What if...

by Cpiritual27 on Oct 3, 2008 8:54 AM EDT Comment 41 comments

Yes, I know it's still early in the season, and yes, I know this has about a 1% likelihood of happening, but work with me here...

What if PSU makes it to a non-championship BCS game? Of course, I'd love to see them play for the MNC, but they could hypothetically go undefeated and still be left out (see: Auburn 2004). More realistically, they could drop a game somewhere, finish 11-1 but still grab the B10 automatic bid or an at-large bid.

What if we got matched up against the Big East champion, which as of right now could very well be the...

...wait for it...

...Pittsburgh Panthers!!

Yeah, we all made fun of Pitt when they lost the first week, and they've since had their struggles against teams like Iowa and Syracuse. But they went into Tampa last night and beat up a previously unbeaten (and in my opinion pretty good) USF team, something that Kansas was unable to do earlier this year.

Right now they're undefeated in Big East play, with potentially the biggest hurdle already cleared. With how bad that conference is this year, why the heck couldn't they win it? And yes, embarrassment as it is, the Big East still gets an automatic BCS bid, so just imagine the possibilities if both PSU and Pitt are available to the selection committees.

We're talking about a Top 5 rivalry when it was at its peak, and since we all know that the selection committees will make deals with one another, this could definitely happen. Moreover, if OSU makes it to the BCS, I think a lot of people would want to see them in a rematch with USC in the Rose Bowl, thereby lessening the burden of the Rose Bowl needing to select us for "tradition's sake."

Can you imagine this? JoePa in his LAST game as a HC, beating Pitt and riding off into the sunset? This game precipitating the renewal of one of the historically greatest rivalries (and PA's most desired one)?

Yes, it's early, but still...the possibility is there, and it's not that far-fetched.

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no way

we would go Rose for sure and UConn will win the Big East

JoePa in '09

by JGuiher on Oct 3, 2008 9:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

UConn?

The team that Temple took to overtime? I’ll believe it when I see it.

"We heard all that talk all week about the SEC and their speed, but we knew personally that they weren't nearly as tough as us."

-Tony Hunt

by Cpiritual27 on Oct 3, 2008 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's not that far-fetched

Compared to what? Alien Invasion?

Yes, compared to an alien invasion, Pitt vs. Penn State for the national title is not that far fetched.

P.S.: FWIW, I told you that we had not heard the last from Pitt this year.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Oct 3, 2008 9:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I hate that they won last night

And I’m not one to pile on in the conference pissing contest, but the big east really is hurting right now.

Kevin @ Black Shoe Diaries

by Kevin HD on Oct 3, 2008 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pitt Football is like VD

They keep coming back.

It’s not life threatening, but sure wish you didn’t have to deal with it flaring up all the time.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Oct 3, 2008 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

For that to happen, though, wouldn’t either Penn State or Pitt have to be an at-large? Both conferences already have BCS bowl tie-ins for their conference champ. If Pitt is an at-large, who the hell will have won the Big East? And that would also mean that Pitt would have had another loss to the evenual Big East Champ. I just can’t see the #2 Big East team getting an at large.

by Spats on Oct 3, 2008 10:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

A couple of things

1) I’m not saying we meet for a NC. I’m saying we meet in one of the other bowls. As mentioned, there are different reasons for why we might not make it to the NC.

2) Teams do not automatically go into their “anchor” bowl. It’s completely dependent upon who makes the NC game. If, say, an SEC goes, that means the Sugar Bowl loses their “anchor” team. If a Pac-10 or B10 team goes, the Rose Bowl loses one of their “anchor” teams. That somehow correlates to an order where the remaining bowls select in an order that’s determined in some way shape or form (goes way over my head). And yes, it’s been well documented that the selection committees are willing to deal with one another in order to select the most “high profile” matchups. Think of it like NFL teams trading draft picks…a 1st rounder this year for your 1st rounder next year type of thing.

So long story short, YES, it IS possible, even if unlikely.

"We heard all that talk all week about the SEC and their speed, but we knew personally that they weren't nearly as tough as us."

