Nitt Picks Will Not Be Split Geographically
by Adam Bittner on Aug 18, 2010 3:00 PM EDT
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Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany has said several times that when deciding on divisional splits in the new Big Ten, the league will look at A) competitive balance, B) protecting traditional rivalries and C) the geography of the conference before making any decisions.
Well, it's increasingly looking like the latter most of those three isn't nearly as important as the first, after these comments from Delany Tuesday in Lincoln.
Delany also strongly suggested Tuesday night that the divisional outcome will not be an exact east-west split. Ahead of geography on the Big Ten's list of important principles, he said, is for divisions to be viewed as equally competitive and for the best rivalry/trophy games to be preserved.
"We didn't think there's any way we could achieve principle one and two if we were rigid about geographic contiguity," Delany said. "We are aware of geography, but we're not going to be driven by it."
We've said before that if the league is split geographically, Penn State belongs in the eastern division. If the divisions aren't going to be split geographically, well then, there's really not much to say right now because we don't know how that would work. However, if Delany's comments are a pre-cursor to sticking Penn State in an otherwise geographically split western division to keep Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan separate, then prepare for message board melt down in 3...2...1...
Among the other noteables coming out of that meeting, Tom Osborne told the press that had Nebraska not joined the Big Ten, it would have gone along with plans to start its own television network by 2011.
Big Ten Position Rankings
Adam Rittenberg at ESPN.com's Big Ten blog is ranking league teams by position. He recently ranked the linebackers, slotting Penn State in a tie for fifth with Iowa.
Penn State loses all three starters, but Nate Stupar and Bani Gbadyu have played a lot of football. Michael Mauti's return from an ACL injury and Penn State's strong recruiting at linebacker also elevate hope for the group.
The strange love affair with Wisconsin continues, as it seems the Badgers are ranked third almost exclusively on the backs of Chris Borland's Big Ten Freshman of the Year award in 2009.
Me? I'd take Penn State's linebackers over anyone but Ohio State and Michigan State's.
WPIAL Influence
Ron Musselman of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes about the leadership role Central Catholic graduate Stefen Wisniewski has taken, especially among his fellow western Pennsylvanians.
[Mike] Farrell, [Adam] Gress and Wisniewski have formed a bond since all three are from Western Pennsylvania.
Farrell, the Nittany Lions' No. 2 left tackle, is from Shady Side Academy. Gress, the No. 3 right tackle, is from West Mifflin. Wisniewski, a first-team All-Big Ten Conference center last season who has since moved back to right guard for his senior season, is from Central Catholic.
In all, there are 11 Western Pennsylvania players on Penn State's roster. Six of them are offensive linemen, including three true freshmen -- Tom Ricketts (North Allegheny), Miles Dieffenbach (Fox Chapel) and Luke Graham (Penn-Trafford).
"It's nice to have so many Western Pennsylvania guys on the team," Farrell said. "It's a little bit of comfort zone knowing everybody's always looking to help each other out."
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Just saw this news over on ESPN
I know there are a lot of East-West split proponents out there, and that this news will disappoint or anger them. I, for one, liked the idea of an East-West split, but always knew that it would never happen; a “Big Ten East” with Michigan, OSU, and PSU would look way too much like the old Big XII South, and a “Big Ten West” with Nebraska and a bunch of sometimes good, sometimes bad teams with no national appeal would look way too much like the old Big XII North.
by newenglandnittanylion on Aug 18, 2010 3:06 PM EDT reply actions
I don't mind a non-geographic split
Nor do I mind not being with OSU and UM.
I’ll be pissed, though, if every damn divisional trip is west of Chicago while everyone else gets to play in their own neighborhood for the sake of “branding.”
If this means there’s going to be a mix of everyone in both divisions, fine, but if you’re going to split it geographically except for Penn State, well, that sucks.
Adam
Black Shoe Diaries, SB Nation Pittsburgh
God Created the World Out Of Nothing, Paterno Built A National Superpower On Cow Fields...
by Adam Bittner on Aug 18, 2010 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed
For the record, I think Iowa and Wisconsin will be split up, which would preclude an East-West-except-for-PSU split.
by newenglandnittanylion on Aug 18, 2010 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions
How about,
Div 1: Michigan, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Iowa, NU, Minnesota
Div 2: Ohio St., Michigan St., Penn St., Illinois, Indiana, Purdue
Split up the big three (Mich, OSU, PSU), keep it more of east/west split, and can keep a lot of the rivalries this way.
Divisions
Delany also said there would absolutely be some cross division rivalries that will be protected. I think this opens the door to have Michigan in one division with Ohio State and Penn State in the other. I think it will shake out like this
Div 1 – OSU, PSU, Wisconsin
Div 2 – Michigan, Nebraska, Iowa
Your cross division rivalries will be OSU/UM, PSU/Iowa, and Wisconsin/Nebraska. Put the other teams wherever you want them.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries
Which would allow the only thing I really hate...
and that’s the possibility of Ohio State and Michigan playing in back-to-back weeks at the end of the season.
What would Joe Paterno do?
Realistically
I don’t see that happening very often. If ever. The ACC put FSU and Miami in separate divisions to set up a made for TV championship game. And it hasn’t happened yet. One of them is going to lose THE GAME, and that will open the door for someone else to take the division.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries
Right...
