The Obligatory PSU Podcast

FALL '25 Episode 23: Opting In

Big Heads Media — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:02:00 -0500

Penn State's 2025 football season officially came to a close with the Nittany Lions' 22-10 victory over Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl. While both rosters were limited by player injuries and opt-outs, interim head coach Terry Smith and a Penn State team that went to hell and back over 12 regular season games plus the bowl both got to leave the stage as winners. The guys give their final thoughts on Penn State's victory at Yankee Stadium and the current state of bowl season in modern college football.

Chris and Noble weigh in on Penn State's new defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn: https://youtu.be/rPjG5_9iSHM

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

The Obligatory PSU Podcast has been brought to you all season long by Gold Hen, a Penn State alumni-owned company, makers of the truly one-of-a-kind Gold Hen Bloody Mary Mix. Try it today by going to: GoldHenLLC.com

The unique flavor profile of Gold Hen Bloody Mary Mix complements a variety of alcohols and makes an excellent marinade or cooking ingredient.

The best way to support the show this season is to try some for yourself – go to GoldHenLLC.com and take 10% off at checkout with the promo code: MAILMAN

FALL '25 Episode 22: Look Back on Penn State's WILD 2025

Big Heads Media — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:02:00 -0500

As calendar year 2025 approaches its end, the guys pour some egg nog, gather around the yule log, and retell the long and winding tale of a crazy year in Penn State football. Sure to warm your heart and freeze your blood, it's the perfect distraction from (or contribution to) your holiday season stress.

Check out our Pinstripe Bowl preview on this week's Pregame Show: https://youtu.be/f7rWyWasBLY?si=du0E-ACzSGEdQApi

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

The Obligatory PSU Podcast is brought to you all season long by Gold Hen, a Penn State alumni-owned company, makers of the truly one-of-a-kind Gold Hen Bloody Mary Mix. Try it today by going to: GoldHenLLC.com

The unique flavor profile of Gold Hen Bloody Mary Mix complements a variety of alcohols and makes an excellent marinade or cooking ingredient.

The best way to support the show this season is to try some for yourself – go to GoldHenLLC.com and take 10% off at checkout with the promo code: MAILMAN

FALL '25 Episode 21: Introducing Matt Campbell

Big Heads Media — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 00:02:00 -0500

Penn State football has a new head coach! It may have taken Pat Kraft a couple of months, cost us a recruiting class, and ended with a stranger-than-fiction leaked audio scandal destined for memetic infamy, but Penn State's AD got his man in former Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell. The guys react to Campbell's introductory press conference - expanding on their thoughts from The Obligatory PSU Pregame Show and adding Brandon's perspective - and then consider what comes next on a roller coaster ride that (with roster retention, staff changes, a bowl game, and the transfer portal all looming) may be closer to its beginning than its end.

More on the Matt Campbell hire from this week's Pregame Show: https://youtu.be/OAFT1ilAOik?si=owIdRjeCYBZdR2VH

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

The unique flavor profile of Gold Hen Bloody Mary Mix complements a variety of alcohols and makes an excellent marinade or cooking ingredient.

The best way to support the show this season is to try some for yourself – go to GoldHenLLC.com and take 10% off at checkout with the promo code: MAILMAN

FALL '25 Episode 20: Legally Recorded Audio

Big Heads Media — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 18:00:20 -0500

Mercifully overshadowed by the real news of the day (Matt Campbell to PSU), the largely innocuous leaked audio of athletic director Pat Kraft's behind-closed-doors meeting with leaders of the football team put one final, bizarre turd in the punch bowl of Penn State's wild, wacky, embarrassing, and yet somehow pretty successful head coaching search. We discuss the fallout and call for a ceasefire in the suddenly reignited civil war between Staters of good faith.

Watch Noble and Chris discuss Matt Campbell here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D8SzofSev4

HOSTED BY: Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

The unique flavor profile of Gold Hen Bloody Mary Mix complements a variety of alcohols and makes an excellent marinade or cooking ingredient.

The best way to support the show this season is to try some for yourself – go to GoldHenLLC.com and take 10% off at checkout with the promo code: MAILMAN

FALL '25 Episode 19: We Have No Clue

Big Heads Media — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 00:02:00 -0500

Is it gonna be Kalani Sitake? Jeff Brohm? Some shadowy mystery candidate? And whoever it ends up being, will that guy actually have a roster left to coach by the time he gets here? As we all sit on increasingly uncomfortable pins and needles awaiting resolution of Penn State's marathon head coaching search, the guys ponder whether Pat Kraft ever really had a plan at all and try to tie up some other loose ends that will still have relevance even if someone gets hired before you get a chance to listen.

HOSTED BY: Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

The unique flavor profile of Gold Hen Bloody Mary Mix complements a variety of alcohols and makes an excellent marinade or cooking ingredient.

The best way to support the show this season is to try some for yourself – go to GoldHenLLC.com and take 10% off at checkout with the promo code: MAILMAN

FALL '25 Episode 18-A: Noble x Tengwall

Big Heads Media — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 00:02:00 -0500

BONUS CONTENT: As hinted at during this week's show, we couldn't let the Terry Smith momentum pass - along with quite possibly our last (God willing) opportunity to speculate about Penn State's head coaching search - without looping in Obligatory's two favorite Nittany Lions Lettermen. Before you sit down to Thanksgiving dinner, enjoy a side old school football talk and tough truth telling as both Brandon Noble and Landon Tengwall join the panel.

We're always thankful for you, our audience, and we wish you the happiest of Thanksgiving weekends. Go State!

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Landon Tengwall, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

CHECK OUT THE STOREWIDE BLACK FRIDAY SALE – go to GoldHenLLC.com and take 10% off at checkout with the promo code: MAILMAN

FALL '25 Episode 18: Higher Terry

Big Heads Media — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 00:02:00 -0500

TER-RY! TER-RY! TER-RY!

The Beaver Stadium crowd chanted for one of their own as he'd just vanquished a fellow Nittany Lion in a battle of Paterno legacies leading hobbled blue bloods. Kaytron Allen became Penn State's all-time leading rusher. A disappointing team that didn't give up on their season battled back to within striking distance of bowl eligibility, and at least for a day, the fans had something to celebrate. Without the services of our resident Lettermen, Obligatory's campus icon and two tackling dummies look back on a fun night that offered a rare bright spot in an otherwise bleak season, and we punch our tickets for the Terry Train before it sails off into the sunset.

HOSTED BY: Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

The unique flavor profile of Gold Hen Bloody Mary Mix complements a variety of alcohols and makes an excellent marinade or cooking ingredient.

The best way to support the show this season is to try some for yourself – go to GoldHenLLC.com and take 10% off at checkout with the promo code: MAILMAN

FALL '25 Episode 17: A Tale of Two Coaches

Big Heads Media — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 00:02:00 -0500

Penn State's former coach, James Franklin, has officially locked down his next gig. Penn State's current coach, Terry Smith, got his first win, brought home the Land-Grant Trophy, and then brought down the house with an emotional press conference when he explained exactly what it means to him to be leading the football program at his alma mater. The guys talk about the future of Franklin at Virginia Tech and the future at Penn State and Terry's place in it.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

The unique flavor profile of Gold Hen Bloody Mary Mix complements a variety of alcohols and makes an excellent marinade or cooking ingredient.

