Our Endorsement
America faces an important choice and the contestants have painted compelling and detailed portraits. The contestants have battled for weeks and by now we have a clear picture of what each of them bring to the table and what they would mean for this country.
Alabama has manhandled its competition with superior trench play and Texas has looked even better, dispatching top five foes like it’s no big deal. The nation’s best one-loss team is back to destroying the Pac-10 and Florida could play with any of these teams.
And then there is undefeated Penn State of the lowly Big Ten. They’ve played one close game all season and came away with a win in one of the toughest environments in college football. The offense and the defense are both performing at a championship level and — oh yeah — there’s that 45-14 win over the team that beat USC.
While the Big Ten has been pretty floptacular in recent BCS bowl games, if Penn State wins out, they should not and cannot be passed over for a berth in the MNC. Each team is its own team, irrespective of conference and until we do have a playoff system of sorts, an undefeated team from a BCS conference has to be given the opportunity to prove their validity.
GO. GET. THAT CRYSTAL.
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(It’s our hope that you’ll keep the comments clear of talk about that other big decision coming up. You’re not going to change any minds at this stage and there are other forums for that discourse. Discussion and debate over the MNC and its potential contestants is whole-heartedly encouraged, however.)
It’s got to be Texas versus Penn State for the MNC. Alabama has played well in the trenches but with an injured Cody I don’t think they are nearly as dangerous. And they have struggled in recent games against questionable opponents. I don’t think they are the real deal, yet.
PSU will be undefeated, and I now think that Texas will do the same. I don’t think Alabama wins out undefeated, very good chance they lose to the SEC east division champ in the conference game.
Yes, win it all PSU, you have the Buckeyes’ support. Texas v PSU would be a hell of a game.
I’m Joe Paterno and I appr-… BRAINS!!!!!!!
If PSU wins the MNC, that means we’ve lost to the eventual Mythical National Champion team a whopping Four Consecutive Years (Texas, Florida, LSU, PSU). That’s got to be some sort of record.
Yeah thats a hell of a record Matt… I got a record too, I’m the only guy to ever take his skate off and try to stab somebody with it.
hahahaha……Happy Gilmore that was classic! I think PSU should play for the title but I have a feeling a one loss Florida team will end up there because Urban Meyer will start crying again. I think the “Media” will want USC Vs. Florida and that is what we will get. Sorry Texas and Alabama but its going to be USC VS Florida.
What other big decision? Oh! You mean the one where I have to decide whether or not to drive to Great Lakes to pick up some Christmas Ale tomorrow, or wait for it to hit the shelves at the grocery store? Yea…I’m not sure either…
who am I kidding? to GLB it is!
Yes, please go win the MNC, Penn State. We’re all behind you. I’m sure that after all the support we’re giving Nittany Lion nation for this mission, your fans will be gracious to Buckeye fans, and won’t rub it into our faces at all………….
While I would love to see Penn State slap around Bama in the MNC, I’m rooting for a Penn State v. Texas showdown. Ultimately, I’m pulling for PSU to bring some Waterford Crystal back to the Big Ten and the SEC to lose the majority of there bowl games in humiliating fashion.
It should be duly noted….
If Penn State goes on to win it all, it will mean that of the 7 losses we have absorbed in the past 4 seasons, four of them will have been to the eventual National Champion.
And also, not a single one of our 7 losses will have been to a team that didn’t make a BCS Bowl in the same season.
No other team in college football can say that.
Ohio State – where we lose to the best of the best and are vehemently proud of it.
I’m going to be happy the day Bollman and Heacock are fired and we stop hanging our hats on “Well, we’ve lost seven games, but hey! They’ve only been to national champions/ BCS bowl game contenders!”, even when we know in our heart of hearts Illinois didn’t belong in a BCS bowl game under any circumstance and that is an embarrassing loss to this day. This is a program in decline (still reversible – we’re not Washington or Syracuse, we’re closer to Tennessee and Florida State) and anyone who says otherwise is either incredibly shortsighted or simply naïve.
