Welcome to the my Web site, v. XII. The blog is typically published Monday - Saturday. My primary topics tend to be the Nats, Penn State (esp. football), BeltwayLand, transportation, media, photos and more. The rest of the site gets updated as warranted and is noted on the blog.
Defensive end Josh Gaines (Ft. Wayne, Ind.) and safety Anthony Scirrotto (West Deptford, N.J.) were named the defensive captains. Center A.Q. Shipley (Coraopolis) and wide receiver Derrick Williams (Greenbelt, Md.) were named the offensive captains.
In addition, linebacker Sean Lee (Pittsburgh) will serve as an honorary captain in 2008. Lee suffered a serious knee injury earlier this month that will likely keep him off the field this season, but he is planning to return for the 2009 season as a fifth-year senior.
Do they really need four captains? Remember when it was just two and occasionally a special teamer like Maurice Daniels? Also, Scirrotto has no business being captain after the happenings of early April 1, 2007.
Underachievers sign free agent deals - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Monday, April 28, 2008
Underachievers sign free agent deals
Former Penn State players QB Anthony Morelli and RB Austin Scott have both signed NFL contacts with Arizona and Cleveland, respectively. Said one NFL scout about Morelli:
"He has all the tools you look for in a QB; an athletic body, very strong throwing arm and far better movement then I had expected, but is acutely under coached and unprepared for the job of being a professional QB.
Has a violent overhand delivery and when he's on his game has as much ability as anyone in the draft. Can make all the throws; out, dig, fade and comeback. Going to have to start from square one with this player, but has a big upside."
Emphasis added, but let's not let Morelli off the hook; he never had the head for a major college quarterback. Sure, having Jay Paterno (hero of the 1989 Blue White Game1!!1!) coach him did not help but still...
Scott on the other hand, apparently never had the sleeping patterns of successful collegiate running backs. He may have had charges dropped against him, but he's still stupid and a major disappointment.
These two guys are why I don't get worked up about recruiting. Remember how great they were supposed to be at State?
Two Nittany Lions drafted - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Two Nittany Lions drafted
King, Connor slip in draft - The Collegian Connor, King find relief on Day 2 - CDT LB Dan Connor was drafted in the third round by Carolina. St. Louis picked up CB Justin King in the fourth round. He must be second guessing himself about leaving a year early.
Blue White Game notes - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Monday, April 21, 2008
Blue White Game notes
UNIVERSITY PARK, Penna. -- Blue White Saturday went about how I expected. We drove up to State College, sat in traffic waiting to park. Despite being off my game, we tailgated a little and wound up missing most of the first quarter, so we missed Stephfon Green's long TD run. We wound up sitting next to a passageway at about the 60th row, so we really couldn't see much of the game until we moved up three rows. The attendance was estimated at 73,000 and it seems like about 20,000 of them were standing right in front of us.
I couldn't get much into the game because it is just a scrimmage after all. What did we learn about the 2008 team? Not much, the offense never seemed in sync in the second and third quarters and Daryll Clark might have trouble with short range touch passes. Kevin Kelly missed a long extra point attempt short, so let's hope he isn't needed to win some games.
Many former Nittany Lion greats including Paul Posluszny, Larry Johnson and Jay Alford were introduced during the game. The Homecoming part of halftime mentioned that it was the most exclusive Homecoming which struck me as more candor than we're accustomed to from the Greek system. THON had a part too and the Blue Band did not march or even peform.
After the game, we headed downtown for a little bit before leaving. Most of all, the trip was an excuse to visit Happy Valley and joke around.
The most interesting part of the weekend seems to have been the Joe Patenro press conference (Fight on State). David Jones of the Patriot-News asked tough, but fair questions about Paterno's status and the state of the program. You can imagine how well that went over. The column is worth a read.
Happy Blue White Eve - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Friday, April 18, 2008
Happy Blue White Eve
After a one-year hiatus, I'm headed up to the Blue White Game. The weather looks promising for a change (actually last year was apparently beautiful, but I was moving) so I can't miss out on exciting, intrasquad action. The things I will be looking for:
QB battle -- who looks better, Daryll Clark or Pat Devlin
Secondary -- who doesn't look awful
Um, the defensive line -- because they totally play at full speed
The reality is I am going up to hit some tailgates and take some up close photos of the players. Just about nothing can be learned from watching the Blue White Game unless someone gets hurt. I mean, Anthony Morelli, Matt Seneca and Jay Paterno all had good Blue White Games, so let's not get too excited. I just want some pageantry to hold me over until August.
Blue White Roundtable: The coming storm - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Blue White Roundtable: The coming storm
Here go with a pre-Blue White Game Blue White Roundtable. The questions this week are from Nittany Whiteout.
1) The announcement Wednesday is that contract talks are on hold until the conclusion of this season, and that Joe might not even need a contract to coach, how do you see this saga ending? Is this the final year for Joe Paterno?
