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Around SBN: Why Penn State Should Avoid 'Joe Paterno Field'

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Richard Aceto

Mar 13, 2010 Dec 27, 2011 7 154

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Black Shoe Diaries Todays loss didn't matter

I honestly couldn't care less that we lost today.  Being a fan of this program really hasn't been fun for years.

Even when we are having a so called "good" year, we still don't compete with the best when it matters. 

When we face good defensive football teams, especially on the road, the idea of the offense finding a way to score even 10 points seems almost impossible.  I think Kevin Thompson was the last PSU qb to throw a td pass in Columbus, and that was a hail marry to Joe Nastasi.

The offensive line development at this school for I don't know how long has been embarrassing.

Joe spent his post game presser today looking at his shoes, you couldn't even hear him.  It's absolutely ridiculous that he's still coaching at this point. 

The fact that a successor hasn't been named leads me to believe two things.  Joe wants Jay to be the next coach and can't make an announcement like that while he's coaching, or the university wants to go to the outside.  Bradley isn't going to be the next coach.  He already would have been named the coach if he were.

Joe is going to retire a summer before the season starts so the current staff will have to coach the team.  I would bet any money on that.  He believes he owns the program, he won't let an outsider take over the program, even if that outsider is Al Golden, a former player.

I really hope this era ends soon, Golden isn't going to wait forever. 


99 comments  |  1 recs | 

Black Shoe Diaries Penn State baskeball wimps out of preseason tournament

 

Penn State was scheduled to appear in the 76 classic in California next season but has recently pulled out of the event.  Given that Ed never has his team's ready to start the season and that they've done nothing but EMBARRASS themselves in these events, it obviously shouldn't come as much of a surprise.

Can't wait to hear the next Ed presser where he tells us how hard it is for Penn State to play people.  I'm sure that tournament will be replaced with games vs St Francis and Lafayette.

We have the most clueless basketball program in the country.  Our NCAA Tournament bid preventing schedule from two years ago was followed up by an even weaker non conference schedule this past year.

Ed talks about schools that want Penn State to come to their gym to play a ESPN game, but Ed won't play these teams because they won't come back to Penn State.  


Dear Ed,

You aren't coaching the Penn State Football program where you can demand 1 for 1 or even 2 for 1.  Penn State basketball blows, has actually managed to be worse under your tenure and teams have nothing to gain by beating you.  They aren't going to travel to Penn State.  Kentucky didn't make a return trip to Penn State, but Dunn still went and played them.  Coaches who are trying to BUILD a nationally respected program go out on the road and don't hide in their 3/4 empty arena to play teams in the 300's in the RPI.

I guess Tim and Ed didn't want to hear about losing to Tulane and UNC Wilmington again next year.  This program is a joke.

82 comments  |  1 recs | 

Black Shoe Diaries NBA caliber pg leads last place Nittany Lions



I find it amusing that some view this as a positive as it shows that you can get to to the NBA through Penn State.  Scottie Pippen once proved you can get to the NBA Hall of Fame through Arkansas State, so I'm not sure why that matters.

The only thing that Battle's entry into the draft proves is how bad a job Ed did this year.  In an incredibly weak year for top level talent, half the lottery is coming from Kentucky, Penn State had an experienced point guard that will get an opportunity to be a NBA player and still couldn't stay out of he basement.  Another indictment.  Not that this is new news.  Most would agree he might be the best player in the history of the program.

I personally believe that like Scottie Reynolds last year, Battle is just getting evaluated.  If he does stay in the draft, the apologists will have their excuse for next season.

On Comcast on Demand I watched the 5 minute Ed Dechellis preview for this past season.  

Ed believed it was important to get off to a good start and looked forward to the challenge of playing schools like South Carolina, Miami and South Florida.  Unfortunately Ed didn't realize that the he wouldn't be able to beat the teams he failed to mention.

Ed believed that playing Battle and Frazier together could work in spots, they would be able to penetrate and kick to shooters like Chris Babb.  Bye Chris.

Ed was asked to name a player that would surprise people this past year.  He named Bill Edwards.  Bye Bill!

All is well.

The regulars may now post pictures of broken records and talk about their favorite Miley Cyrus album.

