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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Paterno presser quick hits

Here are some highlights from today's Joe Paterno press conference.

• As I projected earlier today, Joe's first question was about the Iowa loss. All in all, Joe chalked it up to more bad breaks for Penn State than for Iowa.

• The kicking and special teams, besides the blocked punt, were better against Iowa. The only really bad thing was that blocked punt. Otherwise, nothing was negative. That's not to say it was all positive. The block reminded Joe of the '82 loss at Alabama, the year Penn State went on to win the national title with one loss.

• Joe hates to see a guy like Royster have such a bad day. He fumbled, and tipped a pass that was intercepted. But Joe still has confidence that he can work through it.

• Sean Lee is still "day-to-day," but Joe wouldn't (said he couldn't) expand on it. Lee didn't practice yet this week, even though he wants to go.

• Colin Wagner will still do kickoffs. Joe's fine with him there. And seriously, is that what this team needs to worry about right now?

• This team should have the guys to get back up and play well. At least, that's what Joe's hoping for. There was a good practice session on Monday, with a lot of enthusiasm. Too bad we couldn't get some of that on Saturday night.

• On that same theme, Joe's not ready to give up on this team. He reiterated that a lot of the problems have come from turnovers and lack of big plays in the clutch. Both of which were huge factors in the Iowa loss.

• Another reporter asked another retarded question. They still haven't learned. Moving on.

• Despite the shutout at Ohio State, Joe's still worried about Juice Williams and Arrelious Benn. He thinks Illinois just hasn't gotten any consistency yet. Of course, we know what they can do when they get that consistency.

• Joe has to keep on these guys to make sure they understand that the season's far from over. He hearkened back to Florida last year, winning the title with a loss. I see a trend developing. This could end up being Joe's best coaching job yet.

• While there hasn't been a real effort to get Andrew Quarless the ball, Joe thinks his increased catches are a product of his maturation as a player over his career.

• Stefen Wisniewski is staying at center. Joe understands that all his snaps, particularly from the shotgun, haven't been perfect. But Wiz will be fine.

• The field conditions didn't affect how Penn State called its game Saturday. Joe can't say as much about the officiating.

• Brandon Ware will be out for a little while longer. A few weeks.

• Someday, Stephon Morris will be a good player, according to Joe. But until then, he really likes what the true freshman brings to the table. Joe said the staff has really tried to get him on the field.

• Joe went on a little rant about how the media and fans tend to care more about stuff he couldn't give a rats ass about. But he's gotten in hot water about some things he's said, which he admitted were stupid things to say. (it's a long response, so go read it if you're interested more)

• Nerraw McCormack would start tomorrow if there was a game. Look for him this week at Illinois.

• Someone asked Joe about the turnover thing, again. Joe already answered it, but it was so much earlier in the presser, he probably forgot about it. So, he answered it again.

• Another question about how awesome it is that Joe Suhey is a member of the First Family of Penn State Football.

• Joe likes the development of Nick Sukay. He played a good game, and is another player that could be really good... some day.

• Not sure, but Joe thinks it might be a good thing to get his team on the road, and away from home. I guess when you play four straight games at home to open the season, it's kind of like a bad case of cabin fever during a winter... wait for it... WHITEOUT.

*I guess the link would help.

If nothing else comes up tonight, see you all tomorrow.

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Review: Iowa 21, Penn State 10

Penn State fell to Iowa last night, 21-10 in both teams' Big Ten conference openers. The Nittany Lions were stymied on offense, forcing the young defense to carry the load. Mistakes were plentiful for both teams, but Penn State's proved most costly. One could say this is the most important week of the season for Penn State. Will they step up, or step down?

In today's game review, we'll break down Penn State's unit by unit performance.

Offense

• Offensive Line: A ton of questions were answered last night. Unfortunately, all the answers were negative for Penn State. The offensive line gave Daryll Clark very little time to throw early on, which led to Clark's shaky play the rest of the game. When the quarterback gets hit a lot early, he's unable to concentrate on throwing later.

The most egregious error by the line came in the second quarter, when RT DeOn'tae Pannell was beaten badly by Broderick Binns in the end zone. Binns forced Clark to fumble. Penn State recovered, but surrendered two points on the safety.

Penn State coaches decided to pull Pannell from the game, subbing in senior Nerraw McCormack at right tackle. The move didn't help all that much, as it wasn't just one player causing Penn State headaches. But none of this should take away from Iowa, as its defensive line played fantastic.

Stats: 3.3 yards per rush; 2 sacks (-7) allowed

• Receivers: There wasn't much Penn State's receivers could do to help the outcome of this game. If the ball can't get to you, you can't catch it. When the ball was thrown, it was usually rushed, off balance or tipped at the line. Chaz Powell (3/96, TD) was able to burn Iowa's corner on the first play of the game for a 79-yard scoring strike, but Penn State failed to stretch the field the rest of the game.

I thought Andrew Quarless (3/35) played a fantastic game, despite the coaches not utilizing him enough. Quarless was able to gain a critical first down late in the game, when he effortlessly threw aside the Iowa defender and proceeded to steamroll over three more. The coaching staff said earlier this year that the tight ends were going to be a big part of the offense. Really? When is that supposed to kick in?

Graham Zug was held without a reception. Derek Moye (2/48) was hindered by penalties and a bad call on an incompletion (he caught the ball!). After the hugely successful first play, play-action was all but abandoned by the coaches upstairs, who opted for quicker plays that still didn't work.

Stats: 8 receptions, 179 yards, 1 TD

• Running Backs: I feel bad for Evan Royster (17/69). It doesn't matter if you're Barry Sanders; if you don't have any blocking, you can't run well. And the one time Royster seemed to strike a big run late in the fourth quarter, he coughed it up. He also tipped a poorly-thrown ball that was intercepted. The coaching staff should have recognized early on that Iowa was easily pressuring Clark. Where were the screens to Royster? I can only recall one that worked, and another that didn't. That's it.

Another underutilized back was Stephfon Green (3/15), who like Royster, should have gotten the ball more on screens and passes into the flats. Penn State's running backs are fantastic in space, but were run in traditional fashion against Iowa. Without a decent offensive line, you can't run consistently against a front like the Hawkeyes'.

The quarterback runs for Clark (9/19) were supposed to loosen up the defense. They did, at first. But the inexperience of the offensive line did not allow plays to develop correctly, highlighted by the QB draws.

Stats: (RB/QB only) 31 attempts, 102 yards

• Quarterbacks: Daryll Clark (12-32, 198, TD, 3 INT) went from looking like a true Heisman darkhorse, to just another college quarterback, in less than a quarter. Clark's first strike to Powell seemed to set the tone that Penn State would not be timid, as they were in Iowa City last year. But after Clark was hit a few times, and it was apparent that the line wasn't going to give him as much time as everyone thought, Clark clammed up and played excruciatingly tight.

I hate to peg this all on Clark, but he became rattled way too easily by the Iowa pressure. Again, something we thought would change from the 2008 loss. Even with the quarterback runs for Clark, the game plan wasn't designed to combat the kind of pressure he was facing all night long. Worse yet, the coaches did a very poor job of adjusting their attack during the half time break.

Stats: 12-32, 198 yards, 1 touchdowns, 3 INT, 2 sacks (-9)

Defense

• Defensive Line: I was really impressed by Penn State's defense overall. Tom Bradley had his boys ready to roll early, including Larry Johnson's defensive linemen. While this unit did give up more than four yards per carry, it was able to keep Ricki Stanzi and the Iowa passing attack under pressure all game. Jack Crawford (5 tkl, TFL(-4), Sack(-4) came up with another great performance, along with Eric Latimore (4 tkl, TFL(-1), PBU) who came in off the bench.

