Illinois Preview: A Visit From The Zookie Monster
by Run Up The Score on Sep 25, 2008 11:11 AM EDT
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PrintReal football. Finally.
Who Shot Who In The What Now? Illinois (2-1) at Penn State (4-0). Kickoff at 8 p.m. at Beaver Stadium. It's a White House night. Leave the hunting jackets at home.
Kicking Television: Coverage on ABC (coverage map). I'd really like to find out why that one little slice of south-central PA gets all of the southern games instead of Penn State. Have they seceded?
A Fool And His Money: Penn State is favored by a robust 15 points. The over/under is set at 58.
Weather: We'll throw it over to Jesse Ferrell of Accuweather.com:
Truth be told, it's really too early to call yet. This weekend's forecast is an extremely complicated one because of the two potential tropical storms off the East Coast and a front coming in from the west. While I can't offer frequent updates on the game status, you can rely on the AccuWeather.com AccuPOP forecast when we get within 24 hours (or, if you're a Premium member you can see it 4 days out by typing in "State College, PA"- current screenshot below).
So there you go. And again, just because it might rain doesn't mean you're allowed to break out the orange ponchos, losers. Find a white or clear one. Don't make Penn State look stupid on national television. That's Lloyd Carr's job.
Dubious Statistical Achievements: Illinois, who took on pass-happy Missouri in the opener before vanquishing tomato cans Eastern Illinois and Louisiana-Lafayette, currently ranks 81st nationally in rushing defense and 77th in third down conversion defense.
Lest We Forget: Anthony Morelli's one-man meltdown in Champaign last year, caputured in this YouTube clip and needlessly set to dramatic music.
The last five offensive possessions for Penn State last year? How does "punt, interception, interception, fumble, interception" sound? Joe Paterno's reaction to this, of course, was to blame the receivers for not making plays.
In Scores From Other Games: Mark Hasty's "Pickin' On The Big Ten" forecasts good things for the home team.
This Post Is Worthless Without Ron Zook Looking Ridiculous. And by "ridiculous" I mean "ridiculously BRAHsome."
A previous version of this preview nearly melted BSD a few minutes ago (I think it was an attempted embed of last year's PSU offensive drive chart), so let's cut it short, click "Publish", and hope for the best.
Your predictions and observations are welcome below.
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Old-timers
They don’t have the stamina anymore to tailgate all day. RUTS conveniently left out the block of time from 2-5pm where he breaks out the wine and cheese!!!
by Screen Name 20 on Sep 25, 2008 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Mad Dog and Velveeta, baby!
I didn’t add anything to the Accuweather.com graphic, sadly.
by Run Up The Score on Sep 25, 2008 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Ugh, Mad Dog 20/20.
That stuff is brutal. I love Velvetta though.
by Screen Name 20 on Sep 25, 2008 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions
It's better
if you mix it 50/50 with The Champagne of Bottled Beers. Spodie-Odies kick ass. They also promote projectile vomiting.
'People are about as happy as they decide they want to be'
by Pete the Streak on Sep 25, 2008 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Miller High Life?
That was my beer of choice in college, mostly b/c it was like $6 for a 6-pack from Brewski’s. Nothing like a cheap champagne-campaign.
by Screen Name 20 on Sep 25, 2008 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Well,
it’s much better if you mix it 50/50 with The Champagne of Bottled Beers. Spodie-Odies kick your ass. However, they also promote high-velocity projectile vomiting, which may be considered bad form in certain social settings.
'People are about as happy as they decide they want to be'
by Pete the Streak on Sep 25, 2008 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Great....
First, my posts disappear. Now, they show up all at once.
Yes, I’m a dork.
Mike, I appreciate the help – whatever you did.
'People are about as happy as they decide they want to be'
by Pete the Streak on Sep 25, 2008 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions
That was me
And I’m a little sad to have never even heard of Spodie-Odies. But I’m interested.
by Run Up The Score on Sep 25, 2008 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Indeed.
Although the projectile vomiting is a red flag.
by Screen Name 20 on Sep 26, 2008 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions
I will be one of them
I probably won’t make it there that earlier because I am headed from Columbus, OH to get to the game. A friend and I are driving up in the morning. Not to sure where to park or where to tailgate at because I havn’t been up there in over 3 years. So if anyone has any ideas of where to go please let me know. If you see 2 people drinking yingaling and have ohio plates that is probably us.
