It's a Bittersweet Symphony

There are certain bridges in life that we know we have to cross at some point. We know that they are coming. We’ve read all the signs posted to prepare us for what is ahead. Yet we are never quite sure what we’re going to do when we get there. You can imagine what it is going to be like, what you are going to do, and how you are going to feel about it. But the preparation never seems to be all that accurate.

Cutting ties is perhaps the most difficult of these bridges. It’s a complicated process. You spend so much time with an individual, event, or location that you feel like it has become an extension of yourself. The crazy thing is that we can feel this way even if it is something to which we are not directly connected.

I found myself at this bridge today. As the Penn State Nittany Lions concluded their 2006 football season with a win over the Tennessee Volunteers, I was surprised to find myself terribly short on jubilation. Normally, New Year’s Day is a time for excitement, optimism, and joy, especially following a win by Paterno’s bunch. But as the players shook hands following the game, I found myself staring blankly at my television. I did not feel strong of spirit, but instead felt a rather overwhelming sadness. I knew that this day was at my fingertips, but I was hoping there would be one more sign telling me the bridge had moved a few hundred thousand miles up the road and that it would take me at least one more year to reach it.

My feelings of sorrow stemmed from the realization that it was the last time I would be able to watch Tony Hunt and Paul Posluszny play for the Blue and White. I’ve known all season that this moment was coming, but it arrived before I was ready. Even though I know it’s not the last time I will be able watch either of them dominate the gridiron, it will never be the same. That’s because these two men embodied all the traits that I use to put Penn State on a throne overlooking all other college football programs.

It feels slightly awkward to call them “men.” They are both still college students, which typically earns them the title of “kid”, but “men” seems a more befitting label for both of them. I think some of that has to do with their physical statures and their athletic prowess. Perhaps it’s also my own realization that they are closing a door of their lives that I also closed just a few months ago. I remember seeing both of these guys around campus just a few months ago. At the time, I was just a college “kid” like them, but have since realized that, at 25, I am a man too. Maybe that’s why I feel a certain connection to these two players. We may be in different lanes of the highway, but we’re traveling towards some of the same bridges.

As I mentioned earlier, I’ve gravitated towards Hunt and Posluszny because of the qualities they both personify. My first real memories of watching Penn State football bring to mind two specific players – Blair Thomas and Shane Conlan. Those two men were, ironically and respectively, a running back and a linebacker. Thomas and Conlan represented the values I think my parents were trying to instill in me. They were blue-collar guys. They worked hard, played harder, did not showboat, and always seemed to put the good of team before themselves. They put toughness, perseverance, and will on display for us every time they stepped on the field. They had a respect and admiration for the game and the other players playing it.

Watching Hunt and Posluszny has made that all come full circle for me. As a man now, I realize that those qualities and values were indeed what it was all about. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons my parents guided me into the world of the Nittany Lions. Whether it was something they recognized as crucial to the experience or whether this was just something subliminal to them, I don’t think I’ll ever know. Whatever it was, Saturdays apparently were not just about football. They actually were another way of showing me the values my parents wanted to be present in me. They wanted me to work hard and to play harder. They knew I could accomplish anything I wanted to do as long as I believed in myself and showed the determination to succeed. All they asked in return was that I keep myself humble, respect other people, and put the well-being of those around me in the forefront. In my early years, Thomas and Conlan helped me to learn that. Now Hunt and Posluszny have come along to reinforce that message as I stand on the brink of starting my own life.

My reaction to watching Hunt and Posluszny leave the field today was somber because I am slightly concerned as to whether or not players of their nature will come through the program at a time when I’m trying to instill those virtues on my own children. I don’t mean to knock any of members of any other teams past, present, or future, but these guys seem to be on another level. A lot of that is because they were so skilled on the field. I’m sure other players have and will embody the same values, but they haven’t been on the same level as these guys. I also hope that when JoePa finally does step down that the program does not all take a step down. Paterno has been the backbone of this program and the best thing the program can do is to make sure that backbone keeps instilling values into both the players and their fans.



It will be weird to see #26 and #31 playing on Sundays next season. I’m going to miss watching them on Saturdays. Our family still huddles around the TV each Saturday for Penn State games and it’s just not going to be the same without these two fantastic seniors. It has truly been a pleasure to watch them play over the past four seasons and when my kids do come around, I’ll be sure they know how to pronounce Posluszny (and Hunt as well, but that’s just a little bit easier).

I wish both Tony Hunt and Paul Posluszny (and all the other outgoing seniors) the best of luck as they speed to the next bridge and all the others they may approach on their way. It was great to see the team go out with a win, even if it was a little bittersweet. Thank you - you’ve made the ride more enjoyable for all of us.

The Blue Crocodile Scandal (Code name: BCS)

This is enough already. It is time to dismiss the BCS. It doesn’t work. I’ve had enough with the squabbling. There are so many arguments bouncing around right now that I can’t even decide which pair of pants to wear to work in the morning. I’m serious. I’m wasting too much time pondering the BCS that my regular brain functioning is failing me. I actually just heard someone arguing that the BCS is good for college football because it brings more attention to the sport. Does college football really need any more attention? I recall being given a Gatorade-shower sized dousing over the last 15 weeks. At least 4 channels, at any given time, provided all of us with plenty of college football. College football does not need exposure. What it needs is closure...before I show up to work with no pants on.

We can all continue to bicker about this until Florida loses again OR we can be mature adults about it and accept it for what it is – a hoax. Our hoods have been pulled over our eyes and we’ve been hoodwinked by the latest ploy in sports: The Blue Crocodile Scandal.

I know you all just shook your heads and said, “here he goes again.” But hear me out! Unlike my Tom Brady rant, this conspiracy is legitimate. We’ll start off at the top and work our way through this. First off, I’d like to thank the wonderful people at Florida who produced the 2003 Florida University Gators media guide. You blamed the mistake on the company to whom you outsourced the media guide design. But the real blame falls on you for approving the cover and allowing it to be published with a croc instead of a gator. That gaff gave me a great title for this conspiracy and for that I owe you all a frat-buddy-styled high-five.

