
Passes Had Intercepted	8	70
Pass Defense	43	5
Net Punting	118	78
Punt Returns	92	24
Kickoff Returns	113	63
Turnover Margin	14	106
Fumbles Recovered	20	53
Passes Intercepted	68	80
Fumbles Lost	20	116
Turnovers Lost	7	110
Passing Efficiency	57	33
Pass Efficiency Defense	22	8
Total Defense	26	31
Scoring Defense	14	54
Fewest Penalties Per Game	42	80
Fewest Yards Penalized Per Game	60	102
Punt Return Yardage Defense	115	103
Kickoff Return Yardage Defense	72	62
Offense Third-down Efficiency	49	43
Offense Fourth-down Efficiency	58	20
Defense Third-down Efficiency	53	37
Defense Fourth-down Efficiency	26	26
Tackles for Loss	72	31
Offense Tackles for Loss	1	51
Pass Sacks	27	20
Pass Sacks Allowed	35	69
Time of Possession	27	60
First Downs	36	21
First Downs Allowed	26	28
Red Zone Efficiency	89	28
Red Zone Efficiency - Defense	7	43
Average NCAA Rank:	46.59	52.32
Weighted Avg. Rank:	46.58	43.67

The weighted stats give extra "weight" to categories like total offense and total defense, while putting less emphasis on categories like Fewest Penalties per game. Straight up, PSU has about a 6 rank point edge over Big Red.  That disappears to a deficit when weighted.  Does that mean anything?  Probably no more than any other statistic you can throw out there.

I think the key match-up for us will be our rushing defense against their rushing defense.  Nebraska's ability to move the ball will be dependent on whether our offense can control the time of possession, whether we can force Martinez to pass (put them in third and long if possible) and whether Rex Burkhead is back and is back 100% or not.  In other words, keep the Big Red O off the field, and when they are out there, force them into passing situations.

Both teams are statistically similar in total defense and third down efficiency on offense.   I believe Penn State will have to be better on third downs than Nebraska to win this game, barring some big plays.  Better third down efficiency keeps drives alive, keeps their defense on the field, and wins time of possession.  You are also more likely to score if you control the ball longer.

This game may come down to some intangibles.  Obviously, the Huskers have the home field advantage and have not lost at home this season.  Yet.  They also have more to play for . . . a berth in the Big Ten Title game.  But, that may be to our advantage, as they also have more to lose than we do.  That could allow us to play looser and gamble more.  They may be more conservative and play tight.  Of course, I could be full of crap, and unfortunately, this latter scenario is more likely.

Let's go with Penn State 35 (all TDs, no FGs) and Nebrask 31.  Sounds like a plan?  And don't we love it when a plan comes together?

Weekly Game Guide: Feeling Corny? Edition

The under .500 Va Tech Chokies are down 13-10 to F$U in Blacksburg.  The Seminoles are favored by 13.5 points.  What the heck!  GO HOKIES!  Do the Hokie Pokie!

Penn State travels to Lincoln (the city, not the vampire hunter) to take on the Huskers.  Nebraska is favored by a TD.  Mark May picks Nebraska.  Nuff said.   GO STATE!  SHUCK the HUSKERS!

Is she feeling Corny?

This weekend in the Big Ten:

Wisconsin has a huge game against Indiana . . . in football.  Who would have ever thought that was even possible?  But with OSU and PSU locked out of the post season festivities, this game could determine who goes to Indy.  The Badgers are favored by 7.  With PSU out of the title picture, I'm fine with Indiana playing for a Big Ten title.  GO HOOSIERS!

The Northwestern Wildcats travel to Ann Arbor to face THEM.  The wolvereenies are favored by 9.5.  GO CATS!

Iowa is favored by 5 over Purdue.  Will there be any (Danny) Hope after this season?  This is a must win for the Boilers and their coach.  Iowa has been up and down all year.  GO BOILERS!

Minnesota is favored by 3.5 over Illinois.  I'm okay with that.  GO GOPHS!

Michigan state and Ohio State have byes.

In games of previous opponents:

Bowling Green handed the Bobcats their second loss of the season last night, winning 26-14.  How did we lose that game?  Oh, to be able to do that one over again!

Navy is favored by 2 over Troy.  GO NAVY!

Temple is an 8.5 dog to Cincinnati.  GO OWLS . . . but good luck with that!

Virginia is favored by 1 over Miami (FL).   Seriously?  Whatever.  GO CAVS!

In other games of remote interest:

Alabama will be tested by Texas A & M.  The Crimson Tide is favored by nearly two TDs.  Roll Tide Roll!

