Michigan State Preview: Once More, With Meaning
Who Shot Who In The What Now? Michigan State (9-2, 6-1) at Penn State (10-1, 6-1). Kickoff at Beaver Stadium scheduled for 3:30 p.m. The all-time series is tied at 12-12-1.
Kicking Television: YOU ARE LOOKING LIVE AT Mike Patrick, Todd Blackledge, and Holly Rowe on ABC/ESPN.
Weather: Perhaps this is better in picture form.
In all seriousness, drunkards: It's a long day, so dress appropriately.
A Fool And His Money: Penn State is a 15.5 point favorite. Looks like Vegas is just begging you to bet on Sparty. The over/under is 47.5.
You'll Get Yours, Delany!: Jim Delany's evil plan has borne fruit. The league mandated rivalry between Penn State and Sparty, which so many of us have resented for so long, finally means something in the grand scheme of Big Ten football.
Dubious Statistical Achievements: Let me understand this correctly. Michigan State's offense revolves around Javon Ringer, yet they're ranked 9th out of 11 Big Ten teams in rushing offense? And speaking of weird Big Ten specific stats, it appears that nearly every statistical category is led by Penn State or...Illinois. Really:
Penn State: Rushing offense, scoring offense, rushing defense, pass efficiency defense, total defense, scoring defense, kickoff returns, pass defense, sacks allowed.
Illinois: Passing offense, total offense, passing efficiency, sacks, tackles for loss.
Minnesota: Turnover margin (paging Dr. Saturday, Dr. Saturday report to Minneapolis!).
Ohio State: Punt returns.
Michigan: Net punting. Of course.
Lest We Forget: The best sports talk radio meltdown EVER. Sparty, you never let us down. (AGAAAAAAAAAAAAAIN.)
Pickin' On The Big Ten: Come for the midwestern humor, stay for analysis of Cal Poly @ Wisconsin!
A Senior Moment: This particular group of seniors has a chance to be remembered as perhaps the greatest class of the PSU Big Ten years, provided they can nail down another Big Ten championship tomorrow. That would be two conference championships in four years -- not too shabby, considering where the program was when these guys first walked on campus. Derrick Williams isn't going to get his national championship. Perhaps that's appropriate, as his biggest contributions to the program extended way beyond the playing field. He believed in Penn State, and made his present and future teammates believe in Penn State, as well. There are just so many good stories in this senior class -- walk-ons who unexpectedly flourished, five-star athletes who became leaders, and any number of guys who perservered through various physical and emotional difficulties with the help of their friends, families, teammates, coaches, and fans. Gerald Cadogen's humility and class, Mike Lucian's attitude as he was moved from position to position, Kevin Kelly's success in the face of constant sniping, Jordan Norwood's heart, A.Q. Shipley's ability to turn defensive linemen into a bloody pulp.
It's a great group, one that we can be proud of for many reasons.
Read Related
Comments
Gah, that MSU announcer gong crazy
I was at that game. First game at Michigan State I can really recall the student section staying past the third quarter, and it was in some of the worst, driving rain I’ve ever been in at a game (I know there’s been worse, but I guess I’ve been fortunate to miss them). MSU definitely were choke artists for that one.
by The JuggerNitt on Nov 21, 2008 11:12 AM EST 0 recs
Christ Almighty!
Who are our WR’s next year? Is it back to running up the middle again?
I mean, who’s gonna take the hike with the QB at the WR position? We can’t fool anyone anymore!
These guys will be missed.
by Mr. Rosewater on
Nov 21, 2008 11:24 AM EST
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FEAR THE ZUG
If you can smile when things go wrong, you have someone in mind to blame.
by TheMightyErik on
Nov 21, 2008 11:36 AM EST
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DREW STANTON COULD CHOKE ON APPLE SAUCE!
That rant puts Mike Gundy and Dan Hawkins to shame.
by ReadingRambler on
Nov 21, 2008 11:26 AM EST
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Who says our society is on its way down?
That audio is insane. I mean I don’t even have reaction that I can put into words.
Kevin @ Black Shoe Diaries
by Kevin HD on
Nov 21, 2008 11:37 AM EST
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Pucker pucker pucker!
I'm too country for Terrelle Pryor.
by NewJackCity on
Nov 21, 2008 12:21 PM EST
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great photo.....
of williams, that’s got to be one of the best I’ve ever seen. Definitely epitomizes his character and the fans’ appreciation of him during his tenure.
by Artiefufkin10 on Nov 21, 2008 11:24 AM EST 0 recs
Agreed
But what’s the deal with that cheerleader’s hair?
by Kunk on
Nov 21, 2008 11:33 AM EST
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The chick?
Or the guy that looks like he just got plugs?
On a serious note… this picture was used as my wallpaper for quite a while.. great shot and I will always look back on it and remember this four year stretch as DWill was responsible for so much of it. Do we have a DWill kind of ambassador to the new recruits this year? Is Shrive or any of the other guys working the phones and helping get other kids here? I hope so. It pays dividends but it takes a special kinda kid and a leader to do that
If you can smile when things go wrong, you have someone in mind to blame.
by TheMightyErik on
Nov 21, 2008 11:40 AM EST
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something about mary is all I have to say
I don't know, Mello Yello is pretty awful. What's the worst that could happen?
by psu on
Nov 21, 2008 12:02 PM EST
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I was gonna say "she's jumping and her ponytail just happens to be all the way up"
then I saw the guy cheerleader, and realized I don’t have an explanation for that…
by The JuggerNitt on
Nov 21, 2008 12:10 PM EST
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WOW
the more I look at the wierder it gets…when did we get quazimodo as a cheerleader…those eyes are freaking me out
by Lion Alum on
Nov 21, 2008 1:18 PM EST
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So that's who's ringing the bells at Old Main... :::shudder:::
If you can smile when things go wrong, you have someone in mind to blame.
by TheMightyErik on
Nov 21, 2008 1:24 PM EST
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hahahah
it’s like the bastard child of Graham Spanier and Tim Curley
hahaha
by Lion Alum on
Nov 21, 2008 1:26 PM EST
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lol... great take!
