SB Nation User Blog: fugimaster24

Media Hate [UPDATE]

fugimaster24 — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:04:48 -0000

On the #1 Cochran Sports Showdown last night, the Pgh Post-Gazette's Paul Zeise had some interesting stats concerning Penn State football:

In the past 10 seasons, Penn State is 5-20 against Ohio State, Michigan and Iowa.

In the past 10 seasons, Penn State is 5-10 against non-conference BCS schools with a winning record.

Paul Zeise is the Pitt football beat reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

My response via the internets.

Dear Paul,

Just wanted to respond to your little statistics from the Showdown the other night.

Funny you make 10 years the cut-off for statistics that "matter" to the health of a program. Why not go back 15 years? Or 20?

Maybe because you know that any further back than that the statistics are good for Penn State, and that this arbitrary 10 year window you've selected to judge how "good" Penn State is includes the worst years the program has had, and excludes all but the most recent success?

You know as well as I do that statistics any further back than 5 years, when the oldest players in a program started playing for the team, are meaningless. You just did it to jam Penn State. Since Lee and Clark have been in uniform, Penn State has won 3 bowl games, two conference titles, and has a 48-13 record, and at this point in time that's all that matters. If that's not a good program, I don't know what is.

So much for objective journalism. But I suppose that's why you write for the Post-Gazette.

Adam [edit]

State College, Pennsylvania

Paul Zeise's email address is pzeise@post-gazette.com

UPDATE: To Zeise's credit, he responded quickly.

Or maybe the last ten years are relevant as to what Penn State has actually become and nobody cares what happened in 1994.......well, except for a fan base which is consistently lying to itself about where it actually fits in among the nation's elite in recent years.

Two home games against good opponents, finaly score Opponents 45 Penn State 17 -- that is reality.

Thanks for reading the Post-Gazette,

Paul

Wow. Response:

Paul,

What happened in 1994 doesn't matter. It's a good memory, but has nothing to do with the program's success today beyond perhaps adding to the tradition to pitch recruits. But the same is true of the early 2000s.

I don't know any main stream Penn State fan that has suggested that the program is among the "elite' in college football right now. We proved in the Rose Bowl that we're not on that level, and the games you've referenced are further proof.

But to suggest that Penn State is as sub-par as your statistics suggest is not only irresponsible journalism, but blatant homerism as well. The oldest Penn State players in uniform are 5-8 against Michigan, Ohio St., and Iowa. Not exactly compelling, but not as abysmal as you'd like to brainwash your readership into thinking either.

Have a good one, Adam [edit]

P.S. Nice grammer

END UPDATE

More from the Post-Gazette, this on a more positive note (depending upon how you look at it).

Ron Musselman

BCS expert Jerry Palm said yesterday that he is "90 percent certain" the Nittany Lions will land a spot in the Orange Bowl if they beat Indiana Saturday and Michigan State the following weekend and finish among the top 14 teams in the BCS standings.

90% huh? I mean, I knew it was a possibility, but 90% seems kind of high to me...

I don't know how I feel about that. Last year, the Capital One Bowl got higher ratings than the Orange Bowl did. I mean, that's probably because Cincinatti was involved but still. At this point, I feel like Penn State's best shot at redeption is in the Cap One Bowl against an SEC team that could actually get some headlines the next day. The only ACC team that intrigues me is Miami at this point, but would beating Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl be better than beating LSU in the Cap One Bowl? I'm not so sure.

O, and a special shoutout to any BSVeterans or active duty military. Happy Veteran's Day, thank you for your service!

Mondesi's House Sucks

fugimaster24 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:54:11 -0000

Mondesi's House Sucks

Read the comments and enjoy, or join the BSD flaming. Whatever you feel like.

Posting On The Fly [UPDATE]

fugimaster24 — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:54:24 -0000

Ok, this isn't well researched, so feel free to correct, but isn't 14 where you have to be to be BCS eligible?

The BCS has us at 18.

The BCS bowls need to account for 6 conference champions, so for the sake of this argument, take Florida, Texas, Cincinatti, Georgia Tecch, Oregon, and Ohio St. and move them into the safe column.

