Gobble Gobble Pickin' Nits Gobble Gobble

When I say what a week it's going to be, I mean it's already been a great start for me anyways. I got to see a lot of bad football this weekend, but it meant going home for a little while so I could enjoy it for what it was worth. When I mean bad football, I mean Tim Beckman getting a win over Penn State. I don't want to talk about it anymore. On Sunday, the torture continued despite a win. It had been a couple years since my last trip to Soldier Field, but the Bears (I won't use 'Da' so you all don't click the red x in the corner) somehow came out with a win.

It's amazing how Penn State and the Chicago Bears have so many similarities except for the great defense on Penn State, but this week is going to get better. You want to know why? Well, the Maui Invitational is the greatest thing behind the tournament in college basketball. Of course this week is about mass consumption and an acceptable food coma on Thursday.

So let's see how our Nittany Lions are handling the best week of the year.

Cross Country

Fifth-year senior Matt Fischer and freshman Jillian Hunsberger competed one last time at the NCAA Cross Country Championships this past week in Terre Haute, Ind.

Hunsberger ran 21 minutes, 38.9 seconds on the 6,000-meter course. Her performance was good for 161st out of 253 runners.

Fischer ran 32 minutes, 6 seconds in the 10,000-meter course that found him 167th out of 246 runners.

It's been a great season for both of these Nittany Lions. For Jillian, we hope to hear from you in the future and for Matt, we all wish you nothing but the best moving forward after graduation.

Soccer

The roller coaster of a season finally came to a halt for Penn State. After a 2-1 win at home over Hartwick on Thursday, Penn State found themselves on the losing end of a 2-1 affair with Syracuse.

After a Connor Maloney goal-kick in the 60th minute, Syracuse put two of their own in the back of the net in the final 20 minutes of regulation. The men finished the season 13-6-1.

The women find themselves one win away from another trip to the Final Four. A 1-0 win over UConn on Friday and a 2-1 win on Sunday over Virginia Tech keep this magical season for the ladies alive. Penn State has outscored their opponents 7-2 in the tournament while redshirt junior goalkeeper Britt Eckerstrom has totaled 10 saves to her name this postseason.

This Week Ahead: The women travel down to College Station to Johnny Football land and take on the Aggies this Saturday. Best of luck ladies!

**I would like to add congratulations to Men's Head Coach Bob Warming and his team on the tremendous season. I had the opportunity to broadcast most of the men's games on the Big Ten Network and Warming was more than welcoming to my broadcast partner and I this season. He gave us a lot of access most coaches would not allow two young bucks to come in and get an idea of what goes on behind the scenens throughout the year. I was fairly critical of his team early on in the year when I should not have because this team was as hot as ANY TEAM IN THE COUNTRY through the first 10-12 games. To Coach Warming, I want to say thank you for going in depth on the game of soccer as much as you possibly did and allowing us to learn a couple things about the game!

Women's Ice Hockey

A 3-0 win on Friday over Lindenwood was anchored by a dominant performance in net by junior goalie Celine Whitlinger. The California native came up with 21 saves, 10 of which came in the second period, to give Penn State their seventh win of the season.

An early goal from junior Shannon Yoxheimer on Saturday was not enough as Penn State dropped a 2-1 game. It was her sixth goal of the year.

This Week Ahead: The ladies will get to enjoy turkey knowing they're over .500 and no games on the slate this weekend.

Women's Volleyball

Business as usual on Wednesday against Michigan, 3-0.

Business as usual on Saturday at Maryland, 3-0.

34 consecutive sets won. Wow.

This Week Ahead: The streak will look to be continued at Northwestern on Wednesday and at home on Saturday against Nebraska.