Neil Rudel on PSU: Perception of Penn State’s football schedule takes a hit
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Some nitpicking as the Nittany Lions attempt to go not 1-0 but 2-0:
• Penn State's already favorable schedule took a negative turn during Week 1 of the season. That's because two heavy favorites -- Michigan and Rutgers -- both struggled mightily. Michigan, of course, needed a controversial finish after the clock appeared to have expired to defeat Western Michigan, 13-12. Rutgers was shocked at home by UMass, 37-21, as Greg Schiano continues to struggle in his second tour in Piscataway.
• At the same time, Michigan's scare should boost confidence that the Nittany Lions can go to UM and win.
• The Wolverines' Hail Mary on the last play -- once again, time was added to the clock in Ann Arbor just as it was, to UM's benefit, vs. Penn State in 2005 -- brought an immediate attempted justification by the Big Ten office. The MAC initially accepted the bogus explanation, but then walked that back in protest a day later.
• Enforcement of such clock matters should be simple. This isn't soccer, which keeps the "extra time" on the field, and only the officials quite know what that is. Just like the NFL, if millions on TV or watching live in the stadium see the clock strike zero, the game should be over.
• The little guy in big-time sports, which never gets the bluebloods at home and is typically paid $1.5 million or more for the supposed privilege of getting beat 51-6, is constantly reminded of college football's caste system. Western Michigan and the MAC's preliminary assessment of the injustice is the latest example. Come in, take your whipping and, by all means, don't rock the boat.
• It's why the NCAA Basketball Tournament -- when some No. 14 seed is making a No. 3 sweat -- is so endearing. Then again, future expansion will probably screw that up, too.
• Very few around here will be rooting for Ohio State in its game tonight at Texas. But credit the Buckeyes' ambition of scheduling a home-and-home with the Longhorns, rather than, say, a visit from Buffalo.
• Michigan's schedule this year is staggering -- Oklahoma, Iowa, Penn State, Indiana and rival Michigan State at home and Oregon and Ohio State on the road. Because the Wolverines have five conference home games, plus the Sooners after going to Norman last year, they have eight home games.
• It hasn't taken long for various high-profile hot seats to be plugged in. Dabo Swinney's stock has been falling for the past few years, and his 51-10 loss at LSU didn't help. Florida State fans were chanting "Fire Norvell" after the Seminoles' loss to SMU on Monday night.
• Ironically, James Franklin's name came up when Norvell was under fire last year, and he'd be intrigued by Clemson. Had he not gotten fired in 2025, there's no doubt his name would be linked to these jobs. It's still worth keeping an ear out. But would he consider leaving Virginia Tech after just one year? You'd surely hope not, but the president and AD who hired him have already left.
• Matt Campbell admits he's keeping tabs on Iowa State, where he spent 10 seasons. He said: "You're tracking all your former players. So many of our guys had a great day there last Saturday. Across some other schools, too. For me, it's really about the people and about the players. You want the absolute best for them."
• The scene during Penn State's press conference Tuesday was different than any I can remember. After he was done fielding questions at the podium, defensive tackle Siale Taupaki went around the shook hands with every reporter present. That's class.
• Condolences to the No. 1 football family in State College Area High School and Penn State history on the passing of Matt Suhey, who died Sunday at the age of 68. Suhey followed his father, Steve, a PSU All-American in 1948, and older brothers Larry and Paul, who captained the 1978 team. Their mother, Ginger, was the daughter of former head coach Bob Higgins (1930-48). When he graduated in 1979, Matt Suhey's 2,818 yards were second only to Lydell Mitchell. (Now, Suhey ranks No. 13). Suhey played 10 years as a fullback with the Chicago Bears, was the perfect complement to Walter Payton and won a Super Bowl in 1985. And he arguably scored on third down (ruled short, no replay) before Mike Guman's failed leap that denied the Lions a tying touchdown vs. Alabama in the 1979 Sugar Bowl, delaying their first national title by four years.
Neil Rudel covers Penn State football and can be reached at nrudel@altoonamirror.com.