One third of what this Turkey considers to be a big edge for the Seminoles has found himself headed home early. Linebacker A.J. Nicholson was sent home after being accused of sexual assault by a woman in Hollywood, Florida, where the Seminoles are camped in preparation for the Orange Bowl meeting with the Nittany Lions. He was suspended for a violation of team policy, presumably the established curfew. Read more about it here.

As PSU head coach Joe Paterno turned 79 years old Wednesday, he received the news that he had been selected as Coach of the Year by both the Associated Press and The Sporting News. The Nittany Turkey didn’t bring anything to Joe’s low key birthday party, primarily because he wasn’t invited, but I wish to make amends by declaring Joe the winner of the Nittany Turkey Phoenix Award for taking the necessary steps to revive a program that many thought was permanently mired in the ashes of mediocrity. (There is no actual trophy because Joe doesn’t like anyone making a fuss over him—in other words, the Turkey is too cheap to fund the purchase of a one-time award. But I digress…)
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Sports Illustrated’s latest off-the-wall prediction (December 26–January 2 issue, p. 83):

SWAN SONG After beating Florida State in Miami, Penn State’s Joe Paterno will turn the reins over to defensive coordinator Tom Bradley.

Comments, anyone?