BWI Live: A Penn State football podcast from Blue White Illustrated

Latest Episodes:

BWI Daily: Big win for hoops Senior Bowl update Feb 01, 2022

Show notes

In their return to the Bryce Jordan Center last night, Penn State basketball got a massive win with a 90-86 victory over Iowa. Reporter Dave Eckert joins the BWI Daily Edition to give his thoughts on the game.

Host Thomas Frank Carr starts Eckert at the end of the game where Iowa, down for most of the game, forced overtime. How unusual was the play that extended the contest to two overtimes? Eckert details what happened in the final minutes of a game that Penn State controlled for most of the evening.

After that, they discuss the overtime period and how the game-tying tip-in from Keegan Murray affected Penn State in the extra minutes. Finally, Eckert details the key players in overtime and how head coach Micah Shrewsberry navigated had his team respond.

From there, they work back to regulation and discuss just how rare the performance from big men John Harrar and Greg Lee was. Both were outstanding on the night to a level that, according to Eckert, Penn State hasn't seen in quite some time. However, they had to do the bulk of the work to get Penn State in position to close the game out in the final minutes becuase one key element was missing from the Nittany Lions attack. Eckert details what that was and how it led to a slum in the middle minutes of the game.

After wrapping up their discussion about last night, they move on to Penn State's upcoming game against Wisconsin this weekend. Eckert previews what waits ahead of the Nittany Lions in Madison and how the game might unfold.

From there, they move on to discuss Penn State Hockey. The team has struggled this season, and Eckert gives his thoughts about what has been going on for head coach Guy Gadowski's squad. Why has the team played better as of late? Why hasn't it translated into wins? Finally, they break that down and forecast the team's postseason chances.

Lastly, they discuss the Senior Bowl. In Mobile, practice started earlier this week for several former Penn State players who hope to improve their stock in the 2022 NFL Draft. T-Frank and Eckert discuss Jesse Luketa's change in weight, Arnold Ebiketie's insane measurements, and Jahan Dotson's absence from the event.

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BWI Daily: Wrestling comes up big, offensive line action and junior day with Greg Piackel Jan 31, 2022

Show notes

It was a busy offseason for Penn State sports, even if there weren't many games or matches this weekend. Host of the BWI Daily Edition, Thomas Frank Carr runs down the weekend's news with reporter Greg Pickel, who joins the show each Monday.

Pickel covers wrestling for BWI, so they start with the Nittany Lions 19-13 win over Iowa in a battle of the top two teams in the nation. How did Penn State come out on top? Who scored the pivotal points for head coach Cael Sanderson's squad? Pickel breaks down that and gives his thoughts on the lineup heading into the home stretch for the 2022 season. Finally, he provides a preview of what's to come this week.

After finishing up wrestling, T-Frank and Pickel discuss junior day for Penn State football. The Nittany Lions are concluding the open contact period in January and had a jam-packed weekend with top recruits from several classes in attendance.

While the Class of 2023 is the primary focus, Pickel starts with the Class of 2022 and a late target in Vega Ioane, an offensive lineman from Washington. After his official visit, Pickel caught up with Ioane this weekend and shared what he had learned. Ioane chooses between Penn State and Washington on Wednesday, and Pickel thinks it's a close race. Stay tuned to BWI for more information as the week unfolds.

After Ioane, they shift their focus to new offers that Penn State sent out this week. Several receivers found themselves leaving Happy Valley with an offer from the Nittany Lions, such as Baltimore, Md., St. Frances Academy receiver Ryan Manning and Georgia prospect Colton Hood from McDonough.

They discuss several other players that stood out this weekend, including DeMatha Catholic defensive lineman Jason Moore and the new 2024 Penn State commit from McDowell in Erie, Cooper Cousins.

Finally, Pickel and T-Frank circle back to the current Penn State football team with two potential transfers. The Nittany Lions offered twin brothers from North Texas, Gabriel and Grayson Murphy. What do they bring to the table? What should you know about their status? T-Frank and Greg give their thoughts on the duo and Penn State's work in the portal.

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BWI Live: Monday Live Show Jan 31, 2022

Show notes

There are multiple spinning plates for the Penn State football team this offseason, like every college football team. While the coaching staff is wrapping up the January contact period and junior days, the current Nittany Lions are hard at work preparing for next season. On top of that, the college football landscape is continually changing with NIL, the transfer portal, and more unforeseen changes ahead.