37 comments  | 

Black Shoe Diaries Curley doesn't remember Claxton's final season very well

Curley stated in the CDT today that he felt Penn State would have been in the NCAA Tournament the year Claxton got hurt.  Clearly statements like this are for the casual fan who can't remember who Penn State played in January let alone in November and December of 2007.

I think Tim conveniently forgets what happened in November the year Claxton got injured.  Maybe Tim didn't attend the Disney Old Spice classic with his family.

South Carolina 74 Penn State 67

Rider 82 Penn State 73

Central Florida 70 Penn State 59

 

While I've never served on a NCAA Tournament selection committee, I'm not sure that kind of performance would be indicative of a NCAA Tournament caliber team.  None of those teams were in the NCAA Tournament or NIT.  Yet another example of a Dechellis coached team being unprepared to start a year and flushing the season down the toilet in November.

While losing Claxton that season MAY have cost them a shot at the NIT, for Tim to believe Claxton's loss cost them a NCAA Tournament bid is absolutely ridiculous. 

If Tim really believed that was a NCAA Tournament caliber team, then Ed had done a miserable job up until Claxton was lost for the season


28 comments  |  1 recs | 

Black Shoe Diaries What an unproductive Monday looks like

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Black Shoe Diaries Commented Also, Cowherd hasn't heard of this Tom Izzo guy on Why Duke is screwed. on Black Shoe Diaries - 03/29/10 4:59 PM EDT

Black Shoe Diaries Commented Dude, Ed, you're a grown man. on DeChellis quotes from Day 2 on Black Shoe Diaries - 03/29/10 4:57 PM EDT (1 reply)

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Black Shoe Diaries Commented Mmm. on Why Duke is screwed. on Black Shoe Diaries - 03/29/10 4:56 PM EDT

Black Shoe Diaries Commented But then the Flyers don't have any OMG GARY BETTMAN LOVES SUPERSTAR players. on Caps / Pens in the Winter Classic @Heinz? on Black Shoe Diaries - 03/29/10 3:39 PM EDT

Black Shoe Diaries Commented Meh. on Caps / Pens in the Winter Classic @Heinz? on Black Shoe Diaries - 03/29/10 3:39 PM EDT (1 reply)

Black Shoe Diaries Commented 11:58 PM on DeChellis quotes from Day 2 on Black Shoe Diaries - 03/29/10 3:37 PM EDT

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Black Shoe Diaries Commented Whoa. on Dechellis quotes from Day 1 on Black Shoe Diaries - 03/29/10 3:27 PM EDT (1 reply)

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Black Shoe Diaries Commented Thanks, Dawson. on Dechellis quotes from Day 1 on Black Shoe Diaries - 03/29/10 3:13 PM EDT (1 reply)

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Black Shoe Diaries Commented Knowing me, if it was supposed to be a joke (it wasn't, I thought his name was Luger) on DeChellis quotes from Day 2 on Black Shoe Diaries - 03/29/10 1:44 PM EDT

Black Shoe Diaries Commented OMG LOL on Dechellis quotes from Day 1 on Black Shoe Diaries - 03/29/10 1:42 PM EDT

Black Shoe Diaries Commented Also, from what I've been reading, Oregon (read: Phil Knight) wants a basketball program because Nike is all about the basketball shoes. on How not to pursue a coach on Black Shoe Diaries - 03/29/10 1:38 PM EDT (1 reply)

Black Shoe Diaries Commented Yes, but isn't there a slight difference because FOOGE is a male? on Dechellis quotes from Day 1 on Black Shoe Diaries - 03/29/10 1:33 PM EDT (1 reply)

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Black Shoe Diaries Commented You guys keep talking about teeny boppers and I'll actually argue with Richard. on Dechellis quotes from Day 1 on Black Shoe Diaries - 03/29/10 1:26 PM EDT (2 replies)

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Black Shoe Diaries Commented sick burn on DeChellis quotes from Day 2 on Black Shoe Diaries - 03/29/10 1:19 PM EDT

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Black Shoe Diaries Commented Hahaha you're in the same boat as Devon. on Dechellis quotes from Day 1 on Black Shoe Diaries - 03/29/10 11:30 AM EDT

