Eat more cookies

Now that June is upon us, we officially begin “I can hardly wait for college football” season. In honor of this auspicious occasion, it’s a great time to reflect on the greatest college football team of all time, the Penn State Nittany Lions, with a post dedicated to the reason for their greatness, legendary coach Joe Paterno. It is Paterno’s character, class, and competitive spirit that make Penn State a program in which we alums can be proud. May it always be so.

Here is my list of the Top 10 Reasons Joe-Pa Rules:

10. He’s Italian, and proud.
9. He stills refers to his players as “kids.”
8. He’ll often include an ethnic descriptor, e.g., “That Irish kid.”
7. He WALKS to work, everyday.
6. Sue Paterno.
5. He doesn’t wear ties with footballs on them, he wears ties with books on them.
4. He wears ties.
3. 84% graduation rate; 0 tolerance for players that skip class (even future NFL stars).
2. Spends his money on the football program? No, he doubled the size of Penn State’s LIBRARY.
1. No white shoes; no names on jerseys. God bless you, JoePa!

Congrats to the team and to fans far and wide on a great comeback win in hostile territory!

Connor, you are The Man - thank you epitomizing the character and class of Penn State football.

Rodney Kinlaw - great game. He looked really sharp. Power and speeeed.

Morelli? Ah Morelli. It’s easy to beat up on him for the inevitable pass into coverage or the inability to get out of his own way when pressure comes. But, for every low these past couple of years, he’s also catapulted us to tremendous heights with those flashes of brilliance from that rocket of an arm. Godspeed Anthony!

Clark & Royster? We fans are already chomping at the bit for 2008 . . .

Joe Pa - We realize that you’re not actually immortal, and the day will come when there is no Joe in college football. That day is really gonna suck.

Words fail me.

Careless with the ball? Dumb calls (like throwing the ball 6 yards on a 3rd and 10)? I thought that was supposed to be Penn State out there. What an embarrassing performance in an otherwise winnable game.

When will we have an offensive attack to match our great defense?

Please. Please just beat those guys in their “big house”. Lay a Happy Valley smack down, boys!!!!

Check out how Paternoville has been rockin’ since Tuesday in anticipation of Saturday’s big game. Last year Notre Dame embarrassed us, and the Lions are looking for redemption. But after their loss last week, the Fighting Irish will be fighting for some respect of their own. Should be a great game - Let’s Go State!!

On Saturday, Sep. 1st, the Nittany Lions host Florida International University. Back from a serious leg injury last year, head coach Joe Paterno was asked the following in his regularly scheduled pre-game press conferecne today:

Q: Are you planning on running out of the tunnel with the team?

A: Not really. I’ve got a new plan. I’m going to drop from a parachute. (laughter) How do you think I’m going to get on the field? How about if you carry me out? (laughs)

Ah, he’s the best. God bless you JoePa, and go get ‘em Lions!

As a new installment here at Eat more cookies, we’re going to try to compose a weekly haiku reflecting on the events of the previous week. Here’s our first, for the week ending September 9th:

Lions beat badly.

Wide receivers pass no more.

Long season ahead.

~tjo

Let’s Go State! Blue . . . White! When I say “Joe Pa” you say “Terno”: “Joe Pa!” “Terno!” “Joe Pa!” “Terno!”

Big game tomorrow, folks. The Nittany Lions travel to South Bend to take on the Fighting Irish. Now as a fighting Irishman myself, I could certainly never root against Notre Dame, so I’ll stick to rooting FOR the Lions! Best wishes to both teams for a good, safe, exciting game.

Now, to get totally ready, you’ll need to learn the Penn State fight song, to which I may have taken some liberties with the lyrics, but I think it still works:

Fight on State!
Fight on State!
Fight on State, and win!

Victory we predict for thee,
we’re ever true to you, dear old White and Blue!

Fight on State!
Fight on State!
Roar Lions, Roar!

The victory is all but sealed as soon as our team hits the field!
Fight on Penn State!
Fight on Penn State!!

We are . . .

PENN STATE!!!

~tjo