To make sense of all of it, the BWI Live crew comes to you live at noon every Monday to talk about this week's Penn State sports topics. Host Thomas Frank Carr, senior editor Nate Bauer, and reporter Dave Eckert cover Penn State football, basketball, and hockey on this week's edition.

They'll start with the state of Penn State football in the offseason. Then, they will give what they think are the most impactful facets of the 2022 offseason. Is it a lack of transfers? What about the traditional signing day coming up on Wednesday? Each panelist picks one topic they think is essential and presents their case.

After that, they dive into news from the portal and then take your questions. If you'd like to be a part of the show, make sure you join at noon, only on YouTube. They'll answer a variety of topics and give their thoughts on listener opinions.

Next, they will get into some predictions for the next season with the help of audience participation. Bauer, Ecker, and T-Frank will each answer the following questions:

Penn State will win more games next season if:

Penn State will lose more games next season if:

Penn State will stay the same next season if:

The audience will vote on which answer they like the best, and at the end of the third round, whoever wins the most rounds will be crowned champion of the live show.

Finally, they'll discuss Penn State basketball, which plays against Iowa, tonight at 7 pm. The Nittany Lions have not played at home in almost a month and have suffered some tough road losses along the way. Bauer and Eckert will give their thoughts on the last several weeks and how Penn State can bounce back in the next month.

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BWI Daily: Penn Sate gets commitment, junior day preview with Ryan Snyder Jan 28, 2022

Show notes

On Friday, Penn State football got a win on the recruiting trail, adding to the Class of 2023. Ryan Snyder joins the BWI Daily Edition to tell you about three-star offensive lineman Anthony Donkoh, who committed to the Nittany Lions this week, and how that shapes the class in the future.

He and host Thomas Frank Carr discuss the impact of Donkoh, his potential position, and what traits set him apart as a lineman. Snyder details who Penn State beat out for his commitment and some quick highlights about Donkoh off the field.

After the breaking news, Snyder and T-Frank discuss the past week in Penn State recruiting, which was full of events inside and outside the organization. They start with Snyder's conversation with Nittany Lion Commit Mathias Barnwell. Next, Snyder details his conversation with "Mega" and how his outlook on where he might play at the next level has changed since he committed. Finally, T-Frank offers some insight about Barnwell's traits and skills that has him excited to watch the future Penn State player during his senior year of high school.

From there, the two transition into the other names that have cropped up this week (as of the time or recording) receiving Penn State offers. This week was the final week of the January contract period, so the staff was out on the road investigating their targets. Snyder then mentions that the work is likely not over until the final bell sounds on this open period.

Next, they move on to the final rankings for the Class of 2022. On3 finalized their rankings for the upcoming class ahead of the February signing period, so Snyder takes viewers through the names that moved up in the rankings. Dani Dennis-Sutton had a big jump, becoming the highest-rated Penn State's class player. In addition, he highlights several other players moving around in the Top 300, including one Penn State player that had a bigger jump than any other player in the nation.

Finally, they get to the list of players arriving in Happy Valley this weekend for the Nittany Lions final junior day. Penn State's coaching staff has stacked this last recruiting day with plenty of high-profile, high-priority talent. Snyder runs down the list, which is heavy with defensive line talent. Then, he singles out some important players and hints at which players he thinks are leaning most towards the Blue and White.

The last thing that Snyder and T-Frank discuss is the recruitment of Vega Ioane, an offensive lineman from Washington, in the Class of 2022. Ioane is visiting campus this weekend, and Snyder gives his insight into how important and positive this step is for offensive line coach Phil Trautwein.

BWI Daily: Conference realignment, mailbag with Nate Bauer Jan 27, 2022

Show notes

News surfaced yesterday that may benefit Penn State football dramatically. The Nittany Lions are stuck in the toughest division in college football. But reports this week by The Athletic suggest that the conference is considering doing away with divisions entirely. Is that a good idea? Senior Editor Nate Bauer joins the BWI Daily Edition to talk about that and more.

He and host Thomas Frank Carr start with Bauer's article yesterday on realignment. On top of the Big Ten ramifications, the conference is also considering dropping a conference game and adding in a scheduled ACC and PAC 12 game each year. How would that work? They talk about the realities of the college football landscape, what the future holds for college sports, and how football and basketball are driving change that replaces old notions.

