tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307140452024-03-23T13:55:27.899-04:00The Nittany LineUnwashed and unshaven since 2006!Galenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068113556245153541noreply@blogger.comBlogger1002125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714045.post-63650496410177986842010-01-07T15:37:00.003-05:002010-01-07T15:39:37.157-05:00TNL says goodbyeAll good things must come to an end and today is the end of TNL. 3 years and over 284,000 visits ago I started The Nittany Line with the express intention of discussing all things Penn State with a few thousand friends. It's been a good run and I've had a lot of fun but it's time to move on. Fear not though, I won't be going away, I've been invited to write over at a new site called <a href="http://www.linebacker-u.com/">Linebacker-U.</a> It's a combination of Mike from <a href="http://www.zombienationpsu.com/">Zombie Nation</a>, Tim from <a href="http://www.happyhourvalley.com/">Happy Hour Valley</a> and of course me… and I drug Nick along for the ride. Think of us as the Voltron of Penn State blogs.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/Voltron.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 386px; height: 640px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/Voltron.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span xmlns=""></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span xmlns=""><p><span style="font-style: italic;">No, I'm not the lion piloted by the princess!</span></p></span></div>With Linebacker-U you get more perspectives and more in-depth articles than I could never have managed by myself here at TNL. Both Mike and Tim (and ok, Nick) are good writers and each have their unique perspective, it should be fun. Don't worry though, I'll still be the one that creates the photoshop of DickRod that gets us tons and tons of hate mail. It's my mission in life. So head on over to Linebacker-U and take a look. My first Wrestling Wreport is up and ready to wow you. Ok, probably not. Thanks to all of you that have been with me through that last couple years.Galenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068113556245153541noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714045.post-79353925204674907352009-12-30T13:21:00.003-05:002009-12-30T13:25:45.662-05:00Matchup Comparison Rating: the special edition<span xmlns=""><p>Ok, we've got ya covered all the way to New Year's Day, from that point on it's all about vegetating on the couch and taking in as much football as possible (and recovering from your New Year's Eve hangover). Frankly after working on these for a week straight my eyes are ready to roll back in my head and I'm making atrocious grammar and spelling mistakes (more so than usual). But before I end this I would be remiss if I didn't cover the home team, after all this is a Penn State blog.</p><p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/MCR-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 326px; height: 640px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/MCR-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>CAPITAL ONE BOWL</strong></span><br /><strong>Penn State (10-2) vs. LSU (9-3)</strong><br />Jan 1, 1:00 PM - ABC<br /></p><p><strong>A word from our sponsor: </strong>Hey it's the Capital One Bowl which means we get to see the winner of the <a href="http://www.capitalonebowl.com/mascots/main">Capital One Mascot Challenge</a>. You remember the Mascot Challenge don't you? The contest where fans can vote on the best mascot, then they randomly pick a winner? The same contest that the Nittany Lion won in a landslide in its inaugural season only to be left out in the cold? Yeah, it's awesome. Oddly, the Lion hasn't been invited back to play along.<br /></p><p><strong>On the field: </strong>LSU lost three games in the fourth quarter, two of those to Florida and Alabama. On paper this should be a win for Penn State. LSU ranks 108<sup>th</sup> in total yards and Penn State is 10<sup>th</sup> against the run, 8<sup>th</sup> in total defense and surrender only 11.83 points per game, good enough for 4<sup>th</sup>. LSU though is no slouch on defense, they are 12<sup>th</sup> in scoring D and they've played a tougher schedule then PSU. But this game has all the same issues we've seen all season. Penn State racked up a lot of good numbers against all their unranked foes but laid eggs in the two games with decent opponents. All the same questions we've been asking all season are being asked here as well. Can the offensive line block a decent defensive line? Can Daryl Clark avoid all the costly turnovers that plagued him against Iowa and Ohio State? Just like a lot of the other games we've previewed this game also has the same mismatch on special teams that we've seen all season. LSU has the best punt return average in the nation thanks to Trindon Holliday who averages 17.72 yards per return. Holliday returned one for a touchdown against Arkansas a game that LSU won in overtime. Once again special teams could be the difference.<br /></p><p>For Penn State it will be all about Daryl Clark yet again. As he goes so does the Penn State offense. Clark seems to be a little frustrated that fans are <a href="http://twitter.com/CaptainClark17/status/6854818724">questioning his legacy</a> (HT: <a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2009/12/20/1210304/daryll-clark-is-aware-of-reality">BSD</a>). So he's out to prove himself yet again. Make no mistake, if he plays well* Penn State should win. For LSU they will have to rely on QB Jordan Jefferson because they are banged up at running back. Jefferson has thrown 9 TD's and only 3 picks in the last five games. Jefferson has very similar numbers to Clark's. Penn State will have to deal with wide receivers Brandon LaFell and Terrance Toliver who have 52 and 47 catches respectively. After that it's quite a drop-off.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br />+1 unabashedPenn State Loyalty</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br />+1 two evenly matched teams</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br />+1 chance to see PSU seniors one last time</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br />+1 2</span><sup style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">nd</sup><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> best punt returner in the nation</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br />+1 Clark and his legacy issues play out</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><br />-1 early start time – can our livers handle New Year's Eve and then a 1 o'clock start?</span><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">MCR 4 (Viper/Shelby Cobra)</span><br /></strong><br /></p><p><em><strong>*</strong>and by well I mean doesn't turn the ball over and completes the easy passes</em></p></span>Galenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068113556245153541noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714045.post-20744216713958073452009-12-30T11:06:00.005-05:002009-12-30T11:23:26.796-05:00Matchup Comparison Rating: the New Year’s Eve editionWe're getting ever so close to the real meat and potatoes of the schedule, the day that teams play for (or at least they used to): New Year's Day. But first there's the day before and before you venture off to consume large quantities of alcohol just so you have an excuse to kiss that semi-attractive and slightly overweight chick at the end of the bar at midnight, there's some games to get through. As always we start with the system.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/MCR-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 326px; height: 640px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/MCR-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span xmlns=""><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>BELL HELICOPTER ARMED FORCES BOWL</strong></span><br /><strong>Houston (10-3) vs. Air Force (7-5)</strong><br />Dec. 31, 12:00 PM - ESPN<br /></p><p><strong>A word from our sponsor: </strong>The Bell Helicopter Armed Forces bowl is in its seventh year and is currently under contract with Conference USA and the Mountain West conference through 2013. Of course how can you not like a bowl whose main sponsor is a Helicopter manufacturer, the Army, and the Marines? Of course it wouldn't be a sporting event if it wasn't also sponsored by a Budweiser product.<strong><br /> </strong></p><p><strong>On the field: </strong>This will be a rematch of last year's Armed Forces game which Houston won 34-28, and it could be even more exciting and high scoring. In this game you have the best passing offense in Houston against the best passing defense in Air Force. You also have the 3<sup>rd</sup> best rushing attack in Air Force against the 112<sup>th</sup> ranked rushing defense. Cougar QB and Davey O'Brian Award finalist Case Keenum has the kind of numbers you only see in video games. This season Keenum threw for 5449 yards, 43 touchdowns and only 9 interceptions. He's completing 71% of his passes. Three wide receivers have at least 985 yards led by Iowa transfer James Cleveland. For Air Force watch for Jared Tew and Asher Clark who have 797 and 736 rushing yards on the season. This could be a battle of wills, can Air Force control the ball and the clock with their rushing attack or will Houston get a lead and force Air Force to throw more?<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;"><br />+1 Military academy – if you don't watch the terrorists win</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;"><br />+1 Award finalist QB with crazy stats</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;"><br />+1 great passing offense vs. great passing defense</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;"><br />+1 great passing offense vs. great rushing offense</span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">MCR 4 (Viper/Shelby Cobra)</span><br /></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">BRUT SUN BOWL</span><br /></strong><strong>Oklahoma (7-5) vs. Stanford (8-4)<br /></strong>Dec. 31, 2:00 PM - CBS<br /></p><p><strong>A word from our sponsor: </strong>I'll bet you didn't know this little <a href="http://www.sunbowl.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=9&Itemid=58">piece of info</a>: The Sun Bowl was first played on January 1, 1935, as a fund-raising event for a local service club, to benefit underprivileged children and to finance improvements to the El Paso High School Stadium. It has grown into El Paso's number one national attraction and is second only to the Rose Bowl in longevity. So they're the second longest running bowl that had such noble beginnings… and now they're sponsored by deodorant. Something stinks alright: it's called corporate greed.<br /></p><p><strong>On the field: </strong>Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has lost five of his past six bowl games. TNL favorite Jim Harbaugh is coaching in his first. This will be a matchup of Heisman finalist Toby Gerhart the nation's top rusher against the 7<sup>th</sup> best rush defense. Oklahoma also ranks 7<sup>th</sup> in total defense as well. After QB Sam Bradford went down the Sooners relied on freshman quarterback Landry Jones. Jones has completed 58% of his passes for 2780 yards and 23 TD's but has been inconsistent at times. He threw four or more TD passes in three games this year but also had a five interception game in a loss to Nebraska.<span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:14pt;" ><strong></strong></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 Heisman finalist</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;"><br />+1 chance to put a mic in front of Jim Harbaugh</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;"><br />+1 great running back vs. great rush D</span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">MCR 3(Jessica Simpson Sex Tape)</span></span></strong><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">TEXAS BOWL</span><br /></strong><strong>Navy (8-4) vs. Missouri (8-4)<br /></strong>Dec. 31, 3:30 PM - CBS<br /></p><p><strong>A word from our sponsor: </strong>At least this makes sense; the main corporate sponsor for the Texas Bowl is <a href="http://www.visithoustontexas.com/">Houston</a>. As in the city of. Finally a bowl partner that makes sense. Oh, don't get me wrong there are <a href="http://www.texasbowl.org/sponsors">lots and lots</a> of other sponsors but at least there isn't any real shame in using this main sponsor.<br /></p><p>Quick side note, in there information page under <a href="http://www.texasbowl.org/about">Quick Facts</a> they list the results of past Texas Bowls, and they have this year's listed:<br />2009 Texas Bowl<br /><br />* Date: Thursday, December 31, 2009, 2:30pm CST<br />* Television: ESPN<br /><strong>* Conferences: TBA<br /></strong></p><p>Except they haven't updated the page yet to reflect this year's teams. Come on, who the hell is asleep at the switch? That should have been updated the night the game was announced. But I digress…<br /></p><p><strong>On the field: </strong>Another matchup of contrasting styles, Navy has the 4<sup>th</sup> best rushing offense in the country and Missouri has the 14<sup>th</sup> best passing attack. The Tigers have scored at least 32 points in each of its past 5 games and are led by wide receiver Danario Alexander, the nation's leader in receiving yards with 1644. Navy has two players with at least 925 yards led by running QB Ricky Dobbs who has only thrown for 901. Dobbs set an NCAA record for rushing TD's in a season with 24. It won't be easy for the Midshipman though as Missouri boasts the 12<sup>th</sup> best rushing defense in the country.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 Military academy – if you don't watch the terrorists win</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 record-setting QB</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 best WR in the nation</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">-1 blowout possibility</span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">MCR 2(Microwave dinner)</span></strong><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><strong>INSIGHT BOWL<br /></strong><strong>Minnesota (6-6) vs. Iowa St (6-6)<br /></strong>Dec. 31, 6:00 PM - NFL NETWORK<br /></p><p><strong>A word from our sponsor: </strong>Ok, this is just fucking sweet, on the <a href="http://www.fiestabowl.org/index.php/insight/sponsor_page/">sponsor page</a> of the Insight Bowl website there's a blurb about the company Insight: <em>Insight is a technology solutions provider serving global and local clients in 170 countries. Today, thousands of clients, including more than 80 percent of the Global Fortune 500, rely on Insight to acquire, implement and manage technology solutions to empower their business. </em>Stick with me here, they're a "technology solutions provider" which means they should know their shit when it comes to something as trivial as say… an internet hyperlink, yet when I click on their link I get the following page.<br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l256/gswyers/Insighterror.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 410px; height: 210px;" src="http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l256/gswyers/Insighterror.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> </p><p>That my friends, is delicious.<br /></p><p><strong>On the field: </strong>Iowa State's offense is built around the run game and is led by Alexander Robinson who rushed for 1,058 yards this season (4<sup>th</sup> best in the Big 12). Minnesota's bread and butter is the passing game and all-Big Ten wide receiver Eric Decker. Unfortunately Decker went down with a season ending foot injury. Without him, the Gophers went 2-2 losing to lowly Illinois and Iowa, a game the failed to score a single point. Minnesota will have to rely on QB Adam Weber who has had mixed results since Decker's injury. Against Michigan State Weber threw for 416 yards in a 42-34 win, but against South Dakota State he only managed 94 yards (also a win).<br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 even match-up</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">-1 two pathetic offenses</span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">MCR 0 (Rosie O'Donnell Talk Show)</span><br /></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">CHICK-FIL-A BOWL</span><br /></strong><strong>Va Tech (9-3) vs. Tennessee (7-5)<br /></strong>Dec. 31, 7:30 PM - ESPN<br /></p><p><strong>A word from our sponsor: </strong>Chick-fil-A boasts that <em>tasty and nutritious are one in the same, that's why they use only the most wholesome ingredients, prepared fresh daily.</em> Yes, they use only the freshest, most wholesome ingredients… then coat the bastards and dunk them in artery clogging partially hydrogenated cooking oil. I'm feeling more healthy just reading about it.<br /></p><p><strong>On the field: </strong>Tennessee has the advantage at quarterback with Jonathon Crompton who improved down the stretch and has tossed 26 touchdowns and 12 picks. Virginia Tech has the advantage at running back with super freshman Ryan Williams who rushed for 1538 yards, eighth-most by a freshman in NCAA history. Both offenses are pretty evenly matched, both score about 30 points a game and both gain about 390 yards per game, they just get there differently: Tennessee favors the pass while Virginia Tech favors the run. The difference may come down to defense and the Vols have Jim Thorpe Award winning safety Eric Berry who does a little of everything.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 two evenly matched teams</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 award winning safety</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 chance for Lane Kiffin to put his foot in his mouth on a national stage</span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">MCR 3(Jessica Simpson Sex Tape)</span><br /></strong></p></span>Galenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068113556245153541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714045.post-86383268231815701642009-12-28T12:54:00.002-05:002009-12-28T13:03:24.935-05:00Matchup Comparison Rating: the segue edition<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/segway.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 243px; height: 315px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/segway.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Segue, not Segway!</span></div><span xmlns="" style="font-size:100%;"><p>Moving on to the games that cover the work week between Christmas and New Year's, these are the "Segue games." If you're one of the poor souls that have to work the couple days before New Year's eve, these games get you through until the big ones on New Year's day.<br /><span xmlns=""><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/MCR-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 326px; height: 640px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/MCR-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>ADVOCARE V100 INDEPENDENCE BOWL</strong></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Texas A&M (6-6) vs. Georgia (7-5)</span><br />Dec. 28, 5:00 PM – ESPN2<br /> </p><p><strong>A word from our sponsor:</strong> Advocare is the manufacture of <a href="http://www.advocare.com/products/default.aspx">supplements</a> targeting a wide range of activities from weight management to performance enhancements (the legal kind). Unfortunately the Advocare V100 Independence Bowl website looks like it was done by a <a href="http://www.independencebowl.org/">high school kid for his senior project</a>.<br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/Advocare.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 416px; height: 516px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/Advocare.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Seriously, if their goal was to throw as much random shit on one web page, mission accomplished.<br /></p><p><strong>On the field:</strong> If you're a fan of offense, you're gonna want to tune in to this game. Georgia's defensive was so bad coach Mark Richt fired three of his defensive assistants including the defensive coordinator. All three coaches declined to coach in the bowl game leaving erstwhile defensive line coach Rodney Garner to prepare for Texas A&M by his lonesome. It will be a tough task considering the Aggies have the 5<sup>th</sup> best and the 14<sup>th</sup> highest scoring offense in the FBS. Georgia's offense isn't as potent but will be helped out by the fact that Texas A&M's defense <em>suuuuuuccccckkkkkkksssss</em>! They come in 107<sup>th</sup> in total defense giving up 431.33 yards per freakin' game. They also give up 32.67 points per game, 104<sup>th</sup> in the FBS.<br /></p><p>On the offensive side of things, Texas A&M has one of the most underrated QB's in the country in Jerrod Johnson who has completed 60% of his passes for 3217 yards, 28 TD's and only 6 INT's. He's also rushed for 455 yards and 8 scores. Georgia found it's ground game late in the season rushing for 252.0 yards on the ground in its last four games thanks to freshman Washaun Ealey and sophomore Caleb King who each averaged 9.2 yards per carry in an road upset of then #7 Georgia Tech for their regular season finale. The scoreboard operator will be busy.<br /></p><p><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">+1 strong offense<br />+1 kick-ass QB<br />+1 shootout possibility</strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">-1 total lack of defense</span><br /></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">MCR 2 (Microwave Dinner)</span><br /></strong></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>EAGLEBANK BOWL</strong></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">UCLA (6-6) vs. Temple (9-3)</span><br />Dec. 29, 4:30 PM - ESPN<br /></p><p><strong>A word from our sponsor:</strong><br /> <em>The EagleBank Bowl's focus is to recognize and pay respect to the dedication and sacrifices made by all those who serve our country, at both the U.S. military academies and in the U.S. Armed Forces. The EagleBank Bowl brings together three of the largest forces in our economy – the government, the military and private enterprise – in one venue. This unique event is an opportunity to show your appreciation for those who protect our freedom.</em> So it's all patriotic to watch.<strong><br /> </strong></p><p><strong>On the field:</strong> Hey, we get a chance to see Penn State's best out of conference opponent in Temple. It's been an amazing turnaround for Temple, just a few short years ago the Owls were 1-11 in coach Al Golden's inaugural season. This is only the fourth winning season for the Owls in the past 30 years. This team had a nine game winning streak until losing to Ohio which kept them out of the conference championship game. Golden has a school record 8 players named to the all-Mac first team led by MAC freshman of the year Bernard Pierce who rushed for a conference leading 1,308 yards and was second with 15 touchdowns. The Owls control the ground, they have the 23<sup>rd</sup> best rushing attack averaging 192.3 yards per game while giving up only 108.8 on defense, good for 19<sup>th</sup> best.<br /></p><p>UCLA wouldn't even be here if Army had beat Navy, the Black Knights would be playing in this game against Temple. The Bruins have been inconsistent opening up with three straight wins and then losing their next five. They then had another three game winning streak snapped by USC in their last contest. Despite the shoddy record UCLA does boast four All-Americans led by second teamer Rahim Moore who leads the nation with 9 interceptions and Lou Groza Award winner (best kicker) Kai Forbath. The problem is on offense where inconsistent play from freshman quarterback Kevin Prince has led to the Bruins getting held under 20 points six times. Both QB's in this game won't scare anyone.<br /></p><p><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">+1 former PSU player and assistant coach</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">+1 consummate underdog vs. evil west coast team (they're coached by Rick Neuheisel for cryin' out loud)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">-1 two pathetic quarterbacks</span><br /></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">MCR 1(Woman's Heart)</span></strong></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL</strong></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miami (9-3) vs. Wisconsin (9-3)</span><br />Dec. 29, 8:00 PM - ESPN<br /></p><p><strong>A word from our sponsor: </strong>The Champs Sports Bowl (also known as the Florida Citrus bowl) is sponsored by a wide array of corporations from the title sponsor Champs Sports to Capital One to Budweiser, to Coca Cola and Dasani. So drink a lot and user your credit card to buy some overpriced sports equipment.<br /></p><p><strong>On the field: </strong>Call this a matchup of contradicting styles. While both teams average more than 30 points per game and both defenses only allow 321 yards or less per game, Wisconsin does it with their usual plodding ground attack and Miami does it through the air. The Badgers are 14<sup>th</sup> in the nation in rushing at 206.7 yards per game and are led by Big Ten offensive player of the year John Clay who ran for 1,369 yards and 16 TDs on the season. Miami is led by quarterback Jacory Harris who ranked 15th in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 3,164 passing yards and 23 TD's. His Achilles heel though would be the 17 interceptions he's thrown to go along with all those touchdowns. The Badgers are used to controlling the ground game on defense but are not known for their secondary. Both defenses should be tested in this game and turnovers will play a big roll, Wisconsin is 30<sup>th</sup> in the country at forcing turnovers, Mimi is 70<sup>th</sup>.<br /></p><p><strong style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">+1 two statistically evenly matched teams<br />+1 two decent defenses<br />+1 two strong offense</strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">+1 pass-happy offense vs. plodding road grader offense</span><br /></strong></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>MCR 4 (Viper/Shelby Cobra)</strong></span></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">ROADY'S HUMANITARIAN BOWL</span><br /></strong><span style="font-weight: bold;">BGU (7-5) vs. Idaho (7-5)</span><br />Dec.30, 4:30 PM - ESPN<br /></p><p><strong>A word from our sponsor: </strong>What could be more boring than a bowl in Boise, Idaho? A bowl game in Boise Idaho sponsored by equally boring corporations like Roady's truck stops, the Idaho lottery, and the Boise convention and visitors bureau.