Blue and White Brothers: Recent Episodes
Penn State Football by Tom & Andy Gathman
Blue and White Brothers is a podcast about all things Penn State football hosted by Tom and Andy Gathman: two brothers with two takes about one team. Tom Gathman, better known as “The Real Hiking Viking,” spends much of his time on trail and off grid living life to the full. Andy Gathman is the pastor of a small rural church and spends most of his time spreading the good news. We are as different as brothers can be with one exception: a passion for Penn State football. We bring our love of the game and lifelong sibling rivalry to each show. Join us every week as we discuss our thoughts, analysis, and perspective on Penn State football. Blue and White Brothers is a project of Pastime Sports, Ltd.
Tom & Andy check in on the Penn State football program at the end of the spring. With the team now five months into the Matt Campbell era, they talk about how the team is shaping up, what's different under Campbell, and how they are feeling about the team heading into the summer.
Tom & Andy recap a respectable end to a difficult season in the Pinstripe Bowl with a solid win against Clemson. They also discuss the significant changes to the coaching staff since Matt Campbell took over the program as well as the roster turnover with the opening of the transfer portal. Plus, a special Bowl Season edition of "Tom's Ten Second Takes."
Matt Campbell has been hired as the 17th head coach of Penn State's storied football program and Tom & Andy discuss it all. They dig into Coach Campbell's background and share their thoughts on where the tumultuous search ultimately landed. Plus, they open the Mailbag and discuss News & Notes following the results from championship weekend. Finally, they check in on PSU's bowl game opponent in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Tom & Andy wrap up Penn State's regular season after a final game victory over Rutgers. Then they check in on Penn State's still open coaching search after a hiring frenzy by other schools over the weekend. Plus, Tom gives his Ten Second Takes on all the rivalry week scores.
Tom & Andy discuss PSU's dominant 37-10 win vs. Nebraska team and look ahead to their final game against Rutgers, with a win enabling them to reach .500 for the season and give them bowl eligibility. They also address Franklin's recent hiring at Virginia Tech and the excitement around Terry Smith as a candidate for Penn State. Plus, Mailbag and Ten Second Takes.
Tom & Andy relish Penn State's first win in more than two months, and the first ever for interim coach Terry Smith. Then they look ahead to the final home game of the season against a tough Nebraska team. Plus, Ten Second Takes and a look inside the Mailbag
Tom & Andy lament a sixth straight loss for Penn State, while noting some positives in a valiant performance against the #2 team in the country. Then they talk about hope for a long-awaited win against Michigan State. Plus Tom's Ten-Second Takes and an unexpected rant on college football's latest financing scheme.
Tom & Andy recap Penn State's loss against #1 Ohio State and look ahead to another tough matchup, this time with #2 Indiana. Plus, Tom gives his ten-second takes on the weekends headlines and open the mailbag.
The boys are back at it after the bye week to preview Penn State's toughest game of the season. Can the Nittany Lions conjure some Halloween magic and pull off the upset? Plus, they recap the best college football games of the weekend with Tom's Ten-Second Takes.
Tom & Andy discuss Penn State's first game after Franklin's firing, in which Penn State suffered their fourth straight loss, their second straight by one point. Plus Tom gives his ten-second takes on college football headlines, and they open the mailbag once more.
Tom & Andy react to the dramatic midseason firing of head coach James Franklin following the team's unprecedented 3-game collapse in a season with championship expectations. Then, they go to the mailbag to hear the questions and comments from the BWB community, and conclude with a preview of the upcoming game at Iowa.
F is for...a Festivus-style "airing of grievances," in which Tom & Andy pull no punches while debriefing one of the program's worst-ever losses to a floundering UCLA team.
Tom & Andy commiserate over a crushing last-second loss as history yet again repeats itself. Plus, they open an overflowing mailbag with questions about James Franklin, Drew Allar, and hope for the future.
Tom & Andy preview the most anticipated game since the Orange Bowl, and the biggest whiteout game in nearly a decade, as Nittany Lions take on the Oregon Ducks in Prime Time. Plus, they catch up on their correspondence in the mailbag.
Tom & Andy are back at it after a three-week hiatus to discuss the first month of the season. With the easy part of the season over, will Penn State be ready for the true tests to come as they get ready for conference play? Plus, Tom's ten-second takes on the biggest games of the last four weeks.
Tom & Andy are off their regular schedule for a few weeks, but they take a few minutes to share their reactions right after PSU 46-11 win over Nevada in the first football game of the season.
The 2025 season is finally here! In less than a week, the Nittany Lions take the field against the Nevada Wolfpack. While not a marquee matchup, it gives an excited fanbase their first glimpse of a team with national-title aspirations. Tom & Andy offer a complete game preview, plus they dip into the mailbag and check on some News and Notes.
Tom & Andy take a look at Penn State's special teams including the kicking specialists, returners, and coverage teams. Plus, they give their final takes on Penn State's season before the team takes the field.
Tom & Andy take a closer look at Penn State's defense, which has plenty of star power but some question marks in key spots and significant depth concerns as well. Will Jim Knowles be able to install his "complicated" scheme and get the defense to play at a championship level in time to face the Big Ten's best?
Tom & Andy take a deep dive into Penn State's offense, with an embarrassment of riches in returning talent following last year's CFP semifinal run. Will it be enough to get them over the hump and put them on track for a national-championship run?
Tom & Andy can hardly contain themselves as the 2025 season approaches. In this first of 4 preseason episodes, they give an overview of this year's Penn State Nittany Lions and why they think the national championship talk is more than just hype.
Tom and Andy zoom out to look at the bigger picture, focusing on James Franklin’s leadership as Penn State prepares for a season with sky-high expectations. Plus, they get caught up on News and Notes, checking in on Beaver Stadium updates, Penn State athletics success, an impending settlement that portends big changes for college football, and more.
Tom & Andy check in halfway through the offseason to take stock of Penn State football. After an exciting run through the playoffs last season, are the Nittany Lions in position to run it back as legitimate title contenders?
Tom & Andy find some silver linings as they work through the stages of grief following Penn State's disappointing loss in the Orange Bowl. As they wrap up the season, they take one last look in the mailbag, go By the Numbers with Joel Bettner, and take an early look at how the team is shaping up for next year.
It's an all-time classic between Penn State and Notre Dame in the CFP semifinal, and Tom & Andy take a look at the matchup between these historic teams. Plus, they look into the mailbag and go "By the Numbers with Joel Bettner.
Tom & Andy kick off the New Year with a bang, discussing Penn State's dominant Fiesta Bowl victory over a determined Boise State team as the Nittany Lion defense shut down the best back in college football. Plus News & Notes with all the holiday headlines from bowls Eason.
Tom & Andy look ahead to the Fiesta Bowl and a New Year's Eve matchup in the CFP Quarterfinals with Mountain West Conference champs Boise State. The boys discuss whether PSU's defense can slow down Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty, and what the offense needs to do to propel the team to the semis. Plus, they are joined by Joel Bettner for "By the Numbers."
Tom & Andy were there to witness a winter whiteout and PSU's dominant victory over the SMU Mustangs in their first-ever CFP game. They recap all the action, and offer Ten-Second Takes (along with a few tangents) on all the football action of the last two weeks.
It's a winter whiteout and Tom & Andy can't stop talking about Penn State's historic opportunity to host a home game in the first-ever 12-team playoffs. News and Notes covers the massive update on QBs Drew Allar and Beau Pribula, and they do a deep dive on the SMU Mustangs. Plus, they are joined by Joel Bettner for a playoff edition of "By the Numbers."
