Yeah, I’m playing off that cheezy Penn State commercial.

Since Charlie was generous enough to provide the questions for this week’s Big Ten Blogger’s Roundtable, let’s go to the answers, as given to you by me.  It’s a tag team effort from the folks at NittanyWhiteOut this week.

1.  We’re approaching week 9 now, are you pleasantly surprised or already waiting for basketball season?

I’m a big college hoops guy, which was obviously why I chose to come to Penn State, right?  No, but seriously, we are one of the few schools in the conference that’s actually exceeding expectations for football, and I would have to say I’m way more than pleasantly surprised.

I honestly expected Penn State to have a good season this year, but I didn’t know what to think.  Losing Morelli was going to be a plus, but who knew that Daryll Clark would be this good?  I saw the Outside the Lines piece, and wondered whether Joe Paterno really had lost control of his team.  I saw the expulsions to Taylor and Baker, and the injury to Sean Lee and questioned whether the defense could pull together.  Well, dear readers, I think those questions have been answered.  Clark gets an A+, JoePa gets an A+ and the defense gets a collective B+.  Not bad from a ravaged unit.  I expected losses to Wisconsin and Ohio State.  We beat Wisconsin, and our chances look solid for the Ohio State game.  I’m pleasantly surprised, to say the least.

2. Describe one specific play from this season you would alter for a different outcome if you had the chance to.

This is tough, because the season has been so good to Penn State.  Not only have we won, but we’ve won big in just about every game.  No bad play has really ruined a game for us.  There’s been no major disappointing plays either for the offense or for the defense.

If compelled to provide a play, I would probably go with the 40-yard catch and run by Travis Beckum in the Wisconsin game, and change it to a short gainer over the middle.

3.  How could it (#2) possibly impact the way your season is going?

That big play set up a touchdown, and the only score for Wisconsin.  I think that if we had been able to shut out Wisconsin, people might hold us in a little higher esteem.

Wisconsin was a struggling team, sure, but the week before they had almost beat Ohio State.  They lost on the last drive, and were obviously disheartened.  Still, 48-0 looks great, doesn’t it?  It’s only 7 points, but it feels a lot better.

4.  Big Ten player you just can’t stand, why?

I don’t want to mention a certain Ohio State player from Pennsylvania for fear of jinxing our chances this weekend, so I’m going to cheat a little and say Rich Rodriguez.

Fine, he’s only a coach, but he’s still a monster douchebag.  He obviously was scummy enough to leave West Virginia, and hasn’t exactly preached great values at Michigan.  I’ve heard reports that he has been abusive towards his players and was more than just a little defensive when grilled about his loss to Penn State [I've been here nine months!  Nine!], almost Mike Gundy-esque.  I couldn’t be gladder about all the decommits from Michigan.  Would you want to play for that team and for that coach?  I sure wouldn’t.

5. Boo’ing your own team (we’ve seen quite a lot of this across the Big Ten this season), your feelings on this.

I haven’t had to do this at all, since Penn State has been phenomenal so far.  I think booing is certainly warranted in some instances, not just if the team just is playing poorly.  Indiana fans know they’re not going to stick with Illinois, they shouldn’t be booing in a loss.  But if the team appears to have quit out there, you should let them know it.  If the coaches are not putting the best possible gameplan out there, go for it.  If your players make stupid penalties, and late hits, boo.  But don’t boo for the sake of booing.

*BONUS ROUND*

1. Number of beers or alcoholic drinks consumed by week 8 (or a good estimate)

I’m underage, so I can’t really divulge that kind of information.  But let’s just say I’m fitting in with the culture here at Penn State.

2. Most annoying commercial seen this season

That LaDanian Tomlinson vs. Troy Polamalu commercial has been pissing me off for a while.  First of all, it’s just stupid crap that they’re doing.  Who the hells just jumps on a freaking coffee table in the middle of their house?

Then we have the fact that LaDanian Tomlinson, with a full head of steam, is met and stopped immediately by Polamalu.  Tomlinson is running Polamalu over, man.  Also, the fact that it’s long and the song is annoying just all-in-all make it douchebaggy.

3. Your prediction for the next coaching change in the Big Ten (Joe Tiller exempt)

I hate to say it but it’s probably Joe Paterno.  I can’t say for sure, but I really do think this is going to be his last hurrah.  Penn State’s got a lot of options, guys like Bradley or McQueary from inside, and I think a guy like Greg Schiano or Al Golden would drop dead at the chance to come here.

It would also be great for Paterno to go out on top.  If Penn State wins this weekend, it sets them up to win the Big Ten, and potentially play for the MNC.  Imagine Paterno announcing after the Michigan State game that the MNC will be his last game.  Think of all the storylines around that.  It would be a magical game.

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