Are you ready for some football!!! The smell is in the air, and with the first pre-season poll already out, football season has officially begun in my mind. So let us catch up on a few things that are going on when it comes to Penn State football and the Big Ten.
1) Fall Practice kicked off this week and of course the initial reports are rosy and really nothing that is too much of a surprise. The big hitters seem to be the following. QB competition is in full swing, there is no front-runner and all options are getting equal snaps. Wow, this is scary, if a walk-on who only got offers from Ivy League type schools, like Cornell, beats out a 4-star stud recruit who had offers from everywhere in the country, we have major issues at the QB coaching level and recruiting (but that is a whole other topic for later).
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Let's hope Mr. Newsome lives up to the hype, steps up and takes the bull by the horns. Next topic, the WR's look like studs, which also is not a big surprise. We have tons of talent coming back and this group should be very dangerous to their opponents. That is if we have a QB who can get them the ball.
The O-line is still a 'work in progress'. This statement comes out of Happy Valley this time of year as regular as the leaves changing colors in the fall. For some reason we love to mix players up, changing them from one position to another, or switching up the rotation constantly. When we do that, then I hear "we are not sure if they will gel", I honestly laugh out loud.
The main information coming from the d-side of the ball is the fact we have to replace all three LB's. But let's be honest, our defensive coaches are studs, and they are always in a 're-loading' mode vs. a 're-building' one. I don't really have too many concerns about our defense. If we can find ways to score, maintain some consistent & clock eating drives, our defense will do their job.
2) Pre-Season Polls are out, with the USA Today poll being release today. So first, let's talk about where the Nittany Lions are slated. We are ranked #14, a bit higher than I expected, but within the general range. Now, the Big Ten has 4 (5 if you count Nebraska) in the Top #14. That would be OSU #2, Iowa #10, Wisconsin #12, Penn State #14 (Nebraska #9).
So here is my analysis of that ranking, if you look at the last 3 final USA Today polls, the team that finishes around 14 has ended the season with 3-4 loses. And honestly that is right where I would put Penn State. The over/under on losses is probably three (at Alabama, at Iowa and at Ohio State). So I think it is very logical to think we will finish the year 9-3 or 8-4 and around #14.
3) Big Ten Media Days are now over and honestly nothing too exciting ever comes out of these meetings. Here are the tidbits I picked 
up on. Joe Paterno is starting to really show his age. His energy on day 1 was reportedly pretty poor and his voice just sounded weak.
Now, supposedly on day 2 his energy was more in the style of the JoePa we see on the sidelines. He was asked countless questions about his health and in true JoePa style he said 'there is nothing to worry about' or he made a joke. I am very confident that JoePa hangs up the black cleats solely due to his health (not a bad season or a being pushed out by the University or big-time donors). He will eventually have a health issue which prevents him from coaching and he will ride off into the sunset.
Another tidbit from the media days, the first Big Ten championship game in 2011 will be played in Indy. Seems like a good place to me, it will be inside and centrally located to most schools. As for the future championship games that is TBD. Lastly, the conference should release the two 6-team divisions within the next 30-60 days, I am very exicted to see that. Lastly, they will likely not address anymore expansion talk till December.
Well, that is about it for now and from here on out we will be continuously bombarded with tons of college football info. I am ready for it and I am ready for football.
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