Assuming USC beats UCLA this weekend, expect a lot of this until the Rose Bowl...

Bill Plaschke of the LA Times (who, if you've ever watched Around the Horn or read any of his stuff before, is absolutely awful):

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-plaschke30-2008nov30,0,1280743.column

Jeff Miller of the OC Register:

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/bowl-trojans-rose-2243354-notre-saturday

Sorry if I don't feel sorry for USC. Guess what? YOU LOST!!! Get over it. You don't deserve better. What an unreal sense of entitlement.

Since I started at Penn State, there have been 3 losses that ended national championship runs. Minnesota in 1999, Michigan in 2005, and now Iowa in 2008. I've had the pleasure of being in the stands for two of them (Minnesota and Iowa). Each one was painful in its own way, but I think Iowa was the least painful of them all. I'd rate them this way (from most to least painful):

1. Michigan 2005. Because of the way we lost and the fact that it was Michigan. Then getting reminded of it again in 06 and 07 when they continued the streak. I think this year's win finally got me over that one.

2. Minnesota 1999. We were #2 and needed to win out to play in the title game, controlled our own destiny, etc. The game was at home and Minnesota wasn't any good. Granted, losing the next two games sort of took the sting off, but at the time it really hurt. I've never heard Beaver Stadium so quiet.

3. Iowa 2008. Obviously still painful. But the fact that we were #3 and it was on the road makes it a little less painful that the Minnesota game. It hurts but I think I would have rather lost to Iowa than to Michigan or Ohio State. Maybe 2000-2004 changed my mindset, but the fact that we still can win the Big Ten and go to the Rose makes it easier to stomach.

Thoughts?

With all the talk about the new-fangled offense, and the offseason hits the defense took, there's an aspect of this team that's being overlooked. We could be filthy on special teams. Phil Steele has us as the #2 ST in the country ledbyVHTWallace(PS#2)!!!! So that's a good thing.

Taking a look at what we bring on special teams:

-Kevin Kelly is money from inside the 40. Inconsistent beyond that. Good!

-Derrick Williams is one of the better punt returners in the conference. Great!

-AJ Wallace had the highest KR average of any returning....uh....returner in the Big Ten. Grand!

-Jeremy Boone led the Big Ten in punting last year. Wonderful!

No yelling on the bus! (I couldn't get the video into the post.)

The kickoff coverage was horrendous last year, but it seems like we've got the athletes to get that fixed. If so, I think our special teams can be a big part of our success this year, and take some pressure of the offense and defense.

Bam! Cue the "preseason polls are meaningless" comments.

Our boys come in at #22. Expected replies:

-"Seems about right"

-"What does it say when we return 17 starters and are only 22nd? How the mighty have fallen."

-"I love flying under the radar!!!!1!!!!1!!! Let's git 'em boys!!!"

Not a whole lot of shockers here. LSU seems a little high. I don't think Illinois will finish ahead of us but whatever. Not sure if Michigan deserves to be ranked. I think we could be a little higher but I'm not complaining too much. I can't help but wonder how much of these polls are just based on last year? Seems like that happens a lot....see: Penn State being ranked going into 2003.

Thoughts?

I just noticed that every fanpost of mine involves some sort of ranking.

Iowa people-

I'm a Penn State fan and am coming to Iowa City for the PSU-Iowa game this year. I've got a question for you guys. My ticketmaster account has my seats as being in section "AWAY", but every map of Kinnick I look at doesn't have a section labeled that way. Which part of the stadium is that?

I'm looking forward to the trip. Any recommendations for things to do while in town?

What's up Nebraska people? Penn State fan here. I've got a question for you guys. There is a lot of speculation about what's going to happen with Paterno after this season, and a lot of PSU message boards are making it out to be some sort of battle royale between JoePa and PSU's president, Graham Spanier. Within some of the discussions, there have been some comments from people about how Spanier has a lot to do with the coaching mess you guys went through with Solich, Callahan, etc. But that's not making sense to me. Spanier left Nebraska in 1995. Osborne coached two more years, then Solich took over for a few years. Right? So, I'm trying to figure out how much that really could have to do with Spanier. I was hoping the Corn Nation could provide some insight. Thanks.

Oh, and are we officially scheduled to play you guys in 2014-15? I really liked our home-and-home from a couple years ago.

Or I guess it's called the U.S. Sports Academy Director's Cup now. Whatever. But anyway, those of you who care about Penn State sports other than football here is the link

Stanford wins as per usual. Spring sports are usually what hurt us and that's the case again this year. We were fifth after the fall and third after the winter. Anyway, I'm pretty happy with that.

I need to type three more words....I have accomplished that.

In tailgating....

http://www.tailgatermonthly.com/funstuff/schools.html

It's an interesting list. Of course the SEC gets a ton of love. I'm a little surprised by USC, I've never seen them mentioned as a great place to tailgate. Of the places on there, I'd be most interested in tailgating at Ole Miss, Wisconsin, Colorado, Tennessee, okay all of them really. Another place I've heard has great tailgating is Washington. But that's mainly reserved for the rich alums who tailgate on the water.

I just traded Webb to get Hanley and am looking to get an ace pitcher. I was going to shop Soriano around for guys like CC and Beckett. I know he had an amazing week last week, but I would still have Crawford, Chris Young, Justin Upton, and Corey Hart in my OF if I moved him. Is this a good strategy? It is is a 10 team, mixed, head to head points league. Thoughts?