Who hasn't admired the integrity of the Berlin Wall?

WASHINGTON D.C -- I should have the Newseum write-up done tomorrow. In the meantime, ponder this message: ""In order to maintain the integrity of the Berlin Wall, please do not touch."

Newseum, Berlin Wall, dc, East Germany

Labels: Blue White Roundtable, History, Media, The District

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posted by WFY @ 7:57 PM | |

Blue White Roundtable: We interupt wall-to-wall Nats coverage for some spring football

The Blue White game is three weeks from tomorrow and we're already talking football. My head is spinning.

Mike from Black Shoe Diaries has this week's questions.

Let's start with the ugly news. Chris Baker, Chris Bell, Phil Taylor, Knowledge Timmons, and Navorro Bowman are all sitting out the spring practice sessions. What impact will this have on the 2008 season?

I expect some won't be back and that will cost some depth. I just hope the decisions are made before classes end this spring so that the team can move on. When's Baker's trial again?

Would you move Sean Lee to middle linebacker like Paul Posluszny in 2006 and Dan Connor in 2007?

I expect to see it, just because that seems to be the way they do things now. I think Lee has a bigger upside than Dan Connor in general too. Lee seems to have a little meaner streak than Connor and comes off as more serious. Does it make sense with Chris Colasanti waiting in the wings though?

If Lee stays on the outside, who would you start at the other outside linebacker assuming Bowman is out of the picture?

Probably Tyrell Sales, who started most of the games last season.

Which position on the field is our weakest link?

I am most concerned about the secondary which had been a strength for several years. Justin King is gone and several players are in the doghouse. Plus, the position coach is new, so between that and a lack of depth and to play "prevent" in throughout the game has me worried.

Who is your pony in the quarterback contro…uh, competition?

My pony is the one who will win the most games. We have such a small sample size of Daryl Clark and no sample size of Pat Devlin to base our opinions on. What I have heard is Clark is a better runner than Devlin, but not by much. Devlin apparently has the better arm. Based on that, I'd lean towards Devlin. Let the best man win the job though.


Name three players that absolutely have to step up their performance this spring?

Derrick Williams -- he hasn't lived up to the hype yet and has one more chance
Andrew Quarless -- if he is on the team, he needs to decide he likes football more than alcohol
Joe Paterno -- he needs to spend more time in the Lasch Building making the players afraid of him

Lightning Round

Who is your pick to win the Red Worrell award given to the offensive player that shows the most improvement during spring practice?

Dennis Landolt -- Peanut butter jelly time pays off.

Who is your pick for the Jim O’Hora award given to the defensive player that shows the most improvement?

Marc Rubin

Your 2008 team captains are…?

Sean Lee
A.Q. Shipley
Derrick Williams


The ever-growing roundtable:
The Nittany Line
There Is No Name On My Jersey
Tangled Up In White and Blue
The Big Eleventh
The Nittany Notebook
Run Up The Score
Nittany Whiteout

Labels: Blue White Roundtable, PSU Football 2008

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posted by WFY @ 12:23 PM | |

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Blue White Roundtable: our long national letter of intent day nightmare is over

I tried to put off this BWR as long as I could, because I've never been interested in recruiting and was even less so after I read For the Glory by Ken Denlinger.

How well did Penn State address their needs with this recruiting class?

I didn't see a lot of skill position players listed, but they got linebackers as always. Really, they need to start playing a 3-8-3 defense or something.

Who was the big fish that got away? The kid you really really wish we had landed?

I'll dodge this question -- how did it work out for some of the players we were supposed to be heartbroken about losing -- Dan Kendra, Ron Powlus, Kevin Jones or Chad Henne? You could argue that none reached their potential for whatever reason:

Kendra -- KABOOM!
Powlus -- no bowl wins
Jones -- how years did he play at Virginia Tech, two?
Henne -- one bowl less than Anthony Morelli, but there was Tacopants

So, I'm not going to cry about players who might have worn the blue and white.

You're NCAA President Miles Brand. Take a break from counting your BCS cash for a minute. What would you do to improve the recruiting process?