-Tony Hunt

by Cpiritual27 on Oct 3, 2008 10:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Anything is possible

But if Penn State wins the Big Ten and does not play for the the NC, we’re going to the Rose Bowl, period, end of story.

I won’t burden the board with further recitiation of my opinion the Pitt thing, but if we skip the Rose Bowl to play Pitt anywhere in the known universe, I am going to start a systematic campaign of terror the likes of which the world has never seen.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Oct 3, 2008 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Again

This is not predicated upon us winning the B10 (i.e. we lose one game to OSU, who then wins the conference)…it could happen with an at-large bid.

Secondly, let’s say we do win the B10 and go to the Rose Bowl…well what if USC winds up in the NC, and no other Pac-10 team is statistically eligible for an at-large selection?

Like I said, you can’t predict the matchups as black and white as you guys are. There exists quite a bit of flexibility in the selection process, so really, anything is possible.

"We heard all that talk all week about the SEC and their speed, but we knew personally that they weren't nearly as tough as us."

-Tony Hunt

by Cpiritual27 on Oct 3, 2008 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Systematic Campaign of Terror

Please, god, no! I’ll have to be one of those locally-interviewed neighbors after a horrific crime: ‘umm, well, I just don’t understand. He seemed like such a nice guy. I never in a million years thought he was capable of such a terror campaign.’

Convivite Nudem!

by jtothep on Oct 3, 2008 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget to also mention

that his wife seemed hot.

'People are about as happy as they decide they want to be'

by Pete the Streak on Oct 3, 2008 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This isn't that far fetched

Not likely, but here are the bowl tie-ins by conference:

Atlantic Coast Conference-Orange Bowl
  Big Ten Conference-Rose Bowl
  Big 12 Conference-Fiesta Bowl
  Pac-10 Conference-Rose Bowl
  Southeastern Conference-Sugar Bowl

Notice no Big East, they are free for the pickin’. The most likely case would be something like this: Penn State loses to say, OSU, but still wins the Big Ten on some type of tiebreaker. Then, USC wins the rest of their games and ends up in the MNC game. In that case, the Rose has PSU automatically but then also gets one of the first at large picks (depending of whether USC finishes #1 or #2). In that case, Pitt, the Big East champ in this hypothetical, would be on the table because they have no auto tie-in and they would probably be picked up.

Kevin @ Black Shoe Diaries

by Kevin HD on Oct 3, 2008 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The most likey scenario

Penn State finishes second in the Big Ten but the Big Ten champ does not finish in the top two thus going to the Rose Bowl.

The Big XII champ finishes in the top two and goes to the BCS championship game. This frees up the Fiesta Bowl to take two at large teams. Another scenario would be the SEC champ going to the BCS game freeing up the Sugar Bowl to take two at large teams.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Oct 3, 2008 10:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

WIll not happen

If the Rose gets PSU, but loses the pac-10 champ to the NC game, they get to pick an at large first or second, and would not pick Pitt. They would likely take another pac-10 team, if one is eligible. If there isn’t one they would pick a high profile team like SEC or big 12 #2. Another bowl picking 2 at large teams, and those being PSU and Pitt is unlikley. That matchup sounds “too regional” for a bowl game in the South or Southwest. One possibility is the ACC champ goes to the NC game, thus the Orange picks an at large early, and picks an attractive 1 loss PSU team that doesn’t win the Big Ten. Then because of the rotation this year, they get stuck with the last remaining pick, and Big East champ Pitt has to go there. But, do you see any ACC team that looks like it’ll get selected to the NC game?

by pjk on Oct 3, 2008 10:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Duke?

I bleed Blue and White.

by Horse N Buggy on Oct 3, 2008 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here is how it breaks down

For this to happen PSU must qualify for the BCS and not win the Big Ten. Which means Ohio State (or Wisconsin) won the Big Ten.

Pitt would win the Big East.

Your other at large teams are SEC #2, Big XII #2, BYU (or other BCS "crasher").

So here where you start

BCS Title Game Big XII #1 vs. SEC #1
Rose Bowl Big Ten #1 vs. Pac 10 #1

The other bowls pick in this Order;

Fiesta, Sugar than Orange and the Orange must take the ACC Champ.

