BREAKING NEWS:
(from MZone wire reports) State College, PA -- Michigan's once-proud football program exploded in a fireball of suck Saturday night when the Wolverines were beaten 41-31 by Penn State. During the game, the U-M defense let a 3rd string walk-on QB making his first start look like the second coming of Joe Montana.
While officials are still at the crash site, sources tell the MZone that the investigation is focusing on the ship's captain, Rich Rodriguez. Before Rodriguez took over at the helm, Michigan football hadn't had a losing season in 40+ years. But after back-to-back losing seasons and a third season that was rapidly beginning to unravel, speculation is mounting that pilot error by Rodriguez may have driven the winningest program in the history of college football straight into the fucking ground.
Sadly, MZone cameras were at the scene of the disaster and captured the exclusive video below.
WARNING: This video contains graphic images of a tradition-rich football program blowing up like Gerg's D-line on a simple off-tackle run. Viewer discretion - especially if you bleed Maize and Blue - is advised.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Nursery Rhymes with Rich Rodriguez
Recently we brought you Nursery Rhymes with Les Miles. Now, in a continuing series here at the MZone, Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez reads one of his favorite nursery rhymes to all the kids out there who stop by the MZone on daily basis in order to improve their reading skills and learn various uses of the f-bomb.
Old Mother Hubbard
Went to the cupboard,
To give the poor dog a bone:
When she came there,
The cupboard was bare,
And she blamed Lloyd Carr.
She went to the baker's
To buy him some bread;
When she came back
The dog was dead!
Again, this was obviously Lloyd Carr's fault
Plus "even a veterinarian couldn't solve
the dog's health issues."
Old Mother Hubbard
Went to the cupboard,
To give the poor dog a bone:
When she came there,
The cupboard was bare,
And she blamed Lloyd Carr.
She went to the baker's
To buy him some bread;
When she came back
The dog was dead!
Again, this was obviously Lloyd Carr's fault
Plus "even a veterinarian couldn't solve
the dog's health issues."
ปิดไตรมาส 3 มอ'ไซค์ขาย 1.4 ล้านคัน