Pre-pay if you can
Otherwise you’ll be stuck in lots 11 or 26
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/psu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/08-fb-parking-map043008.pdf
KILL. MURDER. DEATH. MURDER. BEATINGS. BANG! BANG! BANG!
I shouldn’t have watched that video.
Will the real Derrick Williams please stand up?
by ReadingRambler on Sep 25, 2008 11:24 AM EDT reply actions
I agree.
It reminded me that Quarless couldn’t wrap up a perfect TD pass, that AM actually looked good on that scramble until he didn’t, that that sideline interception was ridiculously acrobatic, and the play selections and AM’s decision making were throw-up-in-my-mouth horrendous.
Someone has to pay Saturday night, and I think it’s gonna be the Juice Man.
To be known forever after as ‘Pulp’ Williams.
'People are about as happy as they decide they want to be'
by Pete the Streak on Sep 25, 2008 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions
That slice of south-central PA
Seriously… what’s that all about? And, frankly, if I lived in Maryland, I’d be pretty pissed as well. I understand that Maryland is in the ACC, but come on! You don’t think most of the people in that state would rather be watching Penn State?
Believe me...
I live in the DC area and I am livid. There have been some games that I’ve been steamed about not getting (PSU-BC in ‘04 immediately comes to mind), but this one is the worst. Throw in the fact that the pay-per-view purchase is not in HD, and you’ve got a full scale murderous rage that I’m trying to suppress.
And I know I can go to the bars to watch it and not pay for the PPV, but it still won’t be in HD. This alone makes me want to Hulk out and fight the Zooker while water-skiing.
Yeah...
It’s just a poor decision by ABC… thinking that the population of a state bordering Pennsylvania would be so obsessed with its conference that it would rather watch a game between two schools that are each over a thousand miles away. That just sucks, dude.
To be fair...
The PSU game is being carried by the Baltimore ABC station, so northern Marylanders will not be denied. And I don’t blame ABC for deciding the people of the DC area would rather watch VaTech than Penn State.
I just think it was a poor decision to place both of these games in an 8pm time slot, knowing full well they had two major conference, eastern seaboard teams, that would split many major markets in the primetime slot. Who knows, maybe that’s why they decided to do it.
Geography
Um, you do realize that Maryland (and DC) border Virginia as well, which is a state that features one of the teams playing in the other game on ABC, right? The problem with Maryland/DC/nortern Virginia is not that there is a astrong PSU presence there (there is), but that there is a strong PSU presence and a strong Va Tech/ACC presence there. No matter which game is chosen to be broadcasted, a large group of fans were gonig to be screwed. I actually think PSU fans made out quite well on the topic with the Baltimore station picking up the Lions over the Hokies.
As for geography, I’m don’t think Blacksburg is “over a thousand miles” from the likes of Maryland, DC or the Pennsylvania border. It’s some 250 miles from DC, I think.
I know, but unfortunately I saw it
Fortunately, it was at a PSU-DC alumni association viewing site that was a mere 500 yards from my apartment at the time. There is little I remember from the game.
I was at the BC home game the year before
Ugh. 21-0 less than 6 minutes into the game isn’t exactly my idea of fun.
Actually
You missed the most frustrating opening drive in Penn State history. Two defensive stops, followed by two running into the kicker penalties leading to first downs. A few plays later, BC 7, PSU 0. Excuse me while I vomit in my mouth.
Thanks
I thought I had purged that from my memory. Pass the vomit bag, please.
Will the real Derrick Williams please stand up?
by ReadingRambler on Sep 25, 2008 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions
It's all a big mess in my mind.
The only thing I remember from that two-game series is every Boston College receiver running wild through our clueless secondary.
by Run Up The Score on Sep 25, 2008 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions
The weird thing about it...
…is that the little slice of PA doesn’t get the Penn State game every week (or damned close to every week). It’s so strange.
by Run Up The Score on Sep 25, 2008 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions
My guess...
is that WJLA (DC’s ABC station) reaches that far north. The weather advisories on WJLA always include northwestern Maryland counties as well as some northeaster West Virginia ones. Actual line delineations of the markets are fungible, as well. Thus somebody living in that small slice of PA will likely be able to pick up Harrisburg’s ABC as well as DC’s. Thus, that guy, if equipped with the proper antenna, gets both games.