<br /></p><p><strong>On the field: </strong>The two teams come into this game going in different directions: Bowling Green won their last four games while Idaho lost their last three. This will be a matchup of two high powered offenses, Idaho boasts the 10<sup>th</sup> best offense in yardage and BGSU has the nation's 8<sup>th</sup> best passing attack (Idaho is 12<sup>th</sup>). Idaho QB Nathan Enderle is the seventh best rated passer in the FBS completing over 64% of his passes for 2666 yards and tossing 18 TD's and only 9 INT's. BG QB Tyler Sheehan is no slouch either throwing for a career-high 3,664 yards with 23 touchdowns and only 6 interceptions. Bowling Green's star though is wide receiver Freddie Barnes who led the nation in receptions (138) and touchdowns (16) and is third in receiving yards (1,551). Barnes would have won Biletnikoff Award easily had there not been someone from a team named Notre Dame on the ballot. If Barnes makes 5 catches he will set an NCAA record for catches during a season. It will be a home game for Idaho something the Falcons will have to overcome. It should be a shootout as neither team has a decent defense, Idaho ranks below 100 in seven different defensive categories. Bowling Green is a little better but not by much.<br /></p><p><strong style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">+1 two evenly matched teams</strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">+1 best wide receiver in the nation</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">+1 two high powered offenses</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">-1 two pathetic defenses</span><br /></strong></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>MCR 2(Microwave Dinner)</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;">PACIFIC LIFE HOLIDAY BOWL</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Arizona (8-4) vs. Nebraska (9-4)</span><br />Dec.30, 8:00 PM - ESPN<br /></p><p><strong>A word from our sponsor: </strong>Besides the title sponsor this bowl has a who's who of corporate supporters. There's Bank of America, AT&T, Bumble Bee Foods, Dr Pepper, Jack in the Box, Sea World and the World Wide Leader. Like I said earlier, the closer you get to New Year's Day the more the big boys step up.<br /></p><p><strong>On the field: </strong>After watching two god-awful defenses in the earlier game we'll get a chance to see two of the best defenses in the nation. Both Nebraska and Arizona were seconds away from winning their conferences but both teams fell just short. Nebraska had Texas beat 12-11 in the Big 12 championship game when Texas quarterback Colt McCoy threw the ball out of bounds as time expired but the officials replayed the play and put 1 second on the clock. That allowed kicker Hunter Lawrence to make a 46-yard field goal and pull out the win for Texas. Similarly Arizona was pulling off an upset of Oregon leading 31-24 in the final minute, but an eight-yard Ducks TD pass with 6 seconds sent the game into overtime and Oregon won 44-41.<br /></p><p>Arizona has the better offense statistically with QB Nick Foles who completed 66% of his passes for 2438 yards and 19 TD's. The Wildcats' offensive line, which has only allowed 11 sacks all season, will have one thing on their mind: find a way to slow down Defensive Tackle freak Ndamukong Suh who finished fourth in the Heisman Voting. Suh lead the Huskers with 82 tackles, 12 sacks and 23 tackles for loss but put on his best performance against the Longhorns. Facing double teams all day he had 12 tackles, 9 for zero or negative yards and 4 ½ sacks. Nebraska is second in the FBS in points allowed at 11.2 per game and ninth in total defense, giving up an average of 284.5 yards. On the other side of the ball, Nebraska relies on running back Roy Helu who rushed for 1,139 yards and 9 TD's.<br /></p><p><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">+1 two tough defenses</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">+1 best DT in the nation vs. strong offensive line</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">-1 two average offenses</span><br /></strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">MCR 1(Woman's Heart)</span><br /></strong></p></span></p></span>Galenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068113556245153541noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714045.post-33828430193109625192009-12-25T16:12:00.003-05:002009-12-25T16:20:16.397-05:00Matchup Comparison Rating: the Christmas hangover editionOk, so other than the surprisingly entertaining 2 overtime New Mexico bowl, the games have sucked. Not to worry, we've adjusted the MCR and we won't let you down. I hope.<span xmlns=""><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/MCR-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 326px; height: 640px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/MCR-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;">LITTLE CAESARS BOWL</span><br /><strong>Marshall (6-6) vs. Ohio (9-4)<br /></strong>Dec. 26, 1:00 PM - ESPN<br /></p><p><strong>A word from our sponsor:</strong> Of course this bowl should be called the "Pizza, Pizza" bowl because of the title sponsor but this bowl is also sponsored by a wide range of companies, everything from the United Auto Workers, to AT&T, to Blue Cross and Blue Shield, to the Detroit Lions. The closer we get to New Year's day, the more the sponsors pile on<br /></p><p><strong>On the field:</strong> Ok, stick with me here this is going to get messy. After a stretch of losing three of four games to end the season Mark Snyder resigned as coach of the Thundering Herd and Marshal hired West Virginia assistant John "Doc" Holliday and gave him a five year contract. He's not at the bowl though, erstwhile defensive coordinator and interim coach Rick Minter will coach the team for one game. Sounds ugly doesn't it? It could get that way. Marshall is led by… Marshall. Running back Darius Marshall who is returning from an ankle injury was a second-team all-conference selection and rushed for 1054 yards and 11 TD's. Ohio's run defense is quite porous so it could play right into the hands of Marshall (both the running back and the team). Ohio is led by QB Theo Scott who completed just over 58% of his passes for 2258 yards and 19 TD's. Scott's favorite target is WR Taylor Price who has 52 receptions on the season. They also have Tight End Cody Slate who made 50 receptions for 607 yards, that was good enough to make him a Mackey Award finalist.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 strong passing attack vs. strong rushing attack</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">-1 Lame-duck coach</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">-1 barely bowl eligible team</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">MCR 0 (Rosie O'Donnell Talk Show)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">MEINEKE CAR CARE BOWL</span><br /><strong>Pittsburgh (9-3) vs. UNC (8-4)<br /></strong>Dec. 26, 4:30 PM - ESPN<br /></p><p><strong>A word from our sponsor: </strong>Meineke has turned simple jobs like flushing an AC system and changing brake pads into a Million dollar company. They're so successful at it that they can be the title sponsor of a bowl game. All that and yet they can't pay someone to come up with a better slogan than "At Meineke, you're always the Driver." I have no idea what that means.<br /></p><p><strong>On the field:</strong> This should be renamed the disappointment bowl. Pitt has to try and get past two straight last-minute losses including a heartbreaker against Cincy that cost Pitt the Big East title. UNC has been tough to figure out this year, they beat Virginia Tech and Miami, but lost to Virginia and NC State.<br /></p><p>Pitt's offense is quite formidable with quarterback Bill Stull who has thrown for 2470 yards, 21 TD's and only 8 picks. Pitt is well balanced with super freshman Dion Lewis who finished third nationally in rushing yards per game and is 46 yards shy of Tony Dorsett's 36-year-old Pitt freshman record of 1,686 rushing yards. On the other side of the ball the Tar Heels rank sixth nationally in total defense and ninth against the run. Pitt's bread and butter on defense is their line which is largely responsible for the Panthers FBS best 45 sacks. That could spell doom for North Carolina's T.J. Yates who is the ACC's 10<sup>th</sup> rated passer.<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 strong offense</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 strong rushing attack vs. good rushing defense</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 record breaking freshman running back</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">-1 strong blowout possibility</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">MCR 2(Microwave Dinner)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">EMERALD BOWL</span><br /><strong>USC (8-4) vs. BC (8-4)<br /></strong>Dec. 26, 8:00 PM – ESPN<br /></p><p><strong>A word from our sponsor: </strong>Who knew that selling something as mundane as nuts could be so profitable? Diamond Foods, that's who. From their <a href="http://www.emeraldnuts.com/">website</a> (which I think was created by the makers of Monte Python) Emerald, the nut brand of Diamond Foods was first made public on July 21, 2005 and has the simple goal of being "a branded food company that specializes in everything NUTS." Awesome, a company that's proud to be nuts!<br /></p><p><strong>On the field:</strong> BC was picked to finish last in the ACC's Atlantic Division (aren't college football reporters smart?) but will play in a bowl for the 11<sup>th</sup> straight year. USC isn't used to playing this early in bowl season, the Trojans have been in the Rose Bowl or the Orange Bowl for seven straight years. USC could be without the services of star running back Joe McKnight who didn't initially travel with the team because he had to do some "paperwork" as coach Pete Carroll said. No telling if that "paperwork" had anything to do with the SUV McKnight was seen <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/la-sp-usc-joe-mcknight20-2009dec20,0,2497377.story">driving around LA.</a><br /> </p><p>If USC is without McKnight's services they will have to rely heavily on Matt Barkley who was inconsistent all season long and finished with a Pac-10 leading 12 interceptions and only 13 TD's. BC had their own freshman QB woes as Dave Shinskie was last in the conference completing only 52.8 percent of his passes. BC has relied more on running back Montel Harris, who set school records with 264 rushing yards and five touchdowns in a 52-20 win over North Carolina State on Oct. 17.<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 strong running game</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 schadenfreude – seeing USC in a crappy bowl a day after Christmas.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">-1 bad mismatch possibility</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">MCR 1 (Woman's Heart)</span><br /></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;">GAYLORD HOTELS MUSIC CITY BOWL</span><br />Kentucky (7-5) vs. Clemson (8-5)<br /></p></span><strong></strong>Dec. 27, 8:30 PM – ESPN<br /><p></p><p><strong>A word from our sponsor: </strong>From the bowl's website here's how it's described. <em>The Bowl is played in a world-class city known for incredible entertainment and southern hospitality. A post-season college football game played in late December in Nashville, TN. A 501(c)3 non-profit organization, the Bowl is an NCAA sanctioned event that currently features the two top football conferences in the country, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). </em>Who knew that Nashville was so awesome and the ACC was one of the top two football conferences in the country?<br /></p><p><strong>On the field:</strong> The Wildcats will be making their 3<sup>rd</sup> trip to the Music City bowl in the last four years. They will be looking to win their fourth consecutive postseason game. Both teams encountered close late-season losses to land in the Music City Bowl. The player to watch in this game is versatile running back C.J. Spiller the ACC player of the year. Spiller scored TD's five different ways: 11 rushing, 4 receiving, 4 on kickoff returns, 1 on a punt return and 1 on a pass. He ended up sixth on the Heisman Trophy voting. Oh by the way, Kentucky will be without its best defensive player linebacker Sam Maxwel who had shoulder surgery. That's not the only injury for Kentucky, they have been without QB Mike Hartline and have had to rely on freshman Morgan Newton. They do have some offensive firepower, tailback Derrick Locke and all-purpose WR Randall Cobb have combined for 1,381 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns, with Cobb averaging 6.4 yards per carry.<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 Heisman finalist</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 two strong running attacks</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">-1 mismatch probability</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">MCR 1 (Woman's Heart)</span></p>Galenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068113556245153541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714045.post-16537020497027120632009-12-22T14:00:00.002-05:002009-12-22T14:05:51.619-05:00Matchup Comparison Rating: the Deck the Halls editionWhile you're putting up the Christmas tree and wrapping the gifts* you'll have the opportunity to catch some college football. How good will the games be? The MCR has you covered.<span xmlns="" style="font-size:100%;"><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/MCR-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 322px; height: 632px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/MCR-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>MAACO LAS VEGAS BOWL</strong></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Oregon St (8-4) vs. BYU (10-2)</span><br />Dec. 22, 8:00 PM - ESPN<br /></p><p><strong>A word from our sponsor:</strong> According to their website <a href="http://www.maaco.com/">www.maaco.com</a>, No one does more auto body repair and auto paint jobs than Maaco. According to <a href="http://maaco.pissedconsumer.com/">pissed consumer.com</a> they don't do such a great job at it. Of course Maaco is the title sponsor but it wouldn't be the Las Vegas bowl without plenty of casino sponsors like the Venetian and Fremont Street.<br /></p><p><strong>On the field:</strong>BYU really really likes the Las Vegas bowl, so much so that they decided to make this their fifth consecutive trip. Those Mormons like them some gambling don't they? There are some side stories to this game, BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall played for Oregon State a team that has won five straight bowls. On paper this should be a very compelling game. You have the 16<sup>th</sup> and 13<sup>th</sup> best passing attacks and 23<sup>rd</sup> and 13<sup>th</sup> highest scoring offenses. This game also has a family theme to it. Oregon State is led by the Rodgers brothers, leading rusher Jacquizz (1377 yards, 20TD's) and leading receiver James (1004 yards, 9TD's). BYU is led by QB Max Hall whose favorite target is Mackey Award finalist tight end Dennis Pitta who happens to be Hall's brother-in-law. BYU's leading rusher is Harvey Unga who ran for 1,031 yards and 10 touchdowns this year. The Cougars' all-time leading rusher with 3,384 yards, he is the cousin of Oregon State freshman players Devin and Kevin Unga. Both QB's Max Hall and Sean Canfield can light the scoreboard up. Both are completing around 70% of their passes, both have thrown for more than 3,000 yards and the two have combined for 51 TD's. The over/under sits at 59, that might be too low.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 2 strong offenses</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 Mormons in Vegas</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 shootout possibility</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 two evenly matched teams</span><strong><br /></strong></p><p><strong>MCR 4 (Viper/Shelby Cobra)</strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">SAN DIEGO COUNTY CU POINSETTIA BOWL</span></strong><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Utah (9-3) vs. California (8-4)</span><br />Dec. 23, 8:00 PM - ESPN<br /></p><p><strong>A word from our sponsor:</strong> San Diego County Credit Union is a member owned financial institution focused on serving the financial needs of San Diego, Riverside and Orange County residents. For a credit union to have the kind of money to title sponsor a bowl, there must be a lot of rich people in Orange County and Riverside. Keep in mind the World Wide Leader and AT&T are corporate sponsors as well which means they forked over $25,000 plus, remember that next time you get your AT&T phone bill.<strong><br /> </strong></p><p><strong>On the field:</strong> Utah is trying to extend the nation's longest postseason winning streak to nine games and just like our beloved Nittany Lions, trying to prove they can beat a decent team. Utah played three ranked teams and lost to all of them. Cal had high hopes coming into the season but blowout losses to Oregon and USC, and a horrible lost to Washington in the season finale dashed any BCS notions. Cal will also be without star running back Jahvid Best who is still recovering from a concussion. Utah led the Mountain West with 15 interceptions and held opponents to an average of 172.8 passing yards. That doesn't bode well for Cal quarterback Kevin Riley who has only managed to complete just over 54% of his passes. The Utes have a decent running back threat in Eddie Wide, who led the conference with 1,032 rushing yards while averaging 5.7 yards per carry.<br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 two evenly matched teams</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 two decent defenses</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">-1 two pathetic offenses</span></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">MCR 1(Woman's Heart)</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">SHERATON HAWAII BOWL</span></strong><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nevada (8-4) vs. SMU (7-5)</span><br />Dec. 24, 8:00 PM - ESPN<br /></p><p><strong>A word from our sponsor: </strong> Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, Outback Steakhouse, and Heineken beer. That sounds like the trifecta of sponsors to me. Get a good steak, get drunk and pass out on the beach. <em><br /> </em></p><p><strong>On the field:</strong><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>SMU will be playing in a postseason bowl for the first time since getting the NCAA death penalty 25 years ago. Coach June Jones has turned his inaugural 1-11 season into a 7-5 campaign the biggest turnaround in the FBS. For their efforts they get the team with three (?!?!) 1000 yard rushers. Nevada lost three consecutive games to start the season and then reeled off eight straight to challenge Boise State for the WAC title but lost to the broncos 44-33.<br /></p><p>Nevada leads all FBS teams with 362.3 rushing yards per game, and scores 40.6 points per game. They are also 2<sup>nd</sup> in total yards averaging a whopping 521.6 yards per game. Junior quarterback Colin Kaepernick was the Wolf Pack's go to guy throwing for 1875 yards and rushing for 1160 and scoring 35 touchdowns combined. Luke Lippincott and Vai Taua were the other two running backs to break the 1,000 yard mark for the season. SMU is not without weapons though, despite the pass-happy run-and-shoot that Jones likes, the Mustangs were more balanced thanks to Shawnbrey McNeal who ran for 1,125 yards and 9 touchdowns.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 kick-ass offense</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 3-1,000 yard rushers</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 pistol vs. run-and-shoot</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 high probability of offensive explosion</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">-1 potential blowout</span><br /></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">MCR 3 (Jessica Simpson Sex Tape)</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></strong></p><p><em><strong>*</strong>by wrapping gifts I mean putting the gift cards in their envelopes</em></p></span>Galenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068113556245153541noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714045.post-64625806676960549432009-12-21T06:39:00.001-05:002009-12-21T07:41:59.730-05:00Three-peat!Congrats to the Penn State's women's volleyball team for winning their<a href="http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/w-volley/recaps/121909aab.html"> third straight national championship.</a> I have to say I caught the game and it was an amazing comeback and some really awesome volleyball. At some point the word "dynasty" comes to mind. Congrats ladies!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/Champs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 416px; height: 271px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/Champs.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Galenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068113556245153541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714045.post-68742896898418610662009-12-17T15:00:00.001-05:002009-12-17T15:15:26.546-05:00Matchup Comparison Rating makes its triumphant 2009 debutIt's that wonderful time of year when life is much simpler, friends come together, and there's good will toward men. Of course I'm talking about Bowl season, and it starts this weekend. Just like the Holidays we've established a grand tradition here at TNL; over the past three bowl seasons we always bring out the Matchup Comparison Rating or MCR to rate the bowls before they start (yes I'll finish it this year). Think of it as a public service to all our readers. An extremely scientific (<em>read: totally random</em>) way for you to gauge the two teams matched up in each bowl so that if you must miss a game you can pick the right one. Thank us later. Just as last year the rating system goes from 0 to 5 and of course 0 is as bad as it gets. Without further ado let's bring on the rating system and the weekend games!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/MCR-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 326px; height: 640px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/MCR-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>NEW MEXICO BOWL</strong></span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wyoming (6-6) vs. Fresno St (8-4)</span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Dec. 19, 4:30 PM - ESPN</span>
<br /><p></p><p><strong>A word from our sponsor:</strong> Now this is a winner of a bowl! Just look at all the <a href="http://www.newmexicobowl.com/index.php/another_test/bowl_sponsors">New Mexico based sponsors</a>, it's practically a cornucopia of venerable businesses. If the New Mexico <a href="http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/PRD/">State Parks</a> or the New Mexico <a href="http://www.nmda.nmsu.edu/">Department of Agriculture</a> don't impress you then surely <a href="http://bobturnersford.com/">Bob Turner's Ford Country</a> does. At the very least <a href="http://www.elpinto.com/">El Pinto</a> with its "Salsa Locator" will astound you. Logon and join the El Pinto blog or twitter feed so you can get all the latest news and discussions… about salsa.
<br /></p><p>Sign me up!
<br /></p><p><strong>On the field:</strong>
<br /> </p><p>Fresno State is playing in its second straight New Mexico Bowl (must be the fresh salsa) and 10<sup>th</sup> bowl game in the last 11 seasons. For Wyoming, they squeaked out a win in the final game to make it to their first bowl in five years under first year coach Dave Christensen. Fresno ended the season with a 53-52 win over the Fighting Zookers of Illinois. Bulldogs running back Ryan Mathews led all FBS running backs with 151.3 yards rushing per game and QB Ryan Colburn threw for 2,333 yards and 18 TD's completing 60 % of his passes. Wyoming has a similarly proficient QB in freshman Austyn Carta-Samuels who completed 59% of his passes but for only 1752 yards. In fact Wyoming's offense has struggled at times this season getting shut out three times. So this is a slam-dunk victory for Fresno right? Wrong. Both teams are abysmal on defense, Fresno is 111<sup>th</sup> against the rush and boasts the 81<sup>st</sup> scoring defense. Similarly the Cowboys gave up 27.3 points per game and are 91<sup>st</sup> against the rush. This one could get messy.</p><p><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">+1 nation's best runningback</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">+1 bichin' offense</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">+1 shootout possibility</span>
<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">-1 two horrible defenses</span>
<br /></p><p><strong>MCR 2 (Microwave Dinner)</strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">ST. PETERSBURG BOWL</span></strong><span style="font-weight: bold;">
<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">UCF (8-4) vs. Rutgers (8-4)</span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Dec. 19, 8:00 PM - ESPN</span>
<br /></p><p><strong>A word from our sponsor:</strong>
<br /> <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=ST.+PETERSBURG&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=Russian+Federation,+Saint+Petersburg&gl=us&ei=O1IqS5HFBJGQtgeq88GFCQ&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CA8Q8gEwAA">St. Petersburg in the Russian Federation</a> seems like a long distance to travel for a bowl game. Oh, it's not <em>THAT</em> St. Petersburg, it's <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=K6I&resnum=0&q=ST.+PETERSBURG,+Fl&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=St.+Petersburg,+FL&gl=us&ei=11IqS6WjJsi0tge9j5j_CA&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBEQ8gEwAA">this St. Petersburg</a>. Got it.
<br /></p><p>The title sponsor for the St. Petersburg Bowl (in Florida) is <a href="http://beefobradys.com/index.php">Beef 'O' Brady's</a> which sounds like a porn star name if ever I've heard one. The restaurant chain has 255 <a href="http://beefobradys.com/html/locations/">locations in 23 different states</a> throughout the Southeast and Midwest. 'Ole Beefy Beefertin has locations in Ohio, Maryland, and oddly enough Maine, but just like El Pinto salsa you can't get it in Pennsylvania. Mark down two sponsors that hate us.
<br /></p><p><strong>On the field:</strong>
<br /> </p><p>It's a battle of the Scarlet Knights versus the plain ole' Knights. The Knights (of the scarlet variety) are looking to win their fourth bowl in a row and the Knights (of the Florida variety) are just happy to be in a bowl after taking last season off. Statistically speaking UCF and Rutgers are almost a push. They are 73<sup>rd</sup> and 74<sup>th</sup> in rushing yards, respectively, and 70<sup>th</sup> and 64<sup>th</sup> in points scored. Neither team is going to light the scoreboard up but there are some offensive weapons in this game. RU RB Joe Martinek is averaging nearly 5 yards a rush and leads the team with 9 TD's and 923 yards rushing. UCF QB Brett Hodges threw for 705 yards and 5 TD's over the last three games for the Knights leading them to wins. On the season Hodges has completed over 61% of his passes for 2263 yards. UCF has the fourth best defense against the run but they gave up 205 yards on the ground against UAB in their final game. Rutgers inconsistency was largely due to freshman QB Tom Savage who was last in the Big East with a 52.3 completion rate.