ผ่าน 3 ไตรมาสของปี 2553 ตลาดรถจักรยานยนต์ยังแรงไม่หยุด ด้วยยอดขายรวม 1,404,626 คัน โต 23% เมื่อเทียบกับช่วงเดียวกันของปีที่แล้ว โดยรถแบบเอ.ที ยังได้รับความนิยมสูงสด หรือคิดเป็นสัดส่วน 51% จากยอดขายรถทุกประเภท
ธีระพัฒน์ จิวะพงศ์ กรรมการบริหารฝ่ายขาย บริษัท เอ.พี.ฮอนด้า จำกัด เปิดเผยว่า ภาพรวมตลาดรถจักรยานยนต์ไทยปิดฉากไตรมาสสามของปี เติบโตสูงถึง 23% เมื่อเทียบกับช่วงเดียวกันของปีที่แล้ว ด้วยยอดจดทะเบียนสะสม 1,404,626 คัน โดยฮอนด้าเจ้าเดียวโตขึ้น 27% พร้อมครองส่วนแบ่งการตลาด 68%
“เหตุผลส่วนหนึ่งที่ช่วยผลักดันให้ตลาดรถจักรยานยนต์ในเมืองไทยเติบโตขึ้นนี้ สาเหตุหลักคงมาจากการที่บรรดาค่ายผู้ผลิตต่างโหมกระตุ้น และสร้างความตื่นตัวให้กับตลาด โดยเฉพาะค่ายฮอนด้าเอง ในฐานะของผู้นำตลาด ได้เตรียมส่งความหลากหลายของสินค้า ในทุกโจทย์ความต้องการของผู้บริโภค ไม่ว่าจะเป็นในประเภทรถครอบครัว รถเอ.ที และล่าสุดกับรถสปอร์ต เพื่อเติมเต็มในทุกส่วนของความต้องการของผู้บริโภค และเติมเต็มให้เหนือยิ่งกว่า ด้วยการตอบสนองในส่วนที่เหนือความต้องการเพื่อมุ่งเปิดเซกเมนต์ใหม่ๆ ขยายตลาดรถจักรยานยนต์ให้มีความหลากหลายมากขึ้น”
ด้านตัวเลขสะสม 9 เดือนแรกของปีของตลาดรถจักรยายนต์เมืองไทย มียอดจำหน่ายรวมที่ 1,404,626 คัน แบ่งเป็นรถจักรยานยนต์แบบ เอ.ที 716,848 คัน เทียบเท่าสัดส่วนตลาด 51%, แบบครอบครัวที่ 643,927 คัน หรือเทียบเท่าสัดส่วนตลาด 46%, แบบครอบครัวกึ่งสปอร์ตมีจำนวน 18,718 คัน เทียบเท่าสัดส่วนตลาด 1%, แบบสปอร์ต 6,998 คัน และแบบออฟโรดรวมประเภทอื่นๆ 18,135 คัน
หากแบ่งแยกตามประเภทของผู้ผลิต ฮอนด้ามียอดจดทะเบียนที่ 954,901 คัน เทียบเท่าอัตราครองตลาด 68%, ยามาฮ่า 366,499 คัน เทียบเท่าอัตราครองตลาด 26%, ซูซูกิ 51,070 คัน อัตราครองตลาด 4%, อื่นๆ ได้แก่ คาวาซากิ 16,634 คัน อัตราครองตลาด 1% , เจอาร์ดี 237 คัน, แพล็ตตินั่ม 565 คัน, ไทเกอร์ 1,577 คัน และอื่นๆ 13,143 คัน
สำหรับรายงานตัวเลขตลาดรถจักรยานยนต์ทุกประเภทเดือนกันยายน 2553 มียอดจำหน่ายรวมที่ 152,366 คัน แบ่งเป็นรถจักรยานยนต์แบบเอ.ที 78,617 คัน เทียบเท่าสัดส่วนตลาด 52% ซึ่งขึ้นนำรถจักรยานยนต์แบบครอบครัวที่มียอดจดทะเบียนที่ 70,788 คัน หรือเทียบเท่าสัดส่วนตลาด 46% สำหรับรถจักรยานยนต์ในแบบครอบครัวกึ่งสปอร์ตมีจำนวน 631 คัน, แบบสปอร์ต 421 คัน และแบบออฟโรดรวมประเภทอื่นๆ 1,909 คัน
ในขณะที่หากแบ่งแยกเป็นยอดจดทะเบียนตามประเภทของผู้ผลิตในเดือนกันยายน รถจักรยานยนต์ฮอนด้า 102,672 คัน เทียบเท่าอัตราครองตลาด 67%, ยามาฮ่า 40,716 คัน อัตราครองตลาด 27%, ซูซูกิ 5,480 คัน อัตราครองตลาด 4%, อื่นๆ ได้แก่ คาวาซากิ 1,642 คัน , เจอาร์ดี 11 คัน, แพล็ตตินั่ม 87 คัน, ไทเกอร์ 177 คัน และอื่นๆ 1,581 คัน
เพิ่มเติม : http://www.langrod.com/
ปิดไตรมาส 3 มอ'ไซค์ขาย 1.4 ล้านคัน
