No respect for PSU

As a new season of Penn State football is just around the corner, most of us who support the Blue and White are anxious with anticipation. Can't wait to find out what's in store for the Lions this season.

Sadly, as what has almost become a broken record, it's all going to boil down to how the OL performs. Are they going to be the noodle-armed gashes of 03-04 or the ones who blew open holes for LJ to scamper for over 2000 yards in 2002. (BTW, how the hell did he not win the Heisman that year? Actually, the answer is easy, and the problem is with the idiots who run the Big Ten and they way they do their scheduling, but that's another post for another day).

Anyways, this past weekend I was listening to ESPNRadio, and none other than Mel Kiper comes on the radio to do his Big Ten preview. I actually don't hate Kiper the way a lot of other people do, and many times he gives Penn State (and their players) their due. However, I was shocked, when he ran down his Big Ten preview, and picked the following for the top 5:

1. Wisconsin
2. Michigan
3. Ohio State

Now that's not that surprising, especially since Wisky returns 17 or 18 starters. However, when pressed for 4th and 5th place, Mel said (parapharasing) "I've got Purdue and Penn State in the 4/5 position. Gun to my head, I'd pick Purdue 4th".

Are you kidding me Mel? Gun to your head and go with Purdue? After PSU shut them out last season, and get them at home in 2007????

Well no big deal I thought to myself, until I saw what one writer from the Detroit Free Press had for his Big Ten preseason picks: SIXTH!

Hopefully the players are aware of this crap, and go out to prove everyone wrong. I know a lot of you reading this are of the "who gives a crap what some hack from Detroit thinks" ilk. Nonetheless, it still bothers me, simply because I think that Penn State has been the red headed step child of the Big Ten ever since they joined.

Anyways, enough for tonight. More PSU news to follow as it comes in.