SkypointBull

Seriously this series will die after 2 games. We don't need a Cup or a Trophy to play for. Nor do we need one to make the season interesting. We should focus on the Big East and doing what it takes to win it. Every year we will have a game that we get hyped up for and I don't see UCF as that game.

I agree. Lets get this series 2 and done. I am not even hyped up for our first meeting. I am more looking forward to UL game.

I got some pics with the Jo Pa statue that we took that Friday night. I also have some from the tailgate and game. I will try to get these posted shortly.

I think Penn State's is stronger, but Miami is quicker. Sometimes quicker can work towards our advantage with D Lineman getting up field and opening running lanes. Penn State stayed in their gaps and held field position and let their Linebackers, D back and D ends attack. Its your basic old school Big 10 D.

I thought the O Line did nice job on the pass. But they didn't move anyone on the run. I know Penn State's D Line is going to be strongest we play. But I would have love to see them get a little more movement on the front 7.

Went to Penn State. Staying in the Grove in Miami. I have Pitt Booked, staying at the Hyatt team hotel. Have my hotel rooms booked for Rutgers, Cuse, and UConn. But I think I might book through the Bulls Club for Cuse and UConn.

Yeah it will be nice to be set up early and relax. And we don't have to worry about packing up as soon as we get set up.

Soncrant mentioned that at lunch today. He said that it will probably only be for the FAMU game.

I think he is correct. After one game we are all defense. Hopefully the receivers will take what he said as motivation. But the receivers played timid all day. I would love to see them toughen up some.

USF 51-10 523 Chambers

The white on white looked really nice in that stadium. I also heard from other PSU fans that they liked the uni's.

You guys are f**kin nuts to fire Rod or any coach after one game. The system is in place. You can't change the system when the season starts. I agree Hall should touch the ball as much as possible. I also think Denson should work on holding on to the **** ball. That kid **** the bed in Happy Valley. He fumbled and GAVE PSU a TD and also threw a pass into the arm pit of a D-Lineman. I think we can't judge our offense on play PSU's D. Penn State has always been a defensive school and they were linebacker U before Miami was. Now if this offense struggles against FAMU, then start to panic. I would expect to see all 3 QB's play this weekend. That might help Denson get back some confidence. And it should also help Jackson and SJ learn to catch with their hands and not with their chest.

We know you are just a closet UCFer. At least thats what Tom Veit told me.

Wearing green as well. Flying up tomorrow morning.

