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The Big East: 25 Years Too Late

Penn State coach Joe Paterno looks at the Big East and says, "Who's laughing now?" (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

More photos » by Carolyn Kaster - AP

Penn State coach Joe Paterno looks at the Big East and says, "Who's laughing now?" (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)


Back in the early 80's Joe Paterno had the vision to see that Penn State needed to team up with a conference in order for the athletic department to survive. It's widely known that Paterno tried to form an Eastern Conference that would have included all of Penn State's traditional rivals like Syracuse, Pitt, Rutgers, Temple, West Virginia, Maryland, and Boston College. But Pitt and Syracuse decided to join the Big East instead, killing Paterno's vision. So Penn State petitioned the Big East, but the member schools at the time turned them away concerned the Nittany Lions would dominate in football and their basketball program could never be very competitive. A few years later Penn State joined the Big Ten and these great programs have forever gone their separate ways.

So that brings us to today. I was cruising the news reader this morning and came across an interview Stewart Mandel of SI.com did with new Big East Commissioner John Marinatto and it struck me as hilarious that now the Big East wants Penn State back.

SI.com: When I asked fans over Twitter whether there were any specific subjects they wanted me to address with you, the No. 1 response by far was potential expansion plans. Is it on the horizon?

Marinatto: It's not in the immediate future. I don't think our membership has an appetite for it at this point, unless [going to 17 teams] happens to be something that brings value to football. If Penn State was interested in moving back to the East, we'd be interested in that because they bring value.

Yeah, and if Amy Kramer had been interested in going to the high school prom with me, I would have been interested in that too. That's because she was the hottest girl on the cheerleading squad and I was the pimple-faced dork playing the alto sax in the marching band.

Sorry, Commissioner, but that ship sailed off 25 years ago. Dream all you want, but Penn State isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Star-divide

The Big East was once a great conference when it had Miami, Boston College, and Virginia Tech. But now your headline programs are West Virginia, Pitt, and Rutgers. I'm convinced that adding Penn State would give the Big East a shot in the arm and put them at least on par with the PAC-10, ACC, and a Penn State-less Big Ten. But why would Penn State want to do that now?

Penn State has too much invested in the Big Ten at this point. It took us 15 years, but we are starting to establish ourselves as one of the dominant teams in the league. We could jump ship now and be the big fish in the eastern pond, but what fun would that be? It's like getting 1000 feet from the summit of Mount Everest and walking away to go climb Mount Nittany instead.

Though the Big Ten is down in recent years, it's still a great situation for Penn State. The bowl game tie-ins are the best in college football. The conference routinely gets two teams in the BCS. The Big Ten Network is about to begin year three and really taking off. We play on some of the biggest stages in the nation on prime time Saturday night television. What does the Big East have to offer? Thursday and Friday night games?

Sorry. No thanks. It's nice to be wanted, but I'm quite happy in the Big Ten.

0 recs  |  Comment 137 comments |

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Correction:

The caption on the picture should read : “Who’s laughing now, bitches?”

It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times?!?! You stupid monkey!

by leeharvey418 on Jul 14, 2009 12:03 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Looking back?

Do I give Pitt too much credit in this post? Should really consider them a “headliner” program of the Big East?

by BSD on Jul 14, 2009 12:10 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

It pains me to say this,

but until we beat Iowa and they don’t, we don’t have much room to talk.

God, I hate Iowa.

It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times?!?! You stupid monkey!

by leeharvey418 on Jul 14, 2009 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Penn State > Oregon State

Oregon State > Pitt

DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?

by ReadingRambler on Jul 14, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

So, basically

Why the hell are you giving them ammo?

DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?

by ReadingRambler on Jul 14, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Not "much" room to talk

It was intended as more of an oblique rant against Iowa than anything else.

It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times?!?! You stupid monkey!

by leeharvey418 on Jul 14, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

All that really needs to be said is

Penn State > Pitt
therefore
PENN STATE > PITT
and fuck Iowa
PENN STATE > IOWA too

by PSUisMyHeart on Jul 14, 2009 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

All that needs to be said is

What’s a Pitt?

