The Nittany Lions looked really good in their 59-0 win over FIU. So what? FIU sucks really, really badly. Anyhow, as I stated in my recap of the game and in my pre-game predictions, not much can be gleaned from our team’s performance against an overmatched opponent like the Golden Panthers. In fact, in Joe Paterno’s press conference today, he voiced much the same objection to questions about evaluating the team’s or specific individuals’ performance, albeit in a characteristically irascible, “Go away newsboys, I’m busy here!”, whiney, octagenarian dismissal.
Mooooooooooooooooooooooo U.
Where has the season gone? It seems like just yesterday when this Turkey was pissin’ and moanin’ about the summer football drought and now here we are, about to close out yet another season. So, as has been our annual tradition since joining the Big Ten in 1993, we end the year with the Land Grant Trophy game against Michigan State, better known as Moo U.
If you have never gazed at the Land Grant Trophy (left), take a good look. Click on the thumbnail at left to see a larger picture of this monstrosity. ???? ?????? (The big one is too ugly to post on this page, and it might scare small children.) Ain’t it a pisser? To paraphrase Chico Harlan of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, it looks like a Rubik’s Cube that has spent an hour in the mouth of a rottweiler. To this Turkey, it appears to have been designed by committee—in the fourth grade art class at McCabe Elementary. OK, enough about this hunk of —
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If the team is as apathetic as the fans…
Let’s hope that the Nittany Lions aren’t pouting too much after the uninspiring loss to Wisconsin last week, for it would be truly embarrassing for this team to find itself in a hole against Division I-A punching bag Temple this week. The offense obviously gives us all pause, but the defense has shown from time to time that it can be pushed around, especially in the second half when the guys have been on the field far too long. ??? ?????? ??? ???????? This team is just not confidence inspiring, as some of the comments to my Wisconsin post reflect. Accordingly, a lot of us are cringing, admitting the possibility of a loss to the Owls. ??? ????? ?? ??? ???????
ESPN thinks this game will garner an extremely small audience, so we’re relegated to ESPN Regional coverage, which means that if you don’t have the GamePlan, you’re probably S.O.L. Just in case you are tempted to tune in to the GamePlan broadcast, the announcers are Dave Ryan and Jay Walker, and kickoff time is 3:30 PM.
We all know that the coaching staff at Temple is replete with former PSU players and coaches: head coach Al Golden, defensive coordinator Mark d’Onofrio, running backs coach Jeff Nixon, and defensive line coach Matt Rhule. OK, so what? (Is that my apathy shining through again?)
Lions Head Coach Joe Paterno will miss this game, one of three he’s ever missed in his long career as Penn State’s head coach. Doctor’s orders, and I am sure that Joe gave Dr. Sebastianelli an earful about it. ????? ??????? Tom Bradley will be in charge. Don’t expect any suddenly creative game plans.
Hey, you know, I got a flu shot this morning and now I feel like I have the flu. Standard annual occurrence around here. Between my general malaise and Penn State’s offensive malaise, my ennui has reached the point at which I’m suffering from creative block. I refuse to write any more fluff about this damn, insipid game. How’s that?
So, we progress directly to the Official Turkey Poop Prediction. As you all well know, the Turkey’s predictions this season have been pure poop, so this one will be no exception. I feel that this could be the real breakthrough game for the offense against a defense that has shown that the McCabe sisters could pass through it unharmed. Not that it will serve the offense well to make the aforesaid breakthrough against Temple—because they’ll just go into the final game of the season thinking they’re something they’re not and blow it against Michigan State. But I digress. Temple hasn’t had much luck scoring points on offense lately, either. But their task will be much tougher. Inasmuch as the Nittany Lions have actually managed to score a maximum of 37 points against one opponent this year (Youngstown State), I think they can do better by a touchdown this game against a defense that allows over 45 points per game. Pollyanna lives. I can’t help myself. Penn State 45, Temple 3.