And I do NOT mean closer to FSU and Tenn in terms of overall program performance. Tenn and FSU have the recruiting and the facilities to compete with CFB’s elite, they just haven’t had the coaching. We’re becoming a similar beast.
I am simply stunned by Ohio State fans. Last weekend was the first time up to Columbus and despite all the bad rap about the fans I’ve heard prior to the game, it was the best away game experience I’ve ever had. Not once did I encounter a Buckeye fan that harassed me like I experienced up in Ann Arbor. We often hear about the fans that were treated badly at away games and all, but you rarely ever hear someone commend another fan base for actually doing it right.
So I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you Buckeye fans for making this one of the most enjoyable game/tailgate (except the undercover “agents”) experience by far. And now this post is just the extra cherry on top of the sundae.
Even though I have always have supported the Lions, you can be damned sure the Buckeyes have a new found fan whenever they are not playing Penn State.
It is about teams, not conferences. It is also about the teams that take care of business. If PSU takes care of their business and runs the table the only way they can be left out (legitimately) is if Bama and Tejas run their tables too.
So many scenarios…so much football left. I don’t have the time or mental capacity to think of all the options. Just watch and enjoy another November of college football.
I am firmly on the PSU bandwagon. Unlike many Buckeyes I grew up with deep admiration for Joe Paterno and Penn State. Don’t just get there, win it.
Charlie:
Thanks for giving me the giant guilt trip and proving me wrong–I have some Penn State fans as friends and they’ve really given me a hard time about the last two NC game disasters. I really do hope Penn State goes and wins it all. JoePa is a class act, and it would be a perfect way for him to go out on top.
I’m also glad to hear you had a great experience in Columbus. Whenever I go I make sure to welcome opposing fans and treat them right.
L8r.
I’m sure I’m representative of most PSU fans that root for all Big 10 teams in bowl play. For the most part I’ll even root for all Big 10 teams playing non-conference games, although I will admit to a perverse pleasure in Michigan’s OOC trouble these past two years.
Will be rooting hard for you in whatever bowl you end up in this year. Give ‘em hell!
PS-Don’t ask me how I felt prior to PSU joining the Big 10 however! :-)
Yes, please go win the MNC, Penn State. We’re all behind you. I’m sure that after all the support we’re giving Nittany Lion nation for this mission, your fans will be gracious to Buckeye fans, and won’t rub it into our faces at all………….
Unfortunately you’re probably right about them rubbing it in. But till then I’ll still root for our B10 brethren.
Of course we’re going to rub it in, but it’ll make the media narrative a hell of a lot friendlier for you the next time Ohio State is in the top five near the end of a season. Think of it that way.
Hold your collective noses and support the conference!
Its a reflex to pull for any one team vs the SEC. I was even pulling for Blue last year vs fla
We are not the South. We are not still fighting the civil war. We are not obligated to have blind conference loyalty. I moved from Columbus to Pennsylvania in high school, and made the choice to come back and attend Ohio State when all of my friends were packing up for State College. For the last two years I have watched my Buckeyes come so close to the ultimate prize, only to have my hopes crushed. I can’t imagine anything more painful than having to watch the Nittany Lions march away with the crystal football that could have/should have been ours. I have no problem with anyone who wants to see PSU win, JoePa is a class act and if I were more neutral I could see how great of a story it is. But come on, it was only last year that PSU fans were pelting Buckeyes with beer cans for having the audacity to walk past them. They come here and we treat them with class, they beat us, and now all the sudden its all flowers and rainbows? Root for Penn State if you want to, but don’t feel like you have to just because they’re from the same conference. We are Buckeyes first, Big Tenners second.
“We are not the South. We are not still fighting the civil war.”
Speak for yourself, pal. :)
I hate to admit that I’m with you. Conference or no, I just can’t actively root for p*nn st*t*.