If you can smile when things go wrong, you have someone in mind to blame.
by TheMightyErik on
Nov 21, 2008 2:01 PM EST
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Looks alot like "The Emu" to me
Found a great picture to paste here: http://bigeastsux.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/emu.jpg but I can’t figure out how to do it.
Dang internets.
by NJ lion on
Nov 21, 2008 1:57 PM EST
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holy hell!... lol
If you can smile when things go wrong, you have someone in mind to blame.
by TheMightyErik on
Nov 21, 2008 2:01 PM EST
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MSU girls
I hope you realize the video just made me fall in love with Michigan State……….. not hate them.
by markpsu on Nov 21, 2008 11:54 AM EST 0 recs
I was about to say
that not all the girls at Michigan State are like that…then I realized that yes, they pretty much are (attitude-wise, not looks-wise…they seem to put on a lot more “insulation” up here)
by The JuggerNitt on
Nov 21, 2008 12:08 PM EST
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Really?
I find very little attractive about those girls.
by speedomike on
Nov 21, 2008 4:04 PM EST
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Standards are for suckers
Besides, they’re wearing bikinis and shotgunning beers.
by Run Up The Score on
Nov 21, 2008 4:26 PM EST
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oh, I didn't say they were overly attractive
but they aren’t that bad, and as far as MSU girls go, they’re on the higher end of the spectrum
by The JuggerNitt on
Nov 21, 2008 4:36 PM EST
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Admit it
if they were wearing blue & white you’d say they were hot . . .
by Joe 96alum on
Nov 21, 2008 8:08 PM EST
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Hey RUTS. . .
Out on a limb, but is that an Alice’s Restaurant reference I see?
Senior Moment- Very nice. This group deserves all the praise it will get this weekend. Off the top of my head, isn’t this group going into tomorrow’s game with only 2 losses ever at the Beav? Can we get a Sr group record at home stat?
by The IC Lion on Nov 21, 2008 11:56 AM EST 0 recs
It's not meant to be, but...
…could be one of those weird pop culture things that stuck in my brain without me actually knowing where it came from.
by Run Up The Score on
Nov 21, 2008 11:58 AM EST
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Well it is that time of year
There is an Alice’s Restaurant off of I-83 between York and Harrisburg. Not the restaurant of course…
OSU’s counterpoint to MSU: http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2008/11/21/student-journalism-at-its-finest/
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
Nov 21, 2008 12:10 PM EST
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The video
Huh. Sarah Palin is an MSU fan? That surprises me.
"the secret to loving your job is having a hobby that you really despise"
by nitwit86 on Nov 21, 2008 12:03 PM EST 0 recs
MSU radio guy
WOW! I just played that at work turned up and didn’t care. That’s funny stuff!!
“What the hell were you doing in shotgun during a MONSOON!”
by markpsu on Nov 21, 2008 12:18 PM EST 0 recs
wait a minute
Timeouts don’t carry over? Did anyone else no this?
"the secret to loving your job is having a hobby that you really despise"
by nitwit86 on
Nov 21, 2008 12:30 PM EST
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*did anyone one else know this? (that is)
"the secret to loving your job is having a hobby that you really despise"
by nitwit86 on
Nov 21, 2008 12:30 PM EST
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Statistic Quwstion??
RUTS: Do the statistics you present also include the OCC games or do they just represent play within the Big Ten. I think the latter would be more significant as it would represent play amongst common opponents.
by ageing lion on Nov 21, 2008 12:24 PM EST 0 recs
Usually, they're national rankings
But I used the Big Ten specific stats for this one.
by Run Up The Score on
Nov 21, 2008 1:37 PM EST
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WHERE DID YOU GET THE WEATHER GRAPHIC?
I’d love to know.
by FSUncensored on Nov 21, 2008 5:46 PM EST 0 recs
Just so you know...
I shed a little tear at your note about the seniors. Great stuff. I will never forget that epic 2004 season. I can’t believe these guys were freshmen when they turned this ship around, and I can’t believe they’re seniors now, leaving us behind for bigger things in the NFL. It’s a shame we missed the National Championship again, by thismuch, but I’m so proud of these guys non-the-less. I don’t think anyone expected the season we got and it makes me proud, as always, to be a Nittany Lion fan.
If any of you boys wanna head on over to Pittsburgh in April, that would be perfectly alright with me :)
Joe Paterno is my adopted grandfather.
Nittany Lion Love,
Meredith
by PaternosGranddaughter on Nov 22, 2008 7:49 AM EST 0 recs
"If any of you boys wanna head on over to Pittsburgh in April"
I’d love to see AQ Shipley in the Black and Gold… second coming of Jeff Hartings??? hhmm just wiki’d him and he was drafted by the Lions first before going to the Steelers. Didn’t know that.
Anyway
LET’S GO STATE!! WE ARE!!!
"It was an attrition football game and you know we like that."
by showtime on
Nov 22, 2008 12:12 PM EST
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Nice pull
ruts is still the reigning king of youtube surfing. Great find!
pax et amor
by jtothep on Nov 22, 2008 12:51 PM EST 0 recs


















