T1B

Are you going to the game? What are your thoughts on the matchup? Seems like USF has had some depth chart trouble of late...so has PSU, though.

Unfortunately, I am not making the trip for this game. I really wanted too, but I am going to go to our game at Miami and probably to Rutgers.

We do have some depth issues at RB, DL and DB's. The first team on both sides of the ball should be much better than last year. Only real question mark for the first team is at QB. Leavitt is keeping the starter tight lipped right now. I think you will see all 3 QB's (Julmiste, Hill, Denson) get some snaps since they bring different things to the table. Hill is a true freshman, so I think we bring him along the way Louisville did with Brohm last season.

I do see the game being much closer than people anticipate, but PSU's depth will carry the day. If we can keep the deficit under 17 points I would be happy.

I just discovered that Mark Robinson is the color analyst for USF's radio broadcasts. He was a great DB at PSU. That's pretty cool...

Sorry PSU but as a Sooner fan I am rooting for USF. Mostly for obvious reasons and the Selmon connection. That and they are about the only fan base out here you can even attempt to have a level headed and courteous discussion with in my neck of the woods.

Good luck to both and I hjope it is an injury free game.

It's fun to root for underdogs. Were I not a PSU fan I'd be rooting for the Bulls here...I certainly did when they played Pitt in recent years.

One thing is...USF will come to play and win. PSU will show up looking to audition some players, give some 5th year seniors some ceremonial playing time, and to blow the stink off the playbook.

In the distant past, PSU used to blow teams out in the first quarter, and then empty the bench. Since the organization eroded post-1999, the bench players get the starting slots, and the talent has to fight the Paternos for playing time. PSU has the horses this year, but will they see the field?

For example, Paterno successfully recruited Derrick Williams, Justin King, Lydell Sargeant, and other WR talent...but he's got a kid named Ethan Kilmer scheduled to start at one of the WR slots. Best of luck to Ethan, but he's a 5th year transfer from Shippensburg State that no one has heard anything about until very recently. It happens every year...Joe starts kids like Ethan to make some kind of point, a point that is lost on the team and the fan base, for sure.

As the conference schedule gets rolling, Joe starts to listen to his assistants about the depth chart, but critical time has been lost, and the team takes weeks to gel amidst a Big 10 schedule...not a winning formula.

What I'm trying to say is this...USF has as much chance as anyone to take a good swing at a rather vulnerable, high profile Big 10 program. In recent years, the "lesser" conferences have done well in the early weeks of the season.

PSU, Mark Robinson is our radio color commentator. He does a great job. I know he is looking forward to heading up there.

I think the only chance we have is if we can control the clock. We haven't done that in the past 2 seasons and running a spread offense that is pass happy isn't conducive to good time management. I do expect that to change with our new OC and with Hall seeing the ball more and having the QB run a bit more. We also have more talent at WR this season, but I'm still skeptical of our QB's until Hill or Grothe take over.

I have seen how we have played in fron of large crowds before and it isn't pretty. I expect us to play a bit better, but we'd need some breaks to win this game.