There’s a great story about a Prussian field marshal named Schwerin, who commanded under Frederick the Great during the War of the Austrian Succession (early 1740s). As he was preparing to lead his men into battle, he took off his hat to pray. He said (and I’m loosely paraphrasing here) “Lord, I ask that You be with us this day, but if You are not disposed to show us favor, at least lend not Thy hand to those scoundrels, the enemy, but passively await the issue.” Priceless.
I’ll passively await the issue. If p*nn st*t* happens to win it, bully for the conference. If they get blown out, I won’t shed a tear. In a perfect world, I’d be delighted if they played a close game, and lost in overtime.
Penn State beating a Texas or Alabama (especially Alabama) would be beneficial to us. You don’t have to enjoy rooting for them, but if you think strategically you won’t mind doing it.
Mike from the 717 – do you have a sister? God damn, I’m with you. It is completely and utterly bullshit that because those fucking southerners decided that everyone in the conference is friendly and because they decided to put an end to all of their supposed rivalries, that we have to? Why should we? Seriously, it’s crap that somehow people feel compelled to root for other big ten schools … screw then all … I hate them all and never have cared one thing about them other than that they finish below us and that we beat then badly.
The day that I an forced to root for Northwestern, Michigan St, Ill, IA, Whisky, etc is the day they take my scarlet and gray lucky tee shirt from my cold dead hands!!!! … (I won’t even put Michigan in there, I was one that rooted, yes, for FL … that is how much I hate Michy)
fuck every team in the big ten except my bucks … hey how about this for a slogan … “the big ten, where each team truly hates each other and isn’t faking a rivalry” Take for instance the world’s largest cocktail party .. that is not a rivalry … as soon as those two teams get done playing each other, they root for one another like gay lovers
do not become a gay lover like the SEC lovers … it is OK to hate Penn State, don’t let anyone tell you differently
Last I saw, Penn St does not equal Ohio State
“fuck every team in the big ten except my bucks … hey how about this for a slogan … “the big ten, where each team truly hates each other and isn’t faking a rivalry” Take for instance the world’s largest cocktail party .. that is not a rivalry … as soon as those two teams get done playing each other, they root for one another like gay lovers”
hahahahahahahaha, thanks man. That was awesome!
Nik … not that there is anything wring with that … I did not mean for it to become a gay bashing thing, but … let me put this in a way that those slow southerners can understand, ya’ll get ma point
no, i know, but when you’ve been studying random-ass pharmacology for the last 11+ hours, that shit is hilarious.
Hey, I don’t envy you man, I am a lowly lawyer … I couldn’t imagine the chemistry you must know … so … my points are certainly salient at 11:45 after 12 hours of studying … I appreciate that
“…let me put this in a way that those slow southerners can understand…”
Boy, is that getting tiresome.
sorry joe fox if i opened up some sort of south hating pandora’s box. I only meant to talk trash on the SEC fans, not southerners at large. although you have to admit, there is some sort of “Stop Northern Aggression” feel to the whole SEC conference love.
and “anonymous” you are totally right. unfortunately my rational mind cannot be overcome by my irrational buckeye-loving, nittany-hating brain.
Hey Joe, the line about slow southerners wouldn’t be used if it wasn’t true. Look at the education level of the south, the poverty, etc. Believe me, my first job out of law school was in Alabama, and those are retards, everywhere.
the newest world rankings for universities came out not that long ago – take a look at the northern schools (pay attention to big ten schools) and compare them to southern schools. It is funny.
If you are a slow southerner, I apologize. Well, not I don’t.
I’ll root for JoePa if he gets matched up against a Big 12 team. If it’s Alabama or Florida… sorry, boys, but he’s going down.
Who cares about the Big Ten other than OSU? I don’t care what other fans and/or media think.
I don’t want Penn State to win it at our expense.
