Detroit Free Press Takes Cheap Shot At Paterno

Howie Beardsley wrote a piece for the Detroit Free Press in which he slams paterno for being too old, criticizing him for how he is coaching through a hip injury, and attempts to hint that Joe will be fired after the 2008 season.

What is odd is that this article comes out after Penn State but a 29 point whooping on Michigan. That seems like an odd time to go after Paterno and the program that just hosed the Wolverines. I would think this could be a better time to criticize Rodriguez for his early struggles than to throw the coach of a top 3 team under the bus.

Howie's premise that Paterno is getting too much credit for the team's success:

What bothers me about Penn State's current success is that Paterno's not the sole reason for it. Rather, it's his staff and the tradition of the program that have the Nittany Lions in the running for another national title, and Paterno seeking his eighth undefeated season since 1966.

For example, when Penn State rolled over Purdue, Wisconsin and Michigan without Paterno on the sideline, that told me his assistants are doing the actual coaching.

Really? Too much credit? For the man who is literally the head of the team and the face of the program? Really?

This notion that Joe is due less credit because he has assembled a reliable and skilled staff is just moronic. By this logic, we should give Tommy Tubberville all the credit in the world for a middling Auburn team. After all, Tubberville had to fire a coordinator so he is clearly getting things done down there.

Joe is coaching from the press box. Are offensive coordinators not coaching when they are up there? All coaching takes place on the field? Really? Why do I keep seeing QBs putting on head sets as soon as they come off the field? Phone sex? No, they are talking with coaches in the box. The are, in fact, being COACHED.

Howie is quick to point out that Penn State struggled in the early part of the decade. This is true, PSU did struggle then. That, however, is a moot argument for why Paterno should've been fired after 2004. It is not an argument to fire Paterno NOW.

Howie closes this schlock festival down with this:

But it has become obvious to me that Penn State's football past and Paterno's capable assistants now run the show on the sideline and with regard to recruiting for their elderly boss, and they're the real reasons for the Nittany Lions' return to the national championship marathon.

Would it interest you to know, Howie, that most of Paterno's assistants are long-time assistants and they were on the staff when it struggled in the early part of the decade just like Joe was. For example:

Dick Anderson Asst. Coach & OL: 31 years on staff.

Tom Bradley Asst. Coach Defense: 30 years on staff.

Galen Hall Asst. Coach Offense: 5 years on staff

Larry Johnson Asst. Coach D-line: 13 years on staff

Jay Paterno Ass. Coach QBs: 14 years on staff.

John Thomas Strength Coach: 17 years on staff.

Ron Vanderlinden Asst. Coach LBs: 8 years on staff.

Kermit Buggs Asst. Coach Safeties: 8 years on staff.

Bill Kenney Tackles & TEs: 21 Years on staff.

Mike McQueary WRs & recruiting: 5 years on staff.

Not seeing a lot of "new blood" which completely turned Penn State around despite Joe's incompetence

The assistant coaches do deserve a lot of credit, but the idea that this credit makes Joe a bad coach is patently absurd.

This article is poorly thought out.

GO STATE! BEAT OHIO STATE!

Trash Talk and Joepa Fashion

The Lions are 6-0 and are starting to get fat and happy, perhaps, even a little cocky. I'm not saying the following isn't true. However, why couldn't we let all this wait until after the game.

First, Norwood is going to be back to face Wisconsin. From what the program is saying, this isn't going to be a hobbled Norwood. Rather, the word is that Norwood will be ready to go full speed and, despite his recent return from injury, Jordan had to talk a little trash:

"I'm going to love it," he said. "I can't wait to get out there. I can't wait to see the atmosphere, can't wait to hear the fans yelling at us. Hopefully, we're going to be able to quiet them down a little bit."

Second, the Penn State linebackers are ready for PJ Hill. If they aren't right now, they had better be come Saturday. Nittany Nation has been divided on whether Josh Hull is worthy of the of being MLB for PSU. Regardless, he has been playing well of late and is ready to talk some trash about a potent rushing attack:

"All three linebackers this week are looking forward to punishing P.J. Hill every time he carries the ball," Hull said on a conference call Wednesday. "We want to hit him from the time the game starts to the time the game ends. We want to make him wish he wasn't carrying the ball by the end."

