Penn State fans impress Iowa reporter

It doesn't make the loss go away, but it's somewhat comforting to hear that Penn State fans refrained from throwing bottles of urine at Iowa fans:

Whenever the Hawkeyes win in Ames, you can expect a certain four-letter word followed by a three-letter word. The same is true for fans in State College, but it’s a considerably less crude — “Good job.” ... While I wasn’t sure what I did to deserve congratulations, one thing became abundantly clear — Penn State has the classiest fans in the Big Ten.

You should also check out the comments below the story. They're (mostly) just as positive. Link: The Daily Iowan

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Penn State, best atmosphere... by default

Well, it wasn’t a runaway victory ala Wisconsin 2007, but Penn State's student section was deemed the best in college football by a panel of ESPN contributors. There was plenty of homerisms, like ESPN getting former Wisconsin receiver Chris Chambers to weigh in on the “nastiest” student section. He chose (gasp!) Wisconsin as No. 1 in that category. Or tabbing Tennessee’s resident god/dinosaur Johnny Majors to pick which had the “most spirited” co-eds... LSU. Ok, not so bad, but wait till you read why he chose the Tiger faithful. Talk about dating himself.

Overall it was a pretty cool article. Beano Cook pegged Penn State with the “best overall” student section/atmosphere in college football. Joining him was Kirk Herbstreit (a closet PSU fan, f.y.i.), who said Penn State was the “most fun” on game days. Lou Holtz alsho gave hish take on the shtory, handing out the “loudest” award. Then game Bill Curry, who had an interesting choice for “most creative” student section. This sounds more like my high school year book than a college football story, but hey, it’s fun.

How the ESPN crew voted:

Best Overall: (Beano Cook)
1. Penn State
2. Texas A&M
3. Oregon
4. Florida
5. Notre Dame

Loudest: (Lou Holtz)
1. Florida
2. Oregon
3. Tennessee
4. Penn State (he obviously hasn’t been to PSU recently)
5. Texas A&M

Most Fun: (Kirk Herbstreit)
1. Penn State
2. Notre Dame
3. Virginia Tech
4. Texas A&M
5. Texas

Nastiest: (Chris Chambers)
1. Wisconsin
2. Florida
3. LSU
4. Ohio State
5. Rutgers

Most Spirited: (Johnny Majors, who I think interpreted “spirited” differently than ESPN intended)
1. LSU “For the longest time, they popped champagne corks when the anthem got to ‘rockets’ red glare.’ That’s a party.” Even though they still pop corks, I guess the “champagne” distinction gives the crowd that “spirited edge by kickoff.
2. Wisconsin
3. West Virginia
4. NC State
5. Michigan State

Most Creative: (Bill Curry)
1. Notre Dame
2. Penn State
3. Alabama
4. Virginia Tech
5. Yale

So like I said, Penn State won this one by default, simply because no other school was named the best at more than one thing. I’ll take it anyway. Penn State was also nominated for four of the six categories, more than any other school in the story. Who wouldn’t want to go to Penn State?

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Article of the day

Today's article is brought to you from Coram Deo Sports, a relatively new blog by an LA native living in Tennessee. It's an outstanding observation of southern football from an outsider's view.

National Championship or the Latest Civil War Battle

The following is a real conversation that took place during my first week living in the South.

My new Southern friend "So, you're from California?"

Me "Yes."

SF "You surf?"

Me "No."

SF "You know, the South is going to do it again!?"

Me "Lose another war?"

That is where that conversation ended, but it was a clear warning that I wasn't living in Southern California or 1993. More than my address changed the year I moved to Tennessee.

SEC fans are the most passionate and loyal group of fans I have ever met. It goes beyond supporting a team. It is deeply personal. I'm not sure what the South is going to do again, but I think it has something to do with football (or whichever sport the SEC is succeeding in at the time).

Two years ago I attended the Final Four in Indianapolis. UCLA played LSU and Florida played George Mason. I sat next to two Auburn fans who referred to Florida and LSU as 'we' during both games. "We need to rebound!" "We need to push the ball." I root for the Pac-10. I want them to do well in the NCAA tournament and their bowl games, but you'll be hard-pressed to hear me refer to Washington State as 'we.'

I have wrestled with why the SEC fans take things so personally for years. I have developed a theory. I honestly believe the SEC is the modern day Confederate Army. This region of the country lives with the history of losing a war to the rest of the nation. There is a lingering 'little brother has to prove himself to big brother' effect. The unity that exists in the conference is staggering because their hatred of each other is only outdone by their love for the conference.

When Florida beat Ohio State last year, it wasn't just a football victory. It was a statement about little brother being strong enough beat down big brother. Tomorrow night's game means different things to different people. For SEC fans, it is more than a crystal trophy. It is payback from the sting of a loss suffered 143 years ago.

My prediction - General Tressell - 27 Private Miles - 13

Tuesday's conversation will not be LSU's speed. It will be Ohio State's toughness and physicality.

Please keep in mind I grew up in LA LA Land where people show up to championship games in the 2nd quarter and leave at halftime.

Couldn't agree more with this guy. It's been nearly unbearable to deal with anyone from "away down south in Dixie" ever since last year's BCS championship game. This blogger hit the nail on the head. But no one from the SEC nation would read this and take a moment to think about it. They're too fast for some slow-talker from SoCal.

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