How does this help OSU? It doesn’t. You better believe Penn State would use that with recruits.
We are not the SEC, who cheer for all their teams like it’s the Civil War all over again.
If it’s not OSU, who cares?
Go Bucks!
I agree with me! (something seems so correct about that) … I am one that could care less about the rest of the big ten. Do people really believe that Penn st winning the title will stop the 0-9 against the SEC stuff? no way … like it or not, we have to win ourselves out this mess
I’m not asking people to enjoy rooting for Penn State to win the title, but it does nothing but help the Buckeyes.
1. Perception: Say what you want to about SEC fans and the fact that they cheer/brag each other on, but it’s worked. You can make a clear argument that Texas Tech and Penn State both have better teams than Alabama, with its close wins over Kentucky and Mississippi. If they win out, Penn State will be the odd man out and this is because of the perceived weakness of the conference. This will come back to bite Ohio State and whether another team helps to remedy this or the Buckeyes do it themselves, the sooner it gets done, the better.
2. BCS Weak Points: If Alabama or Texas Tech loses (which is likely), there’s a chance of a one-loss team hurdling the Nittany Lions. An undefeated team from the Big Ten cannot be left out of a MNC game. Again, American college football is the only sport on the planet where a team can go unbeaten and not get a chance to play for the championship. Unbelievable. If it does happen, the BCS will be facing some serious heat with Arlen Spector running around, so maybe that’s not entirely a bad thing.
3. Recruiting: Yes, Penn State will make a move in recruiting by winning the championship, but most of this year’s class is already locked up or getting close to it and then the Pryor reign begins in earnest. Besides, players want to go to schools that play other big schools and it appears as if Michigan may be down for a few.
I know we were all brought up under Wayne Woodrow and kill-kill, hate-hate, but there’s a new reality on the ground.
How come Penn State isn’t ridiculed for their schedule? OSU was torched last year.
Also, Penn State one legit game is beating us, which they didn’t do anything special in doing that. Their supposed leader “Clark” wasn’t even on the field to win it for them!
Coastal Carolina? You kidding me? Also, Oregon State never wins on the road. Temple (of Doom). They also got lucky by beating Michigan, a team which has dominated them more than OSU has since their inception into the Big Ten. (You mean Lloyd Carr outcoached somebody. Then again, JoePa hasn’t called a play or said a word during a game in 20 years. The only time he did anybody in that period is running to take a dump at the Shoe two years ago.)
Also, how come Oklahoma doesn’t feel the wrath like OSU has? They are the poster childs for overachievement. Ditto for Georgia? Have you seen the series record against UF in the last 20 games or so?
(Really going off on tangents here but, I like how people see Auburn (who sucks bad) lose in the SEC and claim, ‘That’s how tough that league is!’ If roles are reversed and a, say Northwestern, does the same trick to OSU or Penn State it perceived as, ‘Well, that shows the Big Ten is a joke.’
I may be off here (and I’m too lazy to check it out but I will and report later), but I believe that since the start of this BCS shenanigans the SEC-Big Ten head-to-head bowl matchup is pretty identical. It’s only our beloved Bucks that haven’t kept up our end of the bargain.
BTW, wasn’t it Michigan who beat Florida in the Crapital Bowl last year. You kidding me? Michigan. Henne, Long, Hart Michigan. 0-12 combined against OSU Michigan. 3-9 (thanks Florida!) combined in bowl games Michigan.
In short (or long), screw you guys (SEC) I’m goin’ home.
Go Bucks!!
from Jason:
I’m not asking people to enjoy rooting for Penn State to win the title, but it does nothing but help the Buckeyes.
WTF?
Oh good. Well, I now want OSU to lose every game because it will help the Big Ten. Bravo!!
Idiot.
me, you special little turd. You’re quick to call me an idiot, but only you could take what I had written and imply that I would want to root against the Buckeyes. My points were made from the frame of perspective of Penn State having already defeated Ohio State.
