Fix the Fan Line

Penn State 46

Michigan 17

“If you look at all the fluff that Joe Paterno has on the schedule, it’s pretty hard not to have a decent season. Even though they will lose to Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin, his schedule is set up for a bowl game.” - August 31, 2008

Two down.

“For a team that was No. 1 in defense and offense in its division, Penn State lost the first half hands down. In fact, the way they played, they would have been taken to the cleaners by a lot of teams.” - October 20, 2008

Lost the first half, hands down…. by a final score of 17-14.  Penn State still ranks #8 in the country (#1 in the Big 10) in defensive yards-per-game.  Penn State still ranks #11 in the country (#2 in the Big 10) in offensive yards per game.

“I’m a Penn State fan but Ohio State’s offensive and defensive lines could be the difference in next week’s game. Michigan dominated the line of scrimmage for half of the game and they’re not nearly the team Ohio State is.” - October 20, 2008

Michigan did not dominate the line of scrimmage for half of the game.  Starting with 13 minutes remaining in the 2nd quarter, Michigan rushed for a total of 92 yards.  47 of those yards came in the final 2 minutes of the game, with score well out-of-reach for Michigan at 46-17.  Michigan was also sacked three times in that time frame, once for a safety.

“I’m watching the Penn State-Michigan game. Looks like Michigan left at halftime. That’s why Penn State is winning.” - October 20, 2008

Who told them to leave?  I’m aware that Rich Rodriguez has a bit of a history of calling it quits before the fat lady sings, but even he should know that games are 60 minutes long.

“Penn State is undefeated and still has not beaten a team currently ranked in the top 25. In fact, I wonder if any of the teams they’ve beaten have a winning record at this point. Don’t go beating your chests, Nittany Lions fans.” - October 20, 2008

Illinois is 4-3.  Oregon State is 4-3.  Three of Penn State’s last four games are against teams with the following records: 7-1, 5-3, and 6-2.

“Yes, Penn State fans. Whether you want to admit it or not, but the Big Ten is down this year. Penn State has a good team, but not a great team. You will find that out when you play teams outside the Big Ten.” - October 19, 2008

There aren’t too many opportunities for that, now are there?  At this point in the season, bowl games are the only non-conference games that remain.  Joe Paterno is a record 23-12-1 in bowl games.

Penn State 48

Wisconsin 7

First, for good measure…

“Nearly every game Penn State has lost the last few years can be traced to the fact that its offensive line got pushed around. Just wait until Penn State travels to Ohio State and Wisconsin this year. Both of those games will be decided by the offensive line, and you can guess which one will come out ahead.” - July 1, 2008

Hmm, let me guess.

“If you look at all the fluff that Joe Paterno has on the schedule, it’s pretty hard not to have a decent season. Even though they will lose to Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin, his schedule is set up for a bowl game.” - August 31, 2008

One down.

“Penn State’s weak nonconference schedule coinciding with a weak Big Ten guarantees them eight or nine wins. Unfortunately, they will lose to Ohio State and Wisconsin and be left playing in a bowl game that means nothing.” - September 9, 2008

Unfortunately, you’re wrong.

“With the exception of possibly Wisconsin, the Big Ten does not have a legitimate top 25 team.” - September 15, 2008

So, Wisconsin is “legitimate,” right?  See below.

“Play someone, guys. Your time is coming. You play Wisconsin [tonight] and Ohio State later on. You shouldn’t have to wait until the middle of the season to play someone.” - October 11, 2008

So, Wisconsin is “someone,” right?  See below.

“How did Penn State get in the Top 25? They haven’t played anybody with a winning record.” - October 11, 2008

At the time of this call, Illinois was 3-2.  Now they’re 3-3.  For what it’s worth, Coastal Carolina was 3-2 at the time of this call.  Now they’re 3-3.

“Army, Navy, Air Force and Appalachian State could probably beat half of the teams on Penn State’s schedule.” - October 11, 2008

Temple 35 - Army 7

“I’ve been watching these college football games today and I would like to know how these announcers can say Penn State is the team to beat in the Big Ten when Penn State hasn’t played anybody who is ranked. How in the world can you get the rankings these guys get? They haven’t played anybody.” - October 12, 2008

See how teams rise in polls.

“Good job, Penn State, on the win. But, once again, this shows how weak the Big Ten is. The Big 12, by far, is the best conference in college football.” - October 12, 2008

A few weeks ago it was the SEC.  What happened?  Remember that many Big 12 teams still have pretty records because the Big 12 just started their conference schedule last week, while the SEC teams have been beating up on each other for 3 weeks now.