But FSU and Miami play early in the season. The reason I hate this is because 1 it’s so obviously stupid, and 2 the only reason you’d ever even consider it is because 10 other schools still feel compelled to kow-tow to Ohio State and Michigan.
I mean seriously, can’t we just vote? Bang 10-2, play in October. Jesus, it’s so frustrating it makes me want to scream.
What would Joe Paterno do?
Even if FSU and Miami did play in the title game,
the meeting would be months apart. What the ACC did actually makes some manner of sense. Splitting Ohio State and Michigan, then letting them play the last week of the season is lunacy.
What would Joe Paterno do?
Here's what I want to see
We have some statisticians here. What would be the odds of two teams in a cross divisional protected rivalry meeting in the conference championship game. And how many times has it happened in the past in the Big XII, ACC, and SEC where two teams met in the regular season and then met again in the championship game?
I can think of one time in the Big XII where it happened between Oklahoma and Missouri a few years ago. But in that case you needed a really weak Big XII north division to set that up. Any others?
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries
It's pretty rare.
But that’s not the point, nobody else even risks it. The Big XII was not so silly as to split up Texas and Nebraska, then have them play the last week of the regular season. Why? Because it’s a terrible idea.
The fact that would only have played in the CCG once or twice in fifteen years is hardly the point.
What would Joe Paterno do?
Look at the OU-Nebraska rivalry game
Big 8 to Big XII essentially killed it. Would OSU/Michigan be the same?
by Frank O'Brien on Aug 18, 2010 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions
THAT should be what the Big Ten is worried about.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Aug 18, 2010 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions
No
The Big Ten would protect it. When the Big XII split up Nebraska and Oklahoma they did not protect the rivalry and let them go years where they did not play. Texas wanted their game with Oklahoma to be the featured rivalry.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries
No, they would still play. They didn't every year in the Big XII.
Further, I’m all for giving them the choice. They can play in seperate divisions and play in October, and possibly again in November for the title. Or, they can play the last week of the regular season in the same division.
They just can’t have both, and I don’t think that’s too much to ask.
What would Joe Paterno do?
by jesse. on Aug 18, 2010 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Couldn't that kinda take away some of the luster of the championship game?
If you have the “annointed” two battling it out the last regular season game every year with the loser possibly missing out on their chance to go to the championship game, I feel a lot of hype will be placed on that game, especially if you have a less hype-able team or weaker team that would sneak in. i.e. If Michigan loses and Iowa or Northwestern now have to go up against Ohio State.
What would be worse
would be if they both went into THE GAME at around 10-2… at that point, they’re not going to be playing for the national championship in all likelihood. Then, if there’s a point where they’re both going to go to the B10 championship game anyway, there would be no point to play too hard, but we’d have to hear about whether or not that was what Delaney would want, and what about the rivalry and blah blah blah. And then the next week, it would be all about the championship game being the REAL game. Ohio State and Michigan would be interesting as long as there’s something to play for, but without something to play for, it’ll just be obnoxious.
John has a long moustache
No, what would be the worst...
Would be 2006 when they were one versus two and both teams had already clinched their division, and they played knowing they were playing again in a week. That would be the worst.
What would Joe Paterno do?
But if 1 beats 2
then 2 becomes at least 3… then if 3 beats 1 the next week, both B10 teams could end up at of the national championship game.
I hate this already
John has a long moustache
So could play three weeks in a row?
Maybe in some Buckeye Troll’s wet dream, but that would never happen on the planet Earth.
What would Joe Paterno do?
Well, I meant that both teams would then be OUT
of the national championship game which would be bad for the Big Ten… but I typo’d
John has a long moustache
I don't think it would be bad for the Big Ten.
I’m just sick of Michigan going to the Rose Bowl. If they go, they need to earn it (which they didn’t do in 04; that UM squad was the worst Big Ten champion in a LONG time) and they need to win it (they’ve lost each of the last three times they’ve gone, and are 8-12 in Rose Bowl history).
If Ohio State and Michigan wind up in the same division, it will be far better for the Big Ten than if they are split up. Had this realignment happened in 2006/07 (when Michigan was pretty competitive) than things would be different. But Michigan is no longer the quality team that they once were.
My kingdom for a spellchecker. Or Devin Harris. Hopefully both.
"Right, a ball of hot flaming gas that collapses upon itself." -Doctor Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Aug 18, 2010 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Another thing
I remember not being in the Big Ten. From an outsiders prospective, Michigan/Ohio State isn’t what’s good about the league, it’s what sucks the most about the league.
For nearly a generation all you saw was Michigan and Ohio State, Ohio State and Michigan. Trust me, nobody outside the league gives a damn. Further, it compounds the preception that the league is nothing more than two teams. Which, duh, it isn’t.
Allowing those two schools to boss everybody else around for their benefit would make us look like fools the first time they fluked out and played back to back weeks the Big Ten would be the laughing stock of college football. We wouldn’t just look like idiots, we’d actually be idiots for allowing something so silly to happen.
Like I said before, why can’t we just vote on this? What are they going to do, leave the league and form the “Everybody Line up and Kiss Michigan and Ohio State’s Ass Confrence”?
What would Joe Paterno do?
by jesse. on Aug 18, 2010 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Exactly.
