Chances of an 8pm PSU-MSU kick?

by tomatpsu on Nov 5, 2008 1:04 PM EST Comment 48 comments

Well, we now know that the Indiana kick is at Noon on the BTN. We all saw that coming a few weeks ago, seeing as Indiana football has a regular BTN staple for most of the season.

But what are we thinking the chances of a primetime PSU-MSU kickoff? I mean, sure, both teams would have to win out... Sparty would have to kick around Joe Tiller and Co. and we'd have to take care of business against Iowa and Indiana.

But right now, according to ESPN, only one one game is slated for 8pm EST -- UNLV at San Diego State (bleck). So, ABC/ESPN hasn't chosen their suite of primetime games yet.

Among the notable TBAs:

#18 Michigan State at #3 Penn State
North Carolina State at #19 North Carolina
#22 Florida State at #23 Maryland
#25 West Virginia at Louisville
#2 Texas Tech at #6 Oklahoma
Ole Miss at #16 LSU
Tennessee at Vanderbilt
Stanford at #21 Cal

CBS hasn't picked its SEC game du jour, so if they're broadcasting that week, they'll probably snag Miss-LSU. ESPN2 could go with its weekly primetime tribute to the SEC with Tenn-Vandy (or grab Miss-LSU if CBS doesn't). Those ACC matchups scream 3:30pm to me.

I don't know, but given this slate of games (plus no Alabama or Texas), if the stars align, what are the chances we're looking at an 8pm kick in Beaver Stadium? Tech-Oklahoma is a shoo-in for the 8pm slot, but you'd have to think we'd make it onto the ESPN primetime suite.

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I think

8pm will be Texas Tech at OU

however, I think we will get the Todd Blackledge crew and the 7:45 start on ESPN.

JoePa in '09

by JGuiher on Nov 5, 2008 1:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I thought....

someone once said on here that all night games are set before the season starts. thus, there’s no chance for any game to be turned into a night game. Is that true? I don’t know. It wouldn’t surprise me though, because I thought that night games had to be approved by both team’s athletic directors.

"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 Nov 5, 2008 1:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'm under the same impression you are.

I don’t think it’ll be an 8 o’clock game. 3:30 or 4:00 sounds right

by Ab4PSU on Nov 6, 2008 10:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not Again

Please god no, as a student I’m sick of these 8:00 games, I’d much rather it be a 12 or 3:30 game.

by mrb5091 on Nov 5, 2008 1:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

wow

when i was a student we PRAYED for night games. we weren’t that good so we almost never got one, and plus, it gave us ample time to get the suggested 12 hours of sleep from partying the night before and still have time to drink for 3 hours prior to getting in line. a 12 game usually meant drinking on the way over to the stadium and getting in a half hour late

For the glory

by lionalum05 on Nov 5, 2008 1:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What kind of student are you?

Doesn’t like night games? Pleads for noon games?

Your ID should be confiscated.

Hand it over.

by NittanyBadger on Nov 5, 2008 1:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

One who has better stuff to do in the evening. Plus, I want to get home saturday night for thanksgiving break, not a chance if the game is at 8.

by mrb5091 on Nov 5, 2008 3:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Better Stuff to Do?

Like What?

God Created the World Out Of Nothing, Paterno Built A National Superpower On Cow Fields...

by fugimaster24 on Nov 5, 2008 3:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

"Outside of Pittsburgh" or "Outside of Philly"...

whichever one it is you’re from will still be there for you on Sunday.

by NittanyBadger on Nov 5, 2008 4:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

whoa

Not a fan of night games? Blasphemy!

I set up the tailgate at the same time, regardless of game time (8am). The benefit of night games is I can enjoy an afternoon nap in my lawn chair for a few hours, wake up and drink more, and still enjoy a football game.

Also, if it is a night game, and you have better things to do, I’ll happily take your ticket off your hands for a fair and decent price.

by shadowfax on Nov 5, 2008 3:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Noon game!

can’t even get a good buzz on unless you start drinking at 6am…3:30 is okay…but 8pm prime time during a game that might be Joe’s last at home (i don’t think so, but the media will be all over it)

PSU Softball

by QBsneak12 on Nov 5, 2008 1:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Imagine...

Can anyone imagine the chaos that would ensue if we run the table, AND it’s a night game in happy valley? If the students rioted (I was there, but just to cheer, not to destroy) for an away game vs. tOSU, what would happen to this town with 110,000 people (majority intoxicated) going crazy. Maybe 8pm isn’t such a good idea…

by dawsonPSU10 on Nov 5, 2008 1:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Horses

Seriously, just put some cops on horses and ride ’em around town. Nothing scares drunk kids like horses.

by millzners on Nov 5, 2008 1:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

haha

i was downtown a couple of years ago when there were horses…some drunk girl snuck up behind one and slapped it on the ass.

The horse took off for a little bit down the street before getting under control. Cop on top was not too pleased

by borisborisboris on Nov 5, 2008 2:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ummm

That drunk girl slappin the ass of the horse with a cop on it sounds hot.

pax et amor

by jtothep on Nov 5, 2008 6:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually....

