After back-to-back conference victories the outlook for the Nittany Lions is once again positive as they welcome the Wildcats to Beaver Stadium for Joe Paterno’s first chance at win number 400. Join Mike & Mark as the discuss the quarterback situation, the previous two wins and what the Lions need to do to beat Northwestern Saturday.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #85

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Mike & Mark return as the Nittany Lions get set for their trip to Minneapolis. The guys discuss their perspectives on Penn State’s many issues and what needs to change in the second half of the season.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #84

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The non-conference season has come to a close and there are still numerous questions about the 2010 Nittany Lions. Tune in for Mike & Mark’s thoughts on the close win over Temple and what we learned from the second half turn around.

The guys also get you ready for the Hawkeyes with a full preview and discuss a few under the radar topics suggested by the listeners.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #83

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Real world responsibilities came calling this week and the podcast had to be delayed a bit but Mike & Mark are back to discuss tomorrow’s matchup with Temple. Tune in for a breakdown of the Owls as the Nittany Lions hope to keep the streak alive against their in-state foe.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #82

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A tough Saturday in Tuscaloosa leaves the Nittany Lions with numerous questions as they look to rebound from a disheartening loss. Tune in for Mike and Mark’s thoughts on the concerns after week two and what needs to be done to right the ship before Big Ten play begins.

Though there were several negatives from the game with the Tide, the guys also look at the bright spots that give an indication of success down the road as this team grows.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #81

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Week one was full of storylines as the Nittany Lions defeated Youngstown State in impressive form on the strength of true freshman quarterback Rob Bolden’s stellar debut. Tune in for our thoughts on the young QB and if we’ve changed our perspectives on 2010 now that we know Penn State has a signal-caller that can get the job done.

Also, check out our Big Ten Divisions thoughts and full Alabama preview where Mark & Mike discuss how much of an impact the losses of Marcell Dareus and Mark Ingram will have on the Tide.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #80

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Right Click to Download: 2010 Blue White Football Podcast Pump Up Video

The summer is drawing to a close and that finally means the return of Penn State football and the Blue White Football Podcast. Mike and Mark return from their hibernation to discuss the 2010 Nittany Lions and what it will take for the squad to exceed expectations in a year with numerous questions.

Tune in for the thoughts on the highly debated Quarterback position, the continued Offensive Line woes and which Lions we expect to have a breakout year. Also, the guys discuss their thoughts on Big Ten Divisions and what it could mean for Penn State to be playing in a championship game beginning in 2011. Finally college football is back and stay with us throughout the fall for continued coverage of Dear Old State.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #79

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Mike and Mark return to wrap up Spring Football and address the numerous questions which now plague the Nittany Lions following the Blue White Game. The guys are also joined by former Illini fullback and current Big Ten Network analyst Howard Griffith to discuss the current state of PSU.

Tune in for thoughts on all of spring ball as well as potential Big Ten expansion candidates and which former Lion will have the biggest impact in the NFL next season.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #78

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Bowl season is upon us and the Nittany Lions are set to square off with the LSU tigers on January 1st in the Capital One Bowl. Download our latest podcast for a full preview of the Tigers and what we can expect from the Nittany Lions as they look to notch a signature win for the 2009 season.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #77

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The Nittany Lions wrapped up the regular season with a dominant performance against the Spartans in East Lansing. Join Mike & Mark for thoughts on Penn State’s decisive victory as well as a reassessment of the team’s BCS chances after the finale.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #76

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Once again it is time for the battle for the worst looking trophy in all of sports as the Nittany Lions and Spartans face off for the Land Grant Trophy. Tune in for Mike & Mark’s thoughts on the regular season finale, a discussion of BCS Scenarios as well as the new pricing of seats at Beaver Stadium in 2011.

The guys also discuss whether or not this rivalry has blossomed after Mark Dantonio’s antics a year ago and what a four-way shared title would mean to the Nittany Lions if Michigan could pull off a shocking upset.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #75

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After a disappointing game against the Buckeyes Mike & Mark return to discuss the Lions matchup with Indiana on Senior Day. Tune in for thoughts on last week’s loss, where Daryll Clark stands in the landscape of Penn State quarterbacks and our preview of the Indiana Hoosiers.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #74

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The defining game of the 2009 season has arrived and Mike & Mark are back to discuss the matchup between the Nittany Lions and the Buckeyes.

Tune in for thoughts from several players about last week’s game as well as this week’s showdown against OSU. Plus, the guys give their reasons to be concerned and reasons not be concerned following the come from behind win over Northwestern.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #73

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Penn State finishes up their road trip with a visit to Northwestern for Purplepalooza. Join Mike & Mark as they discuss the impact of 4th and 15 on the program as well as the areas to be concerned about when the Lions matchup against the Wildcats.

The guys are also joined by Jay from Lake the Posts as he gives the NU perspective to help us preview the game.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #72

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Join Mike & Mark for the first of two podcasts this week as they react to the victory over the Michigan Wolverines that has the Nittany Lions in place for a run at another BCS Bowl. The guys also discuss Clark’s resurgence, the defense’s dominance and how PSU would fare if they had a rematch with Iowa.

