Game #2 at Penn State Nittany Lions

[Balsy]

If the weather affects the passing game, I figure a pretty low score. 20 - 14, maybe. And I have to favor the Nittany Lions, of course. You guys appear to have some good athletes, but even though our numbers are depleted, I'm going be dazzled by star ratings and go into the game believing we have more "good" players than you do. Sorry!

Oh hands down. I think as a complete roster, PSU absolutely has more athletic talent than Akron does. The only downside I can see for PSU in that is the players themselves believing that.

Akron 23

PSU 21

Of course I've got to pick Akron. But I think tmrw's game will be less than 10 points either direction. It's PSU's game to lose though.

[UA1987]

Thanks Zach for the Tommy Brown news. I have to believe Brown will start and play most of the game. The offense must have received a boost with this news and confidence is high today. Now, the longer we keep it close the more Akron will believe and Penn State will doubt. It's up to the defense early.

[Balsy]

The offense needs to take care of the ball. Don't turn it over. If we have to punt, pin them deep in their own territory, don't give up good field position.

Defense, shake Hack early and often.

[GP1]

PSU 34

Akron 17

PSU beat a good team last weekend and found some huge mojo at the end of the game. Confidence is huge in football. My guess is PSU will be even better this week. There will be a huge crowd to greet their new coach and it should provide a good boost for their team. I can see them scoring first and never giving up the lead.

Akron won't make fools of themselves. I'd go as far as to say they will represent themselves well tomorrow and the score will seem closer than it appears. They will never be able to capture significant momentum though.

Safe travels and have fun if you are going.

[PSU_Lions_84]

Oh hands down. I think as a complete roster, PSU absolutely has more athletic talent than Akron does. The only downside I can see for PSU in that is the players themselves believing that.

Akron 23

PSU 21

Of course I've got to pick Akron. But I think tmrw's game will be less than 10 points either direction. It's PSU's game to lose though.

Yeah, Balsy, what GP1 said. Coming back to make that game-winning drive with just 1:17 left in the game really helped the Lions. And even going back to last year, when they beat Wisky even though they were 28-point dogs -- that really set the tone for this year. (I know a lot has changed since then, but also note you guys are confident because you ended last year "hot" and then destroyed Howard last week.)

BTW, forgot to warn those of you who might venture over to BlackShoeDiaries: Folks there can be discussing football, but then veer off into tangents on the merits of bacon vs. scrapple, followed by a discussion of the best-ever country singer, then back to football. It may sound distracting, but is usually very entertaining. Oh, and make the "Z" key your best friend, to move from one comment to the next.

Finally, there is usually a thread for each quarter, as comments per quarter run from 300-500. If you are reading a thread and it seems to have dried up, go to the main page to see if another thread has started. I hope some of you will join us at BSD for tomorrow's game!

[johnnyzip84]

Tommy Brown's eligibility is huge of course (thank you George Thomas ). I look for JC7 to bounce back and run just effectively enough give the Zips some balance (Brown playing will help). Zach D'Orazio will have a huge game.

Zips 31

Lions 27

[PSU_Lions_84]

Happy football day, guys! Here's to an entertaining game, with no injuries. For those of you attending in person, I hope you enjoy the venue and come away with good (but not great -- LOL!) memories of your visit. For those of us watching from afar, I hope we see sportsmanship and a love of the game evidenced by all.

Good luck, Zips!

GBU/GBA

[scottditzen]

^ Class Act!!!!

[Balsy]

Thanks PSU_fan_84!! What a class act!!!

[mes102]

It's Game Day!!!!!! I would like a win, but a close game in that environment would tell me that we will be good enough to compete for the MAC East title this season and a bowl game.

Penn State 34
Akron 28

[Dr Z]

Nice video, well done.

Looks dry for the game.

PSU hopes to run the ball against the Zips. Does that play right into our hands?

Game is on local channel 5 WEWS

Tommy Brown starting. Looks good so far.

[GP1]

Bench this kicker. Not close on a chip shot. 31 yard FG should be automatic.

[mes102]

Good drive, and glad Pohl took a sack instead of forcing a throw and a turnover. Any points is good points, which is why I don't understand why you put a freshman kicker in this environment. Has Stein really regressed that much!?!?!??!?!

[Captain Kangaroo]

O'Leary is worse than Stein. He was worse in camp, and he's worse now.

Too much pressure from a 3-man rush. Gotta get points when you're on the 7 yard line.

[UAZipster0305]

Is our kicker that bad or is he just intimidated by the environment and not mentally prepared?

We can't leave points on the field in a game like this!!! Same thing happened in the first half at Michigan last year.

Good decision making by Pohl on that drive, so that's encouraging.

[UAZipster0305]

Good defensive series!

[Dave in Green]

I had a bad feeling about Mrs. O'Leary's son when he missed the 25-yard chip shot against Howard. Mrs. O'Leary's cow was a more effective kicker, kicking over the lantern that started the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I had a bad feeling about Mrs. O'Leary's son when he missed the 25-yard chip shot against Howard. Mrs. O'Leary's cow was a more effective kicker, kicking over the lantern that started the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

Creative...

[Captain Kangaroo]

One of the easiest TD's you'll ever see...

[ZippyRulz]

Blown coverage...let's go, coaches.

[UAZipster0305]

Three mistakes defining the game so far.

[GP1]

Make easy FGs.....catch easy passes...it really isn't too much to ask.

[bigzipguy]

Easier said than done, but as a receiver who has beaten the defender, catch , secure, then run.

[ZippyRulz]

Make easy FGs.....catch easy passes...it really isn't too much to ask.

Know your defensive assignment, expect misdirection plays...

[Captain Kangaroo]

Zips making big MAC-like mistakes in quarter #1. Shanked chip shot FG. Blown coverage results in a PSU walk-in TD. Dropped pass would have been a 1st down in PSU territory. Stupid mistakes need to stop or we'll dig ourselves too deep a hole.