ผ่าน 3 ไตรมาสของปี 2553 ตลาดรถจักรยานยนต์ยังแรงไม่หยุด ด้วยยอดขายรวม 1,404,626 คัน โต 23% เมื่อเทียบกับช่วงเดียวกันของปีที่แล้ว โดยรถแบบเอ.ที ยังได้รับความนิยมสูงสด หรือคิดเป็นสัดส่วน 51% จากยอดขายรถทุกประเภท
ธีระพัฒน์ จิวะพงศ์ กรรมการบริหารฝ่ายขาย บริษัท เอ.พี.ฮอนด้า จำกัด เปิดเผยว่า ภาพรวมตลาดรถจักรยานยนต์ไทยปิดฉากไตรมาสสามของปี เติบโตสูงถึง 23% เมื่อเทียบกับช่วงเดียวกันของปีที่แล้ว ด้วยยอดจดทะเบียนสะสม 1,404,626 คัน โดยฮอนด้าเจ้าเดียวโตขึ้น 27% พร้อมครองส่วนแบ่งการตลาด 68%
“เหตุผลส่วนหนึ่งที่ช่วยผลักดันให้ตลาดรถจักรยานยนต์ในเมืองไทยเติบโตขึ้นนี้ สาเหตุหลักคงมาจากการที่บรรดาค่ายผู้ผลิตต่างโหมกระตุ้น และสร้างความตื่นตัวให้กับตลาด โดยเฉพาะค่ายฮอนด้าเอง ในฐานะของผู้นำตลาด ได้เตรียมส่งความหลากหลายของสินค้า ในทุกโจทย์ความต้องการของผู้บริโภค ไม่ว่าจะเป็นในประเภทรถครอบครัว รถเอ.ที และล่าสุดกับรถสปอร์ต เพื่อเติมเต็มในทุกส่วนของความต้องการของผู้บริโภค และเติมเต็มให้เหนือยิ่งกว่า ด้วยการตอบสนองในส่วนที่เหนือความต้องการเพื่อมุ่งเปิดเซกเมนต์ใหม่ๆ ขยายตลาดรถจักรยานยนต์ให้มีความหลากหลายมากขึ้น”
ด้านตัวเลขสะสม 9 เดือนแรกของปีของตลาดรถจักรยายนต์เมืองไทย มียอดจำหน่ายรวมที่ 1,404,626 คัน แบ่งเป็นรถจักรยานยนต์แบบ เอ.ที 716,848 คัน เทียบเท่าสัดส่วนตลาด 51%, แบบครอบครัวที่ 643,927 คัน หรือเทียบเท่าสัดส่วนตลาด 46%, แบบครอบครัวกึ่งสปอร์ตมีจำนวน 18,718 คัน เทียบเท่าสัดส่วนตลาด 1%, แบบสปอร์ต 6,998 คัน และแบบออฟโรดรวมประเภทอื่นๆ 18,135 คัน
หากแบ่งแยกตามประเภทของผู้ผลิต ฮอนด้ามียอดจดทะเบียนที่ 954,901 คัน เทียบเท่าอัตราครองตลาด 68%, ยามาฮ่า 366,499 คัน เทียบเท่าอัตราครองตลาด 26%, ซูซูกิ 51,070 คัน อัตราครองตลาด 4%, อื่นๆ ได้แก่ คาวาซากิ 16,634 คัน อัตราครองตลาด 1% , เจอาร์ดี 237 คัน, แพล็ตตินั่ม 565 คัน, ไทเกอร์ 1,577 คัน และอื่นๆ 13,143 คัน
สำหรับรายงานตัวเลขตลาดรถจักรยานยนต์ทุกประเภทเดือนกันยายน 2553 มียอดจำหน่ายรวมที่ 152,366 คัน แบ่งเป็นรถจักรยานยนต์แบบเอ.ที 78,617 คัน เทียบเท่าสัดส่วนตลาด 52% ซึ่งขึ้นนำรถจักรยานยนต์แบบครอบครัวที่มียอดจดทะเบียนที่ 70,788 คัน หรือเทียบเท่าสัดส่วนตลาด 46% สำหรับรถจักรยานยนต์ในแบบครอบครัวกึ่งสปอร์ตมีจำนวน 631 คัน, แบบสปอร์ต 421 คัน และแบบออฟโรดรวมประเภทอื่นๆ 1,909 คัน
ในขณะที่หากแบ่งแยกเป็นยอดจดทะเบียนตามประเภทของผู้ผลิตในเดือนกันยายน รถจักรยานยนต์ฮอนด้า 102,672 คัน เทียบเท่าอัตราครองตลาด 67%, ยามาฮ่า 40,716 คัน อัตราครองตลาด 27%, ซูซูกิ 5,480 คัน อัตราครองตลาด 4%, อื่นๆ ได้แก่ คาวาซากิ 1,642 คัน , เจอาร์ดี 11 คัน, แพล็ตตินั่ม 87 คัน, ไทเกอร์ 177 คัน และอื่นๆ 1,581 คัน
เพิ่มเติม : http://www.langrod.com/
Happy Halloween from the MZone!