Jared Odrick (3 tkl) wasn't very noticeable this week, but he and Ollie Ogbu (tkl, TFL(-1) kept Iowa from running up the middle, and provided very good pressure on Stanzi. Penn State's defensive line, while not dominant, did its job against a very good Iowa offensive line.

Stats: 4.4 yards per rush allowed; 16 tackles, 2.5 TFL (-6), 0.5 sacks (-4)

• Linebackers: While most fans were anticipating the return of Navorro Bowman (13 tkl, 3 TFL(-7) to the lineup, it was Josh Hull (13 tkl, 2 TFL(-8), Sack(-7) who stole the show in the linebacking corps.

I was very pleased with Penn State's defensive game plan, which some might compare to the old "bend but don't break" style played under Jerry Sandusky. Tom Bradley dialed up significant pressure on blitzes all night, which really shook up Stanzi, and forced multiple mistakes by the Iowa signal caller. Fans have been calling for more blitzes by Penn State, especially with such talent at linebacker. Well, we got just that on Saturday night.

But the absence of All-American captain Sean Lee loomed large, even though the defense played well without him. Bani Gbadyu (7 tkl) did very well filling in for Lee. I was very surprised to see Nate Stupar (no stats) come in when Gbadyu went down with an injury.

Stats: 33 tackles, 5 TFL (-15), Sack (-7)

• Defensive Backfield: Penn State's secondary gave up a few big pass plays, but none of them were particularly devastating. Again, "bend, but don't break." I thought the secondary played the best overall of any unit Penn State fielded Saturday night. Of course, that's all relative, since we have to consider that this was supposed to be the absolute biggest liability going into the season.

Looking at this unit's overall performance, they just seemed to always be in the right place at the right time. Hero (SS) Nick Sukay (9 tkl, 4 PBU, INT) had a career night against the Hawkeyes. Free safety Drew Astorino (5 tkl) was fantastic again on run support, while tipping a ball into Sukay's arms. Starting corners Knowledge Timmons (3 tkl) and D'Anton Lynn (tkl, 0.5 TFL(-4), 0.5 Sack(-4) kept the Iowa receivers in check. I absolutely loved the corner blitz by Lynn.

Even coming off the bench, AJ Wallace (4 tkl, INT) and freshman Stephon Morris (PBU) made their presence known. This unit played a great game.

Stats: 22 Tkl, 5 PBU, 2 INT, 0.5 TFL (-4), 0.5 Sack (-4).

Special Teams

• Kicking/Punting: I'll get to the blocked punt in a minute. But I thought the kickers did well overall. Colin Wagner (1-2, lng 27; 4 KO, 61.8 avg) only missed on a long 47 yarder. We could get on his case about that, since he's supposed to have a strong leg, but he wasn't the reason Penn State lost this game.

Jeremy Boone (53.5 YPP) was again great on punts, including a 57-yard bomb.

• Returns/Coverage: Now, the blocked punt. Joe Paterno said after the game that it was a mistake in blocking, that it wasn't Boone's fault. I agree. Boone got the ball off in time, but Iowa's Arian Clayborn shot through Nick Sukay's block with little effort. It's unfortunate, because I felt overall the special teams played well. Besides the blocked punt, the special teams did its job.

Overall

Penn State has to use this loss as a "teachable moment." Daryll Clark can't get down on himself about this. He doesn't have time. The defense can't say "what if" all week. They don't have time. And the offensive line can't sit around skulking. No one has time for that. This will be the real test for this team. Will they rise up and take control of their season, or let it spiral out of control? It will be up to the senior leadership we heard so much about this summer to get this team back on track.

Iowa came to play. There is no question the Hawkeyes are a team not to be underestimated by anyone the rest of this season. I was quite shocked to see that Iowa was ranked No. 17 in the Coaches Poll this week, a full four spots behind the Nittany Lions. Iowa has been completely impressive this season, with wins over two BCS conference foes, and then-No. 5 Penn State in Happy Valley.

But don't let it fool you. The Big Ten race is just beginning. There is still plenty of football to be played, and both of these teams have the talent to take home a title.

• Official Stats, via GoPSUSports.com:

Full Box Score

Post Game Quotes

Post Game Notes

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Hawkeyes march past Penn State, 21-10

Penn State choked away its momentum, its composure and a 10-point lead in Beaver Stadium tonight, falling to the Iowa Hawkeyes 21-10. Kirk Ferentz has now won seven of eight against Joe Paterno and Penn State, knocking the Lions out of the top-five for the second consecutive matchup. It was a tale of variety on the rain-soaked field, as Iowa scored on a field goal, a safety, a blocked punt for a touchdown, and a rushing touchdown -- the first given up by Penn State this season.

Quarterback Daryll Clark completed a mere 12 of 32 pass attempts for 198 yards, with one score and three interceptions, in the face of relentless pressure from the Hawkeyes' defensive front four. But the night began in nearly opposite fashion, as Clark connected to a wide open Chaz Powell for a 79-yard touchdown score on the Lions' first offensive play.

"Crap," Ferentz told ESPN's Lisa Salters after the game. Simply put, crap."

But things wouldn't be so crappy when the final whistle sounded. Despite a valiant effort by Penn State's defense, holding Iowa to 298 total yards, the Hawkeyes scored any way they could, beginning with the second quarter safety by Broderick Binns, who forced a Clark fumble in the end zone. The ball was recovered by Penn State to save the touchdown, but momentum had swung in Iowa's favor, trailing 10-2. It would not swing back.

Penn State turned the ball over four times, all seemingly at the most critical junctions in the game for the Lions.

All of Clark's interceptions came in Iowa territory. Following 18 unanswered points -- 16 in the fourth quarter alone -- by the Hawkeyes, Chaz Powell returned the kickoff past midfield, and even drew a late hit call to move the Lions to inside the Iowa 35. But an Evan Royster fumble near the Iowa 25 virtually ended any real chance for Penn State to turn things around. The Nittany Lions would rush for only 109 total yards.

Iowa would run out the clock, wrapping things up with a Daniel Murray field goal to push the final to 21-10.

The story of the night was the battle in the trenches, specifically Penn State's offensive line unable to hold up against an active Iowa line. Clark had very little time to operate in the pocket, which forced Penn State out of down-and-distance schedule. The Lions were frequently in second-and-long and third-and-long situations. This left little room for an effective running game.

For the second year in a row, Iowa "just hung around" long enough for Penn State to make a critical mistake. The Lions made several of them, allotting the Hawkeyes several chances to win the game. Iowa took advantage of just enough of those opportunities for another win over Penn State.

Check back tomorrow for the full unit-by-unit breakdown of the game. Also up tomorrow: Top 25.

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Penn State Gameday: Iowa

Your Penn State football gameday headquarters.

Pregame



• Preview: Iowa at No. 4/5 Penn State
• Penn State depth chart (as of 9/25)
• Official Game Notes
• Penn State Roster
• Joe Paterno's Press Conference
• Blue White Roundtable :: Iowa
• Big Ten Pick'em: Week 4 2009
• ZN's CFB Top 25 :: Week 4 2009
• Poll Results: Iowa at Penn State

Postgame

• Game Story: Iowa marches past Penn State, 21-10
• Game Review: No. 4/5 Penn State 10, Iowa 21
• Live Blog (see below)

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Poll Results: PSU over Iowa

Poll results are in for this week's Big Ten opener. Penn State got the overwhelming nod by readers.