(Note: There is a minor audio issue with the podcast that we hope to have fixed by the next edition)

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #71

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Brian from MGOBlog was kind enough give us an even better idea of what to expect from the Wolverines on Saturday. Tune in for Brian’s thoughts on Tate Forcier and the Michigan offense as well as what Nittany Lions fans can expect from a Wolverine defense that has struggled this season.

Head over to MGOBlog for more coverage from the Michigan perspective and some of the best college football blogging on the web.

Right click here to download: MGOBlog Interview

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We’ll start by ignoring all the crap that’s been floated around this week about PSU not beating Michigan at home since 96 and how Michigan’s won 99 of the last 100 or whatever.  We’ll also ignore last year’s PSU victory, because it would be unfair to compare this year’s Michigan team to last year’s.  We’re just going to focus on the 2009 Nittany Lions vs. the 2009 Michigan Wolverines.  So without further ado, here are 5 reasons why I am feeling pretty confident that we can come away with a victory this weekend.

#5 – Our offensive line.

Finally, in the last few weeks, it seems that our O line is clicking.  In the games against Illinois, Eastern Cupcake, and Minnesota – we’ve managed to boast very balanced attacks, and seemingly showed no signs of a struggle in moving the ball.  Albeit these are not great defenses, but you can’t say they’re worse defenses than Akron / Syracuse / Temple – and we looked 5 times better against these later teams than we did in the beginning of the season.  Which should make a difference in my #4 point.

#4 – Game Plans

The best thing we did in the Minnesota game was ball possession.  We had the ball for more than 41 minutes of the game, which is insane to think about.  This is how we win on Saturday.  From the few games I’ve watched of Michigan, they have an electric offense.  They’re exciting to watch, but they are very much a quick strike team. From what I saw, they didn’t do a great job of ball possession and running out the clock.   In fact, they haven’t had more ball possession against any of the big name teams they’ve faced this year (Notre Dame, Indiana, Michigan State, Iowa).  Against Michigan State, they only had the ball for 19 minutes – which can easily be attributed to why they lost that game.

Penn State has always been a run the ball, ball possession team – even in the Spread HD.  This is how we won against Ohio State in Columbus last year, and this is how we can win this year.  Hold on to the ball, and play Joe Paterno style smash mouth football.  Michigan’s offense, as good as it is,  can only be effective if they’re on the field.

#3 – The Return of the King

Ladies and gentleman, for the first time this year (and for the first time ever) we will have both Mr. Sean Lee AND Mr. Navorro Bowman playing an ENTIRE game together on defense.  Dear Michigan, please try to not bleed all over our nice white uni’s.  Thanks.  Management.

#2 – Michigan’s D

As much news as everyone makes of Michigan’s new offense, very little praise is actually given to their D.  And with good reason.  So far, their D has given up an average of 21.9 points per game.  If you remove both directional Michigans and a school from Delaware from those totals, they have given up 30.8 points per game against “good” competition.  Including giving up 33 points to Indiana at home.  This is clearly an advantage in our offense’s favor.

#1 – Our Secondary

After this past week, my lips are officially stained blue with the Kool-Aid.  The defensive improvement in our team from last year to this year is no more evident than in our secondary.  Eric Decker, who is one of the greatest wide receivers in the NCAA today, had no answers for us last Saturday.  We did what no other team could do, we shut him down.  And by “we”, I mean AJ Wallace.  The man has officially lived up to the hype and he is a real shut down corner.  I haven’t felt this good about our secondary in four years, since the days when we had Zemaitis running havoc back there.

I’d have to disagree with Mike’s assessment on the podcast this week (posted below), I do think that Tate Forcier is a real deal quarterback.  He almost reminds me of a Michael Robinson type.  He’s a gifted athlete, who makes smart decisions, and he is able to give the extra effort to get his team the win.  Now, it might not always be evident this year – he still makes some Freshman mistakes, and it seems like he’s been battling a slew of injuries all season – but I think that he’s a big time player.  However, with our secondary, I think we’re going to severely limit his options.  And with our linebackers, I think we’re going to severely limit his quality of life.

All in all, it seems that our team has come together now – 8 weeks into the season – and aside from lingering issues on special teams there’s not many weak spots that teams can exploit.  Against Michigan I think we particularly match up well.

My prediction - Penn State 31 – Michigan 17

Michigan week always brings a variety of opinions and Mike & Mark discuss the Wolverines from several perspectives as the Nittany Lions look to win in Ann Arbor for the first time since 1996. Joins us for a preview of Saturday’s game as well as a recap of the shutout victory over Minnesota.

Plus, we once again re-assess our predictions for this season and figure out which Linebacker we fear getting hit by above all others.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #70

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After a break to finish off the non-conference slate, the Nittany Lions return to Big Ten play for the remainder of the season by opening up with the Golden Gophers of Minnesota. Tune in for a recap of the game against Eastern Illinois, midseason accolades and our predictions for homecoming weekend.

