Lions Lose Badly on Senior Night; APB Sent Out for Any and All Airborne Swine

Talor Battle and Penn State were steamrolled
by No. 1 Ohio State last night on Senior Night.
(Photo: AP/Yahoo!)

From the outset of the season, Nittany Nation adopted a new motto….Believe. They held onto a belief that this was a team of destiny. The students showed up in record fashion believing that they would finally see their belief become a reality.

Very quickly, however, the record-breaking student section realized that their destiny was one that they were all too familiar with, the NIT.

Ohio State clobbered Penn State, from start to finish. 82-61 the Buckeyes routed Penn State. It seemed PSU had a game plan of how to stop the most dominant Buckeye in Jared Sullinger, holding him to ten points.

Photo Gallery: Michigan State 28, Penn State 22

(Photos: Mike/LBU)

Though it was another tough home loss--not as bad as the Illinois loss, at least--for the Nittany Lions, I managed to get some decent photos this weekend. As always, if you didn't know the final score, you'd be led to believe Penn State won the game by these shots. So enjoy it, and pretend Evan Royster ran for 200 yards and 4 touchdowns while the defense burried the Spartans. It's fun to pretend.



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Review: Michigan State 28, Penn State 22

Penn State managed to end the 2010 regular season with a thud, which happens to be exactly how the season as a whole will be viewed by most fans and media.

Penn State's senior class will be remembered for helping lead the team
 to a 47-17 record over their five seasons in Happy Valley. (Photo: Mike/LBU)

It was the first senior day loss since 1999. It also completed the first winning regular season since 1992 in which Penn State failed to reach eight victories. But all that aside, Penn State did manage to prevent the blowout, actually putting quite the scare into the overly-comfortable Spartans late in the game. It was the kind of never-die attitude that could bode very well for the future of this team. But that's all next season. Let's talk about this season, and this depressing loss, in particular.

What to like. What to hate. What to not freak out about. Right now...

Gameday HQ: Michigan State at Penn State 2010

Here's your pregame rundown of everything you need to know for today's game. No live blog this week.

• Preview: MSU at PSU
• LBU Staff Predictions: MSU at PSU
• 11th Hour Depth Charting: MSU
• Joe Paterno Press Conference: MSU
• 10 Minutes or Less: 1994 MSU at PSU
• Big Ten Bloggers Pick'em: Week 13
• Week 13 BlogPoll

11th Hour Depth Charting: Michigan St at Penn St

Some important injuries this week, though not nearly as destructive as other points this season.

RG John Urschel could start,
depending on Doug Klopacz's status.
 (Photo: Mike/LBU)

The latest depth chart (from what we can tell) for this week's game, with some complementary notes...

-The players marked with an asterisk (*) are only projected to either start or not start, based on how the injury situation plays out at each position.
-The offensive line depends on whether or not Doug Klopacz is ready to go. If not, then Stefen Wisniewski will move to center, as he did against Indiana, while John Urschel will move up to start at RG.
-Michael Mauti could end up playing, but I'll go with Nate Stupar as the starter again this week.
-It's senior day, so Bani Gbadyu will start. But that doesn't mean he'll stay there the full game. Watch for Gerald Hodges to come in early.

LBU Staff Predictions: Michigan State at Penn State

Evan Royster could go out a winner, or...
we hope. (Photo: Mike/LBU)

Here is our weekly prognosticating, this time on a very full stomach...

Galen

This game will come down to one thing: coaching. It’s painfully obvious that Penn State has two coaching philosophies: 1) Conservative on both sides of the ball or 2) aggressive on both sides of the ball. The two sides seem to be in synch as well. Against Ohio State Penn State came out guns a blazin’ and roared out to a two score lead. The offense was throwing on first down and the defense was blitzing and they had great success. Then both sides went into a conservative shell, blitzes were no longer called and Jay Paterno dialed up the “mash the running back into the center of the line for two plays, desperation 3rd and long incompletion, punt” offense that goes nowhere. The same thing happened against Indiana once the Hoosiers tied it up but luckily Penn State’s special teams saved the day and got momentum back. It’s really that simple, call a conservative game against a top 10 team and you will LOSE. Come out playing aggressive with a nothing to lose attitude and Penn State will win. I’m betting on the former.

Odd stat of the game: Michigan State is 1st in the conference in punt returns and dead last in kickoff returns and they are led by the same guy (Keshawn Martin). Try to explain that one.

Penn State 17 – Michigan State 27

Preview: Michigan State at Penn State

The Nittany Lions, once again this season, are back on track after a loss. Last week's win over Indiana wasn't the most impressive showing under Joe Paterno, but it was absolutely necessary to set up a fine finish to an obvious reloading season.

This week the No. 11 Michigan State Spartans roll into Happy Valley, with every intention of sending this rivalry out with their first win in Beaver Stadium.

Here's your weekly preview and breakdown.

Joe Paterno Press Conference Recap: Michigan State Week

The long and short (but mostly the short) of Joe's presser from Tuesday.

• Joe Paterno will return next season. Why this is a big deal, I'm not entirely sure. But he said he wants to return next season, because this team is shaping up to be really good in 2011. Joe pointed to the injuries and the youth, which is all accurate. Joe wants to reinforce the fact that with the three academic all-Americans, the program is still doing things the right way. Joe thinks that it should be somewhat his call, but he doesn't run the university. 
• Andrew Dailey and Kevion Latham are listed as playing their last home game. So that's usually an indication that they won't be returning for their fifth year of eligibility. Joe said that's pretty much correct. But players have been known to come back after saying they're done.

Noon kickoff for Senior Day vs MSU

Don't eat too much leftovers on Friday night, because you're going to have to get up pretty early for Penn State's senior day finale against No. 11 Michigan State:

Penn State's Senior Day clash with No. 11 Michigan State on Saturday, Nov. 27 has been set for a 12:00 p.m. ET kick in Beaver Stadium. The contest will air on ESPN or ESPN2, the Penn State Sports Network and www.GoPSUsports.com.

A decision on which ESPN network will air the game will be announced by Monday.

Now question is set: Will the student section fill up to even half its capacity? My money (if I gambled) would be on "no."

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