Sure, this week’s game with Iowa represents a chance for revenge against the team that ruined our championship hopes ago.  Yeah, it’s our first real challenge of the year after three cupcakes to start the 2009 season.  And of course, it’s a pivotal matchup in determining the Big Ten champion.

But you know what else it is? THE WHITE OUT! And so, naturally, we figured this would be a good time for NittanyWhiteOut to host the weekly Blue/White Roundtable.  We want to thank all the others out there for participating, the number of responses this week was pretty stunning.  We also want to welcome “2 The Lion,” who makes their first official appearance in one of these roundtables.  Welcome to the big time.

I suggest you read the full answers from all the participants, as due to the large nature of responses, we can’t take too much from each blog.

2 The Lion
Happy Hour Valley
Penn State Clips
NittanyWhiteOut’s Kevin
Nittany Lounge
The Nittany Line
We Want the Lion
William F. Yurasko
Zombie Nation

Let’s jump right in.

Question 1: As this week’s matchup with Iowa represents not just Penn State’s first conference game, but their first real test, take a look back at the 3-game preconference schedule.  What was the one thing that stood out to you most, either as a success or a failure?

The responses were pretty varied throughout the blogosphere, but two general themes emerged.  The struggles of the offensive line was one of them, as William F. Yurasko points out:

The most glaring thing about the first three games is the offensive line not getting it together yet….I simply did not expect that to be an issue heading into the fourth week of the season.A good offensive line is the surest way to win and the Nittany Lions do not appear to have one yet.

The other common answer was an indictment of the whole team, or at least its attitude, in failing to dominate some overmatched opponents.  Take it away, Zombie Nation:

Penn State, for all the coaches and players denied, just plain didn’t care. The Nittany Lions knew they were going to win the games with little real effort, and they were proven correct. The problem with three straight cupcakes — although I believe all three teams were better than we thought/think — is that there isn’t a sense of urgency for four weeks.

Question 2: Iowa, on the other hand, has been tested twice already this season, both by D1-AA Northern Iowa and by Arizona, a solid Pac-10 team.  How much of an advantage, if any, will the Hawkeyes have over Penn State as a result?

Sure, we like to joke that Iowa almost lost to a 1-AA–excuse me, Division 1-Championship Subdivision–team, but the fact is that they gained some valuable experience playing in a tight game.  At least, that’s what’s Galen’s saying, over at The Nittany Line:

Northern Iowa gave Iowa the experience of pulling out a close win. Now sure, it was against an overmatched D1-AA school but it was a great experience nonetheless. How will PSU’s young guys and new starters handle a close game they have to come from behind to win? We don’t know yet.

While Arizona represents a win over a far better opponent than Penn State has played, the Nittany Lounge isn’t impressed by it.

Arizona really didn’t pressure Iowa with a passing game. Arizona has the 99th ranked passing offense in D1-A football.  Overall the game against Arizona was a bit lopsided.   Iowa only allowed 8 first downs and had a time of possession of 37:56.

3. It seems like both Penn State and Iowa have been hit pretty hard by the injury bug early in the 2009 season, with Iowa losing the services of RB Jewel Hampton, LT Bryan Bulaga, TE Tony Moeaki and WR Darrell Johnson-Koulianos and Penn State potentially without both Sean Lee and Navorro Bowman, along with Graham Zug.  How will both teams adjust to playing without some of their star players?

Turns out it might not be a walking MASH unit, as Navorro Bowman and Graham Zug should be in the lineup for Penn State, and Sean Lee hasn’t been ruled out.  Iowa, too, is still waiting to hear further word on their three players, but if they can’t play, the results could be catastrophic for their offense, as We Want the Lion explains:

It’s going to be a big adjustment on both sides.  Iowa is obviously being hit pretty hard on offense, and it’s not easy to replace your best O-lineman, especially when he’s the left tackle.  Johnson-Koulianos is a solid receiver as well, so don’t be surprised if the Hawkeyes have some trouble on offense.

However, Happy Hour Valley sees a bright side for the Hawkeyes:

Luckily for the Hawkeye offense, Adam Robinson is beginning to emerge as a viable tailback option as he broke the 100-yard barrier last weekend with an 18-carry, 102-yard performance against Arizona’s supposedly stingy defense. Iowa has also been touting a freshman tailback named Brandon Wegher but he’s a White dude, so you don’t have to worry about him one bit.

4. Last year, a loss to Iowa knocked Penn State out of the championship race.  This year, they’re in a similar place, as they largely control their own destiny.  Do you see Penn State running the table in the Big Ten, and if not, where is the most likely slip-up?

Perhaps, unsurprisingly, not many of our fellow bloggers wanted to touch this question with a ten-foot pole, in fear of jinxing it.  Either that, or they really thought Penn State will run the table, like The Nittany Lounge:

Penn State needs to focus on one game at a time and improve each week.  If they do these two things, there will be no slip-ups.

Of those who did answer the question had a variety of responses.  The most common, though, was Michigan, as Penn State Clips opines:

The Ohio State game has an obvious fear factor, but we’re actually more concerned about Penn State’s trip to the Big House on October 24th. Big Ten road games are always tough and Tate Forcier looks like the real deal. If you offered us 11-1 and a share of the 2009 Big Ten Football Championship right now, we’d take it!

5. This will be the sixth year that Beaver Stadium hosts a White Out, and it’s universally regarded as one of the best traditions in the NCAA.  What suggestions would you have to further improve gameday conditions at the Beav?

The most common answer given was that we need to stop piping in so much music, and let the Blue Band play some more.  2 The Lion sums it up:

Move the Blue Band back to the south end zone – we can’t hear them in the East stands. Other than that I’d cut back on the canned and reactionary music. We don’t have to hear Song 2 or Kernkraft 400 after every play – especially against teams such as Temple. I love the enthusiasm – but let’s not waste it.

We Want the Lion would ban the wave, The Nittany Line wants the university to un-ban kegs, and Kevin would have the concession stands sell hot dogs for a dollar.  Whatever you say, guys.

And now, to the Lightning Round:

Who runs for more yards, Iowa or Penn State?
By a score of 6-3, the winner is…Penn State.

Last year’s Whiteout game drew 109,626 people to Beaver Stadium. How many come this year?
The average was 109,355, which would be a drop of 271 from a year ago.

If you had to win just one of the two, would you rather Penn State beats Iowa or Ohio State?
This was another question that a few people sidestepped, so we only have 7 answers from the 9 blogs.  Surprisingly, revenge wasn’t on our minds, as 4 of the 7 would rather see Penn State beat Ohio State than Iowa this season.  Our very own Kevin probably says it best:

The game comes later in the season and an early season loss is somehting a team can recover from in the standings. Plus, the Buckeyes could easily be a top ten team when they play.

Does Corso put on the Lion or Hawkeye head?
5 of the 9 predict that Corso will don the Hawkeye head, and most hope he does just that.  Take it away, Nittany Line:

If there is a God he’ll put on the Hawkeye head – he’s wrong all the time. Don’t curse us Lee!

Does Penn State get revenge, or does Iowa make it 7 of 8 against the Lions?
8 blogs picked a Penn State win, and the other abstained.  But not too many of us feel good about it.  Except Penn State Clips, that is.

We think the weight the Iowa offense is too big a load for Ricky Stanzi to bear by himself. Expect to see a REALLY Happy Valley Saturday night!

We all hope you’re right.  This was a lot of fun, and we hope to do it again, sometime soon.  Thanks again, to everyone for participating, and to all of you out there for reading.  And a special gaffe to The Nittany Line reader JD, for correcting a gaffe in one of my questions.

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