I think the Fiesta or the Sugar Bowls would take PSU first, but even if they held to their leagues (like the Rose did last year with Illinois) there is no way that the Orange Bowl would not take Penn State to play the ACC champ.

The Fiesta Bowl would not take Pitt after how badly they traveled the last time, they would certainly take BYU.

The Sugar Bowl will take Pitt if it has no other choice, which it won’t this year. So the most likely way for PSU and Pitt to play in a Bowl Game would be if the Fiesta Bowl passed on Penn State (unlikely) than the Sugar Bowl passed on either LSU or Alabama to take Penn State knowing full well that they would get stuck with Pitt (no chance).

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Oct 3, 2008 11:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Why would Pitt's travel proclivities matter?

Assume that the game is Pitt vs. PSU. Maybe Joe’s last game. We would instantly sell out the stadium, and would likely buy up Pitt’s allotment as quickly. The allure of that game would render Pitt’s travel record meaningless. (And all the better for us anyway, right?)

by 94NittanyChamps on Oct 3, 2008 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Q: What is better than having one team that travels well?

A: Having two.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Oct 3, 2008 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

Whether or not PSU would sell the tickets doesn’t matter. A bowl isn’t going to pass up a chance to have Oklahoma or Texas or LSU, etc. in order to have Pitt as a participant. One high profile team is good. Two are even better.

by Laaaaazzz on Oct 3, 2008 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I really think you're undervaluing...

…the concept of JoePa coaching his last game against the team he despises the most. This would work for the exact same reasons as everyone saying “No way the BCS doesn’t pick PSU in JoePa’s last year!!”

Personally, I believe that this would draw a large television audience, which is half the battle. As for fans traveling to the game, we already know PSU travels as well as any team in the country. Even Pitt fans may get up off their asses to see this game. Lastly, I believe there would be numerous “average joe” CFB fans who would go to that game, if for no other reason than to see a legend in his swan song.

"We heard all that talk all week about the SEC and their speed, but we knew personally that they weren't nearly as tough as us."

-Tony Hunt

by Cpiritual27 on Oct 3, 2008 11:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It has to work in the framework describe above

And it doesn’t.

The Sugar Bowl is not going to pass on LSU or Alabama to set up Penn State and Pitt.

The Orange Bowl is not going to pass up a sell out by taking BYU or Utah to play Wake Forrest, to set up Penn State and Pitt.

The Fiesta Bowl might, but I really doubt it. Not after the way they got hosed by Pitt the last time.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Oct 3, 2008 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not to sound like an ass

But why does it have to work out that way? There has been plenty of evidence to show that teams don’t NEED to play in their anchor bowl. Also, while I’m not going to dig around for Mandel’s article, he’s previously stated that the committees are willing to deal. On that note, we’re going to have to agree to disagree about the cache of the PSU-Pitt rivalry, and the irony of JoePa possibly coaching against Pitt in his last game. I believe it would be a lot more meaningful that you seem to.

"We heard all that talk all week about the SEC and their speed, but we knew personally that they weren't nearly as tough as us."

-Tony Hunt

by Cpiritual27 on Oct 3, 2008 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not to respond like an ass

But I went through the BCS rules when I wrote that post, hence my instence that the above represents the the way it would have to work out.

The anchor bowl must take a confrence champion that does not play in the BCS title game, that is not open for discussion.

They don’t need to take the second place team in that league if another is eligibile, but they often do for reasons relative to travel and tradition. No matter how great a PSU/Pitt match up would be, the Sugar Bowl is not going to pass on LSU or Alabama to make it happen. The Fiesta Bowl has history with Penn State, they might, but for travel reasons they are going to like Utah and BYU better than Pitt. It’s not just how many tickets you sell, it is how many people make the trip. Bowl Games are not about match ups, or even TV ratings, they are chamber of commerce projects for the host cities.

I read that Mandel article, the bowls can deal, but they never have in the past.

The selection order of the bowls is in the BCS agreement, you can look it up, I did before I wrote the post.

Cache of the PSU-Pitt rivalry Doesn’t matter. Penn State does not want to play this game, and won’t push anybody to make it happen.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Oct 3, 2008 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

they are chamber of commerce projects...

exactly. That’s exactly what they are and that’s exactly why no bowl’s picking Pitt unless they have to.