Tell ESPN that they may need to re-examine certain clauses (I don't think we feel comfortable with certain kinds of advertisers) in their next broadcast agreement and even threaten to go elsewhere. For the smaller operations, threaten to revoke press passes. Also, limit the amount of correspondence that coaches can have with recruits, i.e. one letter or call a week or something.

I do my part by not blogging about recruiting.

Now you're Joe Paterno. So I guess prepare to dodge the question. What would you change about Penn State's recruiting strategy?

I'd let Tom Bradley and Larry Johnson Sr. use one of the university jets more often.

Lightning Round

Where will Terrelle Pryor go to school? Or should he just live off the hype for the next few years and directly enter the NFL draft in 2010?

Pryor will attend Penn State McKeesport. Really, I have no clue.

Which member of this class stands the best chance to make an immediate impact?

Someone who can play defensive back.

Informed recruiting commentary:

There Is No Name On My Jersey
Black Shoe Diaries
The Nittany Line
Tangled Up In White and Blue
The Big 11th
Run Up the Score!

Labels: Blue White Roundtable, PSU Football 2008

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posted by WFY @ 12:53 PM | |

Blue White Roundtable: Here comes the offseason

Mike from Black Shoe Diaries asked all but the last bonus question this week. I chipped in the last one this morning.

Let's start off with a positive note. When you look back on the 2007 season five or ten years from now, what will be your fondest memory? It doesn't necessarily have to be Penn State related.

I think I will remember the Iowa game most fondly. We won and there were lots of friends and family to tailgate with before and after the game. Since I missed Homecoming, I don't have a lot of fond memories from the Nittany Lions on the field.

What should the Big Ten conference consider as its highest priority this off season?

Getting Big11Ten Network available on major cable systems should be the main priority of the conference. I've given up on them improving officiating.

Clark or Devlin? Whose camp are you in and why?

Unfortunately, I cannot make an informed decision because we've seen so little of each of them. Either way, I think we'll be better off than we were with Anthony Morelli. I think it would be pretty hard for either of these guys to have as many crucial turnovers as Morelli.

Which position not including quarterback is your biggest concern looking ahead to 2008?

The secondary is my biggest concern. They were good in 2006, but bad in 2007. Hopefully, last season was an aberration.

Lightning Round

Who is the early favorite to win the Big Ten in 2008?

Ohio State because they always are and know how to reload. I think Penn State makes a good run though.

How many Fulmer Cup points for Penn State this summer?

4 -- I think they'll get their act together for the most part.

Now that the offseason has begun, what will you keep your mind occupied with until fall practice?

I believe that college football is meant to help us get over the loss of summer. When football ends, we quickly have Thanksgiving, which helps us get over the loss of college football. December is so busy with the holidays we don't have too much time to miss college football and pro football is actually interesting by then. The bowl games help us get over the end of the holidays. After the bowl game, I start thinking about skiing and followthe Capitals more closely. Once I get my skiing in, I'm ready for spring which leads thoughts of Nationals Opening Day. Then, the Blue White Game gets the football fires burning again, if only for a week. A few weeks after Blue White is the Yurasko Kentucky Derby Party. Then, I'm waiting for the pool to open and watching the Nats when I'm not bicycling. By the end of June, I'm desperate to go down the Shore. When I finally make it down the Shore, I read the Town & Gown Football Annual. The season starts not long after that and the cycle begins anew.

The others

Run Up the Score!
The Nittany Line
There is No Name on My Jersey
The Nittany Notebook

Labels: Blue White Roundtable, PSU Football 2008

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posted by WFY @ 12:15 PM | |

Blue White Roundtable: Alamo Bowl Eve

This pre-Alamo Bowl edition of Blue White Roundtable features questions from all of us.

WFY: Do you think any of the quarterbacks below Anthony Morelli will get any meaningful playing time on Saturday?

I don't think either Daryl Clark or Pat Devlin will get much playing time unless Penn State runs it up in the first half or Anthony Morelli gets hurt.