We’re also joined by Tom from The Daily Gopher to get a Minnesota perspective on this upcoming weekend’s battle for the Governor’s Victory Bell.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #69

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The Nittany Lions rebounded Saturday by dominating the Illini on both sides of the ball. Is this an indication of things to come or just a statement on the current struggles of Illinois? Mike & Mark recap the game as well as discuss the situation with Bobby Bowden and look ahead to the non-conference matchup with Eastern Illinois.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #68

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Many questions remain for the Nittany Lions after a difficult loss to Iowa at Beaver Stadium to open up the Big Ten conference season. Join Mike & Mark as they address several of issues that could decide the remainder of the season and what Penn State needs to do to get ready for the Illini this weekend.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #67

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Big Ten conference play has arrived and the Nittany Lions are facing their first challenge of the 2009 season as the Hawkeyes come to the ‘Whitehouse.’ Join Mike & Mark as they breakdown the match-up and are joined by John Tecce, Vice President of Paternoville, for an update from Gate A at Beaver Stadium.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #66

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I figured I’d give you guys an update on how our Lions have been performing around the NFL these past two weeks.

I’ll start on a somber note.  I’m sure many of you know by now -  the great Paul Posluszny has broken his arm again, and looks to miss 6 weeks from this season.  Sad news for everyone, especially because he was looking like a beast in that Monday night game, racking up 6 tackles in the first quarter.  I’ll have more to say on this situation later in the post.

As for the rest of the alumni playing for the team that Mark lovingly refers to as the “Buffalo Nittany Bills”,  Aaron Maybin has been a non factor though the first two games – which is expected for a rookie DE I’d think.  I might have personally had higher hopes for him after he came out of the preseason with two sacks and a forced fumble in two games.  But I’m sure he’ll find his groove and continue his “mayhem” type ways.

The biggest surprise and what might be the brightest  star of our former Lions, in my eyes, is Bryan Scott.  I never really followed his NFL career previously, but he has had a fantastic season thus far for the Nittany Bills.  10 tackles in the first game (and not just garbage tackles, I’m talking hard hitting open field tackles) and 9 tackles in the second game – with an interception.  He’s been seemingly everywhere and plays the role of Free Safety to a T.

As for the rest of our boys – Tamba Hali had a great game against Baltimore in week 1 (5 tackles, 1 sack, forced fumble), but didn’t seem to accomplish much of anything last game.  His teammate Larry Johnson had an alright game last week, but his YPC is a fraction of what it was a few years ago.  It is looking more and more like he was a product of the Vermeel system, and though he may not be an “elite” back in the NFL anymore, he is certainly a capable starter.

Through the first two weeks Bryant Johnson, Bobby Engram and even Deon Butler have all had a few catches for minimal yardage, but nothing spectacular to write about.  Dan Connor got his first glimpse of playing time this week, and got himself a tackle – but I’m not sure how many downs he saw.  He’s listed as the second string MLB for Carolina, so I’d assume he’d see some time on certain packages, but nothing too extensive for now.

This brings me back to my point from before, the fragility of our Linebackers.  Looking back over all the LB’s who have made their way through Linebacker U in the past 10  years, has anyone else noticed how most, if not all, of them seem to be seriously injury prone?  Think about it – Lavarr, Puz, Connor (who missed last year due to an injury), Lee, Mauti, and now Bowman – are all of our great linebackers made of glass??  Share your thoughts.

The non-conference season has come to a close with little fanfare and now the Nittany Lions will look to Big Ten play as they hope to keep their winning streak alive. Join Mike & Mark for the first of two podcasts for this week as they talk about the latest injury news and discuss what they took away from the lackluster victory over the Owls.

Also, check back Thursday for a full Iowa preview with a special guest or two to get us ready for the revenge game under the lights.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #65

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But ultimately, this poor scheduling does hurt us, in more ways than one.  You all know one of the arguments that I’m refering to – poor schedule = no respect, no respect = poor poll positioning, poor poll positioning = no BCS bowl (I’m obviously overlooking the fact that if we win all our games we go to the Rose Bowl anyway, and regardless of our schedule we must win all our games, yada yada yada).

This week however, I’ve discovered a new evil as a result of our schedule.  As we just finished trouncing Syracuse, and are preparing to take on the mighty Owls from Temple, there’s one trend apparent in the main stream media:  no one cares.  Being that it’s football season and I am in my glory, I try to ingest as many Penn State related articles as I can, regardless of the content.  I’ll read a 10 page article about Rutgers football if only to read a paragraph saying how they will never compete with Penn State over the top recruits in the tri state area.  But this week, there isn’t even a peep.  By Monday afternoon I had read just about every substantial article that would be written about Penn State for the entire week.  I’ve scoured the blogosphere, looked everywhere I could, but realistically – there’s not much you can say about Penn State right now that hasn’t already been said in week 1.  We still don’t know how good our secondary is, we still are concerned about our offensive line, and we still are waiting to see if Jack Crawford is a man-bat from hell.

Simply putting someone like Virginia or Georgia Tech on our schedule, who i’m confident we could handle, would be 100 times better than trying to justify why the Zips might not be a pathetic team.  Any middle of the road team from a major conference can do wonders for our national reputation, and for an example of that I ask you to look no further than our game against Oregon State last year.  There was about 50 articles last year analyzing USC’s loss to Oregon State, and Penn State found itself as a footnote in every one of those articles.  My cup runneth over.

