Disney or Riverwalk? Which Bowl Game Most Benefits PSU?
Penn State most likely won't know where it will be bowling until Sunday morning. As it sits now, it's the Capital One Bowl or the Alamo Bowl, with the hinge being Illinois getting into the BCS.
Laschout wants to know, what game is the better scenario for Penn State? Would it be the Cap One, vs. Florida or LSU? Would Penn State's struggles vs. tough teams overshadow the New Year's Day glitz? Or would a trip to the Alamo (most likely vs. Texas A&M) be a better match-up, despite it being in the Saturday night time slot? With the Big Ten revenue sharing model, PSU gets the same payday no matter where they go.
So, which game best benefits the 2007 team and beyond? Recruiting, national prominence, and even Joe's contract status?
Laschout wants to know, what game is the better scenario for Penn State? Would it be the Cap One, vs. Florida or LSU? Would Penn State's struggles vs. tough teams overshadow the New Year's Day glitz? Or would a trip to the Alamo (most likely vs. Texas A&M) be a better match-up, despite it being in the Saturday night time slot? With the Big Ten revenue sharing model, PSU gets the same payday no matter where they go.
So, which game best benefits the 2007 team and beyond? Recruiting, national prominence, and even Joe's contract status?
I vote for the Alamo bowl if for the only reason we won't be embarrassed nearly as much as if we faced Florida or LSU. Right now the objective is to save face. National prominence hasn't been a factor for years and the recruiting will suffer if we stink the place up. I would change my vote in a heartbeat if I thought it might get Joe out of town faster.
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I vote for the Cap One Bowl against LSU or Florida. Another whopping to PSU can only help open more eyes to the current problem with the coaching staff. A win does not gain any national prominence, it does not address recruiting since our HC does not leave campus and our OC does not recruit at all.
A win only gives Joe more ammunition to convince PSU that he is worthy of an extension. In a month, Joe will review enough film and have enough practices to be comfortable with a competent game plan on both sides of the ball.
Until Joe goes, nothing changes, get used to 8-4 as the norm and the occassional 10-2 if we get all the breaks.
According to the actuary tables, Joe is gone sooner than later. One day, we will have a new coach it should be now.
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I'd want to go up against Florida or LSU and not because I think we'd get our rear-ends handed to us. On the contrary, with the healing break and the time to prepare, I think we could give either team a battle.
I would always vote to play the best team we can get. Bring 'em on!
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You definitely want to play in the best possible bowl against the best possible. That would be the capital one bowl against an SEC team. You give Joe long enough to prepare for a team and they will have a good showing. Look at the Tenn. game last year. Not many gave PSU a shot but they played well. Which gave all of us a false sense of hope for this season.
If they get crushed then it only helps prove that a new coaching staff is needed.
New Year's Day all the Way!!!
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Definitely the Outback. Joe will probably never change his ways, so either we would play either team tough and they get by with a win or we steal one...OR we would get blasted! If we got blasted, maybe that would at least discourage Joe to the point that he would keep his nose out of the offensive game plan. It might get worse with Jay, but either way both would be somewhat embarrassed. Then a reporter would ask Joe, yet again...Is Penn State where it needs to be? HAH, damn
Ponder this; Do you think Jay has ever pleaded with Joe to let the offensive coaches do what they do? Or say to Joe that Joe is making his job more difficult, making him look like a worse coach than he really is?
I'd love to hear just one heated football discussion between those two...focused on the offensive side of the football. Then again, maybe this is what Jay was doing with his Lincoln logs and he is perfectly content! I don't know!!
I think we could beat LSU because their offense seems to rely on the run a bit more, Florida would just be Tebow running, and an air show. LSU would use about 4-5 RBs and I think we could probably hold our own their. The biggest thing would be Kinlaw trying to run against Ali Highsmith or Morelli trying to throw against those 2 CBs.
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I meant Capital One throughout all of that...
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My head and heart say go to the best possible bowl against the best opponent available. My gut says take the more winnable alternative. I'd like to believe like some of the others that with enough prep time we can rise to the occasion and actually beat a team of the caliber of LSU or Florida. But I haven't seen anything from this team or coaching staff that gives me any confidence that they can do so.