Save us all from this complete bullshit and try thinking before typing, please.
Jason, from what I read, the turd is you. The media has been making up what they want for years and everyone takes it as gospel.
Check out this site that shows the conferences being even, so perception will not change regardless of what Penn State does or does not due. The nation is ignorant of this fact and created the great sec theory based on a single game.
http://www.secsportsfan.com/bigtenseccomp.html
After florida dismantled OSU in 2006, everyone looked back and said OSU played nobody downplaying the fact that we beat the #2 team in the nation, and defending champions in their house. It was brushed aside with the casual comment that texas was not that good.
And if/when penn state gets blasted in the title game that helps us how? Any undefeated team from a major conference, big least excluded, will never get leap frogged by a one loss team. Penn State proves that this year despite their anemic schedule.
And regardless of any heat felt, nothing will change until the current deal ends. Every college sport has a playoff of some sort, including every football division, sans the top one. We have already seen a two loss team get in the title game over an undefeated and numerous one loss teams (lsu), a team that did not even win half of their conference or play in their title game (neb) get into the championship game, a team that lost their conference title game (okl) get into the championship and the system has not changed. All these arguments are easily forgotten the following year. The season is the playoffs, win every game and you are in and the one time you had three undefeated teams from a top conference, the two undefeated teams won national titles that year so your arguments are baseless, but you are not ass.
Talking conferences is ignorant. Teams are good or bad and teams win or lost titles. Period.
Jason,
Penn State winning doesn’t help us at all. (You must be bummin that scUM is not going to a bowl game, huh? Man, that makes us look bad!’
It’s like a Yankees fan saying, ‘I want the Red Sox to win becuse they are from the AL East. It makes us look good!’
Penn State = rivals. Plain and simple. Friends don’t let friends cheer for rivals.
Buck up, you said “win every game and you are in”. We’ll see on that — maybe this year. Here are two scenarios that could keep PSU out:
1. Texas Tech and Bama win out
2. Texas Tech wins out and Florida thrashes Bama in the SEC championship game
me, your Red Sox/Yankees argument isn’t valid because that sport actually has a playoff and the team with the best record is guaranteed a chance to play for the championship.
The BCS leaves us with a system where having a strong conference benefits the teams in that conference when the two entrants are decided.
It’s not right and I’m firmly in the playoff camp, but at this point in time, it makes perfect sense to root for teams in your conference — because yes, perceptions carry over from one year to the next.
I appreciate your hatred of conference rivals and all, but we’re in 2008. Hate them the week OSU plays them.
Oh, and I also want to see a strong UM every season. 2006 was incredible until the last game.
The only reason why Penn State would win out and NOT go to the bowl game is because of the Buckeyes and the perception that the Big 10 sucks. If we have 2 or even one of the past National Championships (and the one loss was a respectable loss) then Penn State is looked at as a “For real” team. As of now the voters will jump at the chance to take a one loss Florida (If they get the chance) over PSU due to the fear that the Big 10 will yet again will look like shit when it counts.
I don’t understand me/Buck Up, how you can say that the confrence doesn’t matter? Due to the fact that the rankings are based on VOTES and computers, perception means the world in college football.
Being able to say Penn State is the 2009 National Champions would, without a doubt, helps change the Big 10 perception.
Scenario 1 has Penn State out and all they do is beat who they play and they get a split national championship.
Scenario 2 is ludicrous, because there is absolutely no way a one loss Florida gets in over Penn State. It just would not happen to a team from the Big Ten, Pac Ten, Big 12, SEC and probably even the ACC. The BCS has proven that.
