Penn State University, post apocolypse.

DiHS has resisted posting anything to try and avoid a knee jerk reaction to what is going on up at Happy Valley. There are so many words and so many emotions that could describe what is being endured. Sympathy, pain, sorrow for the victims; and shock, embarassment, and shame from the standpoint of the University. What the heck are we to do now?

Joe is gone. Who in the world thought it would happen like this? He was supposed to go (if he didn't die in the pressbox) on the shoulders of an entire Commonwealth. Graham is gone. 25 years of service, leading the University into the new millenium, see ya. What's next?

We are going to reserve judgement on what happens until after the full investigation has been completed, but jeez it doesn't look good. What happens now? What do you want to happen now?

The Big (pre)Game

With all of the horrible weather that has flooded out the roads to Happy Valley, Paternoville is still alive and well.

To try to get front-row seats in the student section for Saturday’s game against Alabama, Penn State students began pitching tents outside Gate A of Beaver Stadium on Monday afternoon.

As of Thursday, 112 tents were set up with a total of 950 campers at the aptly named "Paternoville." The turnout is among the largest in Paternoville history, said John Tecce, the president of the Paternoville Coordination Committee. Though it feels like it hasn’t stopped raining this week here in Happy Valley, not one tent has dropped out of Paternoville, Tecce said.

It is customary for members of the Penn State team to visit to interact with campers during the week. On Thursday evening, dozens of Nittany Lions – including quarterbacks Rob Bolden and Matt McGloin, running back Silas Redd and wide receiver Derek Moye – stopped by to mingle with fans at Paternoville. The players took pictures and signed autographs. Some Lions even played games of trashcan football, a commonly played game at Paternoville consisting of tossing a pigskin into a large trashcan from about 20 yards away.

“It’s unbelievable,” McGloin said. “I don’t picture myself doing it especially with the weather conditions we’ve had this past week. That just shows you what kind of support you have from the student section here at Penn State.”


With contributions from Jake Kaplan Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inq-pennstate/Penn-State-players-visit-Paternoville.html#ixzz1XUk54rkf
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The World Today

Who needs reoprters anymore? As we all hang by a thread to the latest updates from the blogosphere, its none other than Jimmy Rollins himself (@JimmyRollins11) who breaks the news  that he's got a grade 2 calf strain and is headed to the DL until September. So much for my job, reporters, tweeters, and anyone else who wants to get up to the second information. Directly from the horses mouth, J Roll breaks it down for what we have looking forward to. As an elder statesmen, it doesn't make me too comfortable to hear that he's got a bad wheel. The only solice is that he can rest and recoup the rest of his body to get ready for the stretch run (is there technically a stretch run if we clinch before opening kickoff of the Eagles?) and post season.

Now is when we really need Polly to have a twitter acconnt...

Social Media King

The Reds have @DatDudeBP and the Marlins have @LoMoMarlins. That is all well and good for them, but since Twitter exploded the Phillies have put the Kabash on those in the organization using Twitter as a forum of interaction with the fans. Too bad that policy doesn't seem to effect those 'gradfathered' into the rule, that is having a preestablished twitter following. Enter @HunterPence9

There have been so many good nuggets of knowledge that HP3 have dropped on the Philly faithful. From his #letsgoeat to the spraypainted cleats, and finally the donut on the bat, it seems like the man can genuinely do nothing wrong. And to top it all off, he wants you to enjoy in his successes too. There has never been a Phils player to bring you as personal a journey as Hunter has, and we've known most of these guys for over a year. In the span of a few short days, @HunterPence9 has given us a glimpse inside the Philies lifestyle and lockerroom that we have been waiting for. Sure @mikestutes opened the door, but @HunterPence9 surely let the floodgates loose with his intimate and personal tweets to the city of Philadelphia. At this point, there is nothing that Hunter could do to turn us off. He has the key to our city. Just keep protecting the Big Piece (batting over .400 since HP3 has been here) and getting your own, and you will become a legend.