Tom & Andy dive into all the results from championship weekend, including Penn State's exciting playoff draw, as well as a recap of their thrilling game vs. the top-ranked Oregon Ducks.
Tom & Andy preview Penn State's unexpected trip to Indianapolis where they will face #1 Oregon. They do a deep dive on the Ducks, discussing how the Nittany Lions match up—and it might be more favorable than you think. Plus, they open the Mailbag and go By the Numbers with Joel Bettner.
A stunning turn of events in Columbus set up the Maryland game as a Big Ten Championship qualifier. Tom & Andy discuss the consequential 44-7 win that caps the Nittany Lions' first 11-win regular season of the Franklin era. Plus, the boys cover the madness of rivalry weekend in the final regular-season installment of "Ten Second Takes."
Tom & Andy preview their final regular season opponent, a middling Maryland, who Penn State hosts on Senior Day with a potential home playoff bid on the line. Plus, they dip into the mailbag and go "By the Numbers" with Joel Bettner.
Tom & Andy take a deep breath after Penn State's gutsy game against the Gophers that has the Nittany Lions a win away from their first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff. Plus they recap all the action in a consequential week of football in Tom's Ten Second Takes.
Tom & Andy take a look at tricky matchup at Minnesota, hoping that the Nittany Lions can handle the Golden Gophers' formidable defense. Plus, they open the mailbag and go By the Numbers with Joel Bettner, where they discuss the finer points of Minneapolis weather, among other more football-related statistics.
Tom & Andy discuss Penn State's blowout win of Purdue and another big day for Tyler Warren. Plus, they take a look at the other big games of the weekend with Tom's ten-second takes.
As Tom & Andy preview Purdue, who shouldn't put up much resistance, they also consider how the final three regular season games might provide a runway for Penn State to prepare for a possible playoff bid. Plus, they open the mailbag and go By the Numbers with Joel.
Tom & Andy are in good spirits after a bounceback win against the Washington Huskies. Nothing could dampen their mood except perhaps the subpar Peacock broadcast, which prompted them to create a Change.org petition to ban Peacock from showing future Whiteouts. Plus, hear their Ten-Second Takes on the weekend's best games.
Tom & Andy attempt to wash away last week's misery with wishes of a Whiteout win, as Penn State hosts Washington in a must-win matchup for the Nittany Lions. Plus they dig into the mailbag and go By the Numbers with Joel Bettner.
Tom & Andy commiserate after a tough loss to Ohio State. They break down what went wrong that caused the Nittany Lion drop their eighth straight to the Buckeyes, and discuss the outlook for the team going forward.
Tom & Andy are getting psyched for the biggest game of the season as the no. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes face off against no. 3 Penn State. Can the Nittany Lions finally get a win after seven straight losses? Plus they dig into the mailbag and are joined by Joel Bettner for By the Numbers.
Tom & Andy react to Penn State's gutsy second-half performance behind backup quarterback Beau Pribula as the Nittany Lions notch a signature win in Wisconsin.
Tom & Andy take stock of Penn State at mid-season and preview a prime-time matchup against the Wisconsin Badgers. Plus they give their ten-second takes on all the big games from the past weekend and go By the Numbers with Joel Bettner.
Tom & Andy literally can't stop talking about Penn State's win vs. USC in the Coliseum. They hit on all the big themes from the game and unpack this potentially narrative-changing, season-defining win. Plus they check in on the other big games from the weekend in "Ten-Second Takes" and finish with a look into the mailbag.
Penn State hits the road as the #4 team in the country, taking on the USC Trojans in their first West Coast trip of the new-look Big Ten. Tom & Andy are dreaming of a win as the Nittany Lions head into the toughest stretch of their season. They also open the mailbag and go By the Numbers with Joel Bettner.
Tom & Andy were in Beaver Stadium as Penn State hosted UCLA for the first time since 1968. They share their experience of the game and discuss all the game action. Plus Tom's Ten Second Takes from all the college football madness from the past weekend.
Tom & Andy preview an opponent Penn State hasn't faced in over 50 years, the UCLA Bruins. Plus they open the mailbag and check in with Joel Bettner for By the Numbers.
Tom & Andy break down Penn State's dominant play on both sides of the ball against Illinois for PSU's first Big Ten win of the season.
Penn State opens Big Ten play under the lights in Beaver Stadium in a top-20 matchup. Tom & Andy take a look at a dangerous Illinois team and discuss what the Nittany Lions need to do to remain unbeaten. Plus they open the mailbag and go By the Numbers with Joel Bettner.
Tom & Andy break down Penn State's record-setting offensive performance in the Nittany Lions' final tuneup before Big Ten Play.
Tom & Andy take a look at their upcoming opponent, lowly Kent State. Can they extinguish the Golden Flashes? Plus Ten-Second takes, Mailbag, and By the Numbers with Joel Bettner.
Tom & Andy dissect Penn State's near-catastrophe, when the Nittany Lions escaped with a close victory against a scrappy Bowling Green, and they discuss whether this was simply a fluke or an ominous sign for the rest of the season.
Tom & Andy take a look at Penn State's opponent for their home opener, the Bowling Green Falcons. Can the Nittany Lions keep the offensive fireworks going as they face the first of two straight MAC teams?
Tom & Andy recap Penn State's exciting 2024 season opener, a 34-12 victory against the West Virginia Mountaineers. Plus, hear Tom's Ten-Second-Takes on all the big opening week games.
Penn State football is back! Tom & Andy dive into the first game of the 2024 season, a tough road trip to Morgantown against the Mountaineers of West Virginia. Plus, they open the first mailbag of the season and go By the Numbers with Joel Bettner.
In their final preseason installment, Tom & Andy take a look at Penn State's special teams and give their final thoughts on the upcoming season.
Incoming Defensive Coordinator Tom Allen has big shoes to fill. With the 2024 season just days away, Tom & Andy discuss their hopes for another dominating defense and break down each unit's key contributors.
Big changes are coming to Penn State's offense, as incoming OC Andy Kotelnicki attempts to unlock the talents of Drew Allar, Nick Singleton, and Kaytron Allen. Tom & Andy take a close look at each unit on the offense including projected starters, areas of strength, and needs for improvement.
As Penn State prepares to kick off a new campaign, Tom & Andy discuss the state of the program under James Franklin and take a look at the upcoming season.
Tom & Andy kick off their 5th season of Blue and White Brothers with their take on the seismic changes coming to the college football landscape this season.
At the midpoint of the offseason, Tom & Andy weigh in on the major changes coming to college football this season. Plus, they take stock of the Nittany Lions after spring workouts wrap up and the transfer portal closes.
In their final installment of the year, Tom & Andy look back at the college football bowl season as well as Penn State's first ever appearance in Peach Bowl. They unpack the team's lackluster performance and take a peek at what lies ahead next year, with all its uncertainties and possibilities.
Tom & Andy do a deep dive on Ole Miss, Penn State's opponent in the upcoming Peach Bowl. Plus a special bowl season By the Numbers with Joel Bettner.
Tom & Andy take a look back at the 2023 regular season, highlighting all the highs and lows, the achievements and near misses, along with the key players and interesting statistics. Plus, a look at Tom Allen, our new DC who is set to replace the departed Manny Diaz, and a preview of the upcoming bowl slate.
Tom & Andy recap a momentous week of news for Penn State and the college football world. They unpack the hire of Andy Kotelnicki as Penn State's new Offensive Coordinator, review the championship week games, rant about the playoff seeding, and discuss Penn State's Peach Bowl bid vs. Ole Miss.
Tom & Andy dig into the mailbag and respond to listener questions about the gap between PSU and the rest of the Big 10, how we should feel about the team compared to other 2-loss teams, and what podcasts they'll be listing to during the offseason. Plus, a modified by the numbers and a preview of championship week games.