<br /></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">+1 two evenly matched teams</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">+1 one decent defense</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">-1 two pathetic offenses</span>
<br /></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">MCR 1(Woman's Heart)</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">R+L CARRIERS NEW ORLEANS BOWL</span></strong><span style="font-weight: bold;">
<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">So Miss (7-5) vs. M Tenn St (9-3)</span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Dec. 20, 8:30 PM - ESPN</span>
<br /></p><p><strong>A word from our sponsor: </strong>R+L Carriers live by the motto "We ship anything, anywhere, anytime… Guaranteed." Yeah right, I'll bet they can't deliver an elephant to Springfield.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><span xmlns="" style="font-size:100%;"><p><a href="http://s395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/?action=view&current=robot_sumo_stampy_simpsons.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="width: 392px; height: 295px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/robot_sumo_stampy_simpsons.jpg" alt="<span class=" error="" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36" />
<br /></a></p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span xmlns="" style="font-size:100%;"><p><em>Stampy was NOT delivered by R+L Carriers</em></p></span></div><span xmlns="" style="font-size:100%;"><p><em></em><strong>On the field:
<br /></strong></p><p>Middle Tennessee is trying to finish off its best season since joining the FBS with a seventh straight win against Southern Miss. Directional Tennessee boasts the ninth best player in the FBS in total yards, QB Dwight Dasher. After getting fired from Auburn in the middle of last the season, offensive coordinator Tony Franklin installed the spread offense at Middle Tennessee and it paid off. Just like the St. Petersburg bowl both these teams are evenly matched and both have explosive offenses. The two teams rank 30<sup>th</sup> and 31<sup>st</sup> in total yards, 42<sup>nd</sup> and 45<sup>th</sup> in passing and both score over 30 points per game. Unlike the St. Petersburg bowl both teams have very good defenses. Middle Tennessee has the nation's best defense in tackle for loss (8.83 per game) and are fourth in sacks (3.17 per). Cornerback Marcus Udel was among the nation's best with 7 INT's. Southern Miss is no slouch on D, they rank 12<sup>th</sup> in sacks and 22<sup>nd</sup> in TFL. The one glaring weakness for SMU is the lack of pass defense, they rank 113<sup>th</sup>.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 two evenly matched teams</span>
<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 two active defenses</span>
<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">+1 two prolific offenses</span>
<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">-1 offense/defense mismatch</span>
<br /></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">MCR 2 (Microwave Dinner)</span>
<br /></strong></p></span></div>Galenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068113556245153541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714045.post-33709982995106716632009-12-11T06:43:00.002-05:002009-12-11T13:23:15.688-05:00Blue & White Roundtable bids farewell to 2009<span xmlns=""><p>It's the final B&W Roundtable of 2009 and your honored host is <strike> <a href="http://2thelionfootball.com/">2theLion</a></strike><a href="http://www.zombienationpsu.com/"> Zombie Nation</a>. As always my incoherent ramblings follow. Onward ho!<br /></p></span><p></p><p><strong>1. Penn State finished off this season with 10 wins, but lost the only two games that were really in question. What will your lasting memory of the 2009 season be?<br /></strong></p><p>You know I had to pause for a second and think about this question, and I don't know if I have an answer. I'd like to be the optimist and come up with something positive from the season but I keep coming back to the two loses at home. In fact there were no good games at all this year. When Penn State won they won big and when they lost they did it <span style="font-weight: bold;">FAIL</span>tasticly. The Lions closest victory was 11 points and their closest defeat was the same 11 points. Funny how symmetric this season was huh? For me, this season's fingerprint won't be complete until the bowl game: win it and 2009 will always be considered a "successful" season in my mind, lose and it will be a season of <span style="font-weight: bold;">FAIL</span>ure.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/launch-failboat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 334px; height: 445px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/launch-failboat.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;" xmlns=""><p>Could this be Penn State's season?<br /></p></span></div><span xmlns=""><p><strong>2. Though they miss out on a BCS Bowl, the Nittany Lions will face off with a highly ranked SEC opponent in a New Year's Day bowl. What are your initial thoughts about the matchup with LSU in the Capital One Bowl?<br /></strong></p><p>I don't know about the rest of the Nittany Nation, but I was one of the ones hoping Penn State didn't end up with a BCS bowl. Plain and simple, Penn State didn't deserve a BCS bowl bid. Sure you can argue that some of the other BCS teams didn't either, and that may be a valid point but one thing's for sure: PSU didn't deserve one. The Lions best victory was over Temple and that's definitely not worthy of a BCS bowl.<br /></p><p>Having said all that, I really like the matchup in the Cap One Bowl. You have the SEC-Big Ten intrigue*, two teams that haven't met since I was 1 year old, and two really, really good defenses. By all measures it should be a good game, and isn't that what we want in a bowl game? I mean this game has absolutely zero meaning in the grand scheme of things (as do all bowls not named BCS Championship), so why not go for the best (read: closest) matchup possible, and I think we have that in PSU-LSU.<br /></p><p><strong>3. When it's all said and done, where will Daryll Clark rank among Penn State QBs? What will you remember about Clark thinking back on the 2008 and 2009 seasons a few years from now?<br /></strong></p><p>Daryll Clark will always be an overachiever in my mind. He started out the prep school route because his grades weren't up to snuff, yet Jay took a chance on him. Realizing he had a future and that he would have to work to get there, Daryll did <em>EVERYTHING</em> the coaches asked him and it paid off. Most schools shied away from him because although he was very athletic he was also very raw at QB. With two years in the system he was not only able to catch but surpass highly touted Uberrecruit Pat Devlin and take the starting role in 2008. He then turned in back to back All-Big Ten performances the first of which none of us saw coming. Sure he struggled in some of the big games and I guess that will always be the knock on the kid, but I will always remember him as a solid, athletic QB who wore his heart on his sleeve and worked his butt off to make a good career at Penn State.<br /></p><p><strong>4. Which seniors are you most sad to see go? If you could bring one of them back in 2010, who would it be?<br /></strong></p><p>I'm really sad to see Sean Lee go because he really didn't have the chance to have the senior season we had all hoped he would. Coming off a devastating knee injury we had hoped he'd come back and be the dominating force we all knew and loved but injuries plagued him throughout the first part of the season and by the time he was back to full brutal force the season was over. It really wasn't the send off he deserved and it probably hurt his draft status. I'd love to see him get another shot at it in 2010, he deserves better.<br /></p><p><strong>5. What are your feelings on the Fiesta Bowl matching up the two undefeated mid-majors, instead of setting up Iowa-Boise State and Georgia Tech-TCU matchups? Does it support a playoff argument?<br /></strong></p><p>Pfffffttt… the BCS supports a playoff argument. It's funny, the BCS thought they'd throw a bone to the mid-majors and make everyone happy with this fairy-tale matchup but all they've really done is create a game that very few people care about. If you match the two mid-majors against the bigger conference bullies you have an intriguing matchup of the have's and have-not's. Not one, but two games of David vs. Goliath. But no instead we get this watered down "congrats for going undefeated now kindly go to the back of the bus" contest. Don't get me wrong, a lot of people will watch but when the game is over and one is left undefeated do we really know if the winner could stack up against Alabama or Texas? No, we don't. Thanks again BCS!<br /></p><p><strong>Lightning Round:<br /></strong></p><p><strong>1. Do either Bowman or Royster (or both!) skip their senior seasons and enter the NFL Draft?<br /></strong></p><p>Bowman is gone, Royster would be dumb but I think it's 50-50 at this point.<br /></p><p><strong>2. Who wins the MNC Game, Alabama or Texas?<br /></strong></p><p>Alabama – Texas doesn't have it.<br /></p><p><strong>3. Will you be heading down to Orlando to watch the Capital One Bowl live? Who wins?<br /></strong></p><p>No, and Penn State by at least 11 (hey it's either that or lose by at least 11).<br /></p><p>4. Predict the draft stock of the following Nittany Lion seniors:<br /></p><p>Assuming they all get drafted which is highly unlikely:<br />a) [Bowman/Royster] <strong>- 2</strong><br />b) Jared Odrick <strong>- 1</strong><br />c) Sean Lee <strong>- 4</strong><br />d) Andrew Quarless <strong>- 7</strong><br />e) Dennis Landolt <strong>- 3</strong><br />f) Daryll Clark <strong>- 5</strong><br />g) Mickey Shuler <strong>- 8</strong><br />h) A.J. Wallace <strong>- 6</strong><br /> </p><p><br /></p><p><em>* by intrigue I mean: If Penn State losses it's "eeSSSSS EEEEEEE SEEEEEEE RUUULLEESS!" and if they win it will be "what, there was a game? Oh it's just LSU. Doesn't count"<br /></em></p></span>Galenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068113556245153541noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714045.post-69345978604421342092009-12-07T18:15:00.004-05:002009-12-08T18:29:32.663-05:00End of Regular Season Blogpoll<span style="font-weight:bold;">Games Watched:</span> Oregon State/Oregon, Ohio/Central Michigan, Cincinnati/Pitt, Fresno State/Illinois, Florida/Alabama, Arizona/USC, Texas/Nebraska, Georgia Tech/Clemson and Wisconsin/Hawaii.<br /><br /><table><tbody><tr class="cbslogo"><td colspan="3"><a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/polls/cbsblog"><img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/blog-poll.gif" /></a></td></tr><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Team</th><th>Delta</th></tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">1</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/AL"> Alabama </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 3 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">2</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/TCU"> TCU </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">3</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/TX"> Texas </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">4</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/CIN"> Cincinnati </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 1 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">5</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/BST"> Boise State </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 1 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">6</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/FL"> Florida </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_down.gif" /> 5 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">7</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/OR"> Oregon </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">8</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/OHST"> Ohio State </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">9</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/IA"> Iowa </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">10</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/PSU"> Penn State </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">11</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/GATECH"> Georgia Tech </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">12</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/LSU"> LSU </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">13</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/VATECH"> Virginia Tech </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">14</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/WI"> Wisconsin </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 1 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">15</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/MIA"> Miami (Florida) </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 1 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">16</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/BYU"> Brigham Young </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 1 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">17</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/AZ"> Arizona </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 6 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">18</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/CMI"> Central Michigan </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 4 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">19</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/ORST"> Oregon State </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_down.gif" /> 5 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">20</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/UT"> Utah </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 4 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">21</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/STAN"> Stanford </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">22</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/OKST"> Oklahoma State </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 3 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">23</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/WV"> West Virginia </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">24</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/USC"> Southern Cal </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_down.gif" /> 6 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">25</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/PITT"> Pittsburgh </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_down.gif" /> 6 </td> </tr><tr> <th colspan="3"> <a href="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/ballot-view.php?id=162&week=14&year=2009"> Last week's ballot </a> </th></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="droppedout"><strong>Dropped Out:</strong> Houston (#20), California (#21).</div><br /><br />What a shame TCU can't play for the MNC, I think they're a far stronger team than Texas, but unfortunately the Blogpoll holds no sway in the BCS formula. Penn State ended up in a worse bowl, but stands to gain more in perception competing against LSU than they would against Georgia Tech. USC and Pitt just barely hang onto spots in the Top 25, Oregon State really disappointed and dropped as well. Really just a mess after 13 or so. Now, onto the bowl season and its surprising games. I'd love a playoff, but there is something appealing about bowls in that sometimes they're really good games that you weren't expecting (and some duds in others). Needless to say, I'm rooting for utter chaos in the end.<div><br /><br />The Breakdown:<br /><b>1. Alabama<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Virginia Tech (in Atlanta, GA) 34-24 (498/155)<br />9/12 – Florida International 40-14 (516/214)<br />9/19 – North Texas 53-7 (523/126)<br />9/26 – Arkansas 35-7 (425/254)<br />10/3 – at Kentucky 38-20 (352/301)<br />10/10 – at Ole Miss 22-3 (354/212)<br />10/17 – South Carolina 20-6 (356/278)<br />10/24 – Tennessee 12-10 (256/341)<br />11/7 – LSU 24-15 (452/253)<br />11/14 – at Mississippi St. 31-3 (444/213)<br />11/21 – Chattanooga 45-0 (422/84)<br />11/27 – at Auburn 26-21 (291/332)<br />12/5 – Florida (in Atlanta, GA) 32-13 (490/335)</span></span><br /><br /><b>2. TCU<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/12 – at Virginia 30-14 (380/177)<br />9/19 – Texas St. 56-21 (508/249)<br />9/26 – at Clemson 14-10 (388/309)<br />10/3 – at SMU 39-14 (418/224)<br />10/10 – at Air Force 20-17 (393/287)<br />10/17 – Colorado St. 44-6 (499/182)<br />10/24 – at BYU 38-7 (412/298)<br />10/31 – UNLV 41-0 (578/160)<br />11/7 – at San Diego St. 55-12 (551/279)<br />11/14 – Utah 55-28 (549/284)<br />11/21 – at Wyoming 45-10 (507/178)<br />11/28 – New Mexico 51-10 (430/172)</span></span><br /><br /><b>3. Texas<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Louisiana-Monroe 59-20 (562/298)<br />9/12- at Wyoming 41-10 (544/273)<br />9/19 – Texas Tech 34-24 (340/414)<br />9/26 – UTEP 64-7 (639/53)<br />10/10 – Colorado 38-14 (313/127)<br />10/17 – Oklahoma 16-13 (269/311)<br />10/24 – at Missouri 41-7 (400/173)<br />10/31 – at Oklahoma St. 41-14 (275/277)<br />11/7 – UCF 35-3 (537/151)<br />11/14 – at Baylor 47-14 (411/246)<br />11/21 – Kansas 51-20 (532/303)<br />11/26 – at Texas A&M 49-39 (597/532)<br />12/5 – Nebraska 13-12 (202/106)</span></span><br /><br /><b>4. Cincinnati<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/7 – at Rutgers 47-15 (564/293)<br />9/12 – Southeast Missouri St. 70-3 (578/176)<br />9/19 – at Oregon St. 28-18 (408/344)<br />9/26 – Fresno St. 28-20 (357/443)<br />10/3 – at Miami(OH) 37-13 (434/316)<br />10/15 – at South Florida 34-17 (401/376)<br />10/24 – Louisville 41-10 (468/275)<br />10/31 – at Syracuse 28-7 (422-283)<br />11/7 – UConn 47-45 (711/462)<br />11/13 – West Virginia 24-21 (437/390)<br />11/27 – Illinois 49-36 (420/476)<br />12/5 – at Pittsburgh 45-44 (371/369)</span></span><br /><br /><b>5. Boise St.<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">9/3 – Oregon 19-8 (361/152)<br />9/12 – Miami(OH) 48-0 (441/194)<br />9/18 – at Fresno St. 51-34 (480/507)<br />9/26 – at Bowling Green 49-14 (529/282)<br />10/3 – UC Davis 34-16 (386/234)<br />10/14 – at Tulsa 28-21 (380/295)<br />10/24 – at Hawaii 54-9 (472/307)<br />10/31 – San Jose St. 45-7 (430/223)<br />11/6 – Louisiana Tech 45-35 (507/250)<br />11/14 – Idaho 63-25 (458/514)<br />11/20 – at Utah St. 52-21 (572/363)<br />11/27 – Nevada 44-33 (427/383)<br />12/5 – New Mexico St. 42-7 (544/191)</span></span><br /><br /><b>6. Florida<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Charleston Southern 62-3 (624/323)<br />9/12 – Troy 56-6 (663/139)<br />9/19 – Tennessee 23-13 (323/210)<br />9/26 – at Kentucky 41-7 (495/179)<br />10/10 – at LSU 13-3 (327/162)<br />10/17 – Arkansas 23-20 (391/357)<br />10/24 – at Mississippi St. 29-19 (376/237)<br />10/31 – Georgia 41-17 (374/286)<br />11/7 – Vanderbilt 27-3 (375/199)<br />11/14 – at South Carolina 24-14 (339/247)<br />11/21 – Florida International 62-3 (584/189)<br />11/27 – Florida St. 37-10 (545/269)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">12/5 – Alabama (in Atlanta, GA) 13-32 (335/490)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><br /></span><br /><b>7. Oregon<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">9/3 – at Boise St. 8-19 (152/361)<br /></span>9/12 – Purdue 38-36 (356/451)<br />9/19 – Utah 31-24 (312/297)<br />9/26 – Cal 42-3 (524/207)<br />10/3 – Washington St. 52-6 (514/158)<br />10/10 – at UCLA 24-10 (303/211)<br />10/24 – at Washington 43-19 (416/395)<br />10/31 – USC 47-20 (613/327)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">11/7 – at Stanford 42-51 (570/505)<br /></span>11/14 – Arizona St. 44-21 (388/211)<br />11/21 – at Arizona 44-41 (459/441)<br />12/3 – Oregon St. 37-33 (489/389)</span></span><br /><br /><b>8. Ohio St.<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Navy 31-27 (363/342)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">9/12 – USC 15-18 (265/313)<br /></span>9/19 – at Toledo 38-0 (522/210)<br />9/26 – Illinois 30-0 (318/170)<br />10/3 – at Indiana 33-14 (378/228)<br />10/10 – Wisconsin 31-13 (184/368)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">10/17 – at Purdue 18-26 (287/361)<br /></span>10/24 – Minnesota 38-7 (509/286)<br />10/31 – New Mexico St. 45-0 (559/62)<br />11/7 – at Penn St. 24-7 (353/201)<br />11/14 – Iowa 27-24 OT (322/300)<br />11/21 – at Michigan 21-10 (318/309)</span></span><br /><br /><b>9. Iowa<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Northern Iowa 17-16 (329/354)<br />9/12 – at Iowa St. 35-3 (426/303)<br />9/19- Arizona 27-17 (338/253)<br />9/26 – at Penn St. 21-10 (298/307)<br />10/3 – Arkansas St. 24-21 (420/296)<br />10/10 – Michigan 30-28 (367/319)<br />10/17 – at Wisconsin 20-10 (283/230)<br />10/24 – at Michigan St. 15-13 (276/310)<br />10/31 – Indiana 42-24 (480/306)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">11/7 – Northwestern 10-17 (281/239)<br />11/14 – at Ohio St. 24-27 OT (300/322)</span><br />11/21 – Minnesota 12-0 (171/201)</span></span><br /><br /><b>10. Penn St.<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Akron 31-7 (515/186)<br />9/12 – Syracuse 28-7 (318/200)<br />9/19 – Temple 31-6 (359/251)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">9/26 – Iowa 10-21 (307/298)<br /></span>10/3 – at Illinois 35-17 (513/393)<br />10/10 – Eastern Illinois 52-3 (553/206)<br />10/17 – Minnesota 20-0 (464/138)<br />10/24 – at Michigan 35-10 (396/250)<br />10/31 – at Northwestern 34-13 (437/371)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">11/7 – Ohio State 7-24 (201/353)<br /></span>11/14 – Indiana 31-20 (375/346)<br />11/21 – at Michigan St. 42-14 (512/333)</span></span><br /><br /><b>11. Georgia Tech<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Jacksonville St. 37-17 (497/291)<br />9/10 – Clemson 30-27 (418/386)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">917 – at Miami 17-33 (228/454)<br /></span>9/26 – North Carolina 24-7 (406/154)<br />10/3 – at Mississippi St. 42-31 (479/487)<br />10/10 – at Florida St.49-44 (532/539)<br />10/17 – Virginia Tech 28-23 (360/334)<br />10/24 – at Virginia 34-9 (447/198)<br />10/31 – at Vanderbilt 56-31 (597/397)<br />11/7 – Wake Forest 30-27 (463/291)<br />11/14 – at Duke 49-10 (519/281)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">11/28 – Georgia 24-30 (340/415)<br /></span>12/5 – Clemson (in Tampa, FL) 39-34 (469/414)</span></span><br /><br /><b>12. LSU<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – at Washington 31-23 (321/478)<br />9/12 – Vanderbilt 23-9 (326/210)<br />9/19 – Louisiana-Lafayette 31-3 (330/272)<br />9/26 – at Mississippi St. 30-26 (263/374)<br />10/3 – at Georgia 20-13 (368/274)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">10/10 – Florida 3-13 (162/327)<br /></span>10/24 – Auburn 31-10 (376/193)<br />10/31 – Tulane 42-0 (455/216)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">11/7 – at Alabama 15-24 (253/454)<br /></span>11/14 – Louisiana Tech 24-16 (246/322)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">11/21 – at Mississippi 23-25 (290/426)<br /></span>11/28 – Arkansas 33-30 OT (326/375)</span></span><br /><br /><b>13. Virginia Tech<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">9/5 – Alabama (in Atlanta, GA) 24-34 (155/498)<br /></span>9/12 – Marshall 52-10 (605/252)<br />9/19 – Nebraska 16-15 (278/343)<br />9/26 – Miami 31-7 (370/209)<br />10/3 – at Duke 34-26 (477/397)<br />10/10 – Boston College 48-14 (441/163)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">10/17 – at Georgia Tech 23-28 (334/360)<br />10/29 – North Carolina 17-20 (256/312)</span><br />11/5 – at East Carolina 16-3 (379/277)<br />11/14 – at Maryland 36-9 (484/236)<br />11/21 – NC State 38-10 (397/259)<br />11/28 – at Virginia 42-13 (483/295)</span></span><br /><br /><b>14. Wisconsin<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Northern Illinois 28-20 (433/274)<br />9/12 – Fresno St. 34-31 OT (413/468)<br />9/19 – Wofford 44-14 (430/259)<br />9/26 – Michigan St. 38-30 (436/486)<br />10/3 – at Minnesota 31-28 (454/328)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">10/10 – at Ohio St. 13-34 (368/184)<br />10/17 – Iowa 10-20 (230/283)</span><br />10/31 – Purdue 37-0 (381/141)<br />11/7 – at Indiana 31-28 (488/386)<br />11/14 – Michigan 45-24 (469/265)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">11/21 – at Northwestern 31-33 (334/437)<br /></span>12/5 – at Hawaii 51-10 (554/214)</span></span><br /><br /><b>15. Miami<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">9/7 – at Florida St. 38-34 (476/404)<br />9/17 – Georgia Tech 33-17 (454/228)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">9/26 – at Virginia Tech 7-31 (209/370)<br /></span>10/3 – Oklahoma 21-20 (342/341)<br />10/10 – Florida A&M 48-16 (470/262)<br />10/17 – at UCF 27-7 (363/229)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">10/24 – Clemson 37-40 OT (433/410)<br /></span>10/31 – at Wake Forest 28-27 (356/555)<br />11/7 – Virginia 52-17 (515/149)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">11/14 – at North Carolina 24-33 (435/329)<br /></span>11/21 – Duke 34-16 (496/358)<br />11/28 – at South Florida 31-10 (4010/220)</span></span><br /><br /><b>16. BYU<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Oklahoma (in Arlington, TX) 14-13 (357/265)<br />9/12 – at Tulane 54-3 (527/162)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">9/19 – Florida St. 28-54 (473/512)<br /></span>9/26 – Colorado St. 42-23 (373/438)<br />10/2 – Utah St. 35-17 (431/322)<br />10/10 – at UNLV 59-21 (611/337)<br />10/17 – at San Diego St. 38-28 (512/342)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">10/24 – TCU 7-38 (298/412)<br /></span>11/7 – at Wyoming 52-0 (543/225)<br />11/14 – at New Mexico 24-19 (355/360)<br />11/21 – Air Force 38-21 (498/300)<br />11/28 – Utah 26-23 OT (265/298)</span></span><br /><br /><b>17. Arizona<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Central Michigan 19-6 (448/182)<br />9/12 – Northern Arizona 34-17 (559/226)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">9/19 – at Iowa 17-27 (253/338)<br /></span>9/26 – at Oregon St. 37-32 (388/407)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">10/10 – at Washington 33-36 (461/256)<br /></span>10/17 – Stanford 43-38 (553/584)<br />10/24 – UCLA 27-13 (456/211)<br />11/7 – Washington St. 48-7 (471/185)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">11/14 – at Cal 16-24 (274/357)<br />11/21 – Oregon 41-44 OT (441/459)</span><br />11/28 – at Arizona St. 20-17 (265/303)<br />12/5 – at USC 21-17 (321/282)</span></span><br /><br /><b>18. Central Michigan<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">9/5 – at Arizona 6-19 (182/448)<br /></span>9/12 – at Michigan St. 29-27 (418/316)<br />9/19 – Alcorn St. 48-0 (319/136)<br />9/26 – Akron 48-21 (523/196)<br />10/3 – at Buffalo 20-13 (412/433)<br />10/10 – Eastern Michigan 56-8 (521/255)<br />10/17 – at Western Michigan 34-23 (426/497)<br />10/24 – at Bowling Green 24-10 (406/363)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">10/31 – at Boston College 10-31 (311/412)<br /></span>11/11 – Toledo 56-28 (507/353)<br />11/18 – at Ball St. 35-3 (512/231)<br />11/27 – Northern Illinois 45-31 (512/332)<br />12/4 – Ohio (in Detroit, MI) 20-10 (381/275)</span></span><br /><br /><b>19. Oregon St.