Memo to all of the Penn State "Fans" who are upset about UM and ND losing

In the past few days, I've read a lot of message board chatter and newspaper articles, such as this one by David Jones of Harrisburg Patriot-News, suggesting that the losses by Michigan and Notre Dame this past weekend are bad for Penn State.

I've even heard such suggestions that Penn State fans who were rooting for Appalachian State and Georgia Tech "just don't get it"?

Really?

Let me explain it to you Penn State "fans".

Here is a simple rooting guide for you to follow:

1. Cheer for Penn State to win every game.
2. Cheer for the teams that you hate (insert Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Florida State, etc) to lose EVERY game.
3. Cheer against any school ranked higher than Penn State to also lose, so that Penn State can climb up in the BCS rankings and the polls.

It's really that simple.
When I hear crap about "it hurts our strength of schedule" or "don't you understand how the BCS works", I want to scream. Here are some counterpoints for you:

1. As far as strength of schedule goes, let's worry about that in November, not Labor Day weekend. Penn State started out ranked so low, that their preseason ranking, and NOT their strength of schedule, would be their undoing when it comes to POTENTIALLY running the table and playing for the National Championship.
2. Worrying about strength of schedule implies extreme confidence in Penn State running the table. A bit ridiculous considering they haven't done so since 1994. I'll take the losses by the scum of the earth (Michigan, Notre Dame) and put those in the bank. Thanks ASU and GT.
3. Even if Michigan and Notre Dame have great seasons, and PSU ran the table, would they jump a perfect USC or SEC champ? I don't think so.
4. What about the impact of recruiting? Do you think that it hurts, or helps Penn State, when they are going head to head with Michigan and Notre Dame for players, and they can drop the "we don't lose to 1AA programs at home" mantra....EXACTLY.

Back in the 1990s, when I was in school, and when a Penn State season was considered "over" the day after the first loss of they year, I fully subscribed to the "root for your opponents" mantra. You wanted to play the highest ranked team possible. But then a funny thing happened.

We joined the Big Ten, and the disasterous seasons of '00, '01, '03 and '04 left me a bitter, jaded man. I want to see the enemy lose, and lose badly. I'll just worry about us running the table, and then let the chips fall where they may.

You Penn State "fans", who tell me that I "just don't get it", do me a favor. Get out your Tony Rice throwback, or your Marcus Ray throwback, and put it on this weekend. Go and cheer for Penn State opponents, because it's going to "help" them in the BCS. I'll enjoying rooting for Penn State, with my 2nd, 3rd and 4th favorite teams being whoever is playing Michigan, Ohio State, and Notre Dame on any given weekend.