Tom & Andy discuss the final game of the regular season, a 42-0 drubbing of the Michigan State Spartans, and wonder where that version of the offense has been all season?!?! Plus they recap all the exiting rivalry week action.
Tom & Andy look forward to post-Thanksgiving football, previewing Penn State's final opponent, the sputtering Spartans of Michigan State. Will they finish strong for another 10-win season and possible New Year's Six bowl? They also open the Mailbag and go By the Numbers for the last time in the regular season.
Tom & Andy dissect the 27-6 win against Rutgers, which saw backup QB Beau Pribula replace an injured Drew Allar early in the third quarter. And heading into the Thanksgiving holiday, the boys conclude with some thoughts about what they are grateful for with this Penn State football program.
Tom & Andy open up the mailbag to talk more about Penn State's future in the wake of the Michigan loss and Mike Yurcich's firing. Then they talk about how to avoid a letdown against a feisty Rutgers team. Plus, "By the Numbers" with Joel Bettner.
Tom & Andy are tired of watching Penn State act out the same script as review the deflating loss to Michigan. But first, they dissect the unprecedented firing of OC Mike Yurcich in the wake of the loss.
Tom & Andy peel back the layers to the upcoming Michigan game, including the latest on the sign-stealing drama and analysis of the on-field challenges that Penn State will face. Plus, they take a look in the mailbag and go By the Numbers.
Tom & Andy take a moment to enjoy the blowout win against Maryland. Plus an extended tangent during "News and Notes" has them talking about fan appreciation in solidarity with Tyler from Spartanburg.
Tom & Andy are still shaking off that Indiana game and wondering what kind of team will show up to face a dangerous Maryland team. Will it be a get-right game or another letdown? Plus, a couple of interesting mailbag entries, and another By the Numbers with Joel Bettner.
Tom & Andy find themselves at full froth after a poor showing by Penn State, who narrowly escaped with a win against the upset-minded Indiana Hoosiers.
Tom & Andy try to get the bad test of the Ohio State loss out of their mouths by looking ahead to Penn State's game against Indiana. First, they find that misery loves company as they go into the mailbag and talk through some questions and comments from their fellow fans in the wake of PSU's first loss of the season. They finish with another "By the Numbers" with Joel Bettner.
Tom & Andy find themselves at full froth as they commiserate over Penn State's first loss of the season, after a dismal offensive outing in Columbus led to a 20-12 defeat.
It's Ohio State week! The biggest game of the season (so far) is upon us, and Tom & Andy get all hyped up to break it all down. Plus, Mailbag and By the Numbers.
Tom & Andy enjoy the facts and figures coming out of the big homecoming shutout win vs. UMass, and try and parse what it might mean for bigger games to come. Plus Tom's "Ten Minute Takes" (and a few tangents) on the Top-25 scoreboard.
Tom & Andy take a look at Penn State's next opponent, the Minutemen of Massachusetts. Plus, the open the mailbag and finish with another edition of By the Numbers.
Tom & Andy use Penn State's bye week as an opportunity to look back at the season so far, take stock of their strengths, parse their areas for growth, and consider the challenges and opportunities on the rest of the schedule.
In most cases, a four-touchdown victory should feel great. So why is Penn State's 41-13 drubbing of Northwestern leaving Tom & Andy unsettled and unsatisfied? Plus, News and Notes and some football viewing recommendations for Penn State's upcoming bye week.
Tom & Andy take a closer look at Penn State's third-straight Big Ten West opponent. After losing their head coach to an ugly hazing scandal before the season, the Northwestern Wildcats seem to have found their rhythm. Can Penn State avoid the trap of overlooking a team out to prove themselves? Plus, the boys open the mailbag and are joined by Joel for "By the Numbers."
Tom & Andy revel in Penn State's impressive shutout win over the 24th-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes, breaking down the incredible performance and impressive stat lines.
With Tom away, Andy invites a special guest-host to help him break down the Illinois win and take a look at their next opponent, Big Ten West defensive powerhouse Iowa. Plus, News and Notes, Mailbag, and a return of "Rick's Picks."
Tom & Andy take a look at Illinois, their first Big Ten opponent of the still-young 2023 season. Will Penn State keep the good-times rolling or will the Illini stop them in their tracks? Plus, a special teams edition of "By the Numbers" with Joel Bettner.
Tom & Andy discuss details of Penn State's 63-7 thrashing of FCS Delaware, and consider what they've learned about the team through the second game of the season. Plus, Tom's "ten-second-takes" on the college football scoreboard.
The Delaware Fighting' Blue Hens are coming to town for the first-ever meeting of these two teams. Tom & Andy break down this nationally-ranked FCS foe, who could give the Nittany Lions trouble if they aren't careful. They also open the mailbag and go "By the Numbers" with Joel.
Tom & Andy discuss the breakout performance of Drew Allar in the season opener, a 38-15 victory which saw Penn State renew its historic rivalry with (and domination of) the West Virginia Mountaineers. They also broach some areas of needed improvement as well as giving their takes on some of the scores from around the Top-25 and the Big Ten.
As Tom & Andy anxiously await the first game of the 2023 season, they take a deep dive into the West-Virginia Mountaineers football team, a program mired in mediocrity for the last few years and looking to turn things around. Will Penn State send them packing, or do the mountain men have what it takes to pull off an unlikely upset?
Tom & Andy take stock of everything they've learned through the preseason and give their final takes on the season before it kicks off. Plus, a special "By the Numbers" with Joel Bettner, where the boys offer their take on what they expect Penn State will accomplish this season.
Tom & Andy wrap up their deep-dive on this year's team with a closeup of Special Teams, the unit with the most question marks going into the season. Who will their specialists and returners be? Will we have any game-changing plays in critical moments? Can our kickers go from question marks to key playmakers? Plus, a review of the newly-announced team captains.
Tom & Andy continue their preseason rundown of this year's Penn State team, focusing on the defense in this episode. Can Manny Diaz's high-flying, talent-loaded defense exceed last year's top-10 performance and help pave the way for a breakthrough into college football's elite?
Tom & Andy talk Penn State's offense, breaking down each position group and taking a close look at presumed starting quarterback Drew Allar, along with returning stars Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen, and Keandre Lambert Smith. Will this be the year that Penn State's offense finally becomes elite?
Tom & Andy are back at it again, gearing up for another season of Penn State football! They share their thoughts on this as-yet-pristine season with PSU football less than three weeks away.
Eight months is a long time to wait to talk about Penn State Football, so Tom & Andy put together their first-ever offseason episode. They check in on the 2023 recruiting class, review the recently-played Blue and White Game, discuss expectations for the coming season, and more. Plus, don't miss a brand new segment with a special guest.
Tom & Andy discuss how Penn State's big Rose Bowl win could serve as a springboard to next season. They also open up the mailbag for a final time this year as the boys sign off for another exhilarating season of the Blue & White Brothers.
In their second-to-last episode of the season, Tom shares his Rose Bowl experience as he and Andy relish Penn State's dominant victory over #8 Utah. They break down all the action and salute Sean Clifford, who got a signature win in his last game as a Nittany Lion.
As we head into a new calendar year, there's lots of excitement leading up to the Rose Bowl. Tom & Andy can hardly contain themselves for a marathon episode that looks over all the PSU and CFP news of the last month (10:56); looks back at the 2022 season (49:47); and looks ahead to their marquee matchup against #8 Utah in the Rose Bowl on Jan 2 with a mailbag (1:35:15) and analysis of the upcoming game (1:39:40).
