Males 18-35, demographics at its finest

To: BSD

From: Mike

Re: Your Ads

Boy, the advertising companies really nailed it this time:

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Back soon

Today should be the last day I'm stuck doing only real-world big people stuff. I fully expect that tomorrow, or even later tonight (but don't hold me to it), I can get back to what really matters in life -- Penn State football. Lucky for me, there hasn't been too much going on around the 'sphere anyway. Even BSD is reduced to covering (although, this one's pretty good) the Bobby Bowden saga.

See you all very soon!

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Big Ten Bloggers welcomes ZN

First, I want to thank Mike at BSD for inviting me to the Big Ten Bloggers. No, I'm not going to go into an acceptance speech, because it's frankly not that big of a deal. But I'm happy about this. I try very hard to write about Penn State and college football. Hey, it's fun, and that's why I have no intentions of slowing down. I'm trying to get the blog roll updated, and the Big Ten Bloggers post feed rolling, so bear with me on that. Until then, thanks to all the readers and my fellow bloggers.

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The Blue-White Roundtable :: Spring Practice 2008

ZN was kinda, sorta invited to participate (finally) in the BWR--I was sent an email by Nittany White Out about their RT, which was followed up by BDS's email that they were already going to do one this week. I was sent that email also. So whether it was intentional or now, here I am, with the special spring practice edition of the Blue-White Roundtable. Here is the list of bloggers taking part in the BWR.

Black Shoe Diaries
The Nittany Line
There Is No Name On My Jersey
William F. Yurasko
Tangled Up In White and Blue
The Big Eleventh
The Nittany Notebook
Run Up The Score
Nittany Whiteout


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?

-After Summer workouts begin, not much. Even with the guys who aren’t on the Spring roster, most of them will return and play. Remember what happened last season, when Quarless got nabbed and then played three games into 2008. Joe wants to win, and he’ll let these guys back. Luckily for the team, they’re all upperclassmen. It might work out for the best, giving the younger guys more time going against the first teams.

Would you move Sean Lee to middle linebacker like Paul Posluszny in 2006 and Dan Connor in 2007?

ZN: Never. I’m still not exactly sure why Poz made the move, but unlike Dan Connor—a MLB coming out of high school—Lee has always been a true OLB. With guys like Chris Colasanti ready to burst onto the scene, there’s no reason to take Lee away from his natural position.

If Lee stays on the outside, who would you start at the other outside linebacker assuming Bowman is out of the picture?

ZN: No one will like this, but Hull will make the start against Coastal Carolina. Watch out for Bani Gbadyu, though, as he really came on the last few games of 2007.

Which position on the field is our weakest link?

ZN: Right now, it’ll be the defensive line. But if all of the injuries heal up before June, and PSU gets back at least half the guys in trouble, this won’t be a problem. That being said, in the fall it will be the kick return coverage. The coaches have to start playing first-stringers on kickoffs and punts, or you’ll have more Illinoises and Purdues in 2008.

Who is your pony in the quarterback contro…uh, competition?

ZN: This is a cop-out, but I’m saying Joe breaks down and plays both, ala Florida 2006. Again, Joe wants to win, badly, and if he was willing to study Texas for Mike Robinson, he might just look at some of Urban Meyer’s tapes from the season he won it all.

Name three players that absolutely have to step up their performance this spring?

ZN: Andrew Quarless… This is his chance to put everything behind him. If he wants to even get a sniff at the draft, he needs to play like a man possessed. It’s been a long time since someone with his measurables has played for the Lions. Lydell Sargeant… He lost his job after the Ohio State game, and now has the chance to slide back into the starting job. That doesn’t mean he deserves it. If he can step in front of a few key passes (and actually catch them, unlike Justin King) he’ll earn the position. And finally, The Quarterbacks… I’m really selling out on this two-headed quarterback thing. I really think that if both Devlin and Clark play lights-out this Spring, Joe will be forced to get them on the field together.

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?

ZN: Gerald Cadogan.

