Penn State finished last season ranked #3 in all polls, with an 11-1 record and a big ten conference championship.
Today saw the 2006 preseason coaches poll being released, with PSU being dropped to #19, with 406 points. #18 Clemson (8-4 last year) has 493 points, while #20 Oregon (10-2 last year) has 373 points. Reportedly there are 63 voters, with a 1st place vote being worth 25 points, and a 25th place vote being worth 1 point. In that scale, the average vote for PSU is somewhere between 19 and 20.
CBS's poll page: http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegefootball/polls/coaches
ESPN's story: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2539278
We know PSU has a tradition of being panned in the preseason polls, and having to earn their way up the ladder. This is a good thing, makes the kids work harder, and not get complacent.
It should be noted that the preseason polls are often meaningless - 6 teams received 1st place votes, while 27 teams are among the "others receiving votes", including four of which averaged better than a 25th place vote.
Showing posts with label Penn State. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Penn State. Show all posts
Friday, August 04, 2006
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Final polls; Texas 1, USC 2, PSU 3
The final human polls are in, showing Texas, USC, PSU and OSU the top four almost universally, as do several computers already out (Wolfe, Colley, Sagarin)
The margins are close between USC and PSU across the computers, but USC edges them in all, for straight averages of 1 for Texas, 2 for USC, 3 for PSU, and 4 for OSU. The human poll margins are far wider than the computer, as they work out close to a unanimous 1-2-3-4 ballot for the four.
AP: 65 voters, all of which voted Texas #1. USC is 65 votes behind, so we assume all 65 voted USC #2. PSU is some 76 votes beyond USC, so at least 11 voters DID NOT VOTE PSU #3. OSU is 56 votes behind PSU.
Coaches: 62 voters, all of whom voted Texas #1. USC was 67 votes behind, so not all voters voted USC #2. PSU was 62 votes behind USC, for an average of one spot behind per ballot, with OSU coming in 64 votes behind PSU.
Harris is not yet out.
The margins are close between USC and PSU across the computers, but USC edges them in all, for straight averages of 1 for Texas, 2 for USC, 3 for PSU, and 4 for OSU. The human poll margins are far wider than the computer, as they work out close to a unanimous 1-2-3-4 ballot for the four.
AP: 65 voters, all of which voted Texas #1. USC is 65 votes behind, so we assume all 65 voted USC #2. PSU is some 76 votes beyond USC, so at least 11 voters DID NOT VOTE PSU #3. OSU is 56 votes behind PSU.
Coaches: 62 voters, all of whom voted Texas #1. USC was 67 votes behind, so not all voters voted USC #2. PSU was 62 votes behind USC, for an average of one spot behind per ballot, with OSU coming in 64 votes behind PSU.
Harris is not yet out.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Orange Bowl 2006: PSU 26, FSU 23 (3OT)
Penn State plays Florida State in the Orange Bowl in Miami, 8pm on 1-3-06
FSU opened with a punt. PSU punted. FSU punted again. PSU drove 85 yards for a 1st Quarter TD to take a 7-0 lead. Fast forward into the 2nd quarter. FSU gets an 87 yard punt return for a TD to tie the game at 7. FSU forces PSU to a 3 and out. First play after punt is a screen that goes 57 yards for a TD, but FSU misses the extra point wide left, to lead 13-7. PSU punts from midfield after, with the ball downing at the FSU 2. First it appears that FSU is tackled in the end zone for a safety, but a review gives the ball outside the end zone. PSU takes their timeouts, and gets the ball back on a punt at the FSU 40 with 17 seconds to go. Two plays later, Ethan Kilmer catches a 24 yard pass in the right corner of the endzone for a TD, tying the game at 13, and PSU makes the extra point to take a 14-13 lead with 0:06 to go in the half.
PSU leads at the half 14-13. No third quarter scoring. Heck, no 3rd quarter first downs until PSU got one on a penalty with a minute remaining in the quarter. Even the fourth quarter scoring was a safety for PSU and a field goal for FSU. After the Safety and free kick, PSU drove down to the FSU 5, but fumbled the snap on first and goal, and FSU drove back to get a long tying field goal that was barely inside the uprights. PSU got the ball back with 4:40 to go in regulation, and drove down the field to the FSU 15, but PSU missed a 29 yard attempt at the end of regulation to leave the game tied at 16.
The first OT saw no first downs, and long field goal attempts by both teams, first FSU missing wide right, and PSU missing wide left. The 2nd OT saw PSU drive and score a TD by Austin Scott, and FSU followed suit to tie it at 23. The third OT saw FSU go first, and fail to get a first down, missing the field goal off of the right upright. PSU getting the ball got a first down, then kicked a 29 yard field goal that was inside the right upright to win the game 26-23.
PSU dominated statistically, both in numbers of plays run, yards, first downs, and decisively so in rushing yards. But in the end, PSU failed to take advantage of the early time when they had FSU on the run, or late in teh fourth quarter when they were on the run again.
Paterno now leaves with 21 bowl wins, ahead of Bowden with 19, while Bowden still leads the overall I-A win list 359 to 354, although Bowden's were at several schools (40 seasons total, 30 at Florida State) while Paterno's have all come during 40 seasons at PSU.