I’m sick of Michigan-Ohio State hype. Ohio State might have won or “shared” the conference title since 2005 (I’m laughing my head off as I write this) but they’re the more successful end of that rivalry. The days of taking g@rb@ge from Ann Arbor are long gone, thank heaven…
My kingdom for a spellchecker. Or Devin Harris. Hopefully both.
"Right, a ball of hot flaming gas that collapses upon itself." -Doctor Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Aug 18, 2010 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions
To split "the rivalry" or not to split "the rivalry"
That has been the most intriguing question of this whole process.
Early on, I figured there was no way we’d see OSU and Michigan split up, even with a protected crossover. Delany has said all along that protecting rivalries would be one of the strongest guiding criteria in splitting divisions, and when he drops quotes like “not all rivalries are created equal,” it seems like keeping UM and OSU together would be priority 1. I have been very surprised to hear that officials from both schools are open to the idea of a split.
I still think it’s more likely than not that we’ll see divisions with Michigan-OSU on one side, and Nebraska-PSU on the other. But at this point, I wouldn’t be shocked to see a different combination of those 4 teams.
by newenglandnittanylion on Aug 18, 2010 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions
The good news is...
if you protect rivalries with a cross division game you can split up teams like Iowa/Wisconsin and Michigan/Michigan State.
PSU, Neb., Iowa, MSU, NW, Purdue
OSU, Minn. Wisc, Mich, Illinois, Indiana
The protected games are top and bottom.
Here you can play your protected game in October, preserve the EJOS game for last, and not get sucked in with a rematch in back-to-back weeks. It’s not exactly geographical, and it doesn’t preserve all the rivalries, but I think it gets all the good ones while having two reasonably competitve divisions.
What would Joe Paterno do?
I like that breakdown
Plus it gives the Big Ten a chance to schedule OSU/Mich and PSU/Neb back-to-back on the final week of the season. I don’t think any other conference can compete with that.
I thought that at first two, but get ready to be pissed...
I bet they keep the Land Grant Game the last week of the season and let Iowa and Nebraska play the last week too. Yeah, /Big Ten’d.
What would Joe Paterno do?
What would he need to know better than to do?
Replace a sure-fire, heated rivalry (Iowa/Neb) with another (PSU/Neb)? The Big Ten wins either way. The fact that the first would be a border war is a natural reason to schedule it for the finale. It’s not a slight to PSU, it’s just where the states are located.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Aug 18, 2010 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Penn State and Nebraska are both
national college football programs. Iowa isn’t. Those are the facts.
Personally, I’m fine with continuing to play Sparty last—but I think its clear that the highest tv ratings would come from PSU/Nebraska 8 days a week.
I wouldn't trust old rooster me neither.
Your view is no less biased than my own.
The difference is that in addition to Tom Osborne already mentioning Iowa as a rival, Nebraskans seem to prefer the idea, too.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Aug 18, 2010 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Do you think we preferred a forced rivalry with MSU?
Unfortunately, for us and you, the conference picks, not the teams themselves.
by PSUinBOSSton on Aug 18, 2010 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh, God no.
Michigan doesn’t even prefer a rivalry with MSU.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Aug 18, 2010 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions
It's only because they haven't beaten the Spartans in basketball or football since 2007...
Trust me, they sing a different tune when they’re on top at a particular point. Where were Michigan fans in 2005?
My kingdom for a spellchecker. Or Devin Harris. Hopefully both.
"Right, a ball of hot flaming gas that collapses upon itself." -Doctor Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Aug 18, 2010 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes but, if every corn stalk was a television viewer think about those ratings.
by Frank O'Brien on Aug 18, 2010 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions
I've been to PA many times.
Stop acting as though it’s a sea of excitement and urbanity.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Aug 18, 2010 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions
I am no fan of the state of Pennsylvania.
But, seriously? He was talking about total TV viewers in PA (not to mention the other urban centers that follow PSU), which includes 2 large metropolitan areas. Nebraska doesn’t.
I’m not sticking up for PA, but you are taking this in a direction that wasn’t intended.
by PSUinBOSSton on Aug 18, 2010 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions
I was speaking for Iowa, not Nebraska
and almost 2 in 5 Iowa alums lives in/hails from either Chicago or the Twin Cities. It’s not exactly backwater in that sense.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Aug 18, 2010 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Got it.
I was replying to the corn comment, which I assumed was about Nebraska, not Iowa.
by PSUinBOSSton on Aug 18, 2010 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Well Iowa IS more of a hog state than corn
so that was a nuanced pick-up on your part.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Aug 18, 2010 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions
In the words of Mr. Pryor,
I’m too country.
by PSUinBOSSton on Aug 18, 2010 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions
My bad, let's get a TV for every hog
My point was about ratings as the comment about OSU/Mich and PSU/Nebraska pointed to. I believe PSU tends to draw a bit better.