In an effort to offer some relief from dwelling on the disaster that has become Michigan football the last couple years weeks, we'd like to take this time to announce the winner of the 1st Annual MZone Halloween Costume Contest.
The envelope please.
And the winner is...
The woman below dressed as the hottest Tosu fan we've ever seen.
Congratulations!
Have a safe and happy Halloween!
The envelope please.
And the winner is...
The woman below dressed as the hottest Tosu fan we've ever seen.
Congratulations!
Have a safe and happy Halloween!
Protecting Your Beloved Car with Auto Floor Mats
Sometimes, you do not realize that your shoes are dirty and wet when you step in your car. Especially when it rains, your boots or shoes are covered by mud and stuff like that. Or, maybe your little kids, nephew and nieces get in your can after playing in yard. When you see your car floor dirty, you would be upset as it is not that easy to clean your car floor. If you have this kind of problem, you must need something that can protect your floor car. You can use auto floor mats.
The mats will protect your car floor, so it keeps the bottom floor clean. If the floor happens to get dirty, you just need to take it off and wash it outside. It is easy and more convenient. You can get the auto floor mats in automotive stores or visit them online. They will assist you if you have some questions about the mats. You can also let them know about your budget, so they can show you their offers that encounter with your fund.
However, there are so many kinds of different auto floor mats available. You have to think about the right choice for you, because it is sometimes difficult to decide. There are certain categories and classification of auto floor mats, you can pick up the right type of floor protection depends on your need. You probably want to choose the type based on the weather. There are some types that can protect your car floor in all weather. You can also choose it based on what it is made out of, as they are made out of many kinds of material such as rubber. They definitely have their advantages and disadvantages. Regardless of the material and the function, you must want to have the nice one. The companies which sell the mats also have them with different models; you can pick up one and meet your favor.
Reference for Wheels And Tires Size Modification
Wheels and tires are two parts that can not be separated. In the world of modifications, wheel and tire size is very influential on the appearance of a car, but outside of it, keep in mind, too great a measure of both greatly affect the comfort factor while driving.
Therefore, when changing wheels and tires can not be arbitrary, there are many things which should be noted that there are no regrets in the future when it mencangkoknya ditunggangan favorite.
Combination Wheels Size And Tires
Recommendations from the car manufacturers can change a car wheel size without reducing the performance of the engine and the driving comfort is the maximum level 2 (+ 2) of the standard size can be from the factory. But in the modification of a car can change the size up to 4 levels peleknya (+4) over the standard wheel size without the need to make changes to the car body.
Of course change the size of wheels with a larger (up-size) should be followed by the turn of the right tire size so it will not be happen gesrot symptoms or fixed to the body in the car or the car fender.
Effect of Changing Tire and Rim Size
Many people ask, whether there is influence or effect if it has changed the wheel and tire size? .. The benefits of making changes and tire rim size so much of which is handling the response for the better car when changing direction or maneuver, because the tire contact area with the road surface becomes wider, making traction a tire larger than a car’s appearance becomes more catchy.
But the weakness of the up-size wheels and tires replaced with a thinner profile and the width will slightly reduce the damping force cars to the road surface is uneven and a little more noise (noise road) due to the tire contact with road surfaces became greater.
Reference for Wheels And Tires Size Modification
Wheels and tires are two parts that can not be separated. In the world of modifications, wheel and tire size is very influential on the appearance of a car, but outside of it, keep in mind, too great a measure of both greatly affect the comfort factor while driving.
Therefore, when changing wheels and tires can not be arbitrary, there are many things which should be noted that there are no regrets in the future when it mencangkoknya ditunggangan favorite.
Combination Wheels Size And Tires
Recommendations from the car manufacturers can change a car wheel size without reducing the performance of the engine and the driving comfort is the maximum level 2 (+ 2) of the standard size can be from the factory. But in the modification of a car can change the size up to 4 levels peleknya (+4) over the standard wheel size without the need to make changes to the car body.