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Jul 14, 2009 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, uh that barely counts

I would go with the fact that they haven’t won a bowl in awhile, nor do they have any 10 win seasons in forever, to prove that PSU is better than Pitt.

"I'm colonel cool! And I'm the captain on this rocket to the stars!"

by psuphiman80 on Jul 14, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Penn State > Oregon State

Oregon State > Penn State

DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?

by ReadingRambler on Jul 14, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oh, damnit

You know what I meant.

DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?

by ReadingRambler on Jul 14, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

HA

"I'm colonel cool! And I'm the captain on this rocket to the stars!"

by psuphiman80 on Jul 14, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Barely HA

/(barely) mandatory

DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?

by ReadingRambler on Jul 14, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm barely sorry

"I'm colonel cool! And I'm the captain on this rocket to the stars!"

by psuphiman80 on Jul 14, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

You're barely forgiven.

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

by Pete the Streak on Jul 14, 2009 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Penn State > Oregon State
Oregon State > Pitt
Pitt > Iowa

Therefore we are better than Pitt, and beat Iowa. Surprisingly we did not play Iowa last year, so this is the only proof I can give that we are better than them. Oh, and also

Oregon State > USC

If only the media didn’t screw yet another undefeated Penn State team out of a National Title by airing computer generated games where Iowa and USC beat us.

by The JuggerNitt on Jul 14, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

yeah

you think we get shit for the SOS now imagine if we HAD to play pitt and RU and SU…even if we were undefeated we wouldn’t get to the cap one bowl

by Lion Alum on Jul 14, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

But, but, but

We had awesome rivalries with schools like Maryland (one loss and one tie) and WVU (two losses under JoePa) !

DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?

by ReadingRambler on Jul 14, 2009 12:11 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Well put, now if only the B10 had any respect for us we’d actually feel at home. We’re still years away from not being treated like a foreign exchange student. Even if Ohio State and Michigan have 3 wins between them, they still treat ZOMG THE GAME as trumping any other conference game in the B10 season. Joe Paterno goes on record as saying we should get a 12th team and a championship and everyone else chuckles and patronizes him “sure thing old guy”.

I still resent the B10, somewhat for their boring tradition which we aren’t a part of, but mostly because we’ve helped this conference immensely in many athletics, most important of which is ensuring we’re a 2 BCS game conference, and all the while they’re slighting us every chance they get.

"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.

by millzners on Jul 14, 2009 12:12 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Amen Brother

It still strikes me whenever the subject of Big Ten expansion comes up. I cruise some of the Michigan blogs and I swear there is a larger portion of people who would rather see PSU jettisoned over to the Big East instead.

by BSD on Jul 14, 2009 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Those are the same blue hairs

that pack the Big House each week and never make a sound. They see us as the threat that we are to their conference chances and think that if we leave they’ll have a better chance at getting back to the Big 2 and Little 8 days. Give it some time because that attitude will go away as the blue hairs die off. Kinda dark way to look at it but it’s true.

I too resent the Big Ten but this is a marathon and not a sprint. As long as we keep winning, we’ll be accepted in the end. They won’t have a choice!!

by RNF18 on Jul 14, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hey mike-

When you get to Hell, save me a seat, okay?

It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times?!?! You stupid monkey!

by leeharvey418 on Jul 14, 2009 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Good post

Almost makes you want to stage a coup and toss out some of the bozos running this conference. They are, to paraphrase Dickens, of a dull and stagnant-blooded race.

by CvilleLion on Jul 14, 2009 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

well, i'll just say this

No one would doubt the strength of our basketball schedule.

by Mr. Rosewater on Jul 14, 2009 12:13 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Wow...

Why on earth does the Big East even consider expanding? Need some more teams? I got it…add North Carolina and Penn State, its a dream conference now!! Ohhh lets add USC and UCLA and call this the BIGGER EAST conference! Sweet! Can we get any more teams in on this?? I say we jump ship now, join the Big East, I mean…look at all the money we wouldn’t have…

LOL loved the prom analogy, perfect!!

by pmm156 on Jul 14, 2009 12:17 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Alto sax?