<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Portland St. 34-7 (433/351)<br />9/12 – at UNLV 23-21 (382/310)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/19 – Cincinnati 18-28 (344/408)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">9/26 – Arizona 32-37 (407/388)<br /></span>10/3 – at Arizona St. 28-17 (295/406)<br />10/10 – Stanford 38-28 (463/375)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">10/24 – at USC 36-42 (482/429)<br /></span>10/31 – UCLA 26-19 (463/374)<br />11/7 – at Cal 31-14 (436/239)<br />11/14 – Washington 48-21 (372/274)<br />11/21 – at Washington St. 42-10 (567/192)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">12/3 – at Oregon 33-37 (389/489)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><br /></span><br /><b>20. Utah<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/3 – Utah St. 35-17 (519/342)<br />9/12 – at San Jose St. 24-14 (499/264)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">9/19 – at Oregon 24-31 (297/312)<br /></span>9/26 – Louisville 30-14 (416/261)<br />10/10 – at Colorado St. 24-17 (457/334)<br />10/17 – at UNLV 35-15 (327/327)<br />10/24 – Air Force 23-16 OT (267/318)<br />10/31 – Wyoming 22-10 (363/202)<br />11/7 – New Mexico 45-14 (557/334)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">11/14 – at TCU 28-55 (284/549)<br /></span>11/21 – San Diego St. 38-7 (391/262)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">11/28 – at BYU 23-26 OT (298/265)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><br /></span><br /><b>21. Stanford<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – at Washington St. 39-13 (481/351)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">9/12 – at Wake Forest 17-24 (391/458)<br /></span>9/19 – San Jose St. 42-17 (382/228)<br />9/26 – Washington 34-14 (424/291)<br />10/3 – UCLA 24-16 (372/299)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">10/10 – at Oregon St. 28-38 (375/463)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">10/17 – at Arizona 38-43 (584/553)<br /></span>10/24 – Arizona St. 33-14 (473/290)<br />11/7 – Oregon 51-42 (505/570)<br />11/14 – at USC 55-21 (469/334)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">11/21 – Cal 28-34 (345/477)<br /></span>11/28 – Notre Dame 45-38 (496/447)</span></span><br /><br /><b>22. Oklahoma State<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Georgia 24-10 (307/257)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">9/12 – Houston 35-45 (434/512)<br /></span>9/19 – Rice 41-24 (351/377)<br />9/26 – Grambling St. 56-6 (587/260)<br />10/10 – at Texas A&M 36-31 (448/382)<br />10/17 – Missouri 33-17 (351/393)<br />10/24 – Baylor 34-7 (445/284)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">10/31 – Texas 14-41 (277/275)<br /></span>11/7 – at Iowa St. 34-8 (473/242)<br />11/14 – Texas Tech 24-17 (333/357)<br />11/19 – Colorado 31-28 (400/251)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">11/28 – at Oklahoma 0-27 (109/367)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><br /></span><br /><b>23. West Virginia<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Liberty 33-20 (438/299)<br />9/12 – East Carolina 35-20 (509/237)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">9/19 – at Auburn 30-41 (509/400)<br /></span>10/1 – Colorado 35-24 (405/392)<br />10/10 – at Syracuse 34-13 (385/222)<br />10/17 – Marshall 24-7 (313/207)<br />10/24 – UConn 28-24 (387/501)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">10/30 – at South Florida 19-30 (323/421)<br /></span>11/7 – Louisville 17-9 (273/301)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">11/13 – at Cincinnati 21-24 (390/437)<br /></span>11/27 – Pittsburgh 19-16 (369/325)<br />12/5 – at Rutgers 24-21 (278/218)</span></span><br /><br /><b>24. USC<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – San Jose St. 56-3 (620/121)<br />9/12 – at Ohio St. 18-15 (313/265)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">9/19 – at Washington 13-16 (360/293)<br /></span>9/29 – Washington St. 27-6 (403/229)<br />10/3 – at Cal 30-3 (457/285)<br />10/17 – at Notre Dame 34-27 (501/367)<br />10/24 – Oregon St. 42-36 (429/482)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">10/31 – at Oregon 20-47 (327/613)<br /></span>11/7 – at Arizona St. 14-9 (258/347)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">11/14 – Stanford 21-55 (469/334)<br /></span>11/28 – UCLA 28-7 (336/322)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">12/5 – Arizona 17-21 (282/321)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><br /></span><br /><b>25. Pittsburgh<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Youngstown St. 38-3 (390/159)<br />9/12 – at Buffalo 54-27 (381/500)<br />9/19 – Navy 27-14 (369/218)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">9/26 – at NC State 31-38 (300/530)<br /></span>10/2 – at Louisville 35-10 (404/305)<br />10/10 – UConn 24-21 (489/303)<br />10/16 – at Rutgers 24-17 (376/286)<br />10/24 – South Florida 41-14 (486/212)<br />11/7 – Syracuse 37-10 (481/285)<br />11/14 – Notre Dame 27-22 (429/349)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">11/27 – at West Virginia 16-19 (325/369)<br />12/5 – Cincinnati 44-45 (369/371)</span></span></span><br /><br />Dropped Out:<br /><b>20. Houston<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Northwestern St. 55-7 (538/263)<br />9/12 – at Oklahoma St. 45-35 (512/434)<br />9/26 – Texas Tech 29-28 (579/484)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">10/3 – at UTEP 41-58 (664/581)<br /></span>10/10 – at Mississippi St. 31-24 (553/490)<br />10/17 – at Tulane 44-16 (516/437)<br />10/24 – SMU 38-15 (394/397)<br />10/31 – Southern Miss 50-43 (750/608)<br />11/7 – at Tulsa 46-45 (695/534)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">11/14 – at UCF 32-37 (423/393)<br /></span>11/21 – Memphis 55-14 (689/344)<br />11/28 – Rice 73-14 (684/377)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">12/5 – at East Carolina 32-38 (557/413)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><br /></span><br /><b>21. Cal<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">9/5 – Maryland 52-13 (542/303)<br />9/12 – Eastern Washington 59-7 (507/235)<br />9/19 – at Minnesota 35-21 (415/270)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">9/26 – at Oregon 3-42 (207/524)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">10/3 – USC 3-30 (285/457)<br /></span>10/17 – at UCLA 45-26 (494/448)<br />10/24 – Washington St. 49-17 (559/440)<br />10/31 – at Arizona St. 23-21 (351/247)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">11/7 – Oregon St. 14-31 (239/436)<br /></span>11/14 – Arizona 24-16 (357/274)<br />11/21 – at Stanford 34-28 (477/345)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">12/5 – at Washington 10-42 (296/463)</span></span></span><br /></div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00346632367434990107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714045.post-13440941780929504052009-12-04T06:39:00.000-05:002009-12-04T08:43:35.324-05:00Longevity of worthless reporters something to marvel<span xmlns=""><p>It's been a while since I've dished on Ron Cook, actually where's the guy been I haven't read one of his patently horrible articles in a while. Oh, ok <a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09336/1017714-87.stm">that's better</a>. So typical Bobby Bowden – Joe Paterno comparison piece where the author tries to transpose the ending of Bowden's story on Paterno. That's all fine, albeit a bit obvious since it almost happened, but Cook couldn't stop there; no in the middle of it he had to get his shot in.</p><blockquote>This season, the Nittany Lions are 10-2 and could be headed to a BCS game. <strong>They don't deserve to play in a big bowl after losing badly at home to Iowa and Ohio State, but bowl matchups aren't about fairness. They're about which teams can put the most fannies in a stadium and eyeballs on a television set. </strong></blockquote>What does that have anything to do with Bowden and Paterno? It's a low blow in the middle of an article and it has absolutely nothing to do with the subject: Paterno's longevity and Bowden's retirement. I'm not saying I disagree with the statement, I don't believe Penn State deserves to play in a BCS bowl either but if that's the point I'm going to try to make, then I'll do it in an article aimed at that subject. It's the poor journalism we've come to expect out of PA reporters especially the Post Gazette a paper that is required to beat on Penn State because of their loyalty to Pitt.<br /><p></p><p>The stupidity doesn't stop there though, this statement shows the mentality that a lot of PA reporters share and it shows the significant ignorance I've come to expect.</p><blockquote>For a long time, I've being struggling with thoughts about what Paterno's chief legacy will be at Penn State. Is it those 393 wins? The countless millions he has raised for the university? The fact his teams routinely attract game-day crowds of 105,000 or more to Beaver Stadium? I guess it has to be the wins because the successful fundraising efforts and the big crowds wouldn't have happened without them.But I'm starting to think Paterno's unfathomable longevity is his greatest achievement.<br /></blockquote><p></p><p>This is the problem I had with reporters back in the "dark years." They just didn't get it. Paterno's legacy isn't about wins and losses, it's not about a big stadium either, and it's certainly not about the length of his tenure as coach. Paterno's legacy is this, and I can't stress this enough: he's made a difference in the lives of thousands of young men. Paterno will be remembered for the money he's donated, for the bowl victories, and the national titles but his unyielding commitment to his players on and off the field will be his legacy. Just ask <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Robinson_%28running_back%29">Michael Robinson</a> whom Paterno stuck with at quarterback despite every talking head wanting him to move to wide receiver or running back the position the NFL moved him to. Just ask Adam Taliaferro who Paterno got through school despite his <a href="http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072001aaa.html">career ending back injury</a>. And while you're at it, ask <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Milne">Brian Milne</a> who was diagnosed with cancer in high school and the only coach to still offer him a scholarship was Paterno. In fact Paterno was going to make good on Milne's scholarship even if he never played another down of football. How many coaches would use a scholarship on a player that may never play again in this day and age? One: Joe Paterno. No his legacy won't be about the hundreds of wins he's amassed, Joe Paterno's legacy will be about the thousands of lives he's touched. It's too bad some reporters don't understand that.<br /></p></span>Galenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068113556245153541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714045.post-74579471690292694042009-12-02T07:00:00.001-05:002009-12-02T12:15:10.852-05:00So long Bobby & don’t let the door hit you in the ass, CharlieSo the coaching carousel started with a whirl with the not so surprising firing of Notre Dame coach <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4700891&campaign=rss&source=NCFHeadlines">Charlie Weis</a> and the "retirement" of Florida State coach and Paterno win-record nemesis <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4703506&campaign=rss&source=NCFHeadlines">Bobby Bowden</a>.<br /><span xmlns=""><p>As I stated <a href="http://thenittanyline.blogspot.com/2009/11/happy-thanksgiving-from-tnl.html">last week</a>, Chuck Weis will be missed because watching Notre Dame flounder in mediocrity has been delicious schadenfreude. He was the gift that kept on given, every time he opened his mouth something unbelievably arrogant came out only to have mother universe bitch slap him for it. My favorite comment had to be about Paterno and coaching from the press box. When Chuck <a href="http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/26690497/">injured his knee</a> he was asked by a reporter if he would coach from the press box like Paterno did when he injured his knee much in the same way. Charlie's response was "I'm too important to coach from the press box," as if Paterno isn't an important part of his coaching staff. The sheer joy of seeing ole' fat ass sitting in the press box the next week was something I'll never forget.<br /></p><p>Bobby Bowden will be missed but for a much different reason. Yeah, Bowden was just a figurehead and yes he was definitely out next season but the unceremonious shove out the door is sad. Let's be realistic, Bowden wanted to come back next season but the administration had enough. Bowden's ACC record was .500 the last four seasons since the Seminoles won their last conference title. There was a lot of speculation and rumor that FSU was going to allow Bowden to come back for one more year if he was willing to give total control to coach in waiting Jimbo Fisher. Personally I think that's BS, I think the administration wanted a clean start and they weren't waiting another year. Although I've always felt Paterno deserves the win record more, because he coached at the same university his entire career and never coached at a school that is not a Div I school, I was hoping the two would go neck and neck and retire at the same time, but that's not going to happen. Say what you want about Bobby Bowden, it <em>was</em> a fun race and it was something that will never happen again. We will never see two life-long college coaches devote their lives to the school they are coaching, that kind of loyalty no longer exists in our "what have you done for me lately" society. We'll never see two universities put up with their head coaches going through tough years like Florida State and Penn State. No, in the future they will be canned long before they get a chance to redeem themselves. Fired, or as the talking suits like to say in the uncaring business climate of today: "go in a different direction," whatever the hell that means.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/bowden-paterno1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/bowden-paterno1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><p>So Paterno gets his record and Florida State gets their coach and the lifelong race to the top is over not with the dignified pomp and circumstance it deserves but with a brusque whimper. The only silver lining on this dark cloud is that Bowden gets to ride off into the sun; he will coach his last game in FSU's bowl game. School officials are trying to get the ACC to allow Florida State to play West Virginia (where he coached as an OC and a head coach) in one of the Florida bowls, either the Gator Bowl or the Champs Sports Bowl. I hope for the sake of all that is still good in the world of college football, the ACC and the bowls put aside greed for once and grant Bobby his wish.<br /></p></span>Galenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068113556245153541noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714045.post-46578681083390179172009-11-30T18:39:00.004-05:002009-12-01T23:17:22.778-05:00Blogpoll: Week 13One more regular season week to go and onto the bowls, it goes by so fast. Questions, corrections, suggestions and objections are always welcome.<br /><br /><b>Games Watched: </b>Ball State/Western Michigan, Texas/Texas A&M, Alabama/Auburn, Pittsburgh/West Virginia, Nevada/Boise State, Oklahoma State/Oklahoma, Florida State/Florida, Arkansas/LSU, Missouri/Kansas, Georgia/Georgia Tech, Notre Dame/Stanford, Clemson/South Carolina and UCLA/USC.<br /><br /><table><tbody><tr class="cbslogo"><td colspan="3"><a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/polls/cbsblog"><img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/blog-poll.gif" /></a></td></tr><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Team</th><th>Delta</th></tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">1</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/FL"> Florida </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">2</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/TCU"> TCU </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 2 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">3</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/TX"> Texas </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_down.gif" /> 1 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">4</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/AL"> Alabama </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_down.gif" /> 1 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">5</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/CIN"> Cincinnati </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">6</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/BST"> Boise State </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">7</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/OR"> Oregon </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 1 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">8</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/OHST"> Ohio State </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 1 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">9</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/IA"> Iowa </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 1 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">10</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/PSU"> Penn State </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 1 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">11</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/GATECH"> Georgia Tech </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_down.gif" /> 4 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">12</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/LSU"> LSU </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 3 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">13</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/VATECH"> Virginia Tech </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 3 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">14</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/ORST"> Oregon State </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 3 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">15</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/WI"> Wisconsin </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 3 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">16</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/MIA"> Miami (Florida) </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 4 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">17</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/BYU"> Brigham Young </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 4 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">18</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/USC"> Southern Cal </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 4 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">19</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/PITT"> Pittsburgh </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_down.gif" /> 7 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">20</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/HOU"> Houston </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 3 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">21</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/CA"> California </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 3 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">22</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/CMI"> Central Michigan </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 3 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">23</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/AZ"> Arizona </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">24</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/UT"> Utah </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_down.gif" /> 11 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">25</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/OKST"> Oklahoma State </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_down.gif" /> 11 </td> </tr><tr> <th colspan="3"> <a href="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/ballot-view.php?id=162&week=13&year=2009"> Last week's ballot </a> </th></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="droppedout"><strong>Dropped Out:</strong> Clemson (#19).</div><br />In a week of underwhelming performances, TCU jumps ahead and could legitimately challenge for the title if given the opportunity. Georgia Tech should have probably dropped further, but I'd like them against the next few teams with the exception of Oregon State. Pitt and Utah drop, but the most unforgivable performance of the season might go to Oklahoma State, that was flat out awful against Oklahoma.<br /><br />The Breakdown:<br /><b>1. Florida<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Charleston Southern 62-3 (624/323)<br />9/12 – Troy 56-6 (663/139)<br />9/19 – Tennessee 23-13 (323/210)<br />9/26 – at Kentucky 41-7 (495/179)<br />10/10 – at LSU 13-3 (327/162)<br />10/17 – Arkansas 23-20 (391/357)<br />10/24 – at Mississippi St. 29-19 (376/237)<br />10/31 – Georgia 41-17 (374/286)<br />11/7 – Vanderbilt 27-3 (375/199)<br />11/14 – at South Carolina 24-14 (339/247)<br />11/21 – Florida International 62-3 (584/189)<br />11/27 – Florida St. 37-10 (545/269)</span></span><br /><br /><div><b>2. TCU<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/12 – at Virginia 30-14 (380/177)<br />9/19 – Texas St. 56-21 (508/249)<br />9/26 – at Clemson 14-10 (388/309)<br />10/3 – at SMU 39-14 (418/224)<br />10/10 – at Air Force 20-17 (393/287)<br />10/17 – Colorado St. 44-6 (499/182)<br />10/24 – at BYU 38-7 (412/298)<br />10/31 – UNLV 41-0 (578/160)<br />11/7 – at San Diego St. 55-12 (551/279)<br />11/14 – Utah 55-28 (549/284)<br />11/21 – at Wyoming 45-10 (507/178)<br />11/28 – New Mexico 51-10 (430/172)</span></span></div><div><br /><b>3. Texas<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Louisiana-Monroe 59-20 (562/298)<br />9/12- at Wyoming 41-10 (544/273)<br />9/19 – Texas Tech 34-24 (340/414)<br />9/26 – UTEP 64-7 (639/53)<br />10/10 – Colorado 38-14 (313/127)<br />10/17 – Oklahoma 16-13 (269/311)<br />10/24 – at Missouri 41-7 (400/173)<br />10/31 – at Oklahoma St. 41-14 (275/277)<br />11/7 – UCF 35-3 (537/151)<br />11/14 – at Baylor 47-14 (411/246)<br />11/21 – Kansas 51-20 (532/303)<br />11/26 – at Texas A&M 49-39 (597/532)</span></span><br /><br /><b>4. Alabama<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Virginia Tech (in Atlanta, GA) 34-24 (498/155)<br />9/12 – Florida International 40-14 (516/214)<br />9/19 – North Texas 53-7 (523/126)<br />9/26 – Arkansas 35-7 (425/254)<br />10/3 – at Kentucky 38-20 (352/301)<br />10/10 – at Ole Miss 22-3 (354/212)<br />10/17 – South Carolina 20-6 (356/278)<br />10/24 – Tennessee 12-10 (256/341)<br />11/7 – LSU 24-15 (452/253)<br />11/14 – at Mississippi St. 31-3 (444/213)<br />11/21 – Chattanooga 45-0 (422/84)<br />11/27 – at Auburn 26-21 (291/332)</span></span><br /><br /><b>5. Cincinnati<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/7 – at Rutgers 47-15 (564/293)<br />9/12 – Southeast Missouri St. 70-3 (578/176)<br />9/19 – at Oregon St. 28-18 (408/344)<br />9/26 – Fresno St. 28-20 (357/443)<br />10/3 – at Miami(OH) 37-13 (434/316)<br />10/15 – at South Florida 34-17 (401/376)<br />10/24 – Louisville 41-10 (468/275)<br />10/31 – at Syracuse 28-7 (422-283)<br />11/7 – UConn 47-45 (711/462)<br />11/13 – West Virginia 24-21 (437/390)<br />11/27 – Illinois 49-36 (420/476)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">12/5 – at Pittsburgh</span><br /></i><br /><b>6. Boise St.<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/3 – Oregon 19-8 (361/152)<br />9/12 – Miami(OH) 48-0 (441/194)<br />9/18 – at Fresno St. 51-34 (480/507)<br />9/26 – at Bowling Green 49-14 (529/282)<br />10/3 – UC Davis 34-16 (386/234)<br />10/14 – at Tulsa 28-21 (380/295)<br />10/24 – at Hawaii 54-9 (472/307)<br />10/31 – San Jose St. 45-7 (430/223)<br />11/6 – Louisiana Tech 45-35 (507/250)<br />11/14 – Idaho 63-25 (458/514)<br />11/20 – at Utah St. 52-21 (572/363)<br />11/27 – Nevada 44-33 (427/383)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">12/5 – New Mexico St.<br /></span></i><br /><b>7. Oregon<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/3 – at Boise St. 8-19 (152/361)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/12 – Purdue 38-36 (356/451)<br />9/19 – Utah 31-24 (312/297)<br />9/26 – Cal 42-3 (524/207)<br />10/3 – Washington St. 52-6 (514/158)<br />10/10 – at UCLA 24-10 (303/211)<br />10/24 – at Washington 43-19 (416/395)<br />10/31 – USC 47-20 (613/327)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/7 – at Stanford 42-51 (570/505)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/14 – Arizona St. 44-21 (388/211)<br />11/21 – at Arizona 44-41 (459/441)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">12/3 – Oregon St.</span></i><br /><br /><b>8. Ohio St.<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Navy 31-27 (363/342)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/12 – USC 15-18 (265/313)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/19 – at Toledo 38-0 (522/210)<br />9/26 – Illinois 30-0 (318/170)<br />10/3 – at Indiana 33-14 (378/228)<br />10/10 – Wisconsin 31-13 (184/368)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/17 – at Purdue 18-26 (287/361)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/24 – Minnesota 38-7 (509/286)<br />10/31 – New Mexico St. 45-0 (559/62)<br />11/7 – at Penn St. 24-7 (353/201)<br />11/14 – Iowa 27-24 OT (322/300)<br />11/21 – at Michigan 21-10 (318/309)</span></span><br /><br /><b>9. Iowa<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Northern Iowa 17-16 (329/354)<br />9/12 – at Iowa St. 35-3 (426/303)<br />9/19- Arizona 27-17 (338/253)<br />9/26 – at Penn St. 21-10 (298/307)<br />10/3 – Arkansas St. 24-21 (420/296)<br />10/10 – Michigan 30-28 (367/319)<br />10/17 – at Wisconsin 20-10 (283/230)<br />10/24 – at Michigan St. 15-13 (276/310)<br />10/31 – Indi</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">ana 42-24 (480/306)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/7 – Northwestern 10-17 (281/239)<br />11/14 – at Ohio St. 24-27 OT (300/322)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br />11/21 – Minnesota 12-0 (171/201)</span></span><br /><br /><b>10. Penn St.