BSD Staff Predictions - Michigan Wolverines

by BSD on Oct 17, 2008 2:00 PM EDT in Game Previews Comment 36 comments

Enough talk. Let's play the game. Right after the BSD staff talks about their predicitons.

Kevin Says...

Last week I expected Bradley to play it safe and let the offense win the game. Instead, the defense came out as aggressive as I think I've ever seen, blowing through the highly regarded Wisconsin line and sending six and seven guys at a time. This was in stark contrast to the Illinois approach and to be honest I'm torn as to which one will be more effective tomorrow. On one hand, a lot of pressure is sure to stall an already shaking offense into making a lot of mistakes. The alternative, forcing them to run 13-18 well executed short plays to score is bound to lead to several unforced turnovers and make it difficult for Michigan to keep up.

On offense, things will probably look the same. Michigan does in fact have a defense, but they aren't doing anything that sets them apart from any of the other squads Penn State has faced this fall. They currently rank 54th in total defense and 64th in scoring defense and they have proven to be very venerable in the secondary.

I'm slowly getting over the hesitation that was conditioned in me the previous two years and I don't know why this game has to be any different than the other 2008 games against poor competition. There isn't one matchup that has me even remotely worried and I think that's led to me being more confident than is probably healthy. I expect a fun game none the less as it's clear from the past that demons must be exercised.

Penn State 45, Michigan 7

RUTS says...

As I said earlier this week, whether it's fair or not, beating Michigan for the first time in ten tries won't mean anything without Lloyd Carr on the sidelines. Not that I think he was some sort of awful person, but he looked like a dick and let's face it, sometimes that's enough. He coincidentally celebrated some of the most awful Penn State moments since 1997. And now he's gone. What's to hate about Rich Rodriguez? He "stole" a recruit? Big deal, happens all the time.

It's legitimately sad that this game means next to nothing. Lloyd's gone and Michigan is terrible by any standard -- even their big win against Wisconsin looks shabby now. But it'll be the end of The Streak, and the appetizer for next week's main course in Columbus. A decisive home victory against an overwhelmed Wolverine team will have to be enough to collectively hold us over until then.

Prediction: Penn State 38, Michigan 7.

Mike says...

Is there any chance Michigan could win this game? Sure. Rich Rodriguez could find holes to exploit in the Penn State defense. Daryll Clark could get pushed out of bounds and suffer a concussion when his head hits Pat Devlin's knee tearing his ACL to shreds. Evan Royster and Stephfon Green could fumble the ball away seven times giving Michigan easy scores. But it's not likely. On paper, this game should not be close.

My only hope is that the students don't get too excited about breaking the streak. I worry because they don't have the appreciation of 12 years of losing. They were all in grade school back when this thing started. I doubt most of them even know Tom Brady was their quarterback back then. There were some games where you can make the case we were robbed, but for the most part we got our butts whipped. And each time Michigan and their fan base treated it like we were just another team on the schedule. They don't hate us, and there is no reason why we should be disrespectful toward them. So I hope when the game is over the students won't rush the field or run down town and set State College on fire. Just walk out of the stadium and go celebrate. Start up all the "WE ARE" chants you want. Just don't be a dick.

Prediction: Penn State 45 Michigan 3

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Amen Mike

Let it be so. May no act of ours bring shame. Let’s act like we’ve been here before, like we expect victory. We’ll be able to name our score tomorrow.

Penn State 52 – 6 Michigan

Let's Go State!

by Gopher Broke on Oct 17, 2008 2:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What if...

People put up signs like “Beat Michigan State”. Like we couldn’t be bothered to know the difference between Michigan & Michigan State.

by Elihu on Oct 17, 2008 2:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Better yet

“The Temple Owls were tougher than you guys.”

by ReadingRambler on Oct 17, 2008 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well put Mike

“So I hope when the game is over the students won’t rush the field or run down town and set State College on fire. Just walk out of the stadium and go celebrate. Start up all the "WE ARE” chants you want. Just don’t be a dick."

