2 Minute Warning

A week without a game seems like a pretty good time to take a deep breath. Do yourself a favor stop reading all the junk in the national media. We'll see plenty of that garbage in the weeks to come. Let's think about just how lucky we are. An undefeated team, in the hunt for the Big Ten and National Championships. And lets not forget about the man who is still running the show

Sports Illustrated December 22-29, 1986

From whom else but Paterno did we learn that you can have 20-20,000 vision and still see more clearly than almost every-body else, that you can look like Bartleby but coach like Bryant, that you can have your kids hit holes like 'Bama's and books like Brown's, that the words "college" and "football" don't have to be mutually exclusive.

Paterno just isn't ready to give up swatting at windmills. As Paterno once said, "Look, we're so cynical about everything these days. Everybody's a cynic. But what if an 18-year-old kid wants to be an idealist? What if he wants to find some integrity in college athletics? Where's he going to go?"

For another four or five years at least, he can pack up his copy of Huck Finn and report to the squatty, near-sighted guy in the white socks and the nervous pants legs in State College, Pa., just as kids have been doing with splendid results for three decades. That's why we choose Joe Paterno as Sportsman of the Year.

The next few weeks are going to be very exciting but lets not loose track of how special this is.
A Team
A School
And the Great Experiment

The Nittanyproudfoot Now With 30% More Belligerence

Holy Cow do I have a list of stuff that is (to put it in the words of a great man) making me choke on my own rage.

1.
No one should be allowed to touch the Stanley Cup unless they win the Stanly Cup. I don't think that I should be allowed to touch it and I sure as hell don't think the lead singer of a defunct 80's hair metal group should be allowed to either. Meet the dumbest human being in existence....

This is Joe Elliott. Joe dosen't understand the concept of a cup.

Cup (noun) [kuhp] a small, open container made of china, glass, metal, etc., usually having a handle and used chiefly as a receptacle from which to drink tea, soup, etc.
Yes

No
2.
Seriously guys no more (insert color)-Outs. You just can't pull them off. I'm going to let you in on a little secret. The success of the Penn State White-Out has very little to do with people wearing the color white. Sure it makes the stadium look nice but just because you decide to all wear the same color doesn't mean you will suddenly be transformed into the best stadium in the country. Beaver Stadium is always that loud during night games, because 1) it's gigantic and filled with rabid fans and 2) because everyone's been tailgating since 8 am. So everybody's done their ---Out, you all tried your hand at it. Why don't you just leave it to the professionals now?

By the way....Iowa's doing a "Greene-Out" a week from Saturday

3.
Staying on the topic of college football. I've just about had my fill of the columnists at Yahoo Sports and Rivals.com. A line has been crossed. This morning Yahoo Sports led with a photo of Joe Paterno with the words "The Big Lie" over it. Absolutely unacceptable. There's a difference between being provocative and yellow journalism. How dare these frauds question Penn State's run at a national Championship. You question whether Penn State has the right to be in your precious BCS? Here are some teams that were thought to be BCS worthy by the national media in the last 10 years.
Stanford
Colorado
Maryland
Washington State
Kansas State
Utah
Pitt
Louisville
Wake Forest
Hawaii
Syracuse
No team has been on the wrong side of media chosen National Championship more times than my Nittany Lions. We don't take kindly to people telling us were our Undefeated Team dosen't belong.

Just leave us alone until we line up against your beloved Texas Longhorns. They may be one heck of a team but you better believe we'll give them a game that will make them wish they were playing a Big 12 team that hasn't played defense since the mid-90's

4.
Has anyone else noticed that there are no good horror movies on this year? What the hell happened to MonsterFest, 13 Days of Halloween, Classic Horror on TMC, marathons of Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street, and Friday the 13th? You wanna know what AMC is showing this year? Constantine and Jeepers Creepers. What the hell AMC? Way to ruin one of the best TV weeks of the year. Where's the Romero? the Hitchcock? American Werewolf in London? Nosferatu? Evil Dead? Why don't you jokes go ahead and put your Christmas junk on TV you know you want to.