The Nittany Notebook: Other than the quarterbacks, what players would you like to see get significant playing time in the game for preparation for 2008?

Evan Royster, the next generation of linebackers and probably some DBs.

There Is No Name On My Jersey: Will Royster finish the game healthy? If not, how concerned should fans be about the RB position in '08?

I will give a Joe Paterno-type answer -- how should I know? I'm not too concerned about the running back position, because the offensive line looks better than it has in a long time.

Black Shoe Diaries: Obviously a loss to Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl would be devastating for the psyche of the program going into the off season. But is there anything good that can come out of beating a middle of the road Big XII team in a non-New Years Day bowl game? Basically, tell me why I should care about this game?

I don't think it is devastating to loss to Texas A&M unless they are completely embarrassed. They are basically playing a road game indoors against a team that can beat Texas. A loss could provide a wake-up call to a lot of people and get them to be more motivated for 2008. That being said, I'd prefer a victory. The reason to care about this game is self-evident.

The Nittany Line: Will 2008 be JoePa's last year and if so will the old man bow out gracefully or will he be forced out?

I don't think it will be his last year because I don't believe either Tim Curley or Graham Spainer has the guts to force Paterno out.

Run Up the Score!: When Joe Paterno finally retires, how long of a leash should the next coach get? What's the standard he'll be judged by, and does your answer depend on whether the new head coach comes from within or outside the program?

The next coach should start off with a five year contract and barring any seasons with eight or more losses after year two should be given the opportunity to coach for the duration of the contract. I believe a head coach from inside the program will be judged less harshly than an outsider, even though the opposite should be true.

Lightning Round

Your Alamo Bowl Prediction?

Penn State 28 Texas A&M 20

Hopefully, we'll be back next week with a post-Alamo Bowl wrap-up.

Labels: Blue White Roundtable, PSU Football 2007

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posted by WFY @ 12:07 PM | |

Blue White Roundtable: Penultimate 2007 edition

JB from There's No Name on My Jersey asked this week's questions:

1. PSU is lined up to play Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl. How are you feeling about the match-up and Penn State's chances?

If Penn State's coaching staff has been subscribing to the right e-mail newsletters (EDSBS), I'm feeling great about this game. Overall, I'm feeling pretty good -- despite the Texas win, I think Texas A&M is probably a lesser opponent. Throw in some coaching upheaval down there and Joe Paterno's high winning percentage in bowl games I am like the Nittany Lions' chances. I'll need to study up on A&M more though.

2. The BCS, fire away.

It is what it is and it won't be changing anytime soon. I'm so myopic about Penn State, I really can't work up the righteous indignation that Georgia or Virgina Tech couldn't get a shot. I feel bad for Hawaii though.

3. Will you be rooting for Tosu in order to help boost the profile of the conference or will you unmitigated hate win out?

I'm in a unique situation when it comes to Ohio State -- my job involves working on a Buckeyes site. It just so happens, I'll be coordinating between that site and one in Louisanna too, so I have to be objective, no?

I guess I'll be rooting for OSU, but I really don't have any loyalty to the conference.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Are you going to the Alamo Bowl?

No, I'll be in Pennsylvania with my in-laws; arrangements are being be made so that we all see the game on the big TV. Yay.

The next bowl game I attend with be the first.

How much PT does Devlin and Clarke see?

A series each, unless Morelli is hurt or Penn State is up by four touchdowns in the 3rd quarter.

The other guys!

Black Shoe Diaries
Run Up the Score!
The Nittany Line
The Nittany Notebook

Labels: Blue White Roundtable, PSU Football 2007

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posted by WFY @ 7:43 PM | |

Blue White Roundtable: post-tryptophan

Galen at The Nittany Line asked the questions and I answered them.

It appears that Penn State is a lock for the Alamo Bowl, at this point are you ready to jump on a plane and head to San Antonio or is this game a TiVo moment while you find better things to do like clean the bathroom?

The Alamo Bowl? Really? I've seen otherwise from Scout.com and ESPN

If it is the Alamo Bowl, I'll be at my in-laws, who live near Hershey, so I'll be watching it there. I really thought it'd be the Champs Sports Bowl which would mean watching it from my couch after work.