If it isn't obvious yet, go follow @HunterPence9 @mikestutes and @vanimal_49

Update: He changed his name. @HunterPence3 

Pence-sylvania

I love it. I know its cheesy, I know everyone has used it, but I love it. It's so him. Since the last post by DiHS, HPThree (as he wants to go by via Twitter) has played two games in Pinstripes. One RBI on Saturday, followed up by the game winning run on Sunday. Providing protection for Ryan, who went four for four yestersday, is where the real value comes in for the team.

The value of Pence for the fans will make him all the more endeared by those watching from the sidelines. Spraypainting his cleats, getting coffee with Chase, borrowing Clifton's cowboy boots are things that the readers of DiHS eat up. I know you. By all accounts, Pence is a great community/team guy and someone who gets what Philly is all about. I'm really starting to believe (yea I know it's early) that he could rival the popularity of the last full time RF that the Phillies had. Instead of 'The Beard', let's hear it for 'The Weird'. Eh, yea. Pence-sylvania is much better.

So far he's said all the right things, done funnier ones, and been responsible for runs crossing the plate in both weekend games. As the calendar flips over to August in a few hours, here's hoping we get to experience three more months of Hunter in 2011. If that's the case, he's my odds on favorite to say something memorable a la Chase's 'WFC'.

Would you give up the Pharm for Pence?

We are rapidly approaching the trading deadline and the Phillies are looking to acquire a bat that would put them over the top to win the World Series. Many names have been thrown out there: Melky Cabrera, Josh Willingham, Carlos Quentin, and maybe the most intriguing is Hunter Pence. With the Giants trading for Carlos Beltran last night it becomes more imperative that the Phils make the deal for Pence. Pence is only 28 years old and is in the prime of his career. He is a career .290 hitter and averages 25HR and 90RBI’s per season. His homerun numbers are down a little bit this year (11) but he doesn’t have a lot of protection in that lineup. Also, imagine him at CBP with the short porch in left.

The main discussion is what we should give up to acquire Pence. Jayson Stark reported that we offered Jared Cosart, Jonathon Singleton, and another pitching prospect and the Astros declined the offer. It appears that if the Phillies want to acquire Pence they will have to up the ante. That may mean parting ways with 23 year old Domonic Brown. Brown has had his up and downs this year, his first full year in the big leagues. He has had his moments when he looks like he will be a future all star and other moments when he looks like he wont be any better than Travis Lee. The price to get Pence would be high but it would be worth it if it meant winning another ring. This offense isn’t good enough at this moment to win the WS and not winning the whole thing with this pitching staff would be the biggest disappointment in team history. I have full faith that Rueben will do what it takes to make this team better and Pence would make that happen. Get the deal done; give the Astros what they want.

USA Women beat Brazil 2-2 on Penalties

Holy Hell. That football match was the finest thing I've watched in a long long time. Unreal sequence of events.

2' OG Brazil, US takes 1-0 lead.
65' Red Card to team USA (Buheler), Brazil to take PK and USA will be down to 10.
67' Hope Solo makes an incredible (legal) save, is called off the line or encroachment and will rekick.
68' Marta puts the second shot in the back of the net after Hope Solo gets a yellow. 1-1
90' Full time. Going to Two, Fifteen minute extra periods.
92' Marta is probably offsides, but puts it in the back of the net. 2-1 Brazil
105' end of 1st period, fifteen more to go.
122' In the most unbelieveable turn of events, in stoppage time of extra time, Maria Rampione puts an excellent cross on the head of Abby Wambach to tie it at 2-2 and send it to PKs
PK Diane A (3rd PK) saved by Hope Solo
PK Alex Kreiger (Former Nittany Lion) makes it 5 for 5 USA PKs to take the win.

Please watch the replay at 12AM Sunday night/Monday morning at 12:00AM