That's it I'm going to take my rage out in a game of NHL 09. Way to go world thanks to you I'm the most penalized player in the National Hockey League.

And that so wasn't a Cross-Check

Peace Out Yo

You Need to Play with Supreme Confidence

This may ruffle some feathers but it needs to be said.

It's time to stop giving the other team credit.
Call it the "Spirit of '94" but I say stop fearing the Big Ten

This isn't going to be easy for a lot of you that came into the Penn State family in our darkest hour.
But that hour is over.
What did you think that "We Are Back" stuff was about in 2005? We are back to second or third place in the Big Ten?
It's time to embrace our history

You are Fans of One of the Elite Teams in Sports History
2 Big Ten Titles ( 94, 05)
4 National Championships ( 1911, 1912,1982, 1986)
7 Undefeated Seasons (1887, 1912, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1986, 1994)
107 All- Americans
21 Players in the College Hall of Fame
11 Players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
797 -347 Record
26-12 Bowl Record
The Biggest Stadium in the Country
The Greatest Coach in the History of College Football

I know for a lot of you its hard to forget the last 8 years, but don't forget about the 113 years before that.


You are part of 121 years of Success with Honor
We don't showboat. We're not cocky. We just know that We Are Penn State, and that means that every Saturday no matter who is standing on the other sideline we expect to win.

You Are Penn State, soon the rest of the country will know what that means.

Lions win 34 - 23


side note: The painting at the top of the page was created by former Penn State Defensive End Matthew Rice, it's entitled "Undefeated" and depicts the 1994 Ohio State-Penn State Game. You may remember Rice's other work "Blueprint"that was the background for the 05 football poster. You can see (and purchase) all of Rice's works at his online gallery at http://www.mateoblu.com/


Hail to the Lion

It All Began With a Hole in a Flag

Today marks the 52nd anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution and though I doubt this fact will convince your boss to give you the day off work it is worth taking a moment to dwell on.

On October 23, 1956, students took to the streets of Budapest, where they were joined by teachers, soldiers, and factory workers. These average people threw out a corrupt puppet government and stood toe to toe with the juggernaut Soviet Union

Here's a quick excerpt from Andor Heller's No More Comrades

"I saw freedom rise from the ashes of Communism in Hungary: a freedom that flickered and then blazed before it was beaten down -but not extinguished- by masses of Russian tanks and troops.

I saw young students, who had known nothing but a life under Communist and Russian control, die for a freedom about which they had only heard from others or from their own hearts.

I saw workers, who had been pushed to the limit of endurance by their hopeless existence under Communism, lay down their tools and take up arms in a desperate bid to win back freedom for our country.

I saw a girl of fourteen blow up a Russian tank, and grandmothers walk up to Russian cannons.

I watched a whole nation, -old and young, men and women, artists and engineers and doctors, clerks and peasants and factory workers- become heroes overnight as they rose up in history's first successful revolt against Communism.

With my own eyes and my camera's eye, I saw Hungary's Freedom Revolution"

In 13 days (Nov 4) no one is going to ask you stand up to Nikita Khrushchev, to blow up a tank, or even march in our US streets for your freedom. All you are asked to do is pick who you want to lead your country. Now that doesn't seem so hard does it?

It's fairly obvious from the banner in the top of the left side panel who my choice is, and though I have found said candidate not only worth my vote but also countless hours of my time I don't ask you to vote for him purely on my endorsement. All I ask is that you fulfill the simplest of responsibility of citizenship. On November 4th go to your local polling place and make the choice that is best for you.

What a country we live in were you are asked to do no more. And what an affront to freedom everywhere if you choose to do less.

peace out yo

Man Up!

It's time again to take a look at a nifty link to brighten up your online life. If you haven't been following along this is our attempt to put the spark back in internet by doing a little bookmark swapping.

Today we look at The Art of Manliness
I could go into a long winded and poorly spell checked review but the authors of the site have already provided an excellent introduction to their little corner of the internet.

"All you need to do is turn on the TV to see that the world is wallowing in unmanliness. Today’s man has forgotten what it means to be a man. Instead we have a society of boys walking around in man bodies. We’ve let video games and television suck the manly vigor out of our collective man soul.

The field is white my friends. There are millions of men out there waiting to hear the message of manliness. They’re ready to learn how clean a fish, win a street fight, or jump start a car. They’re ready to start dating women. They’re ready to ask for a raise. They’re ready be men of honor and virtue. They’re ready, but they just need someone to deliver the message.

What they need is some of that old time manliness. The kind our grandfathers and dads lived. If it was good enough for them, it’s good enough for us."

I gotta admit I'm not above playing the occasional video game or blowing a Sunday afternoon napping rather than lifting large triangular weights while twirling my handlebar mustache. But I think these guys have a point. We have to come to terms with the fact that the 21st century man has gotten a little soft. We've lost sight of what it is to be manly, mistaking it for redneck schovanism and frat boy machismo.

It's time we embraced the life style of our forefathers.
Talk like Frank Sinatra
Shine your boots like a soldier
Grill the perfect steak.
Dress up for a Night on the town.
Treat a woman like a lady
Drink a manly drink.
Build a fire without matches
Exercise to be fit not to look like a spray-tanned tool
Shave with a blade not the latest travesty perpetrated by Gelett
Give a great speech
Win a Street fight.
Climb a Mountain

I'm not saying we all need to turn into Teddy Roosevelt over night. But hey, if it was good enough for our fathers maybe if wouldn't do us any harm either. Also it would be cool if we could bring back the word "bully!". Yea that would be awesome

As always the new link is in the side bar

peace out yo

In the Middle of the State There is a Mountain. In the Shadow of That Mountian is a School

Before we return to the slight against the English language known as The Nittanyproudfoot how about a Time-Out for a moment of sincerity?

Can we even begin to explain Penn State?
It's goes beyond a location, or affiliation, or even (dare I say?)....team loyalty
It has at the same time nothing and everything to do with a football team, a school, and a little town in the middle of Pennsylvania

Here's to The Happy Valley
To Blue Bands and House Bands
To Riddles on Beer Caps and Friday Afternoon Power-Naps
To Nickel Night, Nacho Night, and LOST Night
To Passing the Lion and Passing the Bottle
To Reunions Both Long Awaited and Unexpected
To New Friends That You Wish Were Old
To Old Friends That Became a Second Family

Somewhere along the line "We Are" became so much more that a football chant

peace out yo

Time's Up Michigan

Most weeks are about wins and statistics and polls.
Not this week.
This is personal

Do you remember how you felt on October 15, 2005?

I do.

These bastards deserve everything they get
Hail to the Lion

Lest We Forget

Forget about all the wins. Forget about Illinois and Wisconsin. Put Ohio State and Michigan State out of your mind. The record means nothing. Number 3 means nothing. Forgo the pomp and circumstance, the publicity, the accolades, the commentators wearing mascot heads, and the pregame shows being brought to you by canned chili peppers and big box hardware stores.

None of it matters

Before the thought of Miami sun in the cold days of January creeps into our subconscious we have business to attend to.

2 Seconds worth of business to be exact.
And we intend to take those 2 seconds out of Michigan's hide

Do you remember the headline of the Collegian the day after the Big Ten Championship in 2005?

This is what we are fighting for

We're not going to play second fiddle to a bunch of jokes that can't hold their own against any team West of the Rockies or South of the Mason-Dixon Line
We didn't join this Conference to be average.
We are bigger than any Conference
We Are Penn State. It's time we started acting like it.


Believe deep down in your heart that you're destined to do great things.

Badger's Smiling

After "Experiencing the Evolution" the last few seasons. The Pittsburgh Penguins have settled on a new media campaign to start the 08-09 season. Drumroll Please...



Anyone who knows me knows that one of my favorite sayings is "It's a Great Day for Hockey". If you love Pittsburgh Hockey you should obviously thank the likes of Lemieux, Malkin, Patrick, Jager, Shero, Stevens, Crosby, Fleury, Borrasso. etc etc But don't forget the impact that Badger Bob Johnson had on this city's hockey culture. It's one thing to have a winning hockey team it's another to be a hockey city, just ask Raliegh. If you are from Pittsburgh and you love hockey thank Badger.

Bonus points for using The Clarks as the music for the video

Big Game tonight at 7:30. It will be a Great Day for Hockey in Pittsburgh, then again most days are.

Peace Out Yo

Neat Stuff Is Neat!

As promised today we begin our series on new nifty links to brighten up your online life. Our first link is www.uncrate.com

Uncrate is a site for dudes that like cool stuff. And lets face it wanting to buy and then show off our cool stuff is a big part of being a man. Give a man the following list of stuff and I guarantee he'll want every item on it.

1. Ice tray that makes bullet shaped cubes
2. Your own custom Irish Pub complete with a years supply of Guinness
3. Coffee table made out of a car hood
4. The Emperors Chair from Star Wars
5. Solar Panel Picnic Table
6. Man Candles with scents like beer, campfire, grass, pancake, pigskin, and stripper
7. iPod Speaker that looks like a 1930's radio
8. An Authentic Indiana Jones Hat.
9. Airsoft Gun with a Laser sight
10. The Christmas Tress from Charlie Brown Christmas

Admit you want this stuff. You really really want this stuff. Bookmark Uncrate.com , they update it every week day. Who knows you may find the one item in the world that will make you the coolest kid on the block!

All new links can be found in the sidebar under "Stuff I Like to Look At"

Before we go lets check in with our Pass Russhing Pontif Father Dego Flat of St Beryl of Krakow Catholic Church.

Hey Padre do you prediction for the big game Saturday night?



Good advice Father. It's going to be a huge month for PSU if they make it through 3-0 they deserve a BCS birth.

Alright gang that's it for the week. Pens Home Opener Saturday at 7:30, PSU Saturday at 8:00. Enjoy the great sports weekend!

Peace Out Yo

Schadenfreude

The Flyers lost to their AHL farm team the Philly Phantoms in an exhibition game. Don't Believe me? Here's the Recap

Let's go ahead and let that won sink in.

The Flyers lost to their own JV team.

Life is Good

Peace Out Yo

Variety is the Spice of Life

The internet is great. Really great. Superduper great. Like keg of Guinness and a sack of cheeseburgers while watching your team win the National Championship great. But admit it every morning you wake up click through a list bookmarks and then you go about your day.

All the information in the world and how are we using it? Too look up the history of Aquaman.
I'm surprised Al Gore still lets us use this miracle tool.
The internet has become stale. When you want to know something you go to the same places, ESPN, IMDB, Wikipedia, you read a handful of blogs, a handful of comics, then kill sometime on Youtube. That's it.

A while back I thought about starting a book club but lets face facts. None of you read, it may have been my worst idea ever. I am however fairly certain that you frequent websites (either that or I'm working on a healthy case of carpel tunnel for no reason whatsoever) So here is what I propose. I'll show you mine if you show me your.........links (you filthy pre-vert). Lets all take a long look at our bookmarks and share the wealth. You know there's a site you look at every day that you'd love to share with the rest of the class. Ladies and gentlemen lets make the internet fun again.

Leave a post, send an email, or IM your link. Heck if you really want to write a review and I'll post it on the site.

first review sometime this week

peace out yo

Is This The Year?

It really seems like only a few weeks ago that it all ended. And like 28 other teams the Pens were faced with the prospect of going home without the hardware they've dreamed about their entire lives. Tough Times. But like I said hockey doesn't go away after the season it just goes back to it's roots, back to the ponds and parking lots were kids in scroungy pads play for the pure joy of the game.

Today hockey moves back into the national consciousness. If you haven't been keeping up with the sport now is an excellent opportunity to come back. But don't take my word for it, just ask some of the fans that have re-embraced the game in the last few years. There is a reason why 20,000 people are willing to fork over $200 just to be placed on a list to get season tickets 10 years from now.

Come back to hockey. You won't regret it





Is this the season? Hang on we're about to find out.
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

And a great day for hockey

Peace Out Yo