Night Games, Contracts, And Beating Dead Horses

You've probably cought this already, but PSU is getting a lot of love from the networks this fall:

2008 BIG TEN PRIME-TIME FOOTBALL GAMES ON ABC/ESPN/ESPN2
Sept. 27 - ILLINOIS at PENN STATE, 8 p.m. ET, ABC, ESPN or ESPN2
Oct. 4 - OHIO STATE at WISCONSIN, 8 p.m. ET, ABC, ESPN or ESPN2
Oct. 11 - PENN STATE at WISCONSIN, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN or ESPN2
Oct. 18 - MICHIGAN at PENN STATE, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN or ESPN2
Oct. 25 - PENN STATE at OHIO STATE, 8 p.m. ET, ABC, ESPN or ESPN2

For those of you keeping score at home, that's four of the five 'Prime Time' games the Big Ten will be playing in 2008. While I generally enjoy a good night game, I don't know how I feel about four of them. Keep in mind that October looks like this (with no bye weeks in between): @ Wisconsin (night), Michigan (night, sort of), @ Ohio State (night).

Who's ready for two "Red Outs" in three weeks? You know it's coming.

Anyway, why four(!) primetime games? I can't remember a season where we've had more than 2. There are only two reasonable explanations: (1) despite every ESPN analyst picking Ohio State as the likely repeat conference champion, the big shots at the WWL think the Lions are Mythical National Championship Game bound, or, (2) they are going to be selling the 'will this be Paterno's last season?' thing real hard.

For those of you already sick of the Paterno contract saga, I have nothing to say except I'm really sorry...and get to know the mute button.