Anything less than 8 wins and I say yes. Anything more and Paterno will have leverage, provided the players act like gentleman. Graham Spainer got a five-year contract extension in part to deal with the end of Paterno's career.
2) Joe will clearly not been on the sidelines in 10 years time. Whether he is awarded another extension or is forced out against his will, a new face will inevitably be on the sidelines for the Lions in the years to come. Which candidates would top the list when it comes to a coaching search? Should it be an in-house hire or should we start off with a blank slate?
Given the problems with the players of late, I am more open to consider a hire from elsewhere. I don't envy the next coach though, it is hard following a legend. They should not find a shortage of people interested unless they really go cheap with the salary. I would expect Tom Bradley, Ron Vanderlinden and Larry Johnson to be internal candidates and Greg Schiano and Al Golden as external ones. Depending on how Paterno leaves, they could run into fundraising issues.
3) It almost seems as if we find another athlete in trouble with the law each morning when we read the newspaper. What has gone wrong with the once pristine image of the Penn State program?
I think the problems are the players are getting coddled earlier and earlier on in life because of their athletic talents. That coddling may create a sense of entitlement in them so think they live by different rules. I also think they don't fear Paterno any more. Also, the police are not taking troublesome players over to Paterno so that he can run around town all night as punishment. That is fine with me by the way.
4) After 14 years in the Big Ten, Penn State has not dominated the conference in football as most presumed when we joined winning only 2 Big Ten titles in that span. In 1994, Joe Paterno's undefeated Nittany Lions were also backstabbed by its Big Ten brethren when most conference members voted for Nebraska instead of Penn State. Is the Big Ten the right home for Penn State? Or would Joe Paterno's dream of an all-eastern conference be a much more ideal conference for the Nittany Lions?
The Big11Ten is full big, state-related Land Grant universities, so in that regard, it makes sense. An all-Eastern conference would have made the most sense athletically, but it didn't happen, so Penn State moved on. Penn State is in the Big11Ten for the duration, so bringing the subject up again and again is pointless. Do you want Penn State to leave and forever be known as a school that was afraid to be in the Big11Ten?
5) With the lack of our traditional rivals in the Big Ten conference, and our unwillingness to reschedule any of them in any consistent manner, which teams are emerging as Penn State's chief rivals in the Big Ten? (USC-Notre Dame proves that rivalries aren't all about geographic significance.)
Ohio State is the Big11Ten team I get most fired up for every year. Michigan is way up there too, but the losing streak has made me very defeatist about it. I think we have a solid rivalry with Wisconsin, Iowa and Michigan State too. No, these aren't great rivalries, but that is life.
I would like to see at least one traditional rival other than Temple yearly. Syracuse comes on this year with Nebraska and Alabama in the 2010s. I would love to see Maryland (geographic convenience to me being a big plus) but would also enjoy Rutgers and Boston College again. I could take or leave West Virginia and any series with Pitt would have to be on PSU's terms. Pitt had the majority of home games between the two programs until the 1970s, so payback time.
Bonus: Going to the Blue White Game?
I think so, the forecast looks good enough. An eight hour roundtrip to watch a scrimmage in the rain isn't as compelling as it used to be. I won't be running my own tailgate, so I want to visit some others for a change.
Penn State playing late - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Penn State playing late
The Nittany Lions have three night games scheduled this year, all nationally telecast on either ABC, ESPN or ESPN2. That is the good news, the bad news is the road games just got tougher.
09/27 - ILLINOIS at PENN STATE 8 p.m. ET 10/11 - PENN STATE at WISCONSIN 8 p.m. ET 10/25 - PENN STATE at OHIO STATE 8 p.m. ET
Surprisingly, the Michigan game is not in primetime, but it is still going to be under the lights:
A false spring in Lion Country - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Monday, April 14, 2008
A false spring in Lion Country
The final act of the career of Joe Paterno seems to be headed for an ignoble end. There is an excellent story in The Inky yesterday that touches on Paterno's unwillingness to step aside. Former defensive coach Jerry Sandusky and outgoing Purdue head coach Joe Tiller are quoted throughout the article.
Run Up the Score! breaks down the article quite well and argues that Paterno has been marginalizing potential successors since the 1990s. RUTS argues that Paterno is holding on so that his son Jay will be named head coach.
Earlier this spring, Paterno said that he didn't feel he needed a contract at this point of his career. University president Graham Spainer agreed and last week it was announced Paterno will not get another contract (Post-Gazette) and will instead be evaluated annually like you or me. In other words, both sides have mutually agreed to not make a decision. Not that I get too into recruiting, but this cannot help and from what I understand, Penn State could use some help in that department.