Penn State finishes 11-1 and will hold on to the #3 ranking overall. Chances are good that the loser of the Rose Bowl will only fall to #2.
The big negative in the game was Junior PSU linebacker Paul Posluzny was hurt in the middle of the 4th quarter during FSU's tying field goal drive, and FSU converted a 3rd down after he was hurt. He was carted to the locker room for x-rays, and carted back out to watch the rest of the game.
FSU opened with a punt. PSU punted. FSU punted again. PSU drove 85 yards for a 1st Quarter TD to take a 7-0 lead. Fast forward into the 2nd quarter. FSU gets an 87 yard punt return for a TD to tie the game at 7. FSU forces PSU to a 3 and out. First play after punt is a screen that goes 57 yards for a TD, but FSU misses the extra point wide left, to lead 13-7. PSU punts from midfield after, with the ball downing at the FSU 2. First it appears that FSU is tackled in the end zone for a safety, but a review gives the ball outside the end zone. PSU takes their timeouts, and gets the ball back on a punt at the FSU 40 with 17 seconds to go. Two plays later, Ethan Kilmer catches a 24 yard pass in the right corner of the endzone for a TD, tying the game at 13, and PSU makes the extra point to take a 14-13 lead with 0:06 to go in the half.
PSU leads at the half 14-13. No third quarter scoring. Heck, no 3rd quarter first downs until PSU got one on a penalty with a minute remaining in the quarter. Even the fourth quarter scoring was a safety for PSU and a field goal for FSU. After the Safety and free kick, PSU drove down to the FSU 5, but fumbled the snap on first and goal, and FSU drove back to get a long tying field goal that was barely inside the uprights. PSU got the ball back with 4:40 to go in regulation, and drove down the field to the FSU 15, but PSU missed a 29 yard attempt at the end of regulation to leave the game tied at 16.
The first OT saw no first downs, and long field goal attempts by both teams, first FSU missing wide right, and PSU missing wide left. The 2nd OT saw PSU drive and score a TD by Austin Scott, and FSU followed suit to tie it at 23. The third OT saw FSU go first, and fail to get a first down, missing the field goal off of the right upright. PSU getting the ball got a first down, then kicked a 29 yard field goal that was inside the right upright to win the game 26-23.
PSU dominated statistically, both in numbers of plays run, yards, first downs, and decisively so in rushing yards. But in the end, PSU failed to take advantage of the early time when they had FSU on the run, or late in teh fourth quarter when they were on the run again.
Paterno now leaves with 21 bowl wins, ahead of Bowden with 19, while Bowden still leads the overall I-A win list 359 to 354, although Bowden's were at several schools (40 seasons total, 30 at Florida State) while Paterno's have all come during 40 seasons at PSU.
Penn State finishes 11-1 and will hold on to the #3 ranking overall. Chances are good that the loser of the Rose Bowl will only fall to #2.
The big negative in the game was Junior PSU linebacker Paul Posluzny was hurt in the middle of the 4th quarter during FSU's tying field goal drive, and FSU converted a 3rd down after he was hurt. He was carted to the locker room for x-rays, and carted back out to watch the rest of the game.
Saturday, October 01, 2005
PSU 44 - Minnesota 14
Minnesota won the toss, and elected to receive. PSU kicked off, with their starting running back Maroney returning to the Minnesota 15. PSU's defense quickly forced a punt, and PSU's offense went to work, holding the ball over 4 minutes on a touchdown drive that featured 9 runs and only 2 pass attempts.
Penn State had a great first half, taking a 20-0 lead before allowing a 49 yard TD pas with a minute and a half to go in the 2nd quarter. Minnesota's other five drives featured 3 3 and outs, one fumble, and one missed field goal. Penn State drove down to attempt a 51 yard field goal as time expired in the half, but just missed wide right.
At the half, Penn State found itself up a little better than 3:2 in time of possession, a stat they found themselves on the bad side of a 2:1 ratio, or 40 minutes held by Northwestern and only 20 by Penn State. The first half touchdowns were runs by freshman receiver Derrick Williams.
Minnesota opened the second half by kicking off, and for the first time in three years, did not onside kick the opening kickoff, which they had done the last two years to open the game, recovering both. But the third quarter belonged to Penn State, scoring 17 points on the strength of 2 touchdowns by Tony Hunt and a 3rd field goal by Kevin Kelly. Score 37-7. The third quarter saw both Hunt and PSU QB Michael Robinson top the 100 yard mark rushing the ball.
Minnesota scored early in the fourth quarter, after barely (by the nose of the football) converting a fourth down. Penn State came right back down the field, run after run, with Robinson coming out in favor of Morelli with 7 minutes to go. Morelli directed the rest of the drive, ending in a 10 yard TD run by Rodney Kinlaw.
Minnesota drove down again, but was picked off in the endzone by Penn State with 2 minutes remaining, final score 44-14 Penn State over #18 Minnesota, taking the lions 5-0 on the season for the first time since 1999, and extending their overall winning streak to 7 games dating back to last season. The win was Paterno's 348th as Head Coach, making 350 now very makeable this season with 6 games remaining.