Bowl game aside, I'd probably rather visit San Antonio than Orlando.

The rumor mill about the vacant Michigan coaching job is just getting started – who do you think ends up the next Skunkbear's head coach?

Les Ferentz

Last week we had your list of the three players that vastly exceeded your preseason expectations, I'm a pessimistic prick (my friends call me captain morale) so name me the three players you had high preseason expectations for that have totally let you down.

Justin King
Justin King
Justin King

I did not have high expectations for Anthony Morelli, merely some expectations. Austin Scott was simply replaced. I guess Andrew Quarless was disappointing too, but King's regression (at best) was just so huge.

Lightning Round

The BCS is a total mess right now who ends up in the championship game?

Either Mizzou or West Virginia vs. Ohio State will be in the Bad College Stupid championship game. People in Ohio seem convinced it is going to happen.

Will the BCS shakeup this year finally cause coaches to start pushing for some sort of playoff (I'm looking in your direction SEC)?

Maybe a little bit, but it is a moot point for the foreseeable future.

In honor of Black Friday, are you the type of guy that a) Christmas shops early and puts a lot of thought into your gifts b) waits until the last minute and buys whatever's left on the shelf c) gets everything from E-bay & Amazon or d) has a significant other that does all the shopping for you (bonus points if that significant other reads your blog)?

A little from column a) a little from column c).

More responses:

There Is No Name On My Jersey
Black Shoe Diaries
The Nittany Line
The Nittany Notebook

Labels: Blue White Roundtable, PSU Football 2007

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posted by WFY @ 12:01 PM | |

I keep forgetting that Illinois could sneak in to the BCS if/when OSU backs into the title game. BTW, In Ohio, they are very confident that either Mizzou or WVa. will lose. One columnist specifically wants WVa. to lose.

# posted by  WFY : Wednesday, November 28, 2007 6:22:00 PM  

Blue White Roundtable: Black Wednesday edition

I'm breaking with tradition and posting this in the morning, since many readers may be traveling this afternoon. This week's holiday questions come to us from "where the Diamond meets the Broad" courtesy of Run Up the Score!

1. It'll be a week of criticism, so let's at least start off on a positive note. Name three players who have vastly exceeded your pre-season expectations.

Jeremy Boone -- All Big11Ten punter

Rodney Kinlaw -- I didn't think he had a 1,000 yards in him

The offensive line -- not a single player, but seriously, these guys are as solid a line as we've had and none of them were seniors

2. At what point on Saturday did you think that Penn State might be in serious, serious trouble?

The fake punt MSU pulled off. Prior to that, I thought Penn State was just bending too much. Then, I knew crazy old Michigan State was more manic than depressive. I guess I was concerned after the Spartans marched down the field on the first drive, but when PSU responded I was thinking expecting something like the Purdue game.

3. What is your explanation for the four consecutive passes that effectively ended Penn State's comeback attempt? What strategy do you think the coaches were going for?

RUTS suggested that they were trying to make Anthony Morelli a hero and that is pretty logical, even more so than they just panicked in playcalling.

4. What are your thoughts on a contract extension for Joe Paterno? His current contract expires after the 2008 season. Do you think he'll head into that season with his contract status undetermined?

No. They university will extend his contract by no less than two years, probably three. Neither Tim Curley or Graham Spainer is willing to be the guy who "fired" Joe Paterno.

Lightning Round

Which potential bowl opponents are the best and worst possible matchups for Penn State in the Alamo or Champs Sports Bowl?
I suppose either Virginia Tech or UVa. are the worst for me since I live in Northern Virginia. I'd have to put up with a lot of grief if the Nittany Lions lost to either of them. Of course, if the Nittany Lions won, it'd be pretty sweet.

If Penn State somehow gets the Alamo Bowl and Kansas or Mizzou falls that far it would be very tough. Overall, I'm not looking that far ahead because there are a few games left to decide conference standings.

