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
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. ????? ?????????? ??? ????
Share this:
Share this:
Cat Fight in Happy Valley
It’s been a long time since the Nittany Lions played the Panthers. The last cat fight between the Lions and Panthers took place in 2000, when the Pitt Panthers won 12-0. However, these Panthers, whom the Nittany Lions have never faced, should prove to be a significantly different story.
The #14 Nittany Lions (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) play host to the FCS (Division I-AA) Eastern Illinois Panthers (4-1, 2-1 Ohio Valley Conference) on Saturday. The Panthers, described by Joe Paterno, as always, as “a good football team” are ranked #25 in the FCS, while they are coming off a tough 36-31 home loss to Eastern Kentucky (another “good football team”). Eastern Illinois is a perfect 3-0 on the road. Meanwhile, Penn State, as you are well aware, snapped out of its post-Iowa doldrums last week, beating Illinois 35-17.
Where in the hell is Eastern Illinois University? It resides in a town called Charleston, which is about 35 miles south of Champaign in Eastern Illinois. (Who knew?) Its population is about one-fifth of a Beaver Stadium full house. Its team mascot, as you know, is the panther.
One significant fact that I know you will enjoy is that the Eastern Illinois quarterback, Jake Christensen, is a transfer from Iowa. I guess he was the Pat Devlin to Ricky Stanzi’s Daryll Clark. Christensen ranks #15 in passing efficiency in the FCS.
Where the Panthers seem to make their presence felt is defense, ranking #15 and #12 in total defense and scoring defense, respectively. However, they have given up 70 points in the past three games, against Southeast Missouri State, Austin Peay, and Eastern Kentucky. They won their cupcake games handily, against Illinois State and Indiana State.