<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Akron 31-7 (515/186)<br />9/12 – Syracuse 28-7 (318/200)<br />9/19 – Temple 31-6 (359/251)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/26 – Iowa 10-21 (307/298)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/3 – at Illinois 35-17 (513/393)<br />10/10 – Eastern Illinois 52-3 (553/206)<br />10/17 – Minnesota 20-0 (464/138)<br />10/24 – at Michigan 35-10 (396/250)<br />10/31 – at Northwestern 34-13 (437/371)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/7 – Ohio State 7-24 (201/353)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/14 – Indiana 31-20 (375/346)<br />11/21 – at Michigan St. 42-14 (512/333)</span></span></div><div><br /><b>11. Georgia Tech<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Jacksonville St. 37-17 (497/291)<br />9/10 – Clemson 30-27 (418/386)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">917 – at Miami 17-33 (228/454)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/26 – North Carolina 24-7 (406/154)<br />10/3 – at Mississippi St. 42-31 (479/487)<br />10/10 – at Florida St.49-44 (532/539)<br />10/17 – Virginia Tech 28-23 (360/334)<br />10/24 – at Virginia 34-9 (447/198)<br />10/31 – at Vanderbilt 56-31 (597/397)<br />11/7 – Wake Forest 30-27 (463/291)<br />11/14 – at Duke 49-10 (519/281)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/28 – Georgia 24-30 (340/415)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><br /></span><br /><b>12. LSU<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – at Washington 31-23 (321/478)<br />9/12 – Vanderbilt 23-9 (326/210)<br />9/19 – Louisiana-Lafayette 31-3 (330/272)<br />9/26 – at Mississippi St. 30-26 (263/374)<br />10/3 – at Georgia 20-13 (368/274)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/10 – Florida 3-13 (162/327)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/24 – Auburn 31-10 (376/193)<br />10/31 – Tulane 42-0 (455/216)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/7 – at Alabama 15-24 (253/454)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/14 – Louisiana Tech 24-16 (246/322)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/21 – at Mississippi 23-25 (290/426)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/28 – Arkansas 33-30 OT (326/375)</span></span><br /><br /><b>13. Virginia Tech<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Alabama (in Atlanta, GA) 24-34 (155/498)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/12 – Marshall 52-10 (605/252)<br />9/19 – Nebraska 16-15 (278/343)<br />9/26 – Miami 31-7 (370/209)<br />10/3 – at Duke 34-26 (477/397)<br />10/10 – Boston College 48-14 (441/163)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/17 – at Georgia Tech 23-28 (334/360)<br />10/29 – North Carolina 17-20 (256/312)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br />11/5 – at East Carolina 16-3 (379/277)<br />11/14 – at Maryland 36-9 (484/236)<br />11/21 – NC State 38-10 (397/259)<br />11/28 – at Virginia 42-13 (483/295)</span></span><br /><br /><b>14. Oregon St.<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Portland St. 34-7 (433/351)<br />9/12 – at UNLV 23-21 (382/310)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/19 – Cincinnati 18-28 (344/408)<br />9/26 – Arizona 32-37 (407/388)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br />10/3 – at Arizona St. 28-17 (295/406)<br />10/10 – Stanford 38-28 (463/375)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/24 – at USC 36-42 (482/429)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/31 – UCLA 26-19 (463/374)<br />11/7 – at Cal 31-14 (436/239)<br />11/14 – Washington 48-21 (372/274)<br />11/21 – at Washington St. 42-10 (567/192)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">12/3 – at Oregon</span><br /></i><br /><b>15. Wisconsin<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Northern Illinois 28-20 (433/274)<br />9/12 – Fresno St. 34-31 OT (413/468)<br />9/19 – Wofford 44-14 (430/259)<br />9/26 – Michigan St. 38-30 (436/486)<br />10/3 – at Minnesota 31-28 (454/328)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/10 – at Ohio St. 13-34 (368/184)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/17 – Iowa 10-20 (230/283)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/31 – Purdue 37-0 (381/141)<br />11/7 – at Indiana 31-28 (488/386)<br />11/14 – Michigan 45-24 (469/265)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/21 – at Northwestern 31-33 (334/437)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">12/5 – at Hawaii</span><br /></i><br /><b>16. Miami<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/7 – at Florida St. 38-34 (476/404)<br />9/17 – Georgia Tech 33-17 (454/228)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/26 – at Virginia Tech 7-31 (209/370)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/3 – Oklahoma 21-20 (342/341)<br />10/10 – Florida A&M 48-16 (470/262)<br />10/17 – at UCF 27-7 (363/229)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/24 – Clemson 37-40 OT (433/410)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/31 – at Wake Forest 28-27 (356/555)<br />11/7 – Virginia 52-17 (515/149)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/14 – at North Carolina 24-33 (435/329)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/21 – Duke 34-16 (496/358)<br />11/28 – at South Florida 31-10 (4010/220)</span></span><br /><br /><b>17. BYU<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Oklahoma (in Arlington, TX) 14-13 (357/265)<br />9/12 – at Tulane 54-3 (527/162)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/19 – Florida St. 28-54 (473/512)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/26 – Colorado St. 42-23 (373/438)<br />10/2 – Utah St. 35-17 (431/322)<br />10/10 – at UNLV 59-21 (611/337)<br />10/17 – at San Diego St. 38-28 (512/342)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/24 – TCU 7-38 (298/412)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/7 – at Wyoming 52-0 (543/225)<br />11/14 – at New Mexico 24-19 (355/360)<br />11/21 – Air Force 38-21 (498/300)<br />11/28 – Utah 26-23 OT (265/298)</span></span><br /><br /><b>18. USC<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – San Jose St. 56-3 (620/121)<br />9/12 – at Ohio St. 18-15 (313/265)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/19 – at Washington 13-16 (360/293)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/29 – Washington St. 27-6 (403/229)<br />10/3 – at Cal 30-3 (457/285)<br />10/17 – at Notre Dame 34-27 (501/367)<br />10/24 – Oregon St. 42-36 (429/482)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/31 – at Oregon 20-47 (327/613)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/7 – at Arizona St. 14-9 (258/347)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/14 – Stanford 21-55 (469/334)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/28 – UCLA 28-7 (336/322)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">12/5 – Arizona</span><br /></i><br /><b>19. Pittsburgh<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Youngstown St. 38-3 (390/159)<br />9/12 – at Buffalo 54-27 (381/500)<br />9/19 – Navy 27-14 (369/218)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/26 – at NC State 31-38 (300/530)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/2 – at Louisville 35-10 (404/305)<br />10/10 – UConn 24-21 (489/303)<br />10/16 – at Rutgers 24-17 (376/286)<br />10/24 – South Florida 41-14 (486/212)<br />11/7 – Syracuse 37-10 (481/285)<br />11/14 – Notre Dame 27-22 (429/349)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/27 – at West Virginia 16-19 (325/369)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">12/5 – Cincinnati</span><br /></i><br /><b>20. Houston<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Northwestern St. 55-7 (538/263)<br />9/12 – at Oklahoma St. 45-35 (512/434)<br />9/26 – Texas Tech 29-28 (579/484)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/3 – at UTEP 41-58 (664/581)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/10 – at Mississippi St. 31-24 (553/490)<br />10/17 – at Tulane 44-16 (516/437)<br />10/24 – SMU 38-15 (394/397)<br />10/31 – Southern Miss 50-43 (750/608)<br />11/7 – at Tulsa 46-45 (695/534)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/14 – at UCF 32-37 (423/393)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/21 – Memphis 55-14 (689/344)<br />11/28 – Rice 73-14 (684/377)</span></span><br /><br /><b>21. Cal<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Maryland 52-13 (542/303)<br />9/12 – Eastern Washington 59-7 (507/235)<br />9/19 – at Minnesota 35-21 (415/270)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/26 – at Oregon 3-42 (207/524)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/3 – USC 3-30 (285/457)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/17 – at UCLA 45-26 (494/448)<br />10/24 – Washington St. 49-17 (559/440)<br />10/31 – at Arizona St. 23-21 (351/247)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/7 – Oregon St. 14-31 (239/436)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/14 – Arizona 24-16 (357/274)<br />11/21 – at Stanford 34-28 (477/345)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">12/5 – at Washington</span><br /></i><br /><b>22. Central Michigan<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – at Arizona 6-19 (182/448)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/12 – at Michigan St. 29-27 (418/316)<br />9/19 – Alcorn St. 48-0 (319/136)<br />9/26 – Akron 48-21 (523/196)<br />10/3 – at Buffalo 20-13 (412/433)<br />10/10 – Eastern Michigan 56-8 (521/255)<br />10/17 – at Western Michigan 34-23 (426/497)<br />10/24 – at Bowling Green 24-10 (406/363)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/31 – at Boston College 10-31 (311/412)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/11 – Toledo 56-28 (507/353)<br />11/18 – at Ball St. 35-3 (512/231)<br />11/27 – Northern Illinois 45-31 (512/332)</span></span><br /><br /><b>23. Arizona<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Central Michigan 19-6 (448/182)<br />9/12 – Northern Arizona 34-17 (559/226)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/19 – at Iowa 17-27 (253/338)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/26 – at Oregon St. 37-32 (388/407)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/10 – at Washington 33-36 (461/256)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/17 – Stanford 43-38 (553/584)<br />10/24 – UCLA 27-13 (456/211)<br />11/7 – Washington St. 48-7 (471/185)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/14 – at Cal 16-24 (274/357)<br />11/21 – Oregon 41-44 OT (441/459)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br />11/28 – at Arizona St. 20-17 (265/303)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">12/5 – at USC</span><br /></i><br /><b>24. Utah<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/3 – Utah St. 35-17 (519/342)<br />9/12 – at San Jose St. 24-14 (499/264)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/19 – at Oregon 24-31 (297/312)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/26 – Louisville 30-14 (416/261)<br />10/10 – at Colorado St. 24/17 (457/334)<br />10/17 – at UNLV 35-15 (327/327)<br />10/24 – Air Force 23-16 OT (267/318)<br />10/31 – Wyoming 22-10 (363/202)<br />11/7 – New Mexico 45-14 (557/334)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/14 – at TCU 28-55 (284/549)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/21 – San Diego St. 38-7 (391/262)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/28 – at BYU 23-26 OT (298/265)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><br /></span><br /><b>25. Oklahoma State<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Georgia 24-10 (307/257)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/12 – Houston 35-45 (434/512)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/19 – Rice 41-24 (351/377)<br />9/26 – Grambling St. 56-6 (587/260)<br />10/10 – at Texas A&M 36-31 (448/382)<br />10/17 – Missouri 33-17 (351/393)<br />10/24 – Baylor 34-7 (445/284)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/31 – Texas 14-41 (277/275)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/7 – at Iowa St. 34-8 (473/242)<br />11/14 – Texas Tech 24-17 (333/357)<br />11/19 – Colorado 31-28 (400/251)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/28 – at Oklahoma 0-27 (109/367)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><br /></span><br />Dropped Out:<br /><b>19. Clemson<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Middle Tennessee St. 37-14 (361/299)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/10 – at Georgia Tech 27-30 (386/418)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/19 – Boston College 25-7 (253/54)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/26 – TCU 10-14 (309/388)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/3 – at Maryland 21-24 (274/284)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/17 – Wake Forest 38-3 (382/178)<br />10/24 – at Miami 40-37 OT (410/433)<br />10/31 – Coastal Carolina 49-3 (400/170)<br />11/7 – Florida St. 40-24 (483/392)<br />11/14 – at NC State 43-23 (454/377)<br />11/21 – Virginia 34-21 (366/273)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/28 – at South Carolina 17-34 (260/388)</span></span></span><br /></div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00346632367434990107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714045.post-29575865053096394472009-11-25T15:11:00.004-05:002009-11-25T15:26:27.096-05:00Happy Thanksgiving from TNLBefore we run off and enjoy the busiest drinking night of the year* and then stumble out of bed around the crack of noon to gorge ourselves on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey_bird">Meleagris gallopavo</a> and Pumpkin Pie**, we would like to wish everyone a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving.<br /><span xmlns=""><p>With that in mind I would like to give you my list of things I'm thankful for in 2009 (not in any coherent order):<br /></p><ul><li><div><strong><em>Football<br /></em></strong></div><p>Of course this goes without saying, I would not have started this blog had I not loved football, but this year was a really good year. Think about it, we saw underdog programs like TCU, Boise, and Cincinnati crash the BCS party making a mockery of a sham of a system. USC lost their usual head scratcher of a game and then got unceremoniously dumped from the Pac 10 race by none other than Stanford and their flamboyant coach by a score the likes of which was never before witnessed by Trojan players. Both Michigan and Notre Dame teased the mindless drones of the media early in the season making them take notice and begin salivating before getting flushed down the shitter. Admit it, the heart attack kids from Iowa were a fun bunch to watch, yeah you knew they would eventually loose but watching the miracle comebacks week after week was extremely entertaining. Pitt is once again relevant and you know what that means this offseason: talks of "the rivalry" will certainly pass the time. All in all, not a bad season of football and I for one am thankful<br /></p></li><li><div><strong><em>Charlie Weis and Dick Rod</em></strong></div></li><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/ChuckDick.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 483px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/ChuckDick.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Speaking of Michigan and Notre Dame, how could you not love these two guys? And by love I mean how can you not love to watch two programs you love to hate, that once loved these guys, fall flat on their faces. It's a cornucopia of schadenfreude. The total arrogance of Weis with his flaunting of his super bowl rings, his now famous "<a href="http://www.uhnd.com/bb/forum/index.php?action=display&forumid=6&msgid=191458">9-3 isn't good enough</a>" line after his first season, the botched gastric bypass and the corresponding FAILed malpractice lawsuit, he's the gift of FAIL that keeps on FAILing and it couldn't happen to a more arrogant school with a more arrogant fan base. I'm going to miss that fat bastard.<p>Then there's Rodriguez, the man that was going to bring the spread to Michigan and take the Big Ten by storm. Two seasons a record of 8-16 and a last place finish in the Big Ten this year' how's that working out for ya, Michigan fans? Rodriguez was Penn State's answer to "the streak" and how can I not be thankful for that? Thanks Dick Rod.<br /></p></div><li><div><strong><em>Fantasy Football</em></strong><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/FantasyFootball.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 603px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/FantasyFootball.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><p>Yes Fantasy Football is very frustrating and no I haven't won dick in half a decade now but it's still fun to play. If it were not for fantasy football I wouldn't even watch the Pros. But thanks to it, every Sunday I'm at my local watering hole that has 10 TV's and the NFL ticket bouncing around from TV to TV like a drunken butterfly following my players. I honestly don't even have a team to root for; I just pray that the game in which my QB is playing goes into overtime so I get those bonus points.<br /></p></div></li><li><div><strong>Boobs<br /></strong></div><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/boobs0do1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 371px; height: 295px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/boobs0do1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Yeah it's juvenile but I can't help myself; there are two things that make anything better, Boobs and bacon. I'm 36 years old and yet there's nothing that can get my attention like boobs. In fact, if only for a very short time, when I see these they trump everything else on my list. The male fixation with boobs is primal, now I can't explain it but if you want an explanation here's a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Definitive-Book-Body-Language/dp/0553804723/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259178169&sr=1-1">great book that can</a> (it's also the best book I read in 2009). Hey, there's a reason I read <a href="http://www.boiledsports.com/">Boiled Sports</a> and that's <a href="http://www.boiledsports.com/search/label/Sideboob%20Friday">Sideboob Friday</a>.<br /></p></li><li><div><strong><em>DVR<br /></em></strong></div><p>Still don't know how I lived without this thing. Record your series of shows you like, watch them whenever you like. Best… invention… ever.<br /></p></li><li><div><strong>Beer</strong></div></li></ul><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/medium_yuengling.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 360px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/medium_yuengling.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span xmlns=""><div>Always have been and always will be thankful for beer. We can sit and wax poetically about which beer is the best but at the end of the day we all love it.<br /><blockquote>"The mouth of a perfectly happy man is filled with beer."- Egyptian Proverb</blockquote></div><blockquote>"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." - Benjamin Franklin</blockquote></span><blockquote>"Beer: The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems."- Homer Simpson</blockquote>Happy Thanksgiving from TNL everyone!<em></em><span xmlns=""><p><em>*no really the night before Thanksgiving is one of the best selling and busiest nights for bars and clubs</em><em><br /></em></p><p><em>**by the way, this is how pumpkin pie is made:</em></p><p><em></em><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/HowPiesAreMade.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 534px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/HowPiesAreMade.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p></span>Galenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068113556245153541noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714045.post-73183442571166901882009-11-24T06:47:00.000-05:002009-11-24T07:48:08.956-05:00All-Conference teams announced<span xmlns=""><p>Penn State lands 6 first team <a href="http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/psu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2009-all-big-ten-fb.pdf">All-Conference</a> players according to the Coaches and four according to the media. The coaches named Jared Odrick defensive lineman of the year and defensive player of the year; the media had Odrick on their second team so go figure. Oh, and no sign of preseason offensive player of the year Terrelle Pryor. Someone must have made a mistake there. <br /></p><p>At any rate, congrats guys!</p></span>Galenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068113556245153541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714045.post-47305040767641063902009-11-23T18:31:00.004-05:002009-11-24T19:00:39.919-05:00Blogpoll: Week 12Damn, that's it? Now we just have 3 weeks to wait until finding out what bowl Penn State ends up in. Thanks to the Big Ten for wrapping up so early that I can forget who is even on the team anymore before they play again. It's not like I was planning on watching any football this weekend anyway, but whatever, it's fixed next year. Here's what I've got, questions, corrections, suggestions and objections are always welcome.<br /><br /><b>Games Watched:</b> Central Michigan/Ball State, Colorado/Oklahoma State, Boise State/Utah State, Ohio State/Michigan, Minnesota/Iowa, UConn/Notre Dame, Penn State/Michigan State, LSU/Ole Miss, Kansas State/Nebraska and Oregon/Arizona.<br /><br /><table><tbody><tr class="cbslogo"><td colspan="3"><a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/polls/cbsblog"><img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/blog-poll.gif" /></a></td></tr><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Team</th><th>Delta</th></tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">1</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/FL"> Florida </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">2</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/TX"> Texas </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">3</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/AL"> Alabama </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">4</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/TCU"> TCU </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">5</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/CIN"> Cincinnati </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">6</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/BST"> Boise State </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">7</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/GATECH"> Georgia Tech </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">8</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/OR"> Oregon </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 1 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">9</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/OHST"> Ohio State </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 1 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">10</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/IA"> Iowa </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 1 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">11</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/PSU"> Penn State </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 1 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">12</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/PITT"> Pittsburgh </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 2 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">13</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/UT"> Utah </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 2 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">14</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/OKST"> Oklahoma State </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 2 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">15</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/LSU"> LSU </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_down.gif" /> 7 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">16</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/VATECH"> Virginia Tech </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 1 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">17</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/ORST"> Oregon State </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 1 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">18</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/WI"> Wisconsin </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_down.gif" /> 5 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">19</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/CLEM"> Clemson </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">20</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/MIA"> Miami (Florida) </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">21</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/BYU"> Brigham Young </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">22</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/USC"> Southern Cal </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">23</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/HOU"> Houston </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 1 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">24</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/CA"> California </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">25</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/CMI"> Central Michigan </a> </td> </tr><tr> <th colspan="3"> <a href="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/ballot-view.php?id=162&week=12&year=2009"> Last week's ballot </a> </th></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="droppedout"><strong>Dropped Out:</strong> Arizona (#23).</div><br /><br />The Top 7 hold steady, LSU coaches its way to incompetence and a loss against Ole Miss who was just slightly less incompetent. Wisconsin clears up my internal debate in the Penn State/Wisconsin ranking question. Oregon State would be my Pac-10 Rose Bowl pick at the moment, C.J. Spiller could seal a Heisman leading an upset of Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship. Pitt's single loss is the worst of any in the top 15 (with the exception of maybe Purdue over Ohio State, but the Buckeyes have scalps of worth in their win column to brush it off) and really need a win against Cincinnati to leap over anyone ahead of them. Temple continues inching closer to getting ranked, winning the MAC would remove all doubt.<div><br /><div>The Breakdown:<br /><b>1. Florida<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Charleston Southern 62-3 (624/323)<br />9/12 – Troy 56-6 (663/139)<br />9/19 – Tennessee 23-13 (323/210)<br />9/26 – at Kentucky 41-7 (495/179)<br />10/10 – at LSU 13-3 (327/162)<br />10/17 – Arkansas 23-20 (391/357)<br />10/24 – at Mississippi St. 29-19 (376/237)<br />10/31 – Georgia 41-17 (374/286)<br />11/7 – Vanderbilt 27-3 (375/199)<br />11/14 – at South Carolina 24-14 (339/247)<br />11/21 – Florida International 62-3 (584/189)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/27 – Florida St.<br /></span></i><br /><b>2. Texas<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Louisiana-Monroe 59-20 (562/298)<br />9/12- at Wyoming 41-10 (544/273)<br />9/19 – Texas Tech 34-24 (340/414)<br />9/26 – UTEP 64-7 (639/53)<br />10/10 – Colorado 38-14 (313/127)<br />10/17 – Oklahoma 16-13 (269/311)<br />10/24 – at Missouri 41-7 (400/173)<br />10/31 – at Oklahoma St. 41-14 (275/277)<br />11/7 – UCF 35-3 (537/151)<br />11/14 – at Baylor 47-14 (411/246)<br />11/21 – Kansas 51-20 (532/303)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/26 – at Texas A&M</span><br /></i><br /><b>3. Alabama<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Virginia Tech (in Atlanta, GA) 34-24 (498/155)<br />9/12 – Florida International 40-14 (516/214)<br />9/19 – North Texas 53-7 (523/126)<br />9/26 – Arkansas 35-7 (425/254)<br />10/3 – at Kentucky 38-20 (352/301)<br />10/10 – at Ole Miss 22-3 (354/212)<br />10/17 – South Carolina 20-6 (356/278)<br />10/24 – Tennessee 12-10 (256/341)<br />11/7 – LSU 24-15 (452/253)<br />11/14 – at Mississippi St. 31-3 (444/213)<br />11/21 – Chattanooga 45-0 (422/84)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/27 – at Auburn</span><br /></i><br /><b>4. TCU<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/12 – at Virginia 30-14 (380/177)<br />9/19 – Texas St. 56-21 (508/249)<br />9/26 – at Clemson 14-10 (388/309)<br />10/3 – at SMU 39-14 (418/224)<br />10/10 – at Air Force 20-17 (393/287)<br />10/17 – Colorado St. 44-6 (499/182)<br />10/24 – at BYU 38-7 (412/298)<br />10/31 – UNLV 41-0 (578/160)<br />11/7 – at San Diego St. 55-12 (551/279)<br />11/14 – Utah 55-28 (549/284)<br />11/21 – at Wyoming 45-10 (507/178)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/28 – New Mexico</span><br /></i><br /><b>5. Cincinnati<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/7 – at Rutgers 47-15 (564/293)<br />9/12 – Southeast Missouri St. 70-3 (578/176)<br />9/19 – at Oregon St. 28-18 (408/344)<br />9/26 – Fresno St. 28-20 (357/443)<br />10/3 – at Miami(OH) 37-13 (434/316)<br />10/15 – at South Florida 34-17 (401/376)<br />10/24 – Louisville 41-10 (468/275)<br />10/31 – at Syracuse 28-7 (422-283)<br />11/7 – UConn 47-45 (711/462)<br />11/13 – West Virginia 24-21 (437/390)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/27 – Illinois<br />12/5 – at Pittsburgh</span></i><br /><br /><b>6. Boise St.