I have been troubled by the apparent attempts by national sports media to foster the notion that Penn State is somehow undeserving of the opportunity to play for the national title.
I was so disgusted with the article Yahoo! Sports featured Sunday morning (by Tom Dienhart of Rivals.com) that I was prompted to compose a long, fact-based email to its author. I also felt it necessary to post the e-mail reply on the Rivals.com board, where it found as much support strongly against my points and as for them.
Would you say that this bias has come from the Ohio State University's failures over the past two title games and earlier this season against USC, the overall perception of the Big Ten as an inferior conference or is there something deeper that this 30-something is missing?
I love watching college football, but the ranking system is destroying what these young men play so hard for each and every weekend. I feel like we are watching a campaign to shut down Penn State's title hopes that rivals that of either presidential candidate. The tactic is certainly the same smear as much mud as you can so that seed of doubt has a place to lay root.
Yahoo! Sports also headlined an article by Dan Wetzel that shows a picture of Joe Paterno smiling with the bold caption "The big lie."
I truly hope that the efforts are in vein, but the votes figure into the current system that ranks "worthiness" and votes can be swayed. How many of the east coast pollsters do you figure even watched USC/Arizona last weekend? Yet one-loss USC makes a strong climb toward the top through the soft fields of this year's Pac-10.
Is there enough of a push that can be made with the recent media buzz that would shut an undefeated PSU out of a Jan. 8 visit to Miami in favor of a one-loss USC or some other SEC darling?
Michael McCullen
Muncy
Writer eats crow ... and likes it
OK: I am eating crow again, but it is worth it to see Penn State beat Ohio State especially at the Horseshoe.
To be honest, I did not think Penn State would win. Terrelle Pryor really made me nervous with his outside running or the option to pass. But he is a freshman and has much to learn. He will be much better next year and be able to pick up his No. 2 and No. 3 receivers instead of getting ''rabbit feet."
Ohio State's defense was not in awe of the Spread HD. The key was to blitz with a great pass rush on Daryll Clark and give him no time for his receivers to run their routes. Clark is still the No. l quarterback, but I was glad to Pat Devlin was very composed and managed the game when he relieved Daryll.
State has a needed bye week to heel and recharge for the final run with Iowa, Indiana and MIchigan State. I think if JoePa comes back for a final year, he should stay up in the press box as he has developed a different perspective for the game down on the field.
Congratulations, Nittany Lions. You proved you can overcome adversity in enemy territory.
Les Hart
Duncansville
PSU overcomes its strategy
I'm still shellshocked this morning and can't believe we walked out of the "Horseshoe" with the win after the game plans we used.
A lot of credit has to be given to the players. They really stepped up, showed unbelievable poise and heart - as much as any team in memory.
Kudos to Tom Bradley. He did bring his linebackers in tight and brought the defensive backs back from Boalsburg and held OSU to six points. In spite of that I have a nomination for worst call: I really think Bradley's reluctance to blitz had to be a candidate for top honors along with the ultra-conservative offensive playcalling.
We got lucky. Ohio State coach Jim Tressel played into our hands.
He, too, went conservative on his offense. I think he toned his offense down because of respect for our defense and the fact his quarterback was just a true freshman. I don't think he gave our offensive linemen enough respect early on, either. We gave Pryor all day to throw, and he had his best passing statistics of the year.
And we sure did a lousy job of defending his moon throws except for the last one, and fortunately that one counted the most.
Barry Rex
Poquoson Va.
Fan feels singled out
A recent ''Sign of the Apocalypse'' in Sports Illustrated told of an high school student forced to remove a Cubs jersey that was worn to school. The jersey said ''Fukudome," the starting right fielder of the Chicago Cubs. The staff member thought it was a curse word.
I have been a Cub fan from the first time I witnessed Sammy Sosa hit a home run in Wrigley. I've attended eight Cub games and have loved them to this date. I beg my parents each summer to go to Chicago to experience the sacred tradition. It's always a treat to walk through Wrigleyville.
In September, I wore my Kosuke Fukudome jersey to school. He came from Japan and has been an essential part of the team. While in class, I was told to turn my jersey inside out.
The jersey had appeared to look inappropriate, but I was showing support. I thought it was absurd that I was told to turn the jersey inside out.
I am not one to complain, and I understand the importance of appropriate clothing articles. I also know that it is the school's job to not allow something inappropriate to be worn.
I don't object to those rules, but I feel I should be allowed to support my team.
Kyle Covert
Hollidaysburg
Disappointing headline
I am very disappointed that the Altoona Mirror would allow an article with the title ''That was easy" to be published.
That title shows no sportsmanship to the other team. At the beginning of that game, they announced that the two teams should show good sportsmanship during and after the game. But the local paper did not.
What if Hollidaysburg would have lost to Bellefonte 6-1? Would the title still have been that was easy? I don't believe so.
I am very disappointed that a newspaper, that is supposed to be unbiased, cannot show good sportsmanship like the players.
As a resident of Hollidaysburg, I give my apology to the Bellefonte High School girls soccer team.
Christopher R. Litten
Hollidaysburg
