Posted: Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 10:28 AM | 15 comments |
 

PSU stands for ...
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... Pretty stupid university. And yes, I'm a grad. The athletic department sent out a release on Monday that spring practice would kick off Wednesday with media availability of coach Joe Paterno and selected players. A few reporters, however, received a heads up that this could be canceled if the basketball team won at Florida in last night's NIT quarterfinals. Apparently, coach Joe Paterno didn't want to upstage the hoops squad (It's the NIT, Joe!).

Of course, no one expected the Lions to win. The Gators were 18-1 at home this season and this is, after all, Penn State basketball. But woe and behold, the Lions actually won the thing to advance to the semis in New York.This morning I texted Paterno consigliare Guido D'Elia, "What now?" He responded, "No go." An hour later I received a call from the communications department that today's session was being postponed till Friday.

I don't expect my readers to shed a tear, but if you were expecting a story in tomorrow's paper, don't. The NIT semis, by the way, are on Tuesday. I don't know how today would have stomped on the basketball team's parade. Again, it's the NIT!

UPDATE: Friday's press conference will be a joint venture with the basketball team piggybacking on the football team. Coach Ed DeChellis and his hoopsters will be interviewed first at 2:30 p.m., followed by coach Joe Paterno and his charges at 3:40 p.m. Aside from the fact that I don't cover Lions basketball, I can't imagine why I would arrive early.

 
Posted by Jeff McLane @ 10:28 AM  Permalink | 15 comments
15
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:21 AM, 03/25/2009
    Please Shut Up...
    — wvbillz
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:25 PM, 03/25/2009
    Seriously, I agree with wbillz. I'm always so tempted to read this blog, as if I may gather some useful information about Penn State (basketball OR football), and then, of course, I get this ridiculous blather. I'm ashamed that you're a PSU grad that's employed as a writer. Please stop posting.
    — Philth
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:39 PM, 03/25/2009
    You gotta have a reason to whine in print. In this case, I don't see how the whining served readers. Just say the briefing was put off because PSU football didn't want to upstage basketball. If you want to analyze, it's a measure of how dearly Paterno wants success for PSU basketball -- for all sports. And to PSU, a run in the NIT DOES mean something. At Villanova it wouldn't mean much but to long suffering PSU BB fans this is a big deal.
    — tomB
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:07 PM, 03/25/2009
    I agree completely with tomB As a PSU student of course the run in the NIT is exciting and it's great to finally have some success in the winter... but I also will always consider PSU football to be king around here and am much more interested in the kickoff of spring practice. It's unfortunate to the basketball team I guess, but it's life in Happy Valley.
    — Pville12
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:01 PM, 03/25/2009
    PSU fans, remember what NIT stands for: Not In Tournament.
    — Jeff
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:40 PM, 03/25/2009
    Let the basketball team have their day to celebrate and the front page of the college sports section in the PA papers. The football team has the attention all season and off season. Quit whining like a baby. PSU deserved an NCAA bid and are showing just how improved the program is.
    — bgoydish
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:43 PM, 03/25/2009
    Ignorant alumni like Jeff McLane are part of the reason why Penn State has never been able to sustain success in basketball. All some "fans" care about is football, football, football. It's the 21st century, Jeff... big-time universties are getting good at more than one marquee sport. The old, archaic notions of "football school" and "basketball school" are gone.
    — whassup67
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:06 PM, 03/25/2009
    Oh, and "PSU" stands for this was a "Pretty Stupid Update" to your blog.
    — whassup67
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:32 PM, 03/25/2009
    Ok- alumni are part of the reason PSU hasnt had success in basketball-the fact we've had mediocre players/coaches for the last 30 years has nothing to do with it? Without football revenue, PSU isnt even able to fund Men's b-ball, and every other Varsity sport! Jeff- keep up the good work. Nice win for the team last night- but, come on! NIT stands for "No one's Interested Tournament".
    — JohnT31
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:56 PM, 03/25/2009
    Reporter: "Joe, what do you think of this year's team?" Joe: "Well we are young."
    — ctrain0021
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:58 PM, 03/25/2009
    gee, i hope jeff gets his story in before the start of the season. there's only, what, five or six months before the opener? if you're going to knock the nit, remember this is an availability before the start of SPRING practice. give the bball team a moment in the spotlight. who cares if joe's comments run a day or two later than planned? if it wasn't for jeff's whining we would have never known. btw, who won the blue-white game last year? and can anyone tell me how the all time series stacks up?
    — pennstate76
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:58 PM, 03/25/2009
    gee, i hope jeff gets his story in before the start of the season. there's only, what, five or six months before the opener? if you're going to knock the nit, remember this is an availability before the start of SPRING practice. give the bball team a moment in the spotlight. who cares if joe's comments run a day or two later than planned? if it wasn't for jeff's whining we would have never known. btw, who won the blue-white game last year? and can anyone tell me how the all time series stacks up?
    — pennstate76
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:10 PM, 03/25/2009
    I care about the NIT, I care about JoePa, I care about PSU; I don't care that much for Jeffy Mac. But some info about the Lions is better than none which is just the way it is here in the Del. Val.
    — theswabby
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:23 PM, 03/25/2009
    First of all, the info in the blog was useless. More important is the fact that the coverage of PSU making it to the NIT semifinals is on page 6 of the sports section and was so small, it was easy to miss. Shame on The Inquirer! You need to support local teams.
    — belle3160
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:47 PM, 03/25/2009
    Pretty Stupid University? WOW. Even as an objective scribe, how can you say that about the alma mater?
    — PhillyNittanyLion


15 comments
About Joe Juliano
Joe Juliano has been a staff writer for The Inquirer for 20 years, covering college sports, golf and the Penn Relays.

This season is Joe's fourth season on the paper's Penn State beat. He previously covered the Nittany Lions for United Press International from 1976 to 1984.

Joe McIntyre is a senior at Penn State majoring in journalism. He covered the Penn State football beat in 2011 for the Daily Collegian. Follow him on Twitter here @JoeMcIntyre5.
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