<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/3 – Oregon 19-8 (361/152)<br />9/12 – Miami(OH) 48-0 (441/194)<br />9/18 – at Fresno St. 51-34 (480/507)<br />9/26 – at Bowling Green 49-14 (529/282)<br />10/3 – UC Davis 34-16 (386/234)<br />10/14 – at Tulsa 28-21 (380/295)<br />10/24 – at Hawaii 54-9 (472/307)<br />10/31 – San Jose St. 45-7 (430/223)<br />11/6 – Louisiana Tech 45-35 (507/250)<br />11/14 – Idaho 63-25 (458/514)<br />11/20 – at Utah St. 52-21 (572/363)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/27 – Nevada</span><br /></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">12/5 – New Mexico St.<br /></span></i><br /><b>7. Georgia Tech<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Jacksonville St. 37-17 (497/291)<br />9/10 – Clemson 30-27 (418/386)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">917 – at Miami 17-33 (228/454)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/26 – North Carolina 24-7 (406/154)<br />10/3 – at Mississippi St. 42-31 (479/487)<br />10/10 – at Florida St.49-44 (532/539)<br />10/17 – Virginia Tech 28-23 (360/334)<br />10/24 – at Virginia 34-9 (447/198)<br />10/31 – at Vanderbilt 56-31 (597/397)<br />11/7 – Wake Forest 30-27 (463/291)<br />11/14 – at Duke 49-10 (519/281)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/28 – Georgia</span><br /></i><br /><b>8. Oregon<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/3 – at Boise St. 8-19 (152/361)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/12 – Purdue 38-36 (356/451)<br />9/19 – Utah 31-24 (312/297)<br />9/26 – Cal 42-3 (524/207)<br />10/3 – Washington St. 52-6 (514/158)<br />10/10 – at UCLA 24-10 (303/211)<br />10/24 – at Washington 43-19 (416/395)<br />10/31 – USC 47-20 (613/327)<br />11/7 – at Stanford 42-51 (570/505)<br />11/14 – Arizona St. 44-21 (388/211)<br />11/21 – at Arizona 44-41 (459/441)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">12/3 – Oregon St.</span><br /></i><br /><b>9. Ohio St.<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Navy 31-27 (363/342)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/12 – USC 15-18 (265/313)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/19 – at Toledo 38-0 (522/210)<br />9/26 – Illinois 30-0 (318/170)<br />10/3 – at Indiana 33-14 (378/228)<br />10/10 – Wisconsin 31-13 (184/368)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/17 – at Purdue 18-26 (287/361)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/24 – Minnesota 38-7 (509/286)<br />10/31 – New Mexico St. 45-0 (559/62)<br />11/7 – at Penn St. 24-7 (353/201)<br />11/14 – Iowa 27-24 OT (322/300)<br />11/21 – at Michigan 21-10 (318/309)</span></span><br /><br /><b>10. Iowa<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Northern Iowa 17-16 (329/354)<br />9/12 – at Iowa St. 35-3 (426/303)<br />9/19- Arizona 27-17 (338/253)<br />9/26 – at Penn St. 21-10 (298/307)<br />10/3 – Arkansas St. 24-21 (420/296)<br />10/10 – Michigan 30-28 (367/319)<br />10/17 – at Wisconsin 20-10 (283/230)<br />10/24 – at Michigan St. 15-13 (276/310)<br />10/31 – Indiana 42-24 (480/306)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/7 – Northwestern 10-17 (281/239)<br />11/14 – at Ohio St. 24-27 OT (300/322)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br />11/21 – Minnesota 12-0 (171/201)</span></span><br /><br /><b>11. Penn St.<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Akron 31-7 (515/186)<br />9/12 – Syracuse 28-7 (318/200)<br />9/19 – Temple 31-6 (359/251)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/26 – Iowa 10-21 (307/298)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/3 – at Illinois 35-17 (513/393)<br />10/10 – Eastern Illinois 52-3 (553/206)<br />10/17 – Minnesota 20-0 (464/138)<br />10/24 – at Michigan 35-10 (396/250)<br />10/31 – at Northwestern 34-13 (437/371)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/7 – Ohio State 7-24 (201/353)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/14 – Indiana 31-20 (375/346)<br />11/21 – at Michigan St. 42-14 (512/333)</span></span><br /><br /><b>12. Pittsburgh<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Youngstown St. 38-3 (390/159)<br />9/12 – at Buffalo 54-27 (381/500)<br />9/19 – Navy 27-14 (369/218)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/26 – at NC State 31-38 (300/530)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/2 – at Louisville 35-10 (404/305)<br />10/10 – UConn 24-21 (489/303)<br />10/16 – at Rutgers 24-17 (376/286)<br />10/24 – South Florida 41-14 (486/212)<br />11/7 – Syracuse 37-10 (481/285)<br />11/14 – Notre Dame 27-22 (429/349)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/27 – at West Virginia<br />12/5 – Cincinnati</span></i><br /><br /><b>13. Utah<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/3 – Utah St. 35-17 (519/342)<br />9/12 – at San Jose St. 24-14 (499/264)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/19 – at Oregon 24-31 (297/312)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/26 – Louisville 30-14 (416/261)<br />10/10 – at Colorado St. 24/17 (457/334)<br />10/17 – at UNLV 35-15 (327/327)<br />10/24 – Air Force 23-16 OT (267/318)<br />10/31 – Wyoming 22-10 (363/202)<br />11/7 – New Mexico 45-14 (557/334)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/14 – at TCU 28-55 (284/549)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/21 – San Diego St. 38-7 (391/262)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/28 – at BYU</span><br /></i><br /><b>14. Oklahoma State<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Georgia 24-10 (307/257)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">9/12 – Houston 35-45 (434/512)<br /></span>9/19 – Rice 41-24 (351/377)<br />9/26 – Grambling St. 56-6 (587/260)<br />10/10 – at Texas A&M 36-31 (448/382)<br />10/17 – Missouri 33-17 (351/393)<br />10/24 – Baylor 34-7 (445/284)<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">10/31 – Texas 14-41 (277/275)<br /></span>11/7 – at Iowa St. 34-8 (473/242)<br />11/14 – Texas Tech 24-17 (333/357)<br />11/19 – Colorado 31-28 (400/251)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/28 – at Oklahoma</span><br /></i><br /><b>15. LSU<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – at Washington 31-23 (321/478)<br />9/12 – Vanderbilt 23-9 (326/210)<br />9/19 – Louisiana-Lafayette 31-3 (330/272)<br />9/26 – at Mississippi St. 30-26 (263/374)<br />10/3 – at Georgia 20-13 (368/274)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/10 – Florida 3-13 (162/327)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/24 – Auburn 31-10 (376/193)<br />10/31 – Tulane 42-0 (455/216)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/7 – at Alabama 15-24 (253/454)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/14 – Louisiana Tech 24-16 (246/322)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/21 – at Mississippi 23-25 (290/426)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/28 – Arkansas</span></i><br /><br /><b>16. Virginia Tech<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Alabama (in Atlanta, GA) 24-34 (155/498)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/12 – Marshall 52-10 (605/252)<br />9/19 – Nebraska 16-15 (278/343)<br />9/26 – Miami 31-7 (370/209)<br />10/3 – at Duke 34-26 (477/397)<br />10/10 – Boston College 48-14 (441/163)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/17 – at Georgia Tech 23-28 (334/360)<br />10/29 – North Carolina 17-20 (256/312)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br />11/5 – at East Carolina 16-3 (379/277)<br />11/14 – at Maryland 36-9 (484/236)<br />11/21 – NC State 38-10 (397/259)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/28 – at Virginia</span><br /></i><br /><b>17. Oregon St.<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Portland St. 34-7 (433/351)<br />9/12 – at UNLV 23-21 (382/310)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/19 – Cincinnati 18-28 (344/408)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/26 – Arizona 32-37 (407/388)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/3 – at Arizona St. 28-17 (295/406)<br />10/10 – Stanford 38-28 (463/375)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/24 – at USC 36-42 (482/429)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/31 – UCLA 26-19 (463/374)<br />11/7 – at Cal 31-14 (436/239)<br />11/14 – Washington 48-21 (372/274)<br />11/21 – at Washington St. 42-10 (567/192)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">12/3 – at Oregon</span><br /></i><br /><b>18. Wisconsin<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Northern Illinois 28-20 (433/274)<br />9/12 – Fresno St. 34-31 OT (413/468)<br />9/19 – Wofford 44-14 (430/259)<br />9/26 – Michigan St. 38-30 (436/486)<br />10/3 – at Minnesota 31-28 (454/328)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/10 – at Ohio St. 13-34 (368/184)<br />10/17 – Iowa 10-20 (230/283)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br />10/31 – Purdue 37-0 (381/141)<br />11/7 – at Indiana 31-28 (488/386)<br />11/14 – Michigan 45-24 (469/265)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/21 – at Northwestern 31-33 (334/437)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">12/5 – at Hawaii</span><br /></i><br /><b>19. Clemson<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Middle Tennessee St. 37-14 (361/299)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/10 – at Georgia Tech 27-30 (386/418)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/19 – Boston College 25-7 (253/54)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/26 – TCU 10-14 (309/388)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/3 – at Maryland 21-24 (274/284)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/17 – Wake Forest 38-3 (382/178)<br />10/24 – at Miami 40-37 OT (410/433)<br />10/31 – Coastal Carolina 49-3 (400/170)<br />11/7 – Florida St. 40-24 (483/392)<br />11/14 – at NC State 43-23 (454/377)<br />11/21 – Virginia 34-21 (366/273)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/28 – at South Carolina</span><br /></i><br /><b>20. Miami<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/7 – at Florida St. 38-34 (476/404)<br />9/17 – Georgia Tech 33-17 (454/228)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/26 – at Virginia Tech 7-31 (209/370)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/3 – Oklahoma 21-20 (342/341)<br />10/10 – Florida A&M 48-16 (470/262)<br />10/17 – at UCF 27-7 (363/229)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/24 – Clemson 37-40 OT (433/410)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/31 – at Wake Forest 28-27 (356/555)<br />11/7 – Virginia 52-17 (515/149)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/14 – at North Carolina 24-33 (435/329)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/21 – Duke 34-16 (496/358)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/28 – at South Florida</span><br /></i><br /><b>21. BYU<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Oklahoma (in Arlington, TX) 14-13 (357/265)<br />9/12 – at Tulane 54-3 (527/162)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/19 – Florida St. 28-54 (473/512)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/26 – Colorado St. 42-23 (373/438)<br />10/2 – Utah St. 35-17 (431/322)<br />10/10 – at UNLV 59-21 (611/337)<br />10/17 – at San Diego St. 38-28 (512/342)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/24 – TCU 7-38 (298/412)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/7 – at Wyoming 52-0 (543/225)<br />11/14 – at New Mexico 24-19 (355/360)<br />11/21 – Air Force 38-21 (498/300)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/28 – Utah</span><br /></i><br /><b>22. USC<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – San Jose St. 56-3 (620/121)<br />9/12 – at Ohio St. 18-15 (313/265)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/19 – at Washington 13-16 (360/293)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/29 – Washington St. 27-6 (403/229)<br />10/3 – at Cal 30-3 (457/285)<br />10/17 – at Notre Dame 34-27 (501/367)<br />10/24 – Oregon St. 42-36 (429/482)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/31 – at Oregon 20-47 (327/613)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/7 – at Arizona St. 14-9 (258/347)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/14 – Stanford 21-55 (469/334)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/28 – UCLA<br />12/5 – Arizona</span></i><br /><br /><b>23. Houston<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Northwestern St. 55-7 (538/263)<br />9/12 – at Oklahoma St. 45-35 (512/434)<br />9/26 – Texas Tech 29-28 (579/484)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/3 – at UTEP 41-58 (664/581)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/10 – at Mississippi St. 31-24 (553/490)<br />10/17 – at Tulane 44-16 (516/437)<br />10/24 – SMU 38-15 (394/397)<br />10/31 – Southern Miss 50-43 (750/608)<br />11/7 – at Tulsa 46-45 (695/534)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/14 – at UCF 32-37 (423/393)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/21 – Memphis 55-14 (689/344)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/28 – Rice</span><br /></i><br /><b>24. Cal<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Maryland 52-13 (542/303)<br />9/12 – Eastern Washington 59-7 (507/235)<br />9/19 – at Minnesota 35-21 (415/270)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/26 – at Oregon 3-42 (207/524)<br />10/3 – USC 3-30 (285/457)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br />10/17 – at UCLA 45-26 (494/448)<br />10/24 – Washington St. 49-17 (559/440)<br />10/31 – at Arizona St. 23-21 (351/247)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/7 – Oregon St. 14-31 (239/436)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/14 – Arizona 24-16 (357/274)<br />11/21 – at Stanford 34-28 (477/345)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">12/5 – at Washington</span><br /></i><br /><b>25. Central Michigan<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – at Arizona 6-19 (182/448)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/12 – at Michigan St. 29-27 (418/316)<br />9/19 – Alcorn St. 48-0 (319/136)<br />9/26 – Akron 48-21 (523/196)<br />10/3 – at Buffalo 20-13 (412/433)<br />10/10 – Eastern Michigan 56-8 (521/255)<br />10/17 – at Western Michigan 34-23 (426/497)<br />10/24 – at Bowling Green 24-10 (406/363)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/31 – at Boston College 10-31 (311/412)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/11 – Toledo 56-28 (507/353)<br />11/18 – at Ball St. 35-3 (512/231)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/27 – Northern Illinois</span><br /></i><br /><br />Dropped Out:<br /><b>23. Arizona<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Central Michigan 19-6 (448/182)<br />9/12 – Northern Arizona 34-17 (559/226)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/19 – at Iowa 17-27 (253/338)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/26 – at Oregon St. 37-32 (388/407)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/10 – at Washington 33-36 (461/256)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/17 – Stanford 43-38 (553/584)<br />10/24 – UCLA 27-13 (456/211)<br />11/7 – Washington St. 48-7 (471/185)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/14 – at Cal 16-24 (274/357)<br />11/21 – Oregon 41-44 OT (441/459)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/28 – at Arizona St.<br />12/5 – at USC</span></i><br /></div></div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00346632367434990107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714045.post-46187369940490894542009-11-23T07:06:00.000-05:002009-11-23T09:09:51.516-05:00PSU Review: Michigan State<span xmlns="">TNL Said: <a href="http://thenittanyline.blogspot.com/2009/11/obligatory-look-at-michigan-state.html">21-17</a> (Sparty)<br />Actual Score: <a href="http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/112109aab.html">42-14</a> (PSU)<br /><p></p><p>Wow, this is one time I am happy to be completely wrong. For a half it looked like the offense was left back in Happy Valley but then WR Curtis Drake took an end around pitch and lobbed a 14 yard touchdown pass to TE Andrew Quarless and Penn State blew up. Graham Zug and Quarless each had two touchdowns as Daryll Clark had a career day throwing for 310 yards, 4 TD's and no picks. With the lone exception of the Bend and then Break Our Hearts defense right before half, allowing for a then game tying score, the defense was aggressive and held Kirk Cousins to only 155 yards in the air and picked him off twice. Navorro Bowman had a huge day making 10 tackles, 3.5 behind the line of scrimmage a sack and a pass breakup. For their efforts, Clark and Bowman were named <a href="http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112209aaa.html">Big Ten Player(s) of the Week.</a></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/Clark-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 351px; height: 435px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/Clark-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> </p><p><strong>Offense<br /></strong></p><p>Sluggish for most of the first half, the offense made adjustments at halftime and routed Michigan State in the second half. Penn State scored touchdowns on three straight possessions in the middle of the 3<sup>rd</sup> quarter as they pulled away from Sparty. Evan Royster got things going in the second half as he eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark for the season. For the game he rushed for 114 yards on just 13 carries for an eye-popping 8.8 yards per carry. Freshman Curtis Drake caught a pass, threw a pass, and ran the ball for an 18 yard gain. 8 different Penn State receivers caught a pass as Clark spread the ball around. Rushed for most of the first half the offensive line came together in the second half and at least held serve and gave Clark enough time to throw and opened up some nice holes for Royster.<br /></p><p><strong>Defense<br /></strong></p><p>If not for the awful prevent defense just before half, the defense would have shut Sparty out for the first half. Once Penn State got its offense rolling, the defense helped by setting the Lions up with good field position as they hauled in 2 picks on back to back possessions. The linebacker combo of Lee, Bowman, and 'The Stache' combined for 24 tackles 4.5 TFL, a pick, and a sack. For the most part, the defense kept things in front of them, and made the big plays when they needed to. Unlike the previous week (and for that matter every other previous away game) the defense came out ready to go from the start and played tough for four quarters.<br /></p><p><strong>Special Teams<br /></strong></p><p>Whatever personnel adjustments the coaches made in the punt and kick coverage teams it worked, Penn State was at least able to contain MSU's kick return. Jeremy Boone didn't have a great average but he landed all five of his punts inside the 20 with a long of 54. The kick return team got a boost from Stephfon Green who at least made it respectable. The punt return is nothing more than a fair catch on this team and as long as they don't fumble, I'm content. It wasn't all rosy though; Collin Wagner missed both field goal attempts, although one would have been a career long. Wagner's kicking is a crap shoot anymore.<br /></p><p><strong>Overall<br /></strong></p><p>We'll definitely take a win like that any day of the week and twice on Sunday. Penn State now gets to play the waiting game as the rest of the college football world actually plays for another couple weeks. We know that Ohio State won an outright Big Ten title with their victory over Michigan, but we will have to wait and see if the BCS takes Penn State, Iowa, or neither of the two. Remember, there can only be two BCS teams from any one conference and OSU has the automatic big for the Rose Bowl. </p></span>Galenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068113556245153541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714045.post-12621132550764036552009-11-20T07:21:00.001-05:002009-11-20T08:29:11.502-05:00Sparty sucks! The return of Farkin’ FridayIt's been a very, very long time since I've flexed my Photoshop muscles and I was board the other night, and hey… it's rivalry week! Ok, it may be a manufactured rivalry but if it walks like a steroid freak, talks like a steroid freak, and gets angry for seemingly random reasons, it's probably a steroid enhanced freak of a mascot, and guess what, he can't dance. Oh he'll try…<br /><span xmlns=""><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/spartydance.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 410px; height: 302px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/spartydance.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span xmlns=""><p><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">*Click on to any to embiggen</span></span><br /></p></span></div><span xmlns=""><p>But football fields aren't the venue for breakdancin' no, Sparty needs the big stage.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/SpartyBreakdance1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 410px; height: 229px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/SpartyBreakdance1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/SpartyBreakdance2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 411px; height: 263px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/SpartyBreakdance2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><p>Or even a bigger stage…<br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/SpartyThinkshecandance.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 410px; height: 308px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/SpartyThinkshecandance.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><p>Or even a video, and not just any video mind you, with a dancer like Sparty you need someone with similar awesome dance skills and who better than one of the best dancers of all time!</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/StopSpartytime.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 413px; height: 267px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/StopSpartytime.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span xmlns=""><p><span style="font-style: italic;">STOP! Spartytime.</span><br /></p></span></div><span xmlns=""><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Go STATE!</span></p><p style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Beat Sparty!</span></p></span>Galenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068113556245153541noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714045.post-27514268949688130802009-11-19T06:51:00.001-05:002009-11-19T09:37:25.622-05:00Wrestling Wreport: Cael gets win #1I wanted to post this earlier in the week but… you know the whole "rivalry" week just takes precedence.<br /><span xmlns=""><p>Anyway, last weekend Cael Sanderson and his Nittany Lions opened up the dual meet season traveling to take on old time rival Lehigh and back home to take on Bloomsburg in Sanderson's PSU home debut. The results were mixed, Penn State lost <a href="http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-wrestl/recaps/111309aaa.html">23 – 14 at Lehigh</a> but gave the home fans something to cheer about besting <a href="http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-wrestl/recaps/111509aab.html">Bloom 23-15</a>. Penn State, formerly ranked 15<sup>th</sup> dropped to 19<sup>th</sup> in this week's NWCA Coaches Poll. At the time of the duals Lehigh was ranked 17<sup>th</sup> and Bloom was unranked. For the record here are the scores:<br /></p><p><strong>#15 Penn State 14, #17 Lehigh 23</strong><br />125: <strong>#8 Brad Pataky</strong><strong>PSU</strong> maj. dec. John McDonald LU, 14-4<br />133: #12 Matt Fisk LU maj. dec. <strong>Tyler Saltsman PSU</strong>, 14-1<br />141: #18 Seth Ciauslli LU pinned <strong>Adam Lynch PSU</strong>, WBF (2:42)<br />149: <strong>#6 Frank Molinaro PSU</strong> maj. dec. Brian Tanen LU, 12-3<br />157: <strong>#5 Cyler Sanderson PSU</strong> dec. Sean Bilodeau LU, 5-2<br />165: <strong>#9 Dan Vallimont PSU</strong> dec. #12 Mike Galante LU, 5-2<br />174: Robert Hamlin LU maj. dec. <strong>David Erwin PSU</strong>, 17-8<br />184: #12 David Craig LU dec. <strong>Justin Ortega PSU,</strong> 3-1<br />197: Joe Kennedy LU dec. <strong>Clay Steadman PSU,</strong> 4-2<br />HWT: #6 Zach Rey LU dec. <strong>#20 Cameron Wade PSU</strong>, 5-2<br /><br /><strong>#15 Penn State 23, Bloomsburg 15</strong><br />125<strong>: #8 Brad Pataky PSU</strong> tech. fall Jason Guffey BU, 22-7 (7:00, 4-pt) 4-0<br />133: Dan Gaylord BU pinned <strong>Bryan Pearsall PSU</strong>, WBF (5:28) 4-6<br />141: Frank Hickman BU dec. <strong>Colby Pisani PSU</strong>, 19-12 4-9<br />149:<strong> #6 Frank Molinaro</strong><strong>PSU</strong> maj. dec. Josh Roosa, 12-3 8-9157: <strong>#5 Cyler Sanderson</strong><strong>PSU</strong> dec. #2 Matt Moley BU, 3-2 11-9<br />165: <strong>#9 Dan Vallimont PSU </strong>dec. #19 Rick Schmelyun, 2-1 14-9<br />174: Nate Graham BU dec. <strong>Nick Fischer PSU</strong>, 11-5 14-12<br />184: Derek Coffey BU dec. <strong>Justin Ortega PSU</strong>, 4-0 14-15<br />197: <strong>Clay Steadman PSU</strong> dec. Jake Dabashinky BU, 3-1 17-15<br />>HWT: <strong>#20 Cameron Wade PSU</strong> pinned Zach Walsh BU, WBF (4:42) 23-15<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The bad news</span>: as expected Penn State has holes to fill at 133, 141, 184, and 197. Justin Ortega may be the answer at 184 although he's a natural 174 pounder or even less, I'm not sure what weight he's certified at. He'll need some time to adjust to bigger wrestlers and he's only a redshirt freshman.<br /></p><p><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The good news</span>: Pataky was an absolute takedown machine last weekend. Granted it was against unranked competition but he did what good wrestlers are supposed to do against worse competition: own them. Dan Vallimont started the season strong beating two ranked wrestlers. Like Pataky, Frank Molinaro destroyed both unranked wrestlers he faced, posting identical 12-3 major decisions. Cameron Wade looks improved from last season, although he did lose it was to the 6<sup>th</sup> ranked wrestler and the score was 2-2 late in the third, Wade was trying for the takedown and got reversed for the final 5-2 score. But the big news is Sanderson's little brother Cyler who electrified the Penn State home crowd with a thrilling upset win over #2 Matt Moley of Bloom. For his efforts Sanderson was named <a href="http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-wrestl/spec-rel/111709aab.html">Big Ten Wrestler of the Week</a>.<br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/3901554.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 250px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/3901554.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;" xmlns=""><p>Smile Cyler Sanderson, you're Big Ten Wrestler of the Week!!