40 days off…

by WETSU on Jan 2, 2009 2:46 PM EST

JoePa down played it because that’s what he has to do but 40 days off takes a toll on a football team… I know this sounds like sour grapes but I don’t give a shitt… PSU was off for 40 days and had to travel to USC’s back yard… USC was off for 25 days and played in their backyard… USC is a good team no doubt but they are not as good as what Penn State made them look last night…

The Bowl system needs a major overhaul…. If NCAA and BCS doesn’t want to have a playoff system, fine… make sure the regular season ends the same weekend for everyone… make conferences that don’t have a conference championship game have one. Make Notre Shame join a F’n conference. When all that is done, play the F’n bowl games the next week or 2 weeks at the latest… 40 F’n days is too long….

I would love to see the situation reversed with USC off for 40 days and then had to come to play Penn State in Heinz Field on New Years Day…

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It does matter

and Paterno actually did say something about this. He has long been outspoken about letting the Big Ten season go later into the year. This should happen going forward, I think in the next year or two the Big Ten will begin scheduling league games a week later into the season.

Kevin @ Black Shoe Diaries

by KevinHD on Jan 2, 2009 3:05 PM EST reply actions

2010

In 2010, the Big Ten will start ending their season the weekend after Thanksgiving instead of the weekend before. This is not unprecendented (we used to end after Thanksgiving most years in the 90’s before the Big Ten changed to a “give the teams a chance to be home with their families for the holiday” policy).

This change has a number of positive effects:
1. Shortens the layoff between final game and bowls, making it more comparable to other conferences. A few teams play the first weekend in December, but it’s mostly just the championship games.
2. Allows for the conference schedule to be set up such that we have 4 weeks in the beginning of the season for 4 OOC games. Thus, we won’t have to play the odd OOC game in the middle of conference play (like Eastern Illinois in October in 2009).
3. Allows for a bye in the middle of the seasone very year which can be helpful to rest, heal injured players, and work on issues that have developed in the first half of the season

Please note that 2008 was an atypical year with an extra week in the calender so there was a bye and all conference games in the beginning. Most years, with the 12 game schedule, ending before Thanksgiving would mean 12 straight weeks of games.

by Laaaaazzz on Jan 2, 2009 4:15 PM EST up reply actions

Sour grapes? I hardly noticed...

just kidding, yanno. I feel your pain and I agree 100% with leveling the playing field.

I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member

by TheMightyErik on Jan 2, 2009 3:11 PM EST reply actions

At what point doesn't it matter?

I guess I’m asking, is there a real difference between 40 days and 26 days? Once you get past the two-week layoff mark, isn’t the long layoff just a convenient excuse?

--
Mr. Bob Dobalina

by Run Up The Score on Jan 2, 2009 3:53 PM EST reply actions

Practices?

Maybe I’m wrong, but isn’t there a specific number of practices allowed between the final game and a bowl game? If so, it could be beneficial to have tyour “regular season” practices go later and then have only 26 days to fill with your “special bowl practices” rather than 40 days. Anyone know?

by Laaaaazzz on Jan 2, 2009 4:16 PM EST up reply actions

Maybe. I have no idea.

--
Mr. Bob Dobalina

by Run Up The Score on Jan 2, 2009 4:37 PM EST up reply actions

yes, there is, not sure how many

by letsgopsu on Jan 2, 2009 5:43 PM EST up reply actions

Just schedule a 13th game and play the weekend after Thanksgiving.

They still have 25 days off and the Championship games give some teams 13 games….

by ACtheStud1980 on Jan 2, 2009 5:32 PM EST reply actions

Huh?

The only way you can “just schedule a 13th game” is if you play a game at Hawai’i. A team can’t just schedule an extra game on a whim (if they could, they would, just for the extra revenue).

by Laaaaazzz on Jan 2, 2009 6:30 PM EST up reply actions

i wonder...

…how much of a difference it will make. i only say this b/c we’re 3-1 in bowl games the last 4 yrs and have had just about the same layoff…

i’m not sure having more or less time would have prepared us for this game…a new defensive scheme maybe…but time, i’m just not sure.

by amandakt on Jan 2, 2009 6:39 PM EST reply actions

Weather

I would actually love to see a USC or an SEC/BIg 12 team come to play in Happy Valley when it is 20 degrees outside and snowing. Yeah Alabama is coming to PSU in 2011, buttt they are coming in September. I truly believe the weather effects the way Big 10 teams play. I think these Southern teams would be in for a real shock playing State in inclement weather.

by joepa4ever on Jan 2, 2009 9:34 PM EST reply actions

if it can snow in March

it can be freezing ass cold in September. who knows how it’ll be

For the glory

by lionalum05 on Jan 3, 2009 12:13 AM EST up reply actions

It doesn't matter if you have a better team

It didnt hurt PSU against Oregon when we won the Rose bowl.

If you are a better team, the weather and distance should not be a huge factor.

These are 18-22 year old kids, they can get bombed till 3 am and bounce back…it now takes me a weekend to recover

by SweepTheLeg on Jan 3, 2009 3:02 PM EST reply actions

Lest we forget

Mr. Collins and his drinking, and we still went undefeated, not to make light of his issues he had. But it goes to your point of getting bombed and bouncing back. I have heard interesting(non proven) stories about him being passed out the mornings of game days in various places only to go kick ass later.

by Roland86 on Jan 4, 2009 6:14 AM EST up reply actions