Penn State.....The Rodney Dangerfield of College Football

by pic15 on Oct 20, 2011 2:19 PM EDT

NO RESPECT! Reading through some of the articles on Rivals, ESPN etc. you would think Penn State is 1-6 rather than 6-1. All of these articles belittle the 6-1 mark due to the lack of quality opponents. None of those articles mention how PSU was in the Bama game and how a call here or a made play could have tightened things up. None of those articles speak to how Bama smoked Arkansas and Florida worse then PSU, yet both of those programs retained their top 25 ranking. It's not just the media either......our own fan base this year (including many posters on this site) was questioning (after the Temple game) if the 2011 Lions would even become bowl eligible this year. To go along with that, there has been a lot of fear raised about the NW game this week, especially with Persa at the helm. Could the Lions lose.....sure.....but given the way the D has been playing along with the special team play of Fera, Powell, Sukay and crew the fanbase should expect to win. Sure the W's are ugly but most importantly they are W's and not L's.

The 2011 Lions are exactly in the position they should be in and likely will be 7-1 heading into a home game with Illinois. This despite an offense that brings back memories of the days when the forward pass was frowned upon. No one likes this kind of O......not the coaches.....certainly not us the fans and definitely not the media. It is in fact one of the big reasons that PSU gets no respect ( that and the media's long-running bias against Paterno led programs - 1968, 1969, 1973, 1986, 1994 - 5 undefeated seasons yet only on NC out of that grouping)! Though we might not like the ugly football that is being played we need to recognize that if this team continues to play tough D and to protect the football, PSU should be in every game the rest of the way out. Not saying we will be favored or even win all of them but given the growing confidence of the team coupled with better OL play and a good kicking game we have a good competitive chance.

Now I am sure this type of talk will lead to the usual Blue Kool-Aid or PSU homer responses......but if you have watched any of the remaining teams on the schedule up to Wisconsin you should like PSU's chances. Illinois, Nebraska and OSU are all very beatable (yes even with our inept passing game). Wisconsin has looked impressive in all their games so far but I think this weekend will give everyone a better gauge as to where the Badgers stand. Even assuming a loss to the Badgers though, will the media still have a total lack of respect for the Lions? Will the fanbase still assail Paterno and continually ponder the date of his ouster and his replacement? My guess is that the answer to both of those questions is yes......and that is sad. I am on the Believe in D train and I want more of you on that train with me! Fire up your grills this weekend.....drink a ton of beer, whiskey, sangria whatever on Saturday and prepare yourselves for a good ole' fashion Defensive whoop down on Saturday night! After all....WE ARE.......LINEBACKER U!

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Well said

My thoughts exactly, I don’t care how we win, as long as we win. It is not like Penn State always wins good, we more than often win ugly, but we still find a way to win.

by AriesGD on Oct 20, 2011 3:08 PM EDT reply actions

"I get no respect, I tell ya...

My doctor says I drink too much. Last time I gave a urine sample there was an olive in it."

Run.

by Bob Sacamano on Oct 20, 2011 3:34 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs

Until the B1G teams step it up

in OOC games and Bowls, there will be no respect except for the odd team that dominates within the conference as Wisconsin has been doing lately. They are perceived as the oddity in the B1G right now…a strong team among 10 or 11 weak teams. This bowl season the top 4 teams in the conference need to take care of business and next year in the first four weeks they need to win in the marquee OOC matchups.

After getting beat up by Florida and having “down” year last year, PSU is viewed as a mediocre team in a mediocre conference. The bad thing for the B1G is if PSU beats Wisconsin it will be perceived as WIscy being “exposed” instead of PSU being better than everyone thought. Only the bowl season can repair the rep of the conference.

"Illegitimus non Carborundum!" (Don't let the bastards wear you down)

by RWReese on Oct 20, 2011 4:04 PM EDT reply actions

Did we watch the same game?

Florida did not “beat up” us

Reporter: Can you give us a touchdown celebration, one that you would get penalized for?
Moye: I play at Penn State. I don’t celebrate.

by psupride on Oct 21, 2011 7:56 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree 100%

Of course, there are probably 120 other fanbases that believe they don’t get the respect they should.

Follow @IfJoePaTweeted

by Jared Slanina on Oct 20, 2011 8:21 PM EDT reply actions

To a large extent, I don't care

whether we are “respected” or not — it’s been that way for a LONG time and we’ve been cheated out of national championships as a result.

