Apparently We're Playing Football This Weekend?

by CV3000 on Sep 4, 2008 12:32 PM PDT Comment 50 comments

Sorry, I have a new job that's taking a lot of time--and will continue to take a lot of my time this season--but, at least I've not been spending any time with GirlduJour3000, either. So I got that going for me.

Anyways. Penn State. Does anyone think this game is really that big of a deal? It's probably only the 5th or 6th best team we'll face this season. That doesn't make them bad, it just means they're not a big deal.

Personally, I think it's hilarious how much hype this game is getting in the local papers. Stanford was a MUCH more important game. Much, much, much more important. Too bad we didn't win it though.

Penn State is...

a fringe top 25 team not very far removed from a 3-win season and several recent losing seasons
the owner of a huge stadium
a respected name--for their play in the last century
a team with 20% of its roster charged with a crime in the last year
a team with 20% of its starters being investigated for drugs THIS WEEK
a team without a quarterback
a team with experienced, though incredibly average, receivers
a team with a superior offensive line
a team with a great defensive line--when they're not suspended/jailed
a team with a questionable secondary
a team that runs practically the same offense that Joe Paterno ran as a high school quarterback (he seriously ran a shotgun, no huddle offense in high school--that is not made up)
a team whose fans get excited about wearing white--that's about as boring as it gets, no offense intended

Might as well call them Ho-Hum State.

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The reason this game is important

Is because they are a nationally recognizable team that we need to be in order to gain some respect nationally. Yes, Stanford was more important in terms of a Pac 10 championship, but the Penn State game is more important to start tapping into that respect that we Beaver fans feel is deserved.

by The VD Special on Sep 4, 2008 12:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

That just sounds like something a duck fan would say....

…no offense.

by CV3000 on Sep 4, 2008 12:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

None taken

But seriously, if we want to take our program to that next level, it’s these kinds of games that we need to win. Imagine what Mike Riley could do with 4 and 5 star players what he does with 2 and 3 star players. If we want to get those kids from the West Coast, winning a big game like this would be a start.

by The VD Special on Sep 4, 2008 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

But haven't you heard...The Big 10 is weak and pathetic

Or at least that’s what everyone else seems to think.
Even if you beat us, people will just say, “Unless it’s Ohio State, beating a Big 10 team doesn’t mean much.”

I bleed Blue and White.

by Horse N Buggy on Sep 4, 2008 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have to agree that this an important game

I understand CV’s argument that the “hype” around is overdone and that it becomes too much about Penn State as opposed to being about the Beavers. It does become too much the “oh wow, we’re playing the mighty Penn State!” But at the same time we can’t say it is not important for the mere fact it will be nationally televised. If we once again lose big time on the national stage we can’t take the steps forward that OrState is talking about, which are important for many reasons already mentioned.

Also as a practical matter we need to win to avoid a 0-2 hole going into a tough month with USC and Utah coming up. I know that really is not the point CV is making, but it is a big deal nevertheless for our season and I would contend makes this a very important game.

I will say I’m not sure where the “sounds like a Duck fan” crack comes from. Personally my experience is CV’s setting it all up as a meaningless game if we lose but then if we win it is to be expected actually all sounds a little too much like Duck talk (you know the whole well it ain’t a BCS bowl so who cares) than the whole we want respect OrState is after.

-RVM

by rvm on Sep 4, 2008 3:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

no..

It’s that duckies think it was a big deal when they beat michigan in two of the worst years in their history, and Oklahoma in a very bad year—on the worst call in history. They think that’s like the biggest thing that could ever happen and that OSU losing to Boise State when they were 13-0 is the most embarrassing thing that could ever happen.

I just think they’re tools. And, just like always, I’m right.

by CV3000 on Sep 4, 2008 11:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think...

we’re talking two different things for I agree with you, but that is the AFTER the game talk and actually goes along with my point. I’ve been around the talk long enough to know many times the BEFORE talk is more along the lines of “oh well this game doesn’t mean all that much to us” or “it is so beneath us.” So I totally agree about any reversal aspect pulled, case in point last year’s bowl game where a lot of talk was “we don’t have Dixon,” but then afterwards it is the greatest thing in the world. Other examples that went the other way with a L were what was it 2005 (?) and they were all about we didn’t make the BCS bowl so this bowl doesn’t mean anything to us, or the BYU one in 2006.

