PSU in the Outback Bowl

by Mike @ Rocky Top Talk on Nov 29, 2006 7:10 AM EST

Bumped from the diaries. This is from Mike at SB Nation Penn State blog Black Shoe Diaries.

I see ESPN is projecting Tennessee vs. Penn State in the Outback Bowl. I was curious how Tennessee fans feel about that.

Personally I think it will be a great matchup. The two teams have some recent history in the 1992 Fiesta Bowl and the 1994 Citrus Bowl. Those were great games...well, great if you're a PSU fan I guess.

You guys had some impressive wins over Cal and Georgia and almost pulled it off against Florida. We didn't really beat anyone of note but we played Michigan, Ohio State, and Wisconsin pretty tough.

Anyway, what do you guys think? Obviously nobody is excited about the Outback Bowl. We all had higher hopes. But I'm glad we're not stuck playing a Kentucky or Vanderbilt and I'm sure you're glad you're not stuck playing Northwestern or Indiana.

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I think that about sums it up, Mike

I think we'd do well to play a good Big 10 team as we have fond memories of our last game against Michigan.

We'd probably be over confident, though. Reader Aerobab and I had an almost weekly exchange every time I did my BlogPoll draft, with him imploring me to lower Wisconsin as they hadn't really played anybody except Michigan, to whom they lost. I honestly don't know how good they are, but when you say PSU played Michigan, Ohio State, and Wisconsin close, I think that's cause for concern for us.

But the game should be good, two historically rich programs going at it. We wouldn't be talking about a Barry Alvarez moment, would we, where the PSU team would be super-hyped for Joe Pa's last game? Don't like the sound of that.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 28, 2006 11:45 AM EST reply actions

Hype

There's going to be hype about JoePa whoever we play. There's no talk about this being his last game, but since his injury there is a lot of speculation by the media that he will not be back next year. He has publicly said he plans on coaching at the Outback Bowl and beyond, but that doesn't stop the media morons from still talking about it.

I'm just glad we're not playing Bobby Bowden this year. The JoePa/Bobby lovefest last year was disgusting. PSU fans are very bitter about Bobby being held on an equivalent level with Joe because of all the controversies and low graduation rates FSU has had. We're also bitter that 30 of Bowden's wins came at a Div. I-AA school but they still count towards his "record".

Anyway, if we happen to be fortunate enough to get paired together in the Outback Bowl, I look forward to stopping by to discuss the game and I hope you guys will stop by Black Shoe Diaries to discuss it as well.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries
SBNation's Penn State Blog

by Mike @ Rocky Top Talk on Nov 28, 2006 1:17 PM EST reply actions

Outback Bowl

As a Penn State fan I would like to play Tennessee again for the sole reason that I think the Vols are the only team out of Auburn, Arkansas, and LSU that PSU could potentially hang with.

Penn State's defense has been rock solid after the ND game of course. They held tOSU to 14 pts (2 tds came from pick 6's) and Michigan to 17. They did play all three close but in all seriousness Michigan and Wisconsin were not as close as the score indicated.

The Lions' offenses is, well I will be frank, a real let down. They have a strong armmed QB and 3 proven WR's and they can't move the ball at all. Throw in a 2 time 1000 yard rusher in Tony Hunt and there is no reason this team shouldn't score 20+ a game. The OLine is weak but my next point will explain why they are exploited even more.

You will find PSU's Offense to be very predictible. Opposing defenses know what they are going to run and it doesn't help the line out at all. If some how they open it up, stretch the field, use the Tight End, it could be a fun game. If not, the game will be close because of our Defense but our offense will struggle to get 200 yards.

Brian
http://inthebleachers.net

by Dr Sak on Nov 29, 2006 9:54 AM EST reply actions

Penn State

We always look bad against Penn State

by Smitty @ Rocky Top Talk on Nov 29, 2006 11:47 AM EST reply actions

Why

Why is that, Smitty? Just a bad match up?

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 29, 2006 12:15 PM EST reply actions

Bowl

The last few times we have played them in Bowl Games, they killed us.

by Smitty @ Rocky Top Talk on Nov 29, 2006 2:59 PM EST reply actions

Well, the last time

the teams played, UT only looked bad for 8 minutes or so - y'all were doin' really well otherwise.

I always hold that game as a standard - even today - because I know for a fact that a PSU team can score points, real fast.

But this is a different PSU team I will not be confident going into any match up against the SEC - not to buy into the hype or anything, but y'all are pretty good - and, as a general rule, that much hunter orange scares me.

by PSUgirl on Nov 30, 2006 1:20 PM EST reply actions