Comments on: Do not tell me Penn State is the Big Ten orphan child http://nittanywhiteout.com/2008/07/17/do-not-tell-me-penn-state-is-the-big-ten-orphan-child/ Penn State Nittany Lion Blog Sun, 14 Mar 2010 10:09:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://nittanywhiteout.com/2008/07/17/do-not-tell-me-penn-state-is-the-big-ten-orphan-child/comment-page-1/#comment-887 Anonymous Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:01:57 +0000 http://nittanywhiteout.com/?p=582#comment-887 I think Penn State absolutely belongs in the Big Ten. Your campus is similar to those of most Big Ten campuses and the culture of your school is also very much in line with that of the traditional Big Ten schools. However, no matter how you slice it, Michigan and Ohio State rule that league like Duke and North Carolina rule ACC basketball and you will never be more than the Big Ten's equivalent to NC State. I'm sorry, but that's the truth. There's simply no room for anyone else. Look, you have a great following and an excellent tradition. As such, I'm sure Ohio State would love to beat you every time they play you. However, they'd kill to beat Michigan. To them you're like playing against Michigan State or Wisconsin. And Michigan has owned PSU but even if they were to lose a game or two to you every decade or so they too will always hold your game against them well below the Notre Dame and Michigan State games and WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY below the Ohio State game. I still believe that Penn State belongs in the B10 and the league is better because of your presence there and Penn State is better because of its affiliation in that league. However, if you want a year-in/year-out rivalry game, rather than whining about how Michigan and OSU treat you, I think your best bet is playing Pitt every Thanksgiving weekend. Those games were awesome when I was a kid and I think you are cutting off your nose to spite your face by continuing to duck them. If you played Pitt every year you'd get the best of both worlds; membership in one of college football's most prestigious college football conferences and an end of the season blood game with a bitter cross state rival. Like it or not, your protests to the contrary aside, you are at best door #3. I think Penn State absolutely belongs in the Big Ten. Your campus is similar to those of most Big Ten campuses and the culture of your school is also very much in line with that of the traditional Big Ten schools.

However, no matter how you slice it, Michigan and Ohio State rule that league like Duke and North Carolina rule ACC basketball and you will never be more than the Big Ten’s equivalent to NC State. I’m sorry, but that’s the truth. There’s simply no room for anyone else.

Look, you have a great following and an excellent tradition. As such, I’m sure Ohio State would love to beat you every time they play you. However, they’d kill to beat Michigan. To them you’re like playing against Michigan State or Wisconsin.

And Michigan has owned PSU but even if they were to lose a game or two to you every decade or so they too will always hold your game against them well below the Notre Dame and Michigan State games and WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY below the Ohio State game.

I still believe that Penn State belongs in the B10 and the league is better because of your presence there and Penn State is better because of its affiliation in that league. However, if you want a year-in/year-out rivalry game, rather than whining about how Michigan and OSU treat you, I think your best bet is playing Pitt every Thanksgiving weekend. Those games were awesome when I was a kid and I think you are cutting off your nose to spite your face by continuing to duck them.

If you played Pitt every year you’d get the best of both worlds; membership in one of college football’s most prestigious college football conferences and an end of the season blood game with a bitter cross state rival. Like it or not, your protests to the contrary aside, you are at best door #3.

]]> By: admin http://nittanywhiteout.com/2008/07/17/do-not-tell-me-penn-state-is-the-big-ten-orphan-child/comment-page-1/#comment-879 admin Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:03:49 +0000 http://nittanywhiteout.com/?p=582#comment-879 1. Don't forget there wasn't really a MNC game until the advent of the Bowl Alliance / Coalition and now BCS game. When PSU played as a #1 or #2 team against an almost equally high ranked opponent prior to that, that was purely a) luck or b) backdoor matchups by the Bowls. PSU played 4 times in such games, not with an undefeated record since they lost to Alabama in 1979 and OU in 1985, but they beat Miami and Georgia for the National Championship. . 2. 107,000+ was for dramatic effect, but 104,000+ standing in stunned silence can be just as dramatic as well I guess. 1. Don’t forget there wasn’t really a MNC game until the advent of the Bowl Alliance / Coalition and now BCS game. When PSU played as a #1 or #2 team against an almost equally high ranked opponent prior to that, that was purely a) luck or b) backdoor matchups by the Bowls. PSU played 4 times in such games, not with an undefeated record since they lost to Alabama in 1979 and OU in 1985, but they beat Miami and Georgia for the National Championship.
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2. 107,000+ was for dramatic effect, but 104,000+ standing in stunned silence can be just as dramatic as well I guess.

]]> By: Jon http://nittanywhiteout.com/2008/07/17/do-not-tell-me-penn-state-is-the-big-ten-orphan-child/comment-page-1/#comment-878 Jon Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:49:03 +0000 http://nittanywhiteout.com/?p=582#comment-878 There are a few errors in your post. 1. PSU played for the MNC 3 times with an undefeated record, with losses to Alabama in 1978, and OU in 1985 and the win in 1986. 2. Beaver stadium didn't expand to 107,000 until 2001. There are a few errors in your post.

1. PSU played for the MNC 3 times with an undefeated record, with losses to Alabama in 1978, and OU in 1985 and the win in 1986.

2. Beaver stadium didn’t expand to 107,000 until 2001.

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