Our focus now shifts to the evidence supporting our conspiracy. I can’t recall the exact week it started, but the argument began long before USC fell to Oregon State and West Virginia lost to Louisville. It started before Louisville lost to Rutgers and well before the weekend both Michigan and Rutgers fell from the ranks of the unbeaten. The analysts and experts spawned a wonderful debate which we all know as, “Which one-loss SEC team has the best shot at making the BCS title game?” That’s right. They were arguing about Auburn, Tennessee, LSU, Arkansas, and Florida. Meanwhile, six other teams were still undefeated at that point (USC, West Virginia, Louisville, Michigan, Rutgers, and Boise State). I can't explain why that would happen, except for the inexplicable bias towards the SEC which I frankly can't understand. For every good SEC team there is an equally bad SEC team - that balance exists in every conference. A popular refrain is that the SEC has more ranked teams, but the Big Ten also has 3 teams currently ranked in the Top 10. Those contentions aside, why is Florida playing bad Division-II schools two weeks before the conference championship game?

My last bone of contention lies with the coach of Florida himself. What is up with Urban Meyer? Did he bang his head on a rock and awaken with a desire to be the next Tom Osborne? We all remember when Tom Osborne lobbied his way into 2 National Titles (’94 and ’97). In each of those seasons, a Big Ten team finished undefeated but was not recognized as National Champion. This year, Meyer lobbied his way into the title game while boxing out Michigan (the very same school Osborne screwed in ’97). Perhaps Mr. Meyer needs to realize that Osborne was just using his coaching position as preparation for a career as a U.S. Congressman. I think Florida fans should start questioning Meyer’s dedication to the job. Do you remember the last Florida coach who wasn’t really dedicated to his job? He coaches at South Carolina now. It appears Meyer may be heading down a dangerous path of disappointment. Maybe he’s just thinking about heading to Washington like his much maligned predecessor.

There’s one simple solution to both the dilemma and the conspiracy that helped create it. The solution was provided by one of my fellow Talking Heads. If Boise State wins their bowl game against Oklahoma and Ohio State wins their bowl game against the conspirators from the South (a.k.a.-Florida), Jared Zabransky should take his first opportunity in front of the microphone to call out the Buckeyes. He should call them “chumps.” He should tell them that Boise State will come to the Horseshoe whenever Ohio State wants (which probably could be anytime - we all know the history OSU players have with attending their classes). He should also let them know that Boise State would stomp all over the scarlet and gray. Instead of being cliche and going to Disney World, the whole team should gather and say, "We're going Columbus, Ohio!"

That’s the answer right there. The players need to take this into their own hands. It shouldn’t be about the money. It shouldn’t be about the conferences. We need to forget which conferences the teams come from and who they played and didn’t play. We need to forget the coaches and their lobbying and complaining. Forget the “experts” and analysts who get to vote in polls that decide where teams fall in the BCS. We can even forget the conspiracy theorists who believe Florida found a way to finagle their way in to the title game. It is not about any of that. It is about the players, school pride, and bragging rights.

I don’t care if Boise State plays Ohio State in flag football on the beaches of Cancun during Spring Break. All that matters is that these two teams, the only two undefeated teams in the country, settle the score the right way...on the field.

Today's Homework: The BCS

Hey kids!

Welcome to today’s class. I am here with you today because the grownups in charge of the BCS seem to be having some difficulty. You see kids, the people who rank college football teams have complicated formulas which help them figure out which team belongs in a certain position in the polls. But these formulas, or recipes, are just not working. In fact, they are making me sick.

So here’s how we are going to fix it. I want you to look at the following list of teams. In parenthesis, you will see 2 numbers – for example, (10-0). The first number represents how many times that team has won this season. The second number represents how many losses that team has had during this season. I’m going to give you a list of 15 teams. I would like you to look at those teams and the numbers in parenthesis for each team and put them in order from 1 to 15. Please put the best team in the 1 spot and the worst team in the 15 spot. You will have 15 minutes to do this. I will post the answer key below for your review when you are done.

Teams
Ohio State (11-0), Michigan (11-0), Florida (9-1), USC (8-1), Notre Dame (9-1), Arkansas (9-1), West Virginia (8-1), Rutgers (9-0), LSU (8-2), Wisconsin (10-1), Texas (9-2), Louisville (8-1), Boise State (10-0), Wake Forest (9-1), Auburn (9-2)

Ready? Go!


Answer Key
1. Michigan (11-0)
2. Ohio State (11-0)
3. Boise State (10-0)
4. Rutgers (9-0)
5. Wisconsin (10-1)
6. Notre Dame (9-1)
7. Arkansas (9-1)
8. Florida (9-1)
9. Wake Forest (9-1)
10. Louisville (8-1)
11. West Virginia (8-1)
12. USC (8-1)
13. LSU (9-2)
14. Texas (9-2)
15. Auburn (9-2)

Did you get all the right answers? This was a pretty simple task, right? You just had to put the teams with the most wins and zero losses first. And then you just use that process the whole way through. You rank first on wins, then on losses. For example, Wisconsin has 10 wins, which is 1 more than Rutgers, but Wisconsin has 1 loss and Rutgers has zero, so Rutgers gets the spot ahead of Wisconsin.

Your list may vary a little bit from mine because there are a few things that I know that you may not have known (well you may have known this, but I didn’t ask you to think about it when you did your rankings).

