In one way, I was glad to see Oregon State lose to Oregon. It certainly will give Penn State a more interesting Rose Bowl game.
But USC will be a real toughie.
In the Texas vs. Texas A&M matchup, something caught my eye: the formations/personnel packages used in short yardage situations. Texas had a few failed short yardage attempts early in the game and went to its big package, and it was a whopper - a 254-pound tailback and a 380-pound fullback (a lineman). They also used two of their largest tight ends.
They ran into the B gap on the right side, and it was more than a little impressive against a game defense. It looked like bulldozer or snow plow cleaning a path. That part of the defense was moved five or more yards with ease. JoePa could've scored through that hole!
If Penn State could pull a Rose Bowl victory off or at the worst hang close it would go a very long way in restoring credibility to the Big Ten.
I hope the rest of the conference's teams do well this year, too.
The Big Ten may not have looked too impressive on the national scene the last few years, but they play a lot better football than the media and much of the national fan base give them credit for.
Barry Rex
Poquoson Va.
Lewis got off easy
Don't get me wrong: I think Plaxico ''Barney Fife'' Burress is a wacko. But the fact he could get 3years in prison for shooting himself in the leg with an illegal pistol, while the Baltimore Ravens have a linebacker (Ray Lewis) involved in the murder of two men - who was never even charged in the homicides - and is still playing football and making millions of dollars, seems a little unfair to me.
Ed Leipold
Altoona
Lingenfelter story deserving
I enjoyed last week's article by John Hartsock on the Lingenfelter family of football officials.
Al Lingenfelter has done the Altoona Parochial League a service for more than 30 years. He has officiated and supplied officials for all of our Sunday games.
Hartsock's article was very deserving.
John Conlon
Altoona
Mansion needs new surface
I'd like to see the Altoona Area High School install field turf at Mansion Park.
The current field is too hard, and I think too many players can and do get hurt on it.
I'd like to see it replaced by next season.
Terry Smith
Altoona
Don't blame the deer!
Every year we hear the same weary myth that deer are to blame for vehicle collisions, damages, injuries and deaths.
Why are we solely blaming deer for these incidents? Is there another reason behind these accidents? What is causing animals to run out onto roads?
Hunters blame deer in rut for animal collisions, but only a small percentage are attributed to rut or the fall breeding season. Urban sprawl has been attributed to increase in accidents.
The number one culprit of collisions is the pursuit and harassment of deer by hunters, forcing them out of their safe sanctuaries, where they find food and cover.
This heavy hunting pressure disrupts the normal movement patterns of deer sometimes drastically. Deer are forced out onto roads, lanes, and highways and forced into small compact areas of safety.
These collisions are validated by numerous studies.
One such by the Erie Insurance Company reported deer-vehicle collisions increase 500 percent on the opening day of rifle season, due to hunters driving deer out of their habitat.
If any groups should be held responsible for increased deer collision fatalities, the hunters and the Game Commission are to blame.
Of course, hunters do not want to admit they are at fault, because this would not be suitable to their public image.
Silvie Pomicter
Chinchilla