Can BC party like its 1993?  The Irish aren't ranked #1, but they are undefeated and favored by 19.  GO EAGLES!

K State is favored by 7 over TCU.  GO WILDCATS!

Oregon is favored by 28 over Cal. That's just fine.  We don't want anyone ahead of Notre Lame in the BCS standings to lose.  GO DUCKS!

Separated at Birth?

Upon Further Review

Did you watch the end of the Nebraska-Wisconsin game on Saturday night?

Nebraska took the lead 30-27 in the fourth quarter.  On their last possession, the Badgers were driving and came up with a 3rd and 11.  O'Brien (the QB, not the coach) completed a pass to Frederick but on camera he appeared to be short of the first down by a good yard.  The refs--those near and dear and lovable Big Ten zebras of honor--spotted the ball a yard further.  The spot was so clearly botched I was having flashbacks to Ann Arbor in 2005.

Now this may seem innocuous, but the circumstances were really more bizarre and nefarious than that.  The line judge, who improperly spotted the ball, signalled to move the chains without a measurement and without the head referee signalling for a first down.  No one else even looked at the spot as the chain gang moved on.  Remember, they can't see the unofficial yellow line on the field that we see.

It was only after a review, that it was confirmed that the ball had not been spotted properly, and this brought up a fourth and one situation.  Late in the game with time running out, the Badgers elected to go for it, fumbled, and the rest, shall we say, is history.

But I ask you?  How is that these competent referees mis-spot a ball by a yard?

And why, in a crucial situation, even with the added yardage, when the spot was still close enough to demand a measurement, would you move the flags before such a measurement?  Obviously, the Badgers wanted to save time because the clock was running down (1:11 when Nebraska took over after the fumble). . . so why not stop the clock and check the measurement?

It truly appeared as if the refs, or at least the one spotting the ball and moving the chains in a damned big hurry, was intent on helping Wisconsin.  Why else would you not measure if your real desire is to get the correct call?

Even more astonishing to me, though, is that the ref in the video replay booth chose to stop play and review it.  (He probably had to at that point since the spot was so ridiculously wrong.)  Had he not done that, the Badgers would have had a first down, and the next play likely wouldn't have been a handoff, botched or otherwise, to Montee Ball.  The outcome of that game could have been different without replay.  If the fix was on to help the Badgers, the replay booth botched the opportunity, so that argues against a conspiracy.  But how many refs does it take to conspire???  If I were in charge of officiating, I think punitive action against the ref on the field moving the chains prematurely would be in order.

I bring this up because of that 2005 debacle in Ann Arbor.  I'm sure I still have the tape around here somewhere collecting dust.  While everyone remembers the heel-toe controversy and the infamous two seconds, most people don't recall the multiple favorable spots the wolverines got all game long.  And for the record, the heel-toe should have been reviewed, but perhaps not over turned.  You might wonder why that is important, but it would have stopped play and allowed our defense to rest and regroup while a legitimately close play was re-evaluated.  Lord, we added four extra minutes to Saturday's game to review QB sneaks where you couldn't even see the ball on the replay!

Reviewing a play, even if it stands, can have unforeseen effects on the outcome of a game.  In this game in Lincoln, one blogger felt that reviewing a potential scoring play for the Badgers, gave Bielema time to rethink his strategy:

Bad break: On third-and-goal in the first quarter, Nebraska’s defense stopped Montee Ball one foot shy of the end zone. Bret Bielema sent his kicking team on to the field. But officials interrupted action to review the third-down play. That allowed Bielema to re-think his fourth-down strategy. Officials confirmed the call and Ball scored on fourth down. If officials don’t review the call, Wisconsin settles for three points.

And, if Ficken were kicken, there might be no points!  But I digress.

Getting back to spotting the ball in 2005, there were at least two times I recall watching the line judge come running in from the sideline to mark the ball, and drifting forward like a drunken sailor as he did so, adding almost two yards onto the final spot of the ball and assuring that the wolverines made a first down.

And as Wisconsin proved on Saturday night, spotting the ball properly is important.  The game just might hinge on those precious inches of turf.

And what if they hadn't stopped play to review it? 

We will never know.  But at least the correct call was made in 2012, if not in 2005.

They've Fallen (and they can't get up!)

Matador Sports (Ole!) has composed a list of ten football teams that have fallen from their former greatness.

Revenge of The Fallen

Still, sometimes the stars align in such a way that a great program descends into mediocrity and can’t find its way back. These 10 former powerhouses can attest to the old adage that all glory is fleeting.