TOP 10 TV Ratings
1.) BCS title, 2005-06 – Southern Cal-Texas, 21.7
2.) BCS title, 2007-08 – LSU-Ohio State, 17.40 (tie)
BCS title, 2006-07 – Florida-Ohio State, 17.40
4.) BCS title, 2008-09 – Florida-Oklahoma, 15.80
5.) Rose, 2006-07, Southern Cal-Michigan, 13.94
6.) Fiesta, 2005-06, Ohio State-Notre Dame, 12.90
7.) Orange, 2005-06, PENN STATE-Florida State, 12.30
8.) Rose, 2008-09 – PENN STATE-Southern Cal, 11.70
9.) Rose, 2007-08 – Illinois-USC, 11.11
10.) Fiesta, 2008-09 – Texas-Ohio State, 10.40
Last year Bowl Games
Capital One PSU/LSU 6.8 rating, running same time as FSU/WVU, which drew a 4.0 rating, top non-BCS bowl
Orange Bowl: Iowa/GT 6.8 rating, running unopposed, lowest BCS rating.
by Frank O'Brien on Aug 18, 2010 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Wasn't the 1987 Fiesta Bowl the highest rated college football game of all time?
or has that changed?
by The JuggerNitt on Aug 18, 2010 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions
No, that was usurped by
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Aug 18, 2010 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions
That says the rating was a 2.2 (whatever that means, it's lower than 6.8),
I think it’s largest group claim rests on trying to get the largest YMCA dance into the Guinness Book of Word Records.
For the glory
I'm stunned that game
got a rating at all. 3-0…in a bowl game with nothing riding on it…it hurts my brain to think about it too much.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Aug 18, 2010 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Well it was aired on CBS,
I guess ABC, NBC and Fox didn’t have anything good on either!
For the glory
I would watch the cast of General Hospital
competing on Family Feud against the kids from Degrassi High before I’d watch that game…actually, that sound like it could be kind of good.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Aug 18, 2010 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions
That sunbowl was great!
It was hilarious watching pitt get shut out in a bowl game by our friends the Beavers.
"It was an attrition football game and you know we like that."
Those guys were cool as hell.
That’s what college ball is supposed to be about. I’ll like those guys for a really long time.
What would Joe Paterno do?
Wouldn't you say part of what makes them cool
is that their team got absolutely murdered by yours that season?
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Aug 18, 2010 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions
When the team you cheer for is called the "Beavers"
and they had a 23-year stretch in their recent history in which they won 4 games or fewer (and 1 or 0 nine times) I would imagine you get pretty thick skin.
Plus, they were all probably just so bewildered to be in a stadium with more than 60K in it that they couldn’t even pay attention to the game.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Aug 19, 2010 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions
"Those guys were cool as hell."
Yeah they were. After the war of attrition in the AFC North as a Steelers fan and the way the Big Ten treats us it was extremely refreshing to play a team with an actually nice, gracious, friendly fan base.
"It was an attrition football game and you know we like that."
So they tried to break
the largest YMCA record? I am guessing they failed. Just like Pitt failed at being a good football team
The answer to your question is yes, it is.
It’s worth saying again. I wouldn’t trade that game for the entire history of Michigan football. Or Ohio State’s. Or anybodies really.
That game was like Rocky, except if Rocky won nobody would have believed it. Penn State won.
What would Joe Paterno do?
by jesse. on Aug 18, 2010 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
+1 of course
"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here"
by ReadingRambler on Aug 18, 2010 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Stats can do whatever you want them to.
Capital One PSU/LSU 6.8 rating, running same time as FSU/WVU, which drew a 4.0 rating, top non-BCS bowl
Orange Bowl: Iowa/GT 6.8 rating, running unopposed, lowest BCS rating.
Yeah, and LSU/PSU took place between the two flagship universities of their states while Iowa (the least populated [for now] Big Ten state) played a school that is arguably the 3rd most popular school in Georgia behind (pick a neighboring state).
Which is to say nothing that the two schools Penn State happened to play the #7 & #8 games on your list are from the 1st and 3rd most populous states, respectively. It doesn’t mean that Penn State isn’t a national draw (they are) but that you’re giving them too much credit.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Aug 18, 2010 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Don't be crazy.
In this one, limited, instance Iowa got to go to the bowl game because they deserved it. Georgia tech too. There is an arguement to be made that sending “deserving” teams to the BCS is actually killing it’s value. those bowls know what teams they want. Picking Penn State over Iowa would have been indefensible at a time where the BCS can’t afford terrible press.
If you think that the Orange Bowl woundn’t have killed to have the exact same Penn State and LSU teams instead, well, I think you’re just kidding yourself. it just didn’t work out. If I’m advisisng the BCS, I’m telling them politics be damned, get some teams that people want to fu@#ing watch. Georgia Tech sure as hell isn’t one of them. Penn State is.
What would Joe Paterno do?
Except the Orange Bowl
would have been well within its rights to pick PSU over Iowa (GT was kinda forced on them). They didn’t, not because they were worried about saving face (they don’t give a shit), but because Iowa is not the ratings pariah you make them out to be. PSU has a massive (and larger) following than Iowa. But not by the insane gap you folks seem to believe. PSU brings in a ton of coveted TV sets on the East Coast. However, Iowa brings a lot of eyes in Chicago, MPLS, and (seriously) the following; Denver, Texas & Arizona. It’s not as though they’re IU.
The “storyline” for Nebraska/Penn State hinges on two (albeit important) historical seasons. The Iowa/Nebraska series has been played many (41) times and the storyline (bordering, farming states) plays the same all over the country regardless of casual knowledge of the game. In no way is it a slight to Penn State to say Iowa v. Nebraska as a protected rivalry should happen, it’s just completely logical (oh, and desired by the majority of both fanbases).
