I am coming home for the holidays and since I cannot go to Cali for the Rose Bowl (thanks honey!), I am going to try and go to the Steelers game on the 28th against the Browns. If anyone has tickets they would like to sell please contact me through here and we can work something out, I really don't want to turn to Stubhub if I can avoid it. Thanks in advanced....

Yours in Zug,

Carolinaeasy.

Lifelong Steelers fan here who grew up in central Pennsylvania. I recently moved south to the Carolinas and miss my Steelers. I am a regular over at blackshoediaries , but I have been lurking here for awhile, but finnally decieded to join up. I have a question for everyone, I am coming to PA for the holidays and thought about going to the Browns game on the 28th. I do not have tickets at this moment and really do not want to buy from stubhub. As folks who presumably go to the games regularly I was hoping you folks could inform me of the avaliability of tickets (from scalpers) and what a typical game like this will cost for nosebleeds. Basically as cheap of seats as I can get to get into the stadium so I can budget the cost into my checkbook for the holidays.

Thanks for all of your help in advance.

For about three weeks now I have been telling everyone who would listen one simple thing: the Big 12 is overrated. I usually get the same response from just about everyone, including Big Ten fans, that I am nuts. But the past few days I have been really thinking it through. The obvious reason I feel the conference is not any good is the lack of defense in the conference. We are, as Mike so aptly put it, arbitrarily attaching value to teams based upon that team(s) body of work in conference this year. Somewhere, somebody got the idea that the Big 12 was “the” conference this year. They were supported by the gaudy offensive numbers, the star studded names, and personalities that litter the conference. But where has the defense been all season? How can you say the number 1 team in the country is the same team that gives up 24.5 points per game? Just because they beat Texas Tech, 26.25 points per game? Just because they beat Missouri? Please 27.5 points per game! The only "good" defense they faced was Texas who gives up 18.5 points per game. Guess what that result was! Someone needs to dig up a Greek philosopher so we can get someone to use reason here.

Well based on the above someone will jump in here and say you’re a Big Ten fan your conference sucks. The reason we suck? The most common answer is the Ohio State flops of the past two years. Is that the reason? Really? We penalize a whole conference because of two seasons worth of flops? Someone must have forgot about this, and this, and this, and this.  Let us see; since 2005 the number one team in the nation is 0-4 in the BCS including two back to back BCS championship flops, a loss to Boise State, and to West Virginia. In those 2 BCS championship games they were out scored by 43 combined points. Ohio State in the past two years lost by 41 combined points. Not much of a case there OU fans. Don’t bring up that National championship in 2000 either, Ohio State got one in 2002. Also how do you explain the 2007 Fiesta Bowl? Or the 2008 Fiesta Bowl when they lost 48-28 to WVU? I am not sure you can. But that won’t stop the pundits from proclaiming the Big 12’s dominance and the “weakness” of the Big Ten.

I just wish that people would be fair in their assessments of teams. Too often people take the trendy, style point rich teams and inflate their value. The reasoning that puts the one loss Big 12 teams ahead of any one loss Big Ten team is off base and lacks supporting evidence. Too bad most of the world has forgotten articles like these.

Those of you may remember my outrage a few months back over this crap. Well our favorite South Carolinian Columnist is back and has a rather interesting article and arguement in today's edition of The State newspaper.  To basically sum up the better parts of it: Top to bottom the ACC is better than the SEC this year. Yes read that again a writer in an SEC town says that the ACC is better than the SEC this year. Mr. Morris actually did a little research to help his claim as well. It is hard to believe that someone in the media would actually put forth a legitimate arguement against the SEC, let alone someone from Columbia, SC home to the Gamecocks. The truth is the truth, but I doubt we will ever hear an "expert" on tWWL mention this, what with this being a reality for the next 15 years. I thought some of you would like to see this article.

For all of you out there who do not live north of the Mason Dixon line here is this weeks coverage map. Looks like we will all be happy Nittany Lion fans because ESPN is going to cover the game anywhere it is not on ABC. Now they just need to win!

For a full look at this and all of the coverage maps for Saturday go to http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?page=coveragemaps2008

I just finished reading Mike's great post about the statistical matchup on Saturday and I started to write a response, but I realized it was too long to put there so I deceided to make it a FanPost.

Two weeks ago, I along with most of you, were feeling pretty confident that PSU could roll into Ohio State and get a W. Then last week happened. PSU and Michigan had a knockdown, drag 'em out first half that ended with alot of us fans deficating in our pants. While at the same time, it appeared as if Ohio State had awakened from its season long slumber. On the surface this is a cause for concern, but stopping for a minute and looking at the matchups and possible gameplans you will see that PSU is a hands down favorite to win on paper.

First, let us take a look at Ohio State. Over the year they have struggled against a lot of teams -- most notably the loss at USC, and the nail bitters at Wisconsin, and against Purdue. Looking for a resounding pattern in those games is hard to do.

•  The Purdue and Wisconsin games in my opinion can be chalked up to the impotence of the offense. Their defense helped their team hang around.  But looking at both of those opponents' offenses will tell you why they hung around. They are one dimensional, as we all found out when we played them. Wisconsin will run even with 9 guys in the box, and Purdue is sold out to basketball on turf. The defense surrendered some points but also created key turnovers that helped swing the balance to the Buckeyes.
• The USC game is easy to analyze and in a lot of ways I think is the best indicator of PSU's chances on Saturday. USC employs a varied attack that utilizes different running backs, a plethora of recievers and at the time a decently mobile QB. Does that sound like any team you know? While I will admit the talent level isn't the same. The experience for PSU is greater, and most of the time that that will make a big difference. USC was able to get the ball into a number of recievers' hands and just kept the OSU defense out of rhythm the entire game.  

So, that brings us to last week when the Poison Nuts awoke to the tune of 45-7 against a highly regarded MSU team. On the surface this is impressive, but stop and take a quick look at the key stats in the game. Michigan State lost 5 turnovers. Ohio State 0. That is pretty significant. I was unable to find the number of points off of turnovers but there were at least 6 as a fumble was returned for a TD. The second major stat is 52 yards rushing for MSU.  Javon Ringer was shut down, and for a team that became overly reliant on his play this was a kiss of death. The main reason he was shut down was because of the lack of downfield threats and a deep depth chart at WR for the Spartans. They were unable to get good matchups against the secondary and with their run game shut down it was a snowball effect.

I truly doubt Penn State will be shut down the way MSU was on Saturday. I think that the depth at WR (ten players with TD receptions) coupled with the mobility of Clark will open up the passing game. The vaunted secondary of the Buckeyes will be forced to either cover slot WRs with a LB (Williams in the slot versus Laurinaitis anyone?) or pull a saftey out of coverage thus leaving deep ball open. Also, the offensive balance the Lions have will be on display if they can get the run game going. OSU will not be able to sell out to the run like they did against Wisconsin, and Michigan State. They also cannot sell out against the pass like they did against Purdue. There are too many threats and not enough speed defensively to shut the offense down consistantly.

Also, looking at the several close games the Buckeyes have been involved in, you see that the offense was stagnant. Part of this can be attributed to the poor play of Pryor, but also the lack of balance offensively. If you shut down the run of OSU as the Wisconsin defense was able to do you force Pryor to beat you with the pass game, something he has struggled to do this year.  I think we have more than ample speed and skill on the defensive front to help make Pryor's decision making a little hurried.  Also if you watched the big TD pass he had last week at MSU Pryor just floated that ball up there for the receiver to catch. I would hope our senior-laden secondary can make a play or two on a ball like that.

Bottom line is this, the score of the MSU game is misleading, MSU shrunk to the challenge last week and did nothing to counteract some bad turnovers and the game got away from them quickly. If PSU does not turn the ball over this game is a PSU win. But give up several turnovers early and this game might get interesting. 

Just my two cents worth.

Also: I didn't expect this to become a front page post so I feel like I need to add something. The only times all year that PSU has been in a dog fight is from their own doing. Purdue should not have been as close as it was, but the vanilla gameplan directed it that way. I hope the offense opens it up and uses the plays that have been run all season long. A Wisconsin-like opening of the play book would be awesome. The other time the Nits struggled was from turnovers and sloppy tackling in last weeks first half. They made some adjustments defensively, and the offense eventually came around and took over the game.

I am a former college football player, I played at both the Division 1 and 2 levels. I now coach high school football in South Carolina. This is not in any way shape or form an "expert" opinion. This is simply MY opinion on what type of defense could shut down PSU's prolific attack this year.  I have seen a lot of "pundits" and "experts" say that PSU will get owned in a big time matchup against an SEC, Big 12, or Pac10 school. Well listen to my opinion and see what schools fit this mold.

PSU loves to run the football, no matter what formation they come out in they want to see if they can run the football. To run they have four main threats: Running threat 1 Royster, most of his carries come between the tackles. To stop this you need to have a stout interior defensive line, some gap busting 300 pounders who can demand a double team, prefferably two of said DT so you need to be in a four man front. Running threat 2: Darryl Clark, the majority of his carries are on zone read plays and designed qb dives which presents a unique problem this guy can run inside or outside so to negate this you need either defensive ends who are great contain players, or outside linebackers who can cover alot of ground and who are great at READING plays, I.E. smart backers not guys who play out of position. Running threat 3 Green, this kid can run inside so your big boys should help there, but he is also a threat to the outside and has some jets...the same stuff that stops Clark should stop Green. Running threat 4, any of the wideouts, end arounds designed options, heck even trick plays...A smart stay at home defense with speed will help here.

Now lets say you come into the game and you have a front that can stop PSU's running attack, you still need to cover the secondary, and get pressure on Clark while keeping him contained to the pocket. To do this you have some options, you have big  boys in at DT who are run stoppers and only have a bullrush move. They aren't going to flat beat someone on their passrush moves. Your defensive ends can't fly up field either unless it is an obvious passing situation, because of the running threat off the edge. So you need to bring someone from the second level. But by blitzing you open holes in your secondary and put people on an island out there. This is fine against an average recieving corp, or even against a team with a stand out wideout. But as we all know PSU has three GREAT recievers, and two good TEs, and a plethora of other receiving options (see that stats on how many different PSU players have caught a TD pass, I believe its around 10). And just when you think your getting enough passing pressure by blitzing, guess what creeps up? The PSU screen game that has been terrific all year. This offense just offers way too much balance for an opposing defense to sell out to one area of the game.

Here is the defense you would need.

a 4-3 with smart athletic linebackers who can blitz effectively and cover just as good. Defense Tackles who can command double teams, and defensive ends who are both disciplined and athletic. A secondary with run stopping safteys who are also ball hawks, and two to three shutdown corners. And enough subs to keep that defense fresh, or an offense that can controll the football.

How many defenses fit that description?  

Has anyone seen the 3rd jersey for the Pens this year? I have read that it was going to be the winter classic jersey...BUT I did see a picture of Crosby in a powder blue uni, with the current Pen emblem on the front...Just wanted to know because I want to order a winter classic off of Ebay, but if they aren't using the WC this year I will wait.

BTW has anyone bought a pens jersey off of a chinese seller on ebay yet? I am leary of doing so but the price is ridiculous and they look decent, maybe not authentic but they pass the naked eye test online...