For starters, Michigan is ranked ahead of Ohio State because they beat two of the teams on our list (Wisconsin and Notre Dame) and Ohio State only beat one (Texas). Second, Notre Dame gets the 6 spot because their only loss is to the number 1 team on our list. Arkansas comes in at 7 because they lost to the 12th team on our list. Florida is 8 because they lost to the 15th team on our list. Wake Forest is 9 because they lost to a team that is missing from our list. Louisville is 10 because they lost to the 3rd team, while West Virginia is 11th because they lost to Louisville. USC gets the 12 spot because they lost to a team that is not on our list. Finally, we have the end of our list. LSU gets the nod at 13 because they lost to two teams on our list (Florida and Auburn). Texas is in at 14 because one of their losses was to Ohio State (2nd on our list). And wrapping up our poll in the number 15 spot is Auburn who has lost to only one team on our list (7-Arkansas).

Does anyone have any questions as to how we solved this problem? That’s okay; we can do a quick review. We started by taking all the teams who had zero or one loss. We then added the only other three teams with at least 9 wins. All these teams had only two losses, but the 9 wins put them at a higher importance than the plethora of 8-2 teams we chose to leave out. After that, we took the teams and ranked them based on their number of wins and losses. To settle any ties based on records, we looked at whom each team suffered their defeat(s) against. The only other tie breaker was Michigan over Ohio State based on who they had defeated from our list.

That’s it. No silly strength of schedule formulas. No looking at margin of victory. No looking at what conference they play in. We just did straight, simple calculation. It’s easy enough for any 7th grader...and you guys are only in 5th grade. Well done!

Class dismissed.

Rutgers/Louisville - Part 2

In what will be a first for SixTalkingHeads, the following two part series will chronicle the November 9, 2006 Louisville/Rutgers football game. Two of the Talking Heads will be at the game and it is our hope that their perspective (though likely tainted by consumption of alcohol) might give you some insight into the madness that is Big East football. We hope to write like this about other games in the future. We hope you will read these writings. Realistically? We hope this doesn’t suck…

Rutgers/Louisville Part 2 – Lesson Learned

As a die hard college football fan who was trained and educated the Penn State way, I've always thought I knew pretty much everything there was to know about the game and what makes it great. The national championship is the pinnacle, 10 win seasons are a must, and anything less is unacceptable (unless you throw in an Ohio State or Michigan upset somewhere along the way). Enter Thursday night and Rutgers/Louisville. Though the BCS debate and talk of West Virginia had hit the airwaves while most of the cars were still in the parking lots, I left the game with a strong sense that regardless of what happens the rest of the season, the Scarlet Knights and their fans were walking away from their victory with the one thing that they really wanted on this night...respect. Perhaps my understanding of college football is not as complete as I thought it was. Let me share with you what I learned...

Following an hour and a half drive from Philly (and a much welcomed early exit from work), I and my fellow game attendees arrived in New Brunswick just about the time many of you East Coasters were dreaming of hitting the streets for rush hour. A newbie to the Rutgers campus, I was unpleasantly surprised to discover that the parking pass I had "wisely" ordered online with my tickets deposited us in an asphalt desert somewhere around the southeastern corner of Ohio. Undeterred and filled with optimism for the game, we pressed on and broke out the bbq and beers. As the empties piled up and our stomachs were filled, I began to notice that not only were we not alone in our parking lot of distant solitude, but I actually recognized some of our fellow exiles. Is it just me, or do the same 15 or 20 scalpers work every single sporting event in the United States? Would you really be surprised if you showed up for your nephew's little league game and Three Tooth Tony from Yankee Stadium accosted you with offers of "$5 hats - just FIVE DOLLARS!"? We need to stop encouraging these people.

As the night grew darker and the drunks more disoriented, I found myself struck by the beautiful weather. If November in New Jersey is always like this then somebody gave this state an entirely undeserving bad rep. Regardless of the local climate, the time had come to gather our senses and head for the game. Following a surprisingly short wait in a surprisingly long line, I found myself wedged into a commuter bus full of fellow drunken fans, each foolishly excited for the "short" busride to the stadium. After what seemed like a three hour journey, the stadium lights finally came into view. Fortunately, I had been able to spend the empty time in between assisting in rousing chants about the freshman dorms and "Des-ir-ee! Des-ir-ee!" (not sure who she is, but her father should probably be very worried).

For those of you who haven't been to a Rutgers football game (c'mon - you don't need help with a joke here), the stadium is open ended to the south side with upper deck seating along the sidelines. Though "Birthplace of College Football" is painted behind the north end zone, I'd estimate that many parts of the stadium aren't more than 10-15 years old. Taking advantage of the open air to the south, trees and a modern scoreboard (are they still called jumbo-trons?) create a nice backdrop to the action on the field.

As we found our seats in the seventh row at the ten yard line (shoutout to my people at "the internet"), I took notice that although the game was about to start many of the student seats were still being filled. This could only mean good things for the crazy level. No sooner had the national anthem been played and we were greeted with another college football tradition - the two drunks in front of us were escorted out by New Jersey State Police.

And there we were...time for kickoff. I'm excited to get to the action here, so I'm going to break from form and give you a quick rundown of the other news and notables that don't necessarily involve the game. I've already covered parking, but due to its incredible inconvenience I'll lead with it again...

• Parking: blah
  
• Port-a-potties: Important...I know. I know my readers. Unfortunately Rutgers does not. The southeastern Ohio lot we parked in appeared to have...well...roughly...zero. I actually didn't see any outside the stadium until after the game. The ones I did notice were either a soft mint green or a pinkish red. I might have seen 6 all night.
• "Robust Ronda" or "Robust Patty" or something of the sort: Yes, this was at the actual game. Some "lady" was walking around wearing a crown with a sign around her neck that said "Robust" and something else that I was never able to read. The sign didn't lie, but don't lose any sleep about the rest. I'm not sure what her mission was at the game so if any of you readers are familiar, feel free to clear this up.
• "It's a Rutgers....FIRST DOWN!": Somewhat comical announcement over the P.A. EVERY time Rutgers had a first down. I think he might have even yelled it after change of possession a few times. I'm guessing this goes back to the times when first downs were about the only thing to celebrate at Rutgers games.
• Cheerleaders vs. Dance Team: Neither will have their own calenders any time soon, but I gave my vote of the night to the cheeleaders. Two of my fellow game buddies opted for the dance team, but I think I'll hold off until it's determined that there were actual female faces under all that eye shadow.
• Food: I didn't have any in the stadium - didn't want to leave the game. A hot dog I saw on the ground looked pretty good. No...I didn't. Not that I'm above that or anything.
• Security: I assume there was some but I didn't see it. I'm thinking that if there's a "next time" we could probably sneak in enough stuff to tailgate inside the stadium.
• "R...U...": Seemed to be the most popular team chant. For the early half of the night I thought it was recognizing the first two letters of the school name (and I wondered why they never busted out the T). Somewhere around the second quarter I realized the U was for "University." I'm quick like that.
  