Really… I would have taken Mike for more of a flutist type.

It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times?!?! You stupid monkey!

by leeharvey418 on Jul 14, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hey man

Back in the 80’s the sax was where it was at. Every band had a sax player. Inxs, Huey Lewis and the News, Billy Joel.

Bruce Springsteen is still rocking the saxophone in his band.

by BSD on Jul 14, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

don't forget

about rob lowe

I looked at Ohrnberger in the fourth quarter and he looked back at me. And we said, 'We're not losing this game"

by psudrozz on Jul 14, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

the sax is still cool

"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.

by millzners on Jul 14, 2009 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

link

"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.

by millzners on Jul 14, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I am now dumber

for watch that video

by Lion Alum on Jul 14, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

some people don’t dig on jazz, but Kneebody is ridiculously awesome.

"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.

by millzners on Jul 14, 2009 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hall & Oates

Don’t try to skip out on the Hall & Oates man. Everybody who touched a saxaphone in the 1980’s was into Hall & Oates. It’s okay, I still rock the H&O from time to time.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Jul 14, 2009 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Nice H&O reference

"The sea was angry that day, my friends." G. Costanza

by NJ lion on Jul 14, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Fun fact

Went to same HS as Daryl Hall (Owen J. Roberts), whose last name was actually Hohl.

Now, why in Heaven would anyone – anyone! – change away from that?

Hohl and Oats? Sounds like a Cheerio-type thingy.

Probably go great with bacon.

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

by Pete the Streak on Jul 14, 2009 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Another fun fact

I went to the same HS as John Oates – North Penn HS.
That is all.

"The sea was angry that day, my friends." G. Costanza

by NJ lion on Jul 15, 2009 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Mike, if you played the sax the way you run this blog,

you would’ve been the white Clarence Clemmons.

by Ab4PSU on Jul 14, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I remember

being really jealous of all the flute players bc their instrument was so much lighter than my sax.. wow im weak and pathetic.. im gonna go swim in beer creek for awhile..

"Victory without honor is an unseasoned dish. It might fill you up, but it won't taste good" - Joe Paterno

by MilroyBoozer on Jul 14, 2009 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

This makes me wonder

Do the football schools have to share their bowl revenue with the non-football schools? I’m sure Curley would love cutting a check to Georgetown after we go off and collect $14 million in the Orange Bowl.

by BSD on Jul 14, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think they get a very small percentage if anything.

Who knows though the whole conference is run by Providence alums.

"I'm colonel cool! And I'm the captain on this rocket to the stars!"

by psuphiman80 on Jul 14, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Actually

He’d love cutting a check to Georgetown after an FCS non-conference opener.

by Cairo on Jul 14, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

+1

Order your copy of "We Are Penn State" The offseason is long. So is this magazine.

by Kevin HD on Jul 14, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Especially with their 2-8 record and 225 sagarin ranking.

Order your copy of "We Are Penn State" The offseason is long. So is this magazine.

by Kevin HD on Jul 14, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Actually

Curley loves cutting a check to no one.

by Screen Name 20 on Jul 14, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

You almost made me spit my water out onto my keyboard.

LOLOLOL

"Want a donut go to dunkin donuts, want a linebacker go to Penn State."
- Cris Carter, NFL Draft, 4/25/09

by kmblue on Jul 14, 2009 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Wow!

Caught myself just before hitting ‘post’.

No ‘spitter’ jokes about BSDivas. Evah.

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

by Pete the Streak on Jul 14, 2009 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Or worse

Imagine playing Villanova at Franklin Field when they decide it’s time to have a D1 football program and they are granted automatic membership into the Big East football confrence.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Jul 14, 2009 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Villanova

Actually, I think Villanova could support a decent 1-A football program if they put the resources towards it. Certainly could be better than Temple.

by Laaaaazzz on Jul 14, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Villanova

The stadium holds like maybe 5,000 people. And no room to expand.

by rbz14 on Jul 14, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Howie Long didn't suck either.