Who is going to sneak into the BCS Championship game?

Either West Virginia or Ohio State. I figure that the winner of the Kansas vs. Mizzou games loses the Big XII championship. It wouldn't shock me if West Virginia lost because that would mean more work for me with the Buckeyes playing for the title again.

Finally, from BSD, which 2007 Penn State loss was the most difficult to swallow?

Michigan -- from the first series on, I was angry. They should have won that game. Illinois was tough too, because there is no way they should have lost, but after the Michigan game, I was already numbed.

More responses:

There Is No Name On My Jersey
Black Shoe Diaries
The Nittany Line
The Nittany Notebook

Labels: Blue White Roundtable, PSU Football 2007

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posted by WFY @ 6:35 AM | |

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Blue White Roundtable: Where'd the season go?

Mike from Black Shoe Diaries came up with this week's questions.

1. Why did Temple make our defense look like another MAC team in the first half?

The usual, noon start, road game, etc. I also think Temple caught Penn State off guard with their aggressiveness.

2. Should Penn State burn Stephfon Green's redshirt if Evan Royster is inactive for this week?

No, line up Derrick Williams in the backfield 5 to 10 times. The difference between the Alamo and Champs Sports Bowls is not worth burning a redshirt.

3. Right now it's looking like Penn State will end up in either the Outback Bowl against an SEC opponent or the Alamo Bowl against a Big XII team. Which possible matchup looks the most intriguing to you?

I think the Alamo Bowl is the best case scenario and right now Texas is fourth in the Big XII. Not knowing much about them, I'll have to say that it would be good to renew this intersectional matchup. If by some reason Penn State makes the Outback Bowl, Florida would be a great challenge and Tennessee would be fun to kick around again, though I'd have to favor the Vols in that matchup. Wait, who am I kidding, I'd have to favor almost anyone playing Penn State. If Penn State falls to the Champs Sports Bowl, I'm pretty happy with whomever they play.

4. Was Ohio State's loss to Illinois a good thing or bad thing for the Big Ten?

Ohio State losing was a bad thing because it puts Michigan in position to win the conference outright this Saturday. Aside from disliking that program and Lloyd Carr, it is pretty embarrassing to have the conference champion be a team that lost to a I-AA school. OSU's loss also made it less likely that Penn State will play in the Outback Bowl.

Lightning Round

What was up with the bizarre quarterback rotation at the end of the Temple game?

I figured it was a way of announcing that it will be an open competition for quarterback next season.

It's Michigan State, and technically rivalry week. How bad do you want to beat the Spartans? Make me feel the hate.

Sorry, I can't do it. Despite some good games with Michigan State over the years, I can't hate them. Let me just say that I'm really sick of hearing about Pitt too.

Run Up the Score!
The Nittany Line
The Nittany Notebook
There is No Name on My Jersey

Labels: Blue White Roundtable, PSU Football 2007

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posted by WFY @ 12:15 PM | |

Blue White Roundtable: Going to Temple on Saturday

I asked the questions this week:

1.) Please elaborate on whether you come away from the Purdue game
encouraged or discouraged about the Nittany Lions?

With the exception of the kickoff coverage, I'm encouraged by the Nittany Lions victory. They overcame a typical sluggish start, didn't panic and kept Purdue out of the endzone the rest of the game. Yes, it did take a minor miracle from Sean Lee (fumble at the goal line) but after that Penn State did what it had to do to win. The play calling was quite good too. They also benefited from some mental lapses by Purdue and some poor officiating.

2.) Who was a better linebacker at this point in their junior seasons, Sean Lee, Dan Connor or Paul Posluszny?

This is a tough one because you can't go wrong with any of them. I would have to give it to Posluszny though, he was more dominant and scared more people than Lee or Connor. Posluszny simply had the complete all-around package too.

3.) How much of a fight do you expect Temple to put up since this their
biggest home game in forever-and-a-day? Does Temple (3-6) have a shot at winning? Are you going to be at the game in Philadelphia?

