My second retraction is aimed at the Penn State student section ...

Throughout the season I have been repeatedly disappointed by the self-described "Best Student Section in the country".  I am not referring to the snowballs directed at JoePa or the Nittany Lion mascot nor how quiet the section became during the loss to IOWA.  Rather, I have been shocked by the student body's inability to occupy their seats until darn near halftime.  Don't get me wrong ... I enjoy an adult beverage or three as much as the next guy.  But if you can't shake off Friday's nights debauchery in time to make a noon kick-off ... perhaps you need to re-evaluate your priorities.

Sadly I did not appreciate college football [to the extent that I do now] while I was a student at IOWA.  I never had student tickets and did not attend as many games as I should have. 

To the PSU student ticket holders I wanted to say "wake up and take advantage".  Years from now you will be talking with your grandkids [or perhaps even sooner with a prospective employer] and upon learning that you attended Penn State during the Paterno-era they will want to hear all about your experiences.  Are you going to tell them that you were unable to hoist your worthless butt out of bed before noon or attend games in less than perfect weather?  Shame on you.

Bless you crazy kids and all that you do to contribute to the glory of college football.

• Of course the correct answer is [B] 4. 
  
• Florida is number one in the BCS standings and IOWA is 4.

IOWA @ Wisconsin   [Noon on ESPN]

This is a crucial game for IOWA.  If the Hawkeyes are to win the Big10 they need to get by the Badgers and the Buckeyes.  Tomorrow Kirk and the boys visit the former ... a week after they suffered a loss to the latter ... got it?  An ACL injury has ended the season of star-in-the-making Paul Chaney Jr.  The sure-handed receiver has proved especially valuable to the Hawkeyes on kick returns.  Betttendorf Bulldog Colin Sandeman has been tapped to fill Chaney's shoes.  Chaney also excels at catching short passes and running for extra yardage.  Thankfully the tight-end corp. is back at full strength ... Moeaki [not a typo ... there are that many vowels in his name] and Reisner make nice big targets for Stanzi.  Speaking of the highlight-making QB ... it is likely that he will make at least one "questionable" decision.  It is nice to know  that Sash, Clayborn and the rest of the defense can compensate for Ricky's ... shall we say ... mis-placed enthusiasm.  Love ya Jules but here's hoping for an unhappy homecoming at Camp Randall.  GO HAWKS! 

Minnesota @ Penn State  [3:30 on ABC/ESPN]

When the Golden Gopher sold his soul to TCF Bank for a shiny new stadium it was understood that Minnesota would be playing more games in the snow.  I don't think too many people outside of central command at AccuWeather thought those games would begin in October ... in Happy Valley.  Minnesota won their homecoming game last week, beating Purdue 35-20.  This week it is Penn State's turn to win.  Not that it really matters after that loss to IOWA.  Do you remember that?  What a game!

Illinois @ Indiana    [7pm on the Big10 Network]

Well look at that ... another Homecoming game.  After beginning the season with a startling set of three consecutive wins, Indiana succumbed to symmetry and lost the subsequent trio of games.  Tomorrow, in Bloomington, the Hoosiers hope to shift the balance toward the win column.  It is difficult to speculate the likelihood of such an occurrence.  My guess is that Illinois is better that their record [1-4] suggests.  The Fighting Illini have a strange schedule this year.  The fact that they have only played two non-conference games explains how they have managed to fit in a bye week [I did not know those still existed] and lose to three Big10 opponents [OSU, PSU & MSU].  Their season ends just as strangely, with the remaining two non-conference games, the second one being played in December ... at home!