This is not the big game this year, losing streak notwithstanding. Penn State should never get too excited about beating a 2-4 team.

Blogging about D.C. Baseball since April '04. Penn State alum. Also partial to the Washington Capitals, New York Yankees and Yale football.

by WFY on Oct 17, 2008 2:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hail

We are going to win! We are awesome! Winged helmets! We own…Penn State!

Oh god my heart isn’t even in this.

Please don’t score 100.

by Wolverine_Dex on Oct 17, 2008 2:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

do you take any delight

in that many of us older fans are still holding our breath on this one?

http://glassesofjoe.blogspot.com/

by psudrozz on Oct 17, 2008 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Boy Do I Agree!

Having graduared from PSU in the 60s I have seen plenty of heartbreaks with my Lions… I will not breath (well maybe a little) until this one is over. There is way too much confidence and testosterone flying around.

by Folsom Lion on Oct 17, 2008 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

marginally

by Wolverine_Dex on Oct 17, 2008 3:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Old Geezer's

Mike, I hate to say it but I kind of disagree with you on your comment. I agree with you 95% of the time but this one I have to take a stand. I’m not taking issue about the final score or your analysis of the game but the way you act like your generation is innocent and whenever you have gone to a game back when you were either a student or now as an alumni you have acted like an angel. Especially when Michigan comes to town. Everyone knows now that in todays time, everything gets reported in the papers and online. And if half of the things your generation did (I heard stories about the Phi Si 500, all I have to say to that is wow) the national media would go nuts. Now I am not saying I’ve acted perfectly but you cannot expect students not to go crazy after the game especially if we win. And I do feel that a good amount of them will appreciate the significance. By you stating those comments that “these students wont appreciate 12 years of losing” you’re sounding more resentful and geezer like than happy for this generation not to go through what we went through. (And by the way, I graduated in ’05 which is the class that had 3 out of 4 losing seasons, the “dark years” if you will)

by jcierski on Oct 17, 2008 4:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Excuse me

but the Phi Psi 500 was an event designed to demonostrate the athletic prowess of the “every day” college student.

And for the rest of us non-participants to witness such athletic prowess. It’s not like we were able to take empty Sprite bottles and fill them with vodka tonics and walk down Allen Street or anything like that.

"the secret to loving your job is having a hobby that you really despise"

by nitwit86 on Oct 17, 2008 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

These are weird times

I’m all for the traditional stuff. Tearing down goal posts (a safety concern, but I’m a bit of Darwinist on this topic), couch burning, drinking to excess. All of that. Great.

My only complaint with the current fan atmosphere (and really, Mike and I are both in our early 30’s, it’s not like we were wearing fedoras and chainsmoking at Beaver Field in the 1950’s) is the apparent trend toward physical violence against random visiting fans. I’ll even grant you that there are a handful of visiting fans who bring unnecessary danger upon themselves. However, throwing random stuff or striking (in any way) opposing fans is unacceptable. Same thing with chanting “asshole” at people whose only crime is wearing an opposing team’s jersey. It’s unbecoming of Penn State fans’ reputation.

My request is, instead of throwing beer at them, hand them a beer. Then go home, carry your couch into the middle of Beaver Avenue, and set it on fire. Yes, in my world, that’s preferable to throwing a loaded water bottle at a random Michigan fan. I have weird priorities.

by Run Up The Score on Oct 17, 2008 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Additionally

If anyone rushes the field if/when Penn State wins this game, it will be the lamest thing EVER> I mean, EVAR.

by Run Up The Score on Oct 17, 2008 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sadly

There’s people around here that actually fear that we will rush the field. I will have no respect for the world if anyone does. Unless we’re doing that every game now…I didn’t see it after Coastal Carolina though.