That leaves (BCS Ranking):

#2 Alabama, #4 TCU, #6 Boise St., #8LSU, #9 USC, #10 Iowa, #12 Pitt, #14 Miami, #15 Houston, #16 Utah, #17 Arizona and us for the 4 BCS at-larges. 11 teams, all ahead of us, for 4 spots? Yikes, but if the chalk at the tops of the conferences were to hold we KNOW:

Pitt would have to lose to Cincinatti

Iowa with an injured Stanzi loses to OSU.

Arizona loses to Oregon

Loser of Utah vs. TCU falls.

No way one loss Houston gets a BCS bid.

So winning out banks we finish at least at #14, with Houston probably out of the race regardless of its ranking.

That leaves 7 teams (including us) for 4 spots. The schedules of the teams ahead of us (assume TCU beats Utah).

TCU: at 4-5 Wyoming, vs. 0-9 New Mexico.

Boise St.: vs. 7-3 Idaho, at 2-7 Utah St., vs. 5-3 Nevada, vs. 3-6 New Mexico St.

USC: vs. 6-3 Stanford, vs. 4-5 UCLA, vs. 6-2 Arizona

LSU: 3-6 La. Tech, at 6-3 Ole Miss, vs. 5-4 Arkansas.

Alabama: at 4-5 Mississippi, Chattanooga, at 7-3 Auburn

Miami: at 6-3 North Carolina, 5-4 Duke, at 6-2 South Florida

I think we can pretty confidently move TCU and Alabama into the "safe" column, and LSU would be eliminated by the 2 teams per conferece rule (Thanks IcersGuy) so that leaves USC, Miami, Boise, and us for the final 2 at-larges. Is it a long shot? Probably, but stranger things have happened. I'm not giving up hope until December 5.

Updated Thoughts:

I'm not sure anyone saw the Boise game the other night, but they barely got out of there with their lives. The toughest teams on their schedule remain (Idaho and Nevada), and maybe it's just me, but I have a hard time seeing them get out of this unscathed. Maybe they do, but then that begs another question: Does the BCS want two non-BCS conference teams? I don't know. If it is all about the $$$$ I'd have to say no.

Iowa: Victim of What?

fugimaster24 — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:05:29 -0000

So, Iowa is four wins away from running the table. Good for them I suppose. Of course, it could all suck very soon if they run the table and are excluded from the national title game by undefeated squads from the SEC and Big XII.

There's a lot of football to be played, but this is a scenario worth talking about because it begs an obvious question.

Will Iowa be screwed by the anti-Big 10 bias or the fact that they were unnranked to start the season?

Purely hypothetical, and probably no good answer, but worth thinking about right? The debates over conference strength and the relevence of preseason rankings are dominating college football right now, and Iowa could potentially be the poster child for what is wrong with the system. And let's play devil's advocate. What if Iowa were to overcome both obstacles to get to the MNC? Wouldn't it signal that perception both of conferences and preseason rankings is largely irrelevent?

Discuss.

Let the [Peeing] Match Begin! [UPDATED AGAIN!]

fugimaster24 — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:08:53 -0000

I try not to get myself in arguments with Pitt fans. It isn't good for my health, and because I don't care as much as them, sometimes I let my guard down and come off almost as ignorant as they do. But over the last couple of days I've found myself mired in a [peeing] match over at Mondesi's House because of this seemingly harmless post. So, if I may, I'm going to piggback off Cpiritual27 and jump on the hate wagon.

Some of the finer moments for your entertainment:

"I hope this happens so Pitt can beat that ass and refuse to play Poop state again until someone with a brain runs the program and agrees to have a natural state rivalry like every other big football state does...plus there will be some great pre and post game fights between fans...pitt wins"-commenter NickDawg

My response.

"390 wins, 3 Big 10 championships, two national titles, 23 bowl wins, and 5 undefeated teams.

Not to mention a 24-7-1 record against Pitt...you know, by saying he has no brain, you're basically saying you'd have never won if he had one."

More good ones:

"I'd love to see Pitt beat Penn State, but I also have fun every year watching a team from the Small Ten Conference go to Pasadena and prove what a joke they really are by getting smoked in the Rose Bowl.

