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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Gauging the Golden Gophers

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The #14 Penn State Nittany Lions (5-1, 1-1 Big Ten) host the unranked Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) on Saturday at Beaver Stadium in a game telecast regionally on ABC, with appropriate out-of-market mirrorage by ESPN. In the round, red eyes of this Turkey, this will be the first significant test of the year for many aspects of the PSU game.

The situation is that of a classic trap game. Penn State is coming off an easy blowout win against an overmatched FCS opponent, and possibly looking past Minnesota toward Michigan in the Big House a week from Saturday. Furthermore, the Lions are favored by 17 points as I write this. Minnesota is using that 17-point spread to fire up the already upset-minded troops even further. I am getting queasy thinking of the potential for another loss, particularly a second one on our home field, but it could happen.

Whichever way it goes, I doubt that it will be a blowout. The weather is liable to be marginal, which favors the team with the better running game. Thus far, after a shaky start, that has been Penn State.

Last time the two met, back in 2006, the Lions won by the slimmest of margins, 28-27 at the old Metrodome. The Lions have never faced Minnesota head coach Tim Brewster.

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PSU vs. Michigan Time Announced

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The nominal kickoff time for the PSU vs. Michigan game at the Big House (which is what they used to call the state prison in those old gangster movies) has been set for 3:30 ET on October 24. ????? ??????? The game will be an ABC regional telecast, with appropriate ESPN mirrorage in out-of-market areas. Go Lions!

Finally Got One Right

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You know how this Turkey likes to gloat when he is right, so prepare for some reflexive horn blowing. I got this one right.

Penn State (5-1, 1-1 Big Ten) put the big hurt on Division I-AA Eastern Illinois (4-2, 2-1 Ohio Valley Conference), 52-3, before an unenthusiastic, sleepy, noon-time Beaver Stadium crowd of 104,488.

It was over before it started, but the biggest element of suspense turned out to be just when in the hell Kevin Newsome would come in to replace Daryll Clark at quarterback. Joe Paterno was obviously obstinate about it, given that the Nittany Lions had a 38-0 lead at halftime and we yet hadn’t seen Newsome. Was the game’s outcome not in doubt at that point? However, after Joe proved whatever point he was trying to make by leaving Clark in there was moot after the first series in the third quarter, when Newsome finally got the ball. With the game never in doubt, even third stringer Matt McGloin got in there toward the end of the game.

The Lions rolled up 553 yards to the Panthers’ 206 and doubled up on hapless Eastern Illinois’ first down production.

Gloating point #2: Jeremy Boone appeared only once, but Penn State punters had only two opportunities. Sophomore Ryan Breen was called in for the other punt.

Daryll Clark had a fine day, spreading the ball around to eight different receivers and nine different running backs. Clark went 13-19 for 234 yards and three touchdowns. He had one ugly interception when he threw the ball on the way down to the turf. He should have taken the sack.

Newsome went 4-5 for 34 yards, but on two of his runs, he fumbled the ball. Fortunately, Penn State recovered on both occasions. ?????? ???????

McGloin was 0-2.

Linebacker Navorro Bowman scored on a strange play by Panther Quarterback Jake Christensen, who fumbled the ball at the Penn State 9 yard-line as the first half wound down. He returned the ball 91 yards, and looked gassed at the end.

As expected, Sean Lee did not see action.

Special teams continue to be a cause of Turkeyesque concern. The return game is absent and punt/kickoff coverage is deficient. The cupcake games now over. Where are we going with special teams in disarray? Penn State had six punt returns for an average of 6.6 yards. Meanwhile, Eastern Illinois returned eight kickoffs for an average of 20.9 yards. Does everybody understand that this was an FCS Division team today? ???????? What happens when PSU faces Big Ten opponents? We’ll know soon!

The Turkey will be back later in the week with a look forward to Minnesota. ????? ?????????? ??? ????