1. Notre Dame

No compilation of the greatest college sports dynasties would be complete without mentioning the Fighting Irish at least once. Between 1946 and 1949, the program won three national championships with an incredible 36-0-2 record. This was after winning six national titles from 1919-1930. From 1964 to 1988 they would win four more trophies. It’s now been 24 years and counting since the storied team has won a title. There have been bad losses at home, coaches fired after middling seasons, and repeated failures to make bowl games. Students and fans continue to look for the light at the end of the tunnel.

2. Yale

3. Southern Methodist University

4. Nebraska

Back-to-back national titles in 1970 and 1971 cemented the Cornhuskers into powerhouse status. In 1973, coach Tom Osborne took over and the team won at least nine games in every one of his 25 seasons there, with national championships in ’94 [BOGUS], ’95, and ’97. After Osborne left, the program held on until 2002, then the slide began. The 2004 season was the team’s first losing one in 43 years. In 2007, the Huskers lost five consecutive games for the first time in 49 years. After firing their coach and hiring Bo Pelini, NU has finished 10-4 and 9-4 in two years, and commentators are beginning to wonder if a return to former glory could be on the horizon for one of the winningest programs in history.

5. Miami

6. Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Panthers of the modern era are not a bad team; they made seven bowl games in the 2000s. It’s just that they were once so successful, and then they fell off the map for 40 years. Beginning in 1910, they won at least a share of 13 national titles in 29 seasons, with winnings records in 27 of those seasons. But from 1938 to 1972, they recorded 22 losing seasons and only attended two bowl games. They turned it around in 1973 and won a national championship in ’76, and stayed ranked nearly every year until 1990, when they fell off the map for the entire decade, recording just one winning season. The ’76 title was their last since.

7. Texas A&M

8. Florida State

9. Michigan

Michigan’s legacy of football greatness was rolling right along before the kickoff to the 2007 season. This was the school that had claimed 11 national championships and 42 conference titles in its storied history. Then they lost to Appalachian State at home in the opener. Then they got pummeled by Oregon. They salvaged the season and won their bowl game, but then they got a new coach who overhauled the offense. The result was a 3-9 record, the Wolverines’ first losing season in 41 years, followed by another losing season the next year. A 7-5 record in 2010 was not enough to save the coach’s job. The 10-2 record of last year was promising, but long-time Michigan fans are still awaiting the school’s first national title since 1997.

10. Fordham University

Among the comments, some feel Minnesota and the University of Chicago were slighted.  Oklahoma and Tennessee also received mention. 

No Mo-Joe

Nebraska and Penn State played a football game yesterday.  The Huskers prevailed 17-14.  But the hearts and the minds of the fans and players were probably not on the game so much. It was a well-played exciting game, but the atmosphere and sportsmanship couldn't overcome the "elephant in the stadium."

There was something else there.  And there was something that was missing.

The tragedy that has brought the football program to it's knees--in humility and prayer--was talked about in tailgates and among friends.  Everyone has an opinion.  Everyone thinks they are right.  But all those differences were put aside as the two teams joined in prayer before the game at midfield.

It was refreshing to see a spectacle like that in an age where opposing teams are more likely to plant their flag on their opponents logo or stomp on a Terrible Towel.

As many put it, it was the start of a long slow healing process.

No matter how exciting the game was or what the outcome, though, it could not overcome the grievous pain felt for the victims.  It will be a long time--perhaps never--before that elephant in the stadium is gone.  Maybe it should never leave, as a painful reminder of the evil that lurks in the hearts of some men (and women!)

But the game could also not overcome the loss that fans felt as one person was absent.  To be honest, that man's physical absence on the sideline has been present most of this year, and several times in past years.  This was not the first time Tom Bradley was in charge.  But it was the first time he was officially in charge--and ONLY in charge.

His interim debut was not rewarded with a victory.  The players could not walk the winning game ball to the house on McKee Street.  The hole left was most palpable as his son broke down, missing his father.

I don't think it matters whether Tom Bradley wins or loses.  I strongly suspect this is the last season for all these coaches on this sideline.  My sense from the Board of Trustees is that they will clean house at the end of the season.  Sometimes, when you operate to remove a tumor, you have to remove some good tissue with the bad, just to make sure you get all of it.

It is not clear how the Board plans to go from here.  The best case scenario would be to hire a new athletic director and allow that person, in conjunction with Rodney Erickson, to conduct a national search.