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Aug 18, 2010 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions
You can argue it either way.
They’ve got geographic and cultural connections. We’ve got some legitimate history on the field pre-Big Ten. I could see them going either way.
But I think the tie breaker is, in that alignment, the Minnesota/Iowa/Wisconsin three way rivalry gets broken up. If Iowa plays Nebraska last instead of us, all three of those teams get something. Wisconsin gets to keep all three of their traditional rivals, Minnesota gets to shut up and get killed by Nebraska every year, and Iowa gets a premier rivalry game at the end of the year. It’s a Win, Win, Win. Unless your Penn State, then it just sucks.
What would Joe Paterno do?
Look on the bright side.
we could add this piece of history to the land grant. Maybe a Hawkeye carrying a piece of corn over the threshold while we sob silently to ourselves, still sitting alone in the pew?
by PSUinBOSSton on Aug 18, 2010 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah,
But we don’t really lose anything, we just don’t gain anything. I can live with that.
My suggestion above is, I think, a net gain or a stay the same for everybody, with the exception of Michigan and Ohio State. Their loss would be to nothing more than their pride, and their belief that they are the sun that Big Ten revolves around.
End of the day, expansion only works if everybody agrees that the CCG is the showcase of the season, not any one regular season game. Everybody has to agree to maximize the value of that game, to the detriment of their own personal preference, or it just won’t work.
What would Joe Paterno do?
No, I want to play Ohio State everyear.
Because the chance of 63-14 happening twice is kinda funny.
"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here"
by ReadingRambler on Aug 18, 2010 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions
So I'm leaving that game....
Walking behind this 70 year old woman Ohio State fan who is just pissed as all hell. Just in thermal meltdown mode.
She slams this OSU knit hat down on the ground. It’s like a berret with a big poofy ball on top. Seriously, like 70 years old.
Yup, picked that bitch up. Still have it. Priceless.
What would Joe Paterno do?
by jesse. on Aug 18, 2010 10:09 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
jesse., this is the only serious request I will make of you.
Take a picture of that hat, save it on the PC, find an imagehost, post it here.
Please.
"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here"
by ReadingRambler on Aug 18, 2010 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Post it
and then list it on ebay. Someone here will buy it.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Aug 18, 2010 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions
You'd make a terrible pornographer
and a worse date.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Aug 19, 2010 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions
PLEASE
"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here"
by ReadingRambler on Aug 19, 2010 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions
You can't just *say* you have something so awesome and not display it to your real friends here.
"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here"
by ReadingRambler on Aug 19, 2010 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions
the problem with this, though
is that PSU, OSU, Michigan would look like old Big XII North, and current Big XII South, while Nebraska all alone in the West would look like old Big XII South, and new Big XII North. And heck, PSU, Michigan, and Nebraska have all had bad teams fairly recently, so that would further muck everything up.
No matter how hard they’ll try to maintain competitive balance, things will always shift a little bit. Maybe if a recruit sees how hard it will be to win at PSU, Michigan, or OSU in the East, then they decide to go play for Iowa to compete against Nebraska in the West, and so the dynamic shifts again.
by The JuggerNitt on Aug 18, 2010 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh, by the way,
the picture at the top of this post is an insult to the 3-stooges.
by DerryPharmer on Aug 18, 2010 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh, and as for the LB rankings
I’d take Penn State’s linebackers over anyone but Ohio State and Michigan State’s.
For what it’s worth, Phil Steele would agree with you.
by newenglandnittanylion on Aug 18, 2010 3:10 PM EDT reply actions
C'mon
Didn’t you see how well those MSU backers shut down the TE and running backs in the pass game? Or maybe you missed them holding Royster under 9 yards per carry last year?
GREG JONES GREATEST LB EVER!!!!!
by Frank O'Brien on Aug 18, 2010 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions
I guess I keep hoping that Barry Alverez's comments a few weeks ago actually stick....
I think it was linked on tWWL in one of Rittenberg’s Lunch Links but, he had mentioned that the compeitive balence study is looked at by most as only includig the 4 majors (PSU, OSU, U-M, and Nebraska) But, Alverez went on to talk about that the 2 teasm who also are being looked at as anchors are Iowa and Wisky. If that is indeed the case, I guess I can only hope that it works out with PSU, OSU and Michigan anchor the East with Nebraska, Wisky and Iowa in the West.
But, I’m sure it’s all just wishful thinking on my part.
Let's Go State!
Adam Rittenburg
I’ve cut that blog out of my daily rotation. 5th? FIFTH>!?
???
SRS?!
McGloin Despite Them
Preaching the McGospel since Aug. 2nd, 2010
Hate. Hate. Hate.
East-West is the only way to go for the long-term health of the league. Those who point to the Big XII failure forget that a) the North was much stronger than the South for the first half of that league’s existence and b) the South was all but guaranteed to win out in the long-term due to the fact that its two most powerful members were given a highly unfair monetary advantage due to revenue “sharing”. A better example is the ACC, which has revenue sharing and has seen their bizarre divisions create a league that is not only bad, but devoid of many interesting match-ups.
