Penn State vs. Michigan State: Sparty Triumphs as a Lion Rally Fails

Ugh.  It wasn't any colder than it was two years ago when the Michigan State Spartans descended upon Beaver Stadium, but it sure felt that way.

Two years ago, a win against Michigan State would have given us a share of the Big Ten championship.  So the stadium was full through the fourth quarter, and excitement was in the air.  The reward for a win was a trip to the Rose Bowl.  The tightly packed bodies in the stands kept us all warm, as we anticipated a championship celebration complete with confetti and roses.

This year, in weather that was in the mid-30s but felt like the low-20s due to wind,  it was Michigan State that was playing for a share of the Big Ten championship.  But a lot of other things would have to happen for them to go to the Rose Bowl, most specifically Michigan had to beat Ohio State, something that Spartan fans had a hard time dealing with.

Penn State vs. Michigan State: Will the Spartans Finally Win One at Beaver Stadium?

With a strangely phrased reference to the John Travolta classic song, "Greased Lightning", this week's Penn State button looks like this:

Joe Paterno Plans to Stay One More Year: No Surprise Here in Breaking News

Anybody who has listened to Joe Paterno talk about retirement knows that he dreads the thought.  That he really doesn't know what he would do if he wasn't coaching football.  He has said numerous times that he doesn't play golf, nor does he have any other hobbies.

Penn State-Indiana Football: Great Plays Absolutely Positively Make the Difference

Penn Staters, take note.  This is what football looks like when you're a program that is desperate for money to support competitiveness in Big Ten play.  Where a $3 million guarantee from an NFL field hundreds of miles away from your primary fan base will be enough of an incentive for you to schedule a "home" game closer to your opponents' fans than to your own fans.

Penn State vs. Ohio State Football: Our Lions Will Drive You Nuts

The Citizens Bank game day button for the Penn State-Ohio State game was right on the mark:  "Our Lions Will Drive You Nuts".  And so they did drive the Buckeyes nuts.  For the first half they drove Ohio State fans into a relatively quiet state throughout Ohio Stadium as the Nittany Lions held the Buckeyes to a field goal and scored two touchdowns.

In the second half, the Nittany Lions drove Penn State fans nuts as the defense couldn't stop the relentless running of Dan "Boom" Herron, and Quarterback Matt McGloin threw two passes that were intercepted and run back for touchdowns.

Special Delivery - Again - This Time From Men's Basketball!

They told me we were randomly chosen, but now I'm not so sure.  We had fun twice this week with members of Penn State basketball squads.

This time it was Lewis Preston, Assistant Coach for the Nittany Lion Basketball Team, who delivered the season tickets to our door.  Just in time, too, as the first game is tomorrow night against Lehigh!

Penn State vs. Ohio State: Those "Useless Nuts" Deserve Respect

My husband Terry grew up in East Liverpool, Ohio.  When we first married, we would visit his parents there.  During one of these visits, he took me to a park specifically to show me a buckeye tree.

"They're useless nuts," Terry exclaimed.

Special Delivery from Lady Lions Basketball

I don't think much about basketball at Penn State until the football season ends - Terry and I often miss early games in the basketball season because we are away following Penn State football.

But today I had a special delivery.  Let me explain.

This morning I received a call at home from a young lady who stated she was with the Penn State basketball office.  She wanted to know if I would be home that afternoon because they needed to deliver Lady Lion basketball tickets to us. 

Penn State Football: 400th Win for Coach Joe Paterno Makes for A Special Night

Probably the most impressive thing about last night's 35-21 win against a feisty Northwestern football team was not the game itself, but the fact that the crowd at Beaver Stadium didn't leave. 

It's not that the game wasn't exciting - more on that later.  But at Beaver Stadium, there is a routine that is consistent at the end of a game no matter what the score. 

My husband Terry refers to this routine as the 3rd quarter crowd, the 8 minute crowd, and the 5 minute crowd.  These are the people who exit the game before its end, often to our genuine amazement even when the game is too close to call.

Penn State Football: Will Northwestern Tip the Big Ten Balance?

The month of October brought to Penn State two Big Ten losses (Iowa and Illinois), and two Big Ten wins (Minnesota and Michigan).  My mantel reflects those standings.  That is, the Hawkeye and the Illinois bear (they have no mascot, remember) remain standing and the Gopher and Wolverine are both lying down.

I'm hoping the Wildcat will next be on its back...making Penn State bowl eligible and bringing Joe Paterno his 400th win at home.

If the Nittany Lions win, I hear there will be some sort of celebration.

So stick around folks after the game!

Go Penn State and Beat Those Wildcats!