But already, there are rumors of Trustees reaching out to other coaches (Garban calling Virginia coach London for instance) and this kind of approach will not end well.  The Board is not made up of people who are uniquely qualified to pick a football coach.  Having individual Board members making calls is not an effective way to produce a candidate.  The Board needs to put qualified people in place who will then continue working with the next coaching regime, rather than pushing personal agendas along haphazardly.  I would rather start next season with Tom Bradley still at the helm, than rush through a selection process to just to have the job done but not done properly.

But I digress.

I felt the men on this team played their hearts out on Saturday.  Readers who are familiar with me will know that I do not take losses well.  This loss may just be the best loss I have ever seen.

Under extraordinarily difficult circumstances, this team faced down a top 20 opponent who was favored to win before they even stepped onto the field and went toe to toe with them until the last seconds faded away into a beautiful autumn afternoon in Happy Valley.  In addition to all the emotions swirling in the stadium like the wind, for some this was their last game in Beaver Stadium as seniors.  Their coach was gone with little time to prepare for that sudden change.  I am so proud of these men for rising above all that, even if they came up short on the scoreboard.  They did not come up short in the eyes of the world or in the hearts of true Penn Staters.

Falling down by 17 points, this team fought back and fought back hard.  They scored 14 points in the final quarter and a half and came up a field goal short of tying Nebraska in the final minute.

If you want some football analysis, here it is:  the missed field goal in the first half might have been the key to this game.  It totally deflated the team after that, and obviously the margin of losing was 3.  Those points were critical.  The fumble by McGloin led to another score and was arguably the play of the second half.  (His reception on the trick play was a close second!)   But I firmly believe the unsung heroes of Nebraska's victory were its special teams.  Their punt unit downed 5 of 8 punts inside our 20.  In case you are wondering, we punted 7 times and downed no punts inside the Husker's 20.

In a game where the two teams were almost evenly matched in turnovers, passing, rushing and time of possession, it was special teams that carried the day.  They kicked the field goal.  We missed.  They controlled field position--we did not.

And like that one presence that was missing--physically but not spiritually--that one man who could not finish his career . . . it just wasn't meant to be.

BY THE NUMBERS:

From the GoPSUsports site:

Team Totals	NEB	PSU
FIRST DOWNS	21	21
Rushing	10	10
Passing	10	9
Penalty	1	2
NET YARDS RUSHING	188	166
Rushing Attempts	48	43
Average Per Rush	3.9	3.9
Rushing Touchdowns	2	2
Yards Gained Rushing	200	174
Yards Lost Rushing	12	8
NET YARDS PASSING	143	209
Completions-Attempts-Int	13-27-0	17-35-0
Average Per Attempt	5.3	6
Average Per Completion	11	12.3
Passing Touchdowns	0	0
TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS	331	375
Total offense plays	75	78
Average Gain Per Play	4.4	4.8
Fumbles: Number-Lost	1-1	1-1
Penalties: Number-Yards	6-45	3-32
PUNTS-YARDS	8-360	7-296
Average Yards Per Punt	45	42.3
Net Yards Per Punt	40.4	36.6
Inside 20	5	0
50+ Yards	2	3
Touchbacks	0	2
Fair catch	1	4
KICKOFFS-YARDS	4-276	3-193
Average Yards Per Kickoff	69	64.3
Net Yards Per Kickoff	48.8	44
Touchbacks	1	0
Punt returns: Number-Yards-TD	0-0-0	3-37-0
Average Per Return	0	12.3
Kickoff returns: Number-Yds-TD	3-61-0	3-61-0
Average Per Return	20.3	20.3
Interceptions: Number-Yds-TD	0-0-0	0-0-0
Fumble Returns: Number-Yds-TD	0-0-0	0-0-0
Miscellaneous Yards	0	0
Possession Time	29:03	30:57
1st Quarter	5:09	9:51
2nd Quarter	9:07	5:53
3rd Quarter	8:28	6:32
4th Quarter	6:19	8:41
Third-Down Conversions	6 of 16	5 of 16
Fourth-Down Conversions	0 of 1	1 of 3
Red-Zone Scores-Chances	2-2	2-2
Touchdowns	2-2	2-2
Field goals	0-2	0-2
Sacks By: Number-Yards	1-7	1-3
PAT Kicks	2-2	2-2
Field Goals	1-1	0-1

I won't dwell on these as they were discussed above.

INTANGIBLES:

The Drum Major stuck the flip.

The crowd of 107,903 was fantastic and the largest crowd of the season.

Nebraska won the toss and deferred.

To whoever was responsible for the airplane flying around the stadium with its disparaging message:  you should be ashamed of yourselves.  You are entitled to your opinion, but that was not the venue or manner to express it.

Of course, I also question the decision to play "Lay your hands on me" during the senior video montage.  Kind of questionable if you ask me.