Ok...game time. I write this assuming that you watched, but if you didn't I'm sorry to say that you missed one HELL of a game. Louisville busted out of the gates strong, driving down the field with ease on their first possession. Before he got blown up in the second half, Brohm looked every bit the stud qb he's been talked up to be. He also seems to be blessed with a ton of speed on the outside. Late in the first quarter, Louisville took the lead for a second time after a 100 yard kick return by Jajuan Spillman. In what was a very confusing play for those in attendance, the Cards then got a two point conversion when they picked up their own blocked extra point and ran it in. Reactions by John Q. Public ranged from "So is that a safety?" to "This never happens in Madden." Confusing plays aside, I will say that the Rutgers crowd was completely into this game from the word go. I've been to alot of games in Beaver Stadium and I must say that if 110,000 could scream like that on a weekly basis (Ohio State, Nebraska, and Michigan aside) my beloved Lions would never lose another home game.

The beginning of the second quarter felt like the beginning of the end for Rutgers. The Cards were again driving very easily, racking up 10 points to push their lead to 25-7. At this point, I noticed some worry on the faces of those around me, but it seemed to be mixed with a good deal of confusion. How are you supposed to feel when your team ends up tanking the big game that they were never supposed to show up for in the first place? Thankfully, this question was never answered. Following an 18 yard run by Ray Rice (who runs alot more like Larry Johnson than Barry Sanders - considering his size), R.U. closed the gap to 25-14 at the half. It was at this point that I realized what was becoming an incredible trend in the game. Every time there was a "big play" in the game (which I wisely pointed out by stating to anyone who would listen "wow...this is a big play!"), that play would be eclipsed in importance by another BIGGER play 2 minutes later. That, my friends, is exciting football!

As the band hit the field (with some surprisingly kick ass hats) I ran over the possibilities for the second half. Rutgers was going to need to scores in bunches, but could they rely on their unproven QB? Could they survive a second half shootout with Louisville when they were already down 11?

When the third quarter arrived, so did the turning point in the game. You can look up the stats, but it appeared Brohm was faced with 3rd and long on virtually every series of the second half. Couple this with what seemed like 10 sacks from the defensive line, and the Scarlet Knight defense (along with the crowd) was rocking. Halfway through the third quarter, Rutgers got the break that it needed as WR Kenny Britt caught a 67 yard pass that he promptly fumbled somewhere around the 5 yard line. Lady luck threw in her hand at this time, as a fortuitous bounce brought the ball right into Britt's breadbasket as he lay on the ground. Rice's 4 yard td on the next play (and a clutch, "big play" 2 point conversion) pulled Rutgers within a FG...22-25.

I think it would be hard to overstate the performance of the Rutgers defense in the second half. Just as I asked the student next to me "why doesn't Louisville go back to the longer patterns?", Brohm was brought down once again. I'm not sure what Coach said in the locker room at halftime, but these guys played like a different squad in the second half.

The drama of the 4th Quarter has been replayed countless times on Sportscenter but I'll do my best. Minutes after the Rutgers kicker hit one of those "I can't watch this" 46 yarders for the tie, the Scarlet Knights got the ball back again on their own 10 yard line. After faltering to start the drive off, Rutgers QB Mike Teel (whose name kindof sounds like T.O. when you aren't listining closely and have no idea who he is) hit stud fullback (how often do you hear that?) Brian Leonard to complete a third and very long. Ray Rice took over from there, bullying his way down inside the 20 to run out the clock and set up what would be a certain 30-some yard game winner. Except...he missed it. Only he didn't. Or maybe he did. Has anyone else ever been completely confused as to whether a field goal is good in a live game? I myself have probably celebrated 3 or 4 "game winners" that actually missed the target. And I was never alone. It has something to do with the view that you have depending on where your seats are. Perhaps it's one of those optical illusions that always seem to get me. Regardless, I'd be more than happy if football teams would install hockey style buzzers and sirens at the goal posts. I'm not sure my heart can take another mistaken celebration. Fortunately, all was not lost in New Brunswick as a Louisville player (who will finish the season playing as "I Hate Me") was flagged for offsides. Rutgers' kicker got another chance and nailed what would soon be the game winner.

It was at this point that the weight of the moment really started to kick in for the Rutgers faithful. Fans hugged, chanted, and waved towels, but as they celebrated the coming victory they seemed to be asking "what do we do now? are we really going to win this game?" Left in such a quandary, they did the only thing they could think of...they stormed the field...before the game was over. As the scene at the stadium went from weird to bizarre, the P.A. announcer convinced the celebrating masses to clear the field just in time for one final Rutgers sack.

