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

Latest Episodes:

BWI Daily: Interview with Clayton Sayfie of The Wolverine | Michigan preview Oct 12, 2022

Show notes

To help Penn State fans get a better sense of what the Nittany Lions face on Saturday, host of the BWI Daily Edition Thomas Frank Carr is joined by a special guest on the show. Clayton Sayfie, reporter for The Wolverine, joins the show to discuss the team and the game in depth. They’ll cover JJ McCarthy’s progression as a second-year quarterback, the strengths and weaknesses of the offense, and the defense’s ability to get pressure this season. Subscribe to the BWI Daily Edition on YouTube so you don’t miss an episode of the show.

T-Frank and Sayfie start with Wolverines, starting quarterback JJ McCarthy. What has Sayfie seen from him this season and how did the season start for the team at that position? They discuss McCarthy’s ascendence, an offseason injury that changed his trajectory this year and his development as a passer. What sort of player will Penn State face on Saturday?

While McCarthy has been very good at what he’s been asked to do, can he take his game to another level against Penn State? Sayfie and T-Frank discuss the nature of the Wolverine’s offense, it’s strengths and weaknesses and where McCarthy needs to take the next step. They also discuss how Penn State’s defense will present unique challenges that the team hasn’t faced this year.

Next, they discuss the offensive line for Michigan. T-Frank called them ‘average’ earlier this week so Sayfie is here to defend the Michigan front-five’s play this year. They talk about that unit’s play through the Big Ten schedule so far and how injuries have affected the group this season.

After spending an extensive amount of time on the offense, they shift to the Michigan defense and what the Penn State offense will see on Saturday. They start up front with Mazi Smith and Mike Morris, the defensive tackle and edge rusher that lead the unit. How important are they and how well does Michigan use that duo? Sayfie and T-Frank discuss how the Wolverines deploy the defensive line and which players fans need to be aware of on Saturday.

Lastly, they take a look at the Michigan secondary and what Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford will throw against this weekend. Are they capable of taking the ball away? They discuss the talent of the unit and how they’ve replaced Daxton Hill who now plays in the NFL. They close out the show with a some prediction and discussing how close this game feels.

Recruiting Show: Evaluating Anthony Donkoh and Alex Birchmeier | Whiteout Visitor Preview Oct 11, 2022

Show notes

Penn State football was off last week, meaning the coaching staff had a chance to get out on the road and do extensive recruiting. It also meant that recruiting insider Ryan Snyder had a chance to travel to watch several commits in action. That's the topic of discussion on today's episode of the BWI Daily Edition: Recruiting Show. Subscribe to Blue White Illustrated on YouTube, so you don't miss the show! https://bit.ly/3KzEcqK

BWI Daily: Penn State vs Michigan live show preview Oct 11, 2022

Show notes

It’s Michigan week for Penn State football. Join host Thomas Frank Carr and senior editor Nate Bauer, as they discuss the upcoming contest with the Wolverines on Saturday afternoon. They’ll be broadcasting live on YouTube and taking your questions about the upcoming game. Join in the action and subscribe to Blue White Illustrated! https://bit.ly/3KzEcqK

Penn State is 5-0 and enters this weekend’s game as the tenth-ranked team in the nation. They head to Ann Arbor to face a familiar foe in the Wolverines, who are also undefeated and rank 4th in the nation. So what should you expect from the game? T-Frank, Blue White Illustrated’s film analyst, has watched the game film and has his thoughts ready to share. He and Bauer will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the Nittany Lions on Saturday.

The game against Michigan starts a three-game series that fans have anticipated since the release of the 2022 schedule. Coming through against the Wolverines with a win on the road wouldn’t just be a statement win for head coach James Franklin but would turn up the heat on a potential run at significant post-season play. After heading to Ann Arbor, Penn State hosts Minnesota and Ohio State for back-to-back home games that will define the season for the Nittany Lions.