Nebraska evened the all-time series at 7-up.

THE BIG (TEN) PICTURE:

Penn State is still leading the LEADERS division, but must win both of it's remaining games to make it to the conference championship.  Actually, with the Buckeye loss, I think PSU would still go to Indy with a win over the Badgers, but I'm too lazy to look up the tie breakers.  But the opposite is simple:  win both and PSU is in.

The Buckeyes lost in OT 26-23 to Purdue.
THEM beat Illinois 31-14.
Wisconsin crushed Minnesota 42-13.
Northwestern fried Rice 28-6.
Michigan State defeated Iowa 37-21.

SHEDDING TEARS:

1.  For the victims of sexual abuse.  These are real.
2.  Boise State--lost to TCU 36-35.  TCU scored a two-point conversion and Boise missed a 39 yard field goal.
3.  Stanford lost to Oregon 53-30.
4.  Texas Tech was demonized by Okie State 66-6. 
5.  Speaking of Texas, the Longhorns lost to Missouri 17-5.

LOOKING AHEAD:

Penn State head to Columbus to take on the Buckeyes next week.  PSU could still lose this game if they beat Wisconsin, assuming Whisky wins out as well.

I'll preview this game later.  I don't feel up to it at the moment.

A New Beginning

Tomorrow will be the dawning of a new era in Penn State football, although like Ben Franklin, many are wondering if the sun is rising or setting.

The players will be the same.

But it won't be the same.  It will never be the same.

Tomorrow, Tom Bradley will begin his audition.  He has three very difficult games to coach, and must do so in less than ideal circumstances.  I do not think the BOT has any intention of keeping any coaches after this season, but who knows at this point.  They are just a bunch of whacky, crazy guys.

But Tom has the opportunity to show that he can be a head coach, if not here then elsewhere.  There isn't much time.  The competition is unfairly tough.  The distractions make his task monumental.

Will Tom Bradley lead this team to victory?

Will the players arise to the occasion?

I'm sure the fans will support this team either way.

But if Bradley manages the trifecta of beating Nebraska, Ohio State and Wisconsin, it will be very difficult not to give him due consideration as the next head coach.

The first test is tomorrow.  Can he get past Bo?

Statistically Speaking: Corn Pone Edition

From the NCAA site, here are the stats for PSU versus Nebraska:

NCAA Stats Comparison
Category:	Penn St.	Nebraska	Delta
Rushing	55	13	-42
Passing Offense	88	101	13
Total Offense	88	53	-35
Scoring Offense	100	27	-73
Rushing Defense	24	64	40
Turnovers Gained	12	73	61
Passes Had Intercepted	43	43	0
Pass Defense	7	20	13
Net Punting	97	34	-63
Punt Returns	82	46	-36
Kickoff Returns	20	4	-16
Turnover Margin	23	53	30
Fumbles Recovered	36	73	37
Passes Intercepted	7	56	49
Fumbles Lost	82	36	-46
Turnovers Lost	63	33	-30
Passing Efficiency	106	65	-41
Pass Efficiency Defense	3	33	30
Total Defense	8	41	33
Scoring Defense	3	40	37
Fewest Penalties Per Game	26	59	33
Fewest Yards Penalized Per Game	28	57	29
Punt Return Yardage Defense	67	114	47
Kickoff Return Yardage Defense	65	99	34
Offense Third-down Efficiency	87	37	-50
Offense Fourth-down Efficiency	6	22	16
Defense Third-down Efficiency	31	93	62
Defense Fourth-down Efficiency	78	78	0
Tackles for Loss	12	114	102
Offense Tackles for Loss	11	36	25
Pass Sacks	28	81	53
Pass Sacks Allowed	24	24	0
Time of Possession	43	103	60
First Downs	78	49	-29
First Downs Allowed	11	34	23
Red Zone Efficiency	79	15	-64
Red Zone Efficiency - Defense	112	37	-75
Average NCAA Rank:	46.84	52.97	6.14
Weighted Avg. Rank:	50.17	45.33	-4.83

Nebraska has a worse pass offense than PSU, if you can believe that is possible.  While there is a perception that Nebraska has a tough defense, the numbers do not truly bear that out.  They're not bad--don't get me wrong--but we have faced statistically tougher defenses against Bama, Illinois and probably Temple even. 

I suspect Iowa is comparable in the Big Ten to what we will face on Saturday.  From the Big Ten site, Iowa is ranked 7th and UNL 8th in scoring defense in the league.  Nebraska is 7th and Iowa 8th in total defense.