As we wipe the vanilla frosting from our mouths after this week and brush the red velvet crumbs from our uni’s, let’s hope that we’ve learned an important lesson about scheduling this year.  Let’s mix it up a bit – get crazy and play non-directional Florida!  Let’s give the sports writer’s something juicy to write about!  Because we’re not just hurting our national reputation, we’re also hurting my ability to procrastinate at work.  And that, my friends, is a sin.

Another week and another victory for the Nittany Lions. Despite the outcome there are still pressing issues facing this Penn State team including the offensive line. Join Mike and Mark as they discuss concerns heading into the final tune-up game against Temple as well as a discussion of Josh Hull’s mustache with Black Shoe Diaries blogger Chris aka ‘Run Up the Score.’

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #64

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The second podcast of the week takes a look at the Syracuse Orange and what to expect from quarterback Greg Paulus on Saturday. Also, tune in for a discussion about one of the oddest quotes to ever be uttered in the sports world.

Get ready for Saturday and let us know if you prefer two podcasts per week or one extended edition by sending us an email or by going to our Twitter page.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #63

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Week one is in the books and the Nittany Lions dispatched Akron in a first half where the Zips were held without a first down. Join Mike and Mark as they discuss the first win of 2009 and the lingering injury to Navorro Bowman with Nate Bauer of Blue White Illustrated.

Also, check back Thursday for the Syracuse preview podcast.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #62

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Broncos, you don’t belong in BCS contention every year. You want respect? Why? Because you beat Oklahoma two years ago? A team that’s lost as many BCS games as anyone and didn’t give a shit because it was facing a team that plays on blue turf? You want respect because you beat Oregon? A team that’s going to finish in the middle of its conference? (By the way, that was the first time you hosted a ranked opponent since jumping to Division I-A in 1996. What took so long?)

I don’t want to hear about how Boise State is respectable because “they’ll play anybody.” Apparently “anybody” is relatively confined to the Oregon schools and Washington, three powerhouse poopsacks from the Pa-theti-c-10. The Broncos have to play those teams because everyone knows the WAC is whack. Boise State is a glittering 7-13 all-time against BCS conference teams. Penn State won nine games against BCS conference teams last season alone.

You piss me off, Boise State. I oughtta punch you in the face.

Oh wait, someone did it for me!

TJPO’S 2009 KICKOFF WEEKEND RECAP

Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford sprains his shoulder

Impressive win by Brigham Young, but this just plain sucks. Hopefully he’ll be OK.

JoePa sprains nothing as Penn State thumps Akron

Gotta love that 336-yard offensive discrepancy in the first half.

N.C. State and South Carolina play the most boring game ever

It was like a season premiere of Lost with Rose and Bernard flashbacks. Cue the frustrated Jack face.

Northern Iowa almost upsets the Hawkeyes

Jesus teases Kurt Warner, but they retain their friendship.

Ohio State squeaks past Navy

Those service academies are like thumbtacks on the road to the BCS.

Notre Dame showboats in carving up the nation’s worst pass defense

Memo to Central Michigan’s 119th-ranked secondary: The Golden Dome rejuvenation is COMING FOR YOU.

Lou Holtz is still a biased idiot

If he picks Notre Dame to make the BCS championship every year, he’s bound to be right eventually.

Oklahoma State finally gets that big win

We’re still waiting for that big conference win.

Matt Barkley is the master of the five-yard roll-out pass

Pete Carroll didn’t let him do much else Saturday afternoon. Maybe he’ll graduate to 10 yards in the Shoe.

Florida fails to cover that absurd 73-point spread

TIM TEBOW IS FALLIBLE AFTER ALL.

Alabama’s defense is vomit-inducingly good

It might be a decade before Virginia Tech is held to 155 total yards again.

Greg Paulus sucks at football, too

Did you see that interception? There’s more where that came from next weekend.

Tate Forcier throws three touchdown passes

That’s probably more than Michigan had in all of 2008.

Illinois blows

The Illini are 0-5 against Missouri this decade. Might wanna stop playing them.

Baylor’s Robert Griffin is the man

After the holy trinity, he might be the nation’s fourth-best quarterback.

Washington might actually win a game this year

Yeah, yeah, LSU won the game. Whoopee. How bout Steve the Sark-dog Sarkisian and those Huskies?

Florida State and Miami still to play Monday night

Nobody cares anymore.

It was an entertaining opening weekend, one that purged the sporting world of the abysmal hemorrhoid known as baseball. I’m so happy right now I could cry.

Next week, Penn State destroys Syracuse, Michgan and Notre Dame get together to remember the good old days and the Trojans and Buckeyes do their dosey doe in Columbus.

Til then.

The offseason is behind us and it is finally game week, join Mark and Mike as they give their thoughts on the 2009 Nittany Lions. This week we discuss the depth chart, our breakout players to watch for as well as give our season outlook for the 2009 Penn State squad.