Anyway, I think we three might be talking around each other a bit on this issue and all in all we’re just after a W this weekend! So let’s forget about the Ducks for now shall we! And some of them are sending us support so I’ll give them a mini-pass for now.

Oh, and by the way I still think this is an important game for us. :)

-RVM

by rvm on Sep 4, 2008 11:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh and...

aren’t you suppose to be working?

Working up the “ho-hum state” fans that is?!

-RVM

by rvm on Sep 4, 2008 11:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dont worry,

He’s getting that job done =)

by platnumkid on Sep 5, 2008 6:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Piss off PSU fans, check!

I was properly fired up for this game as it is an intriguing match up w/ a Pac 10 school we’ve never played. But now, reading all this BS, I must admit I’m have a new interest in this game. But I give you credit, I thought dudes from the NW region were all sprout-eaters and metrosexuals, good to see your not all wusses. Come to the ‘Beav’ and take your beat down.

T J Walker

by teejaywalker on Sep 5, 2008 2:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

sprout eating metros are south about 40 miles

In a little shit hole we like to call Eugene. Pretty much the Pittsburgh of the west.

by The VD Special on Sep 5, 2008 3:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

so...

It’s well-reasoned and logical?

In all seriousness, I agree with the O.P. This is a marquee matchup for the Beavers and the Pac-10. I will definitely be rooting the Beavers on in this one.

by ntrebon on Sep 4, 2008 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the support

For your niceness you can ignore my jab at the Ducks above. I wanted to support the logic you mentioned and I agree with, at a later date when you are crankier at the Beavs we can revisit my statement!

-RVM

by rvm on Sep 4, 2008 3:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Need to beat*

by The VD Special on Sep 4, 2008 12:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, you're both right...

Or wrong.

I’m not sure if there’s a sport where prestige and appearance matters more than college football (importance of polls, recruiting). Penn State is still a marquee name, and a win against them will get people’s attention, even if it shouldn’t too much.

As far as this season goes, the Stanford game is much more important (has anybody tackled Gerhart yet?)

by funk on Sep 4, 2008 1:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

That was some juicy verbal diarrhea.

Not an interesting point in there.

Must have been because I went to Eugene yesterday. Hizzah!

by funk on Sep 4, 2008 1:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oregon State is...

Oregon State is…

Unranked
A team that lost to Stanford (20-48 since 2002)
A team without any discernable defense
Going to have to wait another year for their second Pac Ten crown since 1965
A team whose most notable alumnus needs to change his name (to grammatically-incorrect spanish) to keep himself relevant
Not even the best team in the state of Oregon (by far)
A team that has appeared in 14 bowl games (Joe Paterno has won 23 alone)
A team that plays in a stadium that seats about 45,000 (the coincidentally-named Beaver Stadium in State College seats approx. 108,000 and the seats are always filled)
Still waiting to win their first national title (don’t hold your breath)
A team that no one east of, let’s say Oregon, cares about
Going to lose to Penn State by at least three touchdowns

by EaglesPhan53 on Sep 4, 2008 4:00 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

What has Penn State done?

In the last decade, besides the one BCS bowl in 2005?
Oh, and rivaled Alabama and Florida (and the Cincinatti Bengals) for most arrests
Don’t be a Bama fan and think just because you’ve had great years in the past makes your team relevant now. You play in an average conference, and haven’t beaten Michigan in what, 9 years? 55-42 in the last 10 years? Take away that 11-1 season in 2005 and you’re looking at a combined record of 44-43 in 9 of the last 10 years. Not exactly a mind blowing program…

by The VD Special on Sep 4, 2008 4:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let's neglect history

If we ignore OSU’s BCS appearance at the 2001 Fiesta Bowl, OSU hasn’t ever been to a BCS bowl. If we neglect 10 of their wins in a 10-4 season, OSU is 0-4 that year.

