Predictions and The Past

Last I saw, Vegas was calling PSU a 14 point favorite for this weekend's contest with MSU. This sounds absurdly high to me. I think Indiana put out a great blue print on how to beat the Lions. Milk the clock, control the ball, keep PSU off the field, and keep the game close. With Ringer in the backfield I see no reason why MSU won't employ this gameplan and do it well.

Because of MSU's potent ground attack (remember how Iowa gave the Lions fits?), and the freezing temps predicted in Happy Valley (at least they are predicting it to be clear!) neither team will crack 30 points. Final prediction:

PSU: 24
MSU: 17

In other news, Chris Bell has been sentenced for his penchant to wield a blade instead of using his big-boy-voice. He got 4 years probation. Good luck to you Chris but never darken the halls of University Park again.

How glad are you to have unloaded this guy?

GO STATE! BEAT SPARTY!

Chris Bell (my take)

Chris Bell has enrolled at Norfolk State University and he is currently working on his eligibility to play football. (HT: Flounders!)I find it hilarious that the Spartans will take in a guy who actually took out a knife and threatened a teammate. That is quite the second chance. Especially since this incident occurred on campus and in front of assistant coaches!

Look, if you want a rational response to this situation you should head over to Nittany Whiteout and read what they have to say.

I, however, am flabbergasted by Chris Bell. I mean, lets just take a look at what this guy had to say to the Virginia-Pilot:

“I was sitting in history class the other day going over Socrates and Plato reading, ‘No human intentionally tries to do wrong,’ You know, except for when I tried to fucking stab D-Still! That bitch deserved it and I'd do it again!”* said the junior, preparing for 7-on-7 drills Thursday with his Spartan teammates.

“I rebelled and I acted out there, but I also learned a lot. I learned you need to finish a man off when he wrongs you! oh, and to do the finishing in private instead of over a chicken cosmo. Man. I loved the cosmo."*
*editorial comment

Give me a break. He tried to stab a teammate. An injured teammate no less!

Bell goes on to say:

“This is the first blemish ever on my record.” "You know, except for that thing at the HUB where I dropped an atomic elbow on a guy. Aside from that, this is the only blemish on my record. I'm man enough to use a blade! What can I say?"

And he later opines about Penn State and the reasons for his possible downfall:

"I don't have anything bad to say about Penn State," Bell said. "Being at Penn State, you have to do a lot of things. I think I was only doing about 75 percent of it. I would go to class, do my work, but really, I wasn't interested. Because I wasn't interested, I wasn't motivated." "Yup, 75 percent. It was the last 25 percent that gets you. Apparently, that is the 25 percent that keeps you from attacking people in the HUB and NOT trying to stab a teammate at dinner. I came close. 75%! SO CLOSE! DAMN YOU D-STILL! IF I SEE YOU AGAIN I'LL FINISH THE JOB!"

Look, I hope Bell get's his act together and manages to not become a violent lunatic who is in and out of jail. But that doesn't make these quotes any less ridiculous.

GO STATE!

Bell is Man Enough To Use A Blade!

You miss one day of work/blogging because of a debilitating flu virus and the whole world goes to hell in a hand basket while you're gone.

If you were thinking that Chris Bell had an outside shot of playing in 2008 you were completely wrong. You see, Bell has "allegedly" pulled a knife on another student in the commons. Apparently general assholishness is at the top of Mr. Bell's To-Do list and not football.

This goes beyond childish pranks/mistakes. This is serious and terrible. I would banish him from the team until resolution. A guilty would equal permanent banishment. A not guilty would make me reconsider a lesser punishment.

Dammnit Bell.