Tune in for our predictions as well as several new product ideas that we expect could result in a windfall of cash.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #61

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Right Click to Download: 2009 Blue White Football Podcast Pump Up Video

Thinking back through the recent slew of stand out Penn State linebackers, all of them have had some form of a torn ACL or partial tear during their time in college or shortly there after. Paul Posluszny in the 2006 Orange Bowl exited the game after suffering a partial tear from a helmet to knee hit from Florida State running back Lorenzo Booker, leading to off-season rehab before his senior season. Dan Connor, after leaving Penn State unscathed, missed out on his rookie season in the NFL after he tore his ACL during a Carolina Panthers game while playing on special teams.

And just over a year ago, the next in line to take over the all-time tackles lead at PSU, Sean Lee suffered a similar injury during spring practice and was forced to sit out all of the 2008 season. Add to that DE/LB Jerome Hayes who has torn the ACL in each knee during the previous two years as well as DE Pete Massarro and you have a series of Lions all being afflicted with the same ailment.

The question then becomes is Penn State doing enough to prevent injuries which have become commonplace in college football? Given both the track record of team orthopaedic surgeon Wayne Sebastianelli as well as several opinions he has offered on the subject, it is clear that the Nittany Lions have taken measures to prevent these type of injuries. Plus add to that the remarkable recovery of his patients, who have returned to the game without missing a beat during the past few seasons and confidence must be given to Dr. Sebastianelli.

Next would be concerns over off-season practices and scrimmages, which often lead to tears as well as various other injuries. Cutting down on the number scrimmages or number of drills would certainly lessen the injuries, however it would also have the anticipated effect of a less prepared football team once the fall arrives.

It only seems logical to chalk up the various torn ACLs that have become rampant at Linebacker U to bad luck, moving forward with the hope that more players are not afflicted in the seasons to come.

As for the situation in 2009, the Nittany Lions should be able to handle the loss of Mauti as the linebacker unit may be one of the deepest in college football. Consider the fact that if Mauti were healthy and did earn the starting nod as some projected, then the bench would consist of former starter Josh Hull, promising junior Bani Gbadyu, special teams beast Nathan Stupar and a string of highly touted recruits anxious to get on the field. Considering Mauti will likely miss time, the Lions will now open with a linebacking corps that will consist of two All-American candidates and one former walk-on turned starter.

They’ll be back with a brand new podcast soon, but before they do that, I’d like to say a couple of words about our 2012 kickoff opponent.

Those who teased us about a weak non-conference schedule this year are in for a rude awakening. Yeah, we’re not playing anybody this year. We know. But come 2010-11, we’ll be playing Alabama. The following two years, we’ll start a home-and-home with Virginia. In 2014-15, we’ll do the same with Nebraska.

And to open 2012……

……we’ll face the Ohio University Bobcats.

Excuse me.

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

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Now back to your regularly scheduled non-idiocy.

Daryll Clark looks about the same to me, hear what he had to say about the weight talk and winning back to back Big Ten Titles. WordPress won’t let the Daryll video embed: Daryll Clark at Media Day

Sean Lee has fully recovered from the knee injury, we’re certain because Matt Millen checked it out during our interview.

Jared Odrick had a breakout season a year ago and plans to build on it in 2009.

Mike & Mark return with a brand new podcast to talk about the latest news coming out of Happy Valley. Tune in as we discuss the off-season questions for Penn State as well as what answers we might have gotten from the 2009 Blue White Game.

ESPN.com Big Ten Blogger Adam Rittenberg also joins us to talk about the state of the Big Ten and give us his perspective on the 2009 Nittany Lions. Download to find out Adam’s opinions on PSU’s chances to repeat as conference champs and how the Big Ten can improve its reputation nationally.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #60

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With losses throughout the team, there are several major concerns that face the Nittany Lions during this offseason. However, as the Blue White game and history has shown us, several of the key personnel losses will not be major issues in the fall due to quality coaching and competent replacements. There is one consensus though; the secondary remains the glaring hiccup on the path to repeat as Big Ten Champions.

At the moment it would appear that the starters in the secondary will be AJ Wallace and Knowledge Timmons at the corner back spots, while Drew Astorino will partner with either Andrew Daily, Nick Sukay or true freshman Gerald Hodges at the safety positions.

Factor in the loss of all four starters and what seems to be a flawed scheme against quality passing opponents and there is legitimate reason for Nittany Lion fans to hold their breath when the ball is in the air this season.

But to assuage some of that worry, let’s take a look at the quarterback situation throughout the conference with the exception of Daryll Clark. Four starters return on teams other than PSU and only two of those quarterbacks passed for over 2,000 yards last season, the general mark that would designate a decent passing QB.

Which Big Ten quarterbacks, if any, should the Lions’ secondary fear?



Illinois: Juice Williams, Sr. – 2008: 3,173 yds, 22 TD, 57.5 %

If there is one quarterback that Kermit Buggs and the secondary will need to fret over it is going to be Juice Williams. A three year starter who has had sporadic success and put up solid numbers against the Nittany Lions last season (13-24 183 yds, 2 TD, INT). Williams also has a receiver in Arrelious Benn that would have been drafted before Darrius Heyward-Bay.

That being said, inconsistency has been the name of the game for Juice and after putting up 451 yds, 5 TDs against Missouri, he’ll have games like he did against Louisiana-Lafayette 147 yds, TD, INT.