The best way to support the show this season is to try some for yourself – go to GoldHenLLC.com and take 10% off at checkout with the promo code: MAILMAN

FALL '25 Episode 16: So Close, Yet So Far

Big Heads Media — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 00:02:00 -0500

From the players to the coaches to the fans, everybody brought their Saturday best against Indiana, but in keeping with the theme of this cursed season, it wasn't enough. The Hoosiers prevailed, and in heart-breaking fashion, narrowly avoiding a costly upset loss and denying Coach Terry Smith and the beleaguered Penn State fanbase the signature win they deserve. And yet amid that disappointment there also arose a powerful reminder of everything that makes Penn State football great - the resilient stuff that will survive this moment as it has endured many tougher trials in the past and will be here waiting, strong as ever, when the storm breaks and the next coach arrives.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

The unique flavor profile of Gold Hen Bloody Mary Mix complements a variety of alcohols and makes an excellent marinade or cooking ingredient.

The best way to support the show this season is to try some for yourself – go to GoldHenLLC.com and take 10% off at checkout with the promo code: MAILMAN

For delivery before Thanksgiving, place your orders before kickoff of the Penn State-Michigan State game on Saturday, November 15!

FALL '25 Episode 15: A Disaster of Biblical Proportion

Big Heads Media — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 00:02:00 -0500

Following the annual dispiriting loss to Ohio State - somehow both more AND less discouraging than usual - the unranked Penn State Nittany Lions return home to face undefeated and second-ranked Indiana as double-digit underdogs... IN FOOTBALL. What is this world coming to? And what's next? Real "wrath of God" type stuff. Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies. Rivers and seas boiling. Forty years of darkness. Earthquakes. Volcanoes. The dead rising from the grave.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

The unique flavor profile of Gold Hen Bloody Mary Mix complements a variety of alcohols and makes an excellent marinade or cooking ingredient.

The best way to support the show this season is to try some for yourself – go to GoldHenLLC.com and take 10% off at checkout with the promo code: MAILMAN

FALL '25 Episode 14: Run for Cover

Big Heads Media — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 00:02:00 -0400

Bye Week's over now. Back to the real world.

Penn State didn't get the win in Terry Smith's debut as interim head coach versus Iowa, but they did cover the spread for the first time this season. Can the Nittany Lions make it a streak and keep the margin within three touchdowns in Columbus? It seems like the best a beleaguered Nittany Nation can hope for. The guys ponder PSU's quest for small comfort against the top-ranked Buckeyes and a college coaching carousel that is quickly spinning out of control.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

The unique flavor profile of Gold Hen Bloody Mary Mix complements a variety of alcohols and makes an excellent marinade or cooking ingredient.

The best way to support the show this season is to try some for yourself – go to GoldHenLLC.com and take 10% off at checkout with the promo code: MAILMAN

FALL '25 Episode 13: Try, Try Again

Big Heads Media — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:02:00 -0400

Time to refocus on football, concentrate on all that lies ahead, and make an uplifting episode about the future and its boundless possibilities. Or at least that was the plan for this week. Then Horne got into the good stuff, and, well, it turns out we're not all the way over the breakup just yet. Maybe next week.

After all, just like the Penn State football team's season and the Athletic Department's quest for a championship-winning coach: If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

The unique flavor profile of Gold Hen Bloody Mary Mix complements a variety of alcohols and makes an excellent marinade or cooking ingredient.

The best way to support the show this season is to try some for yourself – go to GoldHenLLC.com and take 10% off at checkout with the promo code: MAILMAN

FALL '25 Episode 12: #Unraveled

Big Heads Media — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 00:03:44 -0400

What began with such promise and hope in the wake of Bill O'Brien's departure has now come to an end in a fashion heretofore unseen at Penn State. James Franklin has been relieved of his duties as head football coach of the Nittany Lions.

Athletic Director Pat Kraft has addressed Nittany Nation about the decision and interim head coach Terry Smith, a Nittany Lion through and through, has previewed what's next for the team's team six regular season games.

Way more ground to cover than we can handle in a single episode, but the guys at least begin to unpack some of the most monumental news in the history of Penn State football.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

The unique flavor profile of Gold Hen Bloody Mary Mix complements a variety of alcohols and makes an excellent marinade or cooking ingredient.

The best way to support the show this season is to try some for yourself – go to GoldHenLLC.com and take 10% off at checkout with the promo code: MAILMAN

FALL '25 BONUS: Northwestern Debacle Instant Reaction

Big Heads Media — Sun, 12 Oct 2025 00:02:00 -0400

From bad to worse to inconceivable (and yes, we know what it means).

After another picture-perfect afternoon and wonderful weekend of celebration in Happy Valley was soured by an inexplicably dysfunctional football performance, Kevin and Chris trudged their way down from Beaver Stadium to Landon's Downtown studio to lay down some instant reactions. "Enjoy" this little bonus content in its audio format here or as video on For The Blogy's YouTube: https://youtu.be/vkWsaL01UFw

The usual Pregame Show and Podcast with the full crew will be coming later in the week, and of course, we'll be responding to any and all breaking news in the world of Penn State football. Hang in there, Nittany Lions fans.

HOSTED BY: Landon Tengwall, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

The unique flavor profile of Gold Hen Bloody Mary Mix complements a variety of alcohols and makes an excellent marinade or cooking ingredient.

The best way to support the show this season is to try some for yourself – go to GoldHenLLC.com and take 10% off at checkout with the promo code: MAILMAN

FALL '25 Episode 11: All Good Things

Big Heads Media — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 00:02:00 -0400

FRODO glances at SAM ... he is WEEPING.

CLOSE ON: FRODO wrapping an ARM around SAM’S SHOULDER.

FRODO (calm)
I'm glad to be with you, Samwise Gamgee, here at the end of all things.

HIGH WIDE: TWO TINY HOBBITS waiting to die amid a cataclysmic landscape ... LAVA erupts around them ... FIREBALLS rain down from the sky.

We SLOWLY FADE TO BLACK...

Happy Homecoming. Go State.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

The unique flavor profile of Gold Hen Bloody Mary Mix complements a variety of alcohols and makes an excellent marinade or cooking ingredient.

The best way to support the show this season is to try some for yourself – go to GoldHenLLC.com and take 10% off at checkout with the promo code: MAILMAN

FALL '25 Episode 10: You Have Died of Dysentery

Big Heads Media — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:02:00 -0400

Welp....

Nothing quite like a fresh Obligatory when the guys are (sadly) at their best to cure what ails ya.

Uncurl yourself from the fetal position, take your medicine, and crawl back into the saddle, because UCLA beckons, and you know you're too dumb, addicted, and masochistic to resist Saturday's siren song.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

The unique flavor profile of Gold Hen Bloody Mary Mix complements a variety of alcohols and makes an excellent marinade or cooking ingredient.

The best way to support the show this season is to try some for yourself – go to GoldHenLLC.com and take 10% off at checkout with the promo code: MAILMAN

FALL '25 Episode 9: Duck Hunt

Big Heads Media — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:02:00 -0400

PREEMPTIVE THERAPY! For us (some of us at least)? Certainly. For you too? Maybe also yes.