Jumping up and down on the R at midfield, I briefly felt conflicted about my presence at this game. I didn't go to Rutgers. I didn't know the chants. I didn't even know the color of the port-a-potties. Was it really right to be sharing in this moment? My reluctance lasted mere seconds as the infectious joy of the crowd overtook me. Excited to be one of the very first to storm the field (when the game had actually ended), I soon realized that 40,000 of the 44,000 at the stadium seemed to be on the turf as well. What was a high tension big time college football game had devolved into the world's largest disorganized gym class. Grown men tackled each other and rolled around on the ground as face painted co-eds made friends with elderly alumni. And each of them was loving every minute of it. When I finally climbed back into the stands 15 minutes after the game was over, I snapped the picture that you saw at the beginning of this post. The field was still filled with fans and celebratory music was being pumped through the P.A. system. Rutgers had earned it's national respect and these fans were going to bask in their moment...deservedly so.

Reflecting back upon the evening that was in the epic Rutgers/Louisville tilt, I find myself at a loss to describe it in my traditional simple and sarcastic terms. At times surreal, the game itself and the environment that surrounded it brought to the forefront an emotion that unfotunately is sometimes lost in the giant circus that college football has become - genuine happiness. As I recounted my experience to friends and coworkers on Friday (and as the fish in my tales grew exponentially), I found that every time I started talking about the game the same thing would keep happening...I couldn't stop smiling. If I could take that feeling away from every game I attend, I wouldn't care to see another BCS ranking in my life. Congratulations Scarlet Knights...and thanks for the lesson.

Rutgers/Louisville - Part 1

In what will be a first for SixTalkingHeads, the following two part series will chronicle the November 9, 2006 Louisville/Rutgers football game. Two of the Talking Heads will be at the game and it is our hope that their perspective (though likely tainted by consumption of alcohol) might give you some insight into the madness that is Big East football. We hope to write like this about other games in the future. We hope you will read these writings. Realistically? We hope this doesn’t suck…

Rutgers/Louisville Part 1 – The Anticipation

I begin with a disclaimer. It is my firm belief that along the spectrum of blood types in the human body, one can find A, B, O and “Blue and White.” On my day of reckoning, I’d certainly need a transfusion from the last of this group. Growing up in Northern Pennsylvania about an hour from Beaver Stadium (and 15 hours from pretty much anything else), Joe Paterno was as much a part of my formative years as G.I. Joe, the Transformers, and Mister Rogers put together. While I vaguely had an idea of who Ronald Reagan was, I went to bed at night hoping that Joe’s coke bottle glasses wouldn’t fog up in the snow of the Notre Dame game. Penn State football was the measuring stick upon which all other programs, teams, and players were assessed…and they never even came close. While I can’t claim a giant leap in maturity over the last 20 years, I would say that I’ve expanded my college football horizons slightly. Though I still scowl openly at the likes of Notre Dame, Michigan, and “PITT”, I can recognize a strong team when I see them. Likewise, I’ve developed the uncanny ability to sit through games involving teams that don’t wear Blue and White, and to enjoy these games for the entertaining spectacles that they are. Go me! But just as I launch into a veritable thesis about my vast knowledge of college football, into the room walk the 8-0 Rutgers Scarlet Knights…and I’m speechless.

Every few years, a college football team explodes upon the national scene with the suddenness of Jar Jar Binks in the fourth (or is it first?) Star Wars movie. You never saw him coming and once he showed up, you weren’t really sure what it was you were looking at. Unlike Jar Jar, many of these college football teams have actually been quite likeable (see: Northwestern’s 1996 Rose Bowl team) or at least highly entertaining to watch (see: any Kentucky team quarterbacked by Jared Lorenzen). To this abbreviated list I add Rutgers…circa 2006. I’ll be the first to admit that going into the season, I knew next to nothing about Rutgers. I had a hazy memory of Rutgers playing in a bowl game last season, but then again, who didn’t? Beyond that, my only knowledge of Rutgers 2006 was that “they’ve got a really good fullback!” - a compliment that falls somewhere between “our punter is awesome!” and “damn…these stadium cheese fries are good!” on my list of national championship endorsements.

Fortunately, in the face of my sarcasm and skepticism, Rutgers has persevered - not losing a game to date. With their presence so strongly announced, I can no longer turn a blind ear. I must investigate the phenomenon that is Rutgers football. In the interests of you the reader (and if you’re reading this on one of our slow days, I do actually mean YOU) and my own sense of sanity, I will be attending the Rutgers/Louisville football game in Rutgers City tomorrow (I know…I know…but you could Google the name too if it’s that important). I will leave no stone unturned, no Louisville Cardinal insult unspoken and no Rutgers chant un…chanted. For one late afternoon and evening in November, I will completely immerse myself in the Scarlet Knight culture and hopefully emerge with stories to tell. Expectations are high my friends. My curiosity abounds. Do they arrange their beer pong cups differently? What is the choice tailgating food? What color are the port-a-potties? Will their mascot meet my exceedingly high expectations of what a Scarlet Knight should be? Will the Knight’s horse really fly?

The game is yet a day away and I can barely contain my excitement. The Cardinals are coming to town with national title implications in the balance (well…for them anyways) and everyone in America will be watching. Sure, I’ll probably get cocky and throw out a “WE ARE…” or two, but I realize this is Rutgers’ night and I’ll paint my face and scream my lungs out accordingly. I have full expectations for a great night of college football and I doubt I’ll be disappointed. Sure…it won’t be the same as the PSU games of yesteryear but somehow I think that JoePa would understand. Honest competition, team spirit, and doing things the “right way” encompass the Paterno style of football and I have a feeling even Peachy Joe himself would smile at the spirit of this Rutgers team. While Vegas and the BCS might favor Louisville, 40,000 screaming fans in Rutgers City will have something different to say. I’m sure you’ll be watching, but even if you don’t, check back here this weekend for my follow up on the game that was and you won’t miss a beat.

For now, I bid you adieu my fair readers. My armor needs shining and the horse needs fed…it’s time for battle.

Miami has gone soft!

The backlash from the Miami-FIU fight has resulted in 13 Miami and 16 FIU players suspended, 1 fired commentator and lingering concerns about preventing incidents in the future. Miami, given their history, has announced a surprisingly tough zero tolerance rule for fighting. Any player who fights on the field will be dismissed from the team. Wow, this from Miami? You might say "about time!" I say Miami’s response to the incident is too harsh.

