I missed last week because I was at Disney World and we lost. I’ll try not to miss another one.
This week’s questions are from Rowlff Dogg at JoePa’s Doghouse this week.
Question #1: We just went toe-to-toe with the #1 team in the country and were defeated rather decisively. It is clear that Alabama’s program is operating on a higher level than Penn State’s. What does our program need to do to reach the elite level of Alabama, Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio State…?
Let’s see, perhaps Penn State could over-recruit and cut scholarships of the unnecessary players like Bama does. Or they should completely throw character out of the equation like Florida and Ohio State (it’ll come out someday that Jim Tressel isn’t Mr. Clean). Those things aside, I don’t see why Penn State can’t get up to those levels, but it won’t happen with Joe Paterno who believes that teams can only make a run every 3-4 years. Perhaps the next coach will adopt more of a reload rather than rebuild attitude. Penn State is the most attractive program in the mid-Atlantic/Northeast by far.
Question #2: When I was in T-Town, several seemingly knowledgeable Bama fans said that “the $EC had Texas in the bag until the Pac Ten offer and subsequent ‘bending over’ of the Big XII.” (Shakes head, rolls eyes) What misconception would you love to erase from Penn State fans’ heads so that we don’t sound so misinformed when Tide fans visit us next year?
I would like to see Penn State fans erase the “best student section in the country” and “White-Outs are intimidating myths” from their minds. The student section is only fill for big games and the White-Out record is 3-3.
Question #3: What does Penn State need to do in the next 2 games for you to feel that they’re ready to take on Iowa in the Big Ten opener? Feel free to include roster shake-ups that you would like to see.
I want to see the defense tackle better, they have not been strong this season. We have not seen bad tackling like this since the early part of the decade. I would also like to see the offensive line get its act together, it leaves much to be desired in run-blocking.
Question #4: Alabama was a tremendous road trip against a blue blood program with a fanbase as ravenous as ours. It was a marquee game in every sense of the word. Unfortunately, our future schedules are devoid of such a matchup. Put on your AD hat and pick 3 teams you’d have Penn State play home-and-away to fill out the decade. Now take off that hat before you raise parking prices!!!
I would like to see Penn State add a series with Texas, one of the 3 major Florida schools and USC.
I am actually kind of pleased with the upcoming schedules because there is are 4 road games along the Northeast Corridor — nonconference games with Temple in 2011, Syracuse at the Meadowlands in 2013 and Rutgers in 2014, plus an intraconference game with Indiana at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. outside Washington D.C. this year. The Nittany Lions play at UVa. in 2012 which is also convenient. I have an accessible road game annually through 2014, hopefully a trend that will continue. I’d like to see Maryland on the schedule, especially if they move the game to FedEx Field or Baltimore’s NFL stadium.
Rapid Fire
Turnovers? Penn State 2, Kent State 2
How many non-BCS schools from Ohio will we play before Kent State shows up on the schedule again?
1 – Youngstown State anyone?
Summarize our current recruiting “efforts” in 5 words or less.
I do not follow recruiting
Football isn’t 100% of our lives. What’s the 1 tv show you can’t wait to watch this fall?
Washington Capitals hockey
Other panelists