If you couldn't tell from the picture, I received my tickets today. So, that was an exciting surprise when I got the mail. I've heard of other getting their season tickets as well. It's just another reminder that football is almost here. On to the link!

Watch List Mania!

Stanzi on the Manning Award Watch List
Ricky Stanzi has made his way on the Archie Manning Award watch list. The award goes to the collegiate quarterback that played the best throughout the year, including the bowl game. I highly, highly doubt Stanzi (or anyone else) cannot dethrone the 3-headed beast McTeboford. But you never know.

Bulaga on the Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List
Offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga has made his way on the watch list for the Rotary Lombardi Award which is given to the best lineman (offense or defense) annually. While the watch list contains a ridiculous 153 names, I'm fairly certain Bulaga is one of the names that will be sticking around on the list throughout the season.

Pat Angerer on the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
The Chuck Bednarik Award is given to the best defensive player, so it is quite an honor for Pat Angerer to make the list of 57 of the most outstanding collegiate athletes.

Other Stuff!

Zombie Nation Hates Iowa
Yesterday, ESPN's Adam Rittenberg ran down the top "villains" for each team in the Big Ten. For Penn State the current villain was Terrelle Pryor. Zombie Nation says other wise however.
I would bet that if you asked any Penn State fan, right now, which player or team they absolutely hate the most, it would be the Iowa Hawkeyes by a landslide.

Not only did they directly cost the Nittany Lions a shot at the national title in 2008, the Hawkeyes have been the second-worst (Michigan, of course) thorn in Penn State's side for most of this decade.
It feels kind of nice that Iowa has pained the Nittany Lions so. I'd say the hatred is pretty well deserved as well. Kirk Ferentz has absolutely owned Penn State in his tenure (6-1, including last year's amazing 24-23 upset, 2 OT wins, and the infamous 6-4 game). If Iowa wins this year against the sea of white under the lights, I can only imagine the absolute abhorrence that will be directed towards the Hawkeyes.


Dr. Saturday Picks the Big Ten
Quote:
Why anyone would rank Michigan State ahead of Iowa, for example, which was statistically better than the Spartans last year at literally everything, finished with the same record, won its last four where MSU dropped its last two, and returns the same number of starters plus a solid starting quarterback, is unfathomable.
My thoughts:
Exactly.