Factor in the loss of arguably the three best players (LB Brit Miller, CB Vontae Davis and DE Will Davis) on an Illini defense that gave up 350 yards per game a year ago and the trip to Champaign for the Nittany Lions hardly seems as daunting.



Indiana: Ben Chappell, Jr. – 2008: 1,001, 4 TD, 3 INT, 52.3 %

No doubt that change is needed in Bloomington to make this team more competitive, but taking the ball out of the hands of the most athletic player on the team is hardly a winning strategy for Bill Lynch.

Former QB Kellen Lewis has moved to wide receiver after passing for over 6,000 yards in his career including a 2007 season where he threw 28 TDs and led IU to a bowl game. Lewis has had several off-field issues in his tenure and may not be a strong leader for the Hoosiers but any time your best player is getting fewer touches it rarely leads to more victories.

Ben Chappell will struggle with the lack of experience at wide receiver as Lewis is raw and the two top receivers (Means and Fisher) from a season ago have graduated and changed positions, respectively.

It is looking very unlikely that Penn State’s undefeated streak against Indiana will end this year.

Update: Lewis is out. Apparently the former QB was on a short leash and Lynch had enough, dismissing him from the team this week. It just got even more difficult for the Hoosiers this season.



Iowa: Ricky Stanzi, Jr.- 2008: 1,956 yds, 14 TD, 59 %

It’s a new world for Ricky Stanzi. How will he fare without defenses focusing every effort on stopping the freight train of Shonn Greene? Jewel Hampton will fill-in but is no Greene and the weight of the Iowa offense is going to be on the shoulders of Stanzi.

Top wide receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos is back but he was hardly a game-changer (broken coverages change games, not DJK) last season. Reliable target Andy Brodell has moved on, but Tony Moeaki should be healthy this season giving Stanzi another option.

At this point I would say the jury is still out on Stanzi’s ability, last season he split reps with Jake Christensen before finally winning the starting job. However, here is another inconsistent Big Ten QB.

But as we saw, all it takes is one solid drive to change the course of two seasons.

(Bonus Note: Does anyone think that Stanzi and Iowa are coming to Beaver Stadium and putting together a solid performance against a team bent on inflicting revenge?)



Michigan: Tate Forcier, Fr./ Denard Robinson, Fr. /Towel Boy

The well publicized quarterback position at the University of Michigan, you just don’t know what you’re going to get this season.

Is it encouraging to Michigan fans that the team pursued Greg Paulus?

You would think that with Forcier’s ability and Robinson coming into the program in the next few months that the Wolverines would be content with the position. Satisfied, absolutely not, but content with the talent they have that those two could have more success than someone who has not played football in four years.

Hopefully from the Nittany Lion perspective, an inexperienced QB versus an inexperienced secondary would be a wash and if that is the case you would have to give PSU the advantage in this matchup.



Michigan State: Kirk Cousins, So. / Keith Nichol, So.

The state of Michigan is searching for quarterbacks, apply within. Departing quarterback Brian Hoyer saw the majority of time the past two seasons with the exception of blow-out mop up duty for Cousins who has been challenged by Keith Nichol for the starting job.

Once again we are looking at the unknown, so let us focus on what we do know that could keep either one of these players from having success against the Lions’ secondary.

Several talented targets return for the Spartans including Mark Dell, BJ Cunningham, Blair White and TE Charlie Gantt but this group was plagued by a case of the drops for most of the season. This unit should improve, aiding either one of these quarterbacks but how will they fare without a work horse running back to lean on?

Much like the Hawkeyes, the Spartans must find someone or someone’s to fill the void left by Javon Ringer and his nearly 400 carries from last season. How will MSU adjust from being a run dependent team to a pass-happy program?

Michigan State will have plenty of time to figure it out and if they have not become a prolific passing attack by the time these two teams meet in East Lansing, don’t bet against the Lions.



Minnesota: Adam Weber, Jr. – 2008: 2,761 yds, 15 TD, 62.2 %

Minnesota has been off the schedule for two years and the Lions have yet to face the new look Gophers with head coach Tim Brewster at the helm. If you have not been keeping an eye on them, both you and the Nittany Lions could get a surprise out of what has been an above average passing attack since Brewster took over.

Minnesota is arguably the second best passing team the Lions will face this season and the combination of Weber to Eric Decker is one of the most prolific combos in the nation, that’s right, nation. With Decker healthy the Gophers started 7-1. Without Decker at 100 percent, Minny lost its final four games of the regular season.

Decker’s 2008 numbers: 84 rec, 1,074 yds, 7 TD.

The Gophers should fare well against the Penn State secondary unless there is some massive improvement during the non-conference slate. However, defensively Minnesota still leaves a lot to be desired and Brewster has had to replace both coordinators which should result in some growing pains. Oh and the game is at Beaver Stadium.



Northwestern: Mike Kafka, Sr. – 2008: 330 yds, 2 TD, 69 %

The up and coming Wildcats led by Pat Fitzgerald must fill more gaping holes on offense than virtually any other Big Ten team. Northwestern’s starter at quarterback, running back and all three top receivers are gone after a year in which NU was a missed field goal away from winning its first bowl game since 1949.