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

by Pete the Streak on Jul 14, 2009 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

and Richard Nixon isn't a crook

"Want a donut go to dunkin donuts, want a linebacker go to Penn State." - Chris Carter

by xozte on Jul 14, 2009 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I was just thinking about this earlier.

I agree that the ship has sailed. It reminds me of an article stub I ran across:

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4009555.html

Article: Arkansas, Florida State may join SEC
Article from: Chicago Sun-Times
Article date: July 28, 1990

An Alabama newspaper reported Friday that Arkansas and Florida State have accepted invitations to join the Southeastern Conference.

The Alabama Journal quoted an unnamed source, identified as a “highly ranked SEC official,” who confirmed that the two universities would join the SEC, bringing the number of SEC teams to 12.

The stub is funny now, but what if PSU had joined the Big East and Florida State had joined the SEC in 1991? The Bowden-Paterno record chase aside, it would initally mean that South Carolina would have been in the ACC or Big East and the Big Ten would not expand. In fact, the whole nature of football east of the Mississippi would be radically different than it is today.

by Cairo on Jul 14, 2009 12:25 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Why dont we just

Add Pitt to the big ten. It would give us a great basketball school (maybe we could win the Big 10 / ACC challenge?….maybe?) And it would give PSU a legit rival…. Yeah we will beat them every year, but the stadium would be full in Pittsburgh and the fans would care.

by RitterPSU on Jul 14, 2009 12:56 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I know why

I just wish we could.

by RitterPSU on Jul 14, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Crap

My bad. Should have read the whole string.

"I'm colonel cool! And I'm the captain on this rocket to the stars!"

by psuphiman80 on Jul 14, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

What do they add money wise?

Unless they bring in enough to split the pot 12 ways and make it more there won’t be a chance that Pitt joins the B11.

"I'm colonel cool! And I'm the captain on this rocket to the stars!"

by psuphiman80 on Jul 14, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

They're a basketball school now

So there is no way the would leave the Big East, because that’s where teh TV contracts and money are for CBB.

by STU Boy on Jul 14, 2009 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

A few things

1] Obviously, not gonna happen.

2] Even if it did happen 25 years ago, who is to say that we wouldn’t have accepted an invitation to join the Big Ten eventually anyway?

3] Usually this conversation goes the other way, and people are generally open to renewing the “eatern tradtion” or whatever the hell it is. It’s nice to see the justifiable negative reaction when a Big East higher up insinuates that Penn State would even consider joining the Big East.

Seriously, consider playing Big East football. [shudder] Now go take a shower and tell yourself it was only a bad dream. Screw those guys.

We have people from Ohio fucking State trolling our message boards trying to get a rise out of us. In case you missed it, Ohio State is kind of a highly regarded program. That’s our competition.

Ooooo maybe we can be rivals with Pitt again. Pretty please be rivals with Pitt again? Give me break.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Jul 14, 2009 1:03 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Everyone knows

There’s only one team the Big 10 foagies actually want….and won’t get until NBC stops broadcasting all of their games…

Upon moving to AL, I let my wife decide who she would root for. After one day at a new job full of Bama fans, she met me at the door with a hearty cry of "WAR EAGLE"

by SandMountainTiger on Jul 14, 2009 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

About the only way

you could get me to care about Pitt is if you tried to say we had to go play them at Pitt.
YAWN.

I’d rather play at temple or Virginia or anywhere that we have at least recruiting gains. What would we gain by playing at Pitt? Nothing. This is not a jab at anyone, but I’m bored with Pitt talk. They mean nothing.

by PSUinBOSSton on Jul 14, 2009 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

In terms of football, why do we even discuss Pitt anymore?