Who is your pick for the Jim O’Hora award given to the defensive player that shows the most improvement?

ZN: Josh Gaines.

Your 2008 team captains are…?
ZN: Lee, Shipley, (definite) and Butler (not so definite, maybe Williams)

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Article of the day: Penn State is a greedy, rich bastard

I generally try to feature an article each day from another site. Usually they're from Penn State or Big Ten blogs, sometimes from other sites. Please check out the author's Web site. I always supply the link in the introduction.

You probably have heard about that THON fundraiser which bombed back in January. Well, Mike over at Black Shoe Diaries offers up a second look into what's really going on inside Old Main. Something foul leaks from those stone walls.

Penn State Loves Money, Hates Kids With Cancer

By Mike

There are plenty of examples of Penn State grabbing the cash anywhere they can. You don't have to look very far. Parking for the football games used to be $5. Now it's $20. Ticket prices continue to go up year after year. Nittany Lion Club donations are going up. But each time they ask you to open your wallet they're just going after the wealthy alumni who can afford it. What's sad is when you see them screwing over cancer victims.

A few weeks ago Penn State announced their Target Ten Challenge to raise money for THON.


The "Target 10" challenge, a partnership between Penn State basketball and The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) 2008, will encompass the Ohio State game on Jan. 29 and the Michigan State game, set for Feb. 2.
Penn State is calling for an unprecedented 10,000 students to pack the Bryce Jordan Center for the nationally televised Jan. 29 showdown with the Buckeyes on ESPN. If the goal of 10,000 student tickets sold is reached, then all proceeds from $5 student single game ticket sales for the following game vs. nationally ranked Michigan State (Saturday, Feb. 2) will be donated to benefit THON 2008.

Sounds great. Nobody is going to object to raising money for kids with cancer, right? Well, their Target Ten campaign fell woefully short.


Despite the multitude of brightly-colored Thon t-shirts mixed with blue and white ones at last night's men's basketball game, the student turnout was not enough to meet the goal of the "Target Ten" Challenge.
The student turnout for the game was about 6,000, Loren Crispell, marketing manager for Penn State basketball, said.

Oh no! The kids get nothing? Well not exactly. I guess Penn State does have a heart.


Although 10,000 student tickets were not sold for last night's game, Crispell said a portion of the proceeds from student ticket sales for Saturday's game will still go to Thon. Crispell said Penn State basketball reached this agreement with Thon in advance.
Ok. So Crispell changed her tune after Target Ten fell short and said a portion of the proceeds would go to THON. Last week I said this wasn't enough


The University sold 6000 student tickets to the game last night trying to reach the almost impossible number of 10,000. Now just a portion of the proceeds from student ticket sales to the Feb. 2 game with Michigan State will go toward THON. How many students will show up for that game? Maybe 3000? And only a portion of those proceeds will go to the kids with cancer? That just doesn't pass the smell test and BSD thinks the University needs to do more.
Now, I just want to say I was way off. We didn't come anywhere near 3000 students. In fact, we only had about 1500.


Although the "Target 10" challenge did not draw 10,000 students to Tuesday night's men's basketball game against Ohio State University, a decision was made Friday to donate all student-generated proceeds from Saturday's game against Michigan State to the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.
Loren Crispell, marketing manager for Penn State basketball, said 1,529 student tickets were sold for Saturday's game, which raised $7,645 for Thon. The Nittany Lions beat No. 8 Michigan State 85-76.

So they came to their senses and decided to donate all the proceeds from February 2 instead of just a portion. Sounds great, but lets do some math here.

BSD Fairness Chart

Tickets Sold x ticket price: 6,000 x 5, 1,529 x 5
Penn State Gets: $30,000
Kids With Cancer Get: $7,645

This is disgusting and unacceptable. I am pleased that Penn State answered my plea to do more, but it's not enough. The school gets to pocket $30,000 out of this campaign and THON only gets $7,645? In what world is that fair?

Here's a solution, Ms. Crispell. Give all the money to the kids. All $37,645 of it. Then it will be fair and you won't go to hell.

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