In debating this situation I cannot help but think of the Unnecessary Roughness penalty in football. You can run into each other at full speed for 48 minutes, but if you as much bump or shove someone after the play has passed you will be penalized. How can you expect 22+ men to be at each other's throats for 3 hours and not get into the occasional fight? Football is a violent game - to think otherwise is moronic. At a SUNY conference on the impact of media on sports the president of the NCAA remarked, "It's disappointing to see violence in college football games." Given the nature of college football, he must be frequently disappointed.

Yes, the NCAA should penalize Merriweather and others for their acts that were only meant to harm defenseless players but we should also all be taking a deep breath. For a TV analyst to claim that Anthony Reddick could have murdered someone by swinging his helmet at other helmeted players is a silly, sensationalist comment. Adding to the confusion of the punishment, Reddick was suspended indefinitely whereas Merriweather (who wantonly trampled on the bodies of players on the ground) received just a single game suspension.

Miami would be smart in rephrasing their policy so that it severely punishes only excessive, needless acts. Perhaps they can call it the Unnecessary Fighting Policy?

One Final Note: Why do players punch other helmeted football players? Doesn't this hurt your hand? They are wearing a flipping helmet!

The Top 10 - NCAA Football: Week 9

10. Boise State (8-0)/ Rutgers (7-0) (tie) Lets face it, mid-majors do not get any respect, but here are two that are still unbeaten (yes, I'm labeling Rutgers as a mid-major). Obviously, Boise State has a better track record than Rutgers, but Greg Schiano has steadily built up the jewel of the Garden State (take that Princeton). We’ll see how long Rutgers can hold on to their lofty ranking with tough games coming up. The Broncos, on the other hand, faced no one tougher than Pac-10 also-ran Oregon State (or possibly 5-2 Hawaii). I have a soft spot for Hawaii, because it’s just so damn fun building them up as a powerhouse in NCAA Football. Rutgers probably won't go undefeated, but they did win me a drink in a bar bet - that’s more than enough for this season.
Next goal for Rutgers: keep Jersey kids in Jersey.
Next goal for BS: Continue laughing at Dan Hawkins.

9. Auburn (7-1) I can’t believe I’m admitting this, but I almost put Auburn ahead of Arkansas. Luckily I corrected my obvious mistake. I hate it when teams have played each other and the loser of that game sits one spot ahead of their better. Case in point: this week the AP Poll had Tennessee one spot ahead of Florida, but Florida beat UT. What in Jim Bob Cooter is going on? Maybe if the AP corrected those aberrations they would actually get a say in the BCS. In the USA Today poll, Florida jumped UT (correcting their own dunce move of last week). Unfortunately, the Harris poll voters aren’t quite as smart yet. Maybe this whole BCS thing is a little complicated, but that’s for another day.
Next goal: Rise in polls to match high BCS rating.

8. Arkansas (6-1) What’s not to love about a true freshman quarterback leading a BCS conference team? On top of that, Mitch Mustain came to Arkansas with 3 classmates and their high school coach, who is now the Razorbacks Offensive coordinator. Oh, and Arkansas also has stud RB’s and a hobbit for a linebacker. If early season losses are better than late season losses, then why isn’t this team higher in the polls? Besides, that early loss came to undefeated Southern Cal and Arkansas went on to stun Auburn in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Next goal: Win the SEC West.

7. Clemson (7-1) Ok, Arkansas should probably be here (and maybe even Auburn), but it’s my poll. No one’s saying you have to agree, but hear me out. What’s not to love about this team outside of a 1-point loss to a tough BC squad? If Chansi Stuckey wasn't injured Clemson would be even more of an offensive super beast. Instead, they have been "forced" to rely upon 1,484 yards and 23 TDs from a two-headed monster backfield: James Davis and CJ Spiller. As if that isn't enough, Demerick Chancellor also has two 100 yard games from the RB position (albeit in scrub time against weak teams). Still, how can you not love three separate 100 yard rushers in one game, with no one exceeding 15 carries? Who needs a defense? Yet conveniently, Clemson fields a defense that just happens to allow the fewest PPG in the ACC. Even so, it might be more exciting if they'd just let the other team score so we could see that offense on the field more. Next goal: Win ACC Atlantic.
[I get it, "Atlantic" and "Coastal" divisions, just like the conference name. CLEVER!]

6. Louisville (7-0) They are undefeated and in a BCS conference. If Michael Bush was not hurt they might have moved past Texas in the rankings. That said, I still have a feeling that they will lose a game or two.
Next goal: Don’t F*** up. That, or get Bush to sign on for a senior year instead of a lucrative NFL contract.

5. Texas (7-1) I really don't think they're that great, but they did return alot of players from what I’m told is the team that won the National Championship. I could have sworn I only saw Vince Young playing in that game - didn't he win the title all by himself? Regardless, this year’s version has a good secondary and a very large go-to WR. They also have some talented RBs that can keep pressure off the QB. They got away with a gift vs. Nebraska, so until Texas can beat the Cornhuskers in the Big 12 Championship game I don't see them moving up in these rankings. I’m not saying Nebraska deserves to crack the top 10, but their only other loss was to USC, and that was by a smaller (MUCH smaller) margin than Arkansas’s loss.
Next goal: Win the Big 12 Title. If you can’t make the national championship game, complain and get into a better bowl than you deserved.

4. WVU (7-0) The Mountaineers are the real reason the option still exists in any form. Pat White and Steve Slaton lead the offense, Dan Mozes leads the offensive line, and Rich Rodriguez leads the whole thing. How far can they go? This is a team that got back to basics this year after wiping the floor with Georgia in last years Sugar Bowl (at least for the first half). WVU is no stranger to backyard brawls and the meat of their schedule still lies ahead of them (Louisville, Pitt (THE Backyard Brawl), Rutgers (yes, Rutgers can be considered on the meat of somebody’s schedule, just not the cream)). Football has a lot of food analogies...I’m hungry. Anyway, I hope WVU goes undefeated and gets a shot at the national championship. It should be noted that Pat White is the real Heisman hopeful from this team, even though we all know he won’t win.
Next goal: Beat your Big-East challengers, one at a time - next up...Louisville.