<br /></p></span></div><span xmlns=""><p><strong>Initial Thoughts<br /></strong></p><p>After seeing the team in person here's my first impressions:<br /></p><p> Again with some holes in the lineup, this team is going to take some dual meet lumps in the Big Ten. Six teams are ranked ahead of Penn State and two more are ranked. To pull off some upsets the ranked guys will have to score some serious bonus points.<br /></p><p>Sanderson and his coaching staff certainly don't subscribe to the rah-rah style of coaching. In fact they really didn't seem to say much during matches. Don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing, just something I observed.<br /></p><p>I was a little concerned that some of the wrestler wouldn't accept Sanderson's up tempo, aggressive style he preaches but pretty much the whole team was aggressive, which is definitely a great sign. Even the guys that were getting beat were, at least, still going after it.<br /></p><p>Penn State wrestling fans have been ready for this for a while. The crowd was big and loud and it was only Bloom on a Sunday. Wait till Iowa or Minnesota come to town.<br /></p><p>At one point Quentin Wright was standing in the middle of the floor leading the "We are…" cheer. Even redshirted he's still awesome.<br /></p><p>Penn State unveiled their new "Premium Seating" and although it's a great thought it shoves both teams into the corners. Here's a picture from the crappy camera on my iPhone:</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/PremiumSeating.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 403px; height: 302px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/PremiumSeating.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span xmlns=""><p style="font-style: italic;"><span><span xmlns="">Premium Seats</span></span></p></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span xmlns="">It's a bit cramped for the wrestlers but what are you gonna do? It's capitalism at its best.<br /><br /></span></span>...and through the miracle of Photoshop, here's the layout (at least in my mind)<br /></div></div><span xmlns=""><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/NewSetup.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 412px; height: 217px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/NewSetup.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p></span>Galenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068113556245153541noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714045.post-19706285941056182152009-11-18T09:21:00.003-05:002009-11-18T09:35:35.289-05:00An obligatory look at Michigan State (The Rivalry edition)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/michigan_state_logo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 216px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/michigan_state_logo.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span xmlns=""><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">About the University</span><br /></strong></p><p></p><blockquote>Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act….February 12, 1855 Michigan Governor Kinsley S. Bingham signed a bill establishing the United States' first agriculture college, the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan…Abraham Lincoln signed the First Morrill Act of 1862, making the Michigan school a national model.<br /></blockquote><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Cool Fact</span><br /></strong><p></p><p></p><blockquote>National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) is located on the campus of Michigan State University and is the leading rare isotope research facility in the United States. Established in 1963, the cyclotron laboratory is the nation's largest nuclear science facility on a university campus.[1] Funded primarily by the National Science Foundation and MSU, the NSCL operates two superconducting cyclotrons. The lab's scientists investigate the properties of rare isotopes and nuclear reactions. In nature, these reactions would take place in stars and exploding stellar environments such as novae and supernovae. The K1200 cyclotron is the highest-energy continuous beam accelerator in the world.<br /></blockquote><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/800px-MSU_Cyclotron.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/800px-MSU_Cyclotron.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><p></p></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span xmlns=""><p><span style="font-style: italic;">After all that buildup it's rather unimpressive, no?</span><br /></p></span></div><span xmlns=""><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Football related datum</strong></span></p><p>Current Record: 6 – 5<br />Last year's Record: 9 – 4: <em>lost to Georgia in the Capital One Bowl</em></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">The scary side of things</span><br /></strong></p><p>Time to beat the dead horse!<br /></p><p><em>Special Teams </em>– until the coaches prove they can fix the monumental problems on special teams I'm going to continue to bring this up over and over. Michigan State is the best team in the Big Ten and seventh best in the nation on Kickoff Returns. Be afraid, be very fucking afraid. Keshawn Martin is 5<sup>th</sup> in the country averaging 31.71 yards per return. Might want to kick it away from him, but you know, not our coaching staff. I'm putting special teams at the top of the list because I think it's the most important thing to worry about if PSU wants to win Saturday. Don't think special teams are that important, check <a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/college-football/article/2009-11-17/eight-new-things-college-football-take-bank">this</a> out: </p><blockquote><p>And the secret to having a national title contender this year is … excellence on kickoff return?<br /></p><p>The six unbeaten teams in Division I-A have navigated the first 11 weeks of the season with different strategies and strengths. But they find common ground in gaining good field position after their opponents score. All six squads rank among the top 20 nationally in kickoff return average, with everybody except Alabama (No. 19) squeezing into the top 10.</p></blockquote><p>Yeah, it's that important.<br /></p><p><em>A four man rush isn't going to cut it </em>– like Indiana Sparty is great at protecting the QB, unlike Indiana, Sparty has an offense to take advantage of it. Michigan State is best in the Big Ten and 18<sup>th</sup> in the nation in sacks allowed. Mark my words here's how things will happen Saturday. Bradley will have the team come out in the Bend and Then Break Our Hearts soft zone defense and bring only the four down lineman. Unless Kirk Cousins implodes he will have all the time in the world and will pick apart the middle just like every other decent passing offense has against this atrocious defensive scheme. Like every other game PSU will come out slow and fall behind by oh… 10 or 14 points before the coaching staff decides: "hey… this crappy defensive scheme isn't working, maybe we should try something else." Mark it down, I'll be happy to eat my words later but I've heard this tune before; many, many times before.<br /></p><p><em>Speaking of passing, might want to be worried about that</em> – MSU has the best offense in the Big Ten because they are the best team in passing offense and passing Efficiency. Kirk Cousins leads the Big Ten with a rating of 149.71 and is completing almost 62% of his passes. Blair White and B.J. Cunningham are his main targets and have caught 61 and 44 catches respectively. That's more than anyone on PSU's roster. Cousins has 17 touchdowns and only 5 picks. If Penn State doesn't pressure him it's going to be a <em>looooooonnnnnnnngggggggg </em>day.<br /></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">The not-so-scary side of things</span><br /></strong></p><p><em>Passing Defense </em>– Michigan State has to have a lot of offense because their passing defense <em>suuuuucks</em>. Sparty is giving up 245 yards per game and they don't pressure very well coming in 10<sup>th</sup> in the conference in tackles for loss. Amazingly they are 2<sup>nd</sup> in the conference in sacks so go figure. In fact if you take a quick look at their <a href="http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2009-2010/teamstat.html">schedule</a>, the least amount of points given up in Big Ten play has been 14 points, and they gave up 30 or more points to Purdue, Minnesota, and Wisconsin (two of them losses).<br /></p><p><em>Turnover Margin </em>– While Sparty takes care of the ball on offense they really don't force anything on D. They only have five picks all year, less than half of Penn State's total. They've put the ball on the ground 14 times and lost 8 which accounts for most of their turnovers. Penn State may get a chance at a fumble, hopefully they can capitalize.<br /></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Game Outlook</span><br /></strong></p><p>Hey its rivalry week bitches!! I'm expecting a high paced, hate filled game! Lots of intensity and both teams playing at high levels, Hell we're playing for the magnificent land grant trophy.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/land_grant_trophy_450.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 285px; height: 505px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/land_grant_trophy_450.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span xmlns=""><p><em>I want it so bad I can taste it!</em></p></span></div><span xmlns=""><p>It's a week like this that makes you feel alive going against your bitter rival.<br /></p></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span xmlns=""><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/joepaternocometopennstate.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 180px;" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/joepaternocometopennstate.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><em>Beat Michigan SCHHHTTTAAAAAAAATTEEE!!</em><br /></p></span><span xmlns=""><p><em></em></p></span></div><span xmlns=""><p>Ok, that's all bullshit. Honestly after watching Penn State play the last two weeks I'm thinking this is a loss. I expect them to come out flat, not give a shit and play from behind all game long. The defensive coaches will use the same shitacular schemes that have frustrated fans for years and it will get ugly. This game will come down to whether or not Daryll Clark can take this offense on his shoulders and after the game last week don't look for that to happen. Michigan State's leading sack man is Greg Jones which means Sparty likes to blitz and we all know how well Penn State's offensive line handles pressure. The same problems Penn State has been having all season will come back to haunt them in this game: special teams, horrible blocking, and a passive defensive. There's really nothing to play for and I don't expect the team to be ready. Why should I, they weren't ready to play Ohio State at home.<br /></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>TNL's Prediction</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Penn State</span> 21<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">Michigan State</span> 27</p></span>Galenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068113556245153541noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714045.post-69472442340794825822009-11-17T19:16:00.005-05:002009-11-17T23:17:29.134-05:00Blogpoll: Week 11<table><tbody><tr class="cbslogo"><td colspan="3"><a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/polls/cbsblog"><img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/blog-poll.gif" /></a></td></tr><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Team</th><th>Delta</th></tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">1</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/FL"> Florida </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">2</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/TX"> Texas </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">3</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/AL"> Alabama </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">4</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/TCU"> TCU </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 1 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">5</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/CIN"> Cincinnati </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_down.gif" /> 1 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">6</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/BST"> Boise State </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">7</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/GATECH"> Georgia Tech </a> </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">8</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/LSU"> LSU </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 4 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">9</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/OR"> Oregon </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 4 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">10</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/OHST"> Ohio State </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 5 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">11</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/IA"> Iowa </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_down.gif" /> 3 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">12</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/PSU"> Penn State </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 4 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">13</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/WI"> Wisconsin </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 4 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">14</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/PITT"> Pittsburgh </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 4 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">15</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/UT"> Utah </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_down.gif" /> 4 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">16</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/OKST"> Oklahoma State </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 3 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">17</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/VATECH"> Virginia Tech </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 4 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">18</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/ORST"> Oregon State </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 4 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">19</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/CLEM"> Clemson </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 5 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">20</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/MIA"> Miami (Florida) </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_down.gif" /> 11 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">21</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/BYU"> Brigham Young </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_up.gif" /> 4 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">22</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/USC"> Southern Cal </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_down.gif" /> 8 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">23</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/AZ"> Arizona </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_down.gif" /> 3 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">24</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/HOU"> Houston </a> </td> <td class="polldelta"> <img src="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/images/arrow_down.gif" /> 14 </td> </tr><tr> <td class="pollrank">25</td> <td class="pollteam"> <a href="http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/CMI"> Central Michigan </a> </td> </tr><tr> <th colspan="3"> <a href="http://mgoblog.com/blogpoll/ballot-view.php?id=162&week=11&year=2009"> Last week's ballot </a> </th></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="droppedout"><strong>Dropped Out:</strong> Auburn (#23).</div><br /><br />Seriously, does anyone want to win the championship this year? This has got to be the sloppiest season of college football I can ever remember. I'd really like to post the clip of the <a href="http://classicsimpsons.ytmnd.com/">inept fire drill</a> from <i><a href="http://www.snpp.com/episodes/4F10.html">The Simpsons</a></i> as an analogy, but its been pulled from anywhere I found it in searches. No one really stands out week to week and it seems to get worse the longer the year goes. I'm real close to bumping TCU ahead of Alabama, I don't buy LSU at 8 at all, but not given much of a choice at the moment and, I'm not kidding about this, I'm was this close to sliding Temple in at 25 if that gives you any idea how this season is shaping up. Anyways, questions, corrections, suggestions and objections are always welcome. Fire away.<br /><br /><br />The Breakdown:<br /><b>1. Florida<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Charleston Southern 62-3 (624/323)<br />9/12 – Troy 56-6 (663/139)<br />9/19 – Tennessee 23-13 (323/210)<br />9/26 – at Kentucky 41-7 (495/179)<br />10/10 – at LSU 13-3 (327/162)<br />10/17 – Arkansas 23-20 (391/357)<br />10/24 – at Mississippi St. 29-19 (376/237)<br />10/31 – Georgia 41-17 (374/286)<br />11/7 – Vanderbilt 27-3 (375/199)<br />11/14 – at South Carolina 24-14 (339/247)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/21 – Florida International<br />11/27 – Florida St.</span></i><br /><br /><b>2. Texas<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Louisiana-Monroe 59-20 (562/298)<br />9/12- at Wyoming 41-10 (544/273)<br />9/19 – Texas Tech 34-24 (340/414)<br />9/26 – UTEP 64-7 (639/53)<br />10/10 – Colorado 38-14 (313/127)<br />10/17 – Oklahoma 16-13 (269/311)<br />10/24 – at Missouri 41-7 (400/173)<br />10/31 – at Oklahoma St. 41-14 (275/277)<br />11/7 – UCF 35-3 (537/151)<br />11/14 – at Baylor 47-14 (411/246)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/21 – Kansas<br />11/26 – at Texas A&M</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><br /><b>3. Alabama<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Virginia Tech (in Atlanta, GA) 34-24 (498/155)<br />9/12 – Florida International 40-14 (516/214)<br />9/19 – North Texas 53-7 (523/126)<br />9/26 – Arkansas 35-7 (425/254)<br />10/3 – at Kentucky 38-20 (352/301)<br />10/10 – at Ole Miss 22-3 (354/212)<br />10/17 – South Carolina 20-6 (356/278)<br />10/24 – Tennessee 12-10 (256/341)<br />11/7 – LSU 24-15 (452/253)<br />11/14 – at Mississippi St. 31-3 (444/213)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/21 – Chattanooga<br />11/27 – at Auburn</span></i><br /><br /><b>4. TCU<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/12 – at Virginia 30-14 (380/177)<br />9/19 – Texas St. 56-21 (508/249)<br />9/26 – at Clemson 14-10 (388/309)<br />10/3 – at SMU 39-14 (418/224)<br />10/10 – at Air Force 20-17 (393/287)<br />10/17 – Colorado St. 44-6 (499/182)<br />10/24 – at BYU 38-7 (412/298)<br />10/31 – UNLV 41-0 (578/160)<br />11/7 – at San Diego St. 55-12 (551/279)<br />11/14 – Utah 55-28 (549/284)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/21 – at Wyoming<br />11/28 – New Mexico</span></i><br /><br /><b>5. Cincinnati<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/7 – at Rutgers 47-15 (564/293)<br />9/12 – Southeast Missouri St. 70-3 (578/176)<br />9/19 – at Oregon St. 28-18 (408/344)<br />9/26 – Fresno St. 28-20 (357/443)<br />10/3 – at Miami(OH) 37-13 (434/316)<br />10/15 – at South Florida 34-17 (401/376)<br />10/24 – Louisville 41-10 (468/275)<br />10/31 – at Syracuse 28-7 (422-283)<br />11/7 – UConn 47-45 (711/462)<br />11/13 – West Virginia 24-21 (437/390)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/27 – Illinois<br />12/5 – at Pittsburgh</span></i><br /><br /><b>6. Boise St.<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/3 – Oregon 19-8 (361/152)<br />9/12 – Miami(OH) 48-0 (441/194)<br />9/18 – at Fresno St. 51-34 (480/507)<br />9/26 – at Bowling Green 49-14 (529/282)<br />10/3 – UC Davis 34-16 (386/234)<br />10/14 – at Tulsa 28-21 (380/295)<br />10/24 – at Hawaii 54-9 (472/307)<br />10/31 – San Jose St. 45-7 (430/223)<br />11/6 – Louisiana Tech 45-35 (507/250)<br />11/14 – Idaho 63-25 (458/514)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/20 – at Utah St.<br />11/27 – Nevada<br />12/5 – New Mexico St.</span></i><br /><br /><b>7. Georgia Tech<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Jacksonville St. 37-17 (497/291)<br />9/10 – Clemson 30-27 (418/386)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">917 – at Miami 17-33 (228/454)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/26 – North Carolina 24-7 (406/154)<br />10/3 – at Mississippi St. 42-31 (479/487)<br />10/10 – at Florida St.49-44 (532/539)<br />10/17 – Virginia Tech 28-23 (360/334)<br />10/24 – at Virginia 34-9 (447/198)<br />10/31 – at Vanderbilt 56-31 (597/397)<br />11/7 – Wake Forest 30-27 (463/291)<br />11/14 – at Duke 49-10 (519/281)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/28 – Georgia</span></i><br /><br /><b>8. LSU<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – at Washington 31-23 (321/478)<br />9/12 – Vanderbilt 23-9 (326/210)<br />9/19 – Louisiana-Lafayette 31-3 (330/272)<br />9/26 – at Mississippi St. 30-26 (263/374)<br />10/3 – at Georgia 20-13 (368/274)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/10 – Florida 3-13 (162/327)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/24 – Auburn 31-10 (376/193)<br />10/31 – Tulane 42-0 (455/216)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/7 – at Alabama 15-24 (253/454)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/14 – Louisiana Tech 24-16 (246/322)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/21 – at Mississippi<br />11/28 - Arkansas</span></i><br /><br /><b>9. Oregon<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/3 – at Boise St. 8-19 (152/361)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/12 – Purdue 38-36 (356/451)<br />9/19 – Utah 31-24 (312/297)<br />9/26 – Cal 42-3 (524/207)<br />10/3 – Washington St. 52-6 (514/158)<br />10/10 – at UCLA 24-10 (303/211)<br />10/24 – at Washington 43-19 (416/395)<br />10/31 – USC 47-20 (613/327)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/7 – at Stanford 42-51 (570/505)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/14 – Arizona St. 44-21 (388/211)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/21 – at Arizona<br />12/3 – Oregon St.</span></i><br /><br /><b>10. Ohio St.<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Navy 31-27 (363/342)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/12 – USC 15-18 (265/313)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/19 – at Toledo 38-0 (522/210)<br />9/26 – Illinois 30-0 (318/170)<br />10/3 – at Indiana 33-14 (378/228)<br />10/10 – Wisconsin 31-13 (184/368)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/17 – at Purdue 18-26 (287/361)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/24 – Minnesota 38-7 (509/286)<br />10/31 – New Mexico St. 45-0 (559/62)<br />11/7 – at Penn St. 24-7 (353/201)<br />11/14 – Iowa 27-24 OT (322/300)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/21 – at Michigan</span><br /></i><br /><b>11. Iowa<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Northern Iowa 17-16 (329/354)<br />9/12 – at Iowa St. 35-3 (426/303)<br />9/19- Arizona 27-17 (338/253)<br />9/26 – at Penn St. 21-10 (298/307)<br />10/3 – Arkansas St. 24-21 (420/296)<br />10/10 – Michigan 30-28 (367/319)<br />10/17 – at Wisconsin 20-10 (283/230)<br />10/24 – at Michigan St. 15-13 (276/310)<br />10/31 – Indiana 42-24 (480/306)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/7 – Northwestern 10-17 (281/239)<br />11/14 – at Ohio St. 24-27 OT (300/322)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/21 – Minnesota</span><br /></i><br /><b>12. Penn St.<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Akron 31-7 (515/186)<br />9/12 – Syracuse 28-7 (318/200)<br />9/19 – Temple 31-6 (359/251)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/26 – Iowa 10-21 (307/298)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/3 – at Illinois 35-17 (513/393)<br />10/10 – Eastern Illinois 52-3 (553/206)<br />10/17 – Minnesota 20-0 (464/138)<br />10/24 – at Michigan 35-10 (396/250)<br />10/31 – at Northwestern 34-13 (437/371)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/7 – Ohio State 7-24 (201/353)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/14 – Indiana 31-20 (375/346)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/21 – at Michigan St.</span><br /></i><br /><b>13. Wisconsin<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Northern Illinois 28-20 (433/274)<br />9/12 – Fresno St. 34-31 OT (413/468)<br />9/19 – Wofford 44-14 (430/259)<br />9/26 – Michigan St. 38-30 (436/486)<br />10/3 – at Minnesota 31-28 (454/328)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/10 – at Ohio St. 13-34 (368/184)<br />10/17 – Iowa 10-20 (230/283)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br />10/31 – Purdue 37-0 (381/141)<br />11/7 – at Indiana 31-28 (488/386)<br />11/14 – Michigan 45-24 (469/265)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/21 – at Northwestern<br />12/5 – at Hawaii</span></i><br /><br /><b>14. Pittsburgh<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Youngstown St. 38-3 (390/159)<br />9/12 – at Buffalo 54-27 (381/500)<br />9/19 – Navy 27-14 (369/218)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/26 – at NC State 31-38 (300/530)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/2 – at Louisville 35-10 (404/305)<br />10/10 – UConn 24-21 (489/303)<br />10/16 – at Rutgers 24-17 (376/286)<br />10/24 – South Florida 41-14 (486/212)<br />11/7 – Syracuse 37-10 (481/285)<br />11/14 – Notre Dame 27-22 (429/349)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/27 – at West Virginia<br />12/5 – Cincinnati</span></i><br /><br /><b>15. Utah<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/3 – Utah St. 35-17 (519/342)<br />9/12 – at San Jose St. 24-14 (499/264)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/19 – at Oregon 24-31 (297/312)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/26 – Louisville 30-14 (416/261)<br />10/10 – at Colorado St. 24/17 (457/334)<br />10/17 – at UNLV 35-15 (327/327)<br />10/24 – Air Force 23-16 OT (267/318)<br />10/31 – Wyoming 22-10 (363/202)<br />11/7 – New Mexico 45-14 (557/334)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/14 – at TCU 28-55 (284/549)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/21 – San Diego St.<br />11/28 – at BYU</span></i><br /><br /><b>16. Oklahoma State<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Georgia 24-10 (307/257)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/12 – Houston 35-45 (434/512)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/19 – Rice 41-24 (351/377)<br />9/26 – Grambling St. 56-6 (587/260)<br />10/10 – at Texas A&M 36-31 (448/382)<br />10/17 – Missouri 33-17 (351/393)<br />10/24 – Baylor 34-7 (445/284)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/31 – Texas 14-41 (277/275)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/7 – at Iowa St. 34-8 (473/242)<br />11/14 – Texas Tech 24-17 (333/357)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/19 – Colorado<br />11/28 – at Oklahoma</span></i><br /><br /><b>17. Virginia Tech<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Alabama (in Atlanta, GA) 24-34 (155/498)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/12 – Marshall 52-10 (605/252)<br />9/19 – Nebraska 16-15 (278/343)<br />9/26 – Miami 31-7 (370/209)<br />10/3 – at Duke 34-26 (477/397)<br />10/10 – Boston College 48-14 (441/163)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/17 – at Georgia Tech 23-28 (334/360)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/29 – North Carolina 17-20 (256/312)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/5 – at East Carolina 16-3 (379/277)<br />11/14 – at Maryland 36-9 (484/236)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/21 – NC State<br />11/28 – at Virginia</span></i><br /><br /><b>18. Oregon St.