You know what Burress, Penn State DOES have a rival: Temple"-commentern The Mad Bubbler

"the fact that penn st plays 7 home games is hilarious, thats why they will never get any respect...penn st takes an elitist view (and by the way there is nothing elite about any facet of penn st sports or academics) that they need to schedule more home games to be self sufficient..thats bull and 90% of schools if not more simply dont do that..i know plenty of penn st fans both family and friends and friends of friends that want this game to happen so regardless if a generation hasnt seen the game, it would be a worthwhile event and they do care now. Notice how you are the only penn st fan saying this on the pittsburgh blogs..show me where all these penn st fans are that oppose the game and take an elitist view as your self and I promise you my son you wont get further than the mirror"-commenter NickDawg Note: "Adam" refers to me.

"Why would Penn State even schedule Alabama? The Big Ten can't even beat a Pac-10 team, let alone an SEC team"-Commenter Mad Bubbler

"I personally like the Pitt/PSU matchup because we had our family reunions at the games, but as for them playing, neither one needs the other. I think it speaks more though that one old man with too much power is responsible for the two not meeting anymore. In a way I'm thankful because Pitt's main focus (finally) is on WVU as a rival"-Commenter BURGH08

"big 10 is a joke all around. There is 3 ok teams the rest garbage plus they cant beat anyone in any bowl games let alone BCS games. Who in the last 10 yrs has put out more pros pitt or penn st? (remember this) Pitt by far so to say the big 10 gets more respect is asinine. The thing all you penn staters are ignorant too is that the rest of the county enjoys seeing you get stomped by the pac-10 or sec every yr when you think penn st is good for beating on the weak big 10. I dare to say the big east has been way better than the big 10 the last three yrs by far in football and especially hoops."-commenter NickDawg

If commenter NickDawg sticks out to you, he should. And as much as I wish I could say he's just an internet hack trying to pump up his ego, I can't. See, people like this chap make up a large majority of the Pitt fan base, which is why I personally still feel the hate for the Panthers. Heck, it isn't so much the team as the fans. On one hand, when Pitt does well, I feel a degree of civic pride for our city. I'm a Pittsburgher, and I like to see us do well. But Pitt's fan base is just so overwhelmingly ignorant and out of touch with the rest of the college sports world, I can't help but feel the hate and desire to see them fail, right down to their fencing team (which incidentally lost to my high school's fencing team last year. No joke).

More fun:

"I am a Pitt fan, but will try to be as logical as possible!! University of Penn State's front 7 does not have an answer for Dion Lewis &/or Henry Hynoski... #27 * are just too good. University of Penn State's secondary would also never be able to match-up with the heighth of J. Baldwin or Oderick Turner. If they did choose to try to double Baldwin or Turner, Dorin Dickerson would be too much to handle in the middle of the field. In the event that DD couldn't get open Nate Byham would be there. The fact is Pitt has waaaay too much offense. As far as the other side of the ball, Romeus, Sheard, Mick, and Mustakas would cause too much havoc for Darryl Clark and Evan Royster. The ground game would never get going. Darryl Clark would have a better chance scoring a 700 on the SAT's than figuring out the rush. University of Penn State's receivers are also not physical enough to play with Dom DeCicco, Elijah Fields, Jovani Chappel, or Aaron Berry. In fairness, UPS usually does have a good kicker, so I will give UPS the advantage in the kicking game....

In short...
When Pitt has the ball... Advantage Pitt
When UPS has the ball... Advantage Pitt

Final Score: Pitt 38 - UPS 7"-commenter TheWellHungarian

and the props from NickDawg:

"The well hungarian..couldnt describe the potential dismantling better... hope to see them in the fiesta bowl or see them get stomped on by usc again...

as for clint pitts aka "the grammar teacher".. my statistic may have been off (not by much though) NOTE: Clint pitts pointed out that Penn State has produced 11 more NFL draft picks and 7 more first rounders...continue stat boy but what you didnt list list is who those draft picks are and what they turned out to be because all or most of them work at the place i get my car washed...what I meant to say was pitt puts out more quality pros..im sure your proud to be affiliated with the likes of Kerry Collins and KiJana Carter, and Levi brown...we are fine over here in Oakland putting out players who actually matter in the pros like Shady, Fitz, Revis, Otah, sessions, blades, bryant, etc.....to name a few...playmakers is what pitt puts out not car washers...back to your regulary scheduled program"

Now the chirping about Morelli starts, which to me, is unbelieveable.