Ohio State @ Purdue   [Noon on the Big10 Network]

The Boilermakers are looking for their first win since opening the season with a victory against Toledo.  Don't laugh ... that's rude.  I think we can all agree that it would be nice to see Brutus, Tressel and the rest of the Columbus faithful get a mouthful of Pete's hammer.  And if that does not happen ... Purdue can at least hold out hope for a book-end win against Indiana.  

so busy  ... We are getting into the peak of baby-fever season.  Childbirth classes have kicked off, last night was the hospital tour and next week we throw infant CPR and baby-care into the mix.  Pretty soon I will have to think about child-proofing our home ... no more loaded shotgun behind the front door.  Along these lines ...  you friends and family should be stepping up your game too.  The big day is nearly upon us.  You might want to practice vocalizing the following phrases in front of a mirror ...

• you lucky duck ... you got your mother's looks
• enjoy that hair while you have it kid
• sure .. I would love to change that diaper
• here you go ... that's ten grand for a college fund
  

the snow ... Yeah that's right.  October 15 ... several inches.  What makes it really fun is the fact that most of the leaves are still on the trees.  As such they are loading up with snow, pulling trees down and snapping them in half.  I am not just talking wispy pines and spindly elms ... we have severely bowed oaks here folks!  My drive to work looked like one of those Volvo commercials with obstacles all over the road.  But please ... do not worry for me in this time of tough weather.   Think of the chickens ... won't somebody please think of the chickens?!

e-noise ...  My globe-trotting scholar of a younger brother is currently in Germany.  Knowing him as I do I feel confident that he is giving the Spitzer folks their money's worth.  Though he still manages to make the time to bombard me with laptop-cam portraits of himself and his German bier-du-jour.  Don't even get me started on the great balloon caper that he attempted to suck me into.

Returning to the topic of the most recent slim-margin victory ... it appears that the Hawkeyes picked up some bad habits from the Nittany lions.  Like an impressionable youth that spends a week of summer vacation at grandma's farm where they spy their cool, older cousin smoking behind the shotgun shack ... the Hawkeyes appear to have gleaned the disgusting habit of coasting in the second half.  [NOTE: for the preceding allegory to hold true I must add the following ... each fall the younger cousin de-pants his relative, making the latter's shortcomings painfully obvious to a national television audience.]

Speaking of nationally televised games ... the Hawkeyes have a chance to right the above-noted wrong when they face-off against Michigan on Saturday.  I am having trouble getting a handle on the Wolverines this year.  At times I feel that they are on the upswing [the Appalachian State days well behind them] but then they barely squeak by the Hoosiers?  Perhaps Indiana is the real deal this year?  Too many variables to consider ... 8pm [EST] on ABC the equation will be solved.

Indiana has been on the accelerated track and is already two games [versus the Wolverines and Buckeyes ... both losses] into conference play.  This week offers a break from Big10 opponents.  The boys in crimson and cream are road tripping to Charlottesville with the hope of stealing a win from the 1-3 Cavaliers.  Not to look too far ahead but ... on the last day of October the Hoosiers begin the G-CC tour, with consecutive games against IOWA, Wisconsin, Penn State and Purdue [in that order].  Good stuff!

Poor coach Hope ... it appears that Tiller did not lower the bar enough for you.  The victory-challenged Boilermakers [1-4] are coming off a loss to Northwestern and preparing to face Minnesota in the new Gopher-Palace.  On the plus side ... neither IOWA nor Penn State are on the schedule.

Your comments please ... Any thoughts on the corporate sponsorship/naming of the stadium?  Is this a crime or a rather a positive opportunity considering the financial hardships currently facing academic institutions?

After winning at Illinois last weekend, Penn State returns to Beaver Stadium for its last non-conference game of the regular season.  The fact that the Lions are playing Eastern Illinois [coupled with the defeat by IOWA] yields a broadcast bumped all the way to ESPN Classic.  Both teams enter the contest with 4-1 records but I am going out on a limb and will suggest that Penn State wins this one ... based solely on a comparison of team logos.

It is interesting to note that the starting QB for the away team will be none other than former Hawkeye Jake Christensen.  For additional details ... check out the Collegian story.