Full results below the fold.

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Preview: Iowa at No. 4/5 Penn State

Kickoff/TV: Sat., Sept. 26, 8:07 p.m. ET/ESPN on ABC (Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit and Lisa Salters)
Weather Forecast: Cool, showers.
Series Record: Penn State leads Iowa, 11-10

Host: Penn State Nittany Lions
Record: 3-0 (0-0 Big Ten)
Last Game: Won vs Temple, 31-6
Injuries: LB Navorro Bowman (groin - possible), LB Sean Lee (knee - possible), LB Nate Stupar (ankle - questionable), DT Brandon Ware (ankle - out), DB Jacob Fagnano (ankle - out), FB Josh Matzkin (foot - out), DE Pete Massaro (ACL - out ssn), LB Mike Mauti (ACL - out ssn)
Key Players: (offense) QB Daryll Clark, RB Evan Royster, G Lou Eliades/Johnnie Troutman; (defense) DL Jared Odrick, CB D'Anton Lynn, LB Josh Hull
Head Coach: Joe Paterno, 44th season at Penn State, 386-127-3; 23-11 bowl record
Season Statistics:
Offense - 133.3 rush/264.0 pass/30.0 points per game
Defense - 46.3 rush/166.0 pass/6.7 points per game
TO Margin - (-2)/(-0.67) per game

Penn State, on paper -- In any other season, Daryll Clark would be a bigger name in the Heisman race. Over three games, Clark has thrown for 760 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions, one coming off a tipped pass. If Clark continues at his current pace, he will smash all the school's quarterback records with 3292 yards 35 touchdowns. No small part of Clark's success this year has been due to the unexpected emergence of his wide receiving corps, which had to be completely replaced from a year ago. Derek Moye, Graham Zug and Chaz Powell have combined for 37 receptions, 474 yards and seven touchdowns.

But the real story so far on offense has been the shaky line play. The run game has taken three weeks to emerge, even with the best pair of running backs in the conference in the backfield. Only last week against Temple did Evan Royster finally break 100 yards (134, TD), but the overall production (180 yards) wasn't what fans were looking for. However, it was a significant jump from the first two games, when Akron and Syracuse completely sold out to stop the run.

Penn State could be without its two best players this week, as All-Americans Sean Lee and Navorro Bowman have been hampered this week by injuries. Joe Paterno said this week both could play, and Bowman should be able to return this week. Most players who have spoken about the situation indicated Lee would "have to be chained to the bench" to keep him from playing this week. Aside from the linebackers, Penn State's defensive line has managed to pull off the best three-game rush defense average in the Big Ten, and has been able to get into the backfield with little problem. The secondary hasn't been tested at all, but has done its job very well so far.

Visitor: Iowa Hawkeyes
Record: 3-0 (0-0, Big Ten)
Last Game: Won vs Arizona, 27-17
Injuries: LT Bryan Bulaga (possible), TE Tony Moeaki (possible), WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos (possible), RB Jewel Hampton (out ssn)
Key Players: (offense) QB Ricki Stanzi, WR Trey Stross, RB Adam Robinson; (defense) LB Pat Angerer, DB Tyler Sash, DB Brett Greenwood
Head Coach: Kirk Ferentz, 11th season at UI, 73-53; 4-3 bowl record; 6-2 vs Penn State
Season Statistics:
Offense - 137.0 rush/237.3 pass/26.3 points per game
Defense - 140.0 rush/162.7 pass/12.0 points per game
TO Margin - (+3)/(+1) per game

Iowa, on paper -- Hawkeyes fans began the season with their stomachs already upset, with the news that projected starter RB Jewel Hampton was lost for the season. Things only got worse in week one. It took two consecutive field goal blocks to snatch victory from FCS Northern Iowa, as the Hawkeyes pulled it out 17-16. But since that game, Iowa has played excellent football, beating two BCS conference opponents in Iowa State and a decent Arizona team.

Ricki Stanzi, the quarterback who calmly led the Hawkeyes into field goal range in last season's upset of No. 3 Penn State, hasn't played lights-out this year, throwing five touchdowns to three interceptions. He's been helped by the emergence of two quality running backs, Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher, who have combined for 380 yards and five scores. It shouldn't be difficult for Iowa to move the ball this season, no matter who's in the backfield. The Hawkeyes boast the best offensive line in the Big Ten, but that has taken a hit with the injury to star LT Bryan Bulaga. Bulaga should return this week, but it's still unclear.

The best offense is a great defense. Iowa has just that. Even after losing the best pair of defensive tackles in the nation a year ago. The defense overall hasn't lost a beat, particularly with guys like LB Pat Angerer and DL Karl Klug. But there have been two major chinks revealed in Iowa's defensive armor. The run defense has given up a disturbing 140 yards per game, and the defensive front seven have only registered four sacks over three games. Opponents have been able to get 4.6 yards per rush on the Hawkeyes.

On the field -- This is quickly growing into the fashionable upset pick of the week. I'm not buying into it. Penn State has been nearly unbeatable at home since 2004 (30-2), with the only losses coming against No. 4 Michigan (2006) and No. 1 Ohio State (2007). Atmosphere and crowd noise will never win games alone (both losses have come at night), but it can provide a significant edge to the home team. Iowa will try to pressure Clark as much as possible, especially since it's worked so well for the first three teams. Penn State hasn't given Clark a single designed run this season, but he's been given free reign by the coaches to do whatever it takes to win the game. His legs will come in handy this week, and provide a few really big plays on offense.

The Penn State defense is hands down better than any Iowa has faced so far, even with the possible voids at linebacker this week. As good as the Hawkeye offensive line has been, it's still given up eight sacks on the year. Penn State should be able to pressure Stanzi enough to force one or two big mistakes. This game will come down to the battle in the trenches; a battle in which Penn State has the upper hand, in talent and being at home.

Iowa could jump out to an early lead, or keep it scary-close for most of the game. But Penn State should wear down the Hawkeyes, and close out the win by the fourth quarter. That was something the Lions couldn't do in Iowa City last year. Evan Royster will return to the national stage with a big game, while Iowa's running backs will have trouble. A lot will depend on who returns from injuries. But if Ricki Stanzi gets back some of his missing playmakers, look for him to put up pretty impressive numbers. Again, because of those injuries, this could be the toughest game to pick so far this season.

Extra points -- It will be a full stadium WhiteOut this weekend, with the clever catch phrase "welcome to the White House"... Penn State led the series 10-4 until 2000, when Iowa went on a 6-1 run to close the gap... One of the most memorable Big Ten openers for Penn State, and later college football as a whole, was the 2002 loss to the Hawkeyes, in which two blown calls angered Joe Paterno so much, he chased after ref crew chief Dick Honig. It's been called the spark that led to replay in college... Iowa's last trip to Beaver Stadium was a 27-7 blowout loss... Attendance: 109,210

Prediction: No. 4/5 Penn State, 30 - Iowa, 20

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Paterno presser quick hits

Iowa is a big game, and Joe knows it. So don't let his dismissive tone mislead you. This is what Joe Paterno lives for. Let's do a quick run down of everything you've probably already heard about Joe Paterno's Tuesday press conference.