Posted on Mon, Aug. 29, 2005 Preseason problems may handicap Lions By Frank Fitzpatrick Inquirer Staff Writer STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - While it probably isn't ready to make a serious run for the roses on New Year's Day, the 2005 Penn State football team is at least supposed to put the gallop back into a program that over the last few seasons has performed like a gimpy nag. To accomplish that, however, the Nittany Lions have to hope that all their uneasy thrashing in the preseason starting gate didn't permanently damage their dreams. Exiting a disturbing summer camp, the team that many handicappers predicted would restore the growl to Penn State football, the luster to Joe Paterno's reputation, and the optimism to Happy Valley was, if not yet lame, clearly limping. As a result of off-the-field trouble, a serious injury, academic difficulties and a transfer, the Lions who will play in Saturday's season opener against South Florida are a far different group from what was anticipated just a few months ago. Dan Connor, a sophomore linebacker from Strath Haven with all-American potential, was suspended indefinitely for making prank calls to a retired assistant coach. Sophomore wide receiver Mark Rubin, expected to be one of quarterback Michael Robinson's favorite targets on a rebuilt receiving corps, dislocated an ankle in camp and is out for the season. An experienced offensive line is in disarray after an incident last winter in which arrows were fired into an apartment wall. Senior center E.Z. Smith temporarily was expelled. He will return, but when and in what capacity remains to be seen. Two other 2004 starters, guard Tyler Reed and tackle Andrew Richardson, are buried on the depth chart for their peripheral participation. The defensive line is equally unsettled. Senior end Scott Paxson also was involved in the bow-and-arrow incident and is trying to return to Paterno's good graces. Fellow end Lavon Chisley was declared academically ineligible. Among the backups, Ed Johnson was temporarily booted out of school for a violation of the university's code of conduct and Amani Purcell transferred to Hawaii. Not surprisingly, the 78-year-old Paterno, hungry for one last run at glory, has been peppered with questions about the disciplined players. "Until they prove to me that they are mature enough and can handle some of the things that have to go on in the football team, off-the-field activities and all that stuff, they have to show me they belong," Paterno said. All that has obscured what figures to be an intriguing and significant campaign. Paterno returns most of a stubborn defense that was the lone highlight in a dismal 4-7 season. Even without Connor, Chisley and Johnson, there is enough depth among the linebackers and defensive linemen to compensate. It's on the other side of the ball, though, where improvement has to come if Penn State hopes to pull itself out of the new-millennial funk in which Paterno's teams have experienced an unprecedented four losing seasons in the last five. "Offensively, we have to be better," Paterno said. Those big plays are expected to come from Derrick Williams and Justin King, widely touted freshman speedsters whose mere presence has excited downtrodden Penn State supporters and provided twin threats on what in 2004 was a lackluster receiving corps. "I'm anxious to see what our young receivers can do, man-on-man coverage, because I know teams aren't going to respect us at first," Robinson said. The root of that disrespect will be the Nittany Lions' offensive inexperience. Robinson is a senior, but he shared duties with the graduated Zack Mills the last few seasons. BranDon Snow, a linebacker a year ago, will be the fullback. Inconsistent senior Isaac Smolko returns at tight end, but the wide receivers - freshmen Williams, King (who also will play at cornerback) and Lydell Sargeant, plus Brendan Perretta, Terrell Golden and Jim Kanuch - are untested. "It's just one of those things where you just have to wait and see what some of these kids can do in tough situations," Paterno said. Consequently, if Paterno can create some order and stability on his undersized offensive line, this is a team that - like so many of his best teams - figures to tilt heavily toward the run. Robinson, who dropped 15 pounds this off-season, can scamper with the best of quarterbacks. Tony Hunt is a solid starter at tailback. And Austin Scott, who has moved constantly in and out of Paterno's doghouse, appears ready for the kind of breakout season everyone anticipated when he was shattering state records at Allentown's Parkland High. "I definitely think I've matured a lot," said Scott, a lightning-quick, 6-foot, 208-pound junior. His coach, who chafed whenever Scott showed up late for a practice and frequently benched the talented tailback, seems to have noticed the change. "He has come back all business," Paterno said. "He looks real quick underneath." With the infusion of speed, and with the free-wheeling Robinson having beaten out sophomore Anthony Morelli at quarterback, Paterno has gone back to the spread offense Penn State used so successfully during the 1970s and '80s. "I think we are going to be a little bit more wide open," he said. "I would hope that we have enough skilled people that we can do that." Perhaps the biggest challenge for Paterno, who is entering his 40th season as Penn State's head coach, will be convincing a core of players who have lost 16 of their last 23 games - 13 of 16 in the Big Ten Conference - that they are good enough to play with Michigan, Ohio State and Purdue. "I have to always look back," he said. "I know it sounds like I'm being critical, but we lost a lot of games. Last year, we played tough football. There was a play here, a play there. It was a catch here, a kick there. I have tried to zero in on that. We were so close to being a good football team. "Nobody on the staff came out of last year feeling like we had a bunch of dogs. We just felt that we needed one or two players here or one or two players there and a little bit of luck." ---------------------------------------- http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/12502187.htm If we just play a smart game we can possibly hang in there. 1.) No Stupid Penalties 2.) Protect the ball

Who is for meeting up at Rathskeller around 9?

I bet you did

I am going to miss Graber. He pimped USF like no other. Keck is an ass and every tackle was a touch down saving tackle to him. But I am going to miss having a USF supporter in the broadcast.

I can't beleive UConn thinks they are on a higer level than us. Do they even remember that ass whooping they took last time they were in Tampa? They have never beat us, and probably won't for a few years. They have gotten better and can probably hold their own against Rutgers and teams from the MAC. But our talent level has grown light years beyond theirs. Personally I am looking forward to spending that Thanksgiving weekend in Hartford and watching the Bulls get their 6th or 7th win of the year and land their first bowl.

1) Penn State 2) 35-13 3) 265 4) SJ Green I think turnovers and penalties will kill us in that game.

That is great. But don't forget about knowing the square ft of the Sundome.

Duemig only talks about what people will respond too. So USF is a poor topic right now to stimulate phone calls. Props to Howie for calling. But some recent football topics would have been great. We have to deal with the fact the media is not going be die-hard USF fans. But at the same time they are slowly getting on the bandwagon. So cut the media some slack or they diss us every chance they get.

I agree, College Golf? Who freakin cares. CJL called in, not the golf coach. Maybe during hoops season you can call in before we play UConn and ask what he thinks of our tennis team.

No doubt some people are better off never calling.

I thought I heard from 4 to 5.