All told, PSU held the ball for 35:18, or a heck of a lot better than the 20:12 the week before. This was a complete win for PSU, the first real complete win this year. (yes, they beat Central Michigan 40-3, but they turned the ball over 3 times that game) They now must get ready to host Ohio State next saturday night -- Ohio State was off this week, something Penn State won't see until their 10th game on November 5, where they get a week off before playing Michigan State.
AP recap can be found here on foxsports.com. This win should vault PSU into the rankings, and with the losses by #18 Minnesota, #11 Michigan State, #22 Purdue, #23 Iowa State, #5 Florida, and #14 Arizona State, PSU could jump in to the lower teens, like Wisconsin and Minnesota had last week, after their wins over Michigan and Purdue, respectively. One would expect Michigan to break back in, even at 3-2, after beating #11 Michigan State. Today should surely improve in the computer rankings as well.
Beefcake has pointed out that PSU ranks unseemly high in some of the computer polls, as high as #1 in two different ones and #5 in another after the Minnesota win.
Penn State had a great first half, taking a 20-0 lead before allowing a 49 yard TD pas with a minute and a half to go in the 2nd quarter. Minnesota's other five drives featured 3 3 and outs, one fumble, and one missed field goal. Penn State drove down to attempt a 51 yard field goal as time expired in the half, but just missed wide right.
At the half, Penn State found itself up a little better than 3:2 in time of possession, a stat they found themselves on the bad side of a 2:1 ratio, or 40 minutes held by Northwestern and only 20 by Penn State. The first half touchdowns were runs by freshman receiver Derrick Williams.
Minnesota opened the second half by kicking off, and for the first time in three years, did not onside kick the opening kickoff, which they had done the last two years to open the game, recovering both. But the third quarter belonged to Penn State, scoring 17 points on the strength of 2 touchdowns by Tony Hunt and a 3rd field goal by Kevin Kelly. Score 37-7. The third quarter saw both Hunt and PSU QB Michael Robinson top the 100 yard mark rushing the ball.
Minnesota scored early in the fourth quarter, after barely (by the nose of the football) converting a fourth down. Penn State came right back down the field, run after run, with Robinson coming out in favor of Morelli with 7 minutes to go. Morelli directed the rest of the drive, ending in a 10 yard TD run by Rodney Kinlaw.
Minnesota drove down again, but was picked off in the endzone by Penn State with 2 minutes remaining, final score 44-14 Penn State over #18 Minnesota, taking the lions 5-0 on the season for the first time since 1999, and extending their overall winning streak to 7 games dating back to last season. The win was Paterno's 348th as Head Coach, making 350 now very makeable this season with 6 games remaining.
All told, PSU held the ball for 35:18, or a heck of a lot better than the 20:12 the week before. This was a complete win for PSU, the first real complete win this year. (yes, they beat Central Michigan 40-3, but they turned the ball over 3 times that game) They now must get ready to host Ohio State next saturday night -- Ohio State was off this week, something Penn State won't see until their 10th game on November 5, where they get a week off before playing Michigan State.
AP recap can be found here on foxsports.com. This win should vault PSU into the rankings, and with the losses by #18 Minnesota, #11 Michigan State, #22 Purdue, #23 Iowa State, #5 Florida, and #14 Arizona State, PSU could jump in to the lower teens, like Wisconsin and Minnesota had last week, after their wins over Michigan and Purdue, respectively. One would expect Michigan to break back in, even at 3-2, after beating #11 Michigan State. Today should surely improve in the computer rankings as well.
Beefcake has pointed out that PSU ranks unseemly high in some of the computer polls, as high as #1 in two different ones and #5 in another after the Minnesota win.
Thursday, September 08, 2005
P$U doesn't need donations when...
they charge a full price ticket for a 15-month old who doesnt even occupy a seat...
On the field, Paterno got win #344 against a fiesty South Florida team out of the big east. PSU was up 17-0 late in the 2nd quarter, when, inexplicably, PSU called a timeout with 8 seconds left in the half. USF was lining up for a field goal, they had no timeouts left, and would have kicked save PSU calling timeout. The stoppage led USF to run a play, which ended up being a fade route in the far left corner of the endzone for a Touchdown. While PSU never was in jeapordy of losing, that blunder at the end of the first half seemed to take wind off of the sails.
All told, the experience a mixed one. Nice to get back up for a game, but between the ticketing hassles and the subpar offensive performance, we would have done just as well watching it on Gameplan at home.
On the field, Paterno got win #344 against a fiesty South Florida team out of the big east. PSU was up 17-0 late in the 2nd quarter, when, inexplicably, PSU called a timeout with 8 seconds left in the half. USF was lining up for a field goal, they had no timeouts left, and would have kicked save PSU calling timeout. The stoppage led USF to run a play, which ended up being a fade route in the far left corner of the endzone for a Touchdown. While PSU never was in jeapordy of losing, that blunder at the end of the first half seemed to take wind off of the sails.
All told, the experience a mixed one. Nice to get back up for a game, but between the ticketing hassles and the subpar offensive performance, we would have done just as well watching it on Gameplan at home.
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