You had fucking better be, Josh! After saying this I am expecting PSU to bottle up Hill and dominate the line of scrimmage. This isn't the sort of thing you want to see in the papers on thursday. After all, Wisky's entire game plan is going to be to control the ball and keep PSU's offense off the field. If the Lions fail to get the offense the ball it could be a painful game to watch for the Blue and White.

Finally, I love Joe's blue tie with white whales. I know it is a JCrew tie, however, they don't currently offer it on the Jcrew website. Has anyone been able to find said tie? Let me know.

GO STATE! BEAT WISCONSIN!

Bracket Three Times As Tall As Butler!

Or so The Collegian Would like you to believe! Their graphic is positively preposterous.
The point is well taken, but why would you create an illustration that has Brackett being three times the size as Butler? I mean, we get it, Bracket is downright huge for a WR and he is 8 inches taller than Deion and the two other WRs on the PSU squad but this is just ridiculous. Brackett actually is much taller than the other receivers on the field without resorting to this hilariously exagerated scale.

Up next for the Collegian: Graphs of Joepa's age in comparison to toddlers!

GO STATE! BEAT THE ILLINIS!

The Mochine...and other storylines

Just in case you were wondering exactly which story Lines the PA media is really grabbing a hold of and attempting to throttle to death before the beginning of the season destroys their neat little package are......

Maurice Evans is a complete stud. He certainly is, don't get me wrong. However, we see both the PPG and the CDT trumpeting his excellence on the exact same day. Big MO will certainly have an opportunity to prove himself a dominant player this year. The departure of Dan Connor and Sean Lee will force Evans to be a better player than he was in '07. He will be facing double-teams on every play in 2008. If #48 can reproduce his 12.5 sacks from '07 he will have established himself as a game changing defensive player.

On a sub-note, The CDT's article is called:

Maurice Evans: A quiet storm

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Courtney Brown's nickname the Quiet Storm? Evans is great but need we recycle our nicknames. I shall now propose a few better nicknames. (Side note, the PTR article refers to him as the "Sack Master" which, when taken out of context, is truly awesome.

Maurice "The Destroyer" Evans
Eater of Worlds
The Mochine
Mo Money, Mo Problems

The PTR is perseverating on the lack of a "starting" QB. Yeah, there is a QB controversy. Who will be the starter come Illinois? Gee, I dunno, maybe the guy who plays the best over the first three weeks. Or possibly they'll switch between both all year. Who knows!?!?!??!?!

Oh, BTW, the new Depth chart is out. Get to it you wild little monkeys. (is it wrong that I felt like a kid on Christmas morning when I saw this?)

GO STATE!

Penn State Reading

Jeff Rice at the CDT has a novel concept; if PSU plays better on offense and maintains good play on defense, the Lions could be good. If not, they will be ok. I don't know if Mr. Rice needed an entire story to convey this thought. Future hard-hitting articles for Jeff will include: Joe Paterno: an old coach, Jay Paterno is Joe's Son, Larry Johnson is Good at Recruiting, Penn State's Colors are Blue and White.

The PPG has an article about how The real Derrick Williams will show up this year. Lets all hope so. If anything close to the 2005 D-Will arrives I will be ecstatic.
Josh Gaines is enjoying but does not understand his newfound power:

"When I talk, people listen," said Gaines, a senior co-captain entering his third season as a starter."It's a great weapon," he said. "So, I'm going to try to use this weapon to actually do good with it. People listen to what I have to say for some reason."

Use this terrible power only for good, Josh. Only FOR GOOD!

The PTR has an article up on Tyrell Sales. This is required reading because Sales or #46 to you and I, is going to be the most experienced LB PSU has.

Easily the best article of the bunch is Brian's great breakdown of PSU over at MGOBLOG. He is great and has more time on his hands than a man should.

GO STATE! HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!