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Fearing Not That I'd Become My Enemy
by Kevin HD
on Jan 6, 2009 7:47 AM EST
in Football
Some thoughts about the Fiesta Bowl, seen in blue and white...
All Growns Up. Jim Tressel is going to grow up and be exactly like Joe Paterno. The old man used to have a big enough talent advantage against his opponents to successfully use the zero-risk, zero-reward model; now that Ohio State has established itself as the most talented team in the Big Ten,Tressel is all of the sudden falling under its spell. I thought OSU's only chance was to come out with higher risk plays and do things no one had seen them do. Minus the two quarterback system, which was really just a mash up of Ohio State's last two years of offense, they did none of this. A lot of up the middle runs, no risks on 4th down and, of course, several long field goal attempts. I don't know if the adaptation of the model Paterno made famous has anything to do with their Big Ten success and Big Stage failures, but it is something to think about.
You know what the worst part about the strategy is, too? That sometimes it works. And even worse, sometime is almost works. Like last night.
There Is Always The Future. Pryor is very athletic, and despite what seems like a slow acceleration he can fly. That being said, he has a long way to go. The Rivalry Esq. noted that Ohio State sported the "most efficient" passing attack in the Big Ten, but this is only because Tressel was smart enough to realize he should only throw the kid when absolutely necessary. He makes up for all of this with his size, he's very difficult to bring down and his two receptions (one negated because of a push off) do a lot to show how much taller and stronger he is even as a freshman. He is something to look out for, of course, but there is no guarantee he'll go from pretty good to elite. Nothing a good defensive line and quick linebackers can't handle.
And what was with him repeatedly running out of bounds five to ten yards before he had to last night?
Up And Down And Back Up Again. At first it seemed like Todd Boeckman's inclusion in the game plan was a hat tip from his coach and a reward for being a good teammate. In reality, it was a desperate act made necessary by the fact that Tressel wanted to throw the ball more than 20 times a game (good for a dead last in the conference and a eye catching 116th nationally).
This bodes well for the rest of the Big Ten next season. With Boeckman leaving and Well's likely entering the draft, Ohio State is in faced with becoming dangerously one-dimensional. Ohio State is always loaded with talent, so this is subject to change depending on the players we haven't seen yet, but they lose enough players this year and have enough difficult road games ahead to slide a bit next season.
Six In One Hand. Like most of you, I didn't like all the soft zone defense Bradley decided to play in the Rose Bowl. Last night, Tressel thought he had the athletes to play man defense against Texas.
See? It can suck just as bad.
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Joe Paterno Has No Time For Your Feeble Threats, Lisa Salters
by Kevin HD
on Jan 5, 2009 9:05 AM EST
in Football
Ah, the tradition and pure innocent joy of the Granddaddy. Isn't is great?
Wait, what's that?
While Paterno being a no-show on the field is an interesting thing to note, I'm not really sure bringing up contractual obligations and fines is in the spirit of the whole Rose Bowl pregame thing.
Besides, how many interviews did he do in the last two weeks? And going further, how much worthwhile information has he given up to sideline reporters in the last 20 years? Is it really worth getting on half of your viewers' bad side just to take a soft shot at an 82 year old man who is recovering from hip surgery and wants to be left alone for 10 minutes?
As for the potential fine and its importance:
- Lisa's huffy threat, a full $10,000, represents 0.033% of the Rose Bowl payout. Penn State takes home half of that, so 0.067% of Penn State's share.
- Of course Penn State splits that with the conference, so it's more like 0.733% of what the Nittany Lions pocket.
- That fine represents about 2% of Paterno's base pay, which doesn't include endorsements and such.
- As part of the Rose Bowl gift package, every participating player was given a One-year ESPN The Magazine subscription. This fine is valued at about 4 million of those.
- If Joe does get fined, which he wont, and his employer picks it up, which it would, breaking this contractual obligation that Paterno probably didn't even know existed would cost the school 0.0003% of their total operating budget.
- The monetary value of the bad publicity ESPN/ABC would create if they actually followed through with this is estimated about $12 kattraillathousand.
So it’s easy to believe, like Lisa said, that Paterno doesn’t really care.
Tom Hoffarth of the L.A. Daily News published this response:
An ESPN spokesman reitereated [sic] that the network asked Paterno for a pregame interview "as we are entitled to receive as the rightsholder and he declined. Any questions regarding a fine should be directed to Penn State, the BCS and the Rose Bowl. It's not our call."
What is kind of interesting in this whole ESPN making their own news non-story is that Lisa Salters is actually a former Lady Lion basketball player and 1988 Penn State graduate (scouts story from 2005 here). Is she really that upset? Or just acting like it for the cameras? The gasp as the beginning of her bit and the tone at the end make me think it might be the former.