Their focus is obviously on how Penn State can benefit from this change and how tenuous the future is for conferences that want to play by old rules. They discuss the role television plays for game selection and how organizations that think outside the box have an advantage. Finally, T-Frank asks how far away these potential changes are and when fans might see a positive or negative effect from said changes.

Next, they take questions from viewers of the show. Questions each Thursday are solicited from either the Lions Den message forum or Twitter.

They start with a question about special teams and how it might change with the loss of several key players and coaches on Penn State's third unit this offseason. Can Penn State rebound? Nate and T-Frank discuss.

Next up is a question about Penn State's current weight lifting situation with the main lifting area under renovation. Is it hindering development?

After that, several listeners want to know just how soon and how effective Penn State's three five-star players can be in their first year on campus. From there, they discuss the portal, pears, dad jeans, and recruiting.

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BWI Daily: Top 5 Offseason question without answers Jan 26, 2022

Show notes

We're deep into the offseason for Penn State football, and there are some things we're not going to find out yet, if ever. That's what host Thomas Frank Carr has been thinking about and what he shares with you on the BWI Daily Edition.

What will Penn State football look like next season with an offseason of changes behind them and more ahead? T-Frank has put together a list of five questions he wishes he had the truth about right now regarding the Penn State football team.

He starts at five and asks a question that he's posed many times on the show. How will Manny Diaz alter the Penn State defense? We know that head coach James Franklin went out to find a coach who runs a similar scheme, but subtle differences can change quite a bit. So he gets into some of his questions about how Diaz could put his stamp on Penn State's defense.

The next question deals with the hottest topic for Penn State fans; quarterback. No, not incoming freshmen Drew Allar or Beau Pribula. He looks squarely at redshirt freshman Christian Veilleux and wonders one particular question.

Third, on the list of questions, he wants answers about the health of two key players. Penn State's roster projections hinge on one defensive and one offensive lineman. Becuase Penn State doesn't divulge injury information, all timelines about a return to play are conjecture.

The second most important question that T-Frank would like answered is one he wants to know the most. How does the Nittany Lions staff feel about one of their starters from last season? Knowing their honest evaluation would give insight into how Penn State wants to build its line and how things could shake out next year.

Finally, the most critical question to which nobody knows the answer comes from the transfer portal. Will Penn State get more additions this spring? What positions will they play? Even the Nittany Lions staff don't know the answer, but it's the most critical factor in how next season will go.

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BWI Daily: Roster churn, Sutherland at LB and hoops Jan 25, 2022

Show notes

Penn State football is still finding ways to add players during the winter season, but things have finally settled on the roster churn from the end of 2021. Senior Editor Nate Bauer took a look at what transpired and the multiple layers of complexity to it.

Bauer joins the BWI Daily Edition to talk about what he wrote and how Penn State chose to navigate the COVID exemptions for seniors and super seniors this past year. With four different groups of seniors making decisions about their status with the team, The need for practicality and organization was critical. So how did head coach James Franklin navigate this? Bauer and host Thomas Frank Carr look at the players that stayed and left to find the clues.

Next, they discuss a minor addition to the program, walk-on receiver Jake Spencer. The former Colgate wideout spent two seasons with his former program and now joins Penn State for the 2022 season. T-Frank took a quick look at his bio and his high school tape to get a sense of where he’ll help Penn State as a depth player and what skills made him a target as a walk-on.

After that, they take a look at Penn State’s linebacker situation for next season. Franklin made news at the bowl game when he said that safety Jonathan Sutherland would be playing linebacker in the game and going forward. After initially rejecting the idea, T-Frank has come around on the notion of the sixth-year defender moving closer to the line of scrimmage. He does have some caveats, though. T-Frank talks Bauer through how defenses can use personnel and how Sutherland fits into that picture.

Finally, they wrap up discussing Penn State basketball’s frustrating slog through January. They’ve lost two after starting the month 2-2, with a canceled game in between. How much did losing that game hurt? Bauer highlights that, explains what happened in the Nittany Lions’ loss to Iowa and how the team needs to play to win games.

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Recruiting Pod: Recapping junior days; latest on transfer Hunter Nourzad Jan 25, 2022

Show notes

Blue-White Illustrated recruiting insider Ryan Snyder and reporter Greg Pickel are back with a new episode of the BWI Penn State Recruiting podcast.

The show starts with a look back at the Lions' most recent junior day in State College. From there, the pair move on to the latest updates on Cornell transfer and offensive lineman Hunter Nourzad, who was in State College last weekend.