If the Big Ten were to begin play this season with Nebraska, it is far from unheard of that Nebraska, Wisconsin and Iowa could be the three best teams in the league by season’s end. Sports are cyclical as Michigan, like Penn State before them, reminds us. Rivalries are forever, short-term success isn’t.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
I still maintain
That if the B10 wants to make the most money every season, they’ll find a way for these teams to play each other every single season:
PSU
OSU
UM
Neb
Iowa
It’s not rocket science, it’s not even a differential equation, and I’ve seen at least one website that laid out how to make it work without much effort. Sure you could miss a game or two in there every other year, and it won’t really matter, but the point is that’s only 10 games out of the 54 for the season and it would make everyone happy. It’s a reasonable goal.
McGloin Despite Them
Preaching the McGospel since Aug. 2nd, 2010
It would also take a very, very good team
to navigate that schedule undefeated… it might have an impact on a Big Ten team making the NC game if the top programs played all the other top programs each year…
Easy Peasy
Two protected interdivisional games, the way the SEC used to do it.
Rebalance every so often (which was the SEC’s problem … Auburn had Florida and Georgia every year), and you’re good to go.
This is something to consider if when the Big Ten goes to nine conference games.
On the other hand, kmart93 is right: does this lessen the chances of getting two teams into the BCS?
That's the 9 game schedule
I’m starting to warm up to this, unfortunately it probably means we’ll never see Alabama, USC, Miami or ND in Beaver Stadium again.
It may also mean the end to ND’s scheduling three to four Big Ten teams each year, which as someone pointed out earlier, may squash their independent existence.
by Frank O'Brien on Aug 18, 2010 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions
I think ND's staying independent for a while
The chatter at big 10 media days this year was that we don’t even want them anymore. They also just signed a four year deal with Texas.
I don’t see Michigan dropping ND, and all the other big ten teams they play regularly—MSU and Purdue—benefit too much from having them on their schedule to stop playing, even if we do go to 9 games. After that, they should still be able to play USC, Navy, Air Force, and Stanford. That’s 8 pretty good games right there. They can fill out the rest of their schedule with some comboniation of pitt, army, uconn, rutgers, nevada, washingotn state, and whoever else they want and still have a pretty respectable schedule.
I wouldn't trust old rooster me neither.
Putting Washington State on the schedule is not a respectable move
Playing (and beating) a team that is 3-21 the last two seasons is NOT how you build respect. Outside of the Pac-10, there’s really no reason to schedule the Cougars unless you want a free win (ala 2007 Wisconsin).
My kingdom for a spellchecker. Or Devin Harris. Hopefully both.
"Right, a ball of hot flaming gas that collapses upon itself." -Doctor Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Aug 18, 2010 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions
I'd take our LBs over everyone's but OSU.
One good player does not make a crew, as in MSU.
"Every player we have, someone-maybe a parent, a grandparent, someone-poured their soul into that young man. They are handing that young man off to us. They are giving us their treasure, and it's our job to make sure we give them back that young man intact and ready to face the world."
-J.V.Pa.
But you can't really blame Rittenberg.
We lost all 3 starters. Stupar and Bdayu are sort of proven players, but only in limited action. I’d rather come in underrated, then hit some people upside the head.
"Until somebody knocks you on your rear end, and pardon me ladies, but unless somebody knocks you on your rear end, you're never going to learn." - Joe Paterno
by Illegal Formation on Aug 18, 2010 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, you can blame Rittenberg
MSU’s linebackers can’t stop the run and can’t cover TE’s and RBs. How can he rank them so highly?
by Frank O'Brien on Aug 18, 2010 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions
MSU's run defense is "meh", and MSU's pass defense...
well, let’s just say they’d be perfectly at home in the ACC.
My kingdom for a spellchecker. Or Devin Harris. Hopefully both.
"Right, a ball of hot flaming gas that collapses upon itself." -Doctor Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Aug 18, 2010 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Look, Rittenberg's analysis MIGHT be flawed
But this is preseason, and I haven’t seen ANY of Penn State’s linebackers in a regular season game yet.
Wait three weeks, then tell me how good you think the LBs are based on how they perform. But stop whining that Wisconsin’s linebackers are ranked better by ONE columnist.
My kingdom for a spellchecker. Or Devin Harris. Hopefully both.
"Right, a ball of hot flaming gas that collapses upon itself." -Doctor Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Aug 18, 2010 4:52 PM EDT reply actions
I hate to embarrass you in front of your friend and all,
but . . . ummm . . . we are called linebacker U.
I know, I know, I should have waited and brought it to your attention in private.
by PSUinBOSSton on Aug 18, 2010 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions
You are called Linebacker U BUT
how well did things go the last time you had to replace all three starters? I think Mauti might well steal Greg Jones’s status as POY, but how do you feel about LB depth this year?
My kingdom for a spellchecker. Or Devin Harris. Hopefully both.
"Right, a ball of hot flaming gas that collapses upon itself." -Doctor Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Aug 18, 2010 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Kind of the same way you guys feel...
when your switching out fat tailbacks that run for 1,500 yards a season. Pretty comfortable.
What would Joe Paterno do?
Brian Calhoun might take exception to being called fat
as would Anthony Davis, but Davis is on my list of most hated Wisconsin players and I frankly don’t care too much about what he thinks.