Black Shoe Diaries Commented No. on DeChellis quotes from Day 2 on Black Shoe Diaries - 03/29/10 11:29 AM EDT (1 reply)

Black Heart Gold Pants Commented I have a hunch that tells me Stanzi's about to take a heel turn. on The Fran McCaffery Press Conference Primer: What Will Be The Talking Points? on Black Heart Gold Pants - 03/29/10 11:03 AM EDT (1 reply)

Black Shoe Diaries Commented Yeah, well, me too. on Dechellis quotes from Day 1 on Black Shoe Diaries - 03/29/10 10:27 AM EDT

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Rambler, are you wearing a diaper at the computer you so you don't have to missing anything?

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Black Shoe Diaries Dechellis quotes from Day 1

Ed was asked about the players he inherited when he was hired.

"We'll see over the next few weeks if everyone will be back," DeChellis said. "We want people that want to be at Penn State. These guys have to understand that we're raising the bar in everything we do here."

Is raising the bar 0 NCAA trips in 7 years?

How about 4 last place finishes in 7 years?

How about two wins in the Big Ten Tournament in 7 years? To Northwestern and the worse Indiana team ever.

How about embarrassing performances in preseason tournaments?

How about consistently putting together incredibly weak non conference schedules? 

How about never selling out the BJC?

Ed, how exactly have you set the bar higher? 

Your predecessor, who might have been the worse recruiter in league history went to two NCAA Tournaments, got to the Sweet 16, got to the weekend of the Big Ten Tournament twice, made it to the Final 4 of the NIT twice, beat Villanova and Temple, played Kentucky on the road and won, etc.

Despite having one of the best guards in the country leading your team and a front court with years of starting experience, your team in a critical year to show you can sustain success finished in last place in the Big Ten and had two losses against mid major doormats like Tulane and UNC Wilmington.  This was such a weak year for college basketball, and despite what you did return, you still finished in last place.  You couldn't even beat teams like Iowa or Indiana when you were desperate for a win.

It's too late for most of your players to transfer, but 2 of the 3 most promising young players on the team have transferred out. 

I have as much faith in your teams holding onto a 6 point lead with a minute left as I do them coming back from a 6 point deficit with 1 minute left.  Your teams are weak fundamentally and make everything look so much harder than it needs to be. Even the Virginia game that you won, despite having a 10 point lead w/ under 2 minutes left, Virginia still had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer.

Defensively your teams are terrible.  Your zone defenses are a 3 point shooters wet dream.  If a team isn't scoring against you, it's often because they aren't shooting it well.  This is probably why your teams are always vulnerable to huge runs.

As a season ticket holder and long time follower of Villanova, your teams often play lazily and uninspired.  Jay's teams aren't just about talent, they out work you.  Your teams don't outwork other teams. 


Have you raised the bar compared to Dunn's last 2 years?  Yeah, but so what.  Dunn's last 2 years were so bad, how could you not raise the bar?  Dunn eventually fell victim to the fact that above all else, he couldn't recruit even a little bit.

I might be a stronger recruiter, but not good enough.  You've neglected the front court for years and outside of the Battle brothers there's not much else to brag about.  It's better than the end of the Dunn era, but it's still not good enough.

If you can't get to the NCAA Tournament with one of the best guards in the country and in the history of the program, it's never going to happen.

 

"When I got here," DeChellis said, "we weren't a program that believed we could win. We were floundering around. I think the expectations had kind of slipped. We accepted losing. And that had to change."

 

Apparently you and the program are still accepting losing because no coach in Penn State history has lost more and yet you're returning for an 8th season.  Is it fair that your continued presence at the head of the program is forcing fans to accept losing? 

 

"If everybody had stayed, and we didn't have anybody transfer," said Summers, who left for West Virginia, "we could have been a great team." Said DeChellis: "I Disagree. Those guys had false impressions of how good they really were. Sometimes you have to change the parts before you can truly change the attitudes."

 

Sometimes you have to change the coach before you can change the results.  Sometimes it's not just the parts.  I think you have a false impression that you can turn this program around.  I was hoping you could, and wished you could because you are a Penn State guy, but you can't.  It's not going to happen, not at this late stage in your tenure.  You're not the fresh face from ETSU anymore, you're a veteran Big Ten coach  with an awful overall record.