Every so often, there comes a crucial inflection point so fraught with meaning and pregnant with possibility, mere contemplation of its monumental consequence can bring the beholder to the brink of insanity. Such is the state of affairs for much of Penn State's fan base leading up to the third-ranked Nittany Lions' clash with Oregon under the lights at the White Out. With so much on the line, and every criticism of coach and quarterback in the biggest games ringing in their ears, Chris and Kevin air their hopes, fears, and frustrations about one game that could very well shatter or cement every narrative that has dogged this program for a decade, sorting through the jangled nerves, rankled senses, and shattered confidence brought on by a decade of perpetual failures in the moment of truth. All the while, Brandon and Mailman marvel at the grotesque spectacle of their tortured thinking.

If you need to share in the self-administered coping mechanisms to soothe your mania and hasten the long hours until game day (and GameDay), then join us and ease your troubled heart and mind. However, if you count yourself among the rational and well-adjusted, why then you can just kick back and join Mike the Mailman and Noble in their bemusement at the curious madness of Horne and Buchignani.

Either way, we can think of worse ways to count down the minutes to what promises to be among the most consequential evenings in Beaver Stadium history.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

The unique flavor profile of Gold Hen Bloody Mary Mix complements a variety of alcohols and makes an excellent marinade or cooking ingredient.

The best way to support the show this season is to try some for yourself – go to GoldHenLLC.com and take 10% off at checkout with the promo code: MAILMAN

FALL '25 Episode 8: Champagne Villanova in the Sky

Big Heads Media — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 00:02:00 -0400

There's a shortage of folks who can seamlessly code switch between profane tirades over football minutiae and waxing poetic about the magic of the Nittany Valley, and the cast of this progrum oversamples that population to an absurd degree. With Noble again sleeping off old age this week, Mailman, Horne, and Buchignani are left to fill another hour-ish of nominally Penn State football-related #content, so kick back, relax, and enjoy the start to Penn State's bye week with the mix tape of eulogizing a Happy Valley icon, deep reflection on what it means to be a Penn Stater, and bitching about the insanity of the AP Poll that you didn't know you needed.

HOSTED BY: Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

The unique flavor profile of Gold Hen Bloody Mary Mix complements a variety of alcohols and makes an excellent marinade or cooking ingredient.

The best way to support the show this season is to try some for yourself – go to GoldHenLLC.com and take 10% off at checkout with the promo code: MAILMAN

FALL '25 Episode 7: Penn State is Still Number Two

Big Heads Media — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 00:02:00 -0400

Two games into a purported national championship run, the Nittany Lions are playing like their national ranking - number two.

Packed with the sort of therapeutic soul-searching, gut-wrenching overreactions to what, at the end of the day, was a 34-0 victory over a nothing opponent in early September that has made Obligatory the go-to Penn State podcast for mentally imbalanced fans across the internets, this entertaining tug-o-war between the neuroses of Chris and Kevin and the sunshine stability of Mike the Mailman is just another reminder of why we all can't wait for Noble to come back out of jetlagged hibernation.

HOSTED BY: Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

The unique flavor profile of Gold Hen Bloody Mary Mix complements a variety of alcohols and makes an excellent marinade or cooking ingredient.

The best way to support the show this season is to try some for yourself – go to GoldHenLLC.com and take 10% off at checkout with the promo code: MAILMAN

FALL '25 Episode 6: Just Do It, One Last Time

Big Heads Media — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:02:00 -0400

Thanks to the podcast's Fall 2025 sponsor: Gold Hen *Use promo code MAILMAN at checkout

To whatever extent a powerhouse football program grafted onto an R1 land-grant university can have a meaningful relationship with a billion-dollar multinational sneaker company built on, let's say, questionable labor practices, that is the sort of partnership Penn State formed with Nike. Back in the halcyon days when an apparel and marketing agreement could feel just a bit less, to borrow a term from Coach Franklin, "transactional," JoePa and Phil Knight shook hands on a deal that helped elevate their respective brands. That 30-year legacy became the latest casualty of upheaval across college football this week when it was announced Penn State is ending its long connection with Nike to become an Adidas school. The guys give their initial reactions before moving on to discuss the week that was in college football and what's next for Penn State after sending Nevada (Wolf) packing.

HOSTED BY: Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

The unique flavor profile of Gold Hen Bloody Mary Mix complements a variety of alcohols and makes an excellent marinade or cooking ingredient.

The best way to support the show this season is to try some for yourself – go to GoldHenLLC.com and take 10% off at checkout with the promo code: MAILMAN

FALL '25 Episode 5: Penn State Roster Breakdown (Defense)

Big Heads Media — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 00:02:00 -0400

Once again Chris is joined by fellow LION 90.7fm alum Mike Levine, to analyze the Nittany Lions roster, this time turning to the defense. James Franklin poached Jim Knowles, who many consider to be the sharpest defensive mind in the modern game, away from national champion Ohio State only days after the confetti fell on the Buckeyes, making Knowles the highest-paid defensive coordinator in college football, dealing a blow to the program Penn State's struggled to surpass, and putting the sport on notice that Old State is coming for it all. What kind of squad does our new $3 million man inherit? Mostly what you'd expect from a Nittany Lions defense: fast, tenacious, athletic, and balancing proven talent with promising potential. The raw material is there to be molded into the type of unit that can help Franklin's highest profile hire earn a ring for a second straight season.

HOSTED BY: Chris Buchignani

GUESTS: Mike Levine

The unique flavor profile of Gold Hen Bloody Mary Mix complements a variety of alcohols and makes an excellent marinade or cooking ingredient.

The best way to support the show this season is to try some for yourself – go to GoldHenLLC.com and take 10% off at checkout with the promo code: MAILMAN

FALL '25 Episode 4: Penn State Roster Breakdown (Offense)

Big Heads Media — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 00:01:00 -0400

Per Obligatory tradition, one of our most popular features returns: the Penn State football preview in which Chris enlists the assistance of fellow LION 90.7fm alum Mike Levine, to analyze the Nittany Lions roster in two installments, beginning with the offense. As undergrads, they brought their half-dozen listeners such unforgettable gems as Joe Paterno's record-breaking 324th career win versus Ohio State and such forgettable disappointments as most other games in the 2001 season. Now they unpack the offensive talent set to take the field this season.

Last year, this episode's description read: "New offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki is charged with coaxing more productivity and explosivity from an offense that faltered in the biggest moments last season. Can a supporting cast of promising offensive lineman, talented tight ends, and excellent running backs help lift up a blue-chip quarterback dogged by skeptics and a group of receivers with a lot to prove?"

Let's just make a few edits here...

Returning offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki is charged with coaxing more productivity and explosivity from an offense that faltered in the biggest moment last season. Can a supporting cast of proven offensive lineman, talented tight ends, and excellent running backs help lift up a blue-chip quarterback dogged by skeptics and a new group of receivers with a lot to prove?

There. Perfect. Grab your pencil and your paper.

HOSTED BY: Chris Buchignani

GUESTS: Mike Levine

The unique flavor profile of Gold Hen Bloody Mary Mix complements a variety of alcohols and makes an excellent marinade or cooking ingredient.