John Madden told me 90% of the game was half-mental...

by TheK-GunNeedsReloaded on Oct 17, 2008 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

rushing the field

If the students rush the field tomorrow, it will just prove that the majority of students do not really know penn state football, but just come to the games for the party. To even think about rushing the field after you beat a 2 -4 team is unbelievable. Students, fans, and players shouldn’t be focused on the fact that we’re going to break The Streak, but instead focus on the fact that we’ll be 8 and freakin 0 after this game. We have bigger fish to fry than a 2 -4 Michigan team. Bring on the National Title talk!

Tomorrow I’ll do my part to make sure my fellow students do NOT rush the field.

"Boy that student section now is up and really making a gigantic amount of noise. You see the sea of white, the white out. Well they are 2 minutes and 28 seconds away from the whiteout of the Buckeyes here tonight." - Ron Franklin

by rmcmillen50 on Oct 17, 2008 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rushing the field

I don’t think anyone is going to rush the field. Unless some dumbass kid in the first row encourages all the people without a brain to do it, then everyone does it through group theory, I don’t think it’s going to happen. Everyone I know, just like you guys, expects us to win by at least 3 TDs, which is no cause for rushing the field

by WPIALkid22 on Oct 18, 2008 4:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

lets save rushing the field

for when we beat Michigan State and are on our way to a Nat’l championship game. anything less is ridiculous. We’re not the underdog (see PSU knocking off #1 ND in ‘90) and we’ve got a lot tmore football to look forward to,. There is no reason to show anything but poise and class from the players to the students to the fans. GO STATE!!!

by PSU Jen on Oct 18, 2008 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

In my best Wooderson voice:

it’s not like we were wearing fedoras and chainsmoking at Beaver Field in the 1950’s

“It’d be a lot cooler if you did”

by Cairo on Oct 17, 2008 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I remain convinced that the world would be a much better place if every male wore a fedora.

by ReadingRambler on Oct 17, 2008 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

fedoras rock!

Ben and Alex... first commits for 2024

by 3Yardout on Oct 18, 2008 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, no chainsmoking

But I’ve got a swell blue fedora that I wear when it is cold out. My Friday attire is even better.

Rushing the field, tearing down goal posts and all of that is completely unacceptable this weekend. Going nuts for beating a 2-4 team is completely unbecoming of Penn State. Anybody in this program or the fans who follow it better not be in awe of any other college football program, especially one with exactly half a national championship in the last 50 years!

Blogging about D.C. Baseball since April '04. Penn State alum. Also partial to the Washington Capitals, New York Yankees and Yale football.

by WFY on Oct 17, 2008 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not saying we were angles

But we knew when to celebrate. Michigan 1994 was a reason to celebrate because that was a huge win. This year it is not a huge win. Therefore rushing the field and rioting in the streets is not warranted. I hope it won’t happen, but I suspect it will for precisely the reason you just pointed out. Your generation has more memories of “the dark years” than the older generation which remembers the glory days.

I’m not a psychologist, but I have a theory that this current generation of students was never taught how to win with class because they came of age during “the dark years”. All they learned to do was tuck their tail between their legs and pout like losers. All of their examples of learning how to handle winning came from visiting fans taunting us as they whooped it up in our stadium and gave us the business as they drove back to Columbus or Ann Arbor. Now that we have this newfound success they have to be taught how to win with class.

We’ll see how the post game goes. If they rush the field to celebrate a 40 point blowout over a 2-4 team I’ll be on here Sunday night saying I told you so and lambasting them their borish behavior. If they don’t rush the field and don’t burn down State College I’ll be here Sunday applauding them.

For the record, I’m 34, graduated in 97, and I never harassed a visiting fan or rushed the field. In fact, the 2005 Ohio State game is the first time I can EVER remember seeing the Penn State students rush the field. We never rushed it ONCE in my time there.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Oct 17, 2008 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rushee

I rushed the field after ‘05 OSU, and I’m proud of it. Considering the quantities of alcohol I consumed before AND during the game combined with the line of cops in front of the student section, I think getting my shoes on that hallowed sod and evading capture is a commendable achievement. I even snuck up and kissed a goalpost before a trooper shoved me in the ribs. After the dark years, I think the students had every right to take to the turf following that victory.