I console myself with this: Penn State represents something that other schools have squandered away, and having sold their souls, are resentful that Penn State has not.

Great post, pic15!

"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.

"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."

by PSU_Lions_84 on Oct 20, 2011 9:22 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Easy there killer

Indiana St, Eastern ~~Motors~~ Michigan, Temple, Indiana, Iowa, and Purdue aren’t exactly murderer’s row, last time I checked. As far as how “PSU was in the Bama game”, um, yeah, I’ll agree that they, like, actually did play in the game. To say PSU had any shot of winning is an entirely different thing (assuming you watched the game). I think the media’s opinion of PSU at this point isn’t entirely off-base (due to some close calls against lesser competition), but I really think they’re reserving judgement until the final 4 games of the season. I mean seriously, aside from PSU being 6-1 (by winning incredibly ugly), does anyone on here really have a definitive answer as to what kind of team they have?? The obvious answer is “a football team” but aside from that I have no idea how good or bad they are….and the same goes for the media.

by snydo5976 on Oct 21, 2011 7:35 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

of the teams we've beaten

only Indiana has a losing record. You can’t say that for the majority of BCS programs, so listing the teams we’ve beaten doesn’t really bolster your argument.

@NotCarlotta

Fire Dan Snyder

by Cari Greene on Oct 21, 2011 8:19 AM EDT up reply actions

Um...ok

So what is my argument?? I didn’t really think I was making an argument other than to say, “hey, let’s wait until PSU’s last 4 games to really see how good they are”. Oh, and my sincerest apologies. Indiana St, Eastern Michigan, Temple, Iowa, and Purdue are the greatest football teams ever!!!

by snydo5976 on Oct 21, 2011 8:22 AM EDT up reply actions

I NEVER said they were the greatest football teams ever, nor did I come near to implying that

I was just refuting your implication that they were a bad stretch of teams. The way this season’s played out, I would take our noncon schedule over virtually every other team in the Big Ten.

I apologize for the use of “your argument”, I wasn’t commenting on the remainder of your comment, just the opening swipe at our schedule—that was what I meant. The remainder of your comment I agree with.

@NotCarlotta

Fire Dan Snyder

by Cari Greene on Oct 21, 2011 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Holy shit bro, chill

I was just kidding…and lazy at the same time cuz I didn’t use the sarcasm font. Also, how is mentioning that wins against too lazy to type the team names again not “exactly murderer’s row” taking a swipe at them. Can you honestly say that Indiana St, etc are, like, actually good teams?? No. No reasonable person would say that. So again, how is that a “swipe at our schedule”?? Not that anyone on here cares, but this is exactly why I don’t post much on here. I try to offer my opinions (albeit, they sometimes come of douchey, but trust me, that’s not my intentions) but I end up getting blasted anyways. I love the internet!!1

by snydo5976 on Oct 21, 2011 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Your point is well taken I just think the point he was making is Florida has beaten far worse teams and lost by worse to the only team we lost to and are still ranked. there are others ranked ahead of us that you could say the same of. Houston, Michigan, WVU, South Carolina, Va Tech and Kansas State. Look at who theyve beaten, lost to.

I put PSU’s schedule/results up against any of those teams. I agree with you, PSU maybe doesnt deserve a top 10 ranking ad they havent played a “murderers row”, but neither have a lot of teams ranked ahead of us who are getting much more attention.

by swiggy04 on Oct 21, 2011 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Just for clarification,

NotCarlotta is a BSDiva, not a bro.

"It's never a bad thing thing to vote for the suckiness of tOSU." -RWReese
Follow @Paige2PSU

by Paige2PSU on Oct 21, 2011 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions

this

and thanks Paige :)

@NotCarlotta

Fire Dan Snyder

by Cari Greene on Oct 21, 2011 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Bama and this PSU team