The best way to support the show this season is to try some for yourself – go to GoldHenLLC.com and take 10% off at checkout with the promo code: MAILMAN

FALL '25 Episode 3: Going Number Two

Big Heads Media — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 00:02:00 -0400

As if the excitement and national hype - and the attendant dread and pressure that accompany them - couldn't get any more intense, Penn State made its AP preseason poll debut at #2, receiving only a handful fewer first-place votes than top-ranked Texas. State's dizzying perch near the top of the charts is the topic of conversation, but not without a characteristic diversion, this time in the form an opening monologue from our most beloved (and most reviled) cast member. Come for Kevin Horne's defiant confessional. Stay for a special guest appearance from Let's Talk Penn State co-host Steve Garguilo who helps the gang unpack the excitement-to-dread ratio for long-suffering, long-time Penn State fans headed into a season bursting at the seams with equal parts promise and peril.

HOSTED BY: Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Steve Garguilo

Enjoy the lighter side of every Penn State season with the guys at Let's Talk Penn State: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-talk-penn-state/id1305484061

The unique flavor profile of Gold Hen Bloody Mary Mix complements a variety of alcohols and makes an excellent marinade or cooking ingredient.

The best way to support the show this season is to try some for yourself – go to GoldHenLLC.com and take 10% off at checkout with the promo code: MAILMAN

FALL '25 Episode 2: All Aboard the Hype Train

Big Heads Media — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 00:02:00 -0400

There's no denying it: Excitement is in the air in Happy Valley. Autumn's arrival always brings the energy of students returning to campus and the anticipation of another Penn State football season, but the attention and enthusiasm swirling around this year's version of the Nittany Lions is something special. With Penn State debuting at #3 in the Coaches Poll and a litany of national talking heads naming James Franklin's squad as the team to beat for the national title, the preseason hype has been cranked up to 11 for the first time since the salad days of the Paterno era. With this backdrop, Chris and Mailman talk about their trip to Football Media Day and discuss with Kevin the pros and cons of intense scrutiny like State hasn't seen since junior linebacker LaVar Arrington's turn on the cover of Sports Illustrated's 1999 season preview mag.

HOSTED BY: Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

The unique flavor profile of Gold Hen Bloody Mary Mix complements a variety of alcohols and makes an excellent marinade or cooking ingredient.

The best way to support the show this season is to try some for yourself – go to GoldHenLLC.com and take 10% off at checkout with the promo code: MAILMAN

FALL '25 Episode 1: Defining "Success" for Penn State

Big Heads Media — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 15:51:07 -0400

Welcome the podcast's Fall 2025 sponsor: Gold Hen *Use promo code MAILMAN at checkout

The roster has never been deeper or more talented. The vibes have never been more positive. According to James Franklin, the alignment with administration and support from boosters has never been better. In Franklin's tenure, entering its 12th year, the expectations have never been greater, and that means the stakes have never been higher. So with all these top talents returning to Penn State for one final run and the national spotlight shining brightly on Happy Valley, does the elevated hype mean a higher standard for success this Fall? As we enter the final stretch of an offseason full of "championship or bust" talk, the guys kick off the new podcast season discussing how they define "success" for the 2025 Nittany Lions.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

The unique flavor profile of Gold Hen Bloody Mary Mix complements a variety of alcohols and makes an excellent marinade or cooking ingredient.

The best way to support the show this season is to try some for yourself – go to GoldHenLLC.com and take 10% off at checkout with the promo code: MAILMAN

SPRING '25 Episode 2: Spring Roster Rundown

Big Heads Media — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 00:01:00 -0400

As with our Fall roster breakdowns, Chris enlists the assistance of fellow LION 90.7fm alum, former FIU and Miami Hurricanes broadcaster Mike Levine, to analyze the Nittany Lions' current complement of talent as Spring football comes to a close and yet another "transfer portal window" lurches toward merciful closure. With a lengthy list of returning stars, much is certain about the title-contending squad State will field in the Fall, and yet a surprising number of questions abound. Heading into Blue-White weekend, we detail the pitched position battles and critical depth chart decisions that will shape the destiny of the 2025 Nittany Lions (in probably far greater detail than listeners of this podcast need or want). Enjoy!

HOSTED BY: Chris Buchignani

GUESTS: Mike Levine

SPRING '25 Episode 1: Turning the Page

Big Heads Media — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 11:49:09 -0400

Grab your pencil and your paper. We take one last, lingering look back at 2024, in all its glory and heartbreak, before turning our attention to a new season brimming with promise, as another Blue-White weekend ushers in a Summer of hope.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

BONUS CONTENT: Penn State Poaches Jim Knowles!

Big Heads Media — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 14:35:40 -0500

BREAKING NEWS, BONUS CONTENT!

James Franklin and Pat Kraft swung for the fences and made contact. Chris and Brandon give their snap reactions to Penn State's tectonic move to break the bank and poach Jim Knowles from the defending champion Ohio State Buckeyes to becomes the new Nittany Lions defensive coordinator.

Full podcast to follow soon.

Watch on For The Blogy's YouTube: https://youtu.be/wV9IJF-IWhU?si=DtiVHV7bd6nkjcSh

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Chris Buchignani

FALL '24 Episode 18: Free Therapy

Big Heads Media — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

A sad fact of sports fandom is that most seasons end in disappointment. The higher you scale the ladder of anticipation, the harder the crash if you falter, and it is also an unfortunate truth that the pain of some losses can cut so deep and last so long that it crowds the many happy memories of the wins that came before. The Nittany Lions ended their historic 2024 campaign snatching misery from the jaws of euphoria. So with Noble at the coaches convention and Mailman probably off skulking around the dark and undesirable corners of State College, Chris and Kevin connected for an impromptu therapy session to being sorting it all out.

We'll release a proper season retrospective with the full cast, but until we can assemble the complete team, please "enjoy" this spontaneous discussion we hope can serve as some chicken soup for the ailing Penn State fan's soul.

HOSTED BY: Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '24 Episode 17: Beau Today, Gone Tomorrow

Big Heads Media — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

The NIL Era giveth, and it taketh away. On the veritable eve of the first-ever playoff game in Beaver Stadium, Penn State fans were hit with the double-whammy of two quarterback-related bombshells. While public confirmation of Drew Allar's long-rumored return for next season has fans and portal wideouts alike buzzing with excitement for 2025, that enthusiasm is tempered by the resulting departure of Beau Pribula, Allar's backup and a key cog in Andy Kotelnicki's offensive Rube Goldberg machine. What are Penn Staters adrift in the choppy seas of college football's anarchist phase to make of the hero of the Wisconsin game taking a pass on postseason glory in his pursuit of greener pastures? The guys risk cancellation by trying to explore a complicated issue with honesty and humor.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '24 Episode 16: Penn State, Let's Talk.

Big Heads Media — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 14:20:01 -0500

The Obligatory Cinematic Universe expands with a blockbuster crossover event as the gang gets back in the podcasting saddle. Noble, Kevin, and Chris team up with Steve Garguilo and Tim Buckley of the Let's Talk Penn State Podcast (like The Avengers, but with idiots). Enjoy this "meeting of the minds" and perspective on the state of the program heading into the Maryland game. The regular gang returns next week to sum up a memorable season for the Nittany Lions heading into the postseason.

