Note: projections will not include my predictions for the Big Ten basketball tournament, nor any March Madness predictions.
Follow paulmbanks2013 Big Ten Football Power Rankings: Hip Hop MCs Edition
July 11, 2013 By 1 Comment
Can’t leave Big Ten football alone the game needs me. Notorious B.I.G. once said that he raps about the ghetto because that’s what he knows. And…”if I worked at McDonald’s, I’d be rapping about Big Macs and fries.”
You write and talk what you know and live. And I know Big Ten football. We’re still a ways away from Big Ten football media days. Well, less than two weeks now. The preseason is indeed here, time for some WAY TOO Early Big Ten football power rankings
Follow paulmbanksNo more Penn State Tim Fraziers: done for season, Achilles tear
November 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Penn State senior guard Tim Frazier, a preseason candidate for both the Wooden and Naismith national player of the year awards, will miss the remainder of the 2012-13 season due to an injury suffered in the Nittany Lions’ third game of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
Follow paulmbanks#102 Penn State Nittany Lions: College Basketball 111 in 111
August 9, 2012 By 1 Comment
Welcome to The Sports Bank’s third annual college basketball season preview series. Two years we looked at 99 teams in 99 days. Last year, we were slightly more aggressive and expanded to 111 teams in 111 days and will do so again as we look ahead to the 2012-2013 season.
We will rank the 75 power conference teams and top 36 mid-majors in reverse power ranking order. We’ll break down rosters, transfers, incoming freshmen, non-conference schedules, and pick a player to watch for each team.
While the football program has been at the center of the national media surrounding the Jerry Sandusky scandal and cover up, the Penn State Nittany Lions basketball program remains in the shadows at not-so Happy Valley. A year after making the NCAA Tournament, PSU returned to their normal home; the cellar of the Big Ten. Don’t expect much to change this year either.
Click here for The Sports Bank’s Penn State football preview.
Follow paulmbanks2012 Big Ten Power Rankings: post media day edition
July 29, 2012 By 1 Comment
These are highly subject to change. Brady Hoke remarked at Media Day that UM was picked fifth in their division a year ago; and just outside the top 25 in the year they won their last national title- 1997.
So maybe these rankings don’t really mean all that much? Of course, that won’t stop you from reading them and commenting, right?
Follow paulmbanksWith Paterno Dead (RIP 1926-2012), Still Not Time To Discuss His Legacy
January 22, 2012 By 5 Comments
Just days after a controversial interview did little to stem the tide of animosity flooding his way, it was revealed that former Penn State head coach Joe Paterno had suffered a serious setback in his treatment for lung cancer, and that his family and friends were stationed by his bedside to say their final goodbyes. He died Sunday at the age of 85.
His family released a statement Sunday morning to announce his death.
Follow paulmbanksChristmas Wish: No More Child Molesters in Sports
December 25, 2011 By 1 Comment
Without a doubt, the news story of the year in 2011 was Penn State. Joe Paterno went from all time leader in college football victories to enabler of child rape in less than a week.
Has there ever been a fall from grace this far, this fast?
Has there ever been such a disgusting monster to hold a higher position in sports than Jerry Sandusky?
Has there ever been a more clueless set of narrow-minded idiots than the myopic subset of PSU fans who rioted/still neglect to face the truth today?
Have you ever seen a greater failure in chain of command/crisis management than Penn State University?
Follow paulmbanksFormer Penn State Players Circulating Letter in Support of Joe Paterno
December 21, 2011 By 1 Comment
Below is a letter signed by 425 former Penn State players showing support for former head coach Joe Paterno who turned 85 years old today. I was pretty surprised to see Todd Blackledge sign it. As a member of the media establishment, an establishment that has kind of condemned Paterno for his role in protecting Jerry Sandusky.
Unless you’re someone who’s Penn State blue through and through, you’re likely going to be at least somewhat upset by what you read after the jump.
Follow paulmbanksPennsylvania Residents Approve (Barely) of Penn St. Firings
December 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment
It was a very narrow margin, 52-43%, but the people of Pennsylvania do support the recent firing of Joe Paterno a Quinnipiac University poll of 1,453 registered voters said. The poll has +/- 2.6% margin for errors.
By a more overwhelming majority, 74-13%, voters supported the firing of former University President Graham Spanier.
h/t to Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Follow paulmbanksBig 10 Statement on Penn St; Potential “Lack of Institutional Control”
December 8, 2011 By 1 Comment
The open college football head coaching position at PSU looks much less attractive today. Public statements released today make future sanctions against the school look much more likely. The Big Ten Council of Presidents/Chancellor met this week to discuss several items, including the mess at Penn State University.
The Big Ten office issued the following statement from the COP/C:
Follow paulmbanks#19 Penn State Nittany Lions vs. #12 Wisconsin Badgers: Brutally Honest Preview
November 26, 2011 By 4 Comments
I understand why Tom Bradley was chosen as interim successor to Joe Paterno, but he really isn’t the warm and cuddly face the University needs right now. At a time when the program should be showing great humility, Bradley has been anything but. He’s only making more people hate PSU.
But who really cares about him as he’s gone in two games anyway. This contest in Madison is a play-in game to the inaugural Big Ten Championship game. Simple as that. Winner goes to Indy, for a chance to reach the Rose Bowl. Loser goes to the Outback Bowl maybe. Or in the case of PSU they could drop all the way down to the Ticket City.
I still say they do the right thing, and decline a bid. Penn St. has gotten damage control wrong at every single step of this scandal, time to finally get one right.
Follow paulmbanksAmidst Scandal, Penn St DT Devon Still Quietly Having Dominant Season
November 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment
You’d be hard pressed to find an All-American college football season as obscure and overlooked as Devon Still in 2011. Sure, the pedophilia scandal at Penn State is much bigger and more important than football.
And the media is treating it as such they should. Also, leading to Still’s relative obscurity is the fact that offense sells tickets, and gets the glory. Defense is overlooked. And as well know, the PSU offense is awfully bad, with the quarterbacking and passing game phantasmagoric.
However, Still, a 6-5, 310-pound senior is getting it done for a Penn State defense that ranks third nationally in points against (13.0 per game), trailing only Alabama and LSU.
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