• Joe's keeping the injury situation very close to the vest. He said Sean Lee is iffy; Navorro Bowman should be able to play, but no promises. Coaches generally don't like to talk about their game week depth charts/injuries unless things are 100 percent going to happen.

• Joe is willing to let Daryll Clark do whatever it takes to win the football games. That means he can run the ball if he has to. Joe said the staff doesn't have any plans to run him, which makes me think they totally have plans to run him. It's just a matter of when.

• Even though Penn State's backup linebackers would start for 90 percent of all college football programs right now, Joe isn't comfortable with leaving everything up to them. Nate Stupar and Bani Gbadyu "can be good," but aren't yet. I think Joe even said that about Pozluszny and Connor.

• Graham Zug will be fine, and will play.

• Joe did his weekly "call out" of one of the reporters, saying "you don't know what you're talking about." The reporter asked about kickoff returns, and as you would expect, didn't phrase the question in a way Joe would actually answer it. Even I knew that the reporter was wrong for asking if the return specialist are the problem. It's been blatantly obvious that the blocking has been terrible on returns.

• Joe doesn't believe in the whole "revenge" thing this week. I find that hard to believe. I'm sure he wants to lick Iowa the way the Hawkeyes did to Penn State last year.

• Ricki Stanzi could be even more of a problem this year for Penn State, particularly with such a good offensive line.

• Sometimes Joe forgets (not really) that Dennis Landolt is playing left tackle, because he doesn't make any mistakes. That's usually when you notice offensive linemen, when they screw up.

• Jared Odrick is kind of like Landolt, in that they both work really hard to be as good as they are. Joe likes that.

• Joe thinks the reason Penn State has lost to Iowa a lot recently is the Hawkeyes scoring more points than the Nittany Lions.

• The flu isn't killing his team, but it's still hanging around. Joe doesn't like to talk about doctor stuff. As if he doesn't know every little detail about his team.

• The offense hasn't really let loose, according to Joe. He downplayed how much is left in the playbook, and that it might not be any good. Oh, Joe. You're funny.

• As we already mentioned, if Lee and Bowman are out, Stupar and Gbadyu will go in.

• Joe is really pissed off at the goal line offense. But he's hoping the line shifts and some extra practice (Jay said they worked on it a lot this week) will do them well enough against Iowa. Let's hope so. In 2007, Penn State lost a bunch of games (oh, say, Illinois, Michigan and Michigan State!) because of putrid goal line offense.

• Unlike most other programs, Joe doesn't work the first teams more than the second teams. We now know why it's such a valuable coaching habit, as Penn State hasn't really missed a beat with all the injuries.

• Lee sprained his knee, but his ankle is fine.

• Back to kickoff returns... it's the blocking, dammit!

• Joe still pretends he doesn't know what happened in past Iowa-PSU games. He remembers the 1965 loss to Maryland, but he can't remember a game from 2002? Again, Joe is a character.

• Joe's known Kirk Ferentz for a long time, and knows quite a bit about who he played football with and his love life. But he still can't remember that 2002 Iowa game.

• The father-son thing at Penn State never really gets old. I admit, it's one thing I do like hearing stories about. I can just imagine Joe screaming at Mickey Shuler, Jr., thinking it was his father.

• If one team kicks off at 8 p.m., both teams kick off at 8 p.m. Joe doesn't really care when kickoff is. Although, I remember him saying a few years ago that he wishes all games would kickoff at 1:30 p.m. I'd have to agree with that.

• Jack Crawford could be good soon. Soon.

• Finally, Joe was asked what he thinks of Penn State's game day atmosphere, the white out, and such. I'll leave you with his answer:

"Well, I think it's a great place to play a football game, whether you're the home team or the visiting team. I've never really worried about when we've gone to certain places whether it was big crowds and things like that. I used to tell the kids all the time, "Hey, just make like they're cheering for us. When the noise goes up, it's for us."

But I think having said that, to be home and to have a crowd as enthusiastic as the crowds that we have here, and to have them as loud as it has been, it's an advantage for us. There's something about it, the whole business about the White Out, it's a bringing together of the whole institution, not only the undergraduate kids, but you see people out there that will be old men, maybe 60. (Laughing). It's fun. And it's great to be a part of it. And I think the kids feel that way about it.

We have a rally Friday night down at the Rec Hall, and the whole thing is something that...what do you do when you're in college? How many things do you do where you're involved with 110,000 people all on the same page?"

Read the Full Transcript at GoPSUsports.com

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Blue White Roundtable :: Iowa

It's time for another Blue White Roundtable. Iowa comes to Happy Valley this Saturday night, in what has been billed as everything from "revenge" to "litmus test" to "who cares? It's the Big Ten." Let us begin.

In to particular order:
W. F. Yurasko
Happy Hour Valley
The Nittany Line
We Want the Lion
Zombie Nation
Nittany Whiteout
Nittany Lounge
Penn State Clips
2 The Lion

Blue White Roundtable - Week 4, Iowa Hawkeyes

1. As this week's matchup with Iowa represents not just Penn State's first conference game, but their first real test, take a look back at the 3-game preconference schedule. What was the one thing that stood out to you most, either as a success or a failure?

Penn State, for all the coaches and players denied, just plain didn't care. The Nittany Lions knew they were going to win the games with little real effort, and they were proven correct. The problem with three straight cupcakes -- although I believe all three teams were better than we thought/think -- is that there isn't a sense of urgency for four weeks.

Had Iowa come to town in week two, like Oregon State did a year ago, you can bet your ass that the Nittany Lions would've done everything in their power to play lights-out against Akron. Every second of that first game would've been used to work out the kinks and get absolutely ready for the real thing the following week. This is exactly why Penn State's schedule, while good for a young team, isn't doing as much justice as it could.

2. Iowa, on the other hand, has been tested twice already this season, both by D1-AA Northern Iowa and by Arizona, a solid Pac-10 team. How much of an advantage, if any, will the Hawkeyes have over Penn State as a result?

I hate to say that Iowa hasn't turned things around after that week one near-disaster. After watching them paste Iowa State in Ames, and really have total control over a very good Arizona team, it looks like Iowa is a complete team. Now, there are injuries the Hawkeyes have to deal with, but so does Penn State.

I wouldn't put all my stock into the Arizona win, however. It's not like Iowa came out and obliterated the Wildcats. The running game, while productive, is far less talent-filled than Penn State's. And you cannot tell me Ricki Stanzi is the better quarterback going into this game. Just because a team has been "tested" doesn't mean that team is now better for it.

3. It seems like both Penn State and Iowa have been hit pretty hard by the injury bug early in the 2009 season, with Iowa losing the services of RB Jewel Hampton, LT Bryan Bulaga, TE Tony Moeaki and WR Darrell Johnson-Koulianos and Penn State potentially without both Sean Lee and Navorro Bowman, along with Graham Zug. How will both teams adjust to playing without some of their star players?

Well, it looks like Lee will be out this week, but Bowman and Zug should be able to get on the field. But these two teams are so different talent-wise, that I think this injury situation is much more disastrous for the Hawkeyes. Iowa has very good players, but not many great ones. Penn State has great players on its second team. It just comes down to which team has talent to burn; Penn State right now has enough to go all night long.

4. Last year, a loss to Iowa knocked Penn State out of the championship race. This year, they're in a similar place, as they largely control their own destiny. Do you see Penn State running the table in the Big Ten, and if not, where is the most likely slip-up?

Ah ha! You're not going to get me so easily. First off, I don't believe in the phrase "control your own destiny" in any form. If you believe in the destiny concept, that means your path is predetermined. So, you have no control over said destiny. Just thought I'd throw that out there.