"Really? I think Anthony Morelli would have something to say about that...Note: reference to my "UPS" correction.

Sorry man, but if you look at the match-up Pitt clearly has the edge at every position except for maybe kicker."-commenter TheWellHungarian

"I'm not buying everything the Hungarian is selling, but the 'UPS' comment was clearly in reference to Morelli.

By the way, that kid didn't have a prayer no matter where he ended up. If you want to raise a kid properly as a student/athlete, one should do everything opposite of the 'Senior Morelli'."-commenter BURGH08

The response from me was obvious.

Morelli went 9-4 twice here and won two bowl games, which is much more than can be said of the entire Pitt program during that time. Don't tell me you're glad he didn't go to Pitt. Even his worst daya at Penn State was better than anything Pitt has experienced in the least 25 years plus.

I wish this was something that could be swept under the rug, too, but again, this isn't an opionion out of the mainstream in Steel Town. Pitt fans are actually glad Morelli didn't come to Pitt, and they give themselves a "+1" every time his name comes up in conversation.

"Yeah, ok, we don't like Morelli. That's because our standards are infinitely higher than Pitt's. The Panthers' biggest problem in 2006 and 2007 was quarterback, and Morelli certainly would have been good enough to help those Pitt teams quite a bit. But here again we see the break down in logic. It amazes me. The hate burns.

The records in this decade are very similiar, PSU even up a game. You would think that they would be up much more considering that Penn State plays in a weaker conference and schedules weaker non-conference opponents. Also, Pitt changed coaches and playing styles Note: WTF? during this decade which created down years between 2005-2007.

Penn State's Records

[Saving space

Total - 66-44

Pitt Records
[saving space]
Total - 64-45"-NickDawg

"Playing styles". Just too good to not show you guys.

"Just when I think Adam can't get any less intelligent, he moves the bar just a bit more.

The comment about Morelli would be like a Pitt fan applauding Bill Stull's performance last year because they 'won nine games and went to a bowl'.

Once again Adam: Less time reading stats, staring at drum majors, and more time actually knowing something about the game being played."-BURGH08

Ahh, he calls me stupid, and mostly because of this post than anything else. This specific commenter has hammered me for it repeatedly, and all because Penn State football means more to me than what happens between the lines. It's a shame, really, how some people can't understand that or never experienced it...but as they say, ignorance is bliss.

But anyway, back to this Hungarian fellow. He apparantly has a Jonathan Baldwin fetish.

"Honestly, do you really think Penn State's secondary would have an answer for Jonathan Baldwin?"

"i don't know man, 6' 5" & 225lbs is about as unstoppable as they come in college & Stull is learning how to use him, but I do agree he can be stopped. My point though is I don't think Penn State has the personnel to stop him. If they did "sell-out" to stop him, that leaves Dorin Dickerson un-accounted for in the middle of the field and also opens up the ground game for Dion Lewis"

Yeah, because we'd definitely sell out to stop a tall guy who can't go across the middle.

So anyway, if you got through all of that, good for you, because I had to take it in several sittings. But things like this are why I still believe there's a rivalry here. While you can say that every villege has it's idiot[s], it simply isn't true of Pitt. Most of the things said here are mainstream opinions. And even when they do have basis, the local media exaggerates them to massage the egos of the population.

Maybe some of you can ignore ignorant people, but I for one will always hate Pitt because of things like this.

*************************************************************************************************************************

UPDATE: More fun for you all!

"Arguing between the strength of the Big Ten and Big East is like a steel cage match between librarians.

It's also interesting which posters like to use the word "we" ("we kicked your ass", etc) when referring to their team. Like they have anything to do with it.

