To Those in Possession of PSU/Iowa Tickets,
This is our weekend of revenge. This is the game where we pay Iowa back for destroying our undefeated season a year ago. College Gameday will be just outside the BJC. It will be a Whiteout night game in Beaver Stadium, the best venue in college football. I am writing to you with the hope that you are the 12th and 13th man for our team on Saturday night. I expect an environment no less than that faithful October night in 2005 against the Buckeyes. I want Beaver Stadium to be rocking. I want to get chills down my spine when I hear the Nittany Lion faithful screaming through my television set. I want to feel your energy. I want you to remind the college football world that PSU has the best fans, the best student section and the loudest stadium in college football. As a PSU alumnus and current resident of Iowa, make me proud.
For the Glory,
Swiggs
Monday, September 21, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
Remember 9/11
Today is the 8th anniversary of the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks that brought down the iconic Twin Towers, took thousands of American lives and damaged God knows how many families. I'll never, ever forget where I was that morning. I was a sophomore in high school sitting in my second period class when my teacher flipped on the TV. The first plane had struck the first tower. As we continued to watch the news coverage, I saw the second plane hit live. Needless to say, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I'll never forget the sight of seeing the towers collapse. It'll stay with me forever.
Today I pray for the thousands that lost their lives and the families they left behind. Today I remember the heros of Flight 93. They stood up to the hyjackers and likely saved hundreds, if not thousands of lives. Today I salute the members of the New York City Fire Department and the brave firefighters who lost their lives. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten.
Today I pray for the thousands that lost their lives and the families they left behind. Today I remember the heros of Flight 93. They stood up to the hyjackers and likely saved hundreds, if not thousands of lives. Today I salute the members of the New York City Fire Department and the brave firefighters who lost their lives. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Halftime Update -- Titans at Steelers
The bad first....Ugly defensive struggle. Well, the Titans defense is holding their own. The Steeler defense looks porous. The Steeler offense has been completely anemic in the first half. The running game continues to be absent and the passing game can't seem to gain any momentum. Meanwhile, the Steeler defense is playing marginal. Kerry Collins throws short, underneath passes 80% of the time against the Steelers, but the defense can't adjust. James Harrison and Lamar Woodley have been neutralized by the solid line play of the Titans. Despite 3 big first half penalties on Troy Polamalu, he has been all over the field. He's made some great tackles in addition to making a nice one-handed interception off Collins. By the way, I can't believe the zebras have missed all the holding by the Titans offensive line. James Harrison has literally been dragged to the ground on multiple occasions. Makes me sick. Anyway...
Ben looked rusty for the majority of the half. His timing was off and he took a couple of bad sacks. Midway through the first quarter, Ben took an 18 yard sack that knocked the Steelers out of field goal range. I understand that Ben likes to hold the ball in order to make a play, but sometimes you have to realize that when the play is dead, you have to throw the ball away and take the chance at points. Willie Parker has been completely ineffective. The offensive line isn't opening up any holes. Rashard Mendenhall has been used sparingly and has not been a factor. The only bright spot for the Steeler offense has been Santonio Holmes and Heath Miller. Both have made a couple of nice catches in traffic.
In the 2 minutes drill at the end of the half, the Steeler offense finally came alive. Ben's passes and pump fakes were sharp hitting a long reception over the middle to Hines Ward. Two plays later, Ben connected with a 34 yard touchdown pass to Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes. Maybe the rhythm of that drive can carry over to the second half.
Coming right back at the end of the half was the Titans. The Steeler defense again looked miserable. They're getting torn apart by Kerry Collins, who seems to own the Steelers. The Steeler rush can't get to Collins and he's making us pay. I don't know what it is about the Titans offense. They always give us problems and Dick LeBeau has got to find an answer or it's game over, especially with the struggles of the Steeler offense.
Ben looked rusty for the majority of the half. His timing was off and he took a couple of bad sacks. Midway through the first quarter, Ben took an 18 yard sack that knocked the Steelers out of field goal range. I understand that Ben likes to hold the ball in order to make a play, but sometimes you have to realize that when the play is dead, you have to throw the ball away and take the chance at points. Willie Parker has been completely ineffective. The offensive line isn't opening up any holes. Rashard Mendenhall has been used sparingly and has not been a factor. The only bright spot for the Steeler offense has been Santonio Holmes and Heath Miller. Both have made a couple of nice catches in traffic.
In the 2 minutes drill at the end of the half, the Steeler offense finally came alive. Ben's passes and pump fakes were sharp hitting a long reception over the middle to Hines Ward. Two plays later, Ben connected with a 34 yard touchdown pass to Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes. Maybe the rhythm of that drive can carry over to the second half.