Enjoy the lighter side of every Penn State season with the guys at Let's Talk Penn State: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-talk-penn-state/id1305484061

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '24 Episode 15: Ohio State Pressure Cooker

Big Heads Media — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:01:00 -0400

A video released by Penn State's Athletic Department after the famous 2016 Ohio State game that kick-started the program's revival from the sanction era showed Coach Franklin exhorting his team at halftime: "Opportunity is knocking." Eight years and zero wins over the Buckeyes later, opportunity is knocking again. This weekend, everything and the kitchen sink from the world of college football converges on Happy Valley, from two national pregame shows to a future Hall of Fame center (but no former Presidents). With the eyes of the world on a battle of 3 versus 4 inside Beaver Stadium, can the Nittany Lions kick an already-entertaining season into an entirely new gear, at once reframing the narratives around two head coaches, both their own and their opponent's, by finally, FINALLY defeating Ohio State? We'll know the answer soon enough. Until then, we're left to speculate about player health, debate the meaning of this matchup in the 12-team playoff era, and decide which coach is actually feeling the most pressure on a Saturday that will shape the remainder of the season.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '24 Episode 14: Badgers Blasted; Buckeyes Next

Big Heads Media — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 00:01:00 -0400

They called it a trap game. They said the Nittany Lions were vulnerable. They questioned our offense and dismissed our defense. But when the lights came on at Camp Randall, both units - each of them thriving in their own way this season under new coordinators - played complementary football, containing, and eventually bludgeoning, the Badgers. Even an injury at the most important position on the field couldn't slow this team on a mission, as Beau Pribula conjured memories of another Number 9 in relief of Drew Allar. Is all the "nobody believed in us" rhetoric a little over the top? You bet. But if Kirby Smart can get away it, so can we. Chris, Kevin, and Mailman break down the aftermath of Penn State's win over Wisconsin. We'll be back later in the week with a look ahead to Ohio State.

HOSTED BY: Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '24 Episode 13: Trojans Busted; Badgers Next

Big Heads Media — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 00:01:00 -0400

James Franklin and the Nittany Lions got the coveted, elusive, statement-making win they so desperately needed by defeating USC... or so it seemed. The Trojans' College Park Collapse over Penn State's Bye Week underscored the point that if the program is to make its first appearance in the college football playoff, then the team must keep stacking wins as the favorite. Another challenging road test awaits PSU when they travel to Madison for a night game against the Badgers in Camp Randall Stadium. Chris and Kevin tackle this week's show on their own, recapping Kev's trip to the West Coast for the memorable Lions win and looking ahead to a game with the barely discernible aura of a potential trap. Will Coach Franklin buck the trend and improve his sketchy record coming off the Bye? Grab your pencil and your paper.

HOSTED BY: Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '24 Episode 12: Runway to Destiny

Big Heads Media — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 07:56:44 -0400

It may take an extra bus trip to Harrisburg to get there, but the road date everybody circled on Penn State's 2024 schedule is finally upon us. Conference expansion has delivered the first-ever meeting of the Nittany Lions and Trojans as Big Ten foes, and even though USC's upset loss at the hands of Minnesota drained the contest of much of its fanfare, the stakes for Old State are unchanged. As top-ranked teams topple all around the them, the imperative for Penn State remains to survive and advance, to go 1-0 each week. Can the Lions set themselves up for a stretch run that ends in the playoffs? Can James Franklin begin to shake the stigma that he can't win when it matters the most? We ponder these questions and more ahead of Penn State vs. USC at the L.A. Coliseum. Grab your pencil and your paper.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '24 Episode 11: White Out Energized

Big Heads Media — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 00:01:00 -0400

Well, "Bert" asked, and Nittany Nation answered. Penn State fans and media may have taken some liberties with the context around Bret Bielema's, "White Out Energy, whatever the hell that means," quotation, up to and including a passive-aggressive screening of a carefully-edited clip of it on the Beaver Stadium Jumbotron before kickoff. But find your fuel, right? When the Lions most needed their support, the raucous crowd intervened to impact the Illinois game at critical moments. The guys talk about the evolution of the Beaver Stadium vibe, the 1994 team returning to Happy Valley on Homecoming, and the almost shocking degree to which UCLA currently stinks at football.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '24 Episode 10: Facing Down Illinois (Wear White)

Big Heads Media — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 00:01:00 -0400

One mild upset in Lincoln and suddenly Penn State's Homecoming is set up for clash of nationally-ranked unbeatens under the Beaver Stadium lights that has fans calling for an impromtu and unofficial second "White Out" - a game that will surely have national viewers tuning in during the Georgia/Alabama commercial breaks.

The University is also set to recognize the 1994 Big Ten Champion Nittany Lions. With an offense that may have been the most potent in the sport's history, the team certainly ranks among State's all-time best, featuring legendary stars like Kerry Collins, Ki-Jana Carter, Kyle Brady, and Bobby Engram along with a punishing offensive line that devastated everyone in their path. We took the opportunity for our own Brandon Noble, a sophomore defensive lineman pressed into early service on that team, to swap stories about that season with his friend and teammate Keith "Goon" Conlin. Specifically, the guys focus on that team's comeback on the road against Illinois that has taken on an almost mythological quality.

Paraphrasing ourselves from before Obligatory's last '94 retrospective, for the team's silver anniversary: "For those who experienced it, it's hard to believe [30] years have passed since that special Autumn in Happy Valley. Enjoy this insider's look back at a time when the Lions ruled the sport like few before or since."

AND WEAR WHITE ON SATURDAY!

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Keith Conlin

FALL '24 Episode 9: Kent Stand Ya

Big Heads Media — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 20:33:18 -0400

During the dull offseason months when football-starved fans obsess over such things, many observers noted a conspicuous flaw in the final version of Penn State's 2024 schedule (not to be confused with the several other interim versions that came and went thanks to the ever-expanding ranks of the Big Ten). A bye week in only the third week of the season seemed less than ideal - too early in the year and sandwiched between two nothing opponents, it appeared neither useful for recovery nor as preparation for a big game. As it turns out, we were probably wrong about that. After a difficult outing against Bowling Green revealed the flaws of a team breaking in three new coordinators and a key player, leader, and team captain in K.J. Winston was bitten by the injury bug, the early off-week now feels like a Godsend for the team to retool and regroup. Not so for those us in the media world however. With only two games in the books, both of which have already been analyzed to death, filling time becomes a challenge. We'll do our best though!

Grab your pencil and your paper, it's the Obligatory PSU Podcast.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '24 Episode 8: Falcon L

Big Heads Media — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 10:47:58 -0400

In retrospect, perhaps it was inevitable: the season-opening road trip, the convincing win over a team and fanbase that talked a big game and couldn't back it up, the sleepy noon kickoff time, the unintimidating competition. Each of these factors combined to render all of Penn State, from the players and coaches on the field to their loyal supporters in the stands, completely unprepared for the concussive opening salvos fired by the fearless Falcons of Bowling Green. Fans expecting to see the third team by the third quarter were instead "treated" to an unwanted afternoon of suspense, as a MAC opponent of modest accomplishment took the nation's number eight team to the brink. So how do we feel? Are we wringing our hands over the outrage that was Penn State's first-half defensive performance, a visible-from-outer-space dumpster fire for the ages? Or do we take a cue from Coach Franklin and stress gratitude for the chance to learn and improve while escaping with a win?

Let's get into it. Grab your pencil and your paper, it's the Obligatory PSU Podcast.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '24 Episode 7: Country Roadkill

Big Heads Media — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 05:34:40 -0400

College football is back in all its glory, and for Penn State and many other would-be contenders across America, the rites of Fall have been renewed. The Nittany Lions began the journey of 2024 on the road for a statement game that told everyone from the legions of ludicrously overconfident Mountaineer fans to the doubting Thomases on this very program to the likes of Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, and Pat McAfee to shove it up their ass. And if the histrionics of suddenly-demonstrative quarterback Drew Allar, not to mention a few unfortunate snippets of live audio that served as a cautionary tale for the perils of live television, are any indication, they were a lot less polite about it.

