Some random thoughts on Blue-White weekend:
n Today's glorified scrimmage is a celebration of Penn State football, a cross between Gentle Thursday, which used to take place on the HUB lawn, and a season-opening matchup vs. somebody like Coastal Carolina. In short, it's worth a free peek, no one will critique the playcalling, and few will remember anybody's performance.
n While surely true freshman quarterback Kevin Newsome will draw the most attention, I'm as interested in how walk-on Matt McGloin fares in his first extended opportunity. JoePa has said he likes McGloin, and a solid performance could help make him at least a temporary option early in the season if anything happens to Daryll Clark.
n Can Clark wear a red X during the season?
n An indication of how quickly things can change: A year ago, Clark was in a battle with Pat Devlin for the starting job.
n The most intriguing matchups today could be the wide receiver-cornerback spots, where the Lions are in great need of reliable players. There is potential at receiver with the likes of Brett Brackett, Graham Zug and Derek Moye, and there are questions at corner, where A.J. Wallace hasn't proven he can guard or hit anybody and Knowledge Timmons is getting his feet wet.
Fact Box
Seeing blue and white
What: Penn State's Blue-White Game
Where: Beaver Stadium
Kickoff: 2 p.m.
TV: None
Radio: ESPN Radio 1430 WVAM, WMAJ-AM 1450 (Steve Jones, Joe Paterno)
Admission and parking: free
Pre-game autographs: 12:30 p.m.
Injury report: Jerome Hayes, Brennan Coakley, Ryan Gmerek, Stephfon Green, Brent Carter, Doug Klopacz, Nerraw McCormack are not expected to play. A.J. Wallace and Chaz Powell might.
n With Kevin Kelly out of eligibility, one of the team's bigger voids surrounds the kicking game so keep an eye on placekickers Colin Wagner of State College and incoming freshman Anthony Fera.
n If the Big Ten weren't a shell of itself and the Lions' non-conference schedule didn't resemble that of the basketball team's, a lot of people would be picking Penn State 8-4 or worse this fall.
n Reminder to the adult autograph seekers to today's 12:30 session: Please don't trample kids.
n Reminder to all fans, autograph seekers or not, the game is expected to draw another 70,000, and traffic flow won't be in midseason form with parking first-come, first-serve.
n My annual obligatory guesses on the Red Worrell and Jim O'Hora awards, presented to the team's most improved offensive and defensive players: Zug and LB Michael Mauti.
n On the jurisprudence front: Don't expect Navorro Bowman to be dressed today.
n JoePa is usually an entertaining listen on the radio during the Blue-White game while Steve Jones will be all over the call and sprinkle in his Ed McMahon laughtrack.
n Good luck to those Nits awaiting word on this weekend's NFL Draft. Personal favorites were Deon Butler, always approachable and honest, and A.Q. Shipley, whose parents we got to know while sitting around airports on various trips.
n Other than the award winners, I'm looking for two introductions at halftime: The NIT champions and Cael Sanderson.
n The pick: Blue 27, White 20.
Rudel can be reached at 946-7527 or nrudel@altoonamirror.com.