In steps Mike Kafka to replace the unpredictable CJ Bacher and though Kafka has the foot speed to cause problems for opposing defenses (217 rush yds vs. MINN) his ability as a passer leaves something to be desired. Add to that the breaking in of several new receivers and this campaign may be a step backward for a Northwestern program that looked like it might have finally turned a corner.

With that in mind, let us not forget the last trip to Evanston for the Lions. A 4th and 15 completion to Issac Smolko and the first career touchdown for Derrick Williams in the waning moments carried Penn State to a come from behind victory.



Ohio State: Terrelle Pryor, So. – 2008: 1,311 yds, 12 TD, 60.6 %

At this point we have all become well acquainted with Mr. Pryor. The question remains as to how effective he can be as a passer as clearly his deficiencies in that area led to the Buckeyes only two losses with him at the helm. 13-6.

Apparently his arm has become overworked in the spring and he is still having issues with deep passes despite having a solid performance in the Scarlet & Gray game where he threw for 191 yards and two touchdowns. Again, take what you will from spring numbers.

Terrelle will also have to adjust to a group of wide receivers that is talented but still miles behind the more seasoned core he had a year ago. Nevertheless, believing that Pryor won’t improve his technique from year one to year two would be naïve and if he lives up to all the hype, PSU could have their hands full come November 7th.

The pressure may have gotten to young Pryor a year ago in the favorable confines of the Shoe; do you think things will be any different in the most hostile environment he will face as a college athlete?

Welcome back to Pennsylvania, Terrelle.



Purdue & Wisconsin: Not on the schedule but a few thoughts.

Though the Nittany Lions do not face either one of these teams this upcoming season, unless JoePa can force the immediate addition of a 12th team to the league and give us a much desired title game, here are a few thoughts on each teams’ QB situation.

The Boilermakers are going to be raw in just about every area with new coach Danny Hope taking over for Joe Tiller, though who would notice a difference between the two besides the weight. Purdue will have to fill in for Curtis Painter with Joey Elliott and not mobile QB Justin Siller who was dismissed from the team for off-field issues.

It likely will be a long first season for Hope and it is unfortunate that the Lions will not get a chance to notch likely easy conference win over them.

Wisconsin, much like Michigan State, has a quarterback competition which has come down to two similar style players. Dustin Sherer and Curt Phillips will square off to see who gets to hand the ball off to John Clay and Zach Brown.

The Badgers will continue their “pass only if necessary” offense and must make some type of run this season for Bielema to hold onto his job. See what happens when you finish off a half due to a rules technicality, you get blown out two years in a row and now your job is on the line.

Final Thought:

Can many of these criticisms be applied to the Nittany Lions? Absolutely. But strictly looking at how the Penn State secondary will fare against the quarterbacks of the Big Ten and the circumstances those players will find themselves in, I am confident in the Lions chances of success for their back four.

As for their chances against an eventual top tier bowl opponent from outside the Big Ten conference, that’s another story.

Way to be on top of things, tjpo. That sure adds respectability to this blog.

In my defense, I’m so pumped for college football that I couldn’t contain myself. My spring storylines still stand, and you can still read them in the post below if you’d like.

If not, then just support the basketball team like the football team has chosen to do and pretend I’m not retarded. Really. Derp.

It’s already been 83 days (!) since USC raped us in the Rose Bowl. Sorry for bringing up sour memories, but a program like Penn State should be on top every year, not taking a backseat to the Trojans and the Southeastern Conference elite.

Fear not, for the 2009 Nittany Lions are ready to hit the field and do something about it. There are only 163 days separating us from kickoff, and it’s really more like 184 days, because our nonconference schedule is softer than Ditka dick.

Here’s are some of the top spring storylines:

Re-stocking the lines

The defensive line lost a couple early entrants to the NFL Draft. No big deal, because Larry Johnson spurned Illinois’ more lucrative offer to come back, and he has plenty of young talent coming back with him. The offensive line, which was gutted by graduation, will be trickier to mend. But hey, at least Rich Ohrnberger won’t be whiffing blocks anymore. Joke’s on you, team that picks him in the seventh round!

New batch of wideouts

Derrick Williams, Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood have been a collective symbol of our resurgence. We’re not going to “replace” them or their production, but there are a couple of bigger, more athletic targets who could take up their posts. And there’s always Graham Zug and Brett Brackett. Really, though, how many great white wide receivers can you name? Steve Largent, Fred Biletnikoff, Joe Jurevicius…and I’m spent.

Making the secondary a priority

Tony Davis won’t be sticking to his fundamentals this season, Lydell Sargeant won’t be speeding around the backfield and Anthony Scirrotto won’t be ending people’s lives. That’s OK. Maybe the reshuffled secondary will actually, I don’t know, be able to cover good receivers this year.

Sean Lee…DESTROYER OF WORLDS

Be honest. You can’t wait to see Sean Lee back on the field alongside Navorro Bowman. And neither can I. The third linebacker spot is rather open, but maybe we’ll get radical and run a 5-2 or something, because these two are studs. Linebacker U? Linebacker U-betcha.

