PSU vs. BC in the Pinstripe Bowl

ESPN and K. John Say Pinstripe Bowl a “Go”

It appears, although it isn’t yet official, that Penn State (6-6, 2-6 Big Ten) will be headed to the Bronx version of the Toilet Bowl — the New Era Pinstripe Bowl — to face Boston College (7-5, 4-4 ACC). Penn State athletic director Sandy Barbour is expected to make an official announcement around 6:30 PM ET this evening.

BC finished fourth in the Atlantic Division of the ACC, while Penn State wound up sixth in the Big Ten East. YYAWWWWWNNNNNNNN!

Penn State leads the all-time series with BC 19-4; however, the most recent three games were losses in 1992, 2003, and 2004.

To some, Boston College is “that other Catholic school” that you play in a bowl when you’re not good enough to play Notre Dame.

The New Era Pinstripe Bowl will be held on Saturday, December 27, at 4:30 PM in Yankee Stadium. It’ll be up against reruns of Mystery Science Theater 3000 on TV, and it will probably lose the ratings battle.

Coal in Their Stockings for Christmas

We all know that bowl-boundedness means 15 extra practices, of which apparently Penn State has already had one. This will mean that this team can reinforce its shitty habits so they’re not forgotten by next year. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)

No one really wants to watch this game, do they? Yet we all will, at least those of us who aren’t traveling or doing something more important like mowing the lawn. I guess I mean blowing snow, as most of my six readers won’t need to mow their lawns until April or May.

BC ranks 123rd in passing offense but 15th in rushing. Big Al is worried; K. John is not. The former thinks the formidable BC running attack can roll over the PSU defense, while the latter thinks Penn State has the best rushing defense in the world, supported by statistical affirmation of the fact. Something’s gotta give!

I remember a regular season game against BC in which Doug Flutie (currently calling the plays for the Happy Days Retirement Home in Sun Valley, MA) threw for over 400 yards against what was then a vaunted PSU defense. Someone’s always vaunting the PSU defense, already.

More later as we build up to this amazing-ass bowl matchup. I’ll have to find some points of interest somewhere. Won’t I?