 

"I came here with a challenge," DeChellis said. "I knew what we had. I knew it was going to be hard. Yet I wake up every day eager to get here, eager to get started, and my goal is to hang banners in that arena out there. So we're going to do it. There's just that one magic question: When?"

Ed, the people that care have been waiting forever to see this program take advantage of its Big Ten affiliation.  We've been waiting forever to see what the right coach can do with the Bryce Jordan Center.  I think some of us are tired of former Penn State guys running this program.  You and Jerry had your chance for 15 years.  The results aren't pretty.  The fans deserve the opportunity to see something different. You don't agree?

When Penn State can't win with a proven coach and recruiter from outside the Penn State family, maybe I'll concede that it's never going to happen at Penn State. Until that happens, myself along with others will continue to be frustrated with your presence.

You can't honestly believe you haven't been given a fair chance.  At any other school in the country you'd have been let go by now.  The longer you hang around, the more you'll be resented when you go. You've done some good things, don't let your hard work go to waste and force another huge rebuilding project a year or two down the road for another coach.

If you really care about the program and giving the fans something to be proud of, you'll resign.

95 comments  | 

Black Shoe Diaries THE FIELD OF 96



If you are a fan of Penn State or would become one if they weren't one of the most underachieving BCS programs in the country, pray that the NCAA Tournament is expanded to 96 teams.  It sounds like it will probably happen.


It's not just that Penn State's chances will increase because there are 32 extra spots and that the NIT will disappear(Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), it's that there will be that much more pressure on the school to now make the field.

Right now making the field of 64 is a tough accomplishment.  There are 300 some teams and 65 spots, some of which are guaranteed to the lesser conferences.  Compare that to college football where half the teams make a bowl game, the mark of a successful season at most schools.

Right now there are a lot of established programs with winning traditions in the Big Ten  and other conferences that Penn State has to eclipse on a given year to get a bid.  While we still get on the school for not trying their best and not getting there, we see and know why they don't.  They don't believe the additional expense provides any greater guarantee that they will become a NCAA Tournament contender.


If the field expands to 96, now the school has no excuse.  If you can't make the field of 96, it truly is embarrassing considering your athletic department regularly finishes in the top 10 in revenue.


Can you imagine the outcry if Penn State was regularly missing NCAA Tournaments with 96 teams?  Penn State can't field a top 100 basketball team?  What is Tim Curley's excuse now?


Expanding the field if anything puts more pressure on the school because of the embarrassment factor.  Even though the program should already be embarrassed for a variety of reasons, there really isn't anything truly embarrassing about about not making the current NCAA Tournament.  That changes with 96 teams.

If I had a say in running a 96 team field.  Byes for the top 16 teams and the bottom 16(small conference guys).  Let the middle 64 where there is parity battle it out in the first round.  You keep tradition of the 64 team tournament which every one loves by letting the little guys play the best teams and you still protect the top seeds in the first round.  Being one of the top 16 teams will keep the regular season important.  You protect the drama of selection Sunday and the controversy for the talking heads.  Who should have been the 1 seeds, who wasn't deserving of a 4 seed and a bye, who got screwed with a 5 and no bye. What would be really interesting, and would be a way to honor the NIT it's absorbing and had a long tradition within college basketball is to have teams 32-64 host their first round games at home.  The teams that would normally have to play in the NIT would have to win on the road in another teams gym in front of sell out crowds.  The logistics and broadcasting would probably prevent this ($$$) but it would make those games much more interesting.  This kind of set up would create great story lines throughout the tournament.  The Cinderella's coming from the first round road teams, the Cinderella's coming from the first round home teams, the little guys still get to play the top seeds, etc.

If they give byes to the top 32 seeds and let 33 through 96 battle it out, they kill the beginning of the tournament.  No one is going to care if a little school beats a middle of the pack Big 12 team.  Watching Kansas play a NIT team like Seton Hall in the first round doesn't provide the same interest.

I really believe I have created a great tournament with 96 teams.

 


19 comments  |