I feel bad obsessing over the basketball situation here at Penn State, and, well, just thinking about the utter failure that is Ed DeChellis’s program makes me feel even worse.  So let’s play catch-up, and see what’s been going on with the football team over the last couple weeks.

• While Penn State football won’t start up for reals for another five and half months, there’s plenty to look forward to. For those among us who are counting down the days until the Blue/White Game, well, good news–it’ll be on ESPN2, so you don’t have to come all the way out to Central PA and then leave midway through the second quarter once guys like Matt McGloin start getting snaps. Even so, you know you will, because, unless you live prohibitively far away (sorry, Charlie), the tailgate scene is beyond awesome. Oh, and with the QB position among many up for grabs, this B/W game actually will be wrought with tension.

• The Athletic Department finally got around to updating the roster, and, as usual, Linebacker-U does some phenomenal work breaking down what exactly all this means.  A few quick notes–Khairi Fortt might just be the next Navorro Bowman (or Lavar Arrington, for that matter), and he’ll be wearing the #11 jersey to boot.  Paul Jones will don Andrew Quarless’s old #10, and Nick Sukay really likes switching his number around–he’s switched from #10 to #9 to #18, and is now wearing #1.

• The Big Ten expansion rumors just keep heating up.  The Chicago Tribune, which has been on top of the topic since the get-go argued that Rutgers was the best fit, even though as a New Yorker myself, I can attest to the fact that literally nobody cares about Rutgers football.  Then somebody leaked that Notre Dame was in play.  But not too fast, Bill Stewart, who, presumably, knows something about something, talked openly about how the Big East could dissolve as a football conference when (not if) the Big Ten, ACC, and SEC start poaching teams. So maybe we’ll get an eastern rival after all.

• Next year’s White Out t-shirt is out, and, unfortunately for Fox News, it doesn’t resemble the prophet Allah.  Design B won the vote, and, unsurprisingly, it’s completely bland and boring. I’ll be doing what I did last year–not buying it, and wearing a plain white t-shirt. Or maybe not going, since our night game is going to be, probably, against Michigan or Northwestern. If it’s going to be such a meaningless game, we shouldn’t sully the reputation of the White Iut by wasting it on such a hapless opponent.
• Tickets for Penn State’s “away game” against Indiana at Fedex Field go on sale on Monday, so if you’re an alum or fan from around D.C., check how many NLC points you’ve got. State College is 203 miles from Landover, Maryland, while Bloomington is 650 miles away.  It’s going to be a very strange scene when Penn State fans outnumber the Hoosier faithful by a large margin at what’s billed as an away game.
• If a major early-season game against the defending national champions didn’t get you excited enough, well, word is that next year’s week two matchup for the Nits in Tuscaloosa will be a night game, to be broadcast on ESPN.  Considering both teams are locks to start next season ranked in the top 15, at least, it’ll either be an incredible chance for the young Lions to make a huge statement, or, perhaps more likely, another primetime beatdown of a Big Ten team (see: USC-Ohio State, 2008).  Here’s to hoping we return the favor in 2011, and treat the Crimson Tide to the best White Out yet.

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