Of course change the size of wheels with a larger (up-size) should be followed by the turn of the right tire size so it will not be happen gesrot symptoms or fixed to the body in the car or the car fender.
Effect of Changing Tire and Rim Size
Many people ask, whether there is influence or effect if it has changed the wheel and tire size? .. The benefits of making changes and tire rim size so much of which is handling the response for the better car when changing direction or maneuver, because the tire contact area with the road surface becomes wider, making traction a tire larger than a car’s appearance becomes more catchy.
But the weakness of the up-size wheels and tires replaced with a thinner profile and the width will slightly reduce the damping force cars to the road surface is uneven and a little more noise (noise road) due to the tire contact with road surfaces became greater.
Expressing Yourself with Car Modification Accessories
Some people like to modify their cars for their convenient and pleasure. This kind of people usually wants to show who they are through their beloved cars. If you are one of these people you certainly need car modification accessories.
To find car modification accessories, you can easily find them in the automotive stores in your city. You might want to take a look or figure out what kind of accessories you want to have by visiting online automotive stores. As car modification accessories, they normally have many kinds of accessories from different types of cars with different brands. This can be very confusing, because too many choices make you not know which one you want to get for your car. Therefore, you might want to talk to the sellers, because they can tell you the advantages and disadvantages of certain brands, and also the cost. You can also get online and take a look at their websites and see what they have. They usually have a live chat customer service online that you can talk. This is important for you because you do not want to spend a lot of money for low quality products.
Having a Better Performance by Car Engine Modification
When you buy a new car or a pre-owned car, in some points, you do not know how strong and fast the car is. You can always try and ask before you purchase it, but it is usual that certain types of cars have certain level of strength and speed. If you are one of the person that like to express yourself when you are driving, or need to have a car with a stronger machine, it is time for you to get a car engine modification.
Car engine modification is one way to pimp out your car. Once you change replace the engine with different capability, your car will turn to a fast modified car. Besides, by modifying your car engine, you can just improve the car performance to be a better one. It might be the sound that bothers you so much, so once you change it, the sound will not be a problem anymore. Moreover, you may want to change your car engine due to its pollution, because there is lot of cases that cars engine produce so much smog that disturbs the health of environment. The other thing that people really care about is the capability of the engine to use too much fuel. That is certainly not good for your budget.
Showing your Identity through Car Modification
People buy a car because they need it for their quick transportation. However, there are people who like to buy cars for their pleasure. Therefore, for these people, taking care of car is more important instead of using it all the time. To have more stylish cars, they usually get their cars done. On the other hand, they do what is called car modification.
Car modification is a very fun thing to do. It has something to do with the personality of the owner, because usually the result of car modification represents how the personalities of the owners are. You are one the people who modification, you are certainly interested in installing and changing some of your car’s parts. If you like music, you can put audio tools, such as DVD players. You can also replace the headlights to be more stylists. To lead you better when you travel with your beloved car, you can put navigation tool such as GPS. Moreover, if you want to spend more money, what you can do is changing the color or the type of the car door. It would be awesome. However, if you do not have that much budget, you can just do small part of car modification.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Discuss
Much more to come on Monday. I'm just too drained, bummed, frustrated, INSERT SOMETHING ELSE HERE to think coherently right now.
Penn State post game healing
(HT to SiC for the Titanic idea & bigGexpress for the image)
Penn State beats Michigan 41-31 with a walk-on QB.
Yes folks, it is time to start cleaning house.
Jim.... if you are out there, PLEASE help us.
Rich Rod's Third-year Psalm
A Psalm of Coach Rod. The Gerg Defense is my shepard; I shall not want.He maketh me to lie down on third downs; He leadeth me to leave wide-open receivers.
He causeth their goals; He guideth me in circuitous paths for his game's sake.
Yea, though we just walked through the Happy Valley of the Shadow of a Walk-On, I will fear no Brandon, for GERG is with me;
I'm Rich Rod and My Staff (like Barwis, Robinson and Magee), they coddle me.