My kingdom for a spellchecker. Or Devin Harris. Hopefully both.
"Right, a ball of hot flaming gas that collapses upon itself." -Doctor Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Aug 18, 2010 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions
And Navaro Bowman might take exception to being called white
but sterotypes are a real time saver.
What would Joe Paterno do?
Replacing all three starting LBs is not the same as replacing a tailback from the assembly line.
Unless you have an LB assembly line concealed underneath Heinz Field that nobody but PSU grads know about…
My kingdom for a spellchecker. Or Devin Harris. Hopefully both.
"Right, a ball of hot flaming gas that collapses upon itself." -Doctor Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Aug 18, 2010 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Just an outsider's question:
How do you feel about the starting safeties for this season? I’ve heard nothing about Penn State’s secondary; it’s been overshadowed by McGloin v. Newsome…
My kingdom for a spellchecker. Or Devin Harris. Hopefully both.
"Right, a ball of hot flaming gas that collapses upon itself." -Doctor Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Aug 18, 2010 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions
compared to most years
quite thrilled.
by The JuggerNitt on Aug 18, 2010 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Safeties will be solid.
Lynn and Morris at the corners will be OMG Awesome
"Until somebody knocks you on your rear end, and pardon me ladies, but unless somebody knocks you on your rear end, you're never going to learn." - Joe Paterno
by Illegal Formation on Aug 18, 2010 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Both starters return
They’re smart players, but I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t say we could use an upgrade in athleticism.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries
I mean it isn't quite that clear cut
but I am not worried about our LB depth. If one or 2 of the projected starters don’t get it done, we have some pretty eager guys waiting in the wings.
by The JuggerNitt on Aug 18, 2010 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm charitably guessing that it's a reference
to the idea that most of PSU’s most celebrated LB’s come from Western PA…but it could just be flat-out wrong.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Aug 18, 2010 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm implying that Penn State has it's LB Factory where nobody would expect it
underneath the stadium of a rival school…
My kingdom for a spellchecker. Or Devin Harris. Hopefully both.
"Right, a ball of hot flaming gas that collapses upon itself." -Doctor Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Aug 18, 2010 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Nobody expects anything at Heinz Field
until Sunday.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Aug 18, 2010 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
What about an Iowa loss ala 2008?
21-20. I have no idea how it happened to this day.
My kingdom for a spellchecker. Or Devin Harris. Hopefully both.
"Right, a ball of hot flaming gas that collapses upon itself." -Doctor Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Aug 18, 2010 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Really, you don't have any idea?
Ferentz was playing musical chairs with his QBs the first three games and then gave Ricky Stanzi his first start ever on the road against a team that would end up 9-4. Had he made the change from JC6 to Stanzi weeks earlier he may have had a result similar to this.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Aug 18, 2010 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions
You really have the bar set that low?
What about this box score?
My kingdom for a spellchecker. Or Devin Harris. Hopefully both.
"Right, a ball of hot flaming gas that collapses upon itself." -Doctor Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Aug 18, 2010 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions
That game didn't happen;
Tim Brewster swears it didn’t.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Aug 18, 2010 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I know better than Tim Brewster
that game HAPPENED. As did a humiliating home loss at the hands of NICK SHERIDAN…
My kingdom for a spellchecker. Or Devin Harris. Hopefully both.
"Right, a ball of hot flaming gas that collapses upon itself." -Doctor Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Aug 18, 2010 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions
To be fair -
Tim ‘GO FIGHT WIN TRY’ Brewster is the one who denies the game ever happened.
On the days that he’s in charge, Tim ‘STOP SURRENDER LOSE GIVE UP’ Brewster will readily admit reality.
"Nothing turns me on like doe estrus." - ReadingRambler
by leeharvey418 on Aug 19, 2010 6:28 AM EDT up reply actions
Does he have a Twitter account?
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Aug 19, 2010 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions
It was stolen by Kim Royston
Who might be the only reason Minnesota has hope this season…
(Looks up Minnesota’s last game vs. Iowa)
Never mind.
My kingdom for a spellchecker. Or Devin Harris. Hopefully both.
"Right, a ball of hot flaming gas that collapses upon itself." -Doctor Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Aug 20, 2010 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions
All it takes is one injury
and the floodgates open. You lose to Michigan. You lose to Ohio State. And you lose to yourselves…
My kingdom for a spellchecker. Or Devin Harris. Hopefully both.
"Right, a ball of hot flaming gas that collapses upon itself." -Doctor Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Aug 18, 2010 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions
we lose to Penn State every friggen year
I’m getting so tired of it. If Joe can’t step it up and win the Blue-White rivalry game, I think it is time for him to go.
by The JuggerNitt on Aug 18, 2010 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Hey, JuggerNitt
This is off topic, but I wanted to make sure you saw this (I posted it elsehwere, but it was an old thread).
Are you the person who said they’re staying at The MAsters Inn in Tuscaloosa? If so, you should know that you really don’t want to do that. No joke. This isn’t an “ooh, there’s a cockroach on hte floor” situation. It’s an “umm, there’s a dead body on the floor” situation.
It’s super late in the game to be changing plans, but just about anything is a better alternative to The Masters Inn. You might even find people renting out their apprtments on Craigslist or something (if you do and want to know about the location, just ask me about the address or area and I can help).
by tuscaloosalion on Aug 18, 2010 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Word Up and Chill Out Tusc.
