Bradley’s power play

I’ll admit I’m a little shocked that Tom Bradley’s name has been mentioned with the now vacant West Virginia job.

Not because Scraps doesn’t have the make up of a college head coach, but because he has no head coaching experience. Than again, neither did Franny Ganter or Jerry Sandusky when they were considering offers from other schools.

But to me, what this whole thing is about is a power play by Bradley. OF COURSE he’s going to listen to offers from outside. Who wouldn’t, especially in a conference where you know the recruiting landscape and, you’re in a conference where a marginal year means, Hello, BCS (remember Pitt a few years back? Yeah, they belonged in the BCS).

I also wouldn’t be shocked if Bradley doesn’t get the job, but if as a serious contender, uses the opportunity to his advantage to finally figure out if he’s replacing Joe Paterno or not. And if he’s doing so in a timely manner, say like, in 2008, or 2009.

I wouldn’t normally hype a story from a “rival” paper here, but David Jones of the Harrisburg Patriot-News took a hammer and proceeded to beat the be-Jesus out of a nail this morning in his Scrap “scoop.”

There are some very valid points in his story as to why things are falling apart from the usually stable “Penn State way.”

I’m not sure that Bradley would use such an opportunity to his advantage, and maybe his heart really does lie within the confines of Beaver Stadium. Maybe he’d be content knowing for sure he’s next in line, but not content knowing that being next means you wait another five years.

Penn State can’t afford to lose another key assistant coach, like they did Ganter, like Sandusky, like the recently departed Brian Norwood. But I can’t say I’d blame Bradley if he exited stage left either.

Pryor Fallout

Rich Rodriguez gets to go to a bigger conference, while the West Virginia Mountaineers get to clean up his mess.

Mike White of the Post-Gazette reports that Jeanette quarterback Terrelle Pryor definitely has Michigan on his list and WVU is off.

It’s not just Pryor, but other WPIAL recruits who opted to join RichRod at WVU are also backing out, namely Gateway linebacker Shane Hayle.

Wanted: An Anthony Morelli sighting

After Penn State’s season ending come from ahead collapse at the hands of Michigan State in East Lansing, Anthony Morelli was absent from the post-game media session.

Understandable.

The kid takes the loss hard.

Only people want to hear from him. If other captains like Dan Connor can speak to the press, as red-faced as he was, trying to hold back some tears, feeling like he let his team down, why can’t the quarterback of the Nittany Lions do that as well?

So yesterday at Alamo Bowl Media Day, you figure, OK, we’ll get a chance to speak to Morelli for the first time in over a month and a half.

Only he was a no-show again, and no explanation was given.  None of the usual rhetoric, he has finals, a project, study hall, family emergency, come on man, lie to me if you have to.

Morelli has seldom stepped to the podium to talk after losses, he blew off media calls during the season or was made unavailable,  probably due in part to shooting his mouth off in a wildly candid and fun session at Outback Bowl Media Day last year, of which I and only about 5 others were lucky enough to be there.

More likely because of his sour relationship with the media. You know, us, the guys whose fault it is that Penn State sometimes stinks or a player doesn’t do well.

For a guy that brushes things off, or says he does, Morelli sure has a funny way of showing it to the media.

As a beat writer, I just want the quote, I almost need it. I need to hear the quarterback of the team I cover accept responsibility win or lose, good or bad. Yet Morelli fails to meet that expectation sometimes.

I like the kid, have since the first time I talked to him way back when George Chaump screwed him at the end of the Big 33 in favor of Chad Henne. I’ve never had a beef with Morelli, I’ve tried to carry on good conversations, ask fair questions, respect his sometimes fragile temper and ego that comes with the territory, but come on, Ant, you gotta step up and talk to us.

If people are worried about what he’s going to say or questions asked, police the conversation then, if you must, but the quarterback needs to be heard from. Not just because his candid conversations sell papers and register blog stats sometimes, but because it’s his job.

As a captain, people need to hear from him, as a player, it would be nice to see or hear him fire the troops up or omit some raw emotion during a media day conference.

Trust me, the media isn’t against him, sure we have our opinions of Morelli, some good, some bad, all somewhat stale, but we just want to hear him as a leader.

Thursday Cup of Joe

Penn State head coach Joe Paterno spoke at length about the Alamo Bowl this afternoon inside the Lasch Football complex.

Paterno addressed issues a plenty. Some highlights from the media session.

• Paterno addressed Brian Norwood’s departure for Baylor, saying he’s been a good asset to Penn State football and he was a little surprised he was leaving. Kermit Buggs will do a fine job in replacing him.

• Joe said that he’d be surprised if Jared Odrick and Jerome Hayes would be ready for the spring.

• Knowledge Timmons and Chris Baker will make the trip, but Joe isn’t sure if they will play against A&M.

