Awesome Recruiting News / Todays 2nd PSU Rant

[Former Wildcat]

I think Penn State probably finished 3rd or 4th next season. I know Penn State has everybody back, but for the most part, so do Wisconsin and Illinois. Ohio State should be the class of the conference with 19 starters back themselves. Plus, don't count out Michigan, which has more talent than any team in the conference other than OSU. The problem for Penn State is that next year was supposed to be their big year and the prospects for the following year are grim.

[The Ancient Enemy]

APBK makes a decent case, and Chunky had good info. I dont know how you can say we're favorites over Purdue or Iowa or Michigan State. I'm okay with saying those games are 50-50, but I'm not okay with using the term "favorite".

I know that APBK is an optimist, and that's awesome, and much needed, but I go by patterns and evidence. Sure, I want PSU to win the nat. title every year, but that is obviously not realistic. My problem is that PA is a hotbed, they have excellent facilities, a world-class alumni and fan base, and they continue to let the program fail to meet its potential.

Here is just one example, which someone already alluded to in this thread: Take a look at PSU's QB's. When you have a lineage of players at a certain position, and they never get any better than C+ or MAYBE B- status, that's a red flag. That's a pattern, guys. A negative one at that.

Now look at next season. Are you seriously going to try and tell me that Daryl Clark is a better play than Pat Devlin? Are we playing to win games or not? I realize they'll have Clark lose about 10-15 lbs and his accuracy will inevitably get better through practice, at least somewhat, but come on now. This is another case of Joe playing upperclassmen over the underclassmen who are better.

My problem is that every single team in the Big Ten is making progress. No one is moving in the wrong direction, EXCEPT maybe Penn State. Maybe Iowa, too.

- Northwestern can beat anybody and lose to anybody.
- Go look at Minnesota's recruiting.
- Indiana is clearly better.
- Illinois' recruiting and progress is well evidenced.
- Michigan State is getting better w/ that new coach.
- Ohio State is Ohio State. Recruiting is astronomical again.
- Michigan will be back in nat. title pictures in like 2 years, simply b/c of a speed offense.

Penn State is stagnant.

[abpk2903]

I also can see your concerns TAE, I just feel that everyone is acting like Penn State has no chance to win the Big Ten. That is good because look at the team before the 2005 season. I agree the recruiting process is awful right now but also I look at the fact that all the highly recruited players recently have underachieved (Morelli, Scott, King, Williams, the list goes on and on) whereas average recruits have overachieved (Johnson, Robinson, Hunt, so on). Everyone credits that year to Robinson but the defense won the Ohio State game and Penn State should have lost to NW. Robinson played nothing better than average until Minnesota when he ran over that poor DB. Look at the case going into that year: many players back, athletic QB starting over a highly recruited QB that everyone else wanted to play, very few giving them a chance, and a non-conference schedule that has its challenges but yet should be 4 wins. That is almost exactly how it was heading into '05. Am I saying we will win the Big Ten no, if I had to pick I would say 3rd but the biggest thing will be injuries as always. If Lee, Royster, and Williams all go down in the non-conference schedule we could finish 6th in the Big Ten or worse but if we are lucky enough to stay healthy we have a shot.

[The Ancient Enemy]

Well, Royster getting injured quickly is a given, so expect Carter or Michael Shaw to be the starter by about... hmm... the second series of the first game.

There's a chance Michigan sucks and their season is ruined because of a philosophy change. Ohio State will be Ohio State. Wisconsin... who knows. Illinois, also, no one can really predict. Maybe PSU goes 7-5 or 8-4.

I admit I can be somewhat of an alarmist, but I have a bad feeling about this season. I guess the optimistic thing though is that there are a lot of kids who are clearly ready to be starters, or get increased time. Supposedly, Colasanti is the next one in line behind Sean Lee. After see Mauti all over the field in that Army All-American game, I can't imagine that Michael Mauti won't be the next Poz or Connor. That kid is all over the place! I'm excited about him, and there's things Shaw subtly said that make me think he's a warrior, so that's good. I'm excited about those 2. Still think we need to address the fact that Chris Bell is the only WR left in 2009.

Did anyone else see how far Shayne Hale and Deion Walker fell this week when the final Top 250 was released on Rivals?

[El-Moldo]

Told you that it was a good idea for the PSU men's basketball team to be outta town this weekend. This morning, after his weekend visit to PSU, 2-star WR A.J. Price from Reston, Va. verballed to Penn State.

[The Ancient Enemy]

That's a good pick up. I know he's only a 2-star player, but he's 6'4" 175 and runs a 4.5. That's not bad, If they can bulk that kid up a little bit, I really think this is a great addition.

Did they not offer Dorzan?