Penn State could win the conference this season with a loss, or even two. The Big Ten has been a bit spoiled recently, with most of its conference champs going undefeated or sitting alone at the top by year's end. This season, with most of these teams looking better from top to bottom, it's not unlikely that every team will have at least one blemish on its resume. Penn State hasn't logged consecutive double-digit wins seasons since 1993 and 1994. It could happen this year.

5. This will be the fourth year that Beaver Stadium hosts a White Out, and it's universally regarded as one of the best traditions in the NCAA. What suggestions would you have to further improve gameday conditions at the Beav?

The whole thing needs to be scaled back a bit. The cliche says you can never have too much of a good thing. I bet to differ. One White Out game per season is the perfect number. You want to have that one really big game each year to tote out the big guns. But this leads me to wonder, what's going to happen with the Ohio State game? Will there be just a student White Out? You can't have two White House games in the same year.

But the whole thing about scaling it back... Look what happened to the piped in music. Back in 2006ish, Beaver Stadium really started to use canned pop tunes over the PA system. Everyone sang along, so the Penn State people figured it was popular enough to keep going. But what happened after three seasons of it? Everyone got sick of it, because there was nothing left to the imagination. Same goes for the PA system artificial sounds. What's with the thumping clip that plays on third downs now? Do Penn State fans not understand that we must cheer when the defense is on the field? I could go on all day with this, but I'll leave it here. The crowd should be always left wanting more. Penn State has failed to do so.

Lightning Round:

Who runs for more yards, Iowa or Penn State? Penn State.

Last year's Whiteout game drew 109,626 people to Beaver Stadium. How many come this year? Rain: less than that. Clear: more than that.

If you had to win just one of the two, would you rather Penn State beats Iowa or Ohio State? Iowa. I hate losing streaks.

Does Corso put on the Lion or Hawkeye head? Lion.

Does Penn State get revenge, or does Iowa make it 7 of 8 against the Lions? PSU wins.

More below the fold...

Iowa game notes released

Penn State released the official Iowa game notes, so head on over and check them out. Then, of course, come back here for even more Penn State football!

Later today

Sorry folks. I've been a bit behind the last 24 hours. I'll get everything caught up by the end of today. I'll post a recap of Joe Paterno's presser. Sounds like Sean Lee will most likely miss the game; At least Navorro Bowman should play. So stay tuned!

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Red Meat Monday hates Iowa more than Pryor

ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg has a rundown of the Big Ten's top "villains" for each team. It's a very interesting post, but one that is basically meant to stir up some talk in the comments section.

Richard Nixon is listed as Penn State's "all-time" villain, due to his declaration that Texas was the best team in 1969, which some say cost Penn State the national title that year. But who is Penn State's current villain, according to Rittenberg?

Current villain: Terrelle Pryor. The nation's No. 1 recruit spurned his home-state school for Ohio State and didn't make many friends in State College by calling it "too country" for him. Penn State won Round 1 against Pryor last year and will face him at least two more times.

Now, Adam is a fantastic writer and blogger; one of the best out there. But I seriously take issue with his pick of Pryor as Penn State's top villain right now.

I would bet that if you asked any Penn State fan, right now, which player or team they absolutely hate the most, it would be the Iowa Hawkeyes by a landslide.

Not only did they directly cost the Nittany Lions a shot at the national title in 2008, the Hawkeyes have been the second-worst (Michigan, of course) thorn in Penn State's side for most of this decade.

In 2000 and 2002, Penn State was stung by painful overtime losses to Iowa. In 2001, a mere six points was the difference. A trip to Iowa in 2003 resulted in another Penn State loss. But the ugliest loss of all was a homecoming disaster in 2004.

It was the 6-4 "victory" for Iowa. That's right, the score was SIX to FOUR.

Penn State was fortunate enough to catch a very mediocre Hawkeyes team in 2007, which turned out to be Penn State's only victory in the last seven meetings.

But everything goes right back to 2008. Penn State suffered one of the two most painful losses by any team in 2008 (Texas' loss to Tech was the other), thanks to Iowa.

Terrelle Pryor could end up winning all three (if he stays that long) remaining matchups with Penn State. But right now, he's done nothing to hurt Penn State. In fact, if you really want to twist this up, it could be said that Pryor is one of Penn State's favorite players in the Big Ten right now. If it wasn't for his two turnovers against the Lions, Penn State might not have won in the Horseshoe for the first time since 1979.

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Poll Results: First Look '09 Iowa

You know all those calling for Iowa to be the surprise Big Ten champs this year? Well, they're not the ones who voted in this week's poll. According to the results for First Look '09: Iowa win total, nearly 70 percent said Iowa will win at best nine games, or at least finish in the eight to nine-win range.

Also, the same percentage of voters think the Hawkeyes have the same chances to finish with fewer than eight wins, than they do finishing with ten or more wins.

Results below the fold.

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First Look '09: Iowa Hawkeyes

Penn State hosts Iowa in its Big Ten opener, an 8 p.m. kickoff on Sept. 26. This will be a revenge game of epic proportions, since the Lions fell by a mere point in Iowa City last season, ruining any chances for a national championship. Iowa has been dominant over Penn State this decade, losing only once, a 27-7 thrashing in Beaver Stadium two years ago. But the series has been closer than it looks, with the one-point loss last season, and two overtime wins for the Hawkeyes (2000, 2002). Both teams lose stars from their 2008 squads, but enough return on both sides to make for an early-season Big Ten Title showdown. But what do we really know about the 2009 Iowa Hawkeyes? Let's find out, in today's First Look.

More with less - Head coach Kirk Ferentz has gained a decent reputation at Iowa for getting a lot of production out of his players, who are usually not very highly recruited out of high school. From 2002-04, Ferentz's Hawkeyes won 31 games, and shares of two conference titles. But the most impressive part of all those wins was that Iowa's roster wasn't a star-studded roll of elite high school recruits. Ferentz knew how to will his team to play above their competition, and deservedly earned the reputation for developing talent.

But over the last few seasons, Iowa hasn't performed as well, despite 2005 recruiting class boasting seven U.S. Army All-Americans. Iowa has gone 28-22 since its last 10-win season in 2004, including last year's 9-4 record, its best during that span.

Filling the gap(s) - Iowa averaged 189 rush yards per game in 2008, most of those yards coming from everyone's All-American, Shonn Greene (1,850 yards). Greene never broke the two-deep until last season, but then exploded for a school-record-setting year. Now, he's off early to the NFL, and there's a gigantic hole to fill in the Hawkeye backfield. Going into this season, Jewel Hampton was supposed to be the projected starter, but word came in this past Friday (July 3) that he sustained a knee injury. It could be minor, but also could be enough to keep him out or down for a while. Keep an eye on this situation, as it might be the biggest issue this summer.

On the other side of the ball, Iowa lost the single best pair of defensive tackles in college football from 2008 -- Matt Kroul and Mitch King. The two accounted for more than 100 tackles and 16 TFL, as the soul of a defense that allowed only 94 rush yards per game last year. Replacing them will be impossible, but enough returns on defense to minimize that impact.

Back on the slate - Iowa didn't have to play Ohio State or Michigan the last two seasons, but now they're both back on the rotation. It was a mixed back last year, as playing Michigan might have been a blessing, but missing Ohio State is always a good thing. This season, the Wolverines should be a much better team, and the Buckeyes remain a title contender. The Hawkeyes host Michigan on Oct. 10, and travel to Columbus on Nov. 14.

