Death of BCS?

So I watched (ok, fell asleep watching) Boise St. – Oregon last night which turned out to be a defensive 19-8 victory for the Broncos (who knew?) This may not be such a good thing for the BCS. Boise is sitting around the 15^th-ish position in the polls and will certainly be banging on the top ten after this weekend. This was their only ranked competition, and with their schedule they probably won't lose another game.

If the SEC and Big 12 beat up on each other it's quite conceivable that no one in that conference will emerge unscathed. If that scenario plays out Boise will probably be heading the BCS championship game. But hold on, there could be another monkey wrench in the system. If Ohio State or Penn State go undefeated (stick with me here), both ranked ahead of Boise, we could be looking at a Big Ten – Boise St. championship game. Do you think there would be wailing and gnashing of teeth then?! Everyone hates the Big Ten right now and if they were in the championship game with a non-automatic qualifier it would be universally viewed as a true mythical national championship. Heads would roll, there would be calls for complete overhaul of the system immediately. If that does happen I'm not sure if even Darth Delany could hold back the winds of change. The discussion of an "and one" system would probably take traction and at least that gets us a step closer to a true national champion.

Make it happen, universe.

Best wishes Chuck Weis!

This is awesomeness at totally new levels.

And what makes it even more delicious is that it was paid for by a former Irish linebacker who lettered in 1967.

Reynolds is a retired college marketing professor who lettered for the Irish in 1967. He claims to represent roughly 50 former Irish football players, mostly from his era, who are like-minded in their opinion of Weis' 29-21 record after four seasons.

Yeah but… fun's over.

Burkhart Advertising, which leases billboard space, on Thursday took down a controversial billboard poking fun at Notre Dame head football coach Charlie Weis.

Notre Dame officials deny having anything to do with having the billboard removed.

Uh huh.

Time to press the panic button?

It's been a busy week for me and I just got around to reading Paterno's press conference. Two questions pertaining to the secondary really stood out and scared the bejesus out of me. When asked about the corners without A.J. Wallace playing, because you'll remember Paterno said that he would probably be suspended for a couple games, Paterno had this to say.

I'm not sure what we're going to do with A.J. I had put some rules down that he had to get certain grades, which he got in the summertime. I had to put some other rules down. He's abided by them. He may end up playing some on Saturday.

Side Note: I suggested as such earlier this week when I covered the depth chart. I asked the somewhat rhetorical question why Wallace was listed second string. I knew that meant Wallace was going to play or they would have had someone else listed.

Now Paterno usually plays mind games with his players in press conferences and he usually high-balls the suspensions probably to scare the players straight. Seldom does he suspend someone for the length of time he originally states but that's his prerogative, it's not like the ridiculous court system, there are no mandatory minimum sentences in Paterno's world.

The problem is, Wallace is our best corner in a position that has few experienced options and if Paterno is playing him without much of a suspension it probably means he's really worried about the secondary. In Paterno's world skipping class is a cardinal sin and he's come down heavy on violators in the past so if he's coming down a little on the light side it might be time to worry. If that doesn't scare you then this should:

Q. You haven't put the nickel in yet this week. Who are one or two guys we might see there against Akron?

We don't have a nickel back so far. We really don't. Our linebackers have been good. We'll have to see what happens this week…If our linebackers can play the way we think, and they can be outside linebackers that can walk away from the line of scrimmage and help on the pass game, we may not use a nickel. We'll see. A lot will depend on how a couple kids in the secondary come along.

Dear God we've seen this in the past and it's never been good. Playing a linebacker in space on an obvious passing down has turned into disaster in the past for Penn State. It probably means a lot of passive zone defense so the linebacker tasked with covering the wideout doesn't get burned which means a lot of open space for an experienced wide receiver/quarterback combo. If Akron doesn't exploit it you can be sure the good teams on the schedule will. If Paterno thinks the secondary is so thin that he can't find a nickel back with Wallace in the game we could be in deep trouble. Where did I put that USB panic button?

An obligatory look at Akron

"An Obligatory look" is back for the third year and I think I'm gonna retool it a bit. Just a new coat of wax, some polish and a couple other accoutrements to make the old girl a little more attractive. With that, onward…
About the University

The University of Akron is a public university located in Akron, Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of Akron. In 1967 the university became a state institution. The University of Akron is regarded as a world leader in polymer research.

Cool Fact

University of Akron Professor of Polymer Engineering and Applied Mathematics Dr. Arkadii Leonov has come up with a novel means to stop a hurricane. The concept, under patent application and titled "Hurricane Suppression by Supersonic Boom," reveals that hurricanes can be destabilized with the ultrasonic boom produced by jet fighters. Leonov explains that jets, flying at supersonic speeds clockwise around an eye of a hurricane, would suppress the storm.

Well… fighter jets sure, but where's superman when you need him, he can create a sonic boom and Hurricanes are inherently evil so… artist's rendition please:

Problem solved

Football related datum

Current Record: 0 – 0
Last year's Record: 5 – 7
Number of returning starters: 14 (9 Off – 5 Def)

The scary side of things

Senior QB Chris Jacquemain threw for 2,748 yards and 20 TDs completing 57.9 percent. He's a three year starter and has four of his top five targets back including All-MAC receivers Andre Jones and Deryn Bowser. Bowser led the team with 64 receptions for 785 yards and 4 touchdowns. Experienced QB and WR combination vs. green secondary without best corner = bad news.

