Maybe its the 70 degree weather that swept through the area this weekend.  Maybe its the Pirates not sucking.  Maybe its the fact that the Penguins STILL own the Flyers, but I'm feeling good, and full of ideas.

Let me preface this by saying that I love Blue and White weekend exactly the way it is today.  Its that Penn State fix that typically we don't have from bowl season all the way up to September.  Granted the basketball team went a long way in closing that gap, but this year still promises to be a fun beginning to 2009.   Did I mention its all free?  What I'm about to say isn't a suggestion on how to "fix" the spring game, because I don't think it needs fixed, but rather, spice it up a bit.

Why not play Pitt in the Spring Game?

-Think about it.  Pitt-Penn State probably wouldn't crack an ABC/ESPN primetime slot in the fall, heck, it might not even crack ABC/ESPN at 3:30.  But schedule Pitt for the Spring Game, and suddenly you add a national telecast to an otherwise meaningless game.  ESPN seems to like to cover spring games, and I'm sure they'd be all over the chance to broadcast one with some actual story lines and emotion.  No matter what, its more intriguing than Tim Tebow vs. the second string defense.

-It'd be our opportunity to play Pitt on a home and home basis without actually giving anything up.  You still get you're 7-8 home games in the regular season, and considering you don't currently charge for the spring game as it is, you're not losing any money if it isn't in State College some years.  The years its in Pittsburgh, you might even be able to get MLB to have the Phillies and Bucs play down the street giving fans from out east all the more incentive to go the three extra hours into Pittsburgh.  If Penn State ever does play Pitt for real again, it certainly won't be for any longer than two years. Playing in the Spring Game would be a way to keep things going indefinitely.

-It would go a long way in appeasing the Pittsburgh media.  While I'm sure the crusty old Gene Colliers and Bob Smiziks of the world would have their gripes with it, in the end they'd know its better than nothing. 

-It might even help the team.  It's hard to simulate the pressure of a real game when the crowd is more concerned with getting a tan than paying much attention to the game, and you're playing against your buddies.  Play Pitt, and suddenly, theres something on the line.  Maybe not a bowl bid, or a conference title, but pride.  When you add genuine competition, it can only help you.  Pressure, even in a limited sample size, might tell us things about people that a normal spring game might not. 

-I could be completely off base with this, but I feel lik its at least worth talking about.  I'm sick of Greg Paulus talk.