We’re relevant. Pitt is not.
We win. Pitt does not.
We recruit in their back yard. Pitt cannot.
We have JoePa. They have the Stache.
We play in front of 100,000+ on Saturday night. Pitt plays in front of 10,000 on Thursday night.
We are Penn State. They want to be Penn State.

by Ab4PSU on Jul 14, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

Bingo

Agree 100%. I honestly don’t understand why PSU fans even bother bringing up Pitt . All it does is give them a credibility they don’t deserve.

by Laaaaazzz on Jul 14, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I misread your comment first time through

I thought you said, “Ohio State is kind of a highly retarded program”.

by dawsonPSU10 on Jul 14, 2009 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I know you guys like to forget about this, but...

Syracuse had a lot to do with why Big East football was great in the 1990s, too.

by drothgery on Jul 14, 2009 1:06 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Big East Football was always lame

It’s just that sometimes the teams didn’t totally suck.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Jul 14, 2009 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

One other thing...
It’s widely known that Paterno tried to form an Eastern Conference that would have included all of Penn State’s traditional rivals like Syracuse, Pitt, Rutgers, Temple, West Virginia, Maryland, and Boston College. But Pitt and Syracuse decided to join the Big East instead, killing Paterno’s vision.

What killed his vision was that he wanted shared revenue for basketball, but not football. Which was absurd, and there was no way any self-respecting school could go for that.

by drothgery on Jul 14, 2009 1:11 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Well

Sometimes you bring some extra chips to the bargaining table to get what you want.

by BSD on Jul 14, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

were there ever any counterproposals, though?

I’m seriously asking, as I can never find good sources for the whole Eastern Conference plans. Like I’m sure that would be a good initial offer, but did everyone just say “psh, yeah right” and leave, or did they try to negotiate that into the plans and Paterno wouldn’t waver?

by The JuggerNitt on Jul 14, 2009 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

WVU’s academics aren’t good enough for the blue bloods.

DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?

by ReadingRambler on Jul 14, 2009 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

WVU's academics aren't good enough

for most community colleges. Seriously, are they even accredited?

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Jul 14, 2009 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hmm

They also apparently have no problem with taking headless torsoes.

(You see what I did there?)

DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?

by ReadingRambler on Jul 14, 2009 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Wow, your body had a 1.6 in HS?

What was your GPA when you added in your brain?

by Screen Name 20 on Jul 14, 2009 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

That's bs

When I posted it mine was on top (no homo).

by Screen Name 20 on Jul 14, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah. But what about Ohio State's academics?

From some of the stuff I read, isn’t Ohio State like an SEC school academically?

52 DAYS 21 HOURS 56 MINUTES 34 SECONDS UNTIL KICKOFF!!

by Ab4PSU on Jul 14, 2009 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Last time I checked

Penn State and Ohio State were within four or five spots of each other in the US News Rankings, which is not the end all be all of the discussion, but is a pretty decent starting point. I believe that the Big Ten is the only confrence that has all of it’s schools ranked in the top 75 of those rankings.

Also, Florida was similarly ranked, as was the University of Pittsburgh.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Jul 14, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'd be interested to see those rankings.

All I can think of is Andy Katzenmoyer playing despite taking courses my 9-year old daughter could pass (My 20 month of son would probably have beaten him in an IQ test), and the
whole Maurice Clarrett fiasco. I don’t know. I don’t think OSU is all that in the classroom.

by Ab4PSU on Jul 14, 2009 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Here you go...

This is the US News World Report ranking for every school in the Big Ten and SEC. I also threw in a few other notable schools. Keep in mind there are lots of ties, so there may be three schools tied at 47, and the next ranking is 50. So basicly your talking about very small, and subjective, differences between Penn State at 47 and Florida at 49, or even Pitt at 58.