... put more effort into my Monday morning work entrance.  Last year I threw on a tie to mark the special occasion.  This year I contemplated a total "suit up" but refrained.  After all, it is not like I hadn't expected this result.  I knew that it was possible [nay probable] that the Hawkeyes would pull off the "upset".  As such, this year I dressed as if it were any normal Monday though I did pull on a yellow striped sweater and I strolled through the front door with my boldest IOWA ball cap on, belting out some greetings that were WAY too upbeat for 8am.  My boss gave me the go ahead on the obnoxious gloating front yet I stuck to the high road.  I focused on the positive ... pointing out how the game's result could be a boon for the World Campus.  I offered my perception that JoePa's boys could benefit from some of our math classes ... specifically the unit on fractions.  As in there are four[4] quarters in a football game.  Next year I will likely prepare some submission boxes for my desk.  One will read "apologies" and the other "excuses".  I better make them out of something durable as I anticipate they will get much use in the coming years.

... recorded the game.  Sure, I have yet to re-watch last year's IOWA win over Penn State but it is nice to know it is there.  As this year's win was broadcast on ABC it will not be available for recording until it reappears as one of the Big Ten Network's "Greatest Games".

... gone with the AP poll.  The Associated Press placed IOWA at lucky number 13, two steps ahead of Penn State.  USA Today gave the 13^th slot to Penn State and only granted the Hawkeyes a national ranking of 17.  We may never know what prompted me to align our grand contest with the USA Today poll ... though it could be my affinity for style over substance in journalism.

... posted earlier.  I know.  I am coming close to neglecting the duties that come with my self-appointed title of President of The Cup.  The only excuse I have is that I have been enjoying some quality family time as Dr. Cooper has been in town.  We hiked Mt. Nittany yesterday ... good times.

• The Game Day crew is going to be here.  I hope that Corso will have the guts to pull on the Herky head in front of the Nittany Lion faithful.

• I will of course be sporting my IOWA gear to the office tomorrow.  Not sure how that is gonna go over with the new boss ... so it goes.

• In case you were unaware, the Hawkeyes ruined Penn State's chance at a perfect season last year ... by one point.  While the great minds of State College certainly recognize the favor that IOWA did them [saving them from a national championship game that would certainly have been even more embarrassing than their Rose Bowl flop] the remainder of the community is less forgiving and out for revenge.

• There are some big name players from both squads that are questionable for Saturday's prime time showdown.  Penn State linebackers Bowman and Lee will likely be game day decisions.  IOWA could be without the services of such impact players as offensive lineman Bulaga, receiver DJK [Derrell Johnson-Koulianos] and tight end Moeaki.

• I strongly believe that IOWA has a great chance to once again slay Goliath.  During pre-conference play, the Hawks have displayed a tendency to start out slowly and build momentum as the game progresses.  Penn State shows opposite signs, coming out of the gate strong and tailing off in the second half.  It will be interesting to see if these trends continue and if so, how IOWA will fare.

Oh yeah ... Wisconsin hosts Michigan State, Indiana will try for win number four at Michigan and Purdue entertains the Fighting Irish [ESPN - 8pm EST].

I am saddened to report the fact [of which I am sure you are already aware] that the Big10 was unable to find success during the evening hours last Saturday.  Purdue suffered a two-point loss to the Oregon ducks and USC pulled their infamous "looks like they might lose ... oh no ... they won" act on the Buckeyes.

Speaking of Oregon ... I am normally a supporter of their avant-garde uniforms.  But the feathers on the shoulder pad thing ... IOWA did that a decade ago.  Yes, that IS Tim Dwight.  It feels god to get that off my chest.  Now we can look ahead to this week's matchups.

Northern Illinois @ Purdue

Purdue will have a chance to rebound from their loss when they face the Huskies.  Wisconsin opened their season with a 28-20 win over Northern Illinois.  Let's see how the Boilermakers do.  Hopefully with a win they can lay down some tracks and pick up some steam [see what I did there?] before they welcome the Fighting Irish to West Lafayette.