<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Portland St. 34-7 (433/351)<br />9/12 – at UNLV 23-21 (382/310)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/19 – Cincinnati 18-28 (344/408)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/26 – Arizona 32-37 (407/388)<br />10/3 – at Arizona St. 28-17 (295/406)<br />10/10 – Stanford 38-28 (463/375)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/24 – at USC 36-42 (482/429)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/31 – UCLA 26-19 (463/374)<br />11/7 – at Cal 31-14 (436/239)<br />11/14 – Washington 48-21 (372/274)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/21 – at Washington St.<br />12/3 – at Oregon</span></i><br /><br /><b>19. Clemson<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Middle Tennessee St. 37-14 (361/299)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/10 – at Georgia Tech 27-30 (386/418)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/19 – Boston College 25-7 (253/54)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/26 – TCU 10-14 (309/388)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/3 – at Maryland 21-24 (274/284)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/17 – Wake Forest 38-3 (382/178)<br />10/24 – at Miami 40-37 OT (410/433)<br />10/31 – Coastal Carolina 49-3 (400/170)<br />11/7 – Florida St. 40-24 (483/392)<br />11/14 – at NC State 43-23 (454/377)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/21 – Virginia<br />11/28 – at South Carolina</span></i><br /><br /><b>20. Miami<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/7 – at Florida St. 38-34 (476/404)<br />9/17 – Georgia Tech 33-17 (454/228)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/26 – at Virginia Tech 7-31 (209/370)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/3 – Oklahoma 21-20 (342/341)<br />10/10 – Florida A&M 48-16 (470/262)<br />10/17 – at UCF 27-7 (363/229)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/24 – Clemson 37-40 OT (433/410)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/31 – at Wake Forest 28-27 (356/555)<br />11/7 – Virginia 52-17 (515/149)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/14 – at North Carolina 24-33 (435/329)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/21 – Duke<br />11/28 – at South Florida</span></i><br /><br /><b>21. BYU<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Oklahoma (in Arlington, TX) 14-13 (357/265)<br />9/12 – at Tulane 54-3 (527/162)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/19 – Florida St. 28-54 (473/512)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/26 – Colorado St. 42-23 (373/438)<br />10/2 – Utah St. 35-17 (431/322)<br />10/10 – at UNLV 59-21 (611/337)<br />10/17 – at San Diego St. 38-28 (512/342)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/24 – TCU 7-38 (298/412)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/7 – at Wyoming 52-0 (543/225)<br />11/14 – at New Mexico 24-19 (355/360)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/21 – Air Force<br />11/28 – Utah</span></i><br /><br /><b>22. USC<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – San Jose St. 56-3 (620/121)<br />9/12 – at Ohio St. 18-15 (313/265)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/19 – at Washington 13-16 (360/293)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/29 – Washington St. 27-6 (403/229)<br />10/3 – at Cal 30-3 (457/285)<br />10/17 – at Notre Dame 34-27 (501/367)<br />10/24 – Oregon St. 42-36 (429/482)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/31 – at Oregon 20-47 (327/613)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/7 – at Arizona St. 14-9 (258/347)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/14 – Stanford 21-55 (469/334)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/28 – UCLA<br />12/5 – Arizona</span></i><br /><br /><b>23. Arizona<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Central Michigan 19-6 (448/182)<br />9/12 – Northern Arizona 34-17 (559/226)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/19 – at Iowa 17-27 (253/338)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/26 – at Oregon St. 37-32 (388/407)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/10 – at Washington 33-36 (461/256)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/17 – Stanford 43-38 (553/584)<br />10/24 – UCLA 27-13 (456/211)<br />11/7 – Washington St. 48-7 (471/185)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/14 – at Cal 16-24 (274/357)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/21 – Oregon<br />11/28 – at Arizona St.<br />12/5 – at USC</span></i><br /><br /><b>24. Houston<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Northwestern St. 55-7 (538/263)<br />9/12 – at Oklahoma St. 45-35 (512/434)<br />9/26 – Texas Tech 29-28 (579/484)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/3 – at UTEP 41-58 (664/581)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/10 – at Mississippi St. 31-24 (553/490)<br />10/17 – at Tulane 44-16 (516/437)<br />10/24 – SMU 38-15 (394/397)<br />10/31 – Southern Miss 50-43 (750/608)<br />11/7 – at Tulsa 46-45 (695/534)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/14 – at UCF 32-37 (423/393)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/21 – Memphis<br />11/28 – Rice</span></i><br /><br /><b>25. Central Michigan<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – at Arizona 6-19 (182/448)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/12 – at Michigan St. 29-27 (418/316)<br />9/19 – Alcorn St. 48-0 (319/136)<br />9/26 – Akron 48-21 (523/196)<br />10/3 – at Buffalo 20-13 (412/433)<br />10/10 – Eastern Michigan 56-8 (521/255)<br />10/17 – at Western Michigan 34-23 (426/497)<br />10/24 – at Bowling Green 24-10 (406/363)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/31 – at Boston College 10-31 (311/412)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/11 – Toledo 56-28 (507/353)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/18 – at Ball St.<br />11/27 – Northern Illinois</span></i><br /><br /><br />Dropped Out:<br /><b>23. Auburn<br /></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">9/5 – Louisiana Tech 37-13 (556/245)<br />9/12 – Mississippi St. 49-24 (589/297)<br />9/19 – West Virginia 41-30 (400/509)<br />9/26 – Ball St. 54-30 (560/260)<br />10/3 – at Tennessee 26-22 (449/410)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/10 – at Arkansas 23-44 (375/495)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/17 – Kentucky 14-21(315/357)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/24 – at LSU 10-31 (193/376)<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">10/31 – Mississippi 33-20 (401/394)<br />11/7 – Furman 63-31 (655/266)<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/14 – at Georgia 24-31 (353/342)</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">11/27 - Alabama</span></i>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00346632367434990107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714045.post-35061533412069359062009-11-17T12:48:00.000-05:002009-11-17T13:55:02.684-05:00Former Foes: week 11<span xmlns=""><p>Time to take a weekly look back at Penn State's past competition. So how bad is Michigan anyway?</p><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Akron (2-8)</span><br /></strong></p><p><em>Got destroyed by Temple (56-17)<br /></em></p><p>Akron was the latest victim of the "get Al Golden a hefty raise" tour as Temple beat the Zips for their 8<sup>th</sup> straight victory. Akron actually had an early 17-7 first quarter lead but the Owls ripped off 49 unanswered points on the legs of freshman wunderkind Bernard Pierce (19 carries, 97 yards, 1 TD). Pierce tied another Temple record rushing for his 15<sup>th</sup> TD on the season. Temple rolled up 403 total yards with 258 of that coming on the ground. Don't look now but Temple has the same record as Penn State, how does that make ya feel?<br /></p><p><strong>Next up: Bowling Green (5-5)</strong><br /> </p><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Syracuse (3-7)</span><br /></strong></p><p><em>Lost to lowly Louisville (10-9)<br /></em></p><p>'Cuse runningback Delone Carter rushed for 129 yards and a score and the Orange outgained Louisville 266-151 but Cardinals QB Adam Froman hit Josh Chichester for a 15-yard touchdown pass with 1:24 remaining for the go ahead touchdown. Syracuse dominated Louisville at nearly every aspect of the game, they won time of possession by nearly 10 minutes, but they couldn't stop returner Trent Guy. Guy had a 53 yard kickoff return and a 44 yard punt return to setup the final scoring drive at the Syracuse 45 yard line.<br /></p><p><strong>Next up: Rutgers (7-2)<br /></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Temple (7-2)</span><br /></strong></p><p><em>Waylaid Akron</em><br /> </p><p><strong>Next up: Kent State (5-5)</strong><br /> </p><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Iowa (9-2)</span><br /></strong></p><p><em>Lost to justaOSU (27-24)<br /></em></p><p>Marvin McNutt's two touchdown catches and a stellar performance by Iowa freshman QB James Vandenberg wasn't enough as the Hawkeyes lost to the Buckeyes in overtime. Erstwhile pro soccer player Devin Barclay gave Ohio State the victory when he connected on a 39-yard field goal in overtime after Iowa turned the ball over. On their possession in overtime, Iowa lost 16 yards on three plays forcing them out of field goal range on 4<sup>th</sup> down. Vandenberg threw an INT on 4<sup>th</sup> and 26 and all OSU had to do was run the ball up the middle and set up for Barclay's heroics. It was another typical day for Terrelle "preseason <span><span xmlns="">Big Ten </span></span>offensive player of the year" Pryor; he completed 14 of 17 for 93 yards. But as is usually the case, Pryor didn't need to be a hero he relied on a strong defense and the running of Brandon Saine (103 yards and 2 TD's) and Dan Herron (97 yards and a TD).<br /></p><p><strong>Next Up: Minnesota (6-5) </strong><br /> </p><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Illinois (3-7)</span><br /></strong></p><p><em>Lost to Northwestern (21-16)<br /></em></p><p>The Fighting Zookers scored two 4<sup>th</sup> quarter TD's but it wasn't enough to overcome the 21-3 hole they fell into. NU QB Mike Kafka threw for 305 yards and scored 2 TD's (one throwing and one running). Illinois had a chance for the victory but redshirt freshman QB Jacob Charest threw an interception with 32 seconds left on the Illini 35 yard line to seal the game. The Illini did manage 374 yards of offense but only 162 yards of that came through the air. The aforementioned Charest was benched at halftime for McGee who didn't perform much better.<br /></p><p><strong>Next Up: Cincinnati (10-0) – good luck with that Zooker</strong><br /> </p><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Eastern Illinois (8-2)</span><br /></strong></p><p><em>Beat Tennessee-Martin (49-13)<br /></em></p><p>Jake Christensen threw for 322 yards and 4! touchdowns as EIU amassed 457 yards of offense. The victory gave Eastern a share of the conference championship. Now all they need is a victory against lowly Tennessee State (3-7) to get the league's automatic postseason bid.<br /></p><p><strong>Next Up: Tennessee State (3-7)</strong><br /> </p><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Minnesota (6-5)</span><br /></strong></p><p><em>Beat South Dakota State (16-13)<br /></em></p><p>Yeah, Minnesota needed a 25 yard field goal with 2:22 to go to beat South Dakota State. It was a battle of field goals until each team scored TD's in the second quarter when Minnesota took a 13-10 lead. The score remained the same as both teams bored the crowd through three quarters and 13 punts until SDSU kicked the game tying field goal half way through the 4<sup>th</sup>. Adam Weber and the Minnesota offense stunk it up again as Weber threw for 94 yards and the two teams combined for roughly 450 yards.<br /></p><p><strong>Next up: Iowa (9-2)<br /></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Michigan (5-6)</span><br /></strong></p><p><em>Got cheese grated by Wisconsin (45-24)<br /></em></p><p>Wisconsin totaled a very balanced 240 yards through the air and 229 yards on the ground against the Wolverines Swiss Cheese defense (<em>ok, ok I'll stop with the cheese references</em>). Badger QB Scott Tolzien threw for 240 yards scored 4 td's through the air and added one on the ground. Runningback John Clay chipped in 155 yards rushing and a TD. Michigan lost its sixth straight Big Ten game for the first time since the 1958-59 seasons and they've now given up 35 plus points in four straight games for the first time in school history. Ohio State can now send Michigan home for the Holidays with a victory against their bitter rival. Oh by the way the news <a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/college-football/article/2009-11-16/what-we-learned-things-about-get-worse-for-michigan">doesn't get any better</a> in Ann Arbor. How's that Rich Rodriguez hire looking now Michigan fans?<br /></p><p><strong>Next up: justa Ohio State University (9-2)</strong><br /> </p><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Northwestern (7-4)</span><br /></strong></p><p><em>Beat Illinois (21-16)</em><br /> </p><p><strong>Next up: Wisconsin (8-2)<br /></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">justa Ohio State University (9-2)</span><br /></strong></p><p><em>Beat Iowa(27-24)<br /></em></p><p><strong>Next up: Michigan (5-6)<br /></strong></p><p><strong><br /> </strong> </p></span>Galenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068113556245153541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714045.post-39553748405250228132009-11-16T06:44:00.000-05:002009-11-16T08:49:48.606-05:00PSU Review: Indiana<em></em>TNL Said: <a href="http://thenittanyline.blogspot.com/2009/11/obligatory-look-at-indiana.html">27-10</a><br />Actual Score: <a href="http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/111409aaa.html">31-20</a><span xmlns=""><p> </p><p>Take away the garbage TD for Indiana at the end of the game and I pretty much nailed that score, but more importantly I said this last week in my preview:</p><blockquote>Expect Penn State to have a hangover and play poorly, particularly early in the contest, but the defense will keep the Lions in it until the offense decides to wake up. I expect Indiana to move the ball on Penn State but not get it in the endzone too often.</blockquote>Wow, I'm like a prognosticator or something, actually anyone that has </span><span xmlns="">watched Penn State over the years would have seen that shittacular of an effort coming from a mile away. This was by far the worst effort of the season. It was a complete EPIC FAIL and had it been a team with a pulse PSU would have lost miserably.<br /><br /></span><span><span xmlns=""><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/atlarge/epic_fail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 334px; height: 250px;" src="http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/atlarge/epic_fail.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></span><span xmlns=""><p></p><p>But it was Indiana and they are so bad that Penn State can turn the ball over 4 times in the first half and still go to the locker room with a 10-10 tie. Thank God for really crappy schedules!<br /></p><p><strong>Offense<br /></strong></p><p>In a word: GARBAGE!<br /></p><p>Clark threw two picks early and the offensive brain trust turned Beaver Stadium into a no-fly zone. They totally handcuffed Clark and started the brute force offense yet again. And yet again, it wasn't very effective but it <em>was</em> Indiana and they eked out enough offense to win. Evan Royster did manage 95 yards rushing but when your top two leading receivers are your running back and, worse yet, your fullback things have gone seriously, seriously wrong. A couple weeks ago people were actually using Heisman and Clark in the same sentence* how's that working out now? It certainly didn't help that Derek Moye played 'bouncy chesty' twice inside the five yard line dropping two easily catchable balls. It was a total team effort of suck.<br /></p><p><strong>Defense<br /></strong></p><p>In a word: GARBAGE!<br /></p><p>Sure the defense kept Penn State in the game and sure Bowman scored on an interception return which vaulted him into <a href="http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/111509aaa.html">Big Ten Defensive player of the week</a> status but it was a half hearted effort and some really poor schemes. If Indiana would have kept attacking the middle of the field at about the 8 yard area where Penn State's defense feels it's totally unnecessary to cover they could have moved the ball all day. When PSU blitzes it's obvious, when Penn State fakes a blitz it's even more obvious and again, I'm one of them there bloggers that don't know nothin' about football so if I can call it imagine what the guys getting paid a million dollars can see. Again, I hate to "beat a dead dog**" but if it was anyone but Indiana they probably would have scored a lot more. But kudos to Bowman for taking the whole scoring thing into his own hands, hey if the offense isn't going to do it, you might as well.<br /></p><p><strong>Special Teams<br /></strong></p><p>In a word: <span style="font-size:20pt;"><strong>GARBAGE!</strong></span><br /> </p><p>The special teams get worse as the year goes on but it's just personnel, right? If Penn State is going to fumble every other punt return perhaps they shouldn't even put someone back there to field the punt. At least then we'll KNOW there's no chance for a turnover, in fact just put 11 guys at the line of scrimmage and make sure they don't fake. If you go after the punt I'm sure we'll get a running into the kicker penalty for a first down so don't even chance that. On kickoffs just catch it and take a knee at the 15 or 20. Is there a Div I football team in the country with worse special teams then Penn State? If there is, I'd like to see it.<br /></p><p><strong>Overall<br /></strong></p><p>This was one of the worst efforts I've seen and it was a complete failure in every aspect except the scoreboard. Offense, defense, special teams, coaching and I'm sure the cheerleaders messed some things up at halftime. Complete team lack of effort. Thank God it was Indiana.</p><p><em></em></p><p>*<em>which made me literally laugh out loud</em><span xmlns=""><em><br /></em></span></p><p><span xmlns=""><em>** NOT my quote that's what the geniuses on the Big Ten Network said</em></span></p></span>Galenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068113556245153541noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714045.post-16820361233934407732009-11-13T06:28:00.000-05:002009-11-13T08:38:07.685-05:00Wrestling Wreport: the inaugural 2009 edition<span xmlns=""><p>We interrupt our normally intense football coverage (ha!) to bring you a quick look at wrestling. The 2009-10 dual meet season starts tonight when the good guys from PSU travel to take on long time wrestling wrival Lehigh. For the record here is Penn State's "official" lineup:<strong> </strong></p><p><strong>#14 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS </strong><br /><strong>Wt.</strong> <strong>Name</strong><br /><strong>125</strong> #8 Brad Pataky<br /><strong>133</strong> Tyler Saltsman OR Bryan Pearsall<br /><strong>141</strong> Colby Pisani OR Adam Lynch<br /><strong>149</strong> #6 (@ 141) Frank Molinaro<br /><strong>157</strong> #5 Cyler Sanderson<br /><strong>165</strong> #9 Dan Vallimont<br /><strong>174</strong> David Erwin OR Justin Ortega<br /><strong>184</strong> J.R. Brown<br /><strong>197</strong> Clay Steadman<br /><strong>285</strong> #20 Cameron Wade<br /><br />Quite a few "OR's" in there and I doubt we will have a lineup set in stone at all this season. Head coach Cael Sanderson has decided to redshirt pretty much all of his young talent in setting up for a title run starting next season (at least that's the plan). So with all the shiny new toys safely locked away for a year Penn State's lineup will be more of a hodgepodge. Fans will have to be patient as we transition into the Sanderson era, and it's going to be difficult because anticipation is at an <a href="http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-wrestl/spec-rel/110909aaa.html">all time high</a> for this program. </p><blockquote>Over 2,000 season tickets have been sold as Penn State prepares for the season-opening weekend. Last season, Penn State sold a respectable 1,058 season tickets. </blockquote><p>So all those throngs of hungry fans will just have to wait until Sanderson gets his guys in the program but that doesn't mean this is a throw-away year by any means. </p><p><span style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline">What we know </span></p><p>For Cyler Sanderson, Vallimont, and Erwin it's their last chance as all three will run out of eligibility at the end of the season. Sanderson seems to be Penn State's best chance at a national champion but if the wrestlers end up ranked where they are now we would be looking at three All-Americans. </p><p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 404px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 295px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/GalenSwyers/Sanderson.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><em>The intense Sanderson stare</em></p><p>Vallimont has a tough road, his weight class is ridiculously stacked. Pataky just missed out last season and although Molinaro has moved up to 149, he's certified at 141 and I wouldn't rule out the chance that he wrestles himself back to that weight before the season ends. I will say this much about Frank after seeing him wrestle in the Intrasquad match last week, he's definitely hit the weight room in the offseason. Cameron Wade came on late in the season last year and hopefully with the tutelage of Sanderson he will at the least make it out of the Big Ten's and qualify for nationals. </p><p><span style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline">What we don't know </span></p><p>Sanderson preaches an up tempo aggressive style of wrestling, how long will it take for the "old guys" or the guys that have been around Sunderland's system to adapt to it, or for that matter will they adjust to it? The holes in the lineup are obvious, 133, 141, 184, and 197 are going to be brutal at times this season but will we see improvement? </p><p><span style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline">What to expect </span></p><p>Sanderson has the hand he was dealt, can he get the best out of them. The main thing that I'm looking for from this unit is steady improvement. This isn't going to be a national champion team but do they improve over the course of the season. If Sanderson can have this team peaking around the Big Ten championships in March, I'll consider it a very successful season. Penn State should have no less than four guys in the nationals with six a distinct possibility. Any more than that and I'll be shocked.</span></p>Galenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068113556245153541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30714045.post-68645361853206065102009-11-12T08:44:00.002-05:002009-11-12T08:50:03.671-05:00An obligatory look at Indiana<a href="http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~puvb/Images/indiana%20logo.gif"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~puvb/Images/indiana%20logo.gif" border="0" /></a><span xmlns=""><strong>About the University </strong><div><blockquote>Indiana's state government in Corydon founded Indiana University in 1820 as the State Seminary." It was originally located at what is now called Seminary Square Park near the intersection of Second Street and College Avenue….The hiring of Andrew Wylie, its first president, in 1829 signified the school's growing professionalism. The General Assembly changed the school's name to "Indiana College" in the same year. In 1838 the legislature changed the school's name for a final time to Indiana University. </blockquote><p><strong>Cool Fact </strong></p><blockquote><p>In 1999, the Indiana University School of Informatics was established as an environment for research professors and students to develop new uses for information technology in order to solve specific problems in areas as diverse as biology, fine arts, and economics. Informatics is also interested in "how people transform technology, and how technology transforms us." </p><p>The School is one of a handful which offer degrees in Human-Computer Interaction. The School is the only one in the country to offer a formal degree which combines Human-Computer Interaction and Computer Security. </p></blockquote><p>Ok then, I have no idea what that means.<strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Football related datum </strong></p><p><em>Current Record: 4 – 6 </em><br /><em>Last year's Record: 3 – 9</em> </p><p><strong>The scary side of things </strong></p><p>Indiana QB Ben Chappell has completed more passes and thrown for more yards than Daryll Clark. He has 2377 yards on the season good enough for 4<sup>th</sup> best in the conference. Indiana is the best team in the conference when it comes to giving up sacks, so Penn State may need to bring more than their front four to get pressure (which you know they won't). Indiana is second in the conference in turnover margin and in the dreaded kickoff returns (but you know the coaches will have that whole special teams debacle fixed by Saturday. Right.) Indiana has played it very close to a lot of conference foes. Three of the Hoosiers' five conference losses have been by three points or fewer. </p><p><strong>The not-so-scary side of things </strong></p><p>Ok, it's Indiana. They're averaging a paltry 116 yards per game on the ground and they're dead last in the conference in pass efficiency defense, total defense and pass defense. They also give up over 28 points per game. If Penn State can't move the ball in this game they better pack it up for the rest of the season. While Chappell's passing numbers are fairly impressive he has thrown 12 picks this season. Indiana's "signature" win came against Illinois, outside of that they've beat Directional Kentucky, Directional Michigan and Akron. </p><p><strong>Game Outlook </strong></p><p>Indiana has an outside shot at a bowl game if they pull off the upset and then beat Purdue, but I don't think that's going to happen. Expect Penn State to have a hangover and play poorly, particularly early in the contest, but the defense will keep the Lions in it until the offense decides to wake up. I expect Indiana to move the ball on Penn State but not get it in the endzone too often. Hopefully Penn State comes out pissed off after getting their asses handed to them on a shiny plate, but I'm not holding my breath. </p><p><strong>TNL's Prediction </strong></p><p><strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">Penn State</span></strong> 27<br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>Indiana</strong></span> 10 </p></span></div>Galenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17068113556245153541noreply@blogger.com1