While I’m hoping MSU is a mid-afternoon game (3:30 or 4:30), the 8pm start might actually quell a lot of the downtown “rioting”. I’m pulling from my experience with 2005 tOSU, where the insanity was contained within the stadium. Everyone stayed around to celebrate, my fellow students tried to rush the field like the idiots they are, and then everyone continued on like it was just another football Saturday night. I didn’t hear about anything major going on elsewhere that night…

by IcersGuy on Nov 5, 2008 3:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

As a guy sitting in the stands

September night games…cool
October night games…very cool
November night games…way too cold

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Nov 5, 2008 2:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I recall the 2002 MSU game

And nearly dying of hypothermia.

by Run Up The Score on Nov 5, 2008 2:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If it makes you feel any better, I got dysentery on the Oregon Trail

I bleed Blue and White.

by Horse N Buggy on Nov 5, 2008 2:38 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I was there too

it was soooo cold that it got to the point that it was hard to sit down on the cold benches

PSU Softball

by QBsneak12 on Nov 5, 2008 3:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

that game

was rediculously cold, looking back i dont blame Joe for taking LJ out in the 3rd quarter….although it seems by his Cap One bowl performance that hypothermia already took hold

For the glory

by lionalum05 on Nov 5, 2008 3:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I was buzzing from cheap beer and didn’t feel the cold.

I was also dressed as the Heisman Trophy and still to this day cannot believe Larry Johnson had the season he had.

by NittanyBadger on Nov 5, 2008 4:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ask West Virginia

how fun their 8pm late November game with a national title berth on the line was. Ok, its two different situations, but play at 3:30. I’d rather celebrate 12-0 all night long than prepare for it all day long.

by blogue20 on Nov 5, 2008 2:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Amen

Freezing cold weather means too many chances for game-altering turnovers, and allowing the less talented team to steal a game. Our passing and kicking games are superior, and I don’t want weather to be ANY kind of equalizer.

I want everything lined up in our favor. Period.

All this, of course, AFTER we take care of business with Iowa and Indy. This is the most dangerous time of the season for us, regardless of opponent.

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

by Pete the Streak on Nov 5, 2008 5:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If Texas Tech wins vs OK State

Then they’d more than likely get the night game.

Besides, I’m in agreement that on Nov 22, no one is gonna wanna be sitting in the cold, in the dark. 3:30 is fine for me. Then we can all pile into the bars and watch to see if Texas Tech loses, leading to even more celebration.

by The JuggerNitt on Nov 5, 2008 2:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Indiana

A little surprised the kick is at noon. I’ve seen a lot of games on the BTN start at 7, and I guess I thought given our undefeated status, they’d like to get as much out of PSU playing on the BTN as possible.

God Created the World Out Of Nothing, Paterno Built A National Superpower On Cow Fields...

by fugimaster24 on Nov 5, 2008 4:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Again, regarding night games....

All Big Ten night games are announced before the season. The Big Ten requires Disney and the BTN to set any night games ahead of time. In order for a game to be moved to night during the season, it requires permission from both involved teams and it’s unlikely that visiting teams would want to have a game at night. Furthermore, the home teams often look out for the fans by keeping the games earlier in the day when the weather is (presumably) warmer and more comfortable.

It’s also key to point out that the Big Ten discourages night games in Nov anyway due to the cold. The only BTN evening game in Nov is in the final weekend — at Minnesota, who plays in a comfy dome.

by Laaaaazzz on Nov 5, 2008 8:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And another point

The Big Ten likes the Michigan-Ohio State game to be the feature game on that last day of the season. Putting another conference game in the prime time slot will take away from their darling programs so don’t count on it.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Nov 5, 2008 8:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Another vote

for 3:30 and a little bit warmer temps, and plenty of time afterward to celebrate and still make the three hour ride back home at fairly normal hours.

by Joe 96alum on Nov 5, 2008 8:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

plus

at that time of the year, 3:30 pretty much seems like a night game. It is dark for most of the game anyway, and the lights are on.

by The JuggerNitt on Nov 6, 2008 7:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Could be interesting....

Penn State wrapped up their 1986 national championship season on November 22, 1986 with a big win over Pittsburgh. I remember because we stormed the field along with the rest of the stadium, my roommate got maced, and I got a scar on my hand from the goal posts that were torn down and carried to old main lawn.

That will be 22 years ago to the day when we play michigan state. 22 years, Evan Royster is #22………coincidence……….I think not!!!!!

by Lovethosefreakinnittanylions on Nov 5, 2008 8:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

im failing to make the connection

care to elaborate?