Nebraska is poor in terms of time of possession.  If we can get our running game going with Redd et al, we could conceivably control this game ala vintage Paterno.  Another ugly win, but a win nonetheless.

The intangibles, though, favor Nebraska.  Coming off an upset, they are going to be out to prove something.  This is a kind of must-win game for them to stay in the hunt for their division title.  They are already one loss down to the Spartans who have Iowa, Indiana and Northwestern left on their schedule.  They can't afford to be two games behind.

And then there is the Jerry Sandusky crap that could be a distraction.  Ya think!?  With the storm clouds over State College, we can only hope this team circles the wagons, shuts out the cruel world around them, and focuses on playing football, at least for three to four hours on Saturday.

I hate noon starts.  Especially big games like these.

Here is how the Huskers' season has played out so far:

W  Chattanooga  40-7
W  Fresno State 42-29
W  Washington 51-38
W  @Wyoming 38-14
L   @Wisconsin 48-17
W  Ohio State 34-27
W  @Minnesota 41-14
W  Michigan State 24-3
L   Northwestern 28-25  (only common opponent so far and we beat the Wildcats 34-24.)

In my pre-season countdown, I had the Cornhuskers pegged as the third most difficult game behind Bama and Wisconsin, and one spot ahead of the Cheateyes.

My final analysis:

Prediction: If Nebraska is as good as the experts claim them to be, then I don't think PSU can win this game. But I do think it is winnable. I'm not sold on QB Martinez, and he had an ankle injury last season which may play a factor in his play this year. I think Nebraska is going to find play in the Big Ten to be a little different than the high scoring shoot 'em up Big XII conference, where the only Big D they have heard of is Dallas. Officially, I call this a loss. Off the record, I think we can win this game.

I still think we can win this game.  The Husker D is not as good as people thought they would be, and they have been inconsistent offensively.  Our defense is playing better than some people expected, and our offense has been improving--slowly but surely.  I think our defense plays lights out on senior day and our offense manages not to make a fatal mistake.  I look for a close win in the Iowa game range, maybe 16-13.

Bye Week Blues

Silly me . . . I was sure Penn State couldn't lose this past weekend.  Boy was I wrong.  There's a really good read on the subject at The Nittany Turkey.

Amid all the accusations and speculations, I have seen some scenarios where Curley and possibly Spanier may lose their jobs, depending on how this plays out.  Most of what I've read have painted Paterno in a good light, at least legally, if not morally.

So one has to wonder . . . will Joe become acting and/or permanent AD?  And as such, would he then determine how long he will coach (as if he isn't already) and who his successor will be????

And we didn't fare much better on the football field either, as Nebraska managed to screw up against Northwestern.  So instead of a 3:30 game next Saturday for Senior Day, the game will be played in the insignificant noon slot.  If we sleepwalk through another first quarter, and play prevent offense with Bolden in the second, this could be an ugly game against a Nebraska team that is now in a must-win mode to stay alive in their division.

Well, at least we should move up in the polls.

Tada!

Penn State is 12th in the BCS.  And also the highest ranked Big Ten team. Imagine that!

Tuesday Todds and Ends

The team may have a bye week, but a blogger never takes a break.

Let's start off with William C. Rhoden in The New York Times, writing about the milestone that Paterno will probably not eclipse--that of John Gagliardi.

With a 47-14 victory over Carleton College on Saturday, Gagliardi has won 482 games in a head-coaching career that covers more than six decades.

While Paterno has been awarded two mythical national championships, Gagliardi has won four titles in tournament-style competition: N.A.I.A. championships in 1963 and 1965 and N.C.A.A. Division III championships in 1976 and 2003.
Critics may dismiss Gagliardi’s record as a product of inferior competition, but competition is relative. Gagliardi argues, as Eddie Robinson argued, that he played who was in front of him.
“Everybody’s going to push their own agenda,” Gagliardi said. “Heavyweight boxers feel that they’re a lot tougher, and I’m sure it probably is, but those guys fighting welterweight, that isn’t easy either. It’s all relative.”

Those who place greater weight on Paterno’s achievement do so because, in their estimation, he has had to perform on a much higher wire. But pressure is relative and losses hurt the same.
What unites Paterno and Gagliardi is not the wins, but those losses.

During a recent news conference, Paterno said the only time he felt like walking away was after a loss to Alabama in the 1979 Sugar Bowl when he felt his decision-making cost his team the game and — in that case — the national title.
 
Gagliardi was never driven to resign by a loss, but he said that while the 482 victories brought accolades, the 133 losses left scars. “The thrill of victory doesn’t counter the agony of defeat,” he said. “The defeats stay longer.”