I think Paterno needs a pretty big 2008 season and for his players to stay out of trouble. The former just got harder with anticipated team captain and probable preseason All-American Sean Lee going down with a ligament tear (The Collegian). He is apparently out for the season, meaning the linebacking core will be inexperienced. Lee was arguably the best Penn State player last year and losing him is huge for a team with depth issues on the defensive side of the ball. I can't help but think losing him costs Penn State at least one game. I hope I am wrong.
Also, upperclassmen Daryll Clarkis taking more snaps with the first team offense (The Collegian) than Underclassmen Pat Devlin. I know, shocking. I have such a small sample size from Clark and none from Devlin to have an opinion on the matter.
The Blue White Game is coming up on Saturday. I am tentatively planning to go. I have no expectation of getting any great insight on the team, but really just want to spend time up there tailgating and seeing campus.
What has happened to my alma mater's football team? - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
What has happened to my alma mater's football team?
On the right is yesterday'sCollegian. The highlighted areas are stories about the legal problems of current and past Penn State football players.
Just off of the top of my head, here are Penn State football players, current and former, who have had legal problems over the last year or so.
Anthony Scirrotto Chris Baker Chris Bell Austin Scott Knowledge Timmons Tyrell Sales Phil Taylor
This is MAJOR problem and like it or not, Joe Paterno is going to be held accountable for the actions of his players by the university. These arrests, more than anything else, may mean the end of his career after his contract expires. Something is very wrong with this team and clever ideas like cleaning a section of Beaver Stadium are not fixing the thuggery problem that is running rampant. Yes, Paterno has kicked Bell off for good, but what has he done about Anthony Scirrotto? Nothing yet. Too much is going on and he can't blame the media or Old Main for it. Working at home is not going to make this go away either.
Penn State football has been falling short of its potential on and off the field for several years with 2005 now looking like an abberation. Too many players are getting in legal trouble and big wins are rare. The Grand Experiment to win with well-rounded football players is in the rear-view mirror right now. With each new incident, the thought of seeing someone other than Paterno roaming the sidelines becomes less shocking and more welcome.
Paterno needs to stop picking fights with Old Main and the media and start figuring out why his players can't keep their noses clean. The university does not owe him (or his assistants, who are complicit with the direction of the program) a job. If Paterno is willing to let his standards slide, the university should find someone who will commit himself to success with honor. If they have to go outside the program to do it, so be it.
The tipping point for me was the September game vs. Michigan.
Look, JoePa is the greatest, but there comes a time for everyone to move on. He wants respect for all he's done, and for good reason. But the University has tolerated a lot as well. Major college programs don't keep coaches who have 4 out 5 losing seasons ('00-'04) and don't consistently beat their rivals (Michgan or Ohio State). The off-the-field stuff is even worse, because it reflects poorly on the entire university. And the working from home thing is ridiculous. We'd all like to work from home--get to the office! I don't think Joe will be coaching in '09.
# posted by The Maryland Bureau Chief :
Thursday, April 10, 2008 8:10:00 AM
Spring practice update - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Spring practice update
Last week, Black Shoe Diaries wondered why Joe Paterno hadn't gotten on his bully pulpit yet to talk about his contract situation. On Saturday, Paterno addressed the media and proclaimed "If I've got to have a contract to keep my job here, I'm in the wrong place," he said." There is some video from his press conference.
Joe Paterno on working from home
So, this will probably get ugly before it gets worse.
In other news, RB Stephfon Green is drawing rave (Black Shoe Diaries) reviews (Run Up the Score!)and not in the "this is Anthony Morelli/Matt Seneca/Rashard Casey's team" sort of way. This is great, between him, Evan Royster and a pretty good offense line, the pressure on the quarterback and defense should be less.
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
Spring practice begins today - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Monday, March 24, 2008
Spring practice begins today
Penn State's roster in flux as spring football drills begin - Patriot-News Football: Clark, Devlin will battle for Lions' top quarterback spot - Post-Gazette The big issue this spring, at least among the players and not the coaching situation, will be the quarterback situation. Anthony Morelli is gone and the race to replace him is between Daryll Clark and Pat Devlin. Clark seems to have the edge, having played a few meaningful snaps in the last few years. Devlin is said to be a better pure passer though and can make things happen with his feet too. Even sight unseen, I expect an upgrade at the position over the last two seasons. Neither will likely come out of the Blue White Game as #1 and I am sure Joe Paterno will suggest that Paul Cianciolo and whatever State High walk-on listed as QB are in the mix as well.
I'm not worried about the lines, wideouts, but concerned about the secondary and a little with the running backs. I think Sean Lee could exceed Dan Connor as linebacker too. I will be interested in seeing how the other LBs do.
Blue White is less than four weeks away. Maybe I will make it up there this year.
Was it just me or did neither Happy Valley papers-of-record have a football story today?
This beats talking about recruiting too, doesn't it?
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