Can they get through the game up north with a win? Get intel on the situation by tuning into the BWI Daily Monday live show!

BWI Daily: Coaching bye week visits and Zion Tracy discussion Oct 07, 2022

Show notes

Penn State football coaches are crisscrossing the east coast of America this week to check out critical recruits in the class of 2023 and beyond. On the BWI Daily Edition, recruiting insider Ryan Snyder gets fans up-to-date on where those visits are and which players the Lions are targeting. He'll also share his impressions of what the 2023 corner commit Zion Tracy's coach had to say about the 6-0 cornerback. Subscribe to the BWI Daily, so you don't miss an episode! https://bit.ly/3KzEcqK

Host Thomas Frank Carr and Snyder start the show by discussing the critical targets that Penn State visited on Thursday of the bye week. Some players, like four-star receiver Noah Rogers and linebacker Kaveion Keys, are committed elsewhere, but the staff still believes in keeping in contact lest anything should happen. Many names are familiar to Penn State recruiting fans, but Snyder shares several new prospects, including a new quarterback prospect for 2024.

Snyder also discusses his plans to see Penn State commits Anthony Donkoh and Alex Birchmeier play in Virginia tonight.

Next, T-Frank and Snyder discuss the Friday visits that Penn State coaches are taking today. Several high-profile names emerged from the conversation, including five-star defensive end Keon Keeley. With limited time this week and many prospects to visit, T-Frank is curious why Keeley is getting a visit, despite his five-star status. Snyder discusses if the Lions had a previous relationship with the Berkeley Prep pass rusher.

After wrapping up the travel schedule for the coaching staff, Snyder discusses his interview with Ernest Anderson, the head coach at St. Thomas More. Anderson is the head coach of Zion Tracy, Penn State's surprise 2023 commit at cornerback. Snyder discussed his impressions of the conversation and got more information about what Tracy is as a player and a person. Finally, T-Frank gives his impressions from the article and shares his thoughts on Tracy from the brief film he's watched of the cornerback commit. Tracy plays IMG academy Friday night, which should be available for fans that want to watch the game on YouTube.

Lastly, Snyder takes you through his best bets of the week in college football. This week's action includes:

UNLV (+6) at San Jose State

Purdue (+3) at Maryland

Virginia Tech (+14.5) at Pitt

TCU (-6) at Kansas

Auburn (+30) at Georgia

Texas A&M (+23.5) vs. Alabama

Check out the show to see what Snyder thinks the smart bets are in these six games.

BWI Daily: Bye Week mailbag with Nate Bauer Oct 06, 2022

Show notes

It's Penn State's bye week, which is a great time to catch up on some mail. Today, the BWI Daily Edition answers questions from members of the Lions Den message forum on the show to see what fans are thinking about at the midway point in the 2022 season. Subscribe to Blue White Illustrated on YouTube, so you don't miss the show!

BWI Daily: Best Penn State performers, players who need to step up after five weeks Oct 05, 2022

Show notes

The Penn State football team's bye week comes nearly midway through the season after a 5-0 start. So, with the deep plunge of the Big Ten schedule ahead, it's a good time to look back and evaluate how the first half of the season went. That's what host Thomas Frank Carr and reporter Greg Pickel will do on today's BWI Daily Edition. Subscribe to Blue White Illustrated so you don't miss any action. https://bit.ly/3KzEcqK

T-Frank and Pickel start the show discussing what transpired Tuesday night at James Franklin's post-practice press conference. After defensive tackle Coziah Izzard made his season debut against Northwestern, the obvious question then becomes the status of defensive end Smith Vilbert. Both players sat out the first month of the season, and Franklin announced yesterday that Vilbert would not play this season. What impact does that have on the Penn State defensive line? Pickel and T-Frank discuss that topic before discussing what Izzard brings to the table at defensive tackle now that he's returned.

