“We want the Buckeye, we want the Buckeyes”.  That’s what the Penn State loyalists were chanting in Beaver Stadium as the clock wound down in their dismantling of Minnesota last weekend.   I will be the first to say I was surprised by their win and somewhat shocked by the margin.  I will also be the first to caution the Brittany Lions to be careful of what the hell they are asking for.  They just might get it.

Their 5-0 record is nice, but keep in mind the first 4 victims, South Florida, Cincinnati, Central Michigan and Northwestern, are college football’s version of road kill.  Minnesota, I must admit, is a major disappointment. Overall I was impressed by what I saw from the Brittany Lions.  They completely stuffed Minnesota’s vaunted ground game and with it Lawrence Malrooney’s chances, however remote, for national recognition.  On Offense, Michael Robison did his best Vince Young impersonation yet, and  PSU is much improved in the speed category.  That being said the PSU faithful need to realize, that they are about to face the best defense in college football.  The Silver Bullets are big, strong, fast (extremely), and smart.  They are coached by the wily veteran Jim Heacock, who is rapidly becoming a genius.  Speaking of wily veterans, guess who is behind offensive resurgence for Penn State?  None other than that old crook, Galen Hall.  You remember Galen, he led the pre-Spurrier Florida Gators on to an extensive NCAA probation.  Those were the days when you had to cheat big to keep up with Charely Pell and Danny Ford who were winning a national championship at Clemson before they (surprise!) went on probation with a bunch of thugs who couldn’t have found the school  library with a GPS.  Prior to Florida Galen had worked with that statesman of college athletics, Barry Switzer. Fits right in with Joe Pa’s image doesn’t it? Sort of like Hugh Hefner becoming wardrobe consultant for Mother Teresa.    Make no mistake though, despite his moral flexibility, Galen Hall has a wonderful football mind, which has been reflected in the Lion’s play calling this year. . And yes,  we know he is a PSU alum, but still 18 years with Barry Switzer?? 

                Though as I get older I am remiss to pick on senior citizens, I have to ask this question. What is up with Joe Pa’s head?   He seems to be shrinking, as age will do, but his head seems to be larger than ever.  Maybe he just is in desperate need of a stylist. That Little Richard-style cut is just  wrong.  Whatever the cause, he seems to be this little guy with this huge head.  With the weight of those thick Barry Goldwater glasses and that mass of hair one wonders if he can lift his head enough to look at anything but those white socks and black coaching shoes.  He is beginning to look like one of those idiot mascots with the big head, i.e. that disturbing Cornhusker boy or Pistol Pete from Oklahoma State.  I wonder if Joe Pa ever does retire and expire, and lets all hope he does it in that order, will  PSU, just have him stuffed and mounted? Sort of a life-sized bobble head doll.  Just a thought. 

                Around the Big Ten last week the Badgers remained unbeaten by rolling over Indiana.  In a game which actually did matter the Weasels beat their little brothers in OT.  Poor Sparties played like they were afraid to win.  If Drew Stanton is such a threat to run, why didn’t  he run?  I saw him scramble all over the place, but actually attack the line of scrimmage, maybe twice.  MSU missed two easy FG’s  and the Weasels  only missed one.  The first MSU miss and the completely bogus roughing the kicker call, which led to a Weasel TD in the first half, were back breakers.  Oh well, another team unbeaten in the conference fell, so it is all good.   Purdue continued to embarrass itself in a home loss to Notre Dame.  Though I have always liked Joe Tiller I am beginning to seriously wonder how much of their previous success was him and how much was Drew Brees?  Face it, the Boilers, despite lofty expectations in several seasons, have not done much since Drew went to the Chargers,  where he is proving to be a pretty good NFL QB. 

                In what I thought was the most surprising game in the country Alabama destroyed Florida by a score of 31-3.  WOW, was I wrong on that one.  The Gators looked totally lost on both sides of the ball.  The Urban spread-option offense had not appeared to be hitting on all cylinders in previous weeks, but who thought that Bama would wreck a defense which had handled Tennessee two weeks prior?  Life in the SEC is about to get a lot more interesting as they continue to eat their young.  Oh yeah, and USC fell behind,  then got interested enough to beat Arizona State by 10 in Tempe.

                This  is sort of put up or shut up week.  Minnesota visits the Weasels.  If Glen Mason hopes to regain any respect they have win this one in AA.  Not likely, but another loss and they will spend yet another season just hoping to get to a bowl game, any bowl game.  Georgia, who has quietly remained unbeaten, travels to Knoxville.  Fat Phil and the Boys from Rocky Top are one loss from a December bowl game.  That thought seems to have served them well in the  last six quarters after nearly ending their season in Baton Rouge before their comeback win.  The Vols will help us find out if Shockley is a good as he has looked this year or will he revert to the inconsistency of the years he shared with David Green.  The Red River Riot has a new twist.  Texas is not only favored, but by a 2 touchdown margin over the 2-2 Sooners.  To make matters worse for OU Adrian Peterson has a bum ankle, though he is expected to play.  Everything seems to be pointing toward a Long Horn win, everything, that is,  except  the Sooner's five game win streak in the rivalry.  Based on what I saw in the Shoe on September 10, I have to predict a Texas win, but don’t sell the Bob Stoops and the Sooners short.  They won’t go down without more of a fight than most expect and an upset in not out of the question.  And a word to the oh-so sensitive Long Horn fans – if any of the Sooners are rude to you, be sure to complain to OU president David Boren.  Maybe he will vow to change their culture too.  Nah, only our Queen Karen……….

                The national spotlight has to be on the Buckeye’s prime time trip to Happy Valley.  It will be a wild crowd, and an inspired opponent  for the first road game of the year.  Penn State fans are going to do a “white-out” for this night game with the Buckeyes.  Not sure exactly what a “white-out” is, but it does not sound politically correct to me. Penn State is, in fact, much improved.  They have speed at the wide-outs, and a  veteran defense, especially in the secondary.  Galen Hall manages a game much better than who ever Joe Pa had  let drive the bus in recent years.  The biggest surprise to me is that Michael Robinson has actually looked and played like a QB. None of this matters much. The difference between the defenses he previously faced and the Buckeyes’ defense will be very evident and very dramatic.  As  Mr. Robinson   looks at life through the ear hole of his helmet, he will realize that Central Michigan has left the building.  The hot and young Lion receivers will get meet Mr. Whitner and Mr. Salley.  I do not think they  will enjoy that.  Robinson likes to run.  This is bad, for him anyway.  The people chasing him are faster and bigger than he is and they wish to do him harm.  We will resurrect the defensive game plan from the Texas game.  Only we will pursue Mr. Robinson more aggressively, because he really can’t run as well as Vince Young.  We will force him to beat us with his arm, and again, unlike Vince Young, he won’t be able to do so.  The Buckeyes are the # 1 defense in the country against the run, despite having played  Texas, who leads the nation in rushing offense.  For the Buckeyes on offense, just please quit with the turnovers.  This is the kind of  game Troy Smith lives for.  An overly excited Penn State defense will make for some Teddy opportunities.  Go ahead Nits,  cover Santonio one on one…..PLEASE! If our Buckeyes are really an elite team this season, and I believe they are, then this is just another tough road game where you go in and take care of business and move on. No big deal, just GIT R DONE.  Buckeyes 24, Brittany Lions 10.