I hate that guy.
2 ABC's
My grandparents live in NE PA. For some reason or other, they get duplicates of a few channels(i.e. 2 Fox channels, etc). Well anyways, they can watch at least 3 early afternoon NFL games each Sunday.
by Screen Name 20 on Sep 25, 2008 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Will the real Derrick Williams please stand up?
by ReadingRambler on Sep 25, 2008 11:32 AM EDT reply actions
The soundtrack from that vidoe clip is from
Requiem for a Dream…when I hear it, all I can think of is shooting heroin and Sarah Goldfarb.
We’ve got a winner. We’ve got a Winner. Sarah’s got juice, whooaaaaa, Sarah’s got juice!
I bleed Blue and White.
I hope they enjoy their video clip.
Saturday night they are going down.
Read option left, pitch to Stephon Green.
At the end of the run, and it will be a long one, is when everybody will know that Penn State’s offense is no joke.
"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008
I feel good
Well kind of, watching that clip made all those feelings about the unnamed quarterback pour through my system all over again…I really feel PSU has a great GREAT shot at winning this game and big…Old State should have won by 20 last year, but of you know who..I feel good, much better leadership this year and whiteout, goodnight Illini…
I never understood
why every time he scrambled he fumbled the ball. Thanks for letting us relive that game
Video
I hope they roll that video in the locker room before the beginning of the game.
I had forgotten how embarrassing of a loss that game was. Hopefully the team, the coaches, and the crowd remember. Judging by the comments I’ve seen from Clark, he’s cranked up.
Luring recruits with my new "Posting HD" scheme since '08.
"It's a White House night."?????
Have you gone PC or are the Phoenix lawyers after you?
I still give us PSU full credit for the “Whiteout”.
White House vs White Out
Well, it’s a White House and not a White Out because they’re asking EVERYONE, not just the students, to wear white. And that’s the difference between those two terms. So no, RUTS isn’t going all PC soft on us, thankfully.
Let's Go State!
by Gopher Broke on Sep 25, 2008 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
That video is the microcasm of Morelli's career
Even when he made that incredible scramble on 4th and 10 to convert, he fumbles the ball away. Then the defense gets the ball back with plenty of time and he tries to throw a 40 yard bomb into coverage off his back foot.
Penn State should have put up atleast 2 TDs in the that 4th quarter.
After watching that video, i think im beginning to hate the illini. i hope we crush them. and im SO STOKED we have Clark or Devlin.
by hawaiipennstatefan on Sep 25, 2008 1:06 PM EDT reply actions
If you are betting!
I’d say the lock is the over.
Other than that I think PSU wins by 2 TDs, so I’d be betting on Illinois.
42-28 type game.
I'd rather remember this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT551SofU2I
PSU-Illinois 2005. I know the Lady Zooksters are way better than this squad, but I’d rather be inspired by the play of one Michael Robinson and crew.
Yeah Baby...
YEAH! ! !
" We need MORE cowbell !"
by BlueWhiteLife on Sep 25, 2008 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions
F-ing VA Tech
Now I’m going to have to either pony up for the Gameplan or drag my ass to a bar that will probably also be swamped by Hokies. Playing Nebraska, no less!!!
AAArrrrgggghhhh!!!!!!
Small part of PA not getting the game
I live in the area in question but you can still get the game here. We get both ABC stations out of Baltimore and Harrisburg here so we have our choice. It’s kinda nice during commercials. The reason is because 50% of those living in this part of PA are refugees from the hell whole that is Baltimore (I know because I am one).
Of course, I mostly grew up here and went to PSU so I’m one of the few good ones.
Regardless, you're still under suspicion.
by Screen Name 20 on Sep 25, 2008 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions
No.
Absolutely not. Just suspicious of those Bmore folk.
by Screen Name 20 on Sep 26, 2008 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions
The one place in PA that doesn't get the Penn State Games
I don’t know why, but every week, that county gets the southern games, which is terrible when I want to watch anything but the ACC
Anyone watching the OrSt USC game?
OSU is up 14-0. :)
Game carried on ESPN 360
For anyone like me trapped in Hokie country, the game is going to be broadcast on ESPN 360. So, as long as you have a broadband provider who provides ESPN 360 (FIOS does!!!) there is no need to pay $22 for the gameplan or wade through Hokie fans at the local watering hole!!!
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