Next, they discuss their general impressions of the team over five weeks. Pickel gives his thoughts on how the offensive identity has shaped through the first half of the season and what he thinks they need to be going forward. Then T-Frank asks for his impressions of Manny Diaz's defense now that Pickel has seen it in-depth. Next, they discuss that side of the ball and T-Frank gives stats he found interesting when researching how the team compares to last season's 5-0 start.

Then, they discuss which players performed the best on offense and defense through the first half of the season. Next, they review the players that need to elevate their play or contribute more in the upcoming critical three-game stretch of Big Ten opponents.

Lastly, they review the wrestling schedule release earlier this week and talk about Bo Nikal's rise through the UFC ranks.

Recruiting Show: Coaching movement during the Penn State bye week Oct 04, 2022

Show notes

Penn State football is on a bye, but the team is still hard at work getting better for the second half of the 2022 season. In recruiting, the team is using this week to visit important players and commits. The BWI Daily Recruiting show discusses that and the recruiting weekend visitors from Northwestern. Subscribe to the BWI Daily Edition on YouTube, so you never miss the show. https://bit.ly/3KzEcqK

Recruiting insider and host Ryan Snyder starts the show discussing the Northwestern visitor list with Sean Fitz, publisher of Blue White Illustrated. They go through the important players that made the trip to Happy Valley, including Jaylen Harvey, Eric Lee, and Rodney Lora, whom they discussed last week. Hear what they had to say about the impression Lora made and how the visit went for those recruits on a lousy weather day.

Next, they dig into the Penn State coaching travel schedule. The Nittany Lions have augmented the bye week schedule this year, which Fitz describes. After that, he and Snyder discuss which coaches will visit players this week, including several essential prospects committed to other schools. Can Penn State flip Cam Seldon? They detail which coaches will see Seldon and what other important players will take priority this upcoming weekend.

The conversation about Seldon and West Virginia commit Rodney Gallagher spins into a discussion about the coaching movement in college football, with several coaches already losing their jobs this past weekend.

Lastly, Snyder and Fitz discuss a recent update by On3 national recruiting reporter Chad Simmons. Simmons caught up with key uncommitted prospects in the Northeast region. Where does Penn State stand with left tackle Samson Okunlola? They dive into Simmons' update to find out which players in New England the Nittany Lions have a realistic shot with.

00:00 Show intro

01:40 Northwestern visitor list

08:20 Coaching bye week travel

11:16 Running back priority in the 2023 cycle?

13:00 National coaching firings

16:25 Northeast prospects interested in Penn State

BWI Daily: Penn State vs. Northwestern Monday recap Oct 04, 2022

Show notes

Get the final word on Penn State’s 17-7 win over Northwestern on the BWI Daily Edition tonight at 8 pm. Host Thomas Frank Carr and senior editor Nate Bauer discuss how the offense and the defense performed in the wet, sloppy conditions at Beaver Stadium Saturday. They’ll also take your questions live on YouTube! Join the show at eight and subscribe to the channel, so you don’t miss the show.

As he does each Monday, T-Frank starts the show by asking Nate what he’s learned since the game on Monday. Whether it’s a change in perspective, new insight from a second watch, or information from players after the game, Bauer brings a new spin to the show each week. Today, they’ll discuss how the Nittany Lions fared on Saturday.

After discussing Bauer’s opening thoughts, T-Frank will give his. First, he wants to discuss the defense and its performance against Northwestern on Saturday. Were the Nittany Lions as dominant as they seemed during the game? Blue White Illustrated’s film analyst will give you his impressions of the group and which players stood out during his observations. He’ll highlight PJ Mustipher, Hakeem Beamon and freshmen Dani Dennis-Sutton and Abdul Carter.

Next, they’ll run down the major storylines that came out of the game Saturday, many of which deal with the offense. They’ll discuss the running back’s performance, the major moments that changed the game. Can Penn State continue to sustain success if Nick Singleton’s struggles continue? Has he hit a freshman wall?

