Opportunities Missed

PSU got handed a beating the other night in Tuscaloosa. A couple of things stood out to me.

First, The Penn State offense could be pretty good this year. However, we need the offensive line to play much better. This, however, is not a small problem. Royster has rushed the ball 16 times for 72 yards in the first two games. This is terrible. Not a terrible average (4.5/carry) but the Lions need more production out of the running back position if the team is going to be successful.

Second, Rob Bolden is going to be a very good football player. Right now, he is pretty good. He took some big shots and threw some passes he should have held on to. However, it is this kind of experience that will pay off down the road.

Alabama is a very good football team. They play a tough, physical brand of football.

Lastly, and I do this out of sour grapes, can I get a holding call? Please? Overall, I thought the refs were fine. However, when players rushing the quarterback are being tackled on every play it is time to throw some flags.

Go State! Beat Kent State!

Nick Saban Can Eat A Nut

I received this angry email from a long-time friend and lover of the blue and white, The Brewer Patriot.

Anyway, apparently Mr. Saban ruffled The Brewer's feathers and I received the following rant in my email as a result. Enjoy.

“Coach Paterno is probably one of the greatest coaches of all time in college football,” Saban said during his press conference, “not in terms of how many games he’s won, but how he’s contributed to the game in so many positive ways.”

The first part is bad. "Probably one of the greatest"? Get over yourself, just say that he is one of the greatest and move on. And the second part about "not in terms of how many games he's won" is shitty too. It IS in terms of how many games he has won, by it's very definition. He has done so many other things as well, but is also the winningest D-1 coach in history. It is something I see a lot of people say, that he has helped college football which is obviously true, but they pass over just how good a football coach he is too.

His quote would be much more accurate by these simple changes, "“Coach Paterno is one of the greatest coaches of all time in college football,” Saban said during his press conference, “not just in terms of how many games he’s won, but also how he’s contributed to the game in so many positive ways.”

In other news, I like getting fired up about small things.

Yes, yes he does.

LET'S GET FIRED UP (over small things)!

GO STATE!

What is Different After Beating OSU?

Right now, very little. Penn State remains third in both the AP and Coach's polls as well as the BCS standings. However, PSU is now receiving some first place votes in Coach's Poll while Alabama gets no first place votes. Odd.

Regardless, Penn State has cemented its strangle hold on third place and now seems to be pressing Alabama for second place. The Lions trail Alabama by only 25 votes in the coaches and 29 votes in the AP polls which leaves the Lions in good position to hop into the championship game (provided, of course, one of those teams lose and PSU wins out).

Just as a heads up, Texas still has to play:

@ Texas Tech
Baylor
@ Kansas
Texas A&M

There is also the Big Twelve championship game should they survive this run through the regular season.

Alabama still has to play:

Arkansas State
@ LSU
Mississippi State
Auburn

As well as a possible SEC championship game.

At this point it looks more likely that Texas will lose a game before Alabama does. Which means PSU vs. Alabama for the title looks pretty good.

Should both teams lose a game, it will probably be PSU vs. Texas. This is because Texas will still have played in and presumably won the Big 12 Title. This is because the hold the tie-breaker with Oklahoma. I don't see OU getting a shot at the title without being able to win their own league.

This is where we stand. Enjoy the bye week.

GO STATE! ENJOY THE BYE WEEK!