Happy Valley? You Could Say So.
What an unbelievable weekend to be a Penn Stater. A prime time affair in one of college football's greatest settings. If you have any blue and white in you, you can't help but be extremely proud.
Let's recap, shall we?
First, starting last Sunday, tents spring up in a makeshift village, forever known as "Paternoville." By Saturday, 100 tents cluster around the student entrance. Earlier in the week, players, Pres. Spanier, and the namesake of the village pay a visit to the faithful. I was lucky enough to be a Stater during the magical 1994 season, and never, NEVER saw anything like this.
Saturday morning, with the rain falling, hundreds of students and supporters fall in behind the ESPN Gameday set. The signs are out, the voices are still strong, and dare I say most are still sober. Oh, and best sign? "Our #7 is better than yours." I get the feeling watching the show that the hosts are still not entirely sold on Nittany Nation, and may have begun doubting the choice of venue.
Saturday evening...stupid Iowa/Purdue game goes long...switch over, dammit! Finally, they cut to the stadium and goosebumps hit as I get the first glimpse of the "white out." You have got to be kidding me!! This is absolutely amazing.
Finally, game time...what is there left to say that hasn't been said? It was a classic Big Ten matchup with two defenses knocking the snot out of anyone on offense. Some notes:
--Paul Posluzny is the best linebacker in the Big Ten, if not the country. No disrespect to the OSU boys, but Sluz came out huge on Saturday. 3rd straight week as Big Ten defensive player of the week. Lost in the shuffle was Dan Connor's return to the starting lineup. He only had 12 tackles and a sack. Linebacker U is back.
--Tamba Hali may be the best DE we've had in 20 years, including Courtney Brown and Michael Haynes. The guy never quits. The hit on Smith is the biggest play in recent Penn State history.
--The D has more sacks this year than they did all of last season, and currently leads the Big Ten in that department. I love when your front four can get pressure on a QB.
--Kudos to MRob for growing up so fast in the QB spot. Great game of ball security and smart decision making. Wonder how good he'd be if Paterno let him take the reigns last year instead of his misplaced loyalty to Zack Mills?
--Quietly Tony Hunt is having a great year. That 3 yard gain on 4th down was monstrous, since it looked like he was going to be stopped. He's taking good care of the ball this year, and his blocking is outstanding. A burner or Ki-Jana type back he's not, but he's just what this team needs.
--The freshman 4 are unflappable. Curious to see how they handle the Big House...though, Michigan's secondary is not as strong as the Woodson days gone by.
--Anyone notice that the O-line didn't give up a sack for the second game in a row? Rivera, Hartings, Johnson, Greeley...maybe not, but they're solid.
Anyway, as Paterno has often stated, if you're solid on defense, solid in the kicking game, and win the turnover battle, you've got a good shot to win the game.
So, yes, I am thrilled with the victory, and thrilled with the #8 ranking (heck, some of the BCS polls have us at #1). But what makes me even more proud is the praise and press that the university is getting as a whole. Announcers constantly noting the stadium atmosphere, Herbie and Corso paying homage to the "Best Student section in the Country"...how proud was I? In a national spotlight, the university put its best foot forward, and came out looking like the world class institution it is. Well done, Dear Old State, well done.
Now, so not to bask too long in the warming glow of sweet, sweet victory...we gots to go to Ann Arbor in a couple of days and take on a team that has owned us for the last 6 meetings (twice shutting us out, and once coming into the Beav and dismantiling us 34-8). I remember the win over the Maize and Blue in '94, how crazy that was. I would love to have that history repeat itself. More to follow on this later, but first....
THE LADY LION SOCCER TEAM IS #1 IN THE NATION!!!
Move over UNC, there is a new power on the block! The Lady Lions finish out their Big Ten season vs Ohio State on Friday, en route to their 8th straight Big Ten Championship. This is the best soccer team no one knows about. Keep it up, ladies!!!
On a more depressing note, my fantasy team is now 1-4. I started DMcNabb Sunday, but should have gone with Bubby Brister or Steve Grogan. Goodness, the Eagles looked bad. Not sure this is just the "blip" folks think it is...two straight poor defensive performances and a non-existent ground game mean trouble in November.
All in all, it is great to be a Nittany Lion right now. I'm a very proud alum.
