PENN STATE v um; It's a Marathon, not a Sprint.

It's that time of year again.  That time when no matter where you are, or what you are doing, a certain distaste rises in your belly and you feel a tremor of agitation.  Your upper lip twitches slightly, and you squint your eyes...

It's michigan week.

The Nittany Lions host the michigan wolverines for their lone (home) prime time game of the season.  Kickoff is at 8pm (EST) and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.

um wears yellow with their dark blue, so leave the gold jewelry and money clips at home this week.

The 8pm start time means a day-long tailgate.  Parking lots open at 8am - we expect to be there by 10am - but there's no rush - we'll again be parking in the Green Lot - email or call for specific directions.

Our theme is "Pub Prowl" - featuring our favorite pub foods from around the globe.

As always, all are welcome - stop by if you can!

Blue White Roundtable Roundup - the small pop edition -

ARRGGHHH - We had the honor (horror?) of preparing the questions this week - but due to seriously annoying ailments (haff a stuffy knows), playoff baseball, and, yes, obligations of the employment variety (gotta start buying lottery tickets), I am not yet done with the roundup.

In the meantime - please visit each of the following wonderful sites and enjoy their witty (and often wrong) responses to our diligently crafted queries:

William F. Yurasko
JoePa's Doghouse
Galen @ LineBackerU
Devon @ Nittany WhiteOut

Only Hearts Can Build a Home; Penn State Homecoming 2010.

This is Penn State Homecoming Week.

If you haven't already figured that out, then I apologize - because I've been ridiculously neglectful in posting about this week's game and tailgate.

No excuses. Just Facts.

The game this Saturday is against the fighting (zookers) illini of illinois.  Kick off is at 12pm, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN 2 (glad I double checked that one - would have guessed BTN).

illinois sports garb of dark blue and orange - check the grommets and stitching on your dungarees.

The current accuweather forecast is:  Bright sunshine. Nice and warm.  High 72F; Low 44F.  Wear/pack layers and be sure to bring the sunscreen.

We will be tailgating in the overnight RV (19) Lot.  This is our lone RV tailgate this season, so be sure to stop by if you can.  Look for the checkered and "Don't Give Up the Ship" flags.  Email/comment/message/call for more specific directions.

With the early kickoff - parking lots will open at 7am - but our faithful crew will be there Thursday night and all day Friday as well.

Our theme this week is "Tour of Pennsylvania - Celebrating Yuengling Brewery." - This is our 2nd Yuengling sponsored tailgate (see Pounderfest, 2009).

It's Homecoming, and what could be better than to honor Pennsylvania herself?  We will be serving foods from and inspired by our fair Commonwealth, including, but not limited to:  stuffed cabbages (golabki, golubtsy, holubtsi, töltött kaposzta, pigs in the blanket - whatever you call them); mini beef on weck; shoo-fly pie; ring bologna; cheesesteak roll-ups; Goldenberg cupcakes; chow-chow and other assorted pickles; chips & pretzels; and, a variety of desserts and snacks from all over PA.

As always, everyone is welcome.  Contributions and tips are appreciated.

They Pronounce it Ellen Noy; Penn State v illinois Blue White Roundtable

And we're back!

Thanks to Galen from LinebackerU for this week's questions.

Penn State has lost to the two teams they were supposed to, albeit badly, and had a close scare with Temple. On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being “OMG!! FIRE JOE NOW!!! and 1 being “no worries, things are going as we expected”) where are you on the Nittany Lion suicide scale and why?

5.

Well, I'm certainly not happy with the way Penn State has been playing the beginning of this season - so if they were "supposed" to lose to these teams or what doesn't really change that. I wasn't devastated after the bama loss - but the iowa loss was more of a disappointment - dropped passes, absence of run and pass blocking, Bolden's (understandable) nerves/emotion, and our traditional offensive play calling and (somewhat new) certain lack of discipline on offense - and poor tackling/missed assignments on defense are, at this point a real concern.

But on the other hand, I'm not inconsolable. I have have hope - both for this season and for the future - This game will be a test and show if Penn State can compete in the Big Ten.

Nick Sukay has back to back games with a pick and is now tied for first in the Big Ten, can we finally say this is his ‘breakout’ year or is it too early yet?

It's way too early. He said that he just got the green light to be able to break on the ball - which probably explains the interceptions. He's still getting beaten on coverage and looking, generally, slow. He's 3rd on the team with total tackles - it does not make me happy that 4 of the top 8 tacklers are from the secondary - black and white evidence of our non-existent run defense.

Penn State is 11-2 against the Fighting Zookers in Big Ten play, they are 12-1 after a loss since 2005, and they have won 39 of 44 homecoming games for Joe Paterno; this game is in the bag right? What scares you the most about Illinois?

Of course I believe that Penn State will win - 100%. Illinois' defense makes me nervous -

There has been a lot of talk about benching Rob Bolden and giving Newsome some more playing time. Are the offensive woes Bolden’s fault or is this just wild message board overreaction?

No. Bolden is our quarterback. Kevin Newsome is a fine kid - and there was a time when we all believed that he was the next great thing - but he has not

Quick Hits
-Both offenses are at the bottom of the conference and both defenses are pretty high (4th and 3rd) if the over/under was 35 what would you take?

Oh, I don't make these kinds of predictions...

-Number of times Joe uses some form of “youth” in his post-game press conference?

Many - 20?

-It’s a noon start, what quarter (half maybe?!?!) does the student section fill up?

It's also Homecoming - so it may be a while - let's say 2nd quarter.