http://www.yardbarker.com/users/mvp129 Recent Yardbarker Articles: mvp129 en-us Nothing will ever (for me, at least) come close to the original "Gladiator" video. But take that one out, and this one is the best Penn State Football Video ever made. Around 4:21, notice what's already being hinted at, which I completely agree with... Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:38:37 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295239 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295239 You can't make this stuff up. Apparently, some moron ransacked the Lasch Building the night he turned 21. Ah, these kids. Can't they hold their alcohol anymore? From the Daily Collegian: "A student is facing various charges after police said he entered the Lasch Football Building on Thursday morning and caused $5,000 worth of damage -- all while wearing a Penn State football helmet. Daniel J. Costenbader (junior-electrical engineering), who turned 21 today, was arraigned on charges of burglary, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and public drunkenness before Magisterial District Justice Carmine Prestia, according to court documents. He was released on $50,000 unsecured bail." Well, at least the kid's got team spirit, and originality, wearing that Penn State helmet. After all, we wouldn't want a promising young engineering student like that hurting his head, now would we? Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:43:04 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295070 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295070 In addition to the three lines released earlier this week--Oregon St. (-2.72), Syracuse (-25.74), and Temple (-15.04)--CollegeFootballPoll.com posted today the remaining lines for Penn State and the Big Ten. It really shouldn't be much of a surprise to fans that CFP is predicting Penn State to finish at 10-2. However, with Wisconsin slated to finish second--Ohio State is first--this would relegate the Lions to the Capital One Bowl. Basically, this entire season could come down to the October matchup with the Badgers, in Madison. Talk about must-see TV. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:50:54 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294903 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294903 Wednesday, former Penn State cornerback Justin King signed a three-year deal with the St. Louis Rams. The amount of the deal wasn't released when I heard this, but I imagine it's a nice package. The Rams need all the defense they can get, and with a guy like King, things will only get better. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:44:51 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294624 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294624 Wednesday, former Penn State cornerback Justin King signed a three-year deal with the St. Louis Rams. The amount of the deal wasn't released when I heard this, but I imagine it's a nice package. The Rams need all the defense they can get, and with a guy like King, things will only get better. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:44:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294623 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294623 ANC Sports will be installing two very large LED screens in Beaver Stadium prior to Penn State's Aug. 30 kickoff with Coastal Carolina. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:31:50 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294290 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294290 Sean Jackson, one of these CFN bloggers, had a coherent (that was about it) write up on how the Big Ten can be better in 2008. Now, I won't get into the fact that he's just one of the many talking about the Big Ten as if it's the MAC or even the Big East circa 2004. Jackson just made some fundamental mistakes in his assessment of the conference going into 2008, mistakes which should have been, at the very least, addressed by CFN before publishing the article. Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:48:30 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294100 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294100 Expectations are soaring for this year's Penn State football team. With more than 100 votes in, Zombie Nation readers pegged Penn State to be 8-1 by the end of October. That one loss is most likely to Ohio State in Columbus, but a majority (66%) of voters pegged the Lions with that one loss (39%), or undefeated (27%). The less optimistic fans still greatly favored a 7-2 (24%) record over 6-3 (9%). With an easier November schedule, this could be the makings of a BCS at-large bid. Be sure to vote in Zombie Nation's next poll, "PSU's Regular Season Record," coming this afternoon! Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:04:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/293756 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/293756 The leader in picking college football games, CollegeFootballPoll.com, has released its MAC, Big East and Pac10 previews. I don't believe there's a more accurate operation out there for setting lines and picking W/L records in college football. Sure, I love to read the hundreds of previews throughout the year, but when it comes down to game time, I'm checking the lines set by CFP's computers.* Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:43:28 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/293323 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/293323 You won't find a more intriguing story line for 2008 outside of Michigan. Last season was considered by many to be a complete disaster, but lost in the mix were some very impressive highlights. The program is going into overhaul mode, with new uniforms, a new stadium, and most noticeably, a brand-spanking-new head coach in Rich Rodriguez. The offense will look vastly different than anything run in Michigan Stadium in the last, well, ever. The fans are preparing themselves for a worst-case scenario in 2008, but they shouldn't worry too much. After all, this is Michigan, and even with all the problems, there are enough players to make this season at least palatable, if not surprising. I hate when people say "I can see this team going anywhere from [insert really bad record here] to [insert really good record here]," but in 2008, Michigan can only be labeled as completely unpredictable. Mon, 21 Jul 2008 07:46:53 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/293121 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/293121 If you want to find a grossly under-appreciated football team, look no further than Madison, Wisconsin. Since 2004, the Badgers have gone 40-11 and played in FOUR straight New Years Day bowls against SEC opponents (UW went 2-2). What more does this program have to do to prove its national worth? Because of some really dumb BCS rules, Wisconsin was left out of the at-large picture in 2006, even with its 11-1 record and an upset of Arkansas in the Capital One Bowl. Under Coach Bret Bielema, Wisconsin is looking more like the Badgers of the '90s. Hopefully for them, those '90s Rose Bowl wins will come again soon, too. Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:04:20 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/290353 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/290353 Well, the optimists have it. With more than 100 votes in, Zombie Nation readers pegged Penn State to be 5-0 by the end of September. It should make for an interesting month of October, with games against Purdue, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio State on the docket. Be sure to vote in Zombie Nation's next poll, "PSU's record at the end of October," coming tomorrow! Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:29:52 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/290347 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/290347 Someone pointed out to me a while back that there's a test you can take online. That test is the same test given to prospective college football officials. I wasn't too motivated to do it. That is, I wasn't until I found out Dennis Dodd took it, and got a 46 (out of 100). So what was the first thing I did after that revelation? Why, I took the test of course. Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:02:06 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/288279 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/288279 Good reading from Penn State's own Happy Hour Valley, plus some crap out of Ohio and Michigan (again, because I'm such a nice guy). Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:55:58 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/287712 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/287712 In this week's First Look, the Purdue Boilermakers offer up a unique situation. With a departing coach in Joe Tiller, a dynamite quarterback in Curtis Painter, and more question marks than answers, the boys from West Lafayette could surprise more than a few around the Big Ten in 2008. Following the first losing season in more than a decade, the Boilermakers rebounded with consecutive eight-win seasons, yet managed to be far less than impressive along the way. Can this team overcome some major obstacles and send Tiller out on a high note? I'm not sure it will be a season to remember, but there's no reason Purdue couldn't go bowling this Christmas. Sun, 06 Jul 2008 23:25:37 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286370 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286370