I'm not going to debate the issue, but 482 wins over teams like Carleton College doesn't impress me as much as what Paterno achieved.  In the end, you are comparing apples to oranges.  Paterno is king of the apples; Gagliardi is king of the oranges.
 
Next up, Chris Spielman reveals some scouting on Nebraska, per Phil Mushnik.

Chris Spielman, ex-star linebacker, said he had detected a “tip,” one worth keeping an eye on:


Rodriguez lined up about two feet short of the line of scrimmage, and actually farther back than the left tackle. This, suggested Spielman, “tells me he’s pulling,” and that when he does, the play would go in his direction.

ESPN lost sight of Spielman’s tout after that, but at least one viewer didn’t. For the rest of the game, when Nebraska had the ball, I kept an eye on No. 63, Rodriguez, and darn, the other times he lined up slightly removed from the line of scrimmage, he pulled left or right -- and the play followed him.

Are you reading this Tom????  Of course, so is Nebraska, or so we must assume.  I wonder if we'll see it this weekend?  Get your DVRs ready guys.

Matthew Boyle gives three reasons why PSU will make it to Indy.

1: Paterno’s newfound commitment to McGloin
I’m still not sure if this will hold up, but as far as I can see McGloin has now taken hold of the offense and should remain the starter for the rest of the season. McGloin brings a sense of consistency in the offense. Think of his talent as you wish, but taking all (or at least the vast majority) of the offensive snaps every week can only help him gather a rhythm.
 
2: Silas Redd
Enough can’t be said for Silas Redd’s impact on the team and its success. Redd is only the tenth individual player in Nittany Lions history to rush for over 1,000 yards. He’s averaging over five yards per carry and has seven touchdowns on the year. Since Big Ten play has started Redd has really turned it on, Silas Redd led all FBS players with 703 rushing yards in October.
 
3: 2.5
2.5 is Penn State’s current lead in the Leaders division race over Wisconsin, Ohio State and Purdue. Yes, the schedule Penn State owns over the next three weeks is a rough road, but that could help the Nittany Lions temper their game against top competition. Wisconsin still has Minnesota and Illinois left to play and Ohio State has Purdue and Michigan on the schedule. Penn State has the toughest route to Indy from here, but 2.5 games means Penn State is in the driver’s seat. They could easily win only one of their last three and still come out on top in the Leaders division.

And how many reasons are there why PSU won't be going to Indy???  (Hint: there's at least three--Wisconsin, O$U and Nebraska.)  I like his optimism, though.  The reasoning is valid, but I'm not sure about McGloin.  I thought the Bolden Experiment had already been shelved before the Illinois game.  Can we really assume Paterno won't play Bolden in two weeks.  Or God forbid, in OHIO?  Their defense will score on his mistakes for sure.  (They may score a McPick Six as well!)  But from what I've seen in 9 games so far, McGloin gives this team the best chance to find a way to win.
 
And here's another look at the PI on Moye.  Hmmmmmmm.  Still can't tell for sure.  But the referee was right there.

Big Red Yesterday

Big Red Today wrote on Sunday, which would make yesterday today, that Penn State should finish 9th in the Big Ten.

He backs this premise up with a thorough evaluation of the situation:

9. Penn State (7-6) [last years record, not a prediction for 2011]


Up next: Indiana State, 11 a.m., BTN

Difficult to get excited about a team led by a QB (Rob Bolden) who spent six months trying to transfer. He’s not the only worry. The defense makes few big plays and the O-line is a concern.

The defense makes few big plays?  Per season or per game?  Granted we don't make many of the Pete Giftopoulos type game changing plays every game, but I think our defense holds its own most seasons.

Not a lot of respect from a team just joining the league.

I thought I was pretty easy on the Huskers in my preseason report.  Maybe we will have a Rich Gardner type game-changing defensive play to answer this slap in the face.

But I guess I'm not one to talk since Dick has accused me of spewing Big Ten venom.

And I will grant him the other observations.  Quarterback position could be a problem, and our offensive line has been rebuilding since 2002.

BRT has the BEST Husker coverage.  With a name like Barfknecht, it has to be good!

Pre-Season Countdown: #3

The Pre-Season Countdown continues toward the most difficult game . . .

12. Indiana State University
11. Eastern Michigan University
10. Temple
9. Indiana
8. Purdue
7. Illinois
6. Northwestern
5. Iowa
4. Ohio State

And the third most difficult game on our schedule this season is . . .

NEBRASKA.