3. USC (6-0) They have not lost yet. Otherwise, they remain unimpressive.
P.S. Mitch Mustain did not start the Arkansas game.
P.P.S. It probably wouldn't have mattered.
P.P.P.S. USC should forfeit all wins under Reggie Bush.
P.P.P.P.S. Ernest Shazor should have blocked that field goal in the ’05 Rose Bowl.
P.P.P.P.P.S. Texas never deserved to be there in the first place. Mack Brown and Tom Osborne are babies.
P.P.P.P.P.P.S.U. I know PSU fans agree with me on that last one.
Next goal: Lose to a team you shouldn’t for once.

2. Ohio State (8-0) This ranking comes down to pure bias (moreso east coast/northern mid western bias). OSU really hasn’t played anyone tough this year (Colt McCoy was starting his first real college game in Texas). Why the hell is a plant your mascot anyway? (Quick thanks to wikipedia for your fast information which may or may not be correct.) Anyway, I’ll wait for the game on November 18th to prove me right.
Next goal: Win out until Nov. 18th.

[







]<---That’s the gap between first and second and it’s not even that close.


1. Michigan (8-0) Despite what I said before - I am saying you have to agree with this. The only weak spot on this team is Junior QB Chad Henne (and according to revered magazine Sports Illustrated, he is the 8th best QB in the country). And please, please, PLEASE stop saying things like “healthy Hart” and “Hart of the team” if you are a highly paid broadcast announcer. You should be ashamed and fired. Just call it like it is...Mike “Sexy” Hart.
Next goal: Win and stay healthy.

WE ARE!!!.....5 and 3?

This was a very exciting weekend for me. I decided to visit an old friend at his new abode in New Jersey. I normally don't travel on Saturdays. Not in the fall anyways. Saturdays in the fall are for Penn State Football games. However, I decided that since this weekend was homecoming and we had Illinois lined up as the main course, the game was never really going to be in question. I guess I was wrong.

As I traveled to Jersey, the Nittany Lions were scrapping their way to an unimpressive 26-12 victory against a team that has only looked good against Michigan State (but then again, who hasn't?). Apparently, my beloved Lions are content with stumbling their way through another sub-par season. I'll give them some credit - all three loses have come against teams ranked in the Top 5 at the time. And yes, it is a "rebuilding year" of sorts and the games against Ohio State and Michigan were close deep into the fourth quarter. But I fear there is something bigger going on here.

This team, as a whole, lacks the fire to win that has been a trademark of many of the PSU teams of the past. I'm not saying everyone is to blame. I'm sure there are some players playing with the fire and desire that I expect, but if you look at the end of the Ohio State, Minnesota, or Michigan games there was no sense of urgency whatsoever from the offense. There was nobody fired up. Nobody seemed to be saying "Hey, give me the ball!" This team lacks what I call a Matt Hasselbeck factor. There's no one to step up at a crucial point in the game and say "We'll take the ball and we're going to win."

Personally, I don't doubt that there is as much talent on this team as there has been on any Penn State teams of the past. Lou Holtz and Kirk Herbstreit have made references to PSU having one of the finest receiving corps in the nation. At Penn State? Receiving corps? Sure, we've had our share of good individual receivers before, but never a few of them at one time. However, despite all this talent we're still seeing alot of dropped balls. It seems like all the receivers have had them.

I can't talk about the receiving corps without talking about Derrick Williams. Considering all the hype that surrounded his arrival, he's been a major disappointment for me. You're talking about the #1 ranked recruit for 2005 and even though he looked like he could be something special last year, he hasn't done much of anything this year. I doubt that his skills are gone, but he looks hesitant. It's almost as if he's unsure of with the ball when it comes to him. He's gotten the ball in space, but he hasn't found a way to keep that space. I want to believe that he's a special player, but sooner or later he has to make a special play. In Williams's defense, I don't have the privilege to review game tape. Perhaps he's facing double teams and other schemes geared to shut him down. What I do know is that there have been plays he should have made that just haven't happened.

Getting away from the passing game - Penn State happens to have one of the most underrated running backs in the country in Tony Hunt. I'd be willing to bet that Hunt has broken more tackles through 8 games this year than Larry Johnson did in his entire 2,000 yard campaign. He's a tough-as-nails, do-anything back who just doesn't quit. Coaches must love the fact that when he doesn't have the ball in his hands, Hunt blocks just as hard as he runs.

Note to the Philadelphia Eagles: we need a back to compliment Westbrook. Draft this kid next year. PLEASE!

As for the guy who's been giving the ball to Hunt, there's no doubt that Anthony Morelli has the gifts to be a special quarterback. He heaves a few throws every game that make your jaw drop, they just aren't always completed. Unfortunately, Morelli has only started 8 games and his inexperience isn't hard to see. He frequently stares down receivers, makes bad reads, and holds onto the ball entirely too long. Despite these shortcomings I wouldn't be surprised to see a monster season from Morelli next year once he has a full season under his belt.

As we've seen this season, you can have a boatload of talent at the skill positions but it won't mean anything if you don't get any contributions from your offensive line. Unfortunately, our offensive line has been downright offensive. I just can't figure this group out. In Week 1, they gave Morelli all day to throw but they couldn't open up a running lane. Then they went 5 weeks where they were dominant in the running game but Morelli had no time to throw. In the last two games, they've just...well...have they shown up at all? You can make the excuse that there are four new starters on this young offensive line but what they really have is an identity crisis. You don't know what you're going to get from this group from one week to another. My suggestion is that this line needs to get a mean streak. They need to get physical. They need to man up and give their talented nucleus of skill position players time to throw and space to make plays.