For the glory

by lionalum05 on Nov 5, 2008 9:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And..

on Nov 22nd!!!!

by MicrobrewPSU on Nov 5, 2008 11:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

and let's not forget

22 starters on a team! It is all falling into place now! This makes perfect sense!!!

by The JuggerNitt on Nov 6, 2008 7:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

November 22nd's line up:

Noon, ABC: Michigan/Ohio State
3:30, ABC: Michigan State/Penn State
8:00, ABC: Texas Tech/Oklahoma

by NittanyBadger on Nov 5, 2008 9:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Possibly

I think that schedule might be right or maybe UM/tOSU and MSU/PSU are switched. Either way, I do think that tOSU/UM ends up as a regional broadcast (albeit with ESPN/ESPN2 “outer markets”) and MSU/PSU as a national game.

by Laaaaazzz on Nov 5, 2008 9:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

tOSU/UM

Noon is the typical kickoff for tOSU/UM, correct? The only time they’ve ever played at 3:30pm in series history was when there were #1 and #2 in 2006. I would agree that NittanyBadger probably has it right.

by tomatpsu on Nov 6, 2008 10:19 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I can't remember the times exactly

but in 2005 when we were at MSU, which I think was a 3:30 start for us, I recall getting score updates on the tOSU/UM game.

by The JuggerNitt on Nov 6, 2008 10:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

In 2005

Yes, our start was a 3:30 one at MSU, and the Ohio State/Michigan game was an abnormal 1pm start, so when OSU came back at the end of the game to win, it was probably during the end of the 1st quarter of our game.

by blogue20 on Nov 6, 2008 11:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Mostly correct

PSU-MSU was actually a 4pm start on ESPN, but tOSU/UM was indeed a 1pm start on ABC. Odd timing.

by Laaaaazzz on Nov 6, 2008 12:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually....

I’m pretty sure at this point that it will be:
12pm MSU/PSU — ABC national
3:30pm UM/tOSU — ABC Regional/ESPN outer market

From what I’ve seen, it looks like the noon spot is setup to be a national game and our game is much more likely to be national than a game involving 2 win Michigan. And the 3:30pm slot will feature regional action (Stanford-Cal is already set as one of the games there and there will certainly be an ACC game as well).

The big question, I guess, would be if the tradition of UM/tOSU would cause that to be national despite UM’s suckiness and tOSU not explicitly playing for the conference championship.

by Laaaaazzz on Nov 6, 2008 12:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I would like to think

that the national picture of Penn State, and also the unofficial Big 10 championship game (of the week!) would be a big enough draw. Assuming both PSU and MSU win until that game, if Penn State wins, we go to the MNC game (and OSU possibly to the Rose Bowl) unless TTU & Bama both win out, then we go to the Rose Bowl. If Penn State loses, the Michigan State goes to the Rose Bowl, and Penn State would hopefully get an at-large bid.

I think there’s enough at stake in that game, with the subplot of many people predicting/guessing/assuming it might be JoePa’s last game at Beaver Stadium, and I’d put that game on national TV over 2-loss OSU slaughtering 2-win Michigan.

If not, I vote Penn State secedes from the Big 10, JoePa creates/joins his All-team Eastern/Big East Conference, and we at least play in a weak conference where we don’t have to worry about getting sloppy seconds from OSU & UofM.

by The JuggerNitt on Nov 6, 2008 12:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

ESPN loves tOSU/UM

so much that I still would put it at noon on ESPN/ESPN2, seeing as there’s no real reason to make it later in the day. It’s still the “greatest rivalry” in ESPN’s eyes.

Plus, I REALLY don’t want Pam Ward calling our potential perfect season game.

by tomatpsu on Nov 6, 2008 2:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Another possibility

The BTN has the rights to take two games a year away from ESPN/ABC. Maybe they take the PSU/MSU game for themselves?

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Nov 7, 2008 8:52 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Didn't they already take 2 games

granted, none of them conference games, yet, which I thought they were allowed at least 1, which will be Indiana next week (for their 3rd PSU game of the season).

by The JuggerNitt on Nov 7, 2008 9:11 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

3:30 or 4:00 would suit

I’m pretty sure State College and Penn State police don’t want people tailgating for 3 hrs in the dark. That would be the case if they made the time slot any later than 3:30 or 4:00. I mean, besides being cold outside, it does get dark around 5:00 in late November. If Penn State is 11-0 going in, there is gonna be so much security and police surveillance that night, it would be foolish to schedule it between 6 and 8. It will be rowdy enough without the 12 hr drinking scene.

by LIONHEAD2477 on Nov 7, 2008 10:45 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

PSU does not want the Noon Slot

Good information from Happy Valley says the University is planning to have a post-MSU celebration at the stadium (assuming a win) in an effort to keep the kids from going downtown. My source says it will be 330 at the earliest, but PSU would rather have it as a 430 game. ESPN is willing to work that angle apparently.

State High Class of 92 Penn State Class of 96

by NittanySteve on Nov 7, 2008 10:46 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

nice

Thanks for sharing. I wonder what difference it would make starting the game at 4:30 instead of 3:30? Either way, the in-stadium celebration is a good idea.

by rmcmillen50 on Nov 7, 2008 11:22 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs