The BS Q&A With the BBC

Teach me how to Brutus!

If you're expecting pipes, roaring fires, ascots and haughty British accents... well, we don't mean that BBC.

We're talking to the Buckeye Battle Cry this week, who asked if we'd be interested in doing a Q&A as we did last year. Twice. (It's okay, we're used to others having a crush on us.)

You can see our answers to their questions over yonder. Much like the 11W boys, they are decent folks. I know, I know. Why are all these OSU sites trying to be our friends? It makes us feel dirty. Then again, sometimes we like to be dirty... ah, where was I?

Oh yes, our questions for the lads at the BBC. Cheerio!

BS Interview Series -- Black Shoe Diaries

And you probably thought you had heard the last of the BS Interview Series. What's that? You'd hoped you'd heard the last? Yeah, well, it's not yet over. Despite the fact that others are making an art of it. Hey, it's summertime again and we're passing the time in one of the best ways possible -- asking other people to write stuff for us.

This installment of the BS Interview Series is with Mike over at Black Shoe Diaries. It sounds kinky, like Red Shoe Diaries, but it really isn't. Erotic videos of Joe Paterno should never be seen.

Away we go.

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Boiled Sports: Admit it. The “Love ya Lions” thing they put on the board at the stadium is kind of girly, right? And what’s with that “roar” they play after first downs and whatnot? Honest thoughts?

Black Shoe Diaries: Well, we had to do something. And the World’s Largest Drum was already taken. Now pardon me while I ponder the concept of a Purdue fan mocking the Penn State football experience.

[Not exactly a denial that it's kind of swishy.-Ed.]

BS: Are PSU fans still basking in the glow of their national championship in the spring?

BSD: Still beating that drum, eh?

The NIT tournament was exciting, but Penn State fans aren’t delusional. We know it’s nowhere near the same level as the NCAA tournament. But for a program that not too long ago considered the Northwestern game the most important game of the year to keep from finishing last in the Big Ten, winning the NIT signifies a lot of progress. Don’t get me wrong. I’d rather play in the NCAA tournament. But if the selection committee doesn’t think you’re worthy, what are you going to do? If you have to go to the NIT, you might as well win the damn thing.

We’re excited with the direction the program is going. When DeChellis came on board we literally couldn’t even scrounge up enough players to hold a scrimmage in practice. Now we’re being invited to post season tournaments. We have some pretty good freshmen coming in this year with Tim Frazier and Bill Edwards. Next year we have a top 100 player in Taran Buie coming in. Ed is recruiting well and building some quality depth. And the schedule is beefed up this year to look more attractive to the selection committee. We’ve got a long way to go before people mention us as contenders for the Big Ten Championship, but we’re taking baby steps and getting better every day.

BS: When you think of Purdue Athletics, what do you think of?

BSD: I think there is tremendous potential at Purdue, but you’re in a tough spot geographically. I imagine every kid growing up in Indiana probably wants to play football for Notre Dame or Michigan. Or if they play basketball they probably want to go to Indiana or Kentucky.

I’ve always kind of liked Purdue going back to the Drew Brees and Mike Alstott days. But I don’t think the spread offense fits the personality of the school very well. You’re all about trains and hammers and for some reason really, really big drums. Scrap the spread and go with the wishbone offense. Power football would better suit your style.

BS: We (and probably many others) think JoePa is just a figurehead at this point and doesn’t do a whole lot (no headset, etc.). I know there are reports that claim otherwise. As a PSU fan and authority, what do you honestly think about him hanging around this long? Obviously, winning helps limit talk about how he should leave, but is the plan here to die on the field or something? We’re genuinely curious as to your take on Joe. When is enough enough?

BSD: Well, Bear Bryant never wore a headset either. Would anyone say he didn’t do a whole lot? Honestly, if he keeps going 11-1, winning Big Ten championships, and pulling in top 10 recruiting classes, he can coach as long as he wants in my book. I hope they clone him so he can come back and coach another 50 years.

But in my honest opinion I think there’s some truth to what you say. I wouldn’t say Joe is a figurehead, but he is a program manager. He delegates a lot of the daily duties of a head coach to his staff. Most head coaches keep either the offense or defense for themselves. Joe give the defense to Tom Bradley and the offense is split between Galen Hall and Jay Paterno. They organize and run the practices and put together the game plans, but I think everything still goes through Joe and he has the final say on everything. He’s there in practice getting in your face if you dog it on your assignment. He’s very much involved in the team operations, but he doesn’t work himself a hundred hours a week like most people think head coaches have to do these days to earn their million dollar contracts.

BS: Does the ongoing media perception that the Big Ten is second-tier bother you as much as some of the rest of us? Or do you not concern yourself with perception of the conference?

BSD: It doesn’t bother me that the SEC is the top dog in college football and the Big Ten is a few notches below them. That’s the reality of the situation. You can’t argue with the bowl records in recent years. The Big Ten just isn’t getting it done.

What bothers me is when I see people taking glee in it or suggesting an undefeated Big Ten team doesn’t deserve a chance at the title over a one-loss SEC or Big XII team. Maybe it’s the Penn State in me, but I believe you should win and lose with grace and class. Some SEC writers and bloggers don’t see it that way and they prefer to kick the Big Ten when it’s down. That’s fine. I know these things are cyclical and one day the Big Ten will be back just like Penn State came back after the first half of this decade. They make too much money to stay this bad forever.

BS: PSU is relatively new to the Big Ten (when you consider the conference’s long history) and doesn’t really have a hated rival the way UM-OSU, UM-MSU, PUR-IU, etc, do. So in your opinion, what program do you dislike the most and want to beat above all others?

BSD: Right now I would say Ohio State is the team Penn State fans love to hate the most. The Buckeyes are one of the two teams the Big Ten has assigned to never roll off our schedule. In 2005 and 2008 the game between our two teams has decided the automatic BCS bid for the conference. So we’re developing some history there, and lately the Buckeye fans worry more about us than their hated rival to the north.

It’s interesting though because up until last year if you had asked me I probably would have said Michigan was the team that Penn State fans hated the most. Losing nine in a row to the Wolverines including some real heart breakers made some Penn State fans start foaming at the mouth at the sight of a winged helmet. But we got over that hump and Michigan is largely irrelevant in the Big Ten picture for the next year or two so the hatred isn’t there anymore. But we still look forward to beating them up again this year.

BS: Best moment for you personally as a Lions fan? Worst moment for you as a Lions fan?

BSD: The best moment had to be the 17-10 win over the Buckeyes in 2005. I was there in attendance and it was my first whiteout. The stadium was literally shaking from all of the noise. And after the disappointing years from 2000-2004 it was a win over a top ten team that symbolized Penn State’s return as a relevant program on the national stage.

The worst moment had to be losing to Minnesota in 1999. We were the No. 2 team in the nation and looked like we were in the driver seat for a spot in the national championship game. But the Gophers hit a Hail Mary in the final seconds that set up a game winning field goal. After that the team went into a tailspin losing the next two games, and then they went on to have losing records four of the next five years.

Other bad moments include losing to Michigan in 2005 and Iowa in 2008. They all derailed national championship seasons. Getting snubbed in 1994 hurt too. Pick any one of them really.

BS: Do you have a college program other than your true love that you kind of have a guilty pleasure for and like to see do well?

BSD: When I was in high school I got to attend the 1991 Gator Bowl as a member of my high school marching band. Michigan beat Mississippi 35-3, so I kind of became a Michigan fan from that. I was still a diehard PSU fan as a kid, but this was a few years before Penn State joined the Big Ten so I didn’t see any conflict of interest there. Today I still kind of pull for the Wolverines when they’re not playing my Lions. Don’t tell the guys over at BSD I said that.

BS: You can have a national title (a real one) in football or basketball this coming year. Which do you choose and why?

BSD: Football. Easily. We’re long overdue and there have been too many times over the years where we either got robbed by the voters or came up just short. Plus I want to see Joe get one more.

BS: Most of those of us who write one of these blogsites have a steady list of sites they visit every morning. What are some favorite blogs of yours to read? List as many or as few as you’d like.

BSD: Honestly, there aren’t a lot of blogs I read every single day. That probably sounds pretty arrogant, but I just don’t have time. I have a family and a full time job. So when I sit down to the computer I’m just focused on finding material for my own blog. I mostly cruise the headlines looking for information to share, and most of it is Penn State related. Rarely do I ever read anything not related to Penn State or the Big Ten. Like MGoBlog says, pick a niche and dominate it. I have all of the Big Ten blogs in my reader so I scan through just about every post every Big Ten blog puts out. If I see something that looks interesting I’ll stop to read it. But I try to move on quickly. I used to get sucked into just reading blogs all day, and then at the end of the day I realized I hadn’t posted anything on my own blog. So I just try to focus on BSD as much as I can.

BS: Well-done on continuing the tradition of interview subjects who have yet to list Boiled Sports as a regular stop. *sigh* Love ya, Lions.

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Previous subjects of the BS Interview Series:

MGoBlog
Lake The Posts
Eleven Warriors

BS Interview Series -- Jason from Eleven Warriors

[Sitting by a fire, looks up from book, removes pipe]

Welcome back to our latest installment of the BS Interview Series. You're likely saying to yourself, "Yeah, it sure is BS." And to that I say, yes, that joke is well-established. It's a pun we like to use sometimes. We're all about the BS here. And our readers are supporters of the BS. And many are BS artists themselves. But I digress.

Normally, Fridays around here are devoted to boobs. So what better day to share our interview with one of the gentlemen from an OSU blog? (I kid, I kid.) Without further ado, I'd like to thank Jason from the OSU blog Eleven Warriors for joining us for today's discussion. What follows will be hard-hitting, James Lipton-style questions and the answers from a kind chap who is a fan of a program that is beginning to make a habit of humbling everyone else all season and then getting humbled themselves in the title game.

Away we go.

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Boiled Sports: So let me ask right off the start here, what did you guys think of Carson Palmer’s anti-Buckeye comments? Is the guy obligated to tolerate the Bucks or is it fine because he’s never pretended to be anything but a USC guy?

Jason of Eleven Warriors: I honestly kind of liked it. I would be just as amped if I were in his shoes and shudder to think about what I would blurt out in front of a mic, so it's hard to come down on him. I think he made some people angry with the "those fans" and "that coach" comments, but it's not like many dual-fans are going to stop rooting for him or the Bengals. It'll be really fun if USC happens to get beat, though.

BS: Seriously, what’s the deal with the sweatervest?

J,11W: Buckeye fans are blessed to have Ward Beaver patroling the sidelines. I think it's just a reflection of his conservative nature. To him, it's probably just one step shy of throwing on leather pants, so for all we know, he believes he's living on the edge.

I know some opposing fans see him as arrogant, but he's just a guy that prepares hard, works hard and measures every one of his words when speaking. In other words, characteristics I'd love to emulate more.

BS: When you think of Purdue athletics, what do you think of?

J,11W: The first thought is of a school that's usually pretty good in both major sports within conference. There are only a few teams that are doing or have consistently done both sports well -- Ohio State, Wisconsin and Purdue. Illinois could be joining the club soon, but they look to be heading South in hoops.

I think of Joe Tiller, who will always be adored by Buckeye fans for calling Michigan's new coach a snake-oil salesman. I think of Glenn Robinson, who is still to this day the most dominant college player I've ever seen. I also think of Bob Griese and cringe thinking of all of the Ohio State/Michigan games he called while his son was on the field. He could have been talking about the weather and we were calling him out for being biased.

BS: What do you guys say to people who suggest the Big Ten is weak by comparison to other “power” conferences and use OSU’s National Title game losses as evidence?

J, 11W: 2007 was tough because it shouldn't have gone down like that. The Florida win brought out some of our more vocal SEC friends and the web became a tough place for the Buckeyes and the Big Ten. Most Buckeye fans don't sweat the LSU loss. Yes, a win would have been great, but that Tiger team was the best team in the nation -- especially with all of their guys back (namely Ricky-Jean Francois). Ohio State got a shot in that game because other teams failed to take advantage of their chances. Should we apologize for that?

I do think the Big Ten is going through a down cycle. It's not as bad as some are painting it, though, but the SEC has better coaching and the conference championship game is a bonus when prepping their teams for BCS bowl games. Still, the Big Ten matches up well with the PAC 10 and Big 12 and the addition of Rodriguez and the coming schedule extension will help.

Despite all of that, it's not lost on Buckeye fans that if OSU had beaten Florida or LSU, the conference perception wouldn't be what it is (though Michigan did the Big Ten no favors in 2007).

BS: In a paragraph or two, sum up Ohio State fans feelings, expectations and hopes going into 2008.

J, 11W: Fans are cautiously optimistic. If the Buckeyes had won even one of the last two MNC games, we'd be pretty damn insufferable right about now, but because of what happened, we have to just kind of hang low and hope for the best against the Trojans. I think this is the best Buckeye team we've seen in the last decade, but there's still a good bit of worry about heading West on 9/13. If they pull that one off and take care of business in conference, we could easily see another OSU/SEC matchup in the form of Florida or Georgia.

BS: What’s more fun – beating Michigan or seeing them lose to Appalachian State?

J, 11W: I had mixed feelings about the Appalachian State game. On one hand, it was awesome, funny and one of the greatest upsets I've ever seen in my life. On the other hand, you knew that the conference was going to take a hit on it. I want to see the Wolverines undefeated heading into that last game in November every season.

BS: Best moment for you personally as a Buckeyes fan? Worst moment for you as a Buckeyes fan?

J, 11W: The best moment was the last play of the Miami game in '03. Some big runs out of Wells against Michigan the last couple of years rank up there as well. As far as the worst moment, it's a tie between that moment in both the Florida and LSU games when I realized the Buckeye defense couldn't stop the opposing offense.

BS: Do you have a college program other than your true love that you kind of have a guilty pleasure for? For example, despite all the haters, do you have a soft spot another program?

J, 11W: There are a couple of teams I enjoy rooting for. I like watching USC light it up. I like to cheer for the new teams of guys that have been run out of town unjustly, like Willingham at Washington or Solich at Ohio University. I secretly cheer for Spurrier because I think he's funny and he needs to be in the spotlight more often.

Outside of a few teams, who I cheer for normally follows this order: cheering for teams to lose that move the Buckeyes up, rooting for the Big Ten and teams on OSU's schedule to boost that SOS and then it's a toss-up between pulling for an upset and cheering for the team with the coolest uniforms or player names.

BS: Did “Holy Buckeye” cement Tressel’s status as having balls of steel?

J, 11W: What's interesting is that Jenkins wasn't the primary option on that play. Tressel was just trying to get the first down and had to pass because the running game was non-existent that day. It was typical Krenzel -- pedestrian all day until something big at the end.

BS: Most of those of us who write one of these blogsites have a steady list of sites they visit every morning. What are some favorite blogs of yours to read? List as many or as few as you’d like.

J, 11W: All of the big sites like The Wizard of Odds, MGoBlog, EDSBS and SMQ. FanHouse CFB is also a must-read. I'm a huge fan of the Big Ten Blogger feed. I know so much more about other teams in the Big Ten than I did two years ago. A few of my favorite Buckeye blogs are Our Honor Defend, Buckeye Commentary and Dotting the I. Hey Jenny Slater, Get the Picture and Orange and Blue Hue are fantastic SEC blogs. Adam Rittenberg at ESPN is taking food off of our tables, but is great. Loser With Socks is comedy gold and Big Red Network is a fine Nebraska blog.

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Previous subjects of the BS Interview Series:

MGoBlog

Lake The Posts

BS Interview Series -- Brian from MGoBlog

I know you thought this would be yet another series that never got off the ground but, ha! You were wrong! We may be slack-asses but, hey, we're your kind of slack-asses, right? That's why you keep coming back.

So today we're sharing the second of our "Better Know A Blogger" series, featuring the Big Ten blogger network. If you're not aware of the Michigan blog, MGoBlog, well, you just haven't been paying attention. Even OSU fans and blogs respect the work Brian does there and if you spend some time on his site you realize just how much work he must put into it. I asked him if he could share some time with us and he graciously agreed. And I didn't even have to put out.

Enjoy.

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Boiled Sports: Why "MGoBlog"?

Brian, MGoBlog: “MGoBlue” is a common thing to see on bumper stickers or posters or any sort of general what-have-you in the Michigan fan community. The official site is “MGoBlue.com.” It just seemed like a natural decision. I didn't realize it at the time, but it was an inspired choice. It's short, easy to remember, and super-easy to google. I now know why Web 2.0 startups invariably make up a word like “frozzbatozz!”

BS: “Upon Further Review” is brilliant for the true UM football junkie. How long does a “UFR” session take you? And is it your favorite ongoing feature? If not, what is?

B, MGB: I've never really timed it but on the order of several hours, depending on the importance of the game. I don't put much effort into figuring out what goes on in the fourth quarter of the EMU game. It don't know if it's my favorite ongoing feature – game columns are much more fun to write – but it's the most important. Without it I'm just a guy on the internet; with it I'm a guy on the internet who knows more than you about Michigan football.

BS: When you think of Purdue athletics, what do you think of?

B, MGB: Severe underperformance against Michigan, mostly. There have been some close games in the series, but it seems more often than not I'm way more nervous going into the Purdue game than the game itself warrants. Dropped passes, missed field goals, self-destruction of all kinds. It always seems like Purdue is this close to breaking through, but they never do. [Sniffle. We know. -- ed.] Also: life insurance.

BS: As a fan, would you rather see UM go 7-5 and go to a mediocre bowl but beat Ohio State to ruin a perfect season…OR… go 11-1, play in a Jan 1 bowl game but lose that one game to the Buckeyes?

B, MGB: 11-1. Is this seriously a question?

[At this point, I said, "Yes, it's really a question...bitch," then took a swing at him. Brian, to my surprise and ultimate detriment, turns out to be a fesity fighter. After thoroughly bloodying me, he pulled my face out of the urinal he was submerging me in and said, "Okay, NOW, do you want to continue the interview?"]

[Ed. note: The above paragraph is not true.]

BS: In a paragraph or two, sum up Michigan fans feelings, expectations and hopes going into the RichRod era, specifically for 2008.

B, MGB: In 2008? Most feel apprehensive, expect mediocrity, and hope to extend Michigan's nation-best bowl streak. Three returning starters on offense and one bullet each at a number of key positions, mostly QB and the offensive line, means Michigan is an injury or two away from mass chaos.

But Penn State manages to cobble together Alamo Bowl or better season with only the faintest tinge of an offense, and Rich Rodriguez is not Charlie Weis... those expecting a real soul-wrencher a la Notre Dame last year will be disappointed.

BS: Many of us know you shut the site down and had pink colors and kittens up after the Appalachian State game. Will that sting ever go away? Or has it already?

B, MGB: The shutdown was just to turn the comments off. Anyone who has The Horror happen to them and then does anything but not think about football for a few days (or months) needs help; if one person said “f-ck it, let's go bowling” because of it, mission accomplished. The kittens were just an attempt to be funny, because it was either that or spittle, and who needs spittle at a time like that?

But that's pretty much faded. Every coach associated with the loss is gone. It's a new era, a clean break, and that game may have saved us the specter of Mike Debord as the head coach. If Rodriguez pans out, Michigan fans may actually look back on that day as a positive.

BS: Best moment for you personally as a Wolverines fan? Worst moment for you as a Wolverines fan?

B, MGB: Best: walking on the field after the Ohio State game in 1997. Worst: the Horror.

BS: Do you have a college program other than your true love that you kind of have a guilty pleasure for? For example, despite all the haters, do you have a soft spot for Florida football or North Carolina basketball or something like that?

B, MGB: No, I think that sort of thing is reserved for fans of non alpha-dog teams. I've already got the team that can win big and has to win big for me to be happy. Picking another one would be like those guys who were Laker and Yankee fans growing up.

I have proof I'm not that person: when I finally got fed up with the Red Wings due to a combination of excessive payroll, horrible fans (quietest group of corporate lawyers in the NHL) and their constant importing of people I loathed (Chelios was the last straw), I went searching for another team and struck upon the Edmonton Oilers, then a hopeless small-market team getting killed by the Candian dollar and never going anywhere. The US dollars collapse and the CBA have evened things out, but at the time I was signing up for unending pain. This is why I can't get into the EPL, too. I won't pick one of the Big Four, and picking anyone else is pointless.

I do have some secret favorites, but they vary by situation. I think I'm going to be pulling for Georgia Tech over the next few years because I'm a sucker for an oddball system (and it's a dork school). I hated Nebraska when they were unstoppable but now that they're adrift, I feel for their excellent fans. If they go back to the option I will pull for them. And, ironically, I like West Virginia. The team has no talent but plays fast as hell and wins. It had Owen Schmitt on it. And the state is tiny and full of loons who sing 'Country Roads' unironically after games and care so much they'll kill you... what's not to love? They even have nice colors.

BS: In your opinion did Lloyd Carr stay too long? How will he be remembered by the UM faithful?

B, MGB: Carr obviously held on a year or three too long, but I think most Michigan fans will remember him fondly. Despite the disappointing finish to his career, he did have a national title and Michigan had something like the 7th best record in college football over his tenure. His overall record versus OSU was 6-7... not exactly Cooper.

Moreover, I think he just fit with the fanbase. He was cranky but erudite and passionate about college football. He railed against the increasing corporatization of the game. He read serious books. And when Bo died he gave a speech that I'll remember for a long time. I'll always want Michigan to win no matter who the coach is, but I wanted Lloyd to win. That ain't gonna happen with Rodriguez.

BS: Most of those of us who write one of these blogsites have a steady list of sites they visit every morning. What are some favorite blogs of yours to read? List as many or as few as you’d like.

B, MGB: The usual: Sunday Morning Quarterback, EDSBS, Black Heart Gold Pants. Eleven Warriors and Our Honor Defend are the best OSU blogs; Mvictors, Michigan Sports Center, UMHoops, Varsity Blue, and the Blog That Yost Built are go-to Michigan blogs. Hey Jenny Slater, Rocky Top Talk, Burnt Orange Nation... uh... Inside The Hall and Spartans Weblog, PJS and Gopher Nation, Garnet and Black Attack, the Joe Cribbs Car Wash, Get The Picture, Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician... there are literally too many to name. And I have to pour some out for dead homies Big Ten Wonk and RBUAS.

Also, a confession: I read Go Fug Yourself.

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Previous subjects of the BS Interview Series:

Lake the Posts

BS Interview Series -- Lake The Posts

We like to try different features around here and one that I've been kicking around is an interview series, primarily aimed at the various -- and nearly all awesome -- Big Ten Blogger network that we're proudly a part of. Today launches that interview series with the widely-acknowledged as excellent Lake The Posts, a Northwestern-devoted site that should be among your regular reads if it isn't already. Just slot it in after porn downloads and before illicit webcam usage. Enjoy.

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Boiled Sports: Pat Fitzgerald recently launched a Facebook group. On the one hand, this makes him seem far more in tune with today’s college athletes than other coaches in the Big Ten (imagine Joe Tiller’s Facebook travails makes me chuckle). But on the other hand, doesn’t this seem a bit risky? I mean, young girls, potential recruiting gray areas, pictures of people being drunk… aren’t these all things a college coach should be avoiding? What’s your take?

Lake The Posts: I actually posted about this exact thing. It doesn’t concern me at all since the university restricted it to only current students. The school is closely monitoring it for the exact reasons you’ve mentioned. If you want to see this gone awry check out BHGP’s site for multiple examples of why Iowa is shutting down athlete’s profiles. Fitz, along with new AD Jim Phillips are on an attendance mission (along with LTP!) and this is a proactive measure to try and create more of a buzz on campus. When you have a 47,000-seat stadium and only 7,500 undergrads, you have to get as many as possible to fill seats. It is no secret that NU’s attendance mystery (has declined steadily for 10 years straight and was at a pathetic 25,000 last season) despite relative success for the program are a top priority. Considering the student ratio to total stadium seats is significantly better at every other school, including Purdue. So, long-winded way of saying I’m all for it.

BS: Are you 100% sold on Fitz as a potentially successful coach? There’s a feeling among others – us included – that he sometimes seems like he’s in over his head.

LTP: I’d say 95%. There is a very small faction of NU fans who are itchy [I think there's ointment for that - J], but the general consensus is that this is finally his year to prove himself. No one, not a soul, can question his passion and recruiting prowess, as I’ve had several former players email me, unsolicited, about what an impression he’s making with current players and recruits. Keep this in perspective – 2006 was a complete wash. Fitz was 32 and had 4 weeks from the passing of Randy Walker to the start of training camp. Less than 2 months to get ready for his first season as a coach. That season is a complete blur for players, coaches and fans. This past season, his first “full season” if you include off-season prep, he went a disappointing 6-6, but keep in mind he had the full slate of Walker’s assistants.The most unknown fact about this Cats team are the new faces on the coaching staff. We nabbed Wisconsin D-coordinator, Mike Hankwitz to replace the inadequate Greg Colby (7 years of futility) and Mick McCall from Bowling Green at the offensive coordinator spot. We also upgraded with our new D-line coach. It is a senior-laden team, with Fitz’ guys in at the key coaching spots. Expectations are about as good as they get in Evanston these days. Anything less than 8-4 this season and fans will be chirping. I believe in him. If you’re ever around him you cannot help to believe in him.

BS: When you think of Purdue athletics, what do you think of?

LTP: Let’s see…Dimly-lit Mackey Arena, Gene Keady, Joe Tiller, great tradition of women’s hoops, the most underrated decade of men’s hoops (Purdue in the 1990s), Drew Brees and Vinny Sutherland crushing the Cats with a 99-yard TD pass, a bigass drum, the resemblance between your mascot Pete and Gene Keady and the oldest crowd in the Big Ten. And of course, the obligatory tributes by TV commentators to Mike Alstott’s parents for attending every game home and away. In case you didn’t know.

I think of Purdue as Switzerland. Overall, a respectable middle-of-the-pack athletic program with some real upside on any given year. Your fans are pleasant and respectful which is why I think Purdue is easy to root for. I was crushed to see Kyle Orton’s fumble against Wisconsin several years ago when you were on pace for a national title and Heisman. [Ugh, us, too. –BS] I’ve never seen one play crush a team so badly – I was at the Cats win the very next week when Orton got pulled as we pounded Purdue. It was sad. Overall, NU has a lot of respect for our friends in West Lafayette. Matt Painter’s hoops season was the story of the year in college hoops last year and must have you psyched for hoops. I have to point out that I love the fact Northwestern Ave leads you to Ross-Ade. I’ve only been to a game there once – in 1995 when we clinched the Big Ten title – but it has a karmic sense of soothing for a visiting Wildcat fan.

BS: Your site is highly respected in the blogging community and especially among Big Ten Bloggers. There’s the obvious pride of having your writing respected – but is it extra special since it’s maybe giving Northwestern athletics a few ounces of needed respect?

LTP: Thanks for the props. I started the blog because I am so sick of the 1980s perception of our athletic program being perpetrated by idiot fans. Any incoming recruit has seen Northwestern as Big Ten champs in football (3 since 1995) more than any other school aside from the big two. I sometimes even get caught playing into the “woe is me” card before I smack myself. I love the input from fans and former players who religiously read the site. There are those moments of “who the hell am I to say?” but they’re often assuaged when I get an insider who agrees – or disagrees – but respects my stance. I know for a fact the NU Athletic department actually reads the blog daily which is refreshing to know they may take one idea in a year and act on it, thus I may be making a tiny difference.

BS: Does your blood boil when Cats athletics are bashed? Why or why not?

LTP: Yes, see above. There is a difference between bashing like I like to bash Iowa and just uneducated stereotypes. NU’s Big Ten record is nearly identical to Penn State over the past six seasons, but I don’t need to tell you the difference in perception. I take major issue with basketball – both men’s and women’s (more in a minute) but NU fans actually take great pride in the non-revenue sports as we’re having an incredible spring with three, top-15 programs in the hunt for a national title – women’s lacrosse is a #1 seed (looking for 4th straight NCAA title), women’s tennis as a #1 seed in their tournament and softball heading back hopefully for a 3rd straight World Series appearance. Things are clicking with the exception of hoops.

BS: Tell us something we might not know about Northwestern football or basketball.

LTP: NU fans are excited for football for the reasons I listed, but we’re returning to the no-huddle in our spread for the 1st time since the Big Ten (co)champion year of 2000. For the first time since perhaps the 8-8 2004 season and maybe even the Evan Eschmeyer era, there is a buzz about hoops. The Cats are now the tallest team in the Big Ten after what many consider to be the best recruiting class in the history of the school. We landed 5 guys including Kyle Rowley – a 7-foot center who chose NU over G-Town, Indiana and Ohio State among others and all five are 6-6 or taller including three who are 6-9 and taller. The Cats landed an Illinois first team all-stater which rarely happens. Our women’s coach thankfully resigned after running what was once a glorious program into the ground. Our new AD’s first chance to make a mark is now with the imminent hire.

BS: Best moment for you personally as a Cats fan. Worst moment for you as a Cats fan.

LTP: Easy. Best? 9/2/95 watching NU stun Notre Dame in person (and the ride of 1995). Worst? Tie – 9/9/95 watching NU blow a 20-point second half lead at home to Miami (OH) causing us to eventually possibly lose the national championship in an otherwise perfect season. This ties with a bevy of other painful losses – UNH at home in 2006, Duke at home in 2007 to snap the longest DI losing streak and Iowa in 2000 which cost us a Rose Bowl berth.

BS: I find it fascinating that the best and worst moments are a week apart. Anyway, next question. Do you have a college program other than your true love that you kind of have a guilty pleasure for? For example, despite all the haters, do you have a soft spot for Florida football or North Carolina basketball or something like that?

LTP: No brainer. Providence College basketball since I’m from there and DePaul women’s hoops since I’m good friends with the coach.

BS: What did you think of Buzz Bissinger’s old-man rant against blogging in general?

LTP: I think he completely lost his credibility to anyone under the age of 35. It will be viewed at as the tipping point in the mainstream/blogger tension. I found it ironic considering the same guy is collecting royalty checks from a TV show based on his book that is about the most sensationalized, stereotyped Texas high school show one could imagine (a show I do love, by the way). I think the ripple effect from his commentary has painted a broad brush, erroneously, on all bloggers, in effect, implying that we simply all are card-carrying members of the “we hate mainstream media” fan club. This is the shameful part of it.

BS: I didn't know we were issued cards for that club.

BS: Most of those of us who write one of these blogsites have a steady list of sites they visit every morning. What are some favorite blogs of yours to read? List as many or as few as you’d like.

LTP: I keep an eye on all of the Big Ten blogger sites through the Google reader, but I usually go to DanShanoff.com as a first stop b/c he does such a good job cribbing what’s going on in a short amount of time. I hit the Chicago papers online and some of the national CFB sites like EDSBS, SMQ and a few others. I trust my Google RSS feed for Northwestern stuff as well. I think Boiled Sports is doing a great job, by the way. You have a great balance of ascerbic wit mixed with “must read” Purdue info. Keep up the great work and we’re looking forward to payback this year in Evanston on the Wilford Brimley farewell tour!