Just a few days ago, I introduced myself as a Penn State fan when discussing college football with someone I just met. His immediate response was "Oh, why did Penn State ever decide to join the Big Ten?, They have no rivals there." Granted, I still have my doubts about playing our traditional rivals, but this was not the first response I received of a similar nature. But what shocked me was that it was 2007, 15 years of Big Ten history and tradition since our inaugural season, but people still talked as if it was 1993.

The roar of the crowd was deafening, everyone in Beaver Stadium knew this next single play has national championship season-ending ramifications. For 7 years since Penn State's 1992 inaugural Big Ten season, the Big Ten conference defined the opposing Minnesota Golden Gophers as one of Penn State's newly established "rivals". To Nittany Lion fans however, the rivalry was scripted, and about as unnatural as the forward pass. Almost as if the thinking heads at the Big Ten headquarters closed their eyes and randomly pointed at two teams, Minnesota and Michigan State meant as much to Penn State as Akron and Western Michigan.

Minnesota hurried up to the line of scrimmage, and lined up for a Nystrom field goal with a few seconds left in the game. This was it, the crowd knew it, Penn State's #2 ranking was on the line. A trip to the first title game during the BCS era was in jeopardy for Penn State's 3rd possible championship title.

Beaver stadium elevated their crowd noise almost in desperation. They knew the odds of blocking a field goal were slim. Almost as slim as the 27-yard tipped pass completion just a play earlier. What are the odds of someone tipping a long ranged pass into the hands of a teammate?

The ball was snapped, Nystrom kicked the ball and the crowd, all 107,000+ of them stood in stunned silence. A Minnesota squad that has not had a winning season since 1990, that's 9 years for those that are counting, had just upset the #2 squad in the nation that was in the driver's seat for the national championship. That very same Minnesota squad that had not beaten a Top-25 team since beating #23 Syracuse in 1996.

So excuse me if I enjoyed watching Minnesota struggle the last couple of years and the firing of Glen Mason. It could have only been better if Glen Mason was weeping like a girl while he was packing his stuff into a box with security standing in the background. Call me bitter, but such emotion against another team can only be reserved for what can be described as a 'rival'.

It has been brought up ever since Penn State made the college football landscape changing decision to defect to the Big Ten. "Penn State has no geographic and natural rivals in the Big Ten". Minnesota and Michigan State might not be Pittsburgh or Syracuse, but give Penn State a break. They are only 15 years old in one of the oldest conferences in the country.

Rivalries are born out of the little season changing moments like in 1999, not created on paper in Indianapolis. You can't say with a straight face that Ohio State does not consider Penn State a rival after the close calls and almost even record between the two, heck, Buckeye fans even managed to destroy a Paternoville banner last season. And isn't that what rivalries are born out of?

Stories of rocks and statues being desecrated, or of some mascot being kidnapped are commonly retold with such passion when describing the birth of any rivalry. It is time to stop considering ourselves the lucky new kid on the Big Ten block.

Granted we were robbed in 1994, no Big Ten team has gone undefeated in the Big Ten and not earned a shot at the national championship, but consider that growing pains, Penn State has had 7 undefeated, untied seasons and only once were they given a shot at the title.

So with the 2008 season fast approaching, and along with it, our 16th season in the Big Ten conference, and another shot at the Big Ten title, lets just be thankful we are playing Minnesota and Michigan State in the Big Ten and not Pittsburgh and Syracuse in the Big East, if we were, we might as well be playing in the WAC, at least there, the competition will be a little stiffer.

Penn State picked up their first running back verbal for the Class of 2009. Curtis Dukes from Philadelphia, NY (Yea, I think thats weird too), verbaled to assistant coach Mike McQueary. He was also being recruited by... drum roll please. That little school that wishes they could pay fans to attend football games in Pittsburgh.

"Rodriguez complained about criticism that followed the Mountaineers' Dec. 1 loss to Pittsburgh, which kept West Virginia out of the national championship game."

You've GOT to be kidding me.

Its time to hit them where it hurts the most. In a move familiar to Notre Dame and their fans, NBC decided to renew their contract with the Fighting Irish for another 5 years till 2015. Notre Dame fans are well used to being awarded or awarding mediocrity and dismal performance.

Chris Bell originally from Norfolk, Virginia has enrolled at Norfolk State, months after being kicked off the Penn State football team when he pulled a knife on fellow teammates.

After contacting Greg Myford, Associate Athletic Director and head honcho of the student season football ticket sales, it has officially been confirmed. The Penn State student section is officially sold out. If you were a sophomore or freshman this season and logged in a few seconds after the clock hit 7:03, you never had a chance.

I was fortunate enough to get floor seats to the Lakers-Celtics Final Game 4 at Staples Center. Yes, that very Game 4 where the Lakers ran to a dominating 24 point lead in the second quarter to only watch the Celtics slowly pick and roll their way back into the lead.

There is a reason why Penn State should not play Pittsburgh. it has nothing to do with an old man's grudge, or any historical animosity between the two programs. No. Because Pittsburgh is demanding a home and home series with one of the most sought after programs in the nation when they are not even close to a position to be doing so.

Caught a San Diego Padres game last night where the Padres beat the New York Mets with a forced walk in the bottom of the 9th.

While we are on the topic of baseball, the Chicago White Sox drafted Lions relief pitcher, Drew O'Neil with the 8th pick in the 4th round. As the 120th overall pick, Drew becomes the third highest draft pick for Penn State baseball.

Well done Drew! With national titles in both men and women's volleyball, and a draft pick in baseball, hopefully we will emerge as more than a one-trick pony. With basketball still struggling, baseball is our best bet. Michigan can do it (winning the Big Ten title and earning a spot to the NCAA baseball tournament), we can too.

So its time for the White Out to prove itself once again. Penn State has a wildly successful 5-2 record since 2005, losing only twice when the White Out is utilized. The two losses were to #1 Ohio State and #4 Michigan. Lets only hope it works just as well for the Penguins tonight.

Pittsburgh wins at Detroit in triple overtime to force Game 6 in Pittsburgh.

It was really a surprise that Ohio State won the inaugural 2008 Toughest Venues trophy. There was little doubt Penn State would have won this by a landslide when we began this series. But after actual objective (and subjective) evaluation of what actually matters in a home field environment, we were faced with the harsh reality.

There is no tougher venue in the Big Ten conference than the Shoe. If you play the Buckeyes at the Horseshoe, all bets are on a loss. If the crowd noise doesn't affect your team, then the competitive Buckeye squads will.

In what turned out to be the biggest shocker of the series, Beaver Stadium just barely missed out on the top spot by a mere few points. The second place spot goes to the home of the famed 'White Outs', Joe Paterno and the once dominant Penn State Nittany Lions.

Though we have praised the home field records of other Big Ten venues, they are mere sandlots when compared to the fortress that Camp Randall has been for the Badgers. A 88% winning percentage over the last 5 years, including 3 undefeated home seasons, it is almost impossible to beat Wisconsin in Madison.