NIU Game thread

[MarkL]

ESPN 3 just did a quick thing on the Penn State scandal. Few quick thoughts from me until our game restarts ...

- Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick.
- I hope to God JoePa really is innocent. The story is that he told the athletic director what the graduate assistant told him, that something inappropriate between Sandusky and a boy was spotted. Telling the AD is enough ... if the AD does his job. However, once it became clear that the AD wasn't doing enough, I think Joe should have called the police. I hope to God that Joe wasn't actively part of any cover up.
- The first witness, the GA, should have probably done more than just tell Joe. Especially as the eye witness.
- I'm afraid Joe is going to be dismissed before the game Saturday. This would be without giving Joe a fair chance to defend himself.
- The media surrounding Joe is not helping. When an 84 year old guy gets mobbed out in front of his house on his way to work, that's not helping. When the 84 year old man needs people helping him to clear the reporters away, that is unacceptable.
- The above point is nowhere nearly as unacceptable as the original crimes and the alleged cover up.
- Let's not rush too quickly to judgement on anybody. This looks really, really bad, yes, but in our legal system, people are innocent until proven guilty. The media works the opposite way unfortunately.

And there's my thoughts during this halftime break. Not sure what ESPN 2 is doing during halftime.

[MarkL]

And quick WMU UT update, it's tied 28 at the half. So did UT's starters on defense all quit the team before the NIU game or something? They've been MIA for two weeks now ...

[Flipper]

Re Penn STate...I've seen that Matt Millen interview a couple of times. As a Lions fan, Matt Millen is one of my least favorite people in sports...but he was a stand up guy there.

[Flipper]

You almost never see WR's called for holding...tonight, we've seen it twice

[MarkL]

Hey, D got a stop on the first drive of the second half ... for I think about the first time this season!

[MarkL]

Nice run Anthon!

[MarkL]

Nice run Anthon! I think I hear an echo ...

[kdog27]

Being a Penn State fan for years I feel like I have been kicked in the gut. I know they are not perfect like they have always been portrayed but this one hurts.

[MarkL]

Fake, fake, fake please!!

[MarkL]

Nevermind, not gonna happen ... they want to pin NIU deep.

[MarkL]

Schmiedibush ... WTF? You only punted that ball like 30 yards, and you got the initial bounce on the 5 instead of the 2! What's wrong with you??
</sarcasm>

[Flipper]

I think it was kdog who asked why anyone has optimism re this team....I'm optimistic.. we have more athletic ability on the defensive side of the ball than we have seen in the past....I really like our DB's. We have some nice skill position guys...our QB isn't consistent and the line still needs to improve though...they need to improve a lot.

The talent is there can the coaches pull it together? I think Clawson has a year...two years tops... to make it happen

[MarkL]

Nice stop D! I like seeing Keith Morgan playing so well this year as his senior year.

[kdog27]

I think it was kdog who asked why anyone has optimism re this team....I'm optimistic.. we have more athletic ability on the defensive side of the ball than we have seen in the past....I really like our DB's. We have some nice skill position guys...our QB isn't consistent and the line still needs to improve though...they need to improve a lot.

The talent is there can the coaches pull it together? I think Clawson has a year...two years tops... to make it happen

Yeah it was me Flip and though it was indirect I was hoping you would answer because I know you have been a supporter. I see your points about the talent and I was impressed early in the season. The Wyoming game was disappointing but I happy to see us bounce back and beat MU. Since then though you have no idea what you are going to get when you watch this team. You expect them to win, they lose. You expect them to get spanked they win or play like they should win.

There are talented players out there. More so than we have in some time but the playcalling, adjustments and preparation just simply looks poor.


On a brighter note that flashback to the 34-18 game in 2003 brought a smile.

[Flipper]

Yeah...that was a great day...and season.