Snydo……the question is….did you watch the Bama game. Penn State is up 3-0 and by all credible accounts stops Bama on 4th and 1. Unfortunately the stripes were watching the game you were tuned into and give Bama a 1st down leading to a letdown and ultimate Tide touchdown. Let’s go to Bizzaro world for a minute and say the refs get the spot right. PSU with momentum takes over the ball well inside Bama territory and likely ends up with another 3. It’s at least a 7 pt. turnaround in the game, likely a 10 and remotely a 14. No where in my post do I claim the Lions would go on to win the game…..Bama was and is a better team than we are…..mostly because they have a decent passing game. The point was……we played Bama much better than Florida and Arkansas ( if you listen to the old man…..he believes it to……he brought up Sczebazza’s (sp?) drop in that game {that would have led to a 1st down inside Bama territory and likely points on another drive} again this week), neither of whom dropped from the rankings after their loss. My post was directed at fans like you that have discounted this team because of the way they have won….with tough D and with special teams. I think we know exactly what type of team we have right now and barring injury can expect more of the same throughout the year. No one is saying Temple, Iowa and Purdue are “elite”……they very well could all be bowl bound though so I wouldn’t sell the W’s short. In fact Temple should be bowl eligible this week and Iowa in 2. Purdue is really the wild card in that grouping and I would not be surprised if they play Illinois close and possibly pull off an upset this weekend.

Have some pride in this Defensive……they are one of the better units we have seen in awhile and they continue to get better. Did you watch Illinois/OSU…….if you did, are you really questioning our ability to compete with either? What about Nebraska all year…..they have looked very suspect and should have lost to a very average OSU team…..very beatable in my book. And as for Wisconsin…..granted they have looked pretty damn good and I do expect they will beat us……but again we will see what they are made of when they are tested this week in East Lansing. The other wild card with this team is McG and Bolden. Though they both have sucked royally to date……they both have show flashes of being able to get it together. Also neither has been aided by the drops of our WR’s. If McG and Robo can play average (middle of the Big10) the rest of the way out…..we WILL beat everyone up to the Wisco game (barring turnovers and special team flubs which are always the X factor).

For this week though, sit back with your cooler of beer next to the couch and expect another ugly 1960’s Joe Paterno run dominated win…..it doesn’t matter though, embrace it…..a win is a win and as fans we should be pleased that PSU is going to match last year’s win total in week 8 (again many on this site doubted bowl eligibility after Temple).

I thought only safeties played 15 yards off the ball! DESTROY Northwestern!!

by pic15 on Oct 21, 2011 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions

I think my head's about to explode.

“My post was directed at fans like you that have discounted this team because of the way they have won”

Really dude?? How on earth do you have any idea what kind of a fan I am?? Because I said that the media is maybe waiting until PSU’s last 4 games to really see how good they are?? Oh my freaking god. To answer your question, yes, I did watch the Alabama game. While the team played a tough game against a top 3 opponent, there was not a single point in that game that I thought PSU had a chance to win it. Not one. Why do you ask?? Good question. Based on PSU’s recent history against top 10 teams, why would anyone in their right mind think that PSU was going to win?? I think that’s a better question. Was I rooting for them to win?? Absolutely, but I had enough perspective to know that they really didn’t have a chance. Yes, a couple of calls didn’t exactly go their way. And yes, they did have some costly turnovers and bone headed mistakes, but it’s not like they haven’t had costly turnovers and mistakes in the rest of their games. Last time I checked, doing something repeatedly is called a “trend”. So therefore what the PSU players did in the game against Bama was not the exception, but rather the rule.

Sorry if this is rambling but I would like to touch on one other thing.
“Have some pride in this Defensive…”
I feel like I’m repeating myself, but where in any of my comments on this post did I trash the defense?? Anyone?? Oh, that’s right. Nowhere. All I was trying to say (since I think the reason for your fan post was to ask why PSU is not getting any love in the media) is that I think the media, pollsters, etc are waiting to see how PSU does against Illinois, Nebraska, Ohio St, and Wisconsin. That’s it. For the love of god, do not read anymore into this. It’s simple.

by snydo5976 on Oct 21, 2011 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow

Did someone kick someone’s dog? This is worse than a democrat/republican argument.

I think you are both missing each others point. Is PSU getting love from the media? No. Will they? Hell no. If they can’t get love for an undefeated season, why would they with 1 loss? This is nothing new for PSU and their fans. The media (especially ESPN) will always be on the $EC bandwagon. But, they have been winning. Are they impressive wins? By no means. But, a win is a win. At the end of the year nobody cares how the wins looked at the time. They just see the final record. I am happy PSU is 6-1. But, I want to see a lot more improvement on the offensive side of the ball…and it needs to happen quickly.

by Offside Clyde on Oct 21, 2011 3:38 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs