The Gould Standard

Robbie Gould had one year left on his contract when on Monday the Chicago Bears signed him to a five year contract extension worth $14.2 million plus a $4.25 million signing bonus. The deal keeps him under contract through 2013.


Whodda thunkit? Just a few short years ago he was working at a construction company in Mill Hall, PA and now he's the highest paid kicker in the NFL!

That's Gould News, Robbie!

Get Off My Lawn

Continuing with my post-Blue White Game posts, it's now time to whine about how it's all going to hell in a hand basket ... and while I'm at it, "Get off my lawn!"

Nebraska charged $10 a piece to their spring game and still drew 80 thousand people.

"Nebraska's first spring game under the new coach drew a school-record crowd of 80,149, with some tickets reportedly selling for upward of $100 early in the week.
The Reds beat the Whites 24-14 in a scrimmage where the first- and second-stringers were spread across both squads to make things competitive.

The crowd was the second largest for a spring game in college football history behind the 92,138 that showed up at Alabama last spring. The scrimmage was declared a sellout 10 days before, and some ticket brokers were finding buyers willing to pay 10 times the face value of $10 for a reserved seat.

The writing is on the wall folks! The days of the freebie spring game are as good as gone. It's just a matter of time until this virus infects the rest of college football.

But we all knew it was coming. The first clue was that Gridiron Bash attempted to nationalize spring games with concerts and events. Thankfully, the NCAA hashed it, but the die has been cast. And now there's a Blue-White carnival ... yay, a "NEW tradition," and a tacky one too! The chain wallet crowd should LOVE this.

"Step right up for funnel cakes!"

There's tattoo artists, spin art, and arcade games to win stuffed animals or mirrors featuring beer logos and girls in thongs! Now THAT's Penn State style. Classy!

I knew this was coming but even with advance warning I still wasn't prepared for it. I guess it's like being told in advance that they're building an interstate highway on your backyard by imminent domain. (Hitch hikers guide to the galaxy, anyone?) You can't do anything about it but move, if you can.

The sight of the intramural fields turned into huckster carnival grounds was revolting, but I'm sure there are those who love it. Remember the good ole days when the Blue White game was just tailgating, autographs and a game?

But I'll just turn lemons into lemonade because where there's a crowd, there's money and I'm a cashin' in! You know what they say, "If you can't beat 'em join 'em," so I've got my own entrepreneurial ideas that I want to put in writing FIRST before someone claims them. I'm "staking my claim," as it were!

While I have my lawyer officially draw up these documents, time is of the essence, so I lay them out here unofficially while the legal filing is being done...

I, Blue Blooded, of Tangled Up In White and Blue, lay claim to the concept of cutting down the trees on Mount Nittany to erect three story high letters that read "Happy Valley" just like in Hollywood. It would be visible from all points on campus as well as all roads leading into Happy Valley. Wouldn't that be a fine greeting for our football guests and for the guests of the Centre Region?

After all, why stop at a silly welcome center in the middle of our valuable tailgating grounds that only sees people seven weekends a year to use its bathrooms and buy rain gear? Be it known that anyone who takes the initiative to do so in the future without my participation owes me royalties on the intellectual property!


I, Blue Blooded, of Tangled Up In White and Blue, lay claim to the concept of building a ski lift to ferry people to the top of Mount Nittany to see the view of Happy Valley for a nominal fee. At the top would be hotels and tacky gift shops and greasy spoon restaurants. The entrance to one trinket shop would have you enter between the legs of a two story Heisman trophy while the entrance to another would be through the open mouth of a giant, yelling Joe Paterno head. Still another shop would be in the shape of a two story high Nittany Lion shrine. Oh the tacky possibilities!


Furthermore, I, Blue Blooded, of Tangled Up In White and Blue, lay claim to the concept of a Nittany Lion theme park at the base of Mount Nittany, (just think of the jobs it would create for the folks of Lamont, Boalsburg, and State College!) which would feature a roller coaster mined deep into the mountain called Paterno Mountain where you would plummet thousands of feet per second through the 21st century and only to rocket up the slopes of the 1980s and 1970s as you go backward in time while music, video highlights, and images of past players and games are projected at you.

Other rides would be the Orange Bowl tea cups, the National Championship Crystal Football ferris wheel seats, and the drum major flip ride which somersaults you onto the grass, after which you are expected to do a semi split and salute those waiting in line.

I, Blue Blooded, of Tangled Up In White and Blue, lay claim to the concept of converting Curtin Road, from the Intramural building to Beaver Stadium, into an upscale college football themed shopping mall anchored by an ESPN Zone and a Planet Penn State restaurant with Penn State memorabilia on the walls. In fact, a never ending supply of Penn State memorabilia such as used jocks worn during games signed by the players would be sold at ridiculous prices.

Arranged by decade, the memorabila would run the gamut from used cleats, dirty socks, discarded trainer tape, knee braces, spent IV bags, mouth pieces, discarded Gatorade cups, and even spit and sweat collected into vials --all used in game action and personally singed by the player who used/discarded it. Memorabilia would be collected during the game by the players who are in trouble with the law (a slight modification of picking up stadium garbage for punishment). In the memorabilia store, different former players could take turns signing memorabilia year round.

I, Blue Blooded, of Tangled Up In White and Blue, lay claim to the concept of, after ten years, converting the aforementioned Curtin Road mall into "THE STRIP" with the Nittany Lion Roar Casino, of which I would be majority owner. Blue and White Man Group would be the nightly headline show. Other hotels on the strip would be designed along the themes of landmarks of major football programs from within the Big Ten and other conferences.

There would be the Touchdown Jesus Hotel and Golden Dome casino, the Big House Casino, and the Horseshoe Hotel and Casino. There would also be The Swamp, which would be an indoor mall complex where you would take guided boat tours through authentic alligator swamps with Spanish moss (never mind that chlorine smell!). There would be a dramatic fountain show nightly outside the Rose Bowl Casino with simulated earthquakes at regular intervals.

"You Owe Blue Blooded Royalties!"

All the aforesaid ideas and concepts and second generation ideas based thereon are officially the intellectual property of Blue Blooded, of Tangled Up In White and Blue, the sole owner and proprietor of said content. If you disagree, you are directed to consult with my lawyer, Jackie Chiles.

Scholarship Breakfast

It's been a while since my last post, but I just needed a break from blogging. I was surprised how I needed the break right after the Blue White game, when there were things I was planning on posting, but I just needed to walk away for a while ... to get outside the gravitational pull of this thing.

But I am, after all, tangled up in white and blue, so I can never really escape no matter how hard I try. I'm addicted to Penn State football and all I can do is try to manage my addiction. This is one way to cope.

So where was I?

Oh yes, the Blue White game. I believe I mentioned somewhere that I attended Lee Rubin's Scholarship Breakfast and I wanted to bring that to your attention.

The purpose of the event is "exposure." Lee had a bus load of young kids from New Jersey up for Blue White Weekend so that they could be exposed to college and how it would change their lives. As Lee explained it, "it's to show them there's more important things than having a 4.3 forty. They can't all be top athletes but they can go to college."

The kids got a tour of the football facilities and got to meet some of the current players on Friday night. The breakfast was on Saturday morning followed by the autograph session and game. There was a benefit memorabilia auction and for you collectors there were bargains galore.

The event was held at the Nittany Lion Inn so the buffet breakfast was really good --it had to be with so many former players there-- and so was the speaker, former linebacker Andre Collins, now the Director of Retired Players for the NFLPA where he helps former players make the transition to post-NFL life.

Speaking to a crowd of over two hundred people, including the bus load of kids and many former Penn State players, Andre recounted the story of how he was recruited, which got me thinking about then versus now.

Andre said he was not initially interested in Penn State because he always cheered for the underdog and Penn State was a perennial winner. He had it narrowed down to Illinois and Stanford but Joe Paterno showed up at his house and stressed to his parents what kind of discipline and education Andre would get at Penn State. His parents were absolutely sold on Penn State after meeting Joe Paterno.

On letter of intent day his mother came to him with the document to sign and asked where he was going to college. He told her he was going to Illinois and she said, "no," and asked him again where he was going to college. Then he told her he was going to Stanford and she said "no," and asked him where he was going to college. He sighed and said, "Penn State," then signed his name to the letter. Andre said that in those days your parents had to sign the letter too, so parents had a strong say in the matter.

Andre said that on letter of intent day New Jersey was having one of the worst snow storms in a while, but after signing his name, his mother took the letter to the front door and handed it to Fran Ganter who was waiting on the snowy door step. That's how the best linebacker in the State of New Jersey ended up at Penn State.

This story got me wondering if perhaps Terrelle Pryor would be a Nittany Lion today if his parents had to sign the letter of intent along with him. I wondered when the rule had changed, so I looked up the national letter of intent program and, lo and behold, a parent or guardian STILL has to sign, according to article eleven of the NLI Guidelines. I guess it all comes down to how involved and insistent the parents are.

Andre's story is not so different from many great Penn State players of decades past. Their parents were concerned about their education and discipline more than their NFL prospects and fell in love with Joe Paterno. Somewhere between then and now the Rich Rodriguezes, Urban Meyers, Ron Zooks, and Nick Sabans of the world have taken the lead while Joe Paterno rarely gets out to see a recruit any more.

The purpose of this post is not to whine and complain about what Penn State has become, but the look back makes me realize yet again how much things have changed at both Penn State and in college football as a whole. It's probably not possible to go back to the past but it was great to reminisce about what once was.

I doubt the young kids in the room had any idea who Andre Collins was. He showed them his Redskins jersey, telling them, "I actually wore this in a game." My son, who is 17, has no idea who Andre Collins is either and I only sound like a geezer when I try to tell him. My son can remember no further back than Lavar Arrington ... time marches on. But I remember very well the former players in the room that morning and I admire and respect how they come together to support the work of Lee Rubin, their team mate and/or Penn State football family member.

There were old timers like Charlie Pittman, one of the greatest tailbacks I've seen at Penn State, along with recent players such as Dave Macklin to name just two. All were as gracious as could be. I strongly recommend that next year you get up to State College early for the Scholarship Breakfast at the Nittany Lion Inn.

Justin King is a St. Louis Ram

Man, why is that still so hard to say? St Louis Ram? They will always be the LA Rams to me, even if they started in St Louis before I can remember.

Justin King was the second player taken in the fourth round and is projected to play nickel back because of his impressive speed.

Rodney Kinlaw and Anthony Morelli were not drafted and will now have to go through the free agent signing process along with Austin Scott.

DCon is a Carolina Panther

Dan Connor was selected on the second day of the draft.  He was the 11th pick of the third round selected by the Carolina Panthers.  Justin King, Rodney Kinlaw, and Anthony Morelli are still on the board for the second day.  I expect King and Kinlaw to go today, but Anthony, best wishes ... you're really going to appreciate that Penn State diploma!

And I sincerely hope Austin Scott signs as a free agent and makes good.  That would be sweet justice.  And Austin, DO follow through with that lawsuit with your NFL salary!

A Modest Proposal for Conference Realignment

I confessed in my Blue White Roundtable post that I had actually been geeky enough to waste time (and scarce brain cells) on a conference re-alignment scheme. I actually created this a couple of years ago (therefore a Division 1-A school or two may be missing) late one night in an altered state via emails with my PSU roomie. (No, I won't embarrass you by mentioning your name, Jack!)

Anyway, I did it out of boredom --just trying to have fun, be funny, sarcastic, etc. etc.-- but later in the evening/morning I looked at it and said, "You know, this could actually work. I've got eight conferences with two divisions each. Now how many bowl games are there?" And I fell asleep counting bowl games (just kidding) ... I think my mind was TOO far gone! I'll let you be the judge.

I may regret it, but without further adieu, here is the Tangled Up in White and Blue official recommendations for NCAA Conference Realignment.

The MilSuRel Conference (Military, Surname, & Religious)
(Military & Religious Division)
Air Force
Army
Navy
BYU
Notre Dame
TCU
SMU

(Surname Division)
Baylor
Clemson
Duke
Marshall
Purdue
Rice
Stanford
Vanderbilt

The City College Conference
(North Division)
Akron
Boston College
Bowling Green
Buffalo
Cincinnati
Pittsburgh
Temple
Toledo

(South Division)
Memphis
Houston
Tulsa
Miami (OH)
Louisville
Northwestern
UAB
UTEP

The Non-Existent and Partial State Conference
(Non-Existent State Division)
Ball State
Boise State
Fresno State
Kent State
Middle Tennessee State
San Jose State
San Diego State

(Partial State Division)
Central Michigan
East Carolina
Eastern Michigan
Northern Illinois
North Texas
Southern Mississippi
Western Michigan

The Atlantic Coast Conference
(Coastal Division)
Connecticut
Georgia
Georgia Tech
Maryland
North Carolina
Rutgers
Virginia
South Carolina

(Piedmont Division)
Kentucky
North Carolina State
Penn State
Virginia Tech
Tennessee
Syracuse
Wake Forest
West Virginia

The Swampland Conference
(Bayou Division)
Louisiana Lafayette
Louisiana Monroe
LSU
Louisiana Tech
Mississippi
Mississippi State
Tulane
Troy

(Glades Division)
Alabama
Auburn
Florida
Florida State
UCF (is that UNICEF?)
South Florida
Miami (FL)
Florida Atlantic
Florida International

The Midwest Conference
(Great Lakes Division)
Illinois
Michigan
Michigan State
Minnesota
Ohio University
Ohio State
Wisconsin

(Great Plains Division)
Iowa
Iowa State
Indiana
Kansas
Kansas State
Missouri
Nebraska

The Southwest Conference
(Dust Bowl Division)
Arkansas
Arkansas State
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Texas
Texas A&M
Texas Tech

(Desert Division)
Arizona
Arizona State
UNLV
Nevada
New Mexico
New Mexico State

The Pacific Coast Conference
(Mountain Division)
Colorado
Colorado State
Idaho
Utah
Utah State
Wyoming
Washington State

(Coastal Division)
California
Hawaii
Oregon
Oregon State
UCLA
USC
Washington

So there you are. Sure it was a pointless waste of time but I don't play Sudoku or do crossword puzzles or play video games, so ... well, there's really no excuse. Feel free to pick it apart because I know how sports fans love a pointless challenge ... sort of like arguing about who got ripped off when the NCAA Basketball Tournament brackets are first announced. I thought it was dumb myself, but then it grew on me, so who knows? Maybe it'll grow on you too. Just let it sink in ... yes ... ah! There now. Isn't that better? Maybe even the NCAA will like it.

Naaaaaaaaaaaaah!

So what are the potential criticisms? Well, kicking Northwestern out of what was the Big Ten and replacing them with Ohio University was tough but I felt compelled after their pathetic loss to Duke last year. And putting Notre Dame in the MilSuRel Conference (MSR) but not Boston College? Well first, that's what I think of Notre Dame, and second, I needed Boston College to even out the divisions in the City College Conference (CCC). Sorry, I guess I still consider Penn State's rivals the old independents.

Nittany White Out was wondering why I thought Penn State was a more natural fit in the ACC, as my realignment plan shows. It's because when I was a kid during the 1970s Penn State played NC State, Maryland and West Virginia every year. West Virginia was not in the ACC although they belong there --I'm not sure if there even was an ACC back then-- but these three teams were staples on the schedule every bit as much as Pitt, Syracuse, and Boston College were. Plus, Penn State has never played Virginia Tech (they were known as VPI back then), at least to my memory, but I think Penn State and Virginia Tech are similar in many ways and it would be a good rivalry.

And you know what the NCAA could really use? More Florida schools! Come on Sunshine State ... I'm sure you got a few more in ya. Maybe a Florida Keys University or a Florida Panhandle University.

This is the kind of boring fun you have in that long drag between the Blue White Game and opening day!

Blue Blooded Impressions

What a beautiful day for a Blue White game. After so many rainy ones, this one was a real treat. I attended Lee Rubin's Schoalrship Breakfast in the morning at the Nittany Lion Inn and I highly recommend that you attend it next year. I'll post more on it later in the week, but in the meanwhile, please check out the site here.

I almost always come away from the Blue White game flying high and this year was no exception. I keep telling myself, "Be cautious. Remember that year Matt Seneca looked SO good in the Blue White game but SO bad in the opener against Miami?" But I can't help it. I'm such a Homer. Just to make myself believe I'm rational, I'll say it here, "Keep it all in perspective!"

Perspective.
Keep in mind that the Blue White game is (a) a scrimmage, (b) against ourselves, and (c) a scrimmage against ourselves. Do NOT get excited about how great or "loaded" Penn State is based on this scrimmage because it is like thinking you're great after running all over your little brothers in a backyard football game. Just wait till you get to school to see how good you are. And better yet, wait until you play another school before you draw any conclusions.

The Blue White game is intended, like the pay per rumor, er, I mean content, message board sites, to get you all hyped up so you'll pay the full subscription fee for the product. And that is both the fun and the danger of the Blue White game. I personally like the Blue White game because it's FREE and laid back. However, given Nebraska's turnout even with a $10 ticket fee, I fear the FREE Blue White game's days are numbered.

I love the Blue White game because it was the one game to which I could bring my kids when they were little. You can't expect a 5 to 7 year old kid to plant his butt on the number for three hours straight. That's why the Blue White game is ideal for kids.  The open seating allows them to run around.  It's like a Happy Meal versus a Big Mac. If I can only buy a Big Mac, well that would probably keep me from bringing the kids.  And there were plenty of kids!

Okay, let's get right into the game itself, shall we?

Offense
On offense two players clearly stood out: Stephon Green and Andrew Szczerba. The word that kept coming to my lips each time Green ran was "special." Green is a burner and he absolutely HAS to get his share of playing time this year. That is not to take anything away from Evan Royster, who looked very good as well. However, we already know how good Royster is, which is why Green was such a treat. Now we have TWO excellent tailbacks which, combined with our veteran offensive line, gives Penn State an offense reminiscent of some of the good teams of decades past.

Green reminds me of Curt Warner. Beachum looked solid too, but to put Green's performance in perspective, he was running behind the second team offensive line, which was clearly not as potent as the first unit. Furthermore, he ripped off his long touchdown run against the first team defense, which really IS good.

The other standout on offense was Andrew Szczerba, who I swear is the reincarnation of Kyle Brady. Szczerba was Devlin's favorite target on the second team offense. He consistently found the soft spot between the two deep zone as so many of Penn State's competitors have done for so long.  But lest you be tempted to think we don't need Andrew Quarless, DON'T!  Andrew is special too.  And how long has it been since Penn State had TWO stud tight ends at the same time? The running game is going to be strong enough as it is, but to line up with two quality tight ends would pretty much settle the matter of scoring on short and goal.

A lot of pre-game hype was focused on the quarterback controversy, but I just didn't see one -- however, I wasn't looking for one. Clark and Devlin are obviously different style QBs and each looked adequate, if not good. Keep in mind that the defense is not allowed to blitz or sack the QB, although Clark did take a hit. Both QBs were prone to hold on to the ball a little too long at times, but both looked capable of moving the team down field. Clark's passing was better than advertised and Devlin showed he could run. Clark could throw well on the run and Devlin exhibited a Marinoesque quick release. With a veteran offensive line, two high calibur tailbacks, a stellar veteran receiving corp, and hopefully two stud tight ends, all we need is a John Shaffer quality quarterback and both of these guys are better than that. Man, I think we can score this year!

Defense
On defense the players who really stood out to me were Aaron Maybin and Abe Karoma. Maybin played like a mad man, recording at least three quarterback sacks that I can remember. He is fast, instinctive, and has a nose for the ball but he is rather small and light. I like the way he threw his body around. Karoma gave the second team offensive lineman all they could handle and was awarded the Jim O'Hora Award. The only qualm I have about Karoma is that he looked a bit big below the belt. From what I saw, it didn't seem to affect his play and I could be talked into believing it's all muscle.

With Sean Lee out, I was interested in the linebacker situation. The starting linebackers were Sales and Ghadyu with Hull inside. We'll have to see what shakes out when Navorro Bowman returns. The second team linebackers were Stupar and Dailey with Colasonti inside. I was rather surprised to see Josh Hull starting in the middle. He's a great kid for sure, really smart with honor society grades, impeccable work ethic, and fundamentally sound with good speed, but I wasn't expecting to see a walk-on starting ahead of Colasanti. That could be SOME battle to see who wins that starting inside position. I was also surprised at how much playing time Shaine Thompson got. Stupar seemed to always be where the ball was.  Other than Colasanti's fumble recovery, the play of the linebackers did not stand out to me. I saw no egregious mental or physical mistakes and I think they played well on the whole.

Random thoughts

Two players who unexpectedly got a LOT of playing time on defense were Eric Latimore and Chima Okoli. Both were in for most of the snaps with the second defense. Players who I expected to play but didn't were Devon Still and Derek Moye, but both were nursing injuries, from what I hear. The long snapper is junior Andrew Pitz, whose performance couldn't be adequately judged given the no-rush/no-punt return rule. Kelly looked pretty much like the same guy we've seen for years.

Other players who impressed me included Graham Zug, who reminds me of Greg Garrity. I'm not just being a Homer for the Lancaster boy either. Zug is a clutch receiver who is not flashy, but a go-to guy on third and long. He will get open and make that MUST catch beyond the sticks without dropping the ball. The biggest surprise for me was that James McDonald was awarded the Red Worrell Award. I wonder if that will translate into more playing time this fall. Josh Marks was probably my biggest disappointment. He was man handled and gave up his QB several times. Brackett's dropped ball was also notable, but he ended the day with 3 catches for 25 yards.

Another disappointment for me was the crowd booing Anthony Morelli when he came on-field to accept his PNC player of the game award.  Show some class guys!  Morelli is no longer the Penn State QB so cut him some slack. He IS part of the Penn State family. You don't have to love him, but show a little respect.

Another fun aspect of the Blue White game is the occasional razzle dazzle play just for fun. There was not too much of it this weekend except for Derrick Williams' TD pass to Butler. That play looked like a backyard football play. Butler had Chaz Powell beat by at least two steps. Butler was looking for the ball over his right shoulder but it was thrown way inside so he adjusts, looks over his left shoulder, makes the catch, and scores. A play like this might happen once during the regular season and only in a desperate situation. Williams got to have some fun and Butler got to showcase his talent for a brief moment before both were bench bound to avoid injury.

Oh yes, and look who hung out for a couple of hours at Obama's Tailgate...

Maybe JayPa has a political career in his future.

Run JayPa Run!