Gone is 1,000-yard rusher Dennis Kennedy but there won't be much drop-off thanks to talented redshirt freshman DeVoe Torrence who originally signed to play with Ohio State before deciding on the Zips. Yes that THE Ohio State. Torrence was rated 64th nationally in the ESPN 150 list in 2007.

Akron ranked 46^th or better in all offensive statistical categories and scored 30 points per game to rank 30^th in 2008. They averaged just under 400 yards per game and were very balanced coming in ranked 45^th and 46^th nationally in rushing and passing. With a new running back and Penn State's secondary woes though, look for Akron to "zip" (har har) the ball around all day.

Both kickers are back but neither are much to speak of. Punter John Stec did average 37.1 yards per punt last season.

As scary as…
A bump in the night – the kind of strange noise that wakes you up. Yeah it's a bit unnerving, but it's probably just nothing so just go back to sleep and wake me up when it's the end of September.

The not-so-scary side of things

Akron's 2008 defense was horrid. They ranked around the century mark in Scoring (31 pts.), rushing (187 yards) and Total (387 yards). They were a slightly more respectable 61^st against the pass but I suspect that most teams rammed the ball down their throats and didn't need to pass.

Akron plays a 3-3-5 scheme led by linebacker Mike Thomas whose 85 tackles in 2008 is the best among the Zips returning defenders. Lineman Almando Sewell anchors the line and had 14 tackles for loss a season ago. CB Miguel Graham leads the secondary and had 70 tackles and 3 interceptions in 2008 while safeties Jalil Carter and Wayne Cobram also return.

Game Outlook

Look for Akron to pass first (their strength) and test the fresh secondary (PSU's weakness) early. Unless the defensive line gets pressure early and often the Zips will have success passing the ball. Running the ball against the teeth of PSU's D with three new starters on the Akron offensive line ain't gonna happen but I think Akron will move the ball and score. On the flip side, PSU will test a defense that had trouble stopping the run and get Royster and the new offensive going before adding in some basic pass plays. I have a sneaky suspicion that Andrew Quarless will have a much more expanded roll this year, at least until the wide receivers get some game experience. Quarless has the most experience of any of the receivers and he's a senior, Joe's gonna get him the ball.

TNL's Prediction

Penn State 45
Akron 17

Blue White Roundtable - Week 1, Akron Zips

What would the Penn State season be without the Blue & White Roundtable? Bring out the old table, dust it off and let's get things going.

This week's questions brought to you by Zombie Nation.

The Roundtable Posse
W. F. Yurasko
Happy Hour Valley
The Nittany Line
We Want the Lion
Zombie Nation
Nittany Whiteout
Nittany Lounge

1. We all know Penn State is going to beat Akron. But what is it about this year's Penn State team that really scares the crap outta you? Basically, explain what will cause you to throw the tortilla chips across the room more than once this Saturday?

Honestly we all know the weak part of this team is the secondary so my expectations are pretty low. First off, as you will see in my Akron preview, the Zips present a decent offensive attack with a polished experienced quarterback and two decent experienced wide receivers. Translation: an already thin defensive secondary with its best returning cornerback suspended will probably look very suspect. Secondly, knowing the odds at hand and knowing that Akron has a tissue paper defense, our defense will probably go into the famous "bend and then break our hearts" formation that we've all come to love. The defensive gurus running the show will have our inexperienced secondary lining up somewhere in the numbered reserved parking lots at the snap of the ball. I won't throw the tortilla chips I'll throw the tortilla chips up if that happens.

2. Hopefully, the backups will see plenty of playing time this weekend. Which second-stringer(s) are you most interested in seeing take the field against a living, breathing opponent? What kind of role do you want to see them play this year? (Note: if you say Kevin Newsome, you have to talk about at least one other player, too)

Kevin Newsome. Obviously.

I really, really want to see true freshman Devon Smith get playing time. He's freakishly small at about 5'8' and 150 lbs. soaking wet but he's also freakishly fast. He's been clocked at a 40 time somewhere in the 4.3 range and that my friends, is serious speed. If he has anything resembling a pair of hands he needs playing time now.

3. So Penn State's non-conference schedule sucks in terms of straight up opponent quality. That aside, tell us why or why not this opening slate will help or hurt this team later in the season.

Like I've said before, the schedule talk has been run into the ground, and like I said before the lack of a quality opponent hurts Penn State in that they won't see a team nearly as good as Iowa for the first three games. When the Hawkeyes come to town after playing Akron, Syracuse, and Temple, I just hope the Nittany Lions are ready for Big Ten speed and size.

4. What will it mean for this team to have Joe Paterno back on the sidelines again, right up in their facemasks, for ALL the games?

Although seeing JoePa back on the sidelines will give us a sort of "complete" feeling once again, they did fine while he was in the press box. The assistant coaches have been around so long that they can handle pretty much anything that comes their way on gameday and the players are used to that. Now the officials, on the other hand, I pity them, it's been a while since Paterno's been able to get in the face of a zebra. He's got some pent up anger to take out on them.

Quick Hits

1. Over/Under: Penn State's offense gains 500 total yards.

Under – the cheerleaders will be in if they get close

1a. Over/Under: Penn State's defense gives 350 total yards.

Over – I think Akron moves the ball on the secondary

2. True/False: The student section will NOT fill out, even by the end of the game.

TRUE! Noon start, and it's Akron, forgetaboutit.

3. Are you going to the game?

Not going to shell out good money for games like these.