Thoughts From The Valley
October 20, 2008
The Hangover
How I am feeling: As if a massive weight—possibly a giant anvil with the letter "M" emblazoned on it—has been removed from my back. Before Saturday, Penn State had not beaten the University of Michigan in 12 years. Twelve years, folks. More on this later. But for now, let me just say this: The Nits' 46-17 win over the Wolverines on Saturday was possibly the most important win of the year for Penn State.
What I am drinking: Dogfish Head 90-Minute IPA. The New York Times has declared this beer "the best IPA in America." And while I am not sure I agree (my loyalties lie, as always, with Victory Hop Devil), I will say that the 90-Minute IPA is indeed a very fine beverage. This is a beer you drink from a snifter, folks. And because it's 9 percent alcohol, it's also a beer to be enjoyed in moderation.
What I am listening to: The countdown of the 885 Essential Songs on WXPN, the much-acclaimed radio station of the University of Pennsylvania. Each year, the folks at WXPN do a "countdown" of one kind or another—"The Greatest Songs of All Time," "The Greatest Albums of All Time,"The Greatest Artists of All Time" and so forth. This year's concept, "The 885 Essential Songs," is somewhat vauge, though the results are outsanding. The station is available via web stream, or on iTunes for you Apple folks, and I highly suggest you check it out. The countdown should continue through Wednesday or so. Currently, we are on song No. 425—Neil Young's "Powerfinger," which just so happens to be one of Your Editor's all-time favorites.
My thoughts on the weekend: How long had it been since Penn State beat Michigan?
Well, here's how long:
1. The last time Penn State beat Michigan, Penn State's backup quarterback was a guy named Mike McQueary. In the years since that last Penn State win in 1996, McQueary became the starter at Penn State, graduated, went on to the NFL, retired from the NFL, started a coaching career, changed positions several times, and eventully landed a good job as Penn State's wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator. The first class of kids McQueary landed at Penn State as recruiting coordinator included such stars as Dan Connor and Justin King. Who have also since graduated and moved on to the NFL.
2. The last time Penn State beat Michigan, Your Editor had hair down to his upper back and had not yet met Mrs. Your Editor. In the time that has passed since 1996, Your Editor and Mrs. Your Editor met (obviously), graduated, held a combined 10 different jobs, gotten married, bought three houses, had two kids, and grown old and cranky. Financially speaking, however, 2008 could basically be 1996. Some things never change.
3. The last time Penn State beat Michigan, the original Cleveland Browns had just left for Baltimore. The new Cleveland Browns did not exist. Neither did Clevelabd Browns Stadium.
4. The last time Penn State beat Michigan, email had just been invented and Google had not yet been founded.
5. The last time Penn State beat Michigan, The Vest was still four years away from becoming head coach at Ohio State University.
6. The last tiem Penn State beat Michigan, Joe Paterno was still in his 60s.
7. The last time Penn State beat Michigan, ESPN was still responsible and intelligent.
8. Finally, and most importantly, the last time Penn State beat Michigan, the Big Ten Network did not exist. I am not sure how we survived.
Anyway, my point is this: Penn State needed to beat Michigan this week. Absolutely needed it. And now that it has happened, the program can finally move forward.
So too, possibly, can Joe Paterno.
Three Yards and a Cloud of Dust
Three: Ohio State looked awfully impressive against Michigan State on Saturday. Terrelle Pryor, as I told my buddies Mike and Brian on Saturday, is the best running quarterback college football has seen since Michael Vick. Beanie Wells, when he's good, is better than any tailback in the country. And that Ohio State defense is looking quite impressive of late. But here's my question: Which is the real Ohio State team? The one that just pummeled Michigan State? Or the one that couldn't muster an offensive touchdown, at home, against Purdue? As always, Your Editor believes the answer is somewhere in the middle.
Two ...: In case you folks hadn't noticed, folks, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy is in the midst of one of the greatest seasons a college football quarterback has ever had. Yes, there are the 1,800-plus passing yards. And yes, there are the 19 touchdown passes. But then there's this, the most impressive thing of all: Through eight weeks, McCoy has completed 81 percent of his passes. On Saturday against Missouri, he completed more than 90 percent. This just doesn't happen, folks.
One ...: The national championship race is far from over. In fact, I think we can legitimately say the following teams (every single one of them) still has a shot at playing (cliche on the way) for all the marbles: Texas, Alabama, Penn State, Florida, USC, Georgia, Ohio State, LSU, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State. That's a whole lot of teams still playing for the big prize, folks.
Touchdown ...: Somewhat quietly, the Penn State-Ohio State series has emerged as one of the better rivalries in the country. Unlike the Penn State-Michigan and Ohio State-Michigan series, this one hasn't been subject to long streaks of dominance, and because thse two programs recruit so heavily on each other's home turf (Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark is one of many Youngstown, Ohio, natives on the Nittany Lions roster; Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor is among the many Pennsylvania natives on the Buckeye roster), there's an awful lot of cross-state trash talk involved, too. But for all of the truly great games in this series (1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006), one element has been lacking: A Penn State win at Columbus. The Nits won at Ohio State before joining the Big Ten, but haven't done so since. Will that change this week? Well, we shall see, folks. We shall see. But my guess is that this is the year the Nits finally get it done.