Yeah, that makes as much sense as placing more weight on PSU’s 2003 and 2004 seasons than on the last 3 years.

This should be a good game, pretty tight, lots of points. If y’all don’t take it seriously, you’re looking at another road loss.

by gcdyersb on Sep 5, 2008 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Haha

I love that point. Take the 10 wins away and we are 0-4 that year. Made my day. And not ever trying to say that Oregon State has more tradition then us, but if you take away the 2005 Orange Bowl, PSU hasn’t ever been to a BCS bowl either (unless you count the 1 Rose Bowl in 1994 or the 1 Fiesta Bowl in 1986, both when they weren’t the "BCS") But even still, it’s going to be a tough game. And you’re right, the last 3 years PSU has a combined record of 29-9, an average of a 10-3 season every year- for those that suck at math.

My main point wasn’t to bash PSU’s tradition. It was just saying that the D bag up top can’t say in the last 10 years that PSU has been that much better than Oregon State.

by The VD Special on Sep 5, 2008 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i meant more tradition than PSU

by The VD Special on Sep 5, 2008 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Probably a moot point now...

But at least get your facts straight. If you go back the past 10 years (1998 to today’s game), Penn State is 76-48. 6 bowl appearances with 5 wins including the 2005 Big 10 championship and BCS win in the Orange Bowl. Teams are going to have lean years. PSU went through it in the early part of the decade, and Miami, Nebraska, Notre Dame, and Florida State, (to name a few) are national powers going through it now.

I’m not knocking the OSU program in any way. Personally, I absolutely loved the 41-9 massacre of Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. The players and the coaches are the ones busting their butts and out there competing, and it’s the fans who do all the trash talking before, during, and after the game (way more so than the players do to each other on the field). So, with that in mind, let me ask you the same question – other than that one year and that one bowl game, what has OSU done in the past decade or decades for that matter? One conference championship (that was shared) since 1964. What’s that saying about people who live in glass houses? If Penn State isn’t a mind blowing program, than OSU’s program isn’t even a twinkle in anyone’s eye. You may not think they PSU is relevant now, but when has OSU ever been relevant?

by PSUdjb on Sep 7, 2008 12:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Most PSU fans haven't been giant D-bags

But I’m guessing this guy is certainly one.

by The VD Special on Sep 4, 2008 4:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dont know about that.

Just a response to your list. A couple things that are harsh, but considering it is a “response” i think it’s pretty expected that the list would get more and more ridiculous.

by platnumkid on Sep 5, 2008 6:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

who let the Husky fan from 1999 in here?

by CV3000 on Sep 4, 2008 11:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And one more thing

What the hell are you talking about lost to Stanford 20-48 since 2002? That doesn’t even make sense…

by The VD Special on Sep 4, 2008 4:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I think he means...

…that Stanford’s record since 2002 is 20-48. I haven’t fact checked that but that’s how I understood it.

As for the game Saturday, I feel Penn State will win butt it won’t exactly be easy, especially now with three starters being suspended by Paterno for the game. I’ve been looking forward to this game for a while. Hopefully it is worth the wait.

Good luck to Oregon State, but not this week. ;-) I leave with a quote from YOUR athletic director;

"Any time you can play a team of historic proportions and play a team coached by a hall of fame coach (Joe Paterno), you go for it," De Carolis said. "It’s a great venue to play in. It’s going to be loud and raucous. It will be a great experience for our kids, similar to LSU. But make no mistake; we are going to win the game."

Bring it!

Kevin

by kevinmc on Sep 4, 2008 9:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think you have it right...

Stanford sucks. Losing to them was like, I dunno, losing to Stanford, only worse than I thought it could be.