That said, nobody should rush the field if we win this one.

Luring recruits with my new "Posting HD" scheme since '08.

by 06Lion on Oct 17, 2008 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ohio State 2005

Yes, yes. THAT was a good time to rush the field.

by Run Up The Score on Oct 17, 2008 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

A funny rush-the-field story

First, I was blessed to be a Jr when we beat Georgia for NC #1 and I had been out for a year, but was still living in State College, when we beat Miami for NC #2 (I know the math for being a Jr and only being out of school for a year doesn’t seem to be quite right, but it will probably help better explain the next seven words of this post . . . )

I don’t remember what year it was, but Alabama was in town. I didn’t have a ticket for the game, but was tailgating all day. About halfway through the 4th, a buddy of mine, who also didn’t have a ticket, suggested that we go on in to watch the rest of the game. You could do that in those days . . . we just walked right in and promptly got front row aisle standing spots in the end zone.

Alabama was driving for what could have been the game winning td. Fourth and goal went incomplete and the place went nuts. As soon as we saw others pouring out onto the field, my buddy and I jumped the rail.

I was wondering around the goal line near the home sideline and saw that they were getting ready to pull the goalpost down. I thought “this will probably be the only time I’m ever on this field . . . I’m getting in on that”. I started to make my way over when I heard something that made me turn and there was one of our guys . . . no idea who, but obviously a lineman. He was making his way towards the tunnel, shaking his head and saying “I can’t believe it” over and over again. I gave a big “YEAH!!!” raising my hand for a high five. He reached up to oblige and right then I got a shove from behind that pushed me into him. His arm knocks me on the side of the face and my glasses go flying off behind me. I turned to grab them and I was faced with this human mass of people all going the opposite direction. Trying to get to my glasses was like trying to swim up a waterfall. I was saying, “No you don’t understand . . .” as if someone was going to stop everyone and say “HEY COME ON EVERYBODY THE DUDE NEEDS TO GET HIS GLASSES!”

I resigned myself to never seeing my glasses again. The goalpost was already down, so I just started wandering the field hugging people and giving high fives. The crowd started to thin out and on my way out of the stadium, I decided to take a look for my glasses. Sure enough, there they were in the endzone, completely intact. They had obviously been stepped on by hundreds of people. To this day I still think it was just the fact that the turf was so thick and lush that kept them from being smashed.

Years later when I finally stuck them in a donation box at the eye doctor’s office, they still had this blade of blue grass that had gotten ground in between the lens and the frame.

"the secret to loving your job is having a hobby that you really despise"

by nitwit86 on Oct 17, 2008 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tough glasses!

No offense, but those things must have been somewhere around JoePa’s own specs as far as their thickness and /or construction to withstand that kind of beating!

If you can smile when things go wrong, you have someone in mind to blame.

by TheMightyErik on Oct 17, 2008 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well

the lenses weren’t (I’m not sure if there are many people that walk the face of this earth with lenses like those), but yeah the frames were probably similar. Those heavy, plastic things.

"the secret to loving your job is having a hobby that you really despise"

by nitwit86 on Oct 17, 2008 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We rushed the field after we beat Pitt in '86.

I can still hear the students (I was a freshman at Altoona in ’86 but went to every game) chanting “We want Miami! We want Miami!” in anticipation of the Fiesta Bowl, and we all know how that turned out.

You’re right on the money, Mike. While I may disagree with you on the “Asshole. Asshole.” chant for people wearing opposing colors ( I see nothing wrong with that unless it’s a little kid), there is absolutely no reason to make ANY physical contact with another fan, unless they touch you first. WHEN we win tomorrow, let’s act like we’ve done this before. We have.

by Ab4PSU on Oct 17, 2008 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, here’s my perspective. I spent 10 years sitting in the student section. No, I’m not Blutarski, I had an older sister who got me tix, then I spent 5 years, then hung out at a few games post graduation.

