Carroll H. Cook (’54 Pitt) chatted about Penn State’s battle with Ohio State thsi weekend. Actually, he mostly chatted about how much he dislikes their schedules.<\/p>\n
SportsNation Beano Cook:<\/span> (3:02 PM ET ) Good afternoon, we now have 6 weeks to go and we will then know who will be in the BCS. My first pick was LSU against Penn State. With Penn State out I now pick Oklahoma. LSU still wins. I won last week with my pick. I am now at 3-5. Three in a row!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Had to remind us, didn’t you Beano?<\/p>\n
Bryan (College Park):<\/span> What game are you most looking forward to this weekend?<\/p>\n
SportsNation Beano Cook:<\/span> (3:03 PM ET ) Well I would say Ohio State at Penn State more than any other game because I am from Pittsburgh!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Wow, what trenchant insight from a true college football historian.<\/p>\n
Lou (Bethesda, MD): Beano, you rail against the Big Ten schedules each week, but never propose a solution for it. So, with no bye weeks and no games after Thanksgiving, how do you propose the teams find non-“disgraceful” games to play.<\/p>\n
SportsNation Beano Cook:<\/span> (3:23 PM ET ) I think it is crazy that they do not play after Thanksgiving. Ohio State used to do it. I was there, I saw it. The Big Ten should play non-conference games, and the season should not end until the first week of December, unless November has 5 weekends of football.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
This leads to a clarification:<\/p>\n
Pete (Chicago) :<\/span> The Big Ten doesn’t play after Thanksgiving because Michigan and Ohio State insist that there cannot be any Big ten games played after theirs.<\/p>\n
SportsNation Beano Cook:<\/span> I never heard that. I am not saying it is not true, but I have never heard that. But I do not think they have that kind of power.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
It probably is true.<\/p>\n
Brian (madison):<\/span> Beano, I disagree with your comment that big ten teams are reluctant to play tough non-conference games. Didn’t Ohio State play highly ranked Texas the last two years? OSU plays USC in ’08 and ’09.<\/p>\n
SportsNation Beano Cook:<\/span> (3:49 PM ET ) Thats is one game out of four. This year, they played Washington. Look at the other three non-conference games they played this year. I balme the philosophy of the university, and Penn State is the same way. Now I do not expect the same tough schedules out of Indiana, but I do expect at least two tough non-conference games out of Penn State and Ohio State.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Ah taking a shot at Penn State’s schedule again. What is that, 8 weeks in a row. Have anything to say about the game Beano? No?<\/p>\n
He does redeem himself a little:<\/p>\n
Chad (Savannah, GA):<\/span> Actually Beano Grambling St. has thte best band in the country. Ohio St. has the best band tradition in the country with thte dotting of the i.<\/p>\n
SportsNation Beano Cook:<\/span> You are probably right. Grambling is very good.<\/p>\n
SportsNation Beano Cook:<\/span> I also like the bands in the Ivy league!<\/p>\n
SportsNation Beano Cook:<\/span> The Yale band is always a treat to see, disorganized, but still very entertaining! <\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Yes, the Yale Precision Marching Band does put on quite a show. The last time I saw them perform, they burnt a Harvard flag. Now THAT is a rivalry.<\/p>\n