Optimism is running high, and the guys break down the many positives plus a handful of improvement opportunities coming out of Penn State's 34-12 pasting of West Virginia in Morgantown.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '24 Episode 6: Penn State Roster Breakdown (Defense)

Big Heads Media — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 06:00:00 -0400

Once again Chris is joined by fellow LION 90.7fm alum, former FIU and Miami Hurricanes broadcaster Mike Levine, to analyze the Nittany Lions roster in two installments, this time turning to the defense. Like the their counterparts on offense, the 2024 Nittany Lions D will be guided by a new coordinator, former Indiana head coach Tom Allen, who will be charged with continuing the tradition of great Penn State defense upheld so capably by now-Duke coach Manny Diaz. With playmakers at every level and a nice mix of young stars, returning talent, and promising portal additions, this group looks prepared to do just that.

HOSTED BY: Chris Buchignani

GUESTS: Mike Levine

FALL '24 Episode 5: Penn State Roster Breakdown (Offense)

Big Heads Media — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 06:00:00 -0400

Per Obligatory tradition, one of our most popular features returns: the Penn State football preview in which Chris enlists the assistance of fellow LION 90.7fm alum, former FIU and Miami Hurricanes broadcaster Mike Levine, to analyze the Nittany Lions roster in two installments, beginning with the offense. As undergrads, they brought their half dozen listeners such unforgettable gems as Joe Paterno's record-breaking 324th career win versus Ohio State and such forgettable disappointments as most other games in the 2001 season. Now they unpack the offensive talent set to take the field this season. New offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki is charged with coaxing more productivity and explosivity from an offense that faltered in the biggest moments last season. Can a supporting cast of promising offensive lineman, talented tight ends, and excellent running backs help lift up a blue-chip quarterback dogged by skeptics and a group of receivers with a lot to prove?

HOSTED BY: Chris Buchignani

GUESTS: Mike Levine

FALL '24 Episode 4: Penn State Season Preview

Big Heads Media — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 06:09:37 -0400

On the cusp of another season of Nittany Lions football, the guys get together to discuss their dreams, aspirations, and fears for this year's team. Can new coordinators Andy Kotelnicki and Tom Allen bring the fresh perspective that jolts this squad into a higher gear? Will the talented depth so meticulously stockpiled through recruiting bear fruit? Has Drew Allar maximized the offseason to progress as a player and leader? What perils lie in wait over a schedule that appears manageable yet includes several difficult road trips? Does James Franklin have what it takes to finally finish a regular season with fewer than two losses? Is this season, when it comes down to it, "Playoffs or Bust?"

Dumb answers to these questions and many more await.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '24 Episode 3: College Football's Facelift

Big Heads Media — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 03:54:00 -0400

From the 12-team playoff to the "green dot," the 2024 college football season promises plenty of changes, large and small. As Penn State's opening kickoff in Morgantown approaches, the guys pause to reflect on all the newness coming to the sport this year and speculate about how it all might turn out. They share plenty of (occasionally insightful) thoughts on Year One for the expanded playoff, new conferences that are more geographically nonsensical than ever, and on-field additions like coach-to-player helmet comms, iPads on the sidelines, and an NFL-style two-minute warning. Will the flame of our love for the definitely new and arguably improved version of the sport still burn brightly, or could so much change happening so quickly extinguish the flame?

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '24 Episode 2: Can't Spell "Nihilist" without NIL

Big Heads Media — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 03:55:00 -0400

Are you frustrated because the Nittany Lions appear to be losing out on recruits, at home in PA and across the country, because Old State can't seem to meet their lofty financial demands? Are you confused because even though we're nearly half a decade into the "NIL era," it still makes very little sense to you? Are you disappointed because you sense that Penn State's shortcomings in the NIL space may be costing the team otherwise winnable games? Maybe you're angry because after such a loss, an anonymous fan account or beat writer insinuated it was YOUR fault for being too cheap to donate to NIL. On the other hand, perhaps you're upset because you imagine an aging cadre of Paterno-loving millionaires is sadistically withholding their cash while desperately clinging to an increasingly-remote past.

Even today, anyone who calls themselves an "NIL expert" is probably lying, so we make no claims on concrete answers on any of the above or the many other related issues not mentioned. Chris and Kevin do their best to have a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation that offers some fresh perspective on one of the most potent forces currently reshaping the sport of college football.

Remember, the best way to support our efforts here on the pod is to join the For The Blogy Donors Club. Join today: www.fortheblogy.com/club

HOSTED BY: Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '24 Episode 1: Obligatory Origins

Blue White Media — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 09:46:11 -0400

Hey folks. Great news (maybe). If you’re reading this, it’s probably at least good news: The most lovable, least reliable Penn State podcast on earth is back, and this our promise to you - we’ll be here for every week, at least once per week, from now until at least the end of the calendar year, all thanks to the support of the awesome folks at ForTheBlogy.com, the website and YouTube channel that brings you some of the best and most original coverage of the Nittany Lions out there.

The best way to support our efforts here on the pod is to join the For The Blogy Donors Club. For a small, one-time donation of 10 dollars, you help us keeping this pod running, and allow For The Blogy to keep its YouTube and website content from going behind a paywall. And, best of all, as a thanks for your generosity, For The Blogy will send you a custom bottle koozie for your Saturday tailgates.

So to join, go to www.fortheblogy.com/club today.

In their latest return to this podcast, all four of the core Obligatory crew - Brandon Noble, Mike the Mailman, Kevin Horne, and Chris B. - take a look back at the personal journeys that led each of them to a lifetime of devotion and love for Dear Old State, and they relay an abridged version of how their paths converged to create a Penn State pregame show that has continued for nearly a decade. For any new arrivals out there, it's a solid introduction to the cast of characters who'll share their drunken reactions to Penn State football throughout the season, while returning fans will get answers to the burning questions they never knew they had - like, "how much does a six-pack of decent beer cost in Germany?"

Here's to another season of Nittany Lions football; can't wait to share the ride. #WeAre

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '23 Episode 10: More Like "Episode 10-2," Amirite?

Big Heads Media — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 21:11:51 -0500

Penn State wrapped up another 10-2 regular season that was, yes, in some respects a failure - a failure to achieve the lofty goals that were set justifiably high at the season's outset - but also represents a rarified outcome among all Power 5 programs. The guys look back on the how the 2023 campaign ended and discuss the future for the Nittany Lions and all of college football as we head into Championship weekend.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '23 Episode 9: Big Blues

Big Heads Media — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 22:03:24 -0500

What more can you say? We try to come up with something. The guys wrap up the Michigan win over Penn State that slammed on the door on the Nittany Lions' hopes for making the four-team playoff before the format is retired at the end of this season. Could fan favorite Joe Moorhead return to Happy Valley? Will Penn State be in the market for a new defensive coordinator as well? Can Rutger give the Lions a scare on Saturday. We're closing the book on the Wolverines (and 2023, really) and starting to look ahead. What else can you do?