I can't put all offensive woes on the players, because I feel the coaching has been at fault too. Unfortunately, the problems with this offense are many: there is no intermediate passing game, there are serious play call issues, players are being misused. You name it and we've probably seen it from our offense this year. I have a feeling that some of these problems stem from confusion in the huddle. Remember the '94 team? They had a ton of special players, but they never ran any gimmick plays. There didn't run complex draws or other plays that were slow to developing - they simply lined up and pounded the ball at you. When it came time to throw, they ran traditional posts, ins, outs, hitches, and corners. This year's team has '94 talent. It really does. Despite this talent, we keep running gimmick plays like bubble screens and two yard curls. Where is the 12 yard in-pattern? What happened to using the middle of the field? In the running game, where is the halfback iso? Where is the occasional off tackle play? Instead of these traditionally successful tactics we're seeing slow developing plays like draws, tosses, and counters. If the offensive line is struggling, why would you use plays that ask your line to hold their blocks longer? The coaches need to simplify things. They need to stop trying to trick the opposition and get back to basics. Make the offense well-rounded and (most importantly) more comfortable for the players. Then after 3 games of not seeing Derrick Williams lined up at tailback, surprise Michigan State with a HB toss-pass from Williams to Deon Butler. I'm serious about this. If changes aren't going to be made I want a phone call, email, text message, blog comment, or handwritten letter from Galen Hall and Jay Paterno explaining to me exactly what the heck they are trying to accomplish. Because at this point, I really don't get it (even though opposing defenses seem to) - I would LOVE to be in the know what's going on with this offense.

As for the defense, we all knew this was going to be a difficult season. We had to replace 7 starters, several of which went on to play in the NFL. Despite these losses I have been pleasantly surprised with the way this defense has come around and continues to get better. Yes, they got destroyed by Mr. Quinn and his lucky Irish cronies. That was expected. It was what it was - a very talented senior QB throwing to veteran WRs against a young defensive backfield making their first start in a hostile road environment. The difficulties were expected, but these kids have gotten alot better. This improvement was on display in the solid games they played against two other talented receiving corps in Ohio State and Michigan. I'm excited to see the combo of King and Scirotto turn into a special backfield tandem that will be shutting down opponents for years to come. Scirotto in particular epitomizes the hardnosed style of defense we love at PSU.

I'll move on to the defensive line where the play has been more solid than spectacular. Alford and Johnson have been monsters inside at times, but the ends are merely a rotation of players who are hardworking but not quite "threatening" to opposing offenses. Finally, they don't call us Linebacker U for nothing. Dan Connor has been an animal - he's been extremely impressive (probably even more so than the more acclaimed guy in the middle). Posluszny started out the season a little rough, I'll admit it. He looked a little slow at times, a little weak; but he has quickly returned to form. I'm also not sure that moving him to the middle was the right move. One move I did like was the switching of Tim Shaw to defensive end because it allowed Sean Lee to get more playing time. As a result, the defense will have one more experienced player on the field next year (who's played pretty well this year to boot). For that, I give the coaches some kudos.

With these kudos I also have some barbs. First, I don't like the move of Poz to the middle. By moving Poz to the middle, opposing offenses have more opportunities to get bodies on him. He doesn't have the same ability to pick his way through from the outside and make the plays he's been making throughout his collegiate career. He's still making plays, but I don't doubt that he could be making even more from the outside. I also think the defensive coaches are to blame for the inability to produce consistent pressure on the quarterback. The blitz design is poor and the execution is worse. Granted, blitzing has never really been a Penn State forte, but you can almost see the confusion on the players faces as they break the defensive huddle. These leads to a complete inability to disguise where the pressure is coming from. That to me says the coaches are not stressing and teaching how to handle blitzing situations better. The beauty of the blitz is in catching the offense off guard, but the Penn State opponents seem to know who's coming and where they're coming from almost every time we blitz.

I've saved my best for last - my biggest PSU defense pet peeve is the soft zone. Oh my goodness! Play man-to-man sometimes! Play tight coverage sometimes! Do something besides man-to-man with an 8 yard cushion! This team allows alot of 5-10 yard gains and it is because the receivers have such a large cushion to work with. This was especially against Michigan. Several times in that game we had them in third and 5 and they would run a slant or hitch against our soft zone to get the first down. First off, you're not going to create any turnovers that way. Secondly, you're not going to get any momentum. I find it hard to believe Tom Bradley and company don't know this. C'mon guys - show us you're serious! Stop worrying about losing the game on defense and play to win. Get physical with receivers - make them work to get open! Frustrate them! Again, an email, text message, voicemail or some other form of communication about this would be great.

I should probably conclude my rant with a word of hope. Don't get me wrong here - I have not lost faith in this football program. There are good things going on, but we're on a hump. We need to get over that hump. I know it's a rebuilding year. I know we had to replace a lot of great players after last season, but that doesn't mean we should give up. We have just as many skilled players this year and many of them learned from the great experience of a winning team last year. I'm a realist (of sorts). I wasn't expecting another 11-1 year but I was thinking we could go 10-3 (including the bowl game). I know it can still happen.

This is still a very good football team, but they have the potential to be great. Let's see them restore that Lion Pride over these final four regular season games! I'm issuing a challenge to this team to turn things up a notch to close out this season. Let everyone know that this program is back where it belongs. Let them know that a few tough loses and close calls are not going to stop the fans from chanting "WE ARE!" Send a message to the rest of the Big Ten that the end of this season is a preview of what is to come next year. The top teams in the Big Ten right now are all losing lots of talent in key positions at the end of this year - by next season we'll be a year older, wiser, stronger, faster, and more prepared.

So as you turn it on to finish this season strong let everyone hear you roar: "WE ARE...PENN STATE!"