The Big Ten overall should be weaker than it was in 2008, so Iowa has a shot to do well with its schedule. Opening against Northern Iowa (FCS), @Iowa St and hosting Arizona should be a manageable road before the big showdown at Penn State. If Iowa can go 4-0 to open the season, I wouldn't doubt if the Hawkeyes were 10-0 heading into the Ohio State game. Much of this season could depend on Iowa's performance at Penn State under the lights.

2009 Iowa Schedule
Iowa Spring Practice Review
First Look '08: Iowa Hawkeyes

More from First Look '09:

Temple Owls
Syracuse Orange
Akron Zips

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Official prime time schedule released

We all had a clue last week that Penn State would play Iowa at night, along with an early evening kickoff in Evanston against Northwestern. But since it's all been made official today, here's the earliest announced kickoff times for 2009:

PENN STATE IN PRIME TIME 2009

Sept. 26 -- IOWA at PENN STATE, 8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN

Oct. 31 -- PENN STATE at NORTHWESTERN, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN2

Get the full release from the Big Ten site.

*Have something to say about this post? Let your voice be heard, in the ZN Message Forum!

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Wednesday linkage: Powell, Wallace and Miami

Turns out Chaz Powell is fine, but that doesn't mean everything's hunky-dory. Apparently, AJ Wallace can't get away from the hamstring injury that's been nagging him for what seems like forever, and Joe Paterno is "concerned" about this team's cohesion. Nothing new, but because we haven't had football in four months, everything lately is magnified. Here's the mid-week linkfest.

• The Nittany Line broke out the PSU threat level chart, one of the most original ideas I've seen. You have to go and see it to truly appreciate it.

"The fact that no one else has stepped up enough for Joe to even mention means it's time to raise the Nittany Lion Panic level."

• The Collegian has the Wallace hamstring story. Not the kind of news any of us want to hear right now. But hey, at least it's still spring practice, and not summer workouts.

"I'm very concerned about it," Joe Paterno said of the secondary. "A.J. Wallace pulled a hamstring the other day, and I hoped he would be really one of the outstanding kids."

• Over at PittsburghLive.com, it appears that Paterno is worried about the same thing everyone else is worried about. I don't think we needed a teleconference to figure this one out.

"Paterno's concern — at least in one area — appears to be well-founded. He told reporters during a Big Ten Conference football coaches teleconference that his secondary is particularly troubling to him."

• In other news, Hawkeye Nation, part of the Scout.com network, talked about Iowa's upcoming night games in 2009. We all know about the Hawk's trip to Happy Valley, but the writer wanted to give a little background on Iowa's recent trips to Penn State. Notice the last few words... is it a real typo, or are the Hawkeyes just trying to torture us by making us think about what really happened in 2008?

"It just gets real, real loud in there, with over 100,000 fans packed into the stands. Iowa won there in 2002, 2004 and 2006 before losing in 2008."

• Will Penn State and Miami meet again? Possibly. I hope this works out. I'm also hoping Tim Curley realized that Penn State has gotten the short end of the stick recently with OOC scheduling. But of course, there's also the reports of really, really strong BCS teams from "south of the Mason-Dixon line," that are in talks with Penn State, according to BWI.

• And finally, your Wednesday video:



Have a great rest of your hump day!

*Have something to say about this post? Let your voice be heard, in the ZN Message Forum!

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Picking apart a Big Ten spring preview

◊ We're nearing the Ides of March, which means spring football is on its way.

Today, CFN released its Big Ten spring preview. As expected, Penn State should be one of the top two favorites to win the Big Ten title, again.

The writer, Pete Fiutak, knows as we do, that Penn State runs in cycles.

"Penn State usually needs a year or two to build up the program for a huge run, and last year was that big season. However, the Big Ten is average and is there for the taking."

This is true, when looking back on Penn State football under Joe Paterno. But Penn State is slowly morphing back into the beast it was in the first three decades of the Paterno administration. Town time between title runs was shorter, usually lasting only one year. A two-season rebuilding cycle was a disappointment.

What does Fiu think could be the biggest difference for Penn State this year?

"Sean Lee is back … soon. Penn State might suffer some major losses on defense, losing Aaron Maybin, Maurice Evans, Josh Gaines, Tyrell Sales, and the entire secondary, but it gets back, arguably, the best linebacker in college football."

...and not a minute too soon. Lee will still sit out this spring, but that's only because he doesn't need the work. The staff would much rather be 100 percent sure his ACL is healed, so he can go all out during the regular season. Last year's linebackers were very good, but this year is lining up to be a killer campaign.

Then there's what we used to think was the apocalypse: Pat Devlin transferred. It's not so scary anymore, with Kevin Newsome already working out with the team. Some have even said he's a better quarterback now than Daryll Clark was in 2007. But there is still worry surrounding the quarterback situation, and it doesn't have anything to do with the players. Rather, that the staff will keep the offense under wraps, to protect Clark from getting hurt, with no proven backup.

"Devlin bailed, transferring to Delaware, meaning that Newsome has to prove he can handle the work this April. If he can’t, the offense might have to be more conservative to keep Clark from getting popped."

As for the schedule, and season goals, there's no reason for Penn State to fall back into mediocrity. In a projected down year in the Big Ten, this could be a great opportunity for Penn State to pad its recent success by feasting on a wounded conference. That's not to say it will be a cake walk. There's always the annual "Slugfest":

"Penn State will be favored in every game until the early November game against Ohio State, which will be a toss up. The fly in the ointment could be the regular season-ender at Michigan State, but if Penn State wants to win a title, that’s a game it needs to come up with."

I'll admit, I'm very much scared by that trip to East Lansing. Mark D'Antonio didn't like how Penn State kept pouring it on in last year's blowout (even though Michigan State should have just tackled better), and you can bet he'll have his team ready to spring a trap. Even worse, if Michigan State doesn't do well next season, and comes into the finale with nothing to lose, Penn State better watch out.

Some other mentions of Penn State in other team capsules:

Iowa's spring attitude going forward is all about... Penn State?

"September 26... Whether or not the Hawkeyes can get to the Rose Bowl might be figured out on September in the Big Ten opener … in Happy Valley... the team needs to get ready for the revenge game against Penn State first. Iowa likely can’t win the title without coming away with the win, so everything about spring ball, and the opening three games... has to be about preparing for the Nittany Lions."

The conference's newest annual headliner... Ohio State vs. Penn State?

"Outside of a road trip to Penn State in early November, Ohio State will be the favorite in every other game, so if it can pull off the win over the Trojans, a 9-0 start is almost a lock before dealing with the Nittany Lions."

Illinois: Home for the holidays, or BCS title game... you're pick.
Indiana: The most optimistic team ever coming off a 3-9 season.
Iowa: Could turn into Penn State, ca. 2003.
Michigan: Could turn into Penn State, ca. 2004.
Michigan State: A transition year, but should remain competitive.
Minnesota: Can't play well for just most of the season.
Northwestern: Could be better long-term than it was under Randy Walker.
Ohio State: Give Terrelle Pryor more time to throw, period.
Purdue: Not yet, Boilers fans. But Hope is building. (pun totally intended)
Wisconsin: Tons of losses from a mediocre team isn't all bad.

CFN: Big Ten spring preview (link)

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Lions' defensive gaffes must stop in '09

◊ ZN's 2009 Penn State Football Preview - My wishlist for 2009

It was too easy.