That’s it for now. There are other areas to address, but I’ll leave them to my fellow Blue White Football Podcast tenants, who, in stark contrast to me, actually speak in complete sentences and form cogent thoughts.

Namaste!

I know I’ve seen this guy before, though. Even before we were recruiting him.

Hmmm……..

That’s it!

Good news, Nittany Nation. Not only is Justin Brown a Lion, he’s receiving longevity treatments to cheat death. Talk about adding toughness to your roster.

The Rose Bowl is far in the rear view mirror and most of us expected the Penn State news cycle to wilt until signing day but it has been more than active with Aaron Maybin heading the pros, Larry Johnson considering a job offer and more sending Nittany Nation into panic. Mike & Mark return to discuss how Maybin departing affects the team, what would the impact be if LJ Sr. left the program and who else might be considering jumping to the NFL.

Tune in for that and information about our offseason podcast schedule as we continue to talk Nittany Lions into the long winter months.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #59

Click here to listen now: 

Click here to download through iTunes: iTunes Podcast Page

Thursday’s game may not have played out to our expectations but Mike and Mark return to discuss the Rose Bowl and wrap up the week one final time from Los Angeles. Tune in to hear what Derrick Williams and Joe had to say after the game and where we think the Nittany Lions will go from here.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #58

Click here to download through iTunes: iTunes Podcast Page

Penn State Rose Bowl Pep Rally

Mike & Mark have finally arrived in Los Angeles and were greeted with a combination of Hollywood and football at the last press conference for Joe Paterno and Pete Carroll before the Rose Bowl. Tune in for our first podcast from the West Coast and hear JoePA diss Pat Devlin, injury updates from USC and a surprising comparison of Joe Paterno and a current movie character. 

Check back for more later in the day and get ready for tomorrow’s game with our final pre-game podcast Thursday morning.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #57

Click here to listen now: 

Click here to download through iTunes: iTunes Podcast Page

Joe Paterno and Pete Carroll exchanged blows at this morning’s press conference as the two titans of coaching met for the last time before Thursday’s Rose Bowl. We are currently recording our first podcast in LA and will be posting it shortly but for those of you looking for brief bullet points on what to expect, look no further.

-  JoePa disses Devlin

- Paterno will coach from the press box

- USC Updates: Ellison and Havili are ‘definitely’ not playing

- Joe aging backwards “Benjamin Button” style

- Erin Andrews sighting

STAY TUNED for the first podcast from Cali!

Before heading off to California Mike & Mark return for another Rose Bowl Preview podcast with a look at USC’s highly publicized defense. Tune in as we discuss the Trojans’ defensive strengths and keys to the Nittany Lions being able to put up points against the nation’s number one D. Also, we discuss several players who may not be making an appearance in the Rose Bowl and how that will affect each team as well as the Big Ten’s poor start to bowl season.

Check out the last post for our full Rose Bowl podcasts’ schedule as we continue to bring you more coverage of Penn State leading up to January 1st.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #56

Click here to listen now: 

Click here to download through iTunes: iTunes Podcast Page

The week of the Rose Bowl has arrived and Mike & Mark will continue their coverage of the Granddaddy of them all with the USC defensive preview tomorrow followed by several podcasts from California to keep you up to date on everything leading up to and following the game. Check out our Rose Bowl podcasts’ schedule as we bring you thoughts from Los Angeles, audio from coaches and players as well as further discussion of the game. 

Rose Bowl Podcasts’ Schedule:

Monday Morning: USC Defense Preview

Wednesday Afternoon: Overall Game Preview and latest news.

Wednesday Evening: Thoughts on Penn State atmosphere in Los Angeles.

Thursday Morning: Pre-Game thoughts.

Friday: Recap Podcast and Bowl wrap up.

Check back this week as we offer extensive coverage of the Nittany Lions’ bid to finish the season with an upset win over the Trojans.

The Lions are just over a week away from facing off against the Trojans of USC in the Rose Bowl and before Mike & Mark head to Los Angeles, they are back to breakdown the USC offense. Tune in as we discuss the keys to slowing down Mark Sanchez and the running backs of “Tailback U”  as well as JoePa’s contract extension and Kevin Newsome deciding to come to Penn State. 

Early next week we will return with a discussion of the USC’s vaunted defense followed by podcasts and updates from California as we draw closer to the game. 

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #55

Click here to listen now: 

Click here to download through iTunes: iTunes Podcast Page

Mike & Mark return from the holiday with another podcast wrapping up the season and looking ahead to the monumental match-up with the Trojans of USC. Tune in as we discuss Pat Devlin transferring away from the Nittany Lions and what it means for the program as well as some of our early impressions of the 2009 Rose Bowl.

Check back over the next few weeks as we breakdown the Rose Bowl in a series of three podcasts. Next week Mike & Mark will focus on the Trojan’s Offense, the following week the USC vaunted defense and finally the week of the game we will have an overall breakdown of the 95th granddaddy of them all.

Right click here to download: Blue White Football Podcast #54

Click here to listen now: 

Click here to download through iTunes: iTunes Podcast Page