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '23 Episode 8: [Connor Stalions Stole The Title]

Big Heads Media — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 22:30:21 -0500

For the second time in four weeks, James Franklin and the Nittany Lions are facing one of the biggest games in recent program history. This time, they will play in the welcoming environs of Beaver Stadium and carry the hopes, not just of Nittany Nation, but the entire nation, with them. Can Penn State - America's Team for this one week - play the scrappy underdog hero to Michigan's 80's teen movie villain? Or will we add another entry to the list of disappointing losses against top competition? The guys know their answer and can't wait for the ridicule if they're wrong.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '23 Episode 7: Indiana Escape

Big Heads Media — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 21:38:31 -0400

Penn State narrowly escapes what would have been a devastating loss to a terrible Indiana Hoosiers team and instead travels to College Park to face nose-diving Maryland with a hint of momentum from Drew Allar's game-winning deep strike. Will this faint hope prove to be merely a mirage, or did Allar's first interception unlock something crucial in his development as a quarterback? The guys review the near-debacle versus Indiana and touch on the week's biggest college football stories - the first playoff rankings of the season and the ongoing drama around Michigan and Connor Stalions.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '23 Episode 6: Same S**t, Different Year

Big Heads Media — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 21:33:48 -0400

Another meeting of top tens for the Nittany Lions. Another matchup with the Buckeyes. Another trip to the Horseshoe. And yet another predictably miserable result. For nine months, we built this team up as the one that was capable of breaking the cycle and finally putting Penn State into the four-team playoff field in its final year. When the moment of truth arrived, nothing was different. The guys continue working through their emotions in the wake of Penn State's devastating 20-12 loss at Ohio State and then look to the perilous path ahead.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '23 Episode 5: Ohio State Vibes, "There is no 'try'"

Big Heads Media — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 20:59:05 -0400

A fair reading of James Franklin's decade-long tenure at Penn State is that the entire thing has led up to this Saturday's game in Columbus, a meeting of undefeated national powers pitting the #7 Nittany Lions against the #3 Buckeyes. Penn State's roster has never been deeper. The teams have never been more evenly matched. The stakes has never been higher, and victory could vault the program to levels of prestige and respect not seen in Happy Valley since before Franklin arrived on campus. Can the Lions pull it off? What happens if they don't? Or if they do?

This is what it's all about. Join us as we all try to kill the hours until kickoff. #WeAre

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '23 Episode 4: UMass Hysteria

Big Heads Media — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 20:51:42 -0400

Penn State made the rounds of all the national college football news outlets this week and even managed to rile up the famously even-tempered denizens of Twitter, all without even playing a game on Saturday. With the #6 Nittany Lions coming off a Bye and UMass up next on Homecoming, the week's big news came from James Franklin's Tuesday press conference. The guys take advantage of the calm before the Ohio State storm to sound off on what everyone else is talking about: Franklin's exchange with Cory Giger over digging the long ball and his comments on scheduling that Michigan fans baselessly twisted into a perceived insult. Check out Coach's comments to the press if you haven't seen or heard them, and then enjoy the gang inexplicably stretching them into nearly an hour's worth of discussion.

James Franklin's Tuesday Press Conference: https://youtu.be/FG6o9_YBIFI?si=PFYyWZ9KDwLoD1vt

Wednesday Post-Practice Media Scrum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-rJdDXMgw4&t=273s

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '23 Episode 3: Hello, Good Bye Week

Big Heads Media — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 21:48:28 -0400

Your Penn State Nittany Lions roll into the Bye week 5-0 and ranked #6 in the nation, featuring a dominant defense and an offense that, despite averaging over 40 points per game, plays with maddening inconsistency. Kevin checks in with a report on the crypt-like silence of Ryan Field and the strong contingent of traveling Penn State fans, and all the guys weigh in on takeaways from another 30+ points and cover versus the Wildcats. From there, conversation ranges from the current state of college football to this infamous post-game exchange between JoePa and Doug Graber: https://youtu.be/0eV4No5wvHY?si=UawXf4rPkneI9lnP

Enjoy the podcast, and enjoy the Bye Week. #WeAre

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '23 Episode 2: We're Goin' Streaking

Big Heads Media — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 22:19:31 -0400

One, on its own, is an isolated incident. Two in a row is the start of a streak. So this podcast is going streaking. The guys are back this week to revel in the misfortune of the Iowa Hawkeyes, heap praise on the White Out crowd, and look ahead to Penn State's trip to Evanston for a sleepy 11am local kickoff against the Northwestern Wildcats.

Come for the schadenfreude; stay for the Utz potato chips.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '23 Episode 1: Like Riding a Bike

Big Heads Media — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 23:12:43 -0400

A few minor issues. A couple of miscues. Several handfuls of chocolate chips, and all the Utz chips you can eat for the next 32 years. The full cast reassembles to start playing themselves into game shape with #24 Iowa coming to Happy Valley to face off against #7 Penn State in the White Out. In this, the era of retreads, reboots, and canceled TV shows coming back for a second (or third) bite of the apple, who says Obligatory can't emerge from the shadows of total obscurity and reclaim its rightful station in relative obscurity?

It's our first time back in the saddle after a long sabbatical, so be gentle. If it doesn't get worse from here on out, odds are it may actually get better. #WeAre

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '22 Episode 1: We're Back. Is Penn State?

Big Heads Media — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 10:57:40 -0400

Like the phoenix rising from the ashes, or brain-eating zombies rising from the dead, or Notre Dame football underperforming unearned lofty expectations - the Obligatory podcast is back, and with it, perhaps a whiff of increased normalcy in our college football lives. After surviving a close call against Purdue in their now-traditional road conference opener and delivering a routine September ass-kicking to the MACrificial lamb Ohio Bobcats (exacting revenge for spoiling Gerald Hodges' 2012 debut at punt returner), Penn State looks ahead to an inflection point on its 2022 schedule, a road trip to SEC country to face the Auburn Tigers. Will the stifling Alabama heat (well, the humidity, really), absurd travel arrangements, and the second of numerous [color]-Outs awaiting on this year's slate prove sufficient to stymie the now 22nd-ranked Nittany Lions? Brandon and Kevin resuscitate our long-dormant pod to discuss. #BeatAuburn

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Kevin Horne

Wrapping Up Blue-White: Obligatory Keystone Crossover

Big Heads Media — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 10:21:59 -0400

The format wasn't exactly a game, but if you traveled to Happy Valley or tuned to the Big Ten Network for exciting football action, your cause was already long since lost. Town and campus once again buzzed with the energy of excited students (many near the end of their Penn State journey) and returning alumni and fans; grills were fired up, and beer was drunk; the Sun did indeed come out (eventually), and perhaps we ever learned a useful thing or two about the 2022 Nittany Lions. Jim and Chris offer their takeaways, on and off the field, from the first normal Blue-White Weekend in some time.

FEATURING: Chris Buchignani, Jim Galanti

You can hear the Keystone Kickoff Show three times a week on the airwaves across Pennsylvania - go to KeystoneSportsNetwork.com for a list of radio stations and more - or listen whenever you want by subscribing on your favorite podcast platform. But your best bet is to download the Keystone Sports App, available in the App Store and Google Play.