The difference is back then (say, 89-99), we KNEW we were good. We didn’t need to throw beer cans at people or push them on the way to the stadium. We didn’t need to. We just won. A lot. Let OSU bring 100 buses of rabid fans – we’ll just beat them by 49 points and send them home (aw yea, 1994!) rather sad.

Was the atmosphere as electric as it is now? No, but where does it say that fans need to act like fucktarded assholes to fans of the other team to make the atmosphere electric? Like everyone said, beating a 2-4 team – ANY 2-4 team – shouldn’t be cause for street fights or riots. Think about it, the seniors today have only experience winning teams. Why is there still such shock and awe that we’re doing well AGAIN this year?

by Tailgate Shogun on Oct 17, 2008 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Its an interesting.........

dilemma…………douche or no douche ?……acting like a douche to the opposing teams fans can make one feel better for a few moments, but it also riles up the opponents fans and makes you look like a jag off.

Acting like you have been there before and you expect to win (read: controlling yourself with puritanical restraint) isn’t much fun, but it sure pisses off the other teams fans……especially when they know you are doing it to give the impression you don’t care when everbody knows you do.

Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

by ech2os on Oct 17, 2008 4:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I did the latter to my......

buddy that is a big Florida fan the week they lost to Ole Miss and it drove him crazy.

Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

by ech2os on Oct 17, 2008 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

funny prediction

I have an email group composed of some ex-coworkers and buddies, all PSU alumni. Anyway, during the season we get a good group email going back and forth, talking smack about this week’s game, etc. My brother (who has a creative, dry, and slightly dark sense of humor) blasted this email out to the group today….I thought it was f’ing hilarious:

"Not real big on predictions but here’s what I think.

Prediction #1

Penn State will run at least 3 reverses on Saturday. Maybe one to a fullback, one to a tightend, maybe even one to a tackle-eligible. I swear JoPa is obsessed with this play and I think he would run it on defense if he could get Bradley to go along with it. The reason he hasn’t retired yet is that it still amazes him how the ball can be going one direction one minute and then all of a sudden be going in the complete opposite direction.

Prediction #2

I think McQuery will be mysteriously absent from the game in the first half. He will take to the sideline in the second half after being talked out by a sports psychology grad student that they bring down from the student section. It will later be revealed that the sight of the Michigan players during warmups was too distressing for the former QB (10-22 68yds, 0td 1 int, 7 rushes for -20yds in 1997). McQueary will never coach again but the grad student will go on to do great things in his field, working with Hawaiian cliffdivers and knuckleball-catching specialists in Major League Baseball.

That last part will take a while to confirm but we should know something on McQuery by the middle of next week.

Prediction #3

PSU 59 UM 9 has a nice ring to it, again, I’m not big on “gut feelings” and that sort of thing. "

by hbeach08 on Oct 17, 2008 5:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Preditctions 1 and 2

very good stuff. Picking on poor JoePa’s reverses, geez… on the other hand, every time I see one I do have a guilty smile on my face because I do agree that man lives for ’em

Preditction 3 – let’s hope you are right on!

If you can smile when things go wrong, you have someone in mind to blame.

by TheMightyErik on Oct 17, 2008 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How 'bout it

Everytime I see Joe talking to McQ on the sideline, I picture him saying, “Tell Jay we should try an end around.”

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Oct 17, 2008 8:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

9 for 9

I think a TD for each loss of the streak would be poetic.
PSU 63 UM 3

by confirmy on Oct 17, 2008 5:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

100-0

at halftime…would be justice.

This scUM team has put more pain in PSU than anyone.

When we think we have enough scores, score three more times.

Pat Devlin in '08, er, '09

by Nick7 on Oct 17, 2008 10:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Score Against Michigan

I really hope we beat them like 63-3, but I don’t know about some of those scores, I’m thinking more of a 31-7 score. I guess we’ll find out later today, but I’m hoping I am wrong on this prediction, I’ll sacrifice my pride for a good Michigan ass beating

by WPIALkid22 on Oct 18, 2008 4:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs