Blue White Roundtable Week 8

This week the roundtable questions come courtesy of Run Up the Score (http://runupthescore.wordpress.com/). Be sure to check out the other great PSU blogs for their answers as well (most are in my links list).

1. Two consecutive games, two dominating performances by the Nittany Lion running game. Why the drastic change in production?

The running game has been a vital part of this mini mid-season resurgence. Evney Kinyster has run for 437 yards and 4 TDs in the last two games. I would be remised if I also did not mention the Offensive line; this group has started to mesh in these last couple of weeks, which has helped spur the running game. And finally Anthony Morelli has played pretty well, aside the interceptions late in the Iowa game he has played smart and stayed away from key mistakes.

2. Since the departure of Tom Osborne before the 1998, Nebraska quickly fired Frank Solich, hired a bad NFL coach, and on Monday fired its Athletic Director. Is there any way to avoid this sort of fiasco when Joe Paterno eventually retires?

Yes, if you want to keep the program going the same way then you need to hire from inside: Tom Bradley, Jay Paterno etc. I think this is actually what will happen, there will be people who will want the sexy pick for a new coach, the Greg Schiano's of the world but that, in my opinion, could be a poor decision. It will be very interesting to see what will go down when Joe does depart...I just hope there wont be pandemonium in this town.

3. Terrelle Pryor is on the verge of crossing Penn State off his list, if he hasn’t already. Does Penn State absolutely have to sign a quarterback in this class, or can we afford to wait until next season?

I have to admit I didn’t know whom Terrelle Pryor was so I had to look him up on Rivals.com, that kid can play! I know we have 3 QBs on scholarship next year (Clark, Devlin, Suhey) so I guess it wouldn’t kill the team if they couldn’t score one in this class but it sure would be nice to get one, especially one in the mold of Pryor, someone who can run the option which is a WEAPON in the college game.

Lightning Round


Describe a scenario in which Penn State ties for the conference title. Obviously, Penn State has to beat Ohio State. What other dominoes need to fall?

Let me see...A LOT: PSU needs to win out, OSU needs to lose another game to get them to 2 in the conference, lets say Wisconsin. Illinois needs to lose another game (I'm thinking Minnesota, they gotta have 2 conference wins in them!) to get them to 2 losses but needs to beat Michigan to get them to one, then Michigan needs to lose to OSU. That would give Penn State a share of a 4 way Big Ten Title with OSU, Michigan, and Illinois.... and we go to the Outback Bowl still because Illinois and Michigan beat us making us 3rd in the Big Ten pecking order and the #3 Big Ten school goes to the Outback Bowl.

Will Penn State have its typical lazy start in a noon road game?

I want to say no and that the stellar defense, which has allowed 12 Touchdowns in the last 13 games, will keep the speedy Indiana Offense in check and that Kinlaw and Royster will run the ball down their throats, BUT you just don’t know. It is very hard to stop a trend and this trend has been going one for some time now. I'm going to say yes but by the 3rd or 4th possession they will kick it into gear.

Score prediction?

Penn State 28, Indiana 20