After the gats are done crackin’ at the Masters Inn, JuggerNitt will be the only one left standin’.
"Never mistake motion for action." - Ernest Hemingway
I've stayed in some shady places over the years...
… but I can’t in good conscience not warn someone about The Masters Inn.
There was a murder there in 2009, a rape there earlier this year, and an attempted rape last month.
by tuscaloosalion on Aug 18, 2010 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions
So what you're saying is bring a gun...
but not your girlfriend?
What would Joe Paterno do?
by jesse. on Aug 19, 2010 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Make sure it's a big gun
Like .45 or .40. It may be cold and if the bad guy has a jacket you may need more stopping power in a single round.
Just something to consider.
"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here"
by ReadingRambler on Aug 19, 2010 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah, that was me, and your advice was the second (or third) warning I got about the place
so we have since changed plans. I’m hoping to stay at my friend’s place who lives in Tuscaloosa, but since I’m bringing a few people with me, I’m not sure if that’ll happen. We also wound up getting a reservation in Birmingham, and I’d much rather a longer commute than, well any of those things you mentioned happening.
by The JuggerNitt on Aug 20, 2010 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Feeling very good about the linebackers, actually
Paterno was asked about the linebackers in the spring and he shrugged the question off saying he had no worries there. It would be very un-Paterno-like to not admit he had a problem if he thought there was one.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries
and to go even further
I don’t just feel OK about the linebackers, I actually am a bit excited. For JoePa NOT to say something is wrong, even when things are perfectly fine, is pretty uncharacteristic, especially with a bunch of new starters.
by The JuggerNitt on Aug 20, 2010 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh, you wanted a serious response?
I think we have an LB who would have started over a drafted senior LB (but was injured), 1 who has started some games, and a veteran LB who is having trouble keeping a spot on the field because of 3 young LBs who are pushing for playing time. I think we’ll be fine.
That said, I have no problem being ranked lower than Wisco until someone gets to see them produce.
by PSUinBOSSton on Aug 18, 2010 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions
I have to agree
Ritt didn’t show the PSU linebackers much love two years ago and everyone gave him s%&t. We all knew Bowman was going to be a stud, but he had no way of knowing that.
It is kind of embarassing how PSU fans jump off the ship when someone tells them they may not be the best at something.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries
Normally I'd agree
But it’s not like Ritt is saying we’ll be 5th best on special teams in the Big Ten this season. He’s trying to sell us that, despite our pretty significant track record of results, we are only “meh” at linebacker. I think that’s where the umbrage comes from.
I look at it like my mom’s lasagna (and no, she’s not hot). Should I be surprised that I would receive a swift ass-kicking if I were to suggest that her next lasagna would just be average, even though I haven’t tasted it yet? She has a reputation for delicious lasagna, to the point that suggesting it’ll be anything less than “pretty good” is putting your life in jeopardy. Such is how I view our reputation at the linebacker position, and I feel it is deservedly so.
Luring recruits with my new "Posting HD" scheme since '08.
YOUR FACE IS LASAGNA!
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Aug 18, 2010 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Ooh, burn!
Like your mom’s lasagna burns the roof of your mouth! And by her “lasagna” I mean…well, I suppose I mean a delicious noodle casserole.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Aug 18, 2010 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Rumor:
When Delany announces the non-geographical split, an unholy combination of “Hail to the Victors” and “The Buckeye Battle Cry” will play in the background.
"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here"
Which, when played together, sounds like
this. Huh, who would have thought…
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Aug 18, 2010 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions
In all seriousness
The very thought of a non-geographical split makes me want to punch a cow.
"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here"
by ReadingRambler on Aug 18, 2010 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I want to punch a horse
Though not for any particular reason besides Mongo being my hero.
"Nothing turns me on like doe estrus." - ReadingRambler
by leeharvey418 on Aug 18, 2010 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Played by, of course, former Iowa great
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Aug 18, 2010 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Musselman is a lazy jackass......
I know he’d rather be covering a high-school team over PSU.
You got that right.
Ever read his PSU Q&A during the season? Man, he gives the absolute lamest answers (if you could even call them that) ever. He is truly Mr. Obvious. And it’s obvious to me that he can’t stand being the beat writer for PSU and doesn’t much like PSU and Paterno if he likes them any at all.
The Pgh media in general do not much like PSU. For some odd reason they feel they HAVE to guage everything Pitt does or doesn’t do against Penn State. Look…Pitt is the home team and they should get the Lion’s share of coverage. I get that and agree with it. But that’s no reason to denigrate PSU either outright or backhandedly every chance they get.
I agree, I don’t even know why the PPG even bothers to cover PSU. They should just buy the news service garbage and print it. It would actually be better coverage that way. I doubt there are very many PSU fans that go to the PPG for coverage, just some sado machismic, voyeur peeps (i do go there occasionally) at what garbage or crap ass journalist they have covering PSU.
Not much man
Welcome
Adam
Black Shoe Diaries, SB Nation Pittsburgh
God Created the World Out Of Nothing, Paterno Built A National Superpower On Cow Fields...
by Adam Bittner on Aug 19, 2010 2:53 AM EDT up reply actions
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