I saw Damien Williams glide through the Penn State's defensive secondary to score the Rose Bowl Game's first touchdown.

It was too easy.

I saw two consecutive 26-yard completions by Mark Sanchez on the following drive, followed by a six-yard scamper for another touchdown.

It was too easy.

But before the Rose Bowl, I saw Derrell Johnson-Koulianos center under a pass, all by himself in the end zone.

Even then, it was too easy.

I saw Ricky Stanzi complete pass after pass against soft coverage, on a 15-play drive to win the game.

It was too... damn... easy.

Now with all those fine memories fresh in your mind, and probably a little nausea building in your stomach, let's tackle this issue.

Penn State, for what seemed like the first time in a century, played freakishly well all year on offense. The Lions scored more than 23 points in all but one game, a 13-6 win at Ohio State.

Last season even included 24 points against the "Greatest Defense Ever" in USC.

That's what makes it so much more disgusting that unforgivable, preventable defensive breakdowns were the cause for both of Penn State's losses in 2009.

In Iowa City, Penn State's offense wasn't crisp, but it stretched a nine-point lead into the fourth quarter. Now, I'll be the first one to say Daryll Clark's interception was the single most important mistake of that game. However, wasn't it the defense that gave up 24 points to a pretty mediocre Iowa offense, specifically the 10 fourth-quarter points that doom the Lions?

What about that incredible USC defense Penn State was going up against in the Rose Bowl? I don't care how much USC let off the gas in the end, the final score showed 24 points for Penn State. The offense did more than fine. Yet, every time the Lions would score, USC would score a few more. Worse yet, didn't the biggest mishap of the game come when Aaron Maybin lined up in the neutral zone, negating a USC sack and fumble in their own territory early in the game?

Try to blame the losses on the offense, and you're not looking at the same team I am. If Penn State lost the Ohio State game with 13 points, we could have blamed the offense for not scoring more. But in that game, the defense did its job, particularly forcing turnovers at key moments in the game.

That all important element was absent during the Iowa and USC games. Sure, Tyrell Sales intercepted Stanzi, only to see the offense settle for a field goal. But that's all Penn State should have needed. It put the Lions up by nine--the first of two nine-point leads. Remember that it was after that touchdown that J-Koulianos scored his wide-open touchdown from Stanzi.

In the Rose Bowl, it all comes down to the negated fumble, and lack of any sort of play-making by the secondary. One interception could have turned the tide of that game, or at least gotten Sanchez off his game.

Tom Bradley is partly to blame, along with most of the other coaches, right up to Joe Paterno. Bad plays are bound to happen here and there, but it's becoming a trend at Penn State.

Year after year, the Lions field one of the best defenses in college football. Yes, that is due to Bradley and his staff. But when things go wrong, they also deserve the heat.

In 2009, Penn State will have to replace four starters in the secondary and two defensive ends. This wasn't as much of a problem as we though the last time this happened, in 2005. The 2006 secondary, along with the defense as a whole, was a pleasant surprise. That year, it was the offense that let Penn State down in big games.

This season, there's no excuse. The Nittany Lions return a superior group in the offensive backfield, two top-notch offensive linemen and talented receivers. The defense is just as talented, if not more in terms of quality of depth.

Penn State has to start using that talent to the best of its abilities, regardless how uncomfortable it makes the staff. They did it in 2005, and it worked.

So this off season, I'll remain optimistic. I know this team can do great things. It just has to do them more often.

More below the fold...

The week in review

◊ I think I'll make this a weekly thing, particularly during the off-season. Anyway, here's what you should know, as we wrap up the week:

• Just when you thought Penn State was settling down at the quarterback spot, this happened, sending shock waves throughout the message boards. Matt Simms (formerly of Louisville, by way of Don Bosco in NJ), is looking to play JUCO for a year, then try to get in at Oklahoma or PENN STATE.

My Take: Listen to me, it won't happen. Not now, not ever. If he thinks he can come into Holuba Hall and just start competing for the job, think again. Kevin Newsome is here, and Paul Jones is on the way for '10. Put this rumor to bed, fast. Penn State doesn't like JUCO players (about 99% of the time), and won't be too keen on bringing in a high-profile (in name at least) skill player.

• On Wednesday, the NCAA rules committee rolled out a shitastic new rule–yes, another one–regarding penalties and "unsportsmanlike conduct."

Here's the SI.com wire story for the background. And TINNOMJ's reaction... 11W's and Orson's as well.

My Take: I'm not a fan of deregulation, but college football needs heavy doses of Alan Greenspan and Ronald Reagan right now. Over the last few years, we've seen the rules committee run roughshod over our game. Sometimes it's a good thing, as in the RC's cooperation with instant replay adoption. But too many other times, the RC's actions leave us all baffled, if not frustrated. Remember that fantastically doomed experiment that was Rule 3-2-5-E, in 2006? It's made a few of us upset, especially when we realized it was more about creating additional media timeouts, rather than its stated purpose of speeding up the game. But this proposed taunting penalty, should it be adopted as is, will turn out to be nothing short of the complete disaster the 2006 clock rules were. It's time for the RC to wake up.

• Yesterday, it was also revealed that the BCS is happy where it is right now, and likes being happy where it is right now. For those of us who were hoping to see the Cotton Bowl's inclusion into the formula, thus moving closer to the true plus-one system, this was a real nail in the coffin... for now.

My Take: Just relax, and take it. I don't like the BCS. Not many fans do. But is it really as bad as the taunting rule news? Not really. The BCS and college presidents run the show. And unless we stop watching the games, and buying up BCS bowl tickets like there's no tomorrow, we don't have much clout over how the system is run.

• Penn State picked up a big-time recruit this week. Oh, and did I mention is was a–are you sitting down?–basketball recruit. Needless to say, mired in a terrible losing streak, with the NCAA tournament berth gone, and the NIT steadily stepping aside, this was a shocker.

My Take: This is a major coup for Ed DeChellis & Co. Penn State took a nosedive this week, but was able to pull it up for a few minutes with this news. I'm not a fan of mediocrity, but that's what you're going to get with Penn State basketball, at least for a little while longer. When I was at Penn State, 15 wins was a major accomplishment. It wasn't that long ago. I"m not saying we need to lower our standards that much, but an understanding of the situation is critical for this program's future. The BigTen is a good conference this year, more so than usual. Penn State has managed to play with the big boys though it all.

• The BigTen coaching situation ironed out a small wrinkle this week, with the news that Kirk Ferentz is staying at Iowa... for a while. (HT: BHGP)

My Take: Ferentz had been in warm water the last few seasons, when his teams greatly underperformed with better talent than his more successful teams had from 2002-2004 (31 wins, 2 bowl wins over the SEC). But that doesn't mean he can't coach, or isn't good for the Hawkeyes. Ferentz has had a better 7-game run vs. Penn State than Jim Tressel, and only Michigan has done equal (well, you could really say 'Michigan & The Refs') over that span. On the flip side, Ferentz faces a daunting task going into 2009. He loses Shonn Greene, and two of the best defensive tackles in college football. If he can coax 8-9 wins out of this team next season, this was a great move by the university. But anything less than 7 wins will turn up the heat, even more than before.

• Oh yeah, and then there was a BigTen Bloggers Roundtable this week. Can we say shameless self-promotion?

Have a great weekend...

