Blue and White Roundtable: Au Revoir, Football.

It’s the last Blue and White Roundtable for a while, so thanks to all the bloggers who wrote questions, answered faithfully, and created great conversation for everyone to enjoy:

Black Shoe Diaries
The Nittany Line
There Is No Name On My Jersey
William Yurasko
Alex Grier’s Nittany Notebook

And of course, thanks to the readers for being generally hilarious and insightful throughout the year. It’s no fun without comments, after all.

Mike from Black Shoe Diaries wrote this week’s questions.

Let’s start off with a positive note. When you look back on the 2007 season five or ten years from now, what will be your fondest memory? It doesn’t necessarily have to be Penn State related.

I’ll be happy for Rodney Kinlaw. His career was held back by injuries and being stuck behind Tony Hunt on the depth chart.  Heading into this season he was still looking up at Austin Scott. We know what happened to Scott, but Kinlaw filled the role of starting tailback better than anyone could have expected. He improved steadily throughout the season, and I’ll be absolutely amazed if he’s not a mid-to-late round pick in the NFL draft. With his receiving skills and speed, he’ll be a sought after player for any number of teams.

Run, Run, Rodney!

What should the Big Ten conference consider as its highest priority this off season?

I would suggest that the conference strongly encourage its members to play stiffer non-conference competition, but that will never happen due to the schools’ financial concerns.  A more practical idea would be to closely examine the quality of officiating in the league — and I don’t say this in a tinfoil hat, “the world is out to get Penn State” sort of way.  The officiating throughout the league stinks out loud and needs to be addressed. 

Clark or Devlin? Whose camp are you in and why?

I’m in the Devlin camp because I believe his running skills are roughly equal to Clark’s, but his passing skills are far superior.  I’ve said multiple times that I’m not against some sort of two-QB system next year, because both guys can help the team in many ways.  The team loves Clark, and I think it’s important for him to be on the field in certain situations.  He’s shown he can do what a quarterback is supposed to do — move the team down the field.  I just hope both guys get a chance to prove themselves. 

Which position not including quarterback is your biggest concern looking ahead to 2008?

I’m truly concerned about our safeties and the general lack of depth at running back.  This answer is subject to change if Justin King declares for the NFL draft. 

Lightning Round

Who is the early favorite to win the Big Ten in 2008?

It has to be Ohio State, although they may be losing a significant group of juniors to the NFL.  It’s hard to tell how long it’ll take Rich Rodriguez to impliment his system at Michigan, or who he’ll have to actually run it on the field next season.  Penn State will have a metric assload of returning starters, but their conference road schedule is beyond brutal.

How many Fulmer Cup points for Penn State this summer?

Okay, now we’re talking.  I’m a gambling man, so I’ll set the over/under at 14 points (hey, just like the Penn State offense!).  That’s enough for two minor alcohol violations, a fight or two, and a player smoking trees outside of Nittany Apartments. 

Reach skyward, dear Nittany Lions.

Now that the offseason has begun, what will you keep your mind occupied with until fall practice? (from WFY)

Well, there’s always spring practice and the Blue/White game, which we’ll all overanalyze for absolutely no good reason other than boredom.  In reality, it’s likely to be a tumultuous and interesting off-season for Penn State, so we can only hope that the “down” periods won’t be too boring. 

Otherwise, perhaps the Phillies will keep me entertained until August.