I'm sorry, what were you saying? Rumors are great. Rumors are even better when they're about Michigan QB Tate Forcier supposedly requesting a transfer. But you wanna know what rumors are the
best? The ones started by...
Late last night, Melanie Collins tweeted this:
Very reliable source telling me Tate Forcier requested a transfer from #Michigan this AM. NOT yet confirmed, will update as I know more.
It was taken down shortly after, but the inevitable explosion of tweets and cries of "wait, Melanie Collins? OHHH,
THAT MELANIE COLLINS..." had already been raging at full force. Of course, some cooler heads prevailed, mainly
Brian at MGoBlog:
Not to disparage smoking hot bikini models or anything, but I'd probably take Mike Rothstein's word over hers. Then again she has done some sideline work for the Big Ten Network—the entire reason this is credible enough to bother with—and Rothstein is not banging out strenuous denials and this is Michigan post-Bo so it's probably true and all she left out its that he's hiring someone to bash Denard's knee in, Tonya Harding style.
The rumor is apparently not true, or just not true enough where Tate is actually going to transfer. Oh well, at least you got to see a hot girl in a bikini this morning.
Oh, those nutty Mormons! BYU is jumping ship from the Mountain West conference, to pursue a path as an... wait for it...
independent? Really? Hmm. Well,
it's true.
"The Cougars will leave the MWC, go independent in football and rejoin the Western Athletic Conference in all non-football sports beginning in the fall of 2011, the Salt Lake Tribune learned Wednesday."
The funny thing is that's not the most interesting thing to come out of this news from last night. TCU's head coach
Garry Patterson had some words of advice about BYU's decision to go indy in football. Frankly, I couldn't agree more, as I'm sure anyone who's watched Notre Dame for the last 20 years:
"If you're BYU, you better be careful what you wish for," Patterson said. "It's not my job to worry about what Utah does, what BYU does, but I can tell you this: If you think being an independent is an easier way to get to a national championship, you're kidding yourself."
May I interest you in some Google? Oh, you've never tried it? It's wonderful... Fanhouse isn't bad. They're better than many others, but seriously?
"Penn State has won 11 games in each of the past two seasons, and in three of the past five. In those years, however, the Nittany Lions had a returning starter at quarterback, which they won't in 2010."
Wow, I had no idea Daryll Clark was the incumbent starter going into 2008. Bet you he didn't even know that! You all know this, but let me clear it all up.
In 2006, Clark, playing in seven games, went 14-of-27 for 116 yards and gained 48 yards on the ground, with three touchdowns. He averaged 3.2 yards on his 15 carries. The following 2007 season, playing in eight games, Clark went six-of-nine passing for 31 yards and gained 78 yards on 12 carries, with two rushing touchdowns.
No starts. None. Barely a full game's worth of passes during his entire career before 2008.
But what about 2005? Michael Robinson sure started a few games before then, right? Yes, but I definitely would not have considered him a "returning starter" going into that season.
In 2002, Robinson shifted around the offensive set from quarterback to running back, slot back and split end to utilize his talents. Robinson was Penn State's second leading rusher with 263 yards, six touchdowns on 50 carries; caught nine passes for 44 yards. In 2003, Robinson started eight games—three at quarterback and five at tailback, completing 62-of-138 passes for 892 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions and finished second on the team with 396 yards, three scores on 107 carries. In 2004, Robinson again started eight games, was second on the team with 33 receptions for 485 yards (14.7 avg) and three touchdowns; completed 14-of-39 passes for 170 yards, a touchdown and five INTs; third on the squad with 172 yards on 49 carries.
Prior to 2005, Michael Robinson started more games at running back than he did at quarterback.
So, no, Penn State did not have a returning starting quarterback in 2005 or 2008, two of the 11-win seasons Fanhouse points to when analyzing the situation going into 2010.
And you know where I got all that information?
The Googles. It's pretty cool. Fanhouse should check it out sometime.
A Penn State "AT" Indiana preview... John at Crimson Quarry takes an early peek at the Hoosiers' matchup at FedEx Field against the Nittany Lions. It's an interesting take on the "neutral" site idea Indiana agreed to:
"Of course, I'm not arguing that IU was likely to beat Penn State if the game were played in Bloomington. Still, while IU is 0-13 against Penn State, three of Penn State's last four trips to Indiana (three games in Bloomington and a 2000 game in Indianapolis, a legitimate home-neutral game) were decided in the last minute. Only one of the games in Happy Valley, the 38-31 Penn State win in 1993, was close enough for IU to have had a shot at the end. Ultimately, to make progress as a program, IU is going to have to beat one of the big three. It's not likely in any given year, but selling games off like this makes it even less likely."
NFL and Penn State... Just a heads up, we were thinking of doing a weekly post during the NFL regular season highlighting each week's games that will feature Penn State alums. What do you think? I know I love watching our guys play on Sundays, too. This way, you will have the full, easy-to-read list for each week.
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