Northwestern – 12
Vanderbilt – 18
Michigan – 26
Southern California – 27
Wisconsin – 35
Illinois – 40
Penn State – 47 (Tied with Texas)
Florida – 49
Miami (Fla.) – 51
Syracuse – 53
Ohio State – 56
Georgia – 58 (tied with Pittsburgh)
Minnesota – 61
Purdue, Iowa – 66
Indiana, Michigan State – 71
Alabama – 83
Auburn – 96
Tennessee, South Carolina – 108
Kentucky – 116
Arkansas – 125
LSU – 130
Mississippi State – unranked, tier 3
Ole Miss – unranked, tier 3
West Virginia – unranked, tier 3

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Jul 14, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ohio State is pretty much on par with PSU in terms of academics.

The fact that some football players at tOSU exhibited poor academic skills is more of a reflection of their football program and athletic department than of the university at large. All athletic departments — including PSU — have some flexibiltiy with gaining admission for talented athletes that wouldn’t otherwise be considered for a school; the difference is how far that flexibility extends.

by Laaaaazzz on Jul 14, 2009 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

"Public Ivy"

I actually think all Big Ten schools with the exception of Purdue are considered “Public Ivy” schools by some publication (forget where, I wiki’d it some time ago). I almost went to OSU for grad school, it’s a good school except for all those effing buckeyes.

by PSUmob on Jul 14, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't know if I'd ever forgive myself

if I went to tOSU for anything other than a PSU game. Especially for a degree.

by dawsonPSU10 on Jul 14, 2009 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Mike, were you are band

dork or a band geek – big difference. I imagine dorks don’t grow up to have grottos. The sax is a sonorous instrument used to make women swoon.

I just re-read “Into Thin Air” by Jon Krakauer. It seems like a monkey with a guide can make it to 28800 feet. It’s the last 200 feet up and past the Hilary Step that haunts most Everest climbers.

  

 

One man doing the work of 100's for the good of 1000's

by rahpsu92 on Jul 14, 2009 1:21 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

In my HS we were called "band fags"

Never understood all the hate.
Also, Amy Kramer sounds hot!

"The sea was angry that day, my friends." G. Costanza

by NJ lion on Jul 14, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

The difference as I see it

Geeks grow up to be IT guys that try to impress you with how much RAM they can fit into their computer to play Halo 3 in HD.

Dorks grow up to get engineering jobs, make money, and eventually find a woman crazy enough to marry them.

I think I fall in the latter category.

by BSD on Jul 14, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

so...

what’s a nerd?

by PSUmob on Jul 14, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

If you've ever

received a swirly, chances are you’re a NERD.

One man doing the work of 100's for the good of 1000's

by rahpsu92 on Jul 14, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Nerds

They turn out to be 40 year old virgins who go to Star Trek conventions.

by BSD on Jul 14, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I always thought

Dorks were basically, uh, “socially marginalized”?

Whereas Nerds could be anyone that was wayyy too into a particular subject. That could be a Star Trek nerd, but also something more socially acceptable such as…well…a College Football nerd.

by rbz14 on Jul 14, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I usually went with "geek" for the person who was way too into a certain subject

while nerds were the “brainy” kid who studied all the time and had less than average social skills.

Dorks were the kids that did “dorky” things, like play D&D and such.

by The JuggerNitt on Jul 14, 2009 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

And who used phrases

like ‘and such’

"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69

by jtothep on Jul 14, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Zing!!

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

by Pete the Streak on Jul 14, 2009 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

um, I guess I do?

you got a problem with that? * flexes internet tough guy muscles *

by The JuggerNitt on Jul 15, 2009 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

So, who runs Microsoft

A Nerd, a Geek or a Dork?

by PaJoe on Jul 14, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think a

pencilneck is in charge since the Gran Wizard Nerd retired,

One man doing the work of 100's for the good of 1000's

by rahpsu92 on Jul 14, 2009 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Whatever label you give him,

put ‘Really Frickin’ Rich’ in front of it.

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

by Pete the Streak on Jul 14, 2009 8:18 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, dorks have the skills to pay the bills, geeks still live at home with their mother’s but have bitchin’ gaming systems

"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.

by millzners on Jul 14, 2009 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

so who knows what the Lambert Trophy is?

we’ve won it 27 times, and frankly…who gives a shit?

