Bring on dem Mildcats

Despite the outcome of this past Saturday’s game against the number one ranked Butt-Guys, Penn State can take some positives out of this one. First, their running game played really well against a very good defense. Second, their defense played exceptionally well against a very good offense, stifling the running game, and getting some real pressure on the quarterback. However, the offensive play calling, especially with regards to passing, was awful, and Morelli showed that he is not yet a big-game quarterback.

This week, Penn State plays a very bad Northwestern team. Much like the Nits, the Mildcats have a quarterback that seems bewildered at times. In last weeks game against Nevada, the team turned the ball over on three straight possessions, two of which were interceptions. Oh yeah, and they lost to a division 1AA team a few weeks ago as well. Joe-Pa’s boys should win this one handily, and maybe gain some confidence on the offensive side of the ball.

The main problem with Penn State has been Morelli’s bone-headed plays – he made two in the fourth quarter that sealed the deal against Ohio State, and he made a big one to open the second-half against Notre Dame to put the game out of reach. In limited action, the back-up, Clark, has looked much better. He seems to be more mobile than Morelli, which could add some spice to this vanilla offense. But, is it worth it to make a switch at this point, especially if Morelli DOES have all this supposed potential? I’ll let the coaches decide this.

The Butt-Guys!!!

As predicted, Penn State beat those ever-dangerous Penguins of Youngstown State, 37-3 this past weekend. They should have a bit more of a “challenge,” as they take on the number-1 ranked Ohio State Butt-Guys on Saturday, in Columbus. Sure, OSU looked weak for ½ the game against a not-very-good Cincinnati Bearcats this past Saturday, but that’s probably because they were looking past that game to this one.

Make no mistake about it, this OSU team is GOOD, and they probably still have a sour taste in their mouths after last year. Ted Ginn, Jr. has really blossomed as a wide receiver and will unfortunately cause all kinds of problems for our far-too-inexperienced corners. Penn State should put points on the board, as the Butt-Guys are nowhere near as good defensively as they were last season, but unfortunately, I don’t think it will be enough.

By the way, just did some research as to what a Buckeye really is, and this is what google came up with: the inedible nutlike seed of the horse chestnut. I know – pretty exciting stuff, right?

I’m not optimistic, but because I’m a true Penn Stater, I’ll always think the Nits have a chance. But, since I think they have about as much of a chance in this one as their basketball team does of winning a national championship, I’ll forget about giving a prediction.

What the???

Yeah, I know. Penn State got walloped by Notre Dame on Saturday. And as bad as the final score was, it wasn’t even that close. They got outcoached, outclassed, and outplayed. Sure, if the Nits could’ve put three on the board early (what the hell is Gantner still doing on this team, by the way?), and if they didn’t fumble away the ball on another potentially positive drive, things may have been different. No matter what, though, they still would’ve lost – the defense was awful. The line got about as much pressure on Quinn as I did, and the corners and safeties showed no physicality on the Irish receivers. I think the young guys were overwhelmed to be playing in South Bend, and they let it show on the field.

Thankfully, the Lions get to play division 1AA “powerhouse” Youngstown State. I’ll be completely honest with you – I know about as much about this team as I know about the country of Laos (is Laos even a country?). So, to help me (and probably you, as well), I did some research. Here are some things that I learned:

Nickname
Their nickname is the Penguins. You are probably wondering how they came to this – and I have the answer for you. This is what the website hat to say:

There are two accounts of how the nickname occurred, and interestingly enough they come from the same evening on Jan. 30, 1933.

The first account states that on a cold, freezing night at a men’s basketball game at West Liberty State, in West Liberty, W. Va., a spectator watching the members of the team stomp on the floor and swing their arms made them look like Penguins and without a nickname, the fans took a liking to the word.

But throughout the season prior to that contest, many of the members of the 1932-33 varsity men’s basketball team and their friends on campus spent idle moments in the cafeteria discussing suitable new names for our school sports combines, basketball, and fencing that year.