I have a hard time believing that any outcome in either bowl will have a dramatic effect on the make-up of this staff. With the possible exception of getting pasted by a mid-level Big XII program. That might bring a few people of influence to their senses, more so than a similar trouncing by a top-tier team.
What I'd really like to see is for them use the bowl game for what it's often purported to be: preparation for the next season. That means giving Morelli his obligatory start, then using Clark and Devlin in meaningful situations throughout the game. Not likely to happen, though. At least Royster will get his share of reps, if he's healthy.
Bottom line for me, since the outcome means little more than personal satisfaction, would I rather spend New Year's Day ice fishing, still feeling the false glow of victory from a few nights earlier, or sit through the agonizing reality of what this team has left unaccomplished?
I'm not even banking on a sure victory in the Alamo, but I'll take my chnaces there. Call me a recovering Kool-aid drinker.
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I'm not sold in IL going to the BCS. I think we are going to San Antonio.
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If you look at the tv ratings, the Alamo has generally been one of the most watched bowl games outside the BCS...so its not crazy to say the Alamo has just as high of a profile as Cap One Bowl. The only difference is that whole prestige of the "Jan 1" bowl title. I'd rather go to the Alamo and win and get into the off-season on a high note, than go to Cap One and get blown out of the water by Florida or LSU (which will happen).
I'm all for playing in the best bowl vs the best opponent when a national championship or say a top 5 or 10 ranking is at stake...this clearly isnt the case.
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Can you imagine if Penn State goes into the Citrus Bowl (I dont care if they have a sponsor now) and plays a TOP SEC team and wins? That would do so much for Penn State and recruiting for this year and a couple years down the line. Fans, analysts, Joe haters, recruits would not be able to say Penn State cant hang with the big teams down South with all their speed.
Penn State would not get blown out either because when Joe has a month to prepare for a game he still knows how to do that as good as anyone. I would also think LSU or Florida would not take a 'crappy Big Ten team' seriously.
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It wouldn't do anything of the sort - it would be spun by ESPN to be the SEC having a "down" night or some sort and Penn State would be considered "lucky" to have won.
Your belief that LSU or Florida (or any other team for that matter) wouldn't take PSU seriously is a joke. While Penn State is preparing, what do you think Urban Meyer would be doing?? Vacation? The beach? Come on! They'd figure out how to shut down our offense. Not that difficult of a task, let's be honest.
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I'd vote for the Cap One Bowl vs. Florida or LSU. Go for the best possible, and hope that Joe will be able to replicate the familiar pattern of pulling out a win against a tough opponent when he has a month to prepare. Winning the Cap One vs. a high profile opponent would certainly be a big shot in the arm for recruiting; playing a lower profile opponent isn't going to help there.
Winning the Cap One might be the impetus for Joe to finally decide to pack it in and leave on a high note.
At least that's what I'm hoping for.
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I believe the "payout" statement is wrong. So I'm gonna go with the highest paying Bowl. Confidence is high.
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I believe your wrong because I know the big ten collects all the money from the bowls then splits it to each team.
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Believe what you will.....
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If we were to head to the Cap One bowl it would be Florida. The loser of the SECCG is headed to the Peach Bowl.
I doubt Illinois gets a BCS bid.
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Why exactly does everyone on here conclude we would get slaughtered by LSU or Florida? Florida has 3 losses and some close wins. LSU has 2 losses and several VERY close wins. I know most everyone on this site absolutely hates Joe and, while I agree it is definitely time for Joe to hang it up, I honestly think we can beat either of those teams in a bowl. This "SEC is far superior to the Big 10" talk is way overblown and it is all based on just one game - Florida's stomping of OSU last year. I am convinced OSU was the better team last year, but they were badly hurt by their extra 2 week layoff thanks to the Big 10's ridiculously early season ending which absolutely needs to change ASAP.
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I don't buy the SEC superiority thing either. I do believe LSU and Florida are superior teams over PSU, and we would get embarrassed.
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For anyone who thinks we can beat, or not get destroyed by a top SEC team, please re-watch our games vs Temple and Mich St.
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I'd still rather play against a decent opponent in a better bowl game. Not many people gave PSU a decent chance against Tennessee last year. I say let's take our shot-it'd be great to beat a team like LSU in a New Year's Day bowl game.
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big deal, we beat a disinterested tennessee team.. and we needed a 90 yard fumble return to do it. Tenn was a 4 pt favorite in that game, not like it was some huge upset.
Don't read too much into bowl games. We have done a good of taking completely meaningless games relatively seriously, when most teams don't.. perhaps that's because we are used to playing meaningless games??
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I am going if Alamo, as I have never been to San Antonio- should be more competitive playing a AM or Tech team than Fl or LSU.
So my vote REMEMBER THE ALAMO !!
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capital one. we want the best opponent
BTW: All big ten schools share the pay out
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Do not confuse "share" with "equal". I know what you are trying to say. It is inaccurate.
I still say the highest paying bowl.
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Regardless of payout .....Capital One
btw .....quick search brought up an old article.....so has this changed ?
http://media.www.dailyiowan.com/media/storage/paper599/news/2002/12/13/Pregame/Big-Ten.Bowl.System.Its.All.About.Sharing-341676-page2.shtml
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Oh, and look for an announcement soon. We accepted the Alamo invite.
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Guess this is all a mute point now that we are going to the Alamo Bowl. San Antonio is a great place and in my mind more fun places than Orlando. Riverwalk is awesome. Regarding the scared of LSU stuff, this year would have been perfect year to play LSU as their coaching staff changes will be the major story with Pelini and Miles going to other schools. Team almost always lose when their coach leaves.
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What the hell is a "mute point"?
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ha, i think he meant "moot"
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it's official, another year Grandpap can't get into the BCS. One measly BCS bowl. Paps can't compete in the Big 2 little 9.
Interesting question, who has more Big 10 titles, Northwestern, or the great Grandpap?
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Are you guys planning on doing any new posts any time soon? I'd be interested in hearing about recruiting and the bowl practice sessions.
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I guess that would be a no
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Has the well run dry already? Say it isn't so.
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We're trying to do our best Jay Paterno imitation. Seriously, everyone is busy, but we plan to have new and regular content coming in the near future.
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I have done as much recruiting this year, and last year, as this programs head coach, Grandpap.
"Recruiting" is a verb, IE an action is to be performed by those involved. "Recruiting" is the most important part of a college football program to be successful.
we are getting demolished on the recruiting front, and Grandpap doesn't care enough to be involved... hmm, ok then Paps.
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Last time I checked, Penn State has verbal commitments from some solid recruits and are still in the mix for guys like Walker, Tate, Pryor.
I think your 'demolished' sentiment is a little off, but I agree there are some things going on that could be done A LOT better.
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blueband, pitt is outrecruiting PSU in state, there is NO speed at all in this recruiting class, and take away the 3 linebackers (arguably the 3 best recruits) and then look at the class...lynn will leave - wedderburn seems solid - but think of who SHOULD be at psu - alexander, woods, at least 1 stud OL, etc.
as of right now, the only 1 who may see snaps is a RB or Lynn (MAYBE crawford) - other than that, these freshman will all be redshirted
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Any truth to the LJ rumors that are rampant on TAP?
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Hey Grandpap, you are one selfish, pathetic old man. Sick and tired of how you want to coach 3,4,5 more years blah blah blah, I feel good, I like what I am doing.. YEAH, NO KIDDING, THAT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT ACTUALLY DOING YOUR JOB!!!!
Get your old ass out and start recruiting! Does your job description say that since you older than dirt, you don't have to recruit?? And your happy with yourself being a middle of the pack big 10 team??
You will always be Carrs doormat. Hit the road Gramps.
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We should go to a bowl game right in State College, so the entire BWI board can worship the moderators and have a big party and exclude everybody except the 15 friends of the main moderator, and that character from New Jersey with something like an unreal 27,000 posts on a message board can be the master of ceremonies.
It'll be just like Jonestown!
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