Lastly, there is a difference between a quarterback "winning games for US" and being in the lineup and winning despite his play.

Carry on."-BURGH08

I mean...We Are Penn State kinda speaks for itself doesn't it?

"So you're saying that Penn State's D wouldn't have an answer for Baldwin, Turner, Lewis, Dickerson, Byham, and Hyno? I don't think so either."-WellHungarian (That's debateable)

"bill stull is better than clark ... wannstedt has better bladder control than paterno ... true frosh lewis is better than 7th year senior royster who is only playing until he gets caught raping a co-ed"-commenter rhule20

***************************************************************************************************************************

This is the cherry on top:

"Judging by the comments Mondesi, a Pitt - Penn St. post is like shooting fish in a barrel. 65 posts and counting... While their respective records might provoke flashbacks to the early 1980's, neither program "needs" each other in 2009. That said, a potential bowl matchup would surely embolden the smack talkers on the message boards. Maybe that would be a good thing to end these incessant Pitt-Penn St. posts. I really feel bad for Adam because it is painfully evident that he derives his entire self worth through Penn St. football. When people use "we" or "us" to refer to their favorite team, you know you are dealing with a FANATIC in the true sense of the word."-Commenter Dallas Mike

My response:

"I'm not a fanatic. I'm a Penn State student.

I eat what Penn State feeds me. I sleep where Penn State houses me. This is my home, and the 40,000 other people that live here are my family. That includes people like Daryll Clark and Evan Royster, but it also includes the lady that drives the shuttle that takes me to class, the guy who gives me my donuts at the HUB, and the instructors who work their asses off to give me every opportunity to have a great future.

Our family gets the chance to come together as one a handful of times every fall, and that's to watch this football team. Football games aren't just about football for us, and that's why you see 110,000 people show up for games against the Akrons and Eastern Illinois's of the world. There's something greater going on here, and football is how we celebrate it.

We Are ALL Penn State, and unless you've walked in my shoes and lived what this place is all about, you're in no position to tell me how I evaluate my self-worth."

We Are Penn State.

A Humble Request To The Powers That Be

fugimaster24 — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:29:17 -0000

Dear Powers That Be,

I'm not sure who exactly you are, or what exactly you do within the athletic department, but I do know that many of you read this blog.

So, as the weeks go by, and the chances of Penn State winning the conference outright slim, I have a request:

Don't honor this team as a true Big 10 Champion if we were to share with Iowa.

I'm sure many will disagree, but the fact is that, should we share, we're not a true champion. Iowa came into our house on Whiteout night and made the plays they needed to to beat us. It cheapens their accomplishment to say that we won the conference, too, when they beat us head to head. I mean, I know how much it bugs me to hear Ohio State fans claim Big Ten Championships in 2005 and 2008, and I really hope we'd be above that level of ignorance.

More importantly, it cheapens the accomplishments of the undefeated and championship Penn State teams who've been honored with their championship years listed on the east side at Beaver Stadim. Those teams either went undefeated, won a national championship, or beat/had a better record than every team in their conference. None of those things can be said of this team unless Iowa loses two of the last four games.

I'm not saying we shouldn't celebrate this team should they share, but let's not get carried away. Let's not confuse goodness with greatness. Sure, we might "share" the conference title, but that doesn't mean an equal share.

So please, can we please refrain from being lame?

Student Section

fugimaster24 — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 14:25:10 -0000

I've been going to Penn State football games my whole life. My family finally got season tickets for the 2006 season, and I've been to just about every game since then. Our seats are in the upper deck of the north endzone, and I love it up there, not only for the view but the atmosphere as well. Narry is there a jerk to annoy you,and rarely do you see much confrontation.

Well, now I'm a freshman up here. I came into the season real excited to sit in the student section. However, in two games, I've been very disappointed. If this is the best student section in the country, it begs the question "What in God's name is happening in the rest of the country?"

Yesterday, Syracuse fan after Syracuse fan got pelted with food, and had "A**hole, A**hole" chanted in their faced untl they got embarassed and left.

Syracuse fans.

