Linkbacker U enjoyed being bigger while it lasted

The Bigger House... The official numbers came out this week, and it looks like Beaver Stadium's one-year reign as the biggest stadium in college football has come to an end. Michigan Stadium will reclaim the title this fall:

"The Big House is back.

When the Unviersity [sic] of Michigan football team takes the field this fall, it will once again be in front of the largest crowd in the nation.

That's because with new stadium renovations scheduled to be completed, the school announced that the stadium's capacity will be 109,901.

That number surpasses that of Penn State's Beaver Stadium.

MGoBlog's Tim has a nice write-up on today's open house, which he attended, and came away with some pretty good info on the future of Michigan Stadium expansion.

"The Athletic Department is already discussing further expansion of the stadium, but the scoreboards are going to be the next part of the stadium improved.

Brandon said he hopes that the existing architecture of the scoreboards can be maintained (speculation - so as to not waste money when stadium expansion forces them to move within a few years?), but it's time for them to be upgraded. The Athletic Department will explore all possible revenue streams to pay for that project, though there are currently no plans for in-stadium advertising."

You have to hand it to Michigan. Arrogant as all hell, at least they stick to their guns when it comes to maintaining tradition.

Quarless signs with Packers... In a bit of NFL news, former PSU tight end Andrew Quarless, drafted by the Green Bay Packers this past April, has been signed to a rookie contract. Part of the Packers.com series "Getting To Know A Draft Pick," Quarless really opened up about his football career, including this nugget about another former Nittany Lion:

Was there a football player you idolized growing up? Why him?

I wouldn't say I idolized a football player growing up. I think coming into college, Paul Posluszny (former linebacker for Penn State and current linebacker for the Buffalo Bills), watching the way he worked. He laid flat out. They used to call him a machine, like nothing fazed him. Whether it was running sprints, lifting weights, I really was amazed coming out of high school watching the way the older guys worked, especially him. It was amazing to me. That is another thing, I couldn't block him my freshman year. He was so elusive at the linebacker position I couldn't even touch him.

You really have to feel great for Quarless. For a while in the middle of his Penn State days, he was teetering on the edge. He had two options, two paths. He chose the right one.

The next Bobby Engram? It looks like Deon Butler, the walk-on defensive back turned all-time Penn State receptions leader, is doing just swell in Seattle. Don't believe me, ask head coach Pete Carroll:

Royster ready to roll... I'll admit, as a fan, I was disappointed to see Evan Royster standing on the sidelines during the Blue-White Game this past April. But also as a fan who also wants Penn State to win games this fall, I couldn't have been more pleased. But winning games won't be the only thing in the cards for Royster this fall. Just as quietly as he runs over, around, and through defenses, the rising redshirt senior tailback is only 481 yards from breaking Curt Warner's all-time Penn State rushing record. To Royster the focus isn't on the record, but getting himself prepared to be able to break that record this fall. The Collegian had the story:

"But, Royster's decision to return for his final season was never completely dictated by a chance to shatter records. It was about coming back, helping his team improve and preparing for his professional future, he said.

"What I've heard also is that the biggest day of my life is that combine," Royster said. "So it's something that I will train hard for, and actually after the season's done, I'll get right into it and try to make myself the best I can be for that."

Oh yeah, and how about Warner? Why, he's only going to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame this weekend.

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USC Gets Hammered: The Universe Unfolds As It Should

I really don't have a whole lot to say regarding the NCAA's finally growing a pair and releasing the Kraken on the Trojans' football program to the tune of a 2-year bowl ban, 30 scholarship-reduction, and vacating of all wins from 2005 (including the national title from January '05) except that it's about f*cking time. These sanctions will hit USC right where it hurts: Lane Kiffin and his staff will not only have to convince the current freshmen and sophomores but also the incoming recruits for 2011 to ride out the sanction storm and keep the program from completely derailing. Oh, and forget about those talented juniors and seniors sticking around with no bowl hopes, look for other schools to begin poaching them soon enough. Did I neglect to mention the Trojans will be short-handed on the scholarship front for years to come?

As Mike has suggested in our forums though, if the NCAA really wants to deter schools from pulling off scandalous crap like this in the future, they should fine Pete Carroll and AD Mike Garrett, who surely had to have known what was going on with Reggie Bush and all the benefits he and his family were receiving (amongst other violations that were occurring), yet turned a blind eye to it all. Nonetheless, today is a glorious one for those of us who believe in seeing cheaters get their comeuppance. The universe certainly unfolded as it should...


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Pete Carroll reportedly bolting for Seattle

Will Pete Carroll actually leave USC
for the Seattle Seahawks?

This story is leaking faster than the Titanic.

Pete Carroll was on the short list to replace fired Seattle Seahawks coach Jim Mora. Now its sounding like Carroll is getting the heck out of Dodge. Some reports say it's a five year deal; others aren't so specific.

What is known right now is that USC athletic director Mike Garrett said the university won't reveal anything until Monday; there's a football team meeting at 2 p.m. on Monday.

It's not all that unlikely these reports are true. In the last three days alone, one-time projected starting quarterback Aaron Corp has transferred to Richmond (I-AA), while wide receiver Damian Williams and running back Joe McKnight will skip their senior seasons to enter the 2010 NFL Draft. USC always has great players waiting to fill in the gaps, but the team overall isn't the juggernaut it was last year or the seven years prior to that. Top it off with the lingering violations investigations, and you've got a Seattle sundae coming your way.

Stay tuned for more as the story unfolds this weekend.

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