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Iowa blows huge lead, PSU wins 63-59

◊ Wow. Penn State was down to Iowa by 14 points in the second half. The Lions were out of synch, missing easy shots, and all seemed lost when Jamelle Cornley was hit with a technical. Oh, but it was far from over. Cornley played like a madman the rest of the game, while Iowa simply crumbled under the pressure, losing 63-59. This was an all-timer of a choke job by the Hawkeyes, and could go down as the worst loss by any team in the BigTen this season.

It showed that this Penn State team won't go down. That kind of attitude could come in very handy for the BigTen tournament, and possibly the NCAAs.

What a win for Penn State, and what a loss for Iowa.

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Top 2009 BigTen Games

◊ ZN's 2009 Penn State Football Preview - BigTen Outlook

Today we'll take a quick look into the best BigTen conference games in 2009. Can Penn State get revenge on Iowa? Will Michigan finally beat Ohio State? We won't know until the games are played, but we can get an idea of which games, off the bat, will provide tons of intrigue.

Week 1 [Sept. 26]:

Iowa @ Penn State - Think the Nittany Lions want to win this game, after the mammoth upset last season? The hype machine will be in full force during the days leading up to this one, but be wary, as it could quickly turn into a dud. Penn State will suffer some pretty big losses, but that's nothing compared to Iowa. Shonn Greene, MItch King and Matt Kroul are just some of the names gone from 2008.

Michigan State @ Wisconsin - Two key running backs from 2008 won't be around, while both teams have huge question marks at quarterback. This game could be the decider for both teams' seasons. A win in Madison could propel MSU back into the top-three of the conference, but Wisconsin could regain some swagger with a conference-opening win over a 2008 New Years Day Bowl team.

Minnesota @ Northwestern - The two biggest surprises of 2008 will have little time to prepare, as they'll meet in week 1 of conference play. Last season's matchup was an all-timer of a classic, but will this year's be as good? Minnesota is still on the rise, and can legitimize its return to conference relevancy with a win. Northwestern really pulled a rabbit out of its hat last year, but lose a good amount of talent. The winner goes to the Alamo Bowl.

Week 2 [Oct. 3]:

Penn State @ Illinois - Two seasons ago, Illinois burst onto the scene, and launched its improbable Rose Bowl campaign, with the upset over Penn State in Champaign. Can the Illini work its magic again? Penn State had some trouble with Illinois last year in Happy Valley, particularly–again–with Arrelious Benn. The Lions won comfortably, but will the trip to Memorial Stadium go as well (or, as poorly) as last time?

Michigan @ Michigan State - The Spartans haven't won two straight against the Wolverines since... ready for it... 1966-67! Michigan still looks like it's a year away from contending, while State should have enough tools to go bowling once again. This rivalry is a bit more heated on the State side, since the Spartans have always been labeled Michigan's "Little Brother." That could all change with a win.

Week 3 [Oct. 10]:

Wisconsin @ Ohio State - The Buckeyes look a bit vulnerable this season, but could put that to bed (even if they lose to USC) with a convincing win over the Badgers. Wisconsin's season really took a nose dive last year, when they failed to put away Ohio State in Madison. This looks like a must-win if the Badgers want to top 7 wins.

Week 4 [Oct. 17]:

Northwestern @ Michigan State - The Spartans cruised over the Wildcats in Evanston last year, but we can never really tell when the Cats will strike. This looks like a prime upset, and if Michigan State comes in at 6-0, it could be one for the ages. Michigan State hosts, and with a packed house, this will be a tough task for Northwestern.

Week 5 [Oct. 24]:

Penn State @ Michigan - Penn State hasn't won in Ann Arbor since Wally Richardson was under center. Yeah, that would be 12 years ago. If Michigan wants to get its program back on track, a win over what should be a top-10-ranked Penn State could spark a run at a bowl. You can never say never in this series, but this one looks a bit out of hand for the Wolverines... this year.

Illinois @ Purdue - Want to watch the Boilermakers' season come down to one game? This could be it. If Purdue comes in to this one at 4-2, a bowl bid would almost be assured with a win over the Illini. West Lafayette has never been a very intimidating place to play, but visiting teams never seem to play well in Ross-Ade Stadium. Unfortunately for Purdue, neither have they lately.

Week 6 [Oct. 31]:

Indiana @ Iowa - The Hoosiers are actually 2-1 since 2006 against the Hawkeyes, but were crushed last season. Of course, the loss was to a vastly underrated Iowa team. This will be the final season for QB Kellen Lewis, the only Indiana QB to go bowling since 1994. The trip to Iowa City will also mark Indiana's last chance for .500, with Penn State, Wisconsin and Purdue to close out the season.

Penn State @ Northwestern - The Lions are only 2-2 against the Cats in the last four meetings, and it could have been worse, if not for a miracle finish in 2005. If there was ever a good time to catch Penn State, it would be this game, as Ohio State comes to Happy Valley the next week. Northwestern HC Pat Fitzgerald has a knack for inspiriting his team at the right time, and this could be it. He remembers 1995, when the Wildcat upset catapulted them into the Rose Bowl.

Week 7 [Nov. 7]:

Ohio State @ Penn State - [ZN's 2009 Preseason Game of the Year] Penn State hasn't beaten Ohio State in two consecutive regular seasons since 1963-64. Ohio State felt they deserved the win last year, if not for one key fumble by Terrelle Pryor. While it might not come so close this season, as the game is in Happy Valley, the Buckeyes have more raw talent than any other BigTen team. It's an early toss up, and should be a fantastic game. Pryor can redeem himself, and possibly launch his Heisman candidacy, with a good game and a victory. You can bet it will be an 8 p.m. kickoff, and a full stadium White Out.

Illinois @ Minnesota - The Gophers could be 6-3 at this point, and would secure another bowl bid with a win. Illinois could also come in at 6-3. That would put this game into the "Separation Saturday" category for each team. Similar to the Minn/NW game earlier in the season, a middle of the pack-type finish is in order for the winner. Minnesota was thrust into the spotlight after last season's upset in Champaign; the Gophers can stay there with another.

Week 8 [Nov. 14]:

Iowa @ Ohio State - Regardless if the Buckeyes beat Penn State the week before, this is the trap game of all trap games for Ohio State. I know it's in Columbus, but if Iowa has anything left, they'll put all of it into this game. The Buckeyes are only 6-3 under Jim Tressel the week before Michigan, so don't think this will be automatic for the Buckeyes.

Michigan @ Wisconsin - Wisconsin is 2-0 the last two times Michigan has come to Madison, and Wisconsin blood will be boiling after last season's catastrophic meltdown in Ann Arbor. As long as Wisconsin is above .500 at this point in the season, Camp Randall will be packed. The story line all week will focus on 2008, which is the last thing Wisconsin wants to hear about.

Week 9 [Nov. 21]:

Ohio State @ Michigan - This game might not mean as much as the 2006 edition did, but sooner or later, the Wolverines have to pull one out. I get a strong feeling that this is their chance. There's no way Michigan will be as bad as 2008, while Ohio State might be down. Those are all the ingredients of an upset, with a little home-field advantage sprinkled on top.

Penn State @ Michigan State - For some reason, the Nittany Lion fanbase is still pissed off that their team blew a 24-7 third-quarter lead in 2007. Most of that was taken out on the Spartans in last season's 49-18 demolition, but there's still work to be done. Penn State is 12-4 against Michigan State since joining the BigTen in 1993, and it might not get any better for the Spartans. Penn State could be playing for a spot in the Rose Bowl, or more...

Next week, we'll look at the best 2009 BigTen non-conference games.

More below the fold...