Gerg preparest a table of losses before me in the presence of mine enemies;
I have tried to annoint with my snake oil; but their offenses runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the Big House of the Spread for ever????
Elvis has left the building
Reading that post was like traveling back in a time machine and saying hi to myself. Hello young, innocent Jennifer from three years ago! I had just finished 1665th in the Vulcan Run 10K--which I will be running for the 6th time next Saturday, and I’m pretty sure my time will be even worse. In 2007, apparently I was planning to run my first half marathon the following February, which I can tell you did NOT happen. I am planning to run the very same half marathon for the first time this coming February. I sure hope I have a better track record with this sort of thing when I check in with myself after another 3 years.
And ending this blog clears the way for the six of us still participating to join ten of our friends on YA Outside the Lines. But even though some things haven’t changed much in 3 years, I definitely have a lot more confidence that I can write a book in a month, finish a 10K, and participate in a rewarding writers’ blog. For that experience, I have to thank editor Jennifer Heddle at MTV Books for getting the blog approved and sending us material; the current bloggers, Jan Blazanin, Barbara Caridad Ferrer, Danielle Joseph, Stephanie Kuehnert, and Jenny O’Connell; and former bloggers Kelly Parra, Christopher Golden, Tara Altebrando, Cara Lockwood, and Alex McAulay. Collectively we put a lot of work into this blog, publicized our work, met new readers, and supported each other. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for us next.
New Beginnings
As my fellow bloggers have told you, we are saying goodbye to the MTV Books blog as of tomorrow and heading over to our new space: YA Outside The Lines where we will continue to blog together and add some new voices to the mix, other YA authors who push boundaries and write from the heart the way we do.Usually I'm not a person who deals well with change, but in this case, I'm excited and I think it couldn't come at a better time for me. As you probably know from reading my last blog entry here, I'm in a tough place with my writing. My work-in-progress ground to a halt and I go back and forth daily (actually probably hourly) as to whether to completely shelve the idea, walk away from it for a little while or try to keep plugging along. The tentative plan is to try something new for at the least the first week of November and if it goes well, I may try to write a full rough draft of that new idea for NaNoWriMo. Or I may just let the new idea reinvigorate me and then finish my current project.
So yes, I am definitely in transition in terms of my writing career. I'm not sure what I'll do next or where it will be published. But I am so proud of the books I put out with MTV Books, loved all the people I worked with there and the authors I was published with, so I am proud to continue on with these lovely ladies to explore new horizons. I may not be sure of where I'm going, but I know I'll be in excellent company at YA Outside The Lines.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Know Your Foe: Penn State 2010
The Michigan football team returns to action on Saturday night with a visit to Penn State. This will be the 16th meeting between the Nittany Lions and the Wolverines, all of them have taken place since Penn State started playing in the Big Ten Conference in 1993. We hold a 10-5 lead in the all-time series and have a 5-2 record at Beaver Stadium. They have won the last two games against us, including last years 35-10 beat down in Michigan Stadium. The game will be televised nationally by ESPN with former Penn State QB Todd Blackledge in the booth as the color analyst.History: Penn State originally started out as a high school. It was founded in 1855 under the name Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania. The original charter of the school was to teach the scientific methods and improve the business of farming. When the 1862 version of the Land Grant/Morrill Act was passed, the school took the money designated for Pennsylvania and changed the name of the high school to The Agricultural College of Pennsylvania.
Like many of the original Land Grant schools, the internal struggle for the mission of the school spawned controversy. As the curriculum drifted between the purely agricultural and the more profitable classical, public support and enrolled students diminished. By 1875 there were only 64 undergraduates attending classes. Eventually they righted the ship, renamed themselves again to Pennsylvania State College, and grew to the largest non-governmental economic engine in the state of Pennsylvania. The school now annually generates more than $8 billion in direct economic impact to the Commonwealth and supports more than 60,000 total jobs.