Of course, starting quarterback Sean Clifford. The sixth-year signal caller created plenty of division and discussion based on Saturday’s 10-20 completion performance.

BWI Live: Penn State and the conditions sloppy in a 17-7 win over Northwestern - Postgame Show Oct 02, 2022

Show notes

It was a wet, sloppy game for Penn State football, who defeated the Northwestern Wildcats 17-7 despite turning the ball over five times. Join film analyst Thomas Frank Carr as he discusses what happened during Penn State's rain-soaked matchup and discuss the major storylines coming out of the game. T-Frank will also take questions from fans who join him live on YouTube. Subscribe to Blue White Illustrated on YouTube, so you don't miss the postgame show. https://bit.ly/3KzEcqK

The Penn State defense came to play, limiting the Wildcats to less than 300 yards of offense while forcing three turnovers of its own. At times, the Nittany Lion's defense struggled with two penalties by freshman defenders Dani Dennis-Sutton and Abdul Carter that extended a drive for the Wildcats that nearly ended in a touchdown. Despite that, the Lions held firm on a fourth-down quarterback sneak from the one-yard line.

Once again, the star of the game for the Penn State offense was freshman running back Kaytron Allen. Despite not playing in the first half, Allen nearly ended the game as the team's leading rusher. The reason was that fellow freshman Nick Singleton lost two fumbles and a third that was called off for a stop in forward momentum. However, Allen fumbled late in the fourth quarter that gave Northwestern life again. Penn State heads into the bye week 5-0.

BWI Daily: Northwestern visitor preview and Ryan Snyder's best bets Sep 30, 2022

Show notes

Penn State fans are always looking for the next great Penn State player, and the Nittany Lions coaching staff could be hosting that player this weekend. Recruiting insider Ryan Snyder joins the BWI Daily Edition every Friday to recap the week in Penn State recruiting and give a preview of the players visiting Happy Valley for the game the next day. Subscribe to Blue White Illustrated on YouTube, so you don't miss the show! https://bit.ly/3KzEcqK

To start the show, host Thomas Frank Carr brings up a fresh news topic on Friday. The Nittany Lions offered several players scholarships late in the week, and Snyder reviews who they are and what fans need to know about them right now. Of course, the most notable player would be 2024 running back Jordan Marshall.

Next, they discuss the confirmed visitor list coming to Saturday at the Penn State vs. Northwestern game. Snyder was busy this week tracking down prospects and confirming which players planned to attend the game, which he shares with T-Frank. Several notable players include Bishop McDevitt wide receiver Rico Scott, fast-rising defensive lineman Rodney Lora, and several 2024 offensive line prospects that Penn State is trying to amass with current commit Cooper Cousins.

Next, they get to the main event, Ryan Snyder's best bets! Each week, Blue White Illustrated's budding sharp picks several games to bet on and gives the audience his plays that week. So here's the recap for the upcoming week in college football.

Washington (-3.5) at UCLA

Iowa State (-3) at Kansas Jayhawks

East Carolina (-8) at South Florida

Penn State (-25.5) vs. Northwestern

Northwestern (+25.5) at Penn State

As always, the featured game of the week is the Penn State game. As usual, Snyder doesn't like the odds on the game but gives his best assessment of what fans who want to bet on the Nittany Lions game should do. From there, he and T-Frank discuss the game and how they think things will play out. T-Frank watched the Northwestern offense and defense this week and came away with distinct impressions about what they do on both sides of the football.

First, he shares what he knows about the Northwestern running and passing games. Next, he and Snyder discuss the Northwestern defense, and T-Frank discusses why the Wildcats have given up so many yards and big plays.

Show Rundown:

00:00 Show Intro

01:35 New Penn State offers

04:40 Northwestern visitor list

15:40 Ryan Snyder's Best Bets

27:00 Northwestern film review