I suppose it would have probably been the highlight of her air time, but I'm not sure I fully understand the problem. I have to think there are hundreds of these little "contractual obligations" in the agreement, with dozens of them being broken every year...so why this one was worth mentioning I'm not exactly sure, although I guess it's easy enough guess.
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Jordan Hill Commits to Penn State
by BSD
on Jan 3, 2009 10:49 PM EST
in Recruiting
Gimme a defensive tackle and a siren WHOOOOOO!!!
Even though Penn State came up short in the Rose Bowl, the success of the 2008 season cannot be denied, and it isn't going unnoticed by recruits either. This weekend Penn State landed a major commitment for a position of need when Steelton High's Jordan Hill decommitted from Rutgers and gave his verbal commitment to Larry Johnson and Joe Paterno.
Mmmmm....leftovers
Jordan Hill always had a deep passion for Penn State's football program.
The Steel-High two-way lineman didn't get any offers from the Nittany Lions during early stages of the recruiting process, though.
Following a splendid senior season, Penn State quickly jumped on board and recently extended Hill a long awaited scholarship offer.
And Hill has accepted, he told The Patriot-News Saturday afternoon.
The 6'3" 280 lb lineman is rated as a three star prospect on Scout and a two star by Rivals. (Larry Johnson laughs in the face or your star systems! Muhahaha!) Besides his offer from Rutgers, Hill also held offers from Pitt and Temple and also saw interest from Notre Dame, Maryland, and Boston College. Had he not committed to Rutgers so early in the recruiting process it's reasonable to assume he may have received more offers. It wasn't until early December that Hill started having second thoughts about his commitment to Rutgers and opened up his recruiting once again. It didn't take long before Larry Johnson swooped in and snatched him up.
Hill was selected a first team All-State selection after recording 117 tackles, 41 TFL, and 12.5 sacks as a senior. He was also named a co-player of the year in Pennsylvania. As a junior, Hill earned All-State honorable mention after scoring 89 tackles with 16 TFL and nine sackes. I had a chance to watch his film and I came away impressed. Steelton played him mostly at linebacker where he showed surprising burst and speed. Time and again he took a straight line to the ball carrier and blew up anyone who tried to stand in his way. In my unprofessional opinion, this is a good get.
Hill is Penn State's 23 verbal commitment from the class of 2009 and will join Sean Stanley (and possibly Nate Cadogen) on the defensive line. Welcome to Penn State, Jordan.
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Nitt Picks Would Probably Rank Seventh Or Lower In Big Twelve Blog News Roundups
by Run Up The Score
on Jan 3, 2009 12:01 PM EST
in Football
Good morning, have you made Nick Saban scream an obscenity today? Grab a coffee and enjoy your Saturday news roundup.
Be prepared to read a variety of this column until further notice. Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman cobbles together the boilerplate Big Ten Sucks article. Nebulous crap that can't be proven? Yes.
Chief among the reasons for the franchise league's falloff is inferior quarterback play. The best quarterback in the Big Ten — either Penn State's Darryl Clark or Ohio State's blossoming Terrelle Pryor — would probably rank seventh or lower as a Big 12 quarterback.
So, yeah. Daryll Clark = Joe Ganz*. Or worse. Got it.
Really odd comparisons? Yes.
Top schoolboy talent would rather play for young, aggressive coaches like Urban Meyer and Bob Stoops than Joe Paterno and whomever the Indiana coach is now.
Totally, or they'd rather play for Joe Paterno and Jim Tressel than Bob Stoops and whomever the Mississippi State coach is now. But hey, at least Bohls is complimentary of Penn State!
Penn State had a rare great season.
Again, it's absolutely true. If there's one thing that Penn State fans aren't used to, it's winning. But enough about that, let's talk THREE YARDS AND A CLOUD OF CRAP WOOOOOOOOOOO!
Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez might ultimately be the best thing to happen to the Big Ten since Ohio State coach Jim Tressel. Rodriguez will revolutionize that conference with a dynamic spread offense like Penn State and Northwestern now feature. But it could take time.
Spot on. In fact, Rodriguez's influence was so great that eight other Big Ten teams decided to run the spread upon his arrival! Because we're gracious hosts.
This is the classic example of the media echo chamber. It's the college football equivalent of the country focusing its energy and attention on The Summer Of Shark Attacks or Pretty Missing White Girls or SEC Speed. Every talking head opinion and lazy news column leads to more talking head opinions and lazy news columns. Hey, I'm totally willing to accept the premise, just give me some basic reasoning that won't make my brain melt.
The Big Ten deserves some grief. I don't think anybody can deny that. The conference is down -- very down -- and was obviously not served well by getting two BCS slots, bumping up the level of bowl competition for the soft middle of the conference. Many of them may be bowl teams, but nobody confused with with being good teams. Not even their own fans.
