TheSkyisBlueandWhite

Okay, you didn't get it. But, I'll use our words - "poor saps living in a dreamworld" Must be true. You wrote it, not me. Joe probably won't pull the starters in the second quarter because they need experience together. Not to play Akron, but to play ND next week. Unfortunately, Akron is the loser in the scenario, since pulling out the starters keeps the score reasonable. I'll give two score predictions:Joe pulls the starters in 2nd quarter: 42-12Joe lets them play: 63-3Either way, it is an "abject beat-down". Honestly, I have nothing against Akron. I want your program to do well.

PSU football is about honesty, integrity and respect. Those are values that JoePa demands from his players, and occasionally he has demanded it from PSU students and fans. I think some of the posts by PSU fans on this forum are being honest, but being misinterpreted as being disrespectful. Sometimes you have to keep your mouth shut to be respectful – even when you open your mouth while being honest. I might have even been interrupted as being disrespectful the other day in a post, but I was only being honest. Note that in my previous post that I did not predict a score to the game. I just discussed a number of game “factors.” If I was honest about what I thought the score was going to be, I definitely know that it would have been interpreted as being disrespectful. So I didn’t do that. I wish all the best to Akron on Saturday. If I had my way PSU would win tomorrow and Akron would win every game the rest of its season. I am a PSU fan after all. And if Akron does well, it makes PSU look better. I take this to an extreme sometimes. I watched the Temple-Buffalo game last night, knowing that PSU plays Temple in the next to last game of the season. I also know that Temple is one of the worst Div 1A teams in football. I was pulling for Temple only because State will play Temple. I want State to play the best teams possible. Oh well, you can’t always get what you want. To be honest, but not disrespectful, but I am sure Temple fans would find it disrespectful – Buffalo fans as well, I think I am going to see a higher caliber high school football game tonight than the Temple game last night. I wouldn’t post that on a Temple forum though. (Wait, Temple doesn’t have a forum, they can’t read and write) Opps, that was being disrespectful. Go State, Beat Roos

There is no hiding it ... I am a PSU fan. So take this prognostication as a biased one.There are a number of factors going into Saturday’s game that will determine the final score. The Norte Dame Factor #1: I’ve seen it time and time again when PSU teams don’t show up mentally for a game because they are looking towards next week’s game. If PSU is going to have another good season they need to show up for the Zips. JoePa has been talking this game up, and there are a lot of first time starters. We’ll see if they really do show up. Acid Test: If you are at the game (I will be there) bring your binoculars and look into the eyes of the PSU players as they come on the field. You will be able to tell if they have shown up or not.The Norte Dame Factor #2: How long will PSU starters play on Saturday? PSU is inexperienced. For instance, all but one offensive lineman will be starting for the first time. I am a firm believer that games are won in the trenches. I also believe that the offensive line requires playing time to be cohesive as a unit. PSU can’t go into the Norte Dame game with a line that has only played a quarter together. To take that a step further, the entire offense needs playing time together to gain game day experience. (For Zips fans understanding … JoePa often pulls starters out of the game early instead of running up the score. And when I say early, it is often by the second quarter of the game.)But will JoePa keep the starters in the game together to gain experience before the Notre Dame game? If I were Joe, I would keep them in the game going into the forth quarter. PSU has more difficult games than ND this season and the starters need to be in condition and mentally capable of playing late in the forth quarter, especially against THEM. (Michigan)The Tony Hunt Factor: He’s ready. I’ve read all that talk about Memphis and NIU elite running games. PSU is rarely elite in their running game. The reason being is that PSU runs a balanced offense and first string running backs are lucky to get the ball 20 times a game. But, there are times when JoePa lets go, and PSU has an elite running game. It usually happens in the last year of a starting tailback’s career. Larry Johnson was the last tailback that JoePa let run. It was LJ’s last year at State. Hunt has been playing, blocking, receiving, running and doing everything has been told to do for four years. It is Hunt’s last year and JoePa might let him run.The Anthony Morelli Factor: He as a gun for an arm. He’s accurate. He’s unknown. (Read that as there is little game tape to prepare for him.) And by the way, he can run too – but don’t let anyone know that. Combine the Hunt factor with the Morelli factor and the game can get ugly. JoePa likes balance. If Hunt is let loose, then JoePa will have to balance things out with the passing game. They will feed off each other.The Defense Factor: PSU has the best linebacker in college football. He is also a leader. The defense needs to prove that they can do it – particularly the backfield. Posluszny will lead the defense to proving themselves. He will accept no less than perfection.My prediction: PSU shows up mentally for the game. Starters play into the late third quarter. JoePa lets Hunt carry the ball 23 times and gains 220 yards. Morelli passes for over 300 yards. The D proves themselves with 6 sacks, three INTs, four fumble recoveries, and lots of 3 and outs. Total yardage for PSU won’t be that high, but they will be playing a short field most of the game.