"They stalk their prey to within two or three great leaps and then launch a lightning-fast charge, striking their prey. Victims are most often killed by suffocation with a prolonged bite..."--Hinterland Who's Who

by afields16 on Jul 14, 2009 1:46 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Who gives a shit

Pitt does, since it’s all they have.

by BSD on Jul 14, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Best team in "the east" right?

I think I won it in 2003 by default.

by PSUinBOSSton on Jul 14, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

"it’s all they have"

Well, that and the 39 National Championships

"The sea was angry that day, my friends." G. Costanza

by NJ lion on Jul 14, 2009 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy

I kind like the trophy, eve though it has typical voter biases. I think the fact that PSU has won it more times than the entirety of the current Big East schools speaks volumes.

by Laaaaazzz on Jul 14, 2009 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I really don't care for the Big Ten. I think they've treated us like shit from the

beginning. But, with two football conference championships in the last four years (Note: I did not say CO-CHAMPS), the powers that be might be starting to see past their pride and accept the fact that with our fan base and national following that the money we bring into the conference spends just as nicely as money generated by the Fuckeyes and scUM.

Also, as was mentioned earlier with the blue-hairs dying off at scUM, I think once the old guard in the Big Ten (Delaney and that band of jackals) leaves and somebody younger that has grown up always knowing us as a member of the Big Ten will start to gain us a little more acceptance, respect, and love.

52 DAYS 21 HOURS 49 MINUTES 39 SECONDS UNTIL KICKOFF!!

by Ab4PSU on Jul 14, 2009 2:09 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Two comments:

1. “your headline programs are West Virginia, Pitt, and Rutgers”

Seeing as Rutgers has beat Pitt the last four years, it’s more like
“West Virginia, Rutgers, then Pitt”

2. “If Penn State was interested in moving back to the East”

BWA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!

Big East football = MWC football.

by Aaron PSU on Jul 14, 2009 3:00 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Ok, who is more real:

Amy Kramer or ReadingRambler?

"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69

by jtothep on Jul 14, 2009 4:54 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Aye Caramba!

Switch her suit to a Bacon-Kini, and she is ALL that.

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

by Pete the Streak on Jul 14, 2009 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Niice

I see what ya did there.

Put a tarp on that circus! - showtime @ BSD

by bconway6 on Jul 15, 2009 1:33 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ha!

Next time, Streak, be a bit more specific.

Well Played.

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

by Pete the Streak on Jul 15, 2009 6:20 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

5 of the 8 member schools voted FOR Penn State to join the Big East in 1982.
 
The problem was that 6 votes were needed.
 
Not that it matters anymore.

by DanteAmore on Jul 14, 2009 10:34 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Girl...

…sounds awful and slutty.

Also, +1

DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?

by ReadingRambler on Jul 14, 2009 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Awful, Slutty & Bitchy

is quite a trifecta. And you let this one get away?

"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69

by jtothep on Jul 15, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Worse than that...

she was slutty and a tease. Worst. Relationship. Ever.

Lesson learned though. I now require a D-Cup and a Master’s Degree as a pre-requisite for any future Mrs. jesse.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Jul 15, 2009 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

Why is a Master's Degreee required?

51 DAYS 23 HOURS 27 MINUTES 51 SECONDS UNTIL KICKOFF!!!

by Ab4PSU on Jul 15, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Alimony, brother.

Alimony.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Jul 15, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I got a D-cup

And I’m applying to go back for my Masters.

Do I count?

"Want a donut go to dunkin donuts, want a linebacker go to Penn State."
- Cris Carter, NFL Draft, 4/25/09

by kmblue on Jul 15, 2009 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

If this was an 80s sitcom...

…They’d be playing the “OOOOOHHHH” noise from the “audience” right now.

Also, your D-cup sounds hot.

DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?

by ReadingRambler on Jul 15, 2009 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hiyooooo

"I'm colonel cool! And I'm the captain on this rocket to the stars!"

by psuphiman80 on Jul 15, 2009 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Barely

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Jul 15, 2009 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

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