Indiana @ Akron

Keeping with the trend of common opponents ... the Hoosiers hit the road for a game against Akron.  The Zips were zapped by PSU [31-7] in their season opener.  I projected three wins for Indiana this year.  They could meet that expectation this weekend.

Arizona @ IOWA

When the Wildcats of the Pac-10 conference venture to Iowa City tomorrow it will mark the final tune-up game for IOWA.  I don't know much about the Arizona squad but let's hope that the boys are not looking past them [focusing on the much-anticipated showdown against Penn State].  Here's hoping that Stanzi displays a little more control on his long balls and that star-to-be Wegher proves that last week's 100+ yard performance was not a fluke.

Wofford @ Wisconsin

The Wofford Terriers ... I don't know what to say here.  The Big10 Network pre-game guys should have fun crafting a headline for this one.

Temple & Penn State

The Owls will be taking a pounding and collecting a check.  Reports suggest that LB Bowman will be on the sidelines, getting healthy for the Hawkeyes.  It is unlikely that this game will be worth watching after half-time.  This could be the last chance of the season to get tickets below face value.  I passed up two pairs today ... could not risk missing the kickoff of the IOWA game.

Wisconsin got more of a challenge than they might have expected from Fresno State.  The back-and-forth battle went to a second overtime before the Badgers secured their second victory of the season.  So does that mean they played seven quarters in Madison today?

Indiana maintained its undefeated status by holding on for a victory against Western Michigan.  After putting up 14 points in the second quarter the Hoosiers survived 106 penalty yards, a blocked field goal and the Broncos final drive.

Penn state also recorded another home win ... though their victory was less impressive and dramatic than those described above.  The most exciting part of the game in this scribe's eyes was most certainly the commercial for the World Campus.

Good luck to Purdue and Ohio State this evening ... Go BIG10

The Hawkeyes have not lost to the Panthers of Northern Iowa since their first clash in 1898.  This Saturday they came uncomfortably close to breaking that streak.  Fortunately the IOWA special teams came through with TWO last second field goal blocks to preserve that precious lead.  As expected, the Jewel Hampton-less running game got off to a sputtering start.  On the plus side ... it was nice to see the new guys can take some hits and hold on to the ball.  Paul Chaney Jr. had some Kinnick crowd pleasing big plays. 

With the exception of Illinois, the rest of the Big10 conference managed to win their first games as well.  Indiana went first, opening the season on Thursday night with a win over Eastern Kentucky.  Not sure if the Big10 network picked up this game.  We were at a sports bar that was broadcasting the South Carolina snoozefest.  Along these lines ... I fell asleep before the Boise State/Oregon game got exciting.  Truthfully I did not watch as much college football as I should have.  I hope to remedy that this weekend.

Speaking of losing interest in games ... after the Wisconsin Badgers scored on their first play from scrimmage I quickly gave up hope that the contest would provide much drama.  Likewise, the Nittany Lions quickly pounced on the Akron Zips in a one-sided affair in Happy Valley.  The victory [and the losses of the Oklahoma, etc.] propelled Penn State to #5 in the USA Today poll.  That being said ... Purdue gets the gold star for the week.  The boilermakers put up 52 points in their whipping of Toledo.

Tomorrow the Hawkeyes play their first road game in Ames ... here's hoping that this week the win is less of a nail-biter and we can keep the Cy-Hawk trophy in Iowa City.  Sticking with the theme of potentially disastrous road trips ... Purdue heads to Oregon to battle the agitated ducks.

The undefeated Indiana Hoosiers take on Western Michigan in a game that will be broadcast on the Big10 network.  PSU hosts the Orangemen of Syracuse and Wisconsin welcomes Fresno State to Camp Randall

On the fringes of the G-CC [hi Amy] ... the Ohio State Buckeyes face off against USC in Columbus.  Let's hope that this game lives up to the hype.  Go Big Ten !

• The Origin of The Cup

• The Kick Heard 'Round the World

• The Cover Curse and The Matrix

• The Photo Gallery

• Last Year's Standings

• The  Contested Constitution of The Cup