Hello, Penn State fans. Don’t get excited about beating Wisconsin because Wisconsin won’t be ranked again. There will be one ranked Big Ten team besides Penn State and that will be Ohio State. Illinois? Real tough game. They lost to Minnesota. The Big Ten is the weakest conference outside the Sun Belt that I’ve seen. - October 12, 2008

How about the Pac 10, Big East, and ACC?

Next weekend, Michigan travels to State College.  But “don’t get too excited Penn State fans.”  Michigan is just another cupcake, and the Big Ten is horrible, and just wait until they play Ohio State, and Wisconsin and Illinois were terrible opponents, and Joe Paterno isn’t even coaching so it doesn’t matter that he’s in the press box, and there’s no reason that Penn State should be ranked in the Top 5, and the SEC and Big 12 are awesome, and why isn’t BYU ranked #1 anyways?  So, don’t get too excited Penn State fans.

“Now I know why Lloyd Carr retired. He left Rich Rodriguez absolutely nothing to work with.” - October 9, 2008

This isn’t true at all.  First, Lloyd Carr was faced with the decision of retiring or being fired.  The quality of players returning for the 2008 season had absolutely nothing to do with his decision.

Second, once Rich Rodriguez was named as Carr’s successor, several key Michigan players transferred because they didn’t see themselves fitting into his style of offense.  This includes QB Ryan Mallett who started three games for the Wolverines last season when Chad Henne was injured, as well as several returning members of the offensive line.  Ryan Mallett will likely be the starting QB next season for the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Lloyd Carr

“Michigan may not have a great offense, but they still have a good defense. Penn State will have their hands full with them, not to mention the last nine times PSU has played Michigan.” - October 7, 2008

Really?  Michigan certainly had no answer for Juice Williams last weekend.  The Illini quaterback threw for 310 yards and ran for 121 more, as Illinois scored 45 points on the Wolverines.

Through 5 games, the Wolverines have given up 1738 yards and 136 points.  This currently ranks the Michigan defense at #59 in the country.

Where does Penn State stack up?  1502 yards and 70 points in 6 games.  This ranks the Nittany Lion defense at #8 in the country.

“Big crowd, new coach and big new weight room. What does that spell for Michigan? Same old thing, a loss to a Division I-AA school.”

Utah is hardly a I-AA school. They’re a member of the Mountain West conference. They went 9-4 last season, and they beat Navy in the Poinsettia Bowl.

You really can’t compare Michigan’s game yesterday with the Appalachian State debacle last year. This game was no fluke. Utah was the better team on the field.

However, you are right about one thing. The big crowd and new coach couldn’t give Michigan a win in their home opener for the 2nd year in a row. That hasn’t happened since 1988-1989.

“This is the big difference between a top 10 team and Penn State. Last year, Michigan started a freshman quarterback because he showed the most potential. Penn State had a senior-laden backfield, that included the quarterback, and they were very unsuccessful. The perennial top 10 team plays to win, while Penn State plays not to lose.” - July 24, 2008

Hold up.

1) Are we talking about Top 10 teams, or are we talking about Michigan in 2007? I know it’s been a long offseason, but let’s not forget that Michigan started 0-2 and fought back to finish the season 9-4. Michigan was ranked 18th/19th in the final AP/USA Today polls.

2) Michigan did not start a freshman quarterback because he had more potential. Michigan started freshman Ryan Mallett because of an injury to senior Chad Henne.

3) “Penn State was very unsuccessful.” Well, you’re comparing the Nittany Lions to Michigan. Both teams finished the season 9-4, winning their respective bowl games. Very unsuccessful? Tough standards.

“The loyalty of Joe Paterno is quite admirable. However, it leads to 8-4 records and second-tier bowls. Speedster Stephfon Green might have been the difference in the close loss to Michigan last year.” - July 22, 2008

Stephfon Green wouldn’t have made a lick of a difference in the close loss to Michigan last year. An additional running-back would have been the last thing that Penn State needed.

It was the ultra-conservative, running-based game plan that sunk the Nittany Lions in Ann Arbor last fall.

Ignoring an easy to follow pass-happy blueprint for defeating the Wolverines, courtesy of Appalachian State and Oregon, Joe Paterno and his Nittany Lions executed their predictable, run-up-the-gut gameplan just as Lloyd Carr expected.