Location: The area the school is located is commonly referred to as Happy Valley although, that is not an official name. The main campus is located in State College, Pennsylvania, though the mailing address is actually University Park, Pennsylvania. If you are confused, join the club.One of my favorite things about Penn State is the ice cream factory on campus called the Berkey Creamery. PSU’s Department of Food Science runs what is the largest university creamery in the United States, using about 4.5 million pounds of milk annually. About half of this milk comes from a 225-cow herd at the University's Dairy Production Research Center. They offer over 100 flavors and sell 750,000 hand-dipped ice cream cones per year.
In 2008, State College was ranked as the second safest metropolitan area in the United States by the CQ Press. They moved up the top spot in 2009. However, don't let that "safe place" stuff fool you if you plan on showing up wearing maize and blue and making a lot of noise on Saturday night. There is no love for the Michigan Wolverines in Happy Valley. A decade long losing streak will make anyone a bit cranky.
Nickname: They call themselves the Nittany Lions. The name is derived from the mountain lions that used to roam around the area for thousands of years. That was before they were all killed by local citizens in the 1880s.Penn State claims to be the first university to choose a Lion as their mascot. Legend has it one of their baseball players went to a game at Princeton in 1904. He was jealous of the Tiger moniker used by Princeton and somehow convinced everyone to adopt “Lions” in 1907 without a vote or contest. The origin of the word "Nittany" is a little more obscure. The most commonly accepted explanation traces its derivation to Indian words meaning either "single mountain" or "protective barrier against the elements”.
Mascot: In the 1920s, a pair of stuffed mountain lions was placed in the Recreation Building to watch over athletic events. About that same time, the tradition began of having a student dressed in a furry lion costume clown around on the sidelines at football games.It appears that that costume from the 1940 is still in use today. It looks like it has been on the sidelines longer that Joe Paterno himself. Between you and me, the Penn State Lion costume sucks and is embarrassing for a traditional football power like Penn State. I would rather not have a costumed mascot than have that mangy looking thing running around.
In direct contrast to the middle school quality costumed mascot -- Penn State has an awesome statue in the place they call “Lion Shrine” on campus. The Class of 1940 gave their alma mater $5,430 to pay for the construction of the shrine located between the Recreation Building and Beaver Field. German sculptor Heinze Warnecke carved the lion on site in the summer of 1942, from a thirteen-ton block of limestone.
Colors/Logo/Helmet: Penn State wears blue and white, but that hasn’t always been the case. In 1887 a student committee was appointed to develop color options from which the student body would select the school's official colors. Dark pink and black was the unanimous choice of the student body after considering the color combinations presented by the committee.The baseball team was the first to sport pink and black. However, the pink faded to white after a couple of weeks and the students then opted for blue, rather than black, and white rather than pink.
As you would expect, Penn State has a very iconic primary logo. This is the second time around for this stylized mountain lion head icon. You may not remember, but it was replaced in 2001 with more modern logo designed by a professional branding company. This change was met with almost universal disdain from fans and alumni and lasted three years before they went back to the old logo.
Penn Staters are as proud of their plain white headgear as we are of our beautiful winged masterpieces. Combined with the plain white pants and white or blue jerseys they wear the most ordinary, and yet at the same time most recognizable, uniforms in all levels of football. Most of the time, Penn State doesn’t even put bowl game patches on their jerseys. But rest assured, they do have that omni-present Nike logo. There really isn’t any history to their helmets, except for a 5 year period (1968-74) where they put numbers on their sides (like Alabama). Just like the new logo, they went back.
Fight Song: Just in case you have not gotten the primary theme of this place, you need to listen to their fight song... Boring. The one interesting aspect about their fight song is how it is presented during a game. Specifically after a touchdown, it is played through once and then slows down and stops. The band then resumes after the extra point is kicked by the team and plays it again.
When they are not playing at a football game, the band will play "New Fight On, State", known simply as "NFOS", which is a shortened version of the song without the slowdown and pause and replay.
FIGHT ON, STATE
Fight on State (GO!)
Fight on State (GO!)
Strike your gait and win, (LET’S GO STATE!)
Victory we predict for thee
We’re ever true to you, dear old White and Blue.
Onward State, (GO!)
Onward State, (GO!)
Roar, Lions, roar: (LET’S GO STATE!)
