Divisions Okay With Me...Robert Bolden Surprises

In my view it was important to preserve Ohio State as an annual border rivalry and the closest B10 rival geographically.  Wisconsin is also a good opponent and always a fun atmosphere to visit - my favorite Big Ten away game venue - but Thanksgiving weekend every other year in Madison?  Sounds cold.



We will need to get used to not playing Michigan as often.  But when we do it will be a big game.

The rest of our regular opponents - Illinois, Indiana and Purdue - provide competitive balance and preserve some other rivalries.  I would prefer one less team from Indiana but it's okay.  

I love the idea of a Penn State-Nebraska annual rivalry game and we got that as a permanent "crossover" game! 

2011/2012 schedules now look like this:

Schedule PSU 2011:

9/3 Indiana State
9/10 Alabama
9/17 at Temple
9/24 Eastern Michigan
10/1 at Indiana
10/8 Iowa
10/15 Purdue
10/22 at Northwestern
10/29 Illinois
11/5 Open date
11/12 Nebraska
11/19 at Ohio State
11/26 at Wisconsin

November schedule looks like a tough one!!! Last two games away then possibly a championship game in Indianapolis? 

A lot of Nittany Lion fans will be disappointed that we're not playing Ohio State at home next year. But overall that's a one year problem and it's a decent home schedule. Alabama, Iowa, and Nebraska will come calling, and it will be fun to welcome both Alabama and Nebraska back to Beaver Stadium! 

Schedule PSU 2012:

9/1 Ohio
9/8 at Virginia
9/15 Navy
9/22 Temple
9/29 at Illinois
10/6 Northwestern
10/13 Open date
10/20 at Iowa
10/27 Ohio State
11/3 at Purdue
11/10 at Nebraska
11/17 Indiana
11/24 Wisconsin

Home game schedule includes Navy, Ohio State, Wisconsin.  Away game schedule - Virginia, Illinois, Iowa, Purdue and Nebraska - looks like fun.  A bit more of an even schedule, with not all big games back to back in November.

In meantime, Robert Bolden starts on Saturday.  A true freshman.

Coach Joe Paterno at his ripe old age continues to surprise!