For BCS bowls, PSU/ND is more likely than PSU/Pitt.

I wouldn't trust old rooster me neither.

by spakajewia on Oct 3, 2008 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Um, I doubt anyone wants to take Utah or BYU, or Wake for that matter

In fact, the two worst rated (tv) and worst attended BCS games were Pitt vs. Utah and Wake vs. Louisville.

At least with PSU as one of their teams, they’d have a fighting chance to sell out.

by Tailgate Shogun on Oct 3, 2008 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Blame Pitt

Shit, people from BYU travel to Afganistan just to talk about Joseph Smith, Tempe for new years is no problem at all.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Oct 3, 2008 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don'tr agree

Ignoring for a moment the improbability of this happening (i.e. too many things would have to work out), I simply disagree with this statement: " I believe that this would draw a large television audience, which is half the battle." A game between PSU and Pitt would not garner a huge television audience,a t least not moe than any other PSU in a BCS bowl game would. It would be a regional game, with interest only to a small segment of the country and not have the national appeal that BCS games crave. And any ratings drawn from “JoePa’s potential last game” would be there no matter whom the opponent was.

The reason why Big East teams always get picked last (or second to last if there is a non-BCS crasher) is simply because they don’t draw fans (either at the games or on TV) and Pitt is not an exception. Selling out a game with PSU wouldn’t be an issue, but TV still would be.

by Laaaaazzz on Oct 3, 2008 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But Joe's Not Retiring

by The IC Lion on Oct 3, 2008 11:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

And that’s especially true if we perform well enough to make it to a BCS game.

by Laaaaazzz on Oct 3, 2008 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

NO WAY....

I want to play a real time in a BCS bowl, not some average MAC school.

Pat Devlin in '08, er, '09

by Nick7 on Oct 3, 2008 1:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

correction

real TEAM

Pat Devlin in '08, er, '09

by Nick7 on Oct 3, 2008 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Playoffs?!?!?!

Let’s stop talking about BCS bowl scenarios. Lot of season left to play.

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

by 06Lion on Oct 3, 2008 1:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, if we're speaking in hypotheticals...

Why don’t we have more fun with this and throw the “surging” Irish into the mix – at this rate, they’ll be as worthy of a BCS Bowl bid as any else in the Big East.

Interesting note about these three coaches – all have had serious injuries in the past 5 years. JoePa and Weis with leg injuries, and Wandstashe’s ~~failure at~~ coaching the Dolphins.

by IcersGuy on Oct 3, 2008 1:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The Stache Got Hurt Too!

He tore his achilles right off last year. . . and I think he spent a game in the press box too as a result. Maybe had a cane? Can’t remember all of it. Oh the irony.

by The IC Lion on Oct 3, 2008 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Penn State's rivals who actually rivaled us in the 1980s:

Pitt, Notre Dame, and …

Alabama.

Think about it. This is the big time opponent that I want to see, as far as good teams then and now go. Big Ten vs. SEC! Good vs. Evil 2! Tradition, Legacy and the Spread HD!

National Championship? (maybe) Rose Bowl? (possibly) ~~Citrus~~ Capital One Bowl? (more likely than Sugar Bowl, actually)

by Aaron PSU on Oct 3, 2008 2:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What you’re all forgetting is that Pitt will play a ranked team great (USF, WVU last year), but completely and utterly crap the bed in a few otherwise winnable games (BG, maybe Rutgers this year).

If they’re in the BCS, it’s because they’re the champs of a bad conference, probably with at least three losses, if not more.

by Tailgate Shogun on Oct 3, 2008 4:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Here's a huge what if

What if you go 11-1 and somehow win the Big 10
We (Oregon State) runs the table the rest of the way and wins the Pac 10 (which we’d be conference champs if we did run the table)
An OSU-PSU rematch in the Rose Bowl
I just want another shot at you guys so you don’t think we’re total football chumps, we just couldn’t handle that damn stadium

The Artist Formerly Known as OrState GoBeavs

by The VD Special on Oct 3, 2008 6:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs