BSD Mailbag 9.18.26
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- What will Penn State do to ensure the safety-and-wellbeing of Buffalo’s punter?
- How in gawd’s name does the 4th most populated state in the country (New York), with only one D1 FBS public university (Buffalo – Syracuse and Army are the other FBS schools in the state), allow said school to exist in the MAC (?!?!), and play football in a glorified high school stadium with a track around the field (the only one in D1 FBS)?!
Oh, and a grammatical pointer to everyone to start the week… it’s the University AT Buffalo, not the University OF Buffalo!!! Even Penn State can’t seem to get that one right.–Smee
- That was terrifying the last time that Buffalo played at Penn State. Luckily, the punter (Evan Finegan) was up and able to play football, albeit not at a game level, just a few months after the gruesome injury. If you don’t remember it, don’t look it up – it was gross.
- This is very interesting to me. I think of it as similar to how there’s no consistently strong football powers in the north east of the country, farther north and east than Penn State. It’s one of, if not the, most populous parts of the country in terms of population density – but you can’t field a local school? Especially nowadays, with technology allowing for indoor practice and game facilities.
How impressed have you been by the play of Rocco Becht? I am very impressed with the poise and confidence that he is showing. I think that last Penn State quarterback to play like this was Trace McSorley. Clifford and especially Allar seemed to play scared or if not scared overly cautious. On a scale of one to ten how much to do love it when a pass is thrown for more than 20 yards in the air? Me? I am a 10. Throw it deep! Back the safeties off, open the running game. Football isn’t all that complicated.–Gerry Dincher
So far, I’ve been pleased with his play. This is fascinating, because the godson of some of my friends was VERY unimpressed with Rocco last Saturday (to the point where he said something like, “If you’re riding with him, good luck I guess”), and yet aside from the beginning of the game, I thought he did well and the impartial stats bore that out. I really feel like much of the game, the playcalling did not do anyone on offense any favors – and the lack of actual possessions made it difficult to get into any sort of rhythm after the first few disappointments.
How surprised are you that the PSU QB is the #4 rated passer in college football right now? (In 2025 Drew was #80, in 2024 he was #5, in 2023 he was #53, and in 2022 Clifford was #54.)–RWReese
On paper, very surprised! But when you dive into it, realizing that Becht has the most starts of any returner in FBS and he’s playing in the same system he’s been in for his whole collegiate career, it makes sense. He’s capable, and playing in a system that he knows very well (Taylor Mouser was his OC in 2024 and 2025, and was on staff prior to that as well). In a vacuum, it would be more surprising for him not to have a very good passer rating.
Why are we not seeing more playing time from Quentin Martin and Cam Wallace? Or you’ll be the future of the running back room and getting no time against temple. For Quentin Martin Junior would be starting early in the season, how’s that happen when he’s not getting any time–PSUFAMILY
I’m not sure we’ll ever know the exact reason, but ultimately it very likely boils down to the fact that the coaches believe that starting Carson Hansen at running back gives the team the best chance at success. You and I may disagree (and at times, perhaps quite vociferously), but they do see a lot more than we do. Right now, I’m going to make attempts to tone down my malcontent on this, but I reserve the right to revisit in a few weeks.
Do we know what/how Max Granville was injured? I know the team doesn’t release medical info, and he’s entitled to his privacy, but assume it’s another knee injury? Does he try to rehab and play again next year? Is that at Penn State or somewhere else? Heartbroken for that guy.–Blumski13
It hasn’t been released what his specific injury was or what happened, just that it was in practice. It’s gotta be so disappointing for a player who by all accounts had a fantastic offseason, and has been hampered by injuries multiple times over the course of his collegiate career.
I’m sure we’re all wishing him the best recovery, whether or not that impacts his future on-field performance.
Probably not going to phrase this q very well but hoping the essence leaks through. Much of the hope for an outstanding defense seemed to be predicated on Max Granville’s POTENTIAL rather than on demonstrated performance from him. So while Max’s absence is certainly a loss, does it require a total reset of expectations from what should be a pretty good State defense?–PSU_Lions_84
This is interesting, because I don’t recall takes that Granville’s potential was a key to an outstanding defense. Preseason, the defensive line was the biggest question mark on that side of the ball, and this injury obviously doesn’t help that; but just one player, even a great one, doesn’t make or break an entire defense. With the speed of play and the depth needed up front on the defense, multiple players need to step up in order to alleviate the expected pressure on the back seven (which will be very good) of the defense this year.
Caleb Bacon’s one of them, and while he had a quieter week two, he’ll definitely grow into his end role. But Ikenna Ezeogu and Yvan Kemajou will absolutely be very important – not even touching on the tackles.
So, what’s the deal with the face-recognition thing at the stadium? Mrs Smee and I noticed it as we entered for Marshall, and I went on the app today to see if I could set it up, but I can’t find anything about it anywhere? Anyone know wassup?–Smee
I signed up for it before week one, but didn’t end up using it. I think there are some limitations on its use, but it was rolled out so late that they’re likely still working out all of the kinks on their own as well.
You can sign up for it here: https://enroll.wicketsoft.com/pennstate
Is Ryan Day the biggest tool ever?
During his post game interview, he blamed everything on the players. It was they this & they that. He never said a word about his bad calls. He decided to go for it on 4th down & it did not succeed. He won’t accept blame for anything.–EagleLionSly
I’m no fan of Ryan Day, but he’s not even the biggest tool football coach in the conference now that Pat Fitzgerald is back on the sidelines.
He’s a very good coach, and obviously his approach has had success. But I definitely agree that not taking any ownership for any of the issues that arose in the fourth quarter of that game in Austin is a red flag; even if specifically none of it was on the coaches, ultimately the buck stops with them and with him as the head coach and CEO of the program. The onus is on him for everyone else to do their job, and when they don’t, it becomes his fault whether he specifically didn’t do anything to cause it.
Of course, we’re saying this now and yet Ohio State will likely rebound in a big way, and if they play Texas again in the post season, my bet would be that the ultimate outcome is more like the first half and less like the end score.
Is there any other B1G football coach who is more smug than Dan Lanning?
Lanning strikes me as one of those people my grandmother characterized as: “Buy them for what they’re worth. Sell them for what they think they’re worth. Retire on the proceeds.”–Paebr332
Once again, I must draw your attention to the current head coach in East Lansing. Anyone who calls RPO communism in a serious manner will always be at the top of my list.
Lanning is, as other writers on this here blog like to attest, very VERY similar to James Franklin – but with a lot more money at his disposal. He talks a lot, but ultimately hasn’t been able to get over the final humps and I’m not sure that he will be able to. He definitely won’t this year.
It’s obviously (😉) very early in the season, but as of right now, ESPiN’s FPI ranking has 11 SEC teams in the top 25. Only seven Big Ten teams (the rest are three ACC teams, three Big 12, and ND). And in the Top Ten it’s 6-2 SEC over the Big Ten. Again, very early, but, after three years of getting steamrolled in the CFP, is this the year the SEC gets back on top?–Smee
It could be! But it’s way too early to tell. The Big Ten is still riding their waves and it’s interesting that when the SEC was riding natty streaks, the title was theirs until the conference proved otherwise, but the Big Ten isn’t getting that same courtesy.
Looking at last year and the amount of NIL money on the table, don’t count out Miami or Notre Dame either – it’s not just the Big Ten that could keep the SEC on the outside again this season.
Coaches commercials…
Why is this best one? Come at me.
https://x.com/StateFarm/status/2093424505192337570
This was far funnier than it had any right to be. It completely played into Cignetti’s personality, to great affect; it didn’t try to put a square peg into a round hole. Whoever State Farm’s marketing team is, they’ve been killing it for quite some time.
What is the best college football movie of all times, and why is The Waterboy the only correct answer?–Paebr332
I sure as shit know it’s not Rudy.
Waterboy’s definitely a good choice. But why not Something for Joey? We are a PSU blog, after all.
The FBS Oversight Committee has stated that the replay process at the end of the Michigan game in week 1 did not comply with the replay review protocols. They also stated that had they complied with the protocol the game outcome would have been different. However, they also stated there is no process to overrule the results of the game that resulted from this violation of the protocol.
So, on a scale of 1-10, how useless is the NCAA FBA Oversight Committee?–Paebr332
They’ve been at a 1 or 2 for quite some time. Just look at what Michigan got away with a few short years ago! The NCAA oversight committee has always talked a big game but protected the big programs to the detriment of fair play and smaller schools.
I understand the theory behind the fact that there’s no way to overturn the game results – but they have stripped wins in the past. So in my opinion, they very easily could remove the win from MIchigan, and the loss from Western Michigan, without inverting the win/loss result.
The Save College Sports Act passed the Senate like 75-25. What are the chances that it gets through the House and the president signs it?–LarzLion
Slim to none. The House has adjourned until after the midterms, and a lame duck congress (especially this lame duck House, one of the least productive in history) will likely not find this bill the one they want to take up in their final weeks.
Has any post-merger NFL franchise for the span of a decade ever employed fewer Penn Staters than the Cleveland Browns of the last 10 years? IIRC, Carl Nassib is the only one in that time. Does this go a long way in explaining why the Browns are the Browns?–ckmneon
Coziah Izzard was claimed off waivers in August by the Browns! He doesn’t currently appear on the roster but is on the practice squad, so at least that’s something.
But yeah, it seems quite surprising that there hasn’t really been any players on the Browns in about a decade, through multiple pro coaching staffs. It’s an interesting result.
After rewatching the documentary about the Baltimore Colts’ owner sneaking the team out of town & moving to Indianapolis in the middle of the night. Also later, the Browns leaving to go to Baltimore & becoming the Ravens. What do you think would be the result if someone, like a new owner, would relocate the Philadelphia Eagles? My guess would be the new owner would go the way of Jimmy Hoffa and any play trying to leave would be threatened. You would see a caravan of cars, pickups, minivans & numerous other types of vehicles going to wherever they are and bring them back piece by piece.–EagleLionSly
It would never happen. Philly is such a sports town, and the team is so incredibly profitable and beloved – it would take a massive downturn and likely a huge scandal for this to even enter the equation. The new owner would have multiple hits out on him right away, and I’m not sure I’d blame them and I’m not even an Eagles fan.
Two questions, one football related, one not:
1) What were your favorite cartoons growing up? I’m older than you but mine were The Flintstones and The Jetsons. Kind of ironic, one way in the past, one way in the future
2) I’ve always wondered this but never brought it up on here, but I constantly get social media posts where they rank the top 5 or top 10 PSU players at various positions. LJ Jr is obviously always in the Top 10 for running backs. Why was he basically behind Eric McCoo for three years? Eric McCoo was a good back but he leaves, LJ Jr becomes the guy and goes for 2000 yards. Maybe it was an attitude thing, iirc, hbeach wasn’t a fan of the guy.–LTFT5
- I didn’t watch a lot of cartoons as I kid that I can remember, but I do have really fond memories of watching James Bond junior next door before school. Also, of course, Jem and the Holograms.
- As for LJ, I have zero insider information but how he turned out late in his NFL career and after make me think that it was definitely a personality (and potential ego / attitude) thing. I was at Penn State when he was as well and never interacted with him, but it couldn’t just be because Paterno was well known for not playing young players – he likely would have made an exception for one of his best coaches sons if it was that marked of a difference. There had to have been more that we’ll never know.
So, back in the 80’s and maybe the 90’s, one of your parents would tape some random thing on VHS and it would become a core childhood memory. Does anyone have any stories like that?–Liongame
Absolutely. I have a number of core memories of VHS (and Beta!) tapes.
I grew up watching White Christmas recorded off of a local Fox station, and it was years after I became a grown adult that I realized there were scenes missing due to length. I also remember watching Three Ninjas off of a recorded tape when I was home sick, and distinctly remember my sister and I recording Empire Records from a Blockbuster VHS onto one of our own tapes (because of course, you had to have a multiple VCR setup) and watching it so much that our mother took the tape away from us for a bit.
If you are out about 10 miles on Lake Erie and your motor doesn’t start and are now on hour three of getting back to the launch on a trolling motor what thoughts would you fill your mind up with to bring you joy?–mattinglywasking
Probably something like this:
When I was a kid and I went to my Grandparents house and I wasn’t quite big enough to sit on a chair and reach the table comfortably I often sat upon the Altoona phonebook or the J.C. Penney or Sears catalog. What do you suppose kids sit on now that phonebooks and catalogs are a thing of the past?–Gerry Dincher
It seems like parents would be far more likely to go out and get a booster chair (or have one delivered) last minute nowadays, rather than just commandeering something handy from nearby. Either that or let the kid not have to eat at the table, which was not an option that I remember from my childhood.
The obvious one. If you could pick any wing flavor, spicy or not, what would it be?–NittanyPUMA1
Aw man, this is a good one. I like so many different wing flavors, I’m not sure I could boil it down to just one!
I love a traditional buffalo sauce (I prefer around medium heat), but also appreciate most dry rubs and a good parmesan garlic. I’m not a big fan of sour flavors like citrus and pepper, but korean barbecues are typically really delicious as well. I’m always down to try one out of the box, so I’d be really interested in reading about more of the community’s favorite flavors as well!
if 1990s julia roberts movies were flavors of buffalo wings, which one would be:
1) mild
2) mango habanero
3) lemon pepper
4) grilled w/o sauce–seemsez
- Mild = Notting Hill (has the basics of some good flavor there, but could use a little something extra)
- Mango habanero = Pretty Woman (she’s a prostitute, so it’s gotta get the spiciest option)
- Lemon pepper = My Best Friend’s Wedding (which always has left a sour taste in my mouth)
- Grilled without sauce = Runaway Bride (you want it to be far better than it ends up being. It’s fine and fills you up, but you were just looking for something more)
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