After that, the duo moves on to a closer look at the final On300 rankings for the Class of 2022. They close out the show by previewing the massive visit weekend that will close out the January contact period, as well as a potential 2022 official visitor.

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BWI Daily: Junior Day Update, Wrestling with Greg Pickel Jan 24, 2022

Show notes

Penn State hosted various players over the weekend during its second junior day. Several interesting names were on hand despite lacking a depth of high-end recruits showing up on campus. With that in mind, Greg Pickel of Blue White Illustrated joins the Daily Edition to discuss those that stood out.

They start with one of the most important names of the weekend, Cornell offensive lineman Hunter Nourzad. While he's not a prospect in the traditional sense, Penn State is recruiting him hard out of the transfer portal. He visited the Nittany Lions this weekend, and Pickel has his thoughts on the situation.

The next player that stood out to Pickel was Georiga native Dee Crayton. Pickel shares some of what the four-star linebacker prospect had to say after his visit. Crayton was impressed by several aspects of the weekend, which should bode well for Penn State. Pickel then points out an interesting part of Crayton's recruitment that will be worth monitoring going forward.

The next topic they discuss deals with recruiting, but not junior day. Four-star offensive lineman Jven Williams updated his recruitment, which Pickel details on the show. They also talk about his importance to the in-state recruiting effort and where Penn State might stand in Williams' pecking order of schools. They also explain how On3's RPM, or Recruiting Prediction Machine, works and why the Nittany Lions are a favorite right now. Finally, there are key events that fans should know about that shape the recruiting process, which are a factor in the prediction.

The final piece of recruiting news they discuss is Dani Dennis-Sutton's ranking for On3. On3's recruiting expert Charles Power gave Dennis-Sutton his fifth star this week, making it three for Penn State in the Class of 2023. Pickel and T-Frank discuss Dennis-Sutton's senior year and some of the factors that led to his late rise up the rankings.

Finally, Pickel fills T-Frank in on the Penn State wrestling team's exploits over the weekend. The Nittany Lions dominated third-ranked Michigan and then took care of business against Michigan State on Sunday, sweeping their road schedule this past weekend. Who stood out? Why did Penn State handle Michigan in such a fashion?

First, they discuss those topics and then comment on how dangerous head coach Cael Sanderson's squad is after the intermission. Next, they discuss some critical moments of the weekend and then look at the team with a big-picture view.

Lastly, Pickel gives fans a heads up on what's coming up from the team and him this week.

BWI Live: Penn State offseason stock, players in NFL and Hoops: BWI Live Jan 24, 2022

Show notes

Penn State football is in full offseason mode, with winter workouts and junior day dominating the news over the past week. The program is still in a holding pattern with transfers, but that doesn't mean things are at a standstill. The BWI Live crew is back today to discuss Nittany Lions football topics and relevant content about Penn State sports.

After all of the change in December, is Penn State trending Up? Down? Or have they weathered the storm to stand neutral. Senior Editor Nate Bauer, Reporter Dave Eckert and host Thomas Frank Carr give you their thoughts on the matter and discuss how head coach James Franklin has managed this offseason so far.

They'll also discuss the Divisional Round of the 2022 NFL Playoffs. Several former Penn State players played vital roles for playoff teams, and the guys will discuss their participation this past weekend.

After that, they'll discuss the lessons and nuggets Penn State fans can take from the Chief's 42-36 victory over the Buffalo Bills in what some are calling the greatest playoff game ever. What should we take away from the game about coaching decisions, clock management, and playcalling from the end of that game? Then, the guys will discuss and compare how James Franklin performed those tasks in those moments.

They will also take your questions and discuss topics you want to hear about during the show!

Penn State basketball began the month strong, going 2-2 in conference play after a COVID stymied end to the fall semester. Now, where does the team stand after another COVID postponement and two losses? Bauer and Eckert give you their thoughts on the team as we finish out January and head into the February home stretch.

Blue-White Illustrated podcast/video schedule:

Monday

BWI Live

BWI Daily edition with Thomas Frank Carr

Tuesday

Recruiting podcast with Ryan Snyder and Greg Pickel

BWI Daily edition with Thomas Frank Carr

Wednesday

BWI Daily edition with Thomas Frank Carr

Thursday

BWI Daily edition with Thomas Frank Carr

Friday