Answer: Penn State's opening game in 2008! What? you say. Yes, PSU has scheduled Coastal Carolina as their opening game next season. Living in Northeastern PA, the PSU non-conference schedule has been a topic of debate between Nittany Lion supporters and myself for a long time. The debate always seems to be the same.
Me speaking to a Lion supporter: Penn State has a ridiculous non-conference schedule.
Penn State fan tries to argue why their schedule is not bullshit.
Me: Well, besides the Irish, the Penn State non-conference opponents this season (Buffalo, Fla. Int., Temple) were a combined 3-32 last season.
The Penn State fans then throw out their go to in this conversation: "Well, Notre Dame plays all three service academies. Explain that."
Me: Navy is traditional game due to the history between the Irish and Midshipmen. I mention I would not mind at all if the Irish did not play Army or Air Force or both, but I then point out that the three academies were a combined 16-21 last season. Though not a wonderful record, I would say it is much better than 3-32.
Finally, Penn State fans point out that their beloved Lions are not scheduling any differently than all the other big-time programs trying to win a title are.
Me: How about schools like Florida St. (they play UAB, at Colorado, Alabama), Nebraska (Nevada, at Wake Forest, USC) and lastly (also painfully) the hated Trojans of USC (Idaho, at Nebraska, at Notre Dame)?
All is suddenly quiet. We go our separate ways with no resolution and more hatred for each other.
Notre Dame has been scrutinized heavily recently for the scheduling of San Diego St. and Nevada in the upcoming years. Personally, I was very upset with these selections and voiced my opinion that Kevin White was tinkering with the tradition of Notre Dame. I now believe the additions of Oklahoma and the extension with Michigan have more than made up for these scheduling sins. (Kevin White, you have been absolved for this sin. But, there are other issues that need to be confessed yet) However, in my mind there is absolutely no way Penn State fans can justify the teams the Nittany Lions have been playing the last two years. Oh, hold on. Penn State added Arkansas to their schedule for next year. I guess I owe PSU an apology. Arkansas is a legitimate....oh wait. My bad. The team that is scheduled is not the Razorbacks it is... Arkansas St.? Coastal Carolina and Arkansas St. in back-to-back weeks to kick-off the 2008 season. Now that is what I call good football. If I were a PSU fan/alumni/student I would be very upset with the home slate of games for next season. True, you do get Michigan in Happy Valley. But, is it worth sitting through two scrimmages in which the Blue Band could play instead of all the players and still cover the point spread? I'm calling out Penn State on this one. I recently pointed out to PSU fans that I was actually (gag) impressed that Penn State scheduled Alabama for a future series. Well, Penn State blew that with the 2008 schedule. JoePa, I am sure that either Bloomsburg, West Chester, or Slippery Rock still has room on one of their schedules for that open date for your Nittany Lions. All you have to do is pick up the phone and call.
The answer to the original questions: What is a Chanticleer?
chan·ti·cleer [chan-tuh-kleer]
A chanticleer is a rooster. It was used as a proper name in medieval fables.
A chanticleer is a rooster. It was used as a proper name in medieval fables.
In closing, I will be a huge Chaticleer fan on August 30th of next year. I will also be a huge....whatever Arkansas State's mascot is fan the week after.