We’ll hit that line, roll up the score,
Fight on to victory ever more,
Fight on, on, on, on, on, Fight on, on, Penn State! (S-T-A-T-E GO! STATE!)
For most people, the most recognizable sounds coming out of Beaver Stadium is either the amplified toilet flushing sound they call a Lion Roar.
Academics: Academically, Penn State is faced with the same situation as Michigan State. They stand on solid academic ground. Unfortunately for Penn State (and Sparty) the natural comparison with the other major university in the same state is not favorable. The school is currently ranked as the 47th best National University in the US News and World Report rankings.
Football: Any conversation about Penn State football needs to start with Joe Paterno. He has been at the school for over 6 decades, including the last 43 years as head coach. He has delivered two National Championships and has the most victories by any Division I football coach. Paterno has coached won more bowl games and delivered more undefeated seasons than any other coach in college football history. He is one of four active coaches inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.In 1969 Michigan Athletic Director Don Canham contacted Paterno to see if he would be interested in the then vacant Michigan job. Paterno turned down the offer and Michigan went on to hire Bo Schembechler. That same year, Paterno was also offered the Pittsburgh Steelers job before Chuck Noll took over and created an NFL Dynasty.
In 1993, after years of beating cupcakes like Temple, Maryland, and Rutgers -- Joe and the Nittany Lions started to play football in the Big Ten Conference. As you would expect, life got a little tougher for the once dominate Nittany Lions. Since joining the conference, they have won a total of three Big Ten football titles along with setting a new standard for complaining about the officials.
The Penn State football program has had such a history for churning out great linebackers, the school has earned the nickname “Linebacker U.” The great Penn State linebackers looks like a who’s who of college football defensive greats: Jack Ham, LaVar Arrington, Brandon Short, Mark D’Onofrio, Andre Collins, Shane Conlan, Paul Posluszny, Dan Connor, and Detroit's favorite Matt Millen.Other Famous Penn State football players include Heisman Trophy winner John Cappelletti and Pro Football Hall of Famer Franco Harris. More recently they have produced NFL players like Larry Johnson, Kerry Collins, and Michael Robinson.
Other sports: When most people think Penn State athletics, they think football. But in reality Penn State has one of the most successful overall athletic programs in the country. They have finished in the Top 25 in the NACDA Director's Cup every year since the inception of the program. Sports Illustrated recently ranked their overall athletic program as the 6th best in the nation. They have won 60+ National Championships in sports other than football, including three straight women's volleyball championships (2007, 08, and 09).
Famous alums: The Penn State Alumni Association is the largest dues-paying alumni association in the world. Names that you might recognize: Mark Parker, CEO of Nike, Former Secretary of Defense William J. Perry, Former Pennsylvania and first Director of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, Steve McCurry, photojournalist who is (most famous for the National Geographic photograph of the "Afgan Girl"; Herman Fisher, co-founder of Fisher-Price toy company; Richard T. James, Inventor of the Slinky; Jef Raskin, human-computer interface expert (best-known for starting the Macintosh project for Apple); John Aniston, soap opera actor and father of actress Jennifer Aniston; ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salters; Hugh Rodham, Hillary Clinton’s brother, and Tom Verducci, writer for Sports Illustrated.
Presidents? No. But, Penn State can claim four astronauts including Guion Bluford, the first African American in space.
The Game: The last two season we were terrible and they were pretty good. Add in the fact that after nine straight losses they were extremely motivated to grind us into little bits. This year, the field is a little more balanced.
If there is any team in the Big Ten conference that our defense can match up against, it is this Penn State team. Quite frankly, they are almost as bad on offense as we are on defense. Not to mention, they will likely be playing without their true freshman starting QB.
As crazy as it sounds, all this adds up to a MUST WIN for Rich Rodriguez. I am going out on a limb to say, if Michigan does not win this game, we will have a new coach before 2010 ends. Yep, I said it. It really boils down to win this game, go to bowl, and he will get another season. Lose this game and kiss the future hello.
In the end, Michigan will win because our offense is better than their offense. Denard will run these fools into the dirt.
Michigan 49
Penn State 33
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