Coming right back at the end of the half was the Titans. The Steeler defense again looked miserable. They're getting torn apart by Kerry Collins, who seems to own the Steelers. The Steeler rush can't get to Collins and he's making us pay. I don't know what it is about the Titans offense. They always give us problems and Dick LeBeau has got to find an answer or it's game over, especially with the struggles of the Steeler offense.
The End of American Idol
I was shocked this morning to see that Ellen DeGeneres was selected to replace Paula Abdul on American Idol. All this proves to me is that show is becoming more and more of a popularity contest. As much as I like Ellen, what does she know about music? How can she, a talk show host/comedian, judge a musical candidate and give meaningful feedback on his/her voice. This is not a good thing for the legitimacy of the show. Just a couple of months ago, a former contestant on the show raised concerns about the voting, claiming it was all fixed. Although he had no proof to back his allegations, it's still something that should be considered after the "lock" to win Idol last year wound up finishing second.
With Paula gone and a music outsider joining the judge panel, American Idol is moving closer to ratings and entertainment and farther from finding raw musical talent. Either Paula's exit or Simon Fuller's new hire indicates the beginning of the end for American Idol.
With Paula gone and a music outsider joining the judge panel, American Idol is moving closer to ratings and entertainment and farther from finding raw musical talent. Either Paula's exit or Simon Fuller's new hire indicates the beginning of the end for American Idol.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
PSU Receivers Set Up
Entering the 2009 Penn State football season, lots was made of how the PSU receiving corps would likely be a weakness. Granted, Penn State lost multi-year starters Deon Butler, Derrick Williams and Jordon Norwood. However, Penn State fans need not look far to understand that coming into the 2009 season, the receivers are not the weakness that many might have expected. Let's turn the clock back to 2005. Penn State was coming off an atrocious 4-7 campaign. The offense was the glaring weakness in 2004. The 2005 team had an offensive rejuvenation where the receiving corps was led by 3 true freshman. Being true freshman, those 3 guys (named above) obviously had no collegiate football experience. The 2005 season yielded an 11-1 record, a Big Ten Championship and an Orange Bowl victory.
Fast forward back to 2009. Is it so inconceivable that the 2009 PSU receivers can produce at a level provided by the "big three" from 2005? I have argued this offseason that we are in better shape at receiver in 2009 than we were during our 11-1 campaign in 2005. This year, we return game experience as well as a dimension that was missing from our departed seniors, height. In the first game of the 2009 season, Daryl Clark passed for 353 yards and new receivers Derek Moye, Chaz Powell and Graham Zug had 138, 65 and 62 yards receiving respectively (all 3 receivers had a TD reception). That's an impressive debut for 3 players that were supposed to be a weak link.
I know the national media needs story lines for every team, but a position of weakness coming into this season should not have been the wide receivers. They all may be new starters, but they are not new to the collegiate level. Also, don't under estimate the advantage of having Daryl Clark as the signal caller. He was the Big Ten's top QB from a year ago and provides a strong sense a leadership to the new wide receivers. Although Michael Robinson was a great leader throughout the 2005 run, he was also not a seasoned starter when he took control of the offense in '05.
I expect great contributions from the PSU receiving corps throughout the 2009 season. Their debut against Akron did not leave me disappointed. What did leave me disappointed was a sub-par second half and only 136 team rushing yards. The offensive line has to step up.
Fast forward back to 2009. Is it so inconceivable that the 2009 PSU receivers can produce at a level provided by the "big three" from 2005? I have argued this offseason that we are in better shape at receiver in 2009 than we were during our 11-1 campaign in 2005. This year, we return game experience as well as a dimension that was missing from our departed seniors, height. In the first game of the 2009 season, Daryl Clark passed for 353 yards and new receivers Derek Moye, Chaz Powell and Graham Zug had 138, 65 and 62 yards receiving respectively (all 3 receivers had a TD reception). That's an impressive debut for 3 players that were supposed to be a weak link.
I know the national media needs story lines for every team, but a position of weakness coming into this season should not have been the wide receivers. They all may be new starters, but they are not new to the collegiate level. Also, don't under estimate the advantage of having Daryl Clark as the signal caller. He was the Big Ten's top QB from a year ago and provides a strong sense a leadership to the new wide receivers. Although Michael Robinson was a great leader throughout the 2005 run, he was also not a seasoned starter when he took control of the offense in '05.
I expect great contributions from the PSU receiving corps throughout the 2009 season. Their debut against Akron did not leave me disappointed. What did leave me disappointed was a sub-par second half and only 136 team rushing yards. The offensive line has to step up.
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