Look, if you come into our student section and start acting like a jerk or...a***hole to put it in yesterday's terms, then you deserve whatever you get. But if you're just coming in to watch a football game with your friend and you're being respectful like most SU fans were yesterday, there is no reason that you shouldn't be able to watch it in peace.

I think back to 2005 when Ohio St.'s great marching band got pelted with urine bombs, and had the student section turn it's back on the dotting of the "i". Look, I hate the Buckeyes as much as anyone, but I love tradition, and that's about as good as it gets. By acting how we acted, we ensured the only way I'm going to see that great tradition is if I go to the 'Shoe for a game, and we all know how difficult that is to pull off.

There's no reason for acting like this. None.

And while some of you may say "It's just a couple of jerks", or, "they're college kids that don't know any better" I say this. I'm a college student. I know better. There isn't any reason the same standard can't be applied to every single person that walks into those stands.

For those of you that don't know, I'm a big baseball fan, and specifically a big Pirate fan. I've followed the Bucs to a lot of cities, including New York which has a reputation for having horrible fans, and never have I come close to being treated the way our student section treats opposing fans. In fact it's been quite the opposite. I've actually had a lot of good conversations with the home fans, talking about the teams and the games and just generally enjoying the best parts of being in a new city. When I'm at PNC I try to be welcoming, even when there are 10,000 Phillies fans in a crowd of 14,000.

We should be enjoying opposing fans, not humiliating them.

Every stadium has rules against foul language and abusive behavior (which includes throwing objects). I'm sure we do, too. It's time to enforce the rules. Granted, you can't catch everyone, especially with all the jerks we have in our student section. But maybe if we start kicking large swaths of kids out of the stadium for acting like jerks, they'll start to get the message.

Dear student section. It's time to grow up.

Thursday Night Football OT Open Thread

fugimaster24 — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:32:50 -0000

Pucker Pucker Pucker

For the glory of old State,
For her founders strong and great,
For the future that we wait,
Raise the song, raise the song.

Sing our love and loyalty,
Sing our hopes that, bright and free,
Rest, O Mother dear, with thee,
All with thee, all with thee.

(Softly)

When we stood at childhood's gate,
Shapeless in the hands of fate,
Thou didst mold us, dear old State,
Dear old State, dear old State.

(Louder)

May no act of ours bring shame
To one heart that loves thy name,
May our lives but swell thy fame,
Dear old State, dear old State.

Tim McGr...I Mean Thursday Night Football (Open Thread)

fugimaster24 — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:08:47 -0000

So, I just sat down to watch the Steeler game. It's 8:00. The game doesn't start for another half hour though, because through the magic of television, I get to watch Black Eyed Peas and Tim McGraw. Excellent.

So anyone who wants to talk about tonight's games(s) (Clemson at Georgia Tech) and about how tonight is gonna be a good good night, feel free to chime in.

Peace, love, 75 words.

C'mon Now

fugimaster24 — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 22:28:53 -0000

Ok, now let me make myself clear right off the bat: I'm not excusing what this kid did. It's pretty unbelieveable.

But...

Star running back LeGarrette Blount won’t play for Oregon again this year. The school suspended him on Friday for the remainder of season after he slugged Boise State defensive end Byron Hout.

Blount threw the punch Thursday night following the 16th-ranked Ducks’ 19-8 loss to No. 14 Boise State.

As Boise State began celebrating on their famous blue turf, Hout yelled in Blount’s face and tapped him on the shoulder pad. Before Broncos head coach Chris Petersen could pull Hout away, Blount landed a right to Hout’s jaw, knocking him to his knees.

Isn't that a little excessive? He was goaded, and if it had happened during the game, it would have been a personal foul flag, maybe and ejection, and then water under the bridge. Suspending a kid for an entire season, and basically the rest of his collegiate career for that, I think, just isn't a very good idea.

Again, this kind of thing can't be tolerated, but as long as there are programs playing kids with actual criminal rap sheets, it seems ridiculous to me that we're ending kids' careers for school yard sucker punches.

Let's put it in Penn State terms. When we had guys get busted for pot last season, they missed 3 games. Was what Blount did really that bad in comparison?