Blue & White Roundtable :: Rose Bowl edition

No. 8 Penn State is headed to the Rose Bowl. The Nittany Lions will face the greatest defense in the history of mankind. At least, that's what we're lead to believe. I thought some questions were appropriate.

The usually unusual suspects:
There is No Name on My Jersey
Y. F. Yurasko
Happy Hour Valley
Black Shoe Diaries
The Nittany Line
We Want the Lion
Zombie Nation
Nittany Whiteout

1. Let's play a little catch up. How huge was the Kevin Newsome pickup, and what should Penn State do with him in 2009? Is there another commit you're particularly excited about, besides Newsome?

ZN: If for no other reason, the Newsome pick helped us forget about losing Pat Devlin. It was a real shock to the program, especially hearing about how it went down. I would really like to see Newsome redshirted next fall, but that won't happen. Penn State will need a talented backup for Daryll Clark, and Newsome is built in the same mold. He might even be faster. I'm really looking forward to Gerald Hodges. The kid is a real athlete who can fill in immediately at safety. He's also fast enough to play in the nickel package Penn State uses, with three safeties.

2. You've heard a lot about how Penn State doesn't have a shot in hell at beating USC. "The USC defense is the best ever... The Big Ten can't win Rose Bowls... Penn State lost to lowly Iowa..." Tell us why any of those arguments don't pass the rationality test.

ZN: USC has played in what could be argued as the worst conference this year. Washington went 0-12, and Washington State beat only one FBS team... Washington. Half the league had losing records, and if Oregon loses to Oklahoma State in the Holiday Bowl, USC will be the only team with 10 or more wins.

I've also heard this point, too. It makes sense. The Big Ten hasn't sent a true "conference champ" since Michigan in 2004, where it lost to Vince Young and Texas by one point. Then it was Michigan (Big Ten runner up) in 2006, and Illinois in 2007, which was one of the worst teams ever to go to the Rose Bowl.

Don't get me started on the Iowa loss, compared to USC's loss to Oregon State...

3. Pick one win this season that best exemplifies what Penn State must do in each facet of the game (example: Passing vs. MSU), to win the Rose Bowl. Pick for passing, rushing, special teams, pass defense, run defense, play-calling/coaching.

ZN: I'll go with Passing vs. MSU, Rushing vs. Oregon State, Special Teams vs. Wisconsin, Pass Defense vs. Michigan, Run Defense vs. MSU, and Play-Calling vs. MSU.

Can you tell which game I felt Penn State performed best?

Bonus

-Penn State # of scores vs. USC (touchdowns, field goals, anything)... 4

-USC # of scores vs. PSU... 4

-Joe Paterno finishes his 3-yr contract? No