I expect Temple to put up quite a fight in the first half; they will be going hard on every play and playing with focus. I don't see them being in awe of the Nittany Lions and they should be extra motivated since their coach, Al Golden, is a former Penn Stater. That being said, I full expect Penn State to win by at least two touchdowns simply because of superior athletes and depth. Temple will be gassed by the third quarter and Penn State will break away then. The only way Temple can win is if Penn State turns the ball over a lot, a possibility, particularly with bad weather.

I'll be at the game in section 105, having apparently overpaid for tickets months ago. That's okay because the game is closer to where I live than State College; up and down I-95 and no Port Matilda or Lewistown Narrows! I may finally crash visit the 2theLion tailgate too. By the way, if you don't have tickets, there may still be some available.

Lightning round

Are you a fan of the Patriot-News sportswriter videos?

I really enjoy watching Bob Flounders playing the straightman to Dave Jones. When Nick Horvath, Jr. replaces Jones, the energy level goes way down though.

Which basketball team will have a better season, the men or the women?

I think the men will hae a better year, just because Rene Portland left the cubbard kind of bare.

Do you wear a Penn State jersey to games? If so, what number and why?

I wear a blue #11 for home games and white #12 on the road. I've always liked #11 and was pleased when LaVar Arrington made #11 a hot jersey. My jersey is a Russell Athletic with tackle twill numbers bought for me from Lion's Pride for Christmas in 1999 (thanks Mom & Dad!). I bought my #12 in summer 2001 for about $10 on the clearance rack at UBC, along with a blue #12 and #20 (which my wife wore until I bought her a woman's cut #31). I would like a white #11.

Prior to those jerseys, I wore blue #14 (my Todd Blackledge jersey) and white #43. I really shouldn't wear numbers higher than #19 though, because they are too big on me.

Check out how the the others answered the questions:

Black Shoe Diaries
Run Up the Score!
The Nittany Line
There is No Name on My Jersey
The Nittany Notebook

Labels: Blue White Roundtable, PSU Football 2007, Video

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posted by WFY @ 12:08 PM | |

Sure enough you did -- thanks for not shooting me ;)

# posted by  WFY : Wednesday, November 07, 2007 8:32:00 PM  

Blue White Roundtable: Look out for #1

This week's questions come from Galen at The Nittany Line.

1) Will the loss of Hahn and/or Odrick have a big impact on either the offense in Hahn's case, or the defense in Odrick's case?

This hard to say because fullbacks have not been a big part of Penn State's offense for some time now. The defensive line seems to be doing an alright to excellent job regardless of who is in there, so I'm going to say we'll miss Matt Hahn more -- he was having the game of his life before he got injured and was making a strong case to be included more.

2) Has Anthony Morelli redeemed himself in your eyes?

He's had two really bad games this year, some decent ones, but not a breakout one. Much like Luke Skywalker needing to defeat Darth Vader to become a jedi, Morelli needs to beat a higher ranked team to get out of the doghouse.

3) Is the offensive play calling where you want it to be now or do we still need help?

The playcalling has been better, but I think they have to start throwing to the tight ends. A dink and dunk attack is almost as good as a strong running game. They also have to keep calling plays in the second half the way they do in the first.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Are you lucky enough to have scored tickets this week?

Yes. Someone I bought tickets from six years ago has always kept me in her "we can't go to these games" preseason emails. Within five minutes of her offering these tickets (in SEU, 80s!) this August, I had already replied and gotten a confirmation that I "won" them. Bless her.

Which Ohio State offensive player scares you the most?

Brian Robeskie I guess. His dad is a wide receivers coach in the NFL and briefly led the Redskins after they fired Norv Turner. Robeskie is the best they've got.

For the game Saturday are you : giddy, apprehensive, or on suicide watch?

Giddy. I don't' have any strong feelings yet on the outcome, I'm just excited to be going at this point. I might be more excited if I hadn't messed up my left leg playing flag football though.

What everyone else is saying:

Black Shoe Diaries
Run Up the Score!
Nittany Notebook
There is No Name on My Jersey

Labels: Blue White Roundtable, PSU Football 2007

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