It's official, Penn State is heading to the Rose Bowl! Tom & Andy share in the excitement and break down all the action from championship week while discussing the final CFP rankings. They also get into the implications of the recently confirmed 12-team playoff, and touch on the transfer portal, which is already heating up, along with the impact of NIL, and more.
Tom & Andy relish a solid victory on Senior Day against the Michigan State Spartans. With a 10-win regular season in the books, they express their thoughts on the seniors who took the field for the last time at Beaver Stadium and discuss the wider college football landscape in the lead-up to championship week.
Tom & Andy discuss the blowout win against Rutgers and consider what it will take to finish off the season with a tenth-win versus struggling Michigan State
With Penn State coming off a dominating win against Maryland, Tom & Andy are feeling pretty good about the team. After recapping the game, they look forward to a strong outing for their final road game of the season against bottom-feeding Rutgers.
As the Nittany Lions reach the final quarter of the season, Tom & Andy are feeling good after Penn State took care of business against a floundering Indiana team. They break down the dominant performance, and then turn their attention to what could be a tricky game against a talented Maryland team.
Tom & Andy commiserate over a heartbreaking loss to #2 Ohio State, in which Penn State outplayed the Buckeyes for more than three quarters only to come unraveled in the final 10 minutes. So much for being #Unrivaled. Then for the second time in three weeks, they discuss how Penn State can avoid a second consecutive loss as they travel to Bloomington to face East Division bottom-feeder Indiana.
The brothers breathe a sigh of relief after Penn State's dominant performance over Minnesota in the Whiteout. After unpacking the blowout, they ask whether the momentum from that game could carry the team to a signature win in next week's Stripe-Out game when they face the #2 Ohio State Buckeyes, a team the Lions haven't beaten since the magical 2016 season.
After a dismal day against Michigan, Tom & Andy find themselves at full froth. They try and pull it together enough to discuss their hopes for a better result in the Whiteout against Minnesota.
Coming off of a weekend without Penn State Football, Tom & Andy take the opportunity to reflect the season so far, commenting on some of the pleasant surprises and speculating about what they think might lay ahead. Then they dissect the upcoming matchup against Michigan, a top-ten clash that in many ways will decide the trajectory of the rest of the season.
Tom & Andy commiserate over a sloppy and unsatisfying win that nonetheless leaves Penn State undefeated and in the top-ten going in to the bye week. They also discuss some seismic changes in the Big Ten coaching scene and talk about what they hope the team will get fixed during the bye week.
Tom & Andy discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly about an uninspired win against an inferior CMU team. They then turn their attention to a struggling Northwestern team, PSU's opponent in their Big Ten home opener. All that, plus News & Notes, Mailbag, and more.
Tom & Andy relish the big win at Auburn, unpacking all the details of a dominant victory. Then they take a look at a tricky trap game with the Chippewas of Central Michigan.
The boys relish a comfortable win over the Ohio Bobcats and discuss the headline-grabbing young talent, including the breakout performance by RB Nick Singleton and an impressive second showing by QB Drew Allar. Then they take a look at their upcoming nationally-televised clash with SEC blue-blood Auburn.
After a wild win that saw Penn State's Sean Clifford snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with a clutch game-winning final drive (after previously snatching defeat from the jaws of victory with a backbreaking pick-six) Tom & Andy debrief the game. They also take a look at some of the other exciting action from opening weekend and take a peek at their next opponent, the Ohio (not State) Bobcats.
Tom and Andy talk through the challenging 12-game slate the Nittany Lions will face this season and take a closer look at their first-game opponent, Purdue. They conclude with their season predictions as they look forward to the Thursday night opener.
As the 2022 football season inches closer, Tom and Andy roll up their sleeves and dive into the defense and special teams. Will the defense do a better job of closing out games under new coordinator Manny Diaz? Will they have a serviceable kicking game after the departure of Jordan Stout? Hear their take on these questions and more along with the return of the mailbag with a fascinating "would you rather?" conversation.
Last year was nothing if not disappointing from an offensive standpoint, including an abysmal run game and a veteran Sean Clifford who was hampered by injury for the majority of season's second half slump. Now that it's year two in the Mike Yurcich offense, and Tom & Andy discuss what they're hopeful about, what they're worried about, and whether Penn State's offensive line can finally pull it together.
Tom & Andy get back in the saddle with a slew of offseason updates as they eagerly anticipate the start of Penn State's 2022 campaign. They discuss the addition of Manny Diaz as the new DC, Big Ten expansion, the current state of college football, and their initial outlook on this as-yet pristine season.
In their final episode of the season, the brothers share their take on the National Championship game along with several of the major bowls, including a recap of Penn State's dismal Outback Bowl showing. They finish up with a "state of the program" discussion, sharing their hopes and concerns about Penn State football at the end of a second straight disappointing season.
The boys take stock of the college football landscape known as bowl season, including some of the big news for Penn State since their last regular season game on the coaching and recruiting front. Then they turn their attention to their upcoming Outback Bowl appearance against the #21 Arkansas Razorbacks and what they hope will be an enjoyable final game for the 2021 season.
Coming off of the regular season finale, a Land Grant loss to Michigan State, the boys unpack a game that caps a disappointing regular season. The boys begin by discussing the coaching carousel craziness of the past week and engaging in some CFP prognostication.
Tom & Andy break down the the breakout debut performance of true freshman QB Christian Veilleux, who replaced an unwell Sean Clifford midway through the first half and led the Lions to a comfortable victory over Rutgers. They also take a look at their final regular season opponent, a Michigan State team licking their wounds from an Ohio State beatdown. While they're at it, they look around the college football landscape to see which teams might be more miserable than Penn State.
Reeling from another close loss and with Penn State's season sliding further off the rails, Tom & Andy dissect the Michigan game and take a peek at the home finale versus Rutgers. Along the way, they look squarely at Franklin's coaching performance in their second straight Blue & White Breakdown segment. Quite Franklin, you won't want to miss it.
Penn State secured a respectable 31-14 win against Maryland, but Penn State's offense was yet again hot and cold, resulting in a more stressful game than expected. Still, a record-breaking performance by Jahan Dotson headlined a victory that put an end to their three-game losing streak. As the team prepares for top-ten Michigan, which Penn State team will show up? Tom & Andy discuss it all, including a breakdown of the team's lackluster run game that has been hampering them all season.
Tom & Andy break down a spirited effort against Ohio State that wasn't quite enough to get a win in the horseshoe. Nonetheless, the game showed that this is a Penn State team that still has a lot of fight left in it, with enough weapons to go toe-to-toe with a top-5 team that boasts the nation's best offense. The boys then look ahead to border-state foe Maryland and consider whether there might be better times ahead, as the PSU squad looks to get back to their winning ways as they head into the final third of the season.
As inexplicable as the loss to Illinois may have been, Tom & Andy managed to record their longest podcast of the season as they try and grapple with the slow-motion disaster that was the Illinois game. Then they stare down the monster that is this year's Ohio State team, as they anticipate a second consecutive Halloween fright-night for Saturday's game against the nation's top offense.
Coming out of a bye week with no Penn State football, Tom & Andy take the opportunity to look across the landscape of college football halfway through the 2021 season. They also take stock of Penn State at the midpoint and look ahead to the Illinois game with starting QB Sean Clifford's injury status unknown.
It started great but ended in disaster. Tom & Andy commiserate over Penn State's loss to Iowa and discuss the injury to starting QB Sean Clifford. In addition to analyzing the game, they also ponder the implications of Penn State's first loss as the team heads into the bye week and conclude by delving into the mailbag.
After a vindicating victory over Indiana, Penn State turns its attention to the biggest matchup of the season, a top-5 clash with Big Ten West foe Iowa. Tom & Andy discuss the highs and lows of the win over the Hoosiers and the promise and peril of their imminent face-off with the Hawkeyes.
Tom and Andy recap a businesslike, if uninspired, win against Villanova and look ahead to their first chance to avenge last year's opening-game loss to Indiana. Coming off a disappointing 2-2 start, this still-dangerous Indiana team will look to prove last year was not a fluke, while Penn State looks to shake off last year's loss and show that their top-4 ranking is well-deserved.
It was a glorious evening in Happy Valley as Tom & Andy recount the sights and sounds of a White Out win, as the Nittany Lions prevailed over the visiting Auburn Tigers. As they revel in the team's success, they simultaneously manage to avoid spending too much time nit-picking the abysmal officiating. The close by taking stock of the team a quarter of the way through the season, and reserve a bit of room at the end to preview their upcoming opponent, FCS contender Villanova.
It's whiteout week! With #22 Auburn coming to town for a major cross-conference matchup, the brothers all kinds of excited, especially after Penn State took care of defending MAC-champ Ball State on Saturday. Tom and Andy break down the Ball State game and dig into what is sure to be an exciting game against the one of college football's blue-bloods. Will Auburn turn out to be a paper tiger, or will they put a crimp in Penn State's ambitions to finally join the CFP club? Special thanks to Rudy Glocker and https://www.burgeonoutdoor.com (Burgeon Outdoor) for their support. Find them on Instagram: @burgeonoutdoor
What a difference a year makes! In a situation that mirrored of last year's opening game, Penn State flipped the script and came away from a hard-fought first game with a huge road win against a B1G West behemoth Wisconsin. Tom & Andy celebrate the good times as they break down the win, discuss room for improvement, and take a look at their next opponent, a sneaky-good defending MAC champion Ball State.
In this final loo at the NIttany Lions before the season gets underway, Tom and Andy take a look at the challenging 2021 schedule, dig into their upcoming top-25 matchup against an always-tough Wisconsin squad, and give their season predictions. Want to hear about Tom's other life as The Real Hiking Viking? Check out his guest appearance on https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-obligatory-psu-podcast/id1364284882?i=1000533211964 (The Obligatory PSU Podcast), where he goes in-depth about the hiking life as well as his love for all things Penn State Football.
Tom and Andy discuss how this year's defense and special teams are shaping up after a disappointing 2020 campaign for both squads. Can they bounce back from last year's sub-par performance? They also debut a new "Mailbag" segment and get into the latest on the rumored B1G/ACC/PAC-12 alliance. It's all in a day's work for the Blue & White Brothers.
What will the offense of new OC Mike Yursich look like? Will this be Franklin's best line ever? Can Sean Clifford bounce back from a dismal 2020 season? All this plus updates on the CFP landscape, random Chris Farley impressions, and more.
Tom and Andy are back for the upcoming 2021 Penn State football season! In this first episode they review all the offseason action and discuss how they think the team will fare this year. As always, you'll get a heavy dose of unedited brotherly banter, complete with their unique mix of self-deprecating humor and incisive analysis. 0:00-We're Back! 5:37-Last Look at 2020 12:48-Off-Season Developments 53:56-Season Preview for 2021 1:34:44-Coming Up with Blue & White Brothers
This unprecedented season proved to be quite a way to begin a podcast on Penn State Football! Now, here at the end of the beginning, Tom and Andy get the lay of the land as they reflect on the season that was and offer some thoughts on what lies ahead.
Tom and Andy recap what turns out to be Penn State's final game of the season, a dominant 56-21 victory over Illinois. They also touch on the team's decision to forego a bowl game, and consider how this win was a fitting end to the struggles of the 2020 season.
After a tumultuous season, Penn State has finally made it to what the Big Ten originally dubbed "Champions Week" but which has turned out to be anything but, as they discuss at length in this week's Gathmania Gripe. Regardless, Tom & Andy eventually get to talking the team's final opponent of the Big Ten slate, a struggling Illinois squad that is fresh off the firing of head coach Lovie Smith. The boys also touch on the recently concluded early signing day, previewing some of the new recruits. They conclude with another segment of Rick's Picks.
Tom and Andy revel in the return of the Land Grant glory with a 39-24 victory over the Michigan State Spartans. Although it's the regular-season finale, it turned out to be a game of firsts with the unusual 2020 football season drawing to a close.
With the final weekend of the regular season approaching, Tom and Andy take a look at the Michigan State game with the Land Grant Trophy on the line. They also survey the wider Big Ten landscape and debut a new segment, "Rick's Picks," featuring the show's first ever guest.
Coming off the second win of the season, Tom & Andy review a dominant performance against an improved Rutgers team. Feeling mostly good about a team that is finally starting to play well, they leave room to discuss their ongoing gripes, including some frustrations with a two-QB "system" that gave Will Levis 17 carries on a wet and windy day in Piscataway.
Still energized after the Michigan win, Tom and Andy do a deep dive on a rejuvenated and surprisingly competitive Rutgers team. A game that most years would been considered a gimme is shaping up to be an important border battle. The boys also offer their congratulations to PSU alum Trace McSorely, who threw a TD in his first NFL regular season game Wednesday. They end with a brilliant idea for a new segment on future podcasts.
It finally happened—Penn State got their first victory of the Blue and White Brothers era! Tom and Andy share in the emotions coming off the team's first victory, then break down the game and talk about what this win might mean going forward. But whatever the next few weeks hold, for now they're 1-0! Show Notes:
-
Head Coach James Franklin Michigan Post Game Press Conference https://youtu.be/bP_mWSvtkxE
-
Holy Roller Oakland Raiders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGffYc5eXnA
-
Veteran official says Penn State-Michigan fumble was wrong call: https://247sports.com/Article/Penn-State-football-Michigan-Wolverines-illegal-batting-fumble-penalty-NFL-referee-155694344/
It's Thanksgiving week, and Tom and Andy talk about what they're looking forward to with Thanksgiving Dinner. Oh, and they also discuss the upcoming Michigan game and whether there's anything to look forward to on Saturday. Show Notes:
-
Penn State’s James Franklin says his goal of being first African-American coach to win a national title is important to himhttps://www.inquirer.com/college-sports/penn-state/penn-state-nittany-lions-james-franklin-goal-first-african-american-head-coach-to-win-national-championship-20191015.html
-
Even Jim Harbaugh’s son is questioning his father's wardrobe 'journey' https://saturdaytradition.com/michigan-football/even-jim-harbaughs-son-is-questioning-his-fathers-wardrobe-journey/
-
The Internet Mocks Jim Harbaugh’s Ridiculous ‘Headset Boner’ Under His Mask https://brobible.com/sports/article/jim-harbaugh-headset-boner-mask/
-
2016 Michigan OSU game where JT Barrett 4th and short play was reviewed and they got the call https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kfiF8zvWmc
-
Jim Harbaugh bitterly disappointed https://youtu.be/LM_OPM3QRu0
-
WHAT IF: J.T. Barrett Was Ruled Short https://www.si.com/college/michigan/football/michigan-football-what-if-jt-barrett-was-short-ohio-state-football-jim-harbaugh
-
Zach Charbonnet and rumors of transferring https://gbmwolverine.com/2020/11/17/michigan-football-rumors-swirl-zach-charbonnet-transferring/
Tom and Andy navigate the titanic disaster that is this current Penn State Football season—which began with such great expectations. Analogies abound in this episode as the boys discover the art of beating a dead horse in hopes of making sense of this historic collapse that we're witnessing before our very eyes.
Now midway through the season, Tom and Andy talk about Penn State's upcoming battle against Iowa, a perennially tough matchup that presents an opportunity for a season-defining turnaround. Tom pours himself a tall bourbon to get him through the episode as the boys don’t even offer up a score prediction at the end. Show Notes:
-
Battle of Midway movies: Midway (2019) with Woody Harrelson, Dennis Quaid, Aaron Eckhart, Luke Evans, Patrick Wilson, and Ed Skrein, among many others: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6924650/?ref_=kw_li_tt Midway (1976) with Charlton Heston, Peter Fonda, and James Coburn, among many others: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074899/?ref_=kw_li_tt
-
If you’re interested in checking out Hardcore History by Dan Carlin, check out episode 1 of Supernova in the East: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dan-carlins-hardcore-history/id173001861?i=1000415837465
-
Steve Martin (Lucky Day) from The Three Amigos giving his El Guapo speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoZ_4nNNn9M
-
Monday Depth Chart: https://247sports.com/college/penn-state/LongFormArticle/Penn-State-Football-Depth-Chart-Iowa-game-154909621/
-
Franklin’s Tuesday Press Conference: Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFgIU1labiw Transcript: https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2020/11/17/21571388/james-franklin-press-conference-iowa-november-2020-misery-sean-clifford-will-levis
-
Kirk Ferentz Press Conference: Transcript: https://247sports.com/college/iowa/LongFormArticle/Everything-Kirk-Ferentz-said-on-Tuesday-Penn-State-Nittany-Lions-Iowa-Hawkeyes-154943594/#154943594_1
-
2018 Sean Clifford Article (1 free article before pay-wall): Penn State’s Perfect Backup Quarterback: Sean Clifford’s Folkloric Start https://www.mcall.com/sports/penn-state/mc-spt-penn-state-football-quarterback-sean-clifford-20180919-story.html
-
Andy from The Office punches hole in the wall: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwTJ08lb73Q
-
The Perfect Storm (2000): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0177971/
-
2004 Iowa at Penn State, the 6-4 Game: https://www.espn.com/college-football/game?gameId=242970213 https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/11749605/happy-anniversary-iowa-6-4-win-penn-state
-
2002 Iowa at Penn State Game. A great comeback game after a brutal start. The refs screwed PSU multiple times, including in OT that led to JoePa chasing the ref down after the game: https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2013/7/23/4548464/hidden-gems-penn-state-iowa-2002 https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=222710213
-
Jason Oweh is the team’s second leading tackler behind Ellis Brooks. He has 27 total tackles to Brooks 31. Oweh has more than double the number of tackles that Shaka Toney has, which is 12.
-
8-OF-19 - PENN STATE’S RED ZONE TOUCHDOWN RATE Getting to the red zone hasn’t been Penn State’s issue, it’s finishing the job that has been the difference for the Nittany Lions. Penn State has been there 19 times and scored just eight touchdowns. On top of that, they have been in the red zone and gone without any points at all seven times, including twice in the fourth quarter on Saturday at Nebraska. The Nittany Lions’ 63.2 percent conversion rate is 123rd out of 126 FBS programs this season. The struggles have been a direct reflection of two major deficiencies so far this year. Penn State has just four rushing touchdowns in four games and two of those came from inside the red zone (and one, of course, came as a result of Indiana letting Ford into the end zone). Passing accuracy has been an issue all over the field for Penn State, but it’s been magnified in the red zone. That hasn’t been more apparent than last week against Nebraska, as the Nittany Lions finished 2-of-11 passing for 21 yards and no scores in the red area. For the season, Penn State is 12-of-28 passing for 107 yards and six touchdowns inside the 20. The windows get tighter, accuracy...
Tom and Andy recap PSU-Nebraska, a game with some bright spots but one that ultimately puts them at 0-4 and feeding at the bottom of the Big Ten standings. They discuss some of the big developments in the game, including the benching of Sean Clifford in favor of Will Levis, and the continuation of defensive breakdowns. They also analyze some of the team's underlying issues and what needs to change going forward.
Tom and Andy try and shake off Penn State's disappointing 0-3 start and share some questions and insights about what we expect (and hope) to see Saturday against Nebraska. They also share some midweek news updates about Coach Franklin, the team depth chart, and Journey Brown. Show Notes:
-
James Franklin discussing being apart from his family and how it has effected him: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/psu/2020/11/10/penn-state-football-james-franklin-daughter-sickle-cell/stories/202011100136
-
Roz Ellis, Iowa Field Hockey Coach: https://hawkeyesports.com/coach/roz-ellis/
-
Journey Brown ends his football career for medically reasons: https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/30299931/penn-state-journey-brown-retiring-football-due-heart-condition
-
Maryland Terapins Covid outbreak causes Ohio State game to be cancelled: https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/30298323/maryland-vs-no-3-osu-due-coronavirus
-
2002 #7 Nebraska at #25 Penn State (condensed to 10 minutes): https://youtu.be/w7ecNS5JE5o
-
Scott Frost only had 1 undefeated season at UCF in just his second season going 13-0 in 2017 with a Peach Bowl victory over Auburn (37-27). He left after that second season with the Golden Knights to take the job at Nebraska.
-
Maryland freshman WR who thrashed PSU, Rakim Jarrett: https://saturdaytradition.com/maryland-football/maryland-wr-hauls-in-big-honor-from-pro-football-focus/
-
Penn State QB Sean Clifford set on following Heisman winner Joe Burrow’s path: https://www.mcall.com/sports/penn-state/mc-spt-penn-state-football-cotton-bowl-follow-20191229-zjojflt4k5c2lo222xemiekvlm-story.html
What the heck was that? Tom & Andy try to make sense of Penn State's embarrassing 35-19 loss to Maryland, a game that wasn't nearly as close as the score indicates. Instead of picking the game apart, they go deep and try and figure out what is going on with this team and how they can possibly move forward from here. Show Notes:
-
mirth: /mərTH/ noun amusement, especially as expressed in laughter. “Penn State’s 0-3 start shook Andy’s mirth"
-
James Franklin’s family isn’t with him for the season: https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/29360334/penn-state-james-franklin-leaving-family-florida-protect-daughter-health
-
In 2004 Penn State was 2-7 entering the final 2 games of the season against Indiana and Michigan State. They were coming off 6 straight losses, none of which were blowouts. They rallied against Indiana with a goal line stand to maintain the lead and get the win 22-18 in Bloomington. Then they capped the season off with a decided victory against Michigan State 37-13. This led the team into the offseason for a strong run at a national title in 2005. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/penn-state/2004-schedule.html
There's a lot to be frustrated with, but Tom and Andy are trying to stay positive and keep the faith in this unusual and expectation-defying season. Show Notes: - The most yards KJ Hamler ever had in a game was 138 yards on 4 catches (1 TD) against Ohio State in 2018. He has had two games that are tied for the most touchdowns in a game with two touchdown catches. Both games were in 2019 against Idaho and Michigan. - Jahan is in pretty good territory tying for second all time in Penn State history with 3 TD catches in a game. The last Penn State Wide Receiver to have 3 TDs in a game was DaeSean Hamilton against Indiana in 2017. Tight end Pat Freiermuth also caught 3 TD’s last year against Michigan State. Outside of those two players and Jahan Dotson, there are only 5 other Penn State receivers who have caught 3 TD’s in a game: Allen Robinson (two times in 2012 against Navy and Indiana), Deon Butler (Michigan State 2008), Joe Jurevicious (Louisville 1997), Bobby Engram (Rutgers 1995), and Freddie Scott (Temple 1994). Bobby Engram stands alone at the top with the most TD catches in a game for PSU with 4 against Minnesota in 1993. - https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/projection “Other Words from projection projectional \ prə-ˈjek-shnəl , -shə-nᵊl \ adjective” - Urban Meyer on playing in Beaver Stadium during a whiteout: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/2020/10/117598/urban-meyer-believes-penn-states-white-out-is-a-7-to-10-point-advantage-it-wont-have-this-week - Locksley and Penn State head coach James Franklin spent three seasons together at Maryland, from 2000 to 2002. Locksley coached the running backs, Franklin the wide receivers. https://www.centredaily.com/sports/college/penn-state-university/psu-football/article235382857.html#:~:text=Locksley%20and%20Penn%20State%20head,p.m.%20Friday%20(on%20FS1) - 2016 Penn State at Pitt: https://www.sbnation.com/2016/9/10/12873134/drop-throw-doom-penn-state-pitt-pittsburgh-college-football
Tom and Andy discuss the misery of losing the opener against Indiana in dysfunctional fashion. They work their way through all the glaring issues that they saw as Indiana burst Penn State’s chance at an undefeated season. By the end of their Indiana review, they point out the silver linings that they gleaned from the loss as we look ahead to next week’s Mount Everest opponent, Ohio State. An Ohio State team that looks every bit the title contender that we all thought they were. Show Notes:
-
DraftKings to reportedly refund losing Penn State wagers after controversial loss to Indiana: https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-football/news/draftkings-refund-losing-penn-state-wagers-loss-indiana/15xl6d34zugh31afcazwermjms#:~:text=DraftKings%20is%20refunding%20all%20ML,site%20credits%20within%2024%20hours.&text=The%20controversy%20from%20Saturday's%20game%20arose%20on%20the%20final%20play.
-
2021 Recruiting Rankings: https://247sports.com/Season/2021-Football/CompositeTeamRankings/
-
Justin Fields continues to look elite: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2914889-justin-fields-opens-heisman-campaign-in-style-as-no-5-osu-dominates-nebraska
It's finally here—game week 2020. Like James Franklin, this episode is all about Indiana, Indiana, Indiana, Indiana! Tom and Andy start with a few final preseason updates, looking at roster changes and late-breaking player news. Then they take a look at Indiana and what sort of game they expect to see from their first opponent of the season. They end with their game and season predictions, if only Tom will let Andy sign off! From the show:
First things first: just after we finished recording, it was reported that Journey Brown may be unavailable for the entire 2020 season due to an undisclosed medical issue. Apparently Andy jinxed it, and we are truly sorry, Journey. But in all seriousness, we wish Journey the best and hope whatever is going on is not as bad as it seems right now.
Here are some of the other things discussed in the show— Notable body transformations: https://247sports.com/college/penn-state/LongFormArticle/Penn-State-football-season-2020-roster-updated-153019967/#153019967_1 (https://247sports.com/college/penn-state/LongFormArticle/Penn-State-football-season-2020-roster-updated-153019967/#153019967_1)
Micah Parsons is listed at 6’3” 245lbs. Brandon Smith is listed at 6’3” 244lbs, a 1 one pound difference between the two. Micah is bigger by one measly pound, but bigger nonetheless.
Anthony Adams was 5’11.5” 299lbs as of the 2003 draft. His Instagram handle is @spiceadams Antonio Shelton’s Instagram handle is @_groovy55
Drug related issues resolved for trio of players: https://247sports.com/college/penn-state/Article/Penn-State-trio-resolve-drug-related-cases-Devyn-Ford-Caedan-Wallace-Sal-Wormley-153173619/ (https://247sports.com/college/penn-state/Article/Penn-State-trio-resolve-drug-related-cases-Devyn-Ford-Caedan-Wallace-Sal-Wormley-153173619/)
Apparently I’m not the only one who thought Garrett Sickles played with his hair on fire: https://www.ydr.com/story/sports/college/penn-state/football/2016/10/25/he-played-his-penn-state-hair-fire/92724500/ (https://www.ydr.com/story/sports/college/penn-state/football/2016/10/25/he-played-his-penn-state-hair-fire/92724500/)
College Football Playoff will NOT expand: https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-playoff-wont-expand-to-eight-teams-despite-proposal-from-pac-12-for-2020/ (https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-playoff-wont-expand-to-eight-teams-despite-proposal-from-pac-12-for-2020/)
Current AP Top 25 Poll: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll (https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll)
James Franklin Indiana Tweet: https://twitter.com/coachjfranklin/status/1317940295460335618?s=20 (https://twitter.com/coachjfranklin/status/1317940295460335618?s=20)
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Ruprecht the monkey boy clip (Oklahoma bit at 5:10, Cork on fork bit at 6:01): https://youtu.be/eF8QAeQm3ZM (https://youtu.be/eF8QAeQm3ZM)
Antwaan Randle El Indiana career statistics: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/antwaan-randle-el-1.html (https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/antwaan-randle-el-1.html)
Michael Penix Jr. Indiana information: https://iuhoosiers.com/sports/football/roster/michael-penix-jr-/14628 (https://iuhoosiers.com/sports/football/roster/michael-penix-jr-/14628)
Pro Football Focus pre season QB rankings: https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-quarterback-rankings-all-130-fbs-starters (https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-quarterback-rankings-all-130-fbs-starters)
The last time Ohio State lost to Indiana was in 1988 when Indiana won 41-7
11/17/2018 Maryland almost beat Ohio State, but ultimately lost 52-51
Updated Penn State Roster: https://gopsusports.com/sports/football/roster (https://gopsusports.com/sports/football/roster)
Throwback uniform...
Tom and Andy have a riveting discussion about Penn State's special teams, including the progress they made in last year, and how they hope the team will build on it this year. They also talk through the season ahead, noting the big games, major uncertainties, and huge expectations they have for the upcoming season. From the Show:
Hugh Freeze coached Liberty against Syracuse from his hospital bed in 2019. They lost 24-0. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2019/08/31/hugh-freeze-hospital-bed-liberty-syracuse/2182312001/ (https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2019/08/31/hugh-freeze-hospital-bed-liberty-syracuse/2182312001/)
Joe Paterno’s last game on the sidelines was on October 15th, 2011 against Purdue. Penn state won the game 23-18. Joe started the game on the sideline. Then went up to the press box at half time. He would never coach a game from the sidelines again. He was dealing with a hairline fracture in his hip from a sideline collision during warmups. https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/6844675/joe-paterno-shoulder-hip-injured-sideline-collision-penn-state-nittany-lions-practice (https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/6844675/joe-paterno-shoulder-hip-injured-sideline-collision-penn-state-nittany-lions-practice)
JoePa’s 409th victory sealed with an Illinois missed FG as time expired with help from the student section in a snowy Beaver Stadium. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGzGePvKbGs&feature=emb_logo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGzGePvKbGs&feature=emb_logo)
Special Teams: Blake Gillikin: He was named a freshman All-American by ESPN. He was named as a first-team Academic All-American twice. He is only the 12th two-time Academic All-American in Penn State History. Gillikin's Academic All-America honor is the 67th for Nittany Lion football program, which ranks second in Division I football history (FBS and FCS). He was a rare two-time captain at Penn State, and won several team awards for his leadership. And he was named Big Ten Sportsman of the Year. He is also incredibly intelligent, maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA in kinesiology. It’s like having a coach AND doctor on the field. Gillikin is the first Penn State punter to be named Academic All-American.
Joe Lorig, Special Teams Coordinator: "Number one we try to learn from other people's mistakes you know," Penn State special team's coordinator Joe Lorig said last week. "I put together a teach clip cut up every week for our guys and you know like we were gonna watch three today. Two from the Texas Tech Texas game, but you're seeing a lot of special teams mistakes across the country you know I think it's a product of not having spring football."
Jordan Stout: His 79.5% touchback rate was a program-best over the past 10 seasons. His 12 touchbacks against Idaho in the opening game last season were due in large part to the fact that Penn State crushed the Vandals 79-7.
Punting hang-time: Punter Pat McAfee has the official unofficial longest hang-time at 5.6 seconds.
Blake Gillikin helped Penn State beat Ohio State 24-21 in 2016. Without Blake Gillikin’s heads up play to take a safety on a bad snap, PSU might not have won the game.
Jake PineGARRRRRRR. You’ll start saying it too.
Chris Stoll, Long Snapper awarded scholarship (video): https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2020/10/9/21510129/penn-state-long-snapper-chris-stoll-awarded-scholarship (https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2020/10/9/21510129/penn-state-long-snapper-chris-stoll-awarded-scholarship)
Season Overview:
First three game times announced: https://www.roarlionsroar.com/penn-state-football/2020/10/7235/kickoff-times-ohio-state-indiana-michigan-tv-network-big-ten (https://www.roarlionsroar.com/penn-state-football/2020/10/7235/kickoff-times-ohio-state-indiana-michigan-tv-network-big-ten)
TCU’s hideous alternate uniforms: https://www.uniswag.com/blog/tcu-alternate-uniforms...
Tom and Andy dive hard into a comprehensive overview of the offensive and defensive units, both from a coaching staff stand point and a player personnel stand point. Tom stutters and interrupts Andy, a lot. From the Show: Offense Ricky Rahne is now the head coach of the Old Dominion Monarchs, NOT The Dominators or even The Denominators.
Tanner Morgan, QB for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, was NOT a walk-on. He was 44th nationally ranked pro-style QB and a 3-star recruit and the 5th best prospect out of Kentucky in 2017 according to 247Sports Composite.
WR Coach Taylor Stubblefield has had 11 different coaching stops in his career to date (2007-2020), including Penn State, all of them as a WR coach. Miami, Utah, and Wake Forest were his most recent stops.
Taylor Stubblefield’s (Wide Receiver) professional football career: 2001-04 Purdue 2005 Carolina Panthers 2005 Hamilton Tiger-cats 2006 St. Louis Rams* 2006 Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Phil Trautwein’s (Offensive Tackle) professional football career: St. Louis Rams (2009) Cleveland Browns (2009) St. Louis Rams (2009−2011) New Orleans Saints (2012) San Diego Chargers (2012) * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
The word is, officially, portal. Transfer portal. NOT porthole. Porthole is still a cool word though. Will find a way to work that in during a later episode. Mark my words. -Tom
Andy was right. Kent State. https://lancasteronline.com/sports/football/pennstate/clifford-george-connect-on-95-yard-pass-play-longest-in-psu-program-history/article_a5a43bcc-b932-11e8-8501-2be3fba160e4.html (https://lancasteronline.com/sports/football/pennstate/clifford-george-connect-on-95-yard-pass-play-longest-in-psu-program-history/article_a5a43bcc-b932-11e8-8501-2be3fba160e4.html)
Correction on Jahan Dotson, he did not have 6 touchdowns catches. He had 5. Started all 13 games at wide receiver...Was third on the team in receptions (27), yardage (488) and touchdowns (5)...Returned two punts for 39 yards (19.5 average) with a long return of 30 yards. He also had PSU’s longest play of the season with a 72 yard touchdown reception against Purdue. Was mostly joking when I said these would be unbelievable numbers in the JoePa era. But not totally joking. Point is, look out for Jahan this season.
Noah Cain on his diet: “I feel like my IQ has come a long way from last year to this year,” Cain said. “My body has changed a lot. I’ve changed the way I’ve eaten. I’m from Louisiana, so all I know is big seafood, heavy foods, all that. But I’ve changed [my diet] just so I can be fresh on the field and help sustain myself through the whole season.I feel leaner, quicker, faster. I’m just excited to show that against Indiana on October 24.”
Defense:
Jayson Oweh on Feldman’s Freak list for 2019 AND 2020. https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-pff-favorites-bruce-feldman-2020-freaks-list
Brandon Smith 2019 Highlight Reel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m591DQ1Cm0Q (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m591DQ1Cm0Q)
Jaquan Brisker: Rated a four-star prospect by 247Sports and ESPN and a three-star recruit by Rivals...Ranked as the No. 4 junior college prospect, No. 1 safety and No. 1 junior college recruit from Pennsylvania by 247Sports...Rated as the No. 18 junior college player by ESPN...Ranked No. 29 junior college prospect by Rivals.
In the first episode of the inaugural season, Tom and Andy tell you a little bit about who they are and where they’ve come from in life to find themselves starting the Blue and White Brothers Podcast. They talk about how deep the Penn State roots run in their family and how they each fell in love with Penn State Football. They also dive into their own personal familial dynamic and how different they are from one another. Finally, they discuss what they’re most excited about for the upcoming season and they get into some past Penn State games that helped cultivate their experiences as Penn State Nittany Lion Fans. From the episode: 1986 Fiesta Bowl Penn State vs Miami: Pete Giftopoulos game sealing interception https://youtu.be/fEeO31UeQYA (https://youtu.be/fEeO31UeQYA) 1991 Cincinnati at Penn State: Penn State wins 81-0 https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-1991-09-08-2809636-story.html (https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-1991-09-08-2809636-story.html) 1999 Arizona at Penn State: Penn State wins 41-7 https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2011/6/28/2237102/penn-states-greatest-games-of-the-big-ten-era-1999-arizona (https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2011/6/28/2237102/penn-states-greatest-games-of-the-big-ten-era-1999-arizona) 1999 Minnesota at Penn State: Minnesota wins 24-23 “Minnesota upset Penn State, 24-23, when Dan Nystrom kicked a 32-yard field goal on the last play.” https://www.collegian.psu.edu/archives/article_b01a01bc-a596-545b-921c-ed9261a9a901.html (https://www.collegian.psu.edu/archives/article_b01a01bc-a596-545b-921c-ed9261a9a901.html)
In 2012 Bill O’brien lost his first (cupcake) game as Penn State’s head coach to the Ohio Bobcats 24-14.
Franklin has never lost to a MAC school as PSU’s head coach. Though he did lose to Temple (American Conference) in his second season (2015) 27-10 at Lincoln Financial Field. It would be Franklin’s last “cupcake” loss.
Tom’s personal links: Instagram:@therealhikingviking Facebook: The Real Hiking Viking https://www.facebook.com/therealhikingviking (https://www.facebook.com/therealhikingviking) http://www.therealhikingviking.com/ (www.therealhikingviking.com)
Mountainsmith: https://mountainsmith.com/ (https://mountainsmith.com/) https://mountainsmith.com/zerk-40-backpack.html (https://mountainsmith.com/zerk-40-backpack.html)
Andy's personal links: https://www.facebook.com/agathman (https://www.facebook.com/agathman)
Enjoy a sneak preview of a new weekly podcast about Penn State Football, premiering October 2020. Blue and White Brothers is hosted by Tom and Andy Gathman: two brothers with two takes about one team. Tom Gathman, better known as “The Real Hiking Viking,” spends much of his time on trail and off grid living life to the full. Andy Gathman is the pastor of a small rural church and spends most of his time spreading the good news. We are as different as brothers can be with one exception: a passion for Penn State football. We bring our love of the game and lifelong sibling rivalry to each show. Join us every week as we discuss our thoughts, analysis, and perspective on Penn State football. Want more Blue and White Brothers? Follow us on social media: https://www.facebook.com/BlueandWhiteBrothers https://www.instagram.com/blueandwhitebrothers/ https://twitter.com/bluewhitebros