Everyone wants a playoff, but then who do you let in? WAC, Mountain West winners. I support the playoffs, but just like the BCS, you will leave out #3 from the SEC or maybe #2 from the Big Ten and these are legitimate teams that can win it. You will have even stronger arguements than the current BCS. Take 2006 for instance, while this looks great Fla atlantic, central michigan and central florida would have taken maybe an Alabama, Texas or Penn State’s place out of fairness and we all no that one of these teams would have no shot of winning it all, but those left out in fairness to them could win it all.
http://www.whatifsports.com/decmadness/bracket.asp?r=1
Perceptions do carry over, but they are wrong, ignorant and not supported by the facts . . . and also will never change.
You clearly misread the Yankees-Red Sox arguement. Only an idiot would be happy to have their rival win a title. No sane person would want that. Why would you want a strong SCum school? That is retarded and I just figured it out, you’re a notre dame fan too and probably think that weiss is a genius.
Sigh. Thanks for stopping by Buck up.
Perceptions don’t change? Why is everyone up on the Big 12 this year? How many times have you heard that the Big 12 is the best confrence in the country? What happend to the SEC media domination?
Ohio State isn’t in the championship hunt. I’m an Ohio State fan. Not a Big Ten fan. I only want Ohio State to win all their games. I follow Ohio State. Not Penn State.
I don’t want Penn State there. I can’t imagine waiting a month until the championship game with the media-mancrush 24/7 about JoePa this and JoePa that.
These are the same dolts who skewered him just a few short years ago, saying he was past it and blah, blah, blah.
I’ll cheer for Penn State in a lesser bowl, perhaps. But I don’t want them anywhere close to the title game.
Go Hawkeyes!! (There. I’m cheering for the Big Ten!)
“Real” Ohio State fans should cheer Penn State to lose, so the Bucks can get another Big Ten title.
Crazy, huh? Cheering for your team!? That’s blasphemy!!
O-H-I-O!
If PSU loses, doesn’t that mean MSU goes to the rose bowl, assuming they also win out? and if MSU doesn’t, PSU would still go over us since they beat us head-to-head
“Real” Ohio State fans should cheer Penn State to lose, so the Bucks can get another Big Ten title.
Crazy, huh? Cheering for your team!? That’s blasphemy!!
O-H-I-O!
Hells Yeah!
You’re right, Kumerow, but the odds of PSU losing two of their last three are slim at best.
I’m all for the Buckeyes to win another Big 10 title, but I think you have to think realistically. If Penn State suffers a huge upset against Iowa, then yes I will cheer for MSU on the 22nd! But I don’t see PSU dropping 2 games when their schedule is Iowa, Indiana and MSU.
Thinking realistically you are cheering for the Buckeyes by cheering for PSU. The odds of PSU dropping 2 of 3 is a stretch at best. PSU winning their next 3 games is our best shot at a Rose Bowl trip and BCS birth.
Bottom line, we win out and we are in a BCS bowl. The only thing that matters is winning your games and we have 3 more chances to get it right. Like Obama, just win baby!
Actually if all three win out with mich state beating penn state, penn state wins the big ten auto BCS bid due to a better overall record and while mich state technically would win the tie breaker against OSU, I guarantee that the BCS would take OSU, because they are not only the better draw, but will be higher ranked in the BCS than mich state. Despite technically finishing ahead of OSU, the BCS can choose whoever they want for an at-large bid, which is what the second pick would be and it would not be Sparty. All that would mean is Penn State goes to the Rose and we go to another.
Jason,
You’re right. PSU losing twice is very unlikely for us to get an outright title. But, we (I) can still hope. Or grab at least a share of the title.
Nik. I think you’re right, too. Big Ten Network said if OSU, PSU, MSU tie MSU goes to the Rose based on this tiebreaker (which I didn’t know about) regarding not playing a I-AA team.
So, maybe Sparty can lose another before beating PSU.
Again, this is unlikely and the Bucks still need to worry about their games and win out.
Go Bucks!
It’s college football! Like they say, anything can happen.
Just look at last year. All WVU had to do was take care of business at home against Pitt. Or USC losing their annual game to a heavy, heavy, heavy dog.
z