Trending
Sorting through the blue and white mailbag:
Neil:
I was glad you recognized Matt Suhey and what a great PSU family tree, including Steve, brothers Larry and Paul and the ex-head coach Bob Higgins.
Matt Campbell is doing a great job keeping his mouth shut and eyes and ears open.
I'm sure we will have couple potholes in the future road, but exactly the opposite of his motor-mouth predecessor. I don't miss him for an instant, and the James Franklin lovers can cry and sob when he leaves Virginia Tech to enrich himself at his next destination.
He was outcoached often, and his exit is addition by subtraction.
Respect for Joe, SuePa, lettermen and PSU tradition -- it is already quite apparent with Campbell, something Franklin never cared to embrace.
Ed Hill, Altoona
Ed:
Do you feel better now, Ed?
Neil:
One of the highlights of opening weekend had to be Lane Kiffin's circus-like pregame entrance to LSU's raucous Tiger Stadium, flanked by a star-studded entourage, including actress, model, former LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne, girlfriend of Pirate pitcher Paul Skenes.
With the difficulty Skenes has faced on the mound this season, perhaps Dunne's moral support would have been better placed with Skenes at PNC Park than Kiffin down in the bayou.
Mike Rendos, Lock Haven
Mike:
Of the Pirates' disappointments this year -- bullpen, injuries, etc. -- Skenes is at the top of the list.
Neil:
Becht may not have Allar's "measurables," but he has some things Allar didn't -- patience, phenomenal field vision and, as you pointed out, the ability to hit receivers in stride.
You can tell that he is one of the most experienced QBs in the nation -- and that he is (cough, cough), well-coached.
Rick Weber, Fort Myers, Fla.
Rick:
I'll hook you up with Halls. Let me know your preferred flavor.
Neil:
The misguided vigilante justice is long over.
Many of those with a vendetta against JoePa -- a governor, an attorney general and a couple trustees -- are long gone.
It is time to return the damn statue.
Next year's rededication of the refurbished Beaver Stadium would be the perfect time for an unveiling.
Dave Semler, Reedsville
Dave:
As I've written, the new room in the museum called "The Paterno Experience" would be an ideal place.
Neil:
One area of concern with Matt Campbell might be recruiting where it seems that future recruits might be hesitant to enroll following the significant amount of present-day Iowa State enrollees and other players from the west.
The Lions have generally been successful in the eastern region of high school football and seldom ever competed in bringing in players from the various western states where Campbell did most of his recruiting.
Knowing how the large amount of monies being spent to bolster the top recruiting college programs, does Campbell have a chance to get those necessary recruits that the Lions will need to become a consistent Top 10 program?
Dave Kule, Laporte
Dave:
That's what we're going to find out.
Hey, Neil:
I'm looking forward to another season of Penn State football and hoping/expecting an upgrade from the CJF era.
That said, I feel like a bit of a hypocrite.
College football, in this era of NIL and the transfer portal, CTE issues, the inept NCAA and more, is rife with major problems yet I continue to support it.
Can you help me justify my ongoing loyal support?
Andy Gutman, Colorado
Hey, Andy:
That's between you and yourself.
Rudel vs. the oddsmakers
Line: Penn State is a 39.5-point favorite.
Inside the line: If this seems like Nits' biggest spread in a while, it's not. They gave all three non-cons last year (Nevada, FIU and Villanova) 40-plus (and didn't cover any) ... Lions have won 14 straight vs. MAC (10-4 vs. number) and have not allowed more than 14 points in any of those games ... In last three meetings with Buffalo, Lions are 1-2 vs. spot ... Over-under is 47.5 .... Lions have hit two unders so far this season.
Prediction: Penn State 39, Buffalo 6
Prediction record: 2-0
PSU record vs. spread: 1-1
Prediction record vs. spread: 0-2
Neil Rudel will respond to brief questions and comments in Gameday. You can email him at nrudel@altoonamirror.com and follow him on Twitter/X @neilrudel.