The names considered covered every conceivable spectrum of animals, birds, and things associated with the steel city, but none seemed to fit us. There was always someone who pointed out an inadequacy of some sort. The name we finally warmed up to, and finally unanimously accepted, came as a result of the trip to West Liberty State Teachers College for a basketball game there late in January 1933.

In West Virginia, the road to West Liberty that evening had been hit by a snowfall between one and two feet deep. The passengers in two of the cars found it necessary on several occasions to get out and help push their vehicles out of snow drifts or road area with snow ruts, difficult to drive through.

During the trip, Bennett Kunicki recalls, the discussion of a nickname for the school was the hot topic of conversation. In Kunicki’s car, the name Penguins came up and was well received by everyone in the car. Upon arrival at the West Liberty gym, the name was mentioned to the members of the team who thought it was perfect.

By the end of that school year, the nickname was unanimously accepted by the student body without the necessity of a formal polling vote. Plans were then made to introduce the new name during the 1933-34 basketball season.

Location
They are located in the armpit of Ohio, north of Columbus. This means that not only does it get cold there, but they are probably surrounded by annoying Ohio State Buckeye fans.

How Good Is This Team?
Well, they are undefeated, but they’ve beaten such strong opponents as Slippery Rock, and Maine. Apparently, they have pretty good wide receivers and a decent tight end (that’s what she said), which should probably give Penn State more trouble than one would expect. But seriously, should Penn State even be playing a Division 1AA team? Should any Division 1 team be allowed to play a Division 1AA team … outside of Temple?

I’m going to say that Penn State wins this game handily (hopefully they won’t do what Northwestern did last week, which was lose to a Division 1AA team – that would be unacceptable). I’m not even sure what the point spread is, but I’m guessing it has to be above 30, and if it isn’t bet your house on the game. PSU wins 45-3 (and that’s only because Paterno takes out his starters by halftime).

Bring on the Irish!!!!

After a relatively easy victory over an outclassed Akron Zips, Joe Pa’s Nittany Lions prepare to travel to a place they haven’t been to in over a decade. What was once one of the most anticipated rivalries in college football resumes, at least for a few seasons, this weekend, as Penn State invades South Bend to take on the hated Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.

Seriously, they may as well rename this team the Yankees. I bet Steinbrenner has probably made a few phone calls to see if the school was available for purchase over the years. In fact, I’ve made a list of things that Steinbrenner would change if he purchased the Domers:

5. Replace Touchdown Jesus with “Touchdown Ruth.”
4. The Irish would play their home games in Pin-Stripes.
3.Convince the NCAA to allow him to have a payroll, then bring in Carson Palmer, Shaun Alexander, Randy Moss, and other NFL greats to play for the Irish.
2. Replace Catholicism with Satanism.
1. Replace Charlie Weiss with Joe Torre (Steinbrenner doesn’t like any people that coached in New England).

But in all seriousness, this is going to take a yeoman’s effort in order for Penn State to come out with a victory. Can they do it? Of course they can, but their offensive line and special teams units are going to have to play much better than they did in the first game. Here are my keys:

1. Offensive Line – Possibly the biggest key of the game. Morelli looked sharp … when he wasn’t being chased around the field. Notre Dame will bring more pressure, especially at home, and this young team will have to drown out the crowd and focus.
2. The Running Game – Obviously, the running game goes hand-in-hand with the o-line. Last week was dismal against a so-so Akron defense. Notre Dame’s defense is their weak point, but even with that, they will be better than Akron. In order to spring those speedy receivers, PSU will have to break off some long runs.
3. Field Goal Kicking – Putrid. Gantner was awful on Saturday, and I’m hoping Ernesto (the hurricane, not his “friend”) was the reason. He botched a fake field goal attempt by tripping over himself, and then he flubbed another attempt. You can’t make these mistakes at South Bend.

Since I’m a Penn State fan, I predict the Nits will somehow find a way to win this game … BUT I stress that I’m not confident about this one. In a tight one, Penn State wins 24-21.