However cute the 20-48 stat might be, it’s hardly relevant. Stanford is by no means a good team but I will say they are an improved team and they certainly were the better team—OSU’s performance in Palo Alto was gross. We failed to establish the run and quickly panicked and went to the exact opposite of our game plan (or so I’d assume anyway). But as for records and past accomplishments, I think Notre Dame was quoting football history during both our bowl beat downs and it didn’t do them much good. (Wait, did I just contradict myself there? Head exploding…)

All BS aside I really can’t say who I think is going to win. I feel confident the Beavs will bring a better game and I wonder how bad the suspension of the Doobie Brothers is going to hurt PSU. This isn’t an easy one to call. And if it rains, I still like our chances to pull the upset.

As far as the Boob De Carolis quote goes, I imagine head coaches LOOOOOOVE when their AD’s talk shit to ranked programs that are coached by future CFB HOF’ers.

Go Beavers, smoke out the Lions!

by ArbyOSU on Sep 4, 2008 10:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great Idea

Make the team that is about to cream you sound not too good. Then after you lose you can point out all the positives and how good PSU really is. And there is nothing wrong with a few drugs here and there.

I don't know, Mello Yello is pretty awful. What's the worst that could happen?

by psu on Sep 5, 2008 6:46 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I hope we win...

… but if we don’t, your student paper’s front page better read “PSU Creams Beavers”… it’s kind’ve funny, but it also kind’ve makes me a little pukey, ya know?

Go Beavs!

by ArbyOSU on Sep 5, 2008 9:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good One

This has all the components of a ‘beaver on beaver’ massacre

T J Walker

by teejaywalker on Sep 6, 2008 7:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

PSU

Is going to give the beavers a good licking at the beaver today…GO Lions

by SweepTheLeg on Sep 6, 2008 11:41 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice

Better hope your team doesn’t come to Penn State with a Ho-Hum attitude.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Sep 5, 2008 7:15 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

"Ho-Hum State"...

Gotta say that the majority of OSU fans DON’T agree with 90% of this blog post.

by ArbyOSU on Sep 5, 2008 9:12 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Disrespectful

I’ve been to Oregon multiple times. It’s pretty surprising y’all would term having a few grams of pot confiscated by the police as “being investigated for drugs” based on how much of the ganj y’all smoke. Then there’s this story.

I like that you guys think you’ll just show up and win the game. I sure hope your players think that, too. Because I can assure you PSU is not treating this game like a walkover. Laugh about inexperienced QBs, but you are probably unfamiliar with the legacy of poor decision making and poor touch Morelli left behind. Either Clark or Devlin is an upgrade. How well this offense will run is as much a mystery to us as it is to you (or should be to you, at least), though odds are it will be fairly efficient.

I’d say based on recent history, bowl appearances and records this should be a good matchup. But all this arrogance predicting an easy victory on the road—if winning on the road is so easy, OSU should be 1-0 already—is making me hope your Beavers get pounded hard for 60 minutes (inside a Beaver with 110k capacity).

by gcdyersb on Sep 5, 2008 10:10 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I think the PSU fans are reading way too much into this post...

CV didn’t say anything about this being an easy game for Oregon State. He was just noting that Penn State isn’t exactly a top 10 team this year, and that a conference game against one of the easier teams was much more important to win than this game.

And I love the fact that fans are calling out other fans for not taking your team seriously enough. Because, you know, me and my sweaty balled, 12 PBRs in, 3,000 miles away self is going to have so much impact on the game. Chill the f out. You’re starting to sound like UCLA basketball fans.

Just a guess, but I would imagine that the football players (those are the ones that affect the outcome of the game) are taking this game pretty seriously. If not, your ass is mine CV. Arrogant prick.

by funk on Sep 5, 2008 10:59 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

PBR!

A solid Wisconsin brew, and twice a world-class lager! First in 1893, and then again in 2005! The Rutgers of beers!

by gumbercules on Sep 5, 2008 12:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

reading too much into post

Do you think we are a bunch of pansies or something: “Might as well call them Ho-Hum State”. Do you think any self respecting fan base is going to stand for this. I am going to enjoy the game and look forward to some bruised beavers at the end of the day, (you guys must just get sick of the beaver jokes).