Still, for those of us slopping at the media trough, win or get used to it. More news and miscellaneous garbage after the jump.
* - Who completes about 71% of his passes, but come on.
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The Morning After
by Run Up The Score
on Jan 2, 2009 10:54 AM EST
in Football
[Reportedly, Mike has wandered off to a remote cabin to contemplate life and grow an Al Gore beard. For today, it's up to Kevin and myself to sift through the rubble.]
The Internets are always a funny place the day after a Penn State loss. It's not even 11 a.m., and I've read all sort of discussions about how awful Penn State's recruiting is, why we'll never win another national championship, how unbelievably screwed the team will be in 2009, and so on. It would also seem that every one of our coaches is a certified Window Licker, and we're probably not going to win more than seven games next year.
These feelings should have subsided by approximately 10 p.m. last night. This being The Internets, the sentiments will probably last until late August.
It's a meltdown!
Penn State didn't have to face any sophisticated pass offenses or elite quarterbacks this season -- until the Rose Bowl. Think about it, who was the best passing quarterback Penn State faced? Lyle Moevao? Ricky Stanzi? All year long, the Penn State defense had the luxury of sitting back and waiting for a game-changing sack or poorly thrown ball for an interception. Against USC, that philosophy results in a lopsided 7-on-7 drill.
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It Is What It Is
by BSD
on Jan 1, 2009 8:51 PM EST
in Game Reviews
Congratulations to the USC Trojans. Mark Sanchez had a career day. We were uncharacteristically sloppy with turnovers and penalties. They were clearly the better team tonight. I wish we could go back and replay the second quarter. Take away all those penalties and turnovers and the 24 unanswered points and we win 24-14. But that's football. That's why you play four quarters.
Penn State played their hearts out. They could have given up when they trailed 31-7 at the half. We have a lot to be proud of, and a lot to look forward to next year. Ten years from now when I look back on this 2008 team I won't remember the Rose Bowl. I'll remember moments like these.
Thanks to the 2008 Big Ten Champion Penn State Nittany Lions.
We Are!!!
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New Years Day Open Thread
by BSD
on Jan 1, 2009 8:00 AM EST
in Open Threads
Please use this thead for discussing the early games today. We'll start another thread at 5 PM for the Rose Bowl.
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BSD Staff Predictions: The Rose Bowl
by Kevin HD
on Dec 31, 2008 4:13 PM EST
in Game Previews
The time for garbage stories from the LA Times are over. The game in finally upon us and, as is the BSD custom, we offer up our expectations.
Mike says...
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Let Us Unite In Our Indifference
Join our friends over at Building The Dam for their Sun Bowl open thread.
The over-under for Wannstash jokes has been set at 52.
5 days ago
Kevin HD
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Nittany Lions Football Schedule
| Coastal Carolina | Sat 08/30 | W 66 - 10 |
Oregon St.
|
Sat 09/06 | W 45 - 14 |
|
@
Syracuse
|
Sat 09/13 | W 55 - 13 |
| Temple | Sat 09/20 | W 45 - 3 |
| Illinois | Sat 09/27 | W 38 - 24 |
| @ Purdue | Sat 10/04 | W 20 - 6 |
| @ Wisconsin | Sat 10/11 | W 48 - 7 |
|
Michigan
|
Sat 10/18 | W 46 - 17 |
|
@
Iowa
|
Sat 11/08 | L 23 - 24 |
| Indiana | Sat 11/15 | W 34 - 7 |
| Michigan State | Sat 11/22 | W 49 - 18 |
|
@
USC
|
Thu 01/01 | L 24 - 38 |
Big 10 Conference Standings
(updated 1.6.2009 at 12:19 AM EST)
| Conf | Overall | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
|
Penn State
|
7 | 1 | 11 | 2 |
|
Ohio St. Buckeyes
|
7 | 1 | 10 | 3 |
| Michigan State | 6 | 2 | 9 | 4 |
|
Iowa
|
5 | 3 | 9 | 4 |
| Northwestern | 5 | 3 | 9 | 4 |
| Wisconsin | 3 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
|
Minnesota
|
3 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Illinois | 3 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Purdue | 2 | 6 | 4 | 8 |
|
Michigan
|
2 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| Indiana | 1 | 7 | 3 | 9 |
Nittany Lions Basketball Schedule
Next 5 Games
| Purdue | Tue 01/06 | 9:00 PM EST |
|
@
Minnesota
|
Sun 01/11 | 3:30 PM EST |
| Michigan St. | Wed 01/14 | 6:30 PM EST |
| @ Indiana | Sat 01/17 | 6:00 PM EST |
|
Michigan
|