Not to be a spoiler, but I think we all know who the #1 team will be, even though they are ranked #2 in the nation pre-season.  That leaves Wisconsin and Nebraska to battle it out for #2 and #3 spots.  The Badgers are returning 13 starters from a 10-2 team while the Huskers return 11 from a 10-4 team that lost to Washington in the Holiday Bowl (a team they defeated during the season 56-21.)

Moreover, the Wisconsin game is at Camp-Randall Stadium, while we have the luxury of playing the Huskers at home, after a bye week.

There is some evidence that the bye week IS NOT beneficial, according to this WSJ article.

In the Big Ten in particular, byes seem to hurt more than they help. The Big Ten's 11 teams are a combined 17-32 since 2002 when playing conference games on extra rest. Ohio State, which is 56-10 in Big Ten play over that span, is 1-3 on extra rest against conference opponents. Among the defeats was a 2004 loss to Northwestern, the Buckeyes' only loss to the Wildcats since 1971. Penn State and Iowa also are 1-3.

Not exactly what you want to hear.  Reality can be a bitch.  But I am going to over-rationalize this and assert that that bye week will help us.  Why?  This bye week comes late in the season.  Penn State has Nebraska, Ohio State and Wisconsin in consecutive weeks to close out the season.  I think the chance to take a breath here might be helpful.  In some cases, I think it hurts if you are on a roll--it throws your timing and emotion off.

This is not the Husker team of the Tom Osborne era.  The offense has a "west-coast" flavor to it and a dual threat quarterback in Martinez who could give us fits if he stays healthy.  Jamal Turner was recruited as a QB, but switched to WR during spring practice.  That opens the door for some gimmick style plays ala Randel El for the Steelers in Super Bowl XL, where he threw a TD pass to Hines Ward off a reverse play.

The Husker defense ranked 11th overall in the nation last season, and looks to be their strong point again this season.  DT Jared Crick, LB Lavonte David and CB Alfonzo Dennard are all stars, and according to most of what I've read, they have pretty good depth and are set to reload for another great year.  Teams only managed 17.4 points per game against them in 2010.

The Huskers will already be immersed in Big Ten football by the time they come to Happy Valley in November.  They will already have faced Wisconsin at Camp Randall in the Big Ten opener, and they will follow that rude awakening with a trip to Columbus.  They pull MSU at home in late October, and they have a trip to Ann Arbor planned for the week after Penn State.  Could they be looking ahead?

As for the game against the Badgers, some, like Athlon Sports, are predicting this could be a preview of the inaugural Big Ten Championship game.  For what it's worth, these may be the two teams to beat in the Big Ten race.

Overall, I like our chances against the Huskers and look forward to this game.  Nebraska has not won at Beaver Stadium since 1980.  Their loss in 1982 ruined a chance at the national championship for them and paved the way for Joe Paterno's first national title.  The loss in 2002 was simply an electric atmosphere, when Penn State knocked off then 7th ranked Nebraska by a score of 40-7.  That is one game I will never forget.  Penn State fans had a chip on their shoulder after losing to the Huskers in the polls in 1994.  A decade of frustration was taken out on them that night in one of the loudest games ever at Beaver Stadium.

And as an historical aside, PSU beat Central Florida 27-24 the week before pasting the Huskers.  Granted, Nebraska ended the season unranked and was probably over-rated.  This season, we open with a team like Indiana State before hosting Alabama.  Could history repeat itself????

Hey!  I can dream can't I?

Prediction:  If Nebraska is as good as the experts claim them to be, then I don't think PSU can win this game.  But I do think it is winnable.  I'm not sold on QB Martinez, and he had an ankle injury last season which may play a factor in his play this year.  I think Nebraska is going to find play in the Big Ten to be a little different than the high scoring shoot 'em up Big XII conference, where the only Big D they have heard of is Dallas.  Officially, I call this a loss.  Off the record, I think we can win this game.

I'm so good at hedging, I ought to start a hedge fund!

For your enjoyment . . .

Nebraska Gives Verbal!

The Big Ten recruiting season has kicked off with a verbal commitment for Nebraska, according to the Omaha World Herald, which should not be confused with Weird Harold of Omaha.

The University of Nebraska football program is about to enter a new era following a vote by the NU Board of Regents Friday afternoon to align with the prestigious Big Ten Conference. Athletic competition is expected to begin in 2011.


Acting on the advice of coaching legend and current NU Athletic Director Tom Osborne and Chancellor Harvey Perlman, the regents voted 8-0 to apply for membership in the Big Ten.

It appears to be a formality that the Big Ten will accept Nebraska's membership quickly, leaving only one more Big 12 season.

Welcome Aboard Huskers!