I don't know, Mello Yello is pretty awful. What's the worst that could happen?

by psu on Sep 5, 2008 5:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

REALLY!!!!!!!

You think PSU is not a big deal??? You think you will actually win this game. In a stadium with 107,000 fans 2500 miles from home against a team that has gone 29-9 over the last three years with three consecutive bowl victories (Two Outbacks and an Alamo as compared to your Sun Bowl and Emerald Bowl, hmmmm) to the winningest coach of all time (I don’t want to hear about Bowden and his 30ish DII wins either).

OSU just lost to powerhouse (note sarcasm) Stanford!! And you want to talk about history and PSU’s bad back to back seasons. . . how about the time OSU scored 4 points in 18 games, now that is historic. And actually you are right we don’t have A QB we have 2, with your soft front 8 this should be fun to watch. Keep trying to convince yourself are not walking in to a whooping, whatever gets you to sleep at night. . . . .

by Lunatic Fringe on Sep 5, 2008 11:54 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

May I correct you

in saying that we’ve won an Orange, an Outback, and a Alamo bowl.
Just being technical.
And at the same time that sounds like we’re on the decline. :P

Also like to say it was a little rough to take as many shots as they did about our football team crime.
You’d think I’d be desensitized by now.

by GreatScawt on Sep 5, 2008 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think my favorite t-shirt that I've seen

Regarding PSU is a Michigan fan wore one that said “State Penn University”

by The VD Special on Sep 5, 2008 3:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

If any of you are going to be in State College

welcome to PA. Usually the weather for early fall games is great but this tropical strom is not helping the tailgating.

The PSU off the field issues are a major disgrace to the program and if you ask most fans they want this to be Joe’s last year. He is a good man but it’s obvious that the players no longer fear the old man or the other coaches. I don’t doubt that players in the 80’s/90’s didn’t party, get in fights, etc but with today’s media coverage, cell phone cameras, etc you need to be smart…these guys are just dumb. Also in the past it was easy for the Police to call Joe in the middle of the night to get one of his players and no one would know what happened, today it’s on espn.com in 24 hours.

PSU 42
Ore 34

by SweepTheLeg on Sep 5, 2008 6:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

33-30 Beavs

I am super pumped for this game. I think we’ll be really ticked off that we lost to Stanford and I think we’ll want to end our streak in the east. I think that the Beavers will win 33-30 because of a Justin Kahut field goal in Overtime. Overall I think it will be a great game and will be very exciting to watch.

by ConnorOSU on Sep 5, 2008 7:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Penn St Would Be Seventh Best team in the Pac 10?

Lets hope not.

Quite a conference the PAC 10. if PSU is 7th. I dont know, they look fairly decent to me without the best DE in America and their best DT. Beavs look like boys playing aginst men on the line.

Embarassing.

by tr88 on Sep 6, 2008 1:59 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

dude?

care to rethink the “a team that does not have a quarterback” statement now? I admit, our 2ndary is suspect, but it looks like your boys didn’t read your blog and haven’t figure that out yet.

by PSU Jen on Sep 6, 2008 2:04 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

might want to change your screen name after your Penn State Summary!

Penn State is…

a fringe top 25 team not very far removed from a 3-win season and several recent losing seasons
—-3 win season was over 5 years ago
the owner of a huge stadium
—-110,000 that we fill every week. you guys made $900K playing us this week, your biggest payday in your history!
a respected name—for their play in the last century
-two national championships. how many does OSU have?
a team without a quarterback
—-that quarterbackless team put up 35 on you in the first half…oops
a team with experienced, though incredibly average, receivers
—-smokin your dbacks in 1st half
a team with a questionable secondary
—-thats just stupid
a team that runs practically the same offense that Joe Paterno ran as a high school quarterback (he seriously ran a shotgun, no huddle offense in high school—that is not made up)
—-that old school crap is spankin you!

Might as well call them Ho-Hum State.
—-Good Luck the rest of the season 0-2!

by Lovethosefreakinnittanylions on Sep 6, 2008 2:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs