Game Day

There is much excitement in the air as kickoff time for the battle between Penn State and Alabama approaches. I was amazed and impressed with the groundswell of Twitter activity yesterday from fans, bloggists, and Nittany Lions players, both past and present. Tuning into those tweets, I felt like I was tracking a troop movement converging on Tuscaloosa.

Si Redd is one of the more prolific tweeters on the team. Hell, I even got a couple of tweets from his Psych 100 class (“4 mins to go…”). He’s been cranked up ever since he got out of that class, calling for the big upset all the way to Birmingham yesterday. This morning, he was still at it: “9/11.. a day that will never be forgotten.. but also a day where The Pennsylvania State University Football Team will #SHOCKtheWORLD .”

Graham Zug just re-tweeted this: “RT @PSUSTRETCH Feels familiar 1990: Notre Dame #1, Penn State #18. Tony Sacca freshman QB. PSU, 24-21. I say it’s time to repeat history.” Earlier, on the way to the hotel, he commented about the hotel keys (click the link for the picture): “http://plixi.com/p/44370654 they gave us some legit hotel room keys…”

ESPN College Gameday is in town for the game. Unfortunately, Lee Corso put on the ugly elephant head. Bobby Bowden, the guest picker, also went with the Crimson Tide, citing the heat and an inexperienced quarterback as conspiring against the Nittany Lions. No one picked Penn State, but that’s been pretty much the case wherever one looks.

This Turkey, of course, has been pessimistic in predicting the outcome. I gave my reasons in a prior post. However, if the football gods have been listening to Silas Redd’s prayers and through their beneficence Penn State should happen to win, it will make me one very happy Turkey.

Of course, the weather is conspiring against the Nittany Snowbirds. Our Penn State Alumni Association chapter’s president posted this on Facebook a few minutes ago: “Holy crap it’s hot in Tuscaloosa!!! Thank God for our media parking pass in shade right next to the stadium (and a Publix!)”.

We’ll be moving the feast to the other side of Orlando for this one, christening Jackstand’s man cave (aka Mike’s Garage). Jackstand will be hosting half the games this year, giving the usual suspects a little variety of venue and hosting style. And we get to play with the cat, too. Jackstand is a Penn State convert, having earned both of his degrees at UCF. He’s been impressive in his loyalty and enthusiasm for his adopted team.

As I write this, more gambling money seems to have poured in on the Alabama side of the ledger. The spread is up to 14 points. The sad thing is that I still don’t think Penn State can beat the spread.

Prove me wrong, guys! #SHOCKtheWORLD