• Oregon State is a good addition to the schedule and he’s glad the conference moved to a 13 week schedule.

• The university calendar is causing some headaches with the practice schedule and with the changes made by the school, the only available practice time is at 6am. So practice has been few and far between right now.  Joe said he hopes the team gets in 3-4 good practices before being able to get 3-4 in down in San Antonio.

• When asked if his team is anxious to get back on the field, Joe said “We’ll see.”

• Joe also said it “depends on the situation,” if any younger players will play in key roles at the bowl (meaning will Daryll Clark play significant minutes at QB over Anthony Morelli.

• Jeremy Boone is doing a great job, but they haven’t talked scholarship yet.

• Joe doesn’t know if any more assistants will be moving on.

Beavers to play at the Beav

Needing a shot in the arm for their 2008 non-conference schedule, Penn State is turning to the northwest.

The pacific northwest.

Oregon State, 8-4 this season, has replaced Arkansas State on the 2008 Nittany Lions schedule. It has been long rumored that such a move would take place, but official word from Penn State spokesman Jeff Nelson was sent out earlier today.

      “We are very appreciative of Arkansas State and Utah adjusting their schedules in order to provide Oregon State with the opportunity to play in Happy Valley next season,” said Tim Curley, Director of Athletics. “Oregon State will provide another challenging opponent during our non-conference schedule. We also appreciate the efforts of the Big Ten and Pac-10 to help facilitate this game taking place in 2008.”

Keeping in mind that Syracuse is also on the schedule it makes for a more intriguing slate than was previously booked. Though Penn State still has Coastal Carolina on there, and that, for financial reasons, will likely not change.

Penn State has dates with Alabama and Virginia coming up in the next handful of seasons.

Two Aggies arrested; Norwood leaving?

In a somewhat ironic twist to this years Alamo Bowl, two Texas A&M players were arrested for an apparent armed robbery.

According to AggieYell.com (an rivals.com site dedicated to all things Aggie):

 

College Station detectives served a search warrant at the apartment of Texas A&M junior offensive lineman Yemi Babalola Wednesday afternoon at 1 p.m., according to the College Station police department. Detectives found evidence of an armed robbery at Callaway Villas that occurred on Thursday, Nov. 29.

The robbery was reported by one of the residents at the Callaway Villas apartment on Thursday, saying that two black males entered the apartment after striking the resident who opened the door. That resident was bound with tape and held at gunpoint along with a friend. The second resident fled upstairs and escaped through a third floor window.

Several items were taken during the robbery and then fled on foot. Some of the evidence taken from the apartment was found in Babalola’s apartment Wednesday afternoon leading to his arrest. Detectives also found a usable amount of marijuana in the apartment.

According to the College Station police department’s press release, subsequent interviews revealed enough information to issue a second warrant for a separate residence, that of A&M freshman linebacker Brandon Joiner. At Joiner’s residence, detectives found marijuana, ecstasy and hydrocodone.

Norwood to Baylor?

There are also internet reports that current Penn State defensive backs coach Brian Norwood may bolt for the defensive coordinator spot at Baylor.

That is unconfirmed at this point through PSU at this point, but we’re working to try and track down the information.

Fox, Fox, Fox….

Although I could watch Fox/BTN/FSN reporter Charissa Thompson talk about paint drying, why does this god awful show to announce the BCS selections have to be so drawn out?

Could it be because there is NO drama in the selection?

Because the LA Times ruined the suspense by reporting three hours ago that it would be LSU against Ohio State, meaning USC takes on Illinois in the Rose Bowl. The only shock so
The show came on 20 minutes ago and they’ve announce ONE (1) team so far, Hawaii.

This is deplorable and just downright poor television.  Much like the Fox News Network, they draw things out, sift through garbage to create pseudo stories. No one wants to see 35 commercials in  the first four segments.

They are drawing out the announcement of the title game for no reason.

The only shock so far is that West Virgina and Kansas seemingly flip-flopped spots with KU going to the Orange Bowl, WVA to the Fiesta. For the record, Missouri should be in over Kansas, but whatever. The system stinks, we all know that.

Aggies to play PSU

Texas A&M has been selected as the opponent for Penn State in the Alamo Bowl, to take place Saturday December 29th in San Antonio.

It was thought that the choice would come down to A&M or Texas Tech, a squad that defeated the Aggies earlier in the season 35-7.
A&M finished the season by defeating rival Texas, in what turned out to be Dennis Franchione’s final game as head coach of the Aggies. Gary Darnell will coach the bowl game, former Green Bay Packers coach and former Houston Texans assistant Mike Sherman will take over after the bowl as full time head coach.

The matchup is a rematch from the 1999 game in which PSU defeated the Aggies 24-0 in Jerry Sandusky’s final game as defensive coordinator.