If you’re so inclined, you can watch the Penn State Board of Trustees meeting Jan. 20 at 10:15 a.m. It’s available at WPSU and PCN.
The agenda includes the president’s report and an overview of intercollegiate athletics.
Tickets for the Gannon University at Mercyhurst College basketball doubleheader Jan. 18 will go on sale Jan. 14.
Tickets will be available at the Slippery Rock University at Mercyhurst games. Mercyhurst Athletic Center doors will open at noon for the 1 p.m. women’s game. Tickets will be sold until halftime of the men’s game, or approximately 4 p.m.
Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students and senior citizens. Mercyhurst students, faculty, and staff will be admitted free of charge. Those with a Mercyhurst College President’s Card or a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference pass also will be admitted free of charge.
Mercyhurst students with a valid university ID also will be able to obtain tickets Monday and Tuesday in Egan Cafeteria.
The women’s game Jan. 18 is scheduled to tip off at 5:30 p.m. followed by the men’s game at approximately 7:30 p.m.
Here’s how Gannon lost the Porreco Cup final to Seton Hill, 103-100 in double overtime. Oliver McGlade hit a desperation half-court heave at the buzzer at the Hammermill Center.
Penn State has the task of slowing down Houston senior quarterback Case Keenum./AP Photo.
What a way to start the work week in 2012.
Watch six bowl games from noon till midnight.
Don’t lose your job over it, but just take an extended lunch or dinner break to check out some really good bowl matchups.
Ticketcity Bowl (Dallas, Texas) – No. 20 Houston (12-1, 8-0 C-USA) vs. No. 24 Penn State (9-3, 6-2 Big Ten), noon, ESPNU.
The Big ?: Can Penn State’s 10th ranked defense, which allows 300.92 yards a game, slow down the nation’s top offense? Houston is averaging 599 a game.
My pick: Houston. Although the Cougars didn’t even win their conference title game, that’s far less to overcome than what the Nittany Lions have dealt this season. The Jerry Sandusky situation has changed everything at Penn State.
Outback Bowl (Tampa, Fla.) – No. 12 Michigan State (10-3, 7-1 Big Ten) vs. No. 18 Georgia (10-3, 7-1 SEC). 1 p.m., ABC.
The Big ?: Whenever an Big Ten teams plays an SEC team, the same question surfaces. Can the Big Ten school match the speed of the SEC school?
My pick: Georgia. Speed rules.
Sophomore quarterback Casey Pachall has thrown for 2,715 yards and 24 touchdowns this season for TCU./AP Photo.
Too many bowl games. Too many sponsors with long names.
I want a playoff system, but it’s not happening.
Too bad.
What do I get in return? A slew of bowl games that are too tough to call sometimes, but if you think you’re better than me, enter my sixth BCS bowl contest on ESPN.com through Bowl Mania.
Enter the Rankin ETN 2011-12.
Let’s look at Week 1 (Dec. 17-24).
Best match up: San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl – *No. 16 TCU (10-2) vs. Louisiana Tech (8-4), Saturday, 9 p.m., ESPN. See what I mean about the names. Need oxygen to say all that, but don’t sleep on this game. The Bulldogs are riding a seven-game winning streak. Half of their four losses are to team that are currently ranked (L 19-17 at *No. 22 Southern Miss, L 35-34 at *No. 20 Houston). Now TCU should win, but Louisiana Tech won’t go down easily.
Let us recap week 14, shall we?
SEC title game – No. 18 Georgia (10-3) vs. No. 1 LSU (13-0)
Pregame rant: Don’t sleep on the Bulldogs here. One, this is in essence a home game for Georgia because the game is in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Two, the Bulldogs have won 10 straight. Three, their two losses are to ranked opponents – No. 9 Boise State and No. 14 South Carolina. With all that being said, LSU is still the favorite, but if Georgia can be within striking distance late, the Tigers could start feeling that pressure to win to reach the BCS title game.
Postgame commentary: Like Arkansas, Georgia made it interesting – for a half – against LSU before getting hammered, 42-10, in the Georgia Dame. Tyrann Mathieu is the real deal for the Tigers. Turned the game around on that punt return for a touchdown. Now the match up is set: No. 1 LSU vs. No. 2 Alabama in the BCS title game. Who will win the rematch?
Let us recap Week 13, shall we?
No. 23 Penn State (9-3, 6-2 Big Ten) at No. 15 Wisconsin (10-2, 6-2 Big Ten)
Pregame rant: Now the NCAA is getting involved in the whole Penn State situation surrounding former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky. Playing a game of football has been the best way for Penn State’s players to deal with what’s going on. The Nittany Lions will have to play one of their best games of the season to defeat Wisconsin. The question is can Penn State, which is ranked 106th in scoring offense (20.9 ppg.) score enough points to win?
Postgame commentary: The Nittany Lions couldn’t muster enough points nor stop Wisconsin in their 45-7 loss to the Badgers. Montee Ball ran for 156 yards and four touchdowns. The win puts Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game. As for the Nittany Lions, the focus will remain on the actions off the field. Sad story on a variety of levels.
Here’s a look at highlights of Ohio senior tailback Donte’ Harden, a fifth-year senior out of Strong Vincent High School in Erie, Pa., who will play in tonight’s Mid-American Conference title game against Northern Illinois (9-3) at Ford Field in Detroit.
Leading the Bobcats (9-3) in rushing with 866 yards, Harden has four total touchdowns. Check out his 81-yard touchdown run against Temple.
Erie Times-News reporter Duane Rankin caught up with Bryant and Colin Kimball to discuss a variety of topics. From Erie, Bryant Kimball is a senior safety at Mercyhurst College while Colin Kimball is a true freshman cornerback for the Lakers.