For the Glory...bigtime!!!!
Let's recap, shall we?
First, starting last Sunday, tents spring up in a makeshift village, forever known as "Paternoville." By Saturday, 100 tents cluster around the student entrance. Earlier in the week, players, Pres. Spanier, and the namesake of the village pay a visit to the faithful. I was lucky enough to be a Stater during the magical 1994 season, and never, NEVER saw anything like this.
Saturday morning, with the rain falling, hundreds of students and supporters fall in behind the ESPN Gameday set. The signs are out, the voices are still strong, and dare I say most are still sober. Oh, and best sign? "Our #7 is better than yours." I get the feeling watching the show that the hosts are still not entirely sold on Nittany Nation, and may have begun doubting the choice of venue.
Saturday evening...stupid Iowa/Purdue game goes long...switch over, dammit! Finally, they cut to the stadium and goosebumps hit as I get the first glimpse of the "white out." You have got to be kidding me!! This is absolutely amazing.
Finally, game time...what is there left to say that hasn't been said? It was a classic Big Ten matchup with two defenses knocking the snot out of anyone on offense. Some notes:
--Paul Posluzny is the best linebacker in the Big Ten, if not the country. No disrespect to the OSU boys, but Sluz came out huge on Saturday. 3rd straight week as Big Ten defensive player of the week. Lost in the shuffle was Dan Connor's return to the starting lineup. He only had 12 tackles and a sack. Linebacker U is back.
--Tamba Hali may be the best DE we've had in 20 years, including Courtney Brown and Michael Haynes. The guy never quits. The hit on Smith is the biggest play in recent Penn State history.
--The D has more sacks this year than they did all of last season, and currently leads the Big Ten in that department. I love when your front four can get pressure on a QB.
--Kudos to MRob for growing up so fast in the QB spot. Great game of ball security and smart decision making. Wonder how good he'd be if Paterno let him take the reigns last year instead of his misplaced loyalty to Zack Mills?
--Quietly Tony Hunt is having a great year. That 3 yard gain on 4th down was monstrous, since it looked like he was going to be stopped. He's taking good care of the ball this year, and his blocking is outstanding. A burner or Ki-Jana type back he's not, but he's just what this team needs.
--The freshman 4 are unflappable. Curious to see how they handle the Big House...though, Michigan's secondary is not as strong as the Woodson days gone by.
--Anyone notice that the O-line didn't give up a sack for the second game in a row? Rivera, Hartings, Johnson, Greeley...maybe not, but they're solid.
Anyway, as Paterno has often stated, if you're solid on defense, solid in the kicking game, and win the turnover battle, you've got a good shot to win the game.
So, yes, I am thrilled with the victory, and thrilled with the #8 ranking (heck, some of the BCS polls have us at #1). But what makes me even more proud is the praise and press that the university is getting as a whole. Announcers constantly noting the stadium atmosphere, Herbie and Corso paying homage to the "Best Student section in the Country"...how proud was I? In a national spotlight, the university put its best foot forward, and came out looking like the world class institution it is. Well done, Dear Old State, well done.
Now, so not to bask too long in the warming glow of sweet, sweet victory...we gots to go to Ann Arbor in a couple of days and take on a team that has owned us for the last 6 meetings (twice shutting us out, and once coming into the Beav and dismantiling us 34-8). I remember the win over the Maize and Blue in '94, how crazy that was. I would love to have that history repeat itself. More to follow on this later, but first....
THE LADY LION SOCCER TEAM IS #1 IN THE NATION!!!
Move over UNC, there is a new power on the block! The Lady Lions finish out their Big Ten season vs Ohio State on Friday, en route to their 8th straight Big Ten Championship. This is the best soccer team no one knows about. Keep it up, ladies!!!
On a more depressing note, my fantasy team is now 1-4. I started DMcNabb Sunday, but should have gone with Bubby Brister or Steve Grogan. Goodness, the Eagles looked bad. Not sure this is just the "blip" folks think it is...two straight poor defensive performances and a non-existent ground game mean trouble in November.
All in all, it is great to be a Nittany Lion right now. I'm a very proud alum.
For the Glory...bigtime!!!!
posted by HappyValley at 5:14 PM
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