Go to hell, CFN

It's happening again. Remember last spring, when everyone was saying that 2007 would be "the year?" You know, when Beano Cook said Penn State could win the National Championship? Well, it's starting already for 2008. I love PSU football, and deep down, I believe every year is a good chance to go undefeated. But to be so premature is just rediculous. In the quest for the most hits, CollegeFootballNews has jumped at the chance to proclaim PSU has a great chance to go bowling in Pasadena next January. The last time PSU went undefeated when it was supposed to was in 1994.

Spring Practice Begins: March 24 Game: April 19
The early spring buzz ... All the talk is about everything other than football. The off-the-field stuff has taken center stage with WR Chris Bell and starting DT Phil Taylor suspended because of academic issues. DT Chris Baker and LB Navorro Bowman were booted off the team for the time being after being charged with felony assault after a fight last fall, with CB Knowledge Timmons being charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct for a problem after the fight. Top safety Anthony Scirrotto agreed to a plea bargain after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of defiant trespass in an issue last April. If that wasn't enough, everyone is talking about what the succession plan is going to be after Joe Paterno decides he's done, while the Nittany Lion nation continues to hold its breath as it hopes beyond all reasonable hope that super-recruit Terrelle Pryor will sign and be the 2008 starting quarterback.

When was the last time PSU started a true freshman quarterback? Ummm. Exactly. I know the coaches and the school want to win, and soon, but there's hardly a chance Pryor would play. I think he would gladly take the redshirt, if he was promised to see playing time next to Devlin in '09 and '10. But who knows what he'll do. I sure don't.

The big spring question is ... Is there a ceiling on the 2008 team? The 2007 team blasted Wisconsin and collapsed against a motivated Michigan State, but for the most part it beat the teams it was supposed to, and lost to the better teams (Michigan, Illinois and Ohio State). The offense needs more pop, the defense needs to play up to its talent level game-in-and-game-out, and for a full sixty minutes, and there can't be any gaffes. It's all about gearing up for a huge midseason stretch with four road games in five weeks (Purdue, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Iowa) after a home date against Illinois. The home oasis? Michigan.

When was the last time PSU beat Ohio State in the 'Shoe. Ummm. My parents were newlyweds and Grease was the newest box office hit. Unless PSU plays out-of-this-world better, and OSU plays way below its potential, there's at least one win PSU won't get. And as I've said before, this will be just another "if-we-can't-beat-Michigan-this-year" for the ump-teenth time. So, yet again, it will all come down to Michigan.

The most important position to watch is ... Quarterback. Anthony Morelli was the poster boy for Underwhelming Quarterbacks of America, but he wasn't bad and led the way to a few good seasons. Can Daryll Clark make the offense more exciting? Yes. Can he throw? No. Pat Devlin could quickly take over the No. 1 spot if he's consistent this spring, but Clark, because of his mobility, is an X factor. The team might live through his mistakes to go with his personality and potential.

Even though Paterno has no real loyalty to either quarterback right now, I think you'll see Devlin as the "starter" with Clark as the "starter II." Everyone, including me, loved the wrinkle PSU threw in by having Clark run the ball ala M-Rob style. The biggest question was "why the hell is Morelli even out there." I'll argue that later. But if Devlin and Clark are used in the same package, teams would actually have no freaking clue who will get the snap, as Devlin can run well, too.

Spring attitude... Is it possible to be a sleeper? Ohio State will be everyone's preseason Big Ten title pick, Michigan will get the spotlight with all the changes, and Wisconsin might be the thinking man's pick for the title, but Penn State could turn out to be strong enough to go to Pasadena. The defense will be stellar, the receiving corps might be the best in America, and the O line should be a strength. If the quarterback situation is settled early on, then shhhhhhhh, this will be the league's under-the-radar team to keep an eye on.

Fuck you, Pete Fiutak. I love your analysis, your unbiased approach, and consider CFN a daily must-read. But Fuck You!

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