The Nittany Turkey

Primarily about Penn State football, this is a tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

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Home Archives for 2014

Archives for 2014

Laser Focus: The Gathering NCAA Shitstorm

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Laser Focus

There is indeed a shitstorm brewing over the NCAA sanctions levied against Penn State. A whole buncha revelations have emerged in the past couple of weeks out of the discovery phase of a lawsuit against the NCAA filed in state court by Pennsylvania state Senator Jake Corman and state treasurer Rob McCord challenging the $60 million fine levied by the overreaching NCAA against the University.

You might recall the series from back in 2012-3 called “Laser Focus.” Those of you new to the Nittany Turkey might not. The term “laser focus” came from yet another denial by then BoT chair Karen Peetz, who stonewalled questions by asserting that we all must keep a laser focus on the future of the University. In other words, shaddup and let us sell out.

[Read more…]

Hooters

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Hooters
I googled “Owls Philadelphia” and this is what I got, I think, sort of.

Temple OwlsThe #70 Temple Hooters (5-4, 3-3 AAC) come to Beaver Stadium to face the resurgent mighty #47 Penn State Nittany Lions (5-4, 2-4 Big Ten) in a battle of titans the likes of which American football has not heretofore seen.* Chances are, after seeing this one, no one will ever want to see another, but I digress. Temple is coming off a heartbreaking, ball breaking 16-13 loss to Memphis, while as you all undoubtedly know, Penn State is poised for greatness, having just beaten off a challenge from the worst team in the Big Ten by the miraculously TCU-like score of 13-7. (Hey, don’t knock it. The Ravens and Steelers, for example, have played some mighty good 13-7 games! And it sure beats 6-4!!!)

So, what do we have to look forward to here in this clash of titans, you ask? Vell, I’ll tellya. Oy, vay! Foist of all, the mighty Nittany Lions can become bowl eligible here should they somehow pull off the victory. And Temple? Well, hey, I think everyone in the AAC is 5-4, so maybe they could do something to be different. Ya nevah know! They’re riding in the middle of the pack with a 3-3 conference record, but that sure as hell beats 2-4, right PSU?

If I’m Penn State, I get up for this game like I just took a whole bottle of Viagra®.†

Why? [Read more…]

2014 Penn State Offense Worse Than 2004?

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This 2014 Penn State football team will wind up winning more games than Penn State’s miserable 2004 team at the tail end of [cue dark cello] The Dark Years; however, prompted by a couple of comments I received after the Indiana fiasco, I began to think seriously about which offense was really worse. In this connection I dug up some moldy old recollections, peppered them with some stats I researched, and came up with I don’t know what. (Je ne sais quoi? That sounds too fruity.)

I originally wrote this post as a comment in response to another comment about my crappy Indiana game recap, but I decided it was worthy of full post status. “Who’s Worse, 2014 or 2004?”, in my opinion, is a legitimate and interesting topic for debate in a year where nothing much very interesting is going on with Penn State football. And so, game on!

I had written to Big Al:

I’ll stipulate to there being no salvation for an entire offense as crappy as Penn State’s. You’re right. I’ve been following Penn State for over 50 years, too, and have never had such a frustrating experience as I have had this year.

K. John responded:

I would disagree. The 03 and 04 offenses were worse than the current unit. Every defense they play is terrified of Hackenberg hence the blitz every down every game strategy they are employing despite the massive risks. No team would deliberately take a safety giving away good field position with Hack out there.

The above sparked the following response, which I’ve removed from the comments and elevated to a post. [Read more…]