JayTweet, obviously.

1.  If you were selling the Land Grant Trophy at a garage sale, what price would you put on the sticker?
 
I know that the strictures of blogging require me to say "i shud totes pay them 2 take it away, lololol," but really, I think there's a lot of value packed inside that beauty.  You've got the exquisite mahogany frame (excellent as a replacement coffee table leg in a pinch), two bonus paperweights, fine campus art, that little plaque under the lion that looks sort of like a double light switch, and who couldn't use an impressive-looking trophy-action-guy to put on the ol' mantle?  Seriously, you could furnish an entire apartment with this thing.
 
It's like an '85 Datsun: the parts themselves are worth far more than the sum of the parts.  So, like, at least $3.75, FIRM.

Functional, but only when dismantled into 20 pieces.

 
2.  Penn State's defensive weakness is against the pass, especially crossing routes in the middle of the field.  Your guys aren't going to be total jerks and try stuff like that, right?
 
Of course not!  Because if we've learned anything from the past few years, it's that Mark Dantonio will go to great lengths to appease opposing fans.
 
In all seriousness: yeah, that's probably exactly what we're going to do.  Blair White is excellent from the slot, and although he had a relatively quiet week against Purdue, he did score a huge 4th quarter touchdown on--you guessed it--a shallow crossing route in the middle of the field.  We've also got B.J. Cunningham, Mark Dell, and two tight ends (Charlie Gantt and Brian Linthicum) who are proficient at that sort of thing.  Cunningham, White, and Keshawn Martin are each also serious deep threats.  If we don't get a whole lot of production from them collectively, Penn State wins.
 
3.  PSU's special teams are bad.  And by "bad", I mean "run away from the television while sobbing uncontrollably."  Michigan State ranks 7th nationally in kickoff returns and has the best placekicker in the conference.  Is there any part of special teams where Penn State might have an advantage?
 

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What is this view worth, anyway?

Mostly ignored in the commotion and tension of the Indiana game was David Jones' pre-game blockbuster detailing the changes coming for students and season ticket holders at Beaver Stadium, beginning with the 2011 season:

When asked about the plan Friday night at the Bryce Jordan Center, where he was watching the Penn State-Penn men’s basketball game, athletic director Tim Curley would neither confirm it nor discuss specifics. He responded with generalities about the athletic department’s need to raise additional money soon:

"The bottom line is, right now, everyone around the country is looking at ways to create new revenue sources. We’ve tapped out a number of sources so far — adding a 12th game, the Big Ten Network. We’ve tried to benchmark ourselves against other schools right now. And we’re looking at creative ways to generate more revenue.

"And now’s the time we need to do it. We need to create new revenue in order to maintain our broad-based program."

 

Exact details of the plan have not yet been released by Penn State, but based on multiple accounts, these seem to be the basics:

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So sayeth The Daily Collegian:

Brandon Beachum will miss the remainder of the 2009 season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee on Saturday, according to a release issued by the Penn State football program.

Beachum, a true sophomore running back, hurt his knee while attempting to recover a Jerome Hayes fumble on a kickoff return on the first play of the third quarter in Penn State's 31-20 win over Indiana on Saturday.

More photos » by Carolyn Kaster - AP

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If we're eligible, does it really matter who's ranked ahead of us?

Of course not. Iowa is ranked #13, Penn State is ranked #14, all of it is irrelevant. The BCS has two functions: to try and pick the two most deserving teams that will be allowed a shot at their crystal ball, and making money off of everyone else.

The best way to make money is not to pick the next best 10 teams, but to pick the teams with the best following who the general public believes will compete with their pairing. Remember none of these games matter anyway: nothing can be won or lost in any game that isn't the BCS MNC. It's always fun to win on a big stage, but the games are not a means to some kind of end.

So, if you want to be a purist about it, you have to pick the team with a bigger following and better TV ratings.

(It's worth noting that Iowa has a strong fan base and even buy their tickets. The point isn't one that tears down the Hawkeyes, but it's hard to defend the idea that Iowa will somehow make a bowl more money than Penn State if both teams finish with two losses.)

Let's get ethical: does Penn State even deserve a shot?

There are two standards here: one is the respect and aura we've built around the term "BCS team." Based on our performance against Iowa and Ohio State, I would probably agree with you in saying this team is not a typical BCS powerhouse.

But this is not a typical year. Outside of the top three to five teams, no one is doing anything.

So the real question is this: is Penn State one of the top 12 teams after you take into account the two-team-per rule?

It depends. Penn State lacks a quality win outside of Temple (other receiving votes woo wooo), but: (1) they also haven't lost to North Carolina State (2) he team has zero close calls against mid-majors and (3) their losses are to top 15 teams.

All three of those things are not true about Wisconsin, Iowa, Virginia Tech, Boise State and Pitt.

Penn State's best asset is that they don't currently have any stupid losses. I know that doesn't seem like much, but it's a strange year.

You don't have to be proud of it or pretend this is some kind of legendary effort, but the landscape is important.

Here is the real question: can we get picked ahead of Iowa?

And really there is no legit answer for this. Iowa has now lost their last two games. Stanzi is out and will likely be rusty at best in a bowl game. They lost to jNW, which should always be noted.

But they beat Penn State.

So what do you do?

Couldn't this all be a worthless and borderline embarrassing discussion?

You bet. Penn State is just a 3.5 point favorite against Michigan State this weekend. Iowa and Ohio State appear to be in much more comfortable games (favored by 9.5 and 12.5, respectively). This weekend is no sure thing.

So long live hate week.

Well, this wasn't difficult.  God bless the internets.

Lost in yesterday's crapfest -- Navorro Bowman has likely played his last game at Beaver Stadium.  As for injuries, Brandon Beachum sustained what appeared to be a very serious knee injury on the second half kickoff.  A.J. Wallace left the game with a concussion, and Chaz Powell left the game with what was preliminarily described as a sprain of his AC shoulder joint.

Despite Penn State's lazy performance, they're likely to nudge even closer to the magical top 14 of the BCS standings.  Penn State started the day ranked #18 in the rankings, but #9 USC, #10 Iowa, #14 Miami, #15 Houston, #16 Utah, and #17 Arizona all lost.

by Carlos Osorio - AP

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This Saturday will mark the fourth senior day in the history of this fine blog. Tomorrow afternoon 18 seniors will run out of the tunnel for the last time wearing the Blue and White. Some of them will go on to try to earn a roster spot in the NFL. Others will go on to lead successful careers in business and life. Some are stars. Some are little known walk ons. They got up every day at 5 AM for four years to lift weights and run sprints so they could put on a show for us twelve Saturdays a year. They are heroes. They are legends. They are Penn State football.

If you're new to BSD this season, we have a tradition where we honor all of the senior players, from the All Americans to the third string long snapper, with a little ditty we call Senior Day Haiku. Feel free to add your own Haiku in the comments. We'll go in alphabetical order.

P - Jeremy Boone

He must hate the ball
Holy Cow did you see that?
He just hit the moon!

QB - Daryll Clark

Roll out and go deep
Never good enough for some
Just short of legend

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