Blue-White Weekend: Obligatory Keystone Crossover

Big Heads Media — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 13:29:03 -0400

The first "normal" Blue-White Weekend in nearly three years is nearly upon us, so Chris and Jim ruminate on the appeal of the overall event weekend, the scrimmage itself, and whatever possible nuggets of intel fans might expect to glean from this glorified practice that mostly offers a convenient excuse for a return trip home to Happy Valley. Will Penn State fans learn anything useful about the 2022 Nittany Lions? Doubtful. But with a promising forecast and the first chance to enjoy a conventional Spring Game since before the pandemic, it's equally doubtful that it will matter to the legions of fans who'll flock back to campus, many of whom will even make it inside Beaver Stadium to watch some fake football.

FEATURING: Chris Buchignani, Jim Galanti

Favorite Penn State Players: Obligatory Keystone Crossover

Big Heads Media — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 09:21:54 -0400

Every sports fan forms lasting connections with certain players on their favorite teams, whether because of skill, toughness, personality, or all three. Sometimes it's an unforgettable performance in a crucial moment, others we simply gravitate toward a certain player for reasons even we don't understand. When it comes to standout performers worth remembering, Penn State football fans have been blessed with an embarrassment of riches. Crack open some beers and get a long-time fan going on their favorite Lions to don the Blue and White, and you might be entertained for hours. As KSN's Keystone Kickoff show looks back over Penn State football throughout the decades, Jim asked Chris to follow up last week's list of favorite games with reflections on some of his favorite players. In this episode, they discuss 10 Nittany Lions he's had the opportunity to see play in person and who's contributions to Penn State football left a lasting impression.

FEATURING: Chris Buchignani, Jim Galanti

Best Beaver Stadium Moments: Obligatory Keystone Crossover

Big Heads Media — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 21:55:01 -0400

What is your favorite memory of Penn State football? Practically every fan of the Nittany Lions has at least one play, moment, or game from which they can recall almost every detail - what happened, and where they were, how they felt, and who was with them, when it did. As KSN's Keystone Kickoff show looks back over Penn State football throughout the decades, Jim asked Chris for some of his own favorite recollections from the program's past. In this episode, they discuss his personal top 10 of Penn State moments he's witnessed live over more than a quarter-century of attending games at Beaver Stadium.

FEATURING: Chris Buchignani, Jim Galanti

Is Penn State Losing at NIL?: Obligatory Keystone Crossover

Big Heads Media — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 12:46:38 -0400

Astronomical payouts to star recruits, entire position groups, and even full recruiting classes have headlined the first year of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) monetization in college sports. Penn State hasn't managed any splashy numbers, and perhaps a pair of recently-announced NIL collectives can help change that. Are the Nittany Lions poised to catch up, or are they already hopelessly behind? Chris and Jim give their thoughts and chart a possible course for PSU's survival in the new Wild West of intercollegiate competition.

FEATURING: Chris Buchignani, Jim Galanti

Sandy Barbour Special: Obligatory Keystone Crossover

Big Heads Media — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 12:02:44 -0400

With Penn State Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Sandy Barbour announcing her retirement plans, the search is on for the next person to lead State's athletics programs at a crucial juncture in the evolution of college sports. Jim and Chris discuss Barbour's legacy at PSU along with what qualities they'd want in the next athletic director and potential candidates for the job.

FEATURING: Chris Buchignani, Jim Galanti

The Obligatory Keystone Crossover: Episode 19

Big Heads Media — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 09:12:01 -0500

In a very short time, the transfer portal has become the talk of the college football world, with the sport's de facto free agent market emerging as a key element in modern roster-building. Now that the dust has settled on the first normal season shaped by the wide-open transfer market, Jim and Chris assess the landscape and discuss which programs are having the most success in the portal and whether Penn State has been a winner or loser so far.

Remember to subscribe to the Keystone Kickoff podcast (see below) to get next week's installment of The Obligatory Keystone Crossover.

FEATURING: Chris Buchignani, Jim Galanti

The Obligatory Keystone Crossover: Episode 16

Big Heads Media — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 13:38:28 -0500

While starting quarterback Sean Clifford's decision to return and play one final season for the Nittany Lions may have divided Penn State's online fan base, KSN's Jim Galanti harbors no reservations about the value of Clifford's comeback choice. Jim and Chris break down the reasons they're glad Clifford will again don the Blue and White for the 2022 season.

Remember to subscribe to the Keystone Kickoff podcast (see below) to get next week's installment of The Obligatory Keystone Crossover.

FEATURING: Chris Buchignani, Jim Galanti

The Obligatory Keystone Crossover: Episode 14

Big Heads Media — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 09:51:26 -0500

All over the college football landscape, loyalties and fortunes (in every sense of the word) are shifting at breakneck speed as head coaches are making bigger moves for bigger money than ever before. With James Franklin locked up and Penn State focused on replacing any assistants swept up in the chaos, Jim and Chris survey the carnage and pass snap judgement on the winners and losers.

Remember to subscribe to the Keystone Kickoff podcast (see below) to continue getting every weekly installment of The Obligatory Keystone Crossover.

FEATURING: Chris Buchignani, Jim Galanti

We’re excited to be partnering with the team at Keystone Sports, more folks who love the Nittany Lions like we do.

The Obligatory Keystone Crossover: Episode 12

Big Heads Media — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 12:31:09 -0500

After a brief update on the status of the regular podcast, Chris and Jim take a broader look at the landscape of college football and the mounting challenges to the four-team format of the first-ever college football playoff. Conventional wisdom tells us that expansion is inevitable - eventually - but could the move to include more teams in the postseason happen sooner than you think? A variety of practical concerns driving the sport's sudden and rapid evolution could combine to hasten yet another substantial change.

Remember to subscribe to the Keystone Kickoff podcast (see below) to continue getting every weekly installment of The Obligatory Keystone Crossover.

FEATURING: Chris Buchignani, Jim Galanti

We’re excited to be partnering with the team at Keystone Sports, more folks who love the Nittany Lions like we do.

The Obligatory Keystone Crossover: Episode 10

Big Heads Media — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 08:53:38 -0500

With all the rumors swirling around James Franklin's future at Penn State and many talking heads insisting that certain jobs are obviously better than others, Jim and Chris take a step back to ponder what factors combine to actually make certain head coach positions "destination jobs." Does the conventional wisdom hold up that rabid fans, unreasonable boosters, over-the-top facilities, and fertile recruiting grounds can be quantified into an objective ranking of available jobs, or is there more to it? Could many of the qualities that make certain college jobs appealing on the surface turn out to be the very liabilities turning many prestige posts into revolving doors, as schools cycle through one coach after another, searching for the quick fix?

Remember to subscribe to the Keystone Kickoff podcast (see below) to continue getting every weekly installment of The Obligatory Keystone Crossover.

FEATURING: Chris Buchignani, Jim Galanti

We’re excited to be partnering with the team at Keystone Sports, more folks who love the Nittany Lions like we do.

FALL '21 Episode 17: Ohio State, Maryland & Playoff Rankings

Big Heads Media — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 10:21:40 -0400

Maybe moral victories are the best we can hope for when it comes to Penn State versus Ohio State. As another year passes without a win over the Buckeyes (this time handing OSU its longest winning streak against the Nittany Lions - five games and counting), most of Nittany Nation seems satisfied that the team played well and didn't get embarrassed. How much of that stems directly from the team's inspired and generally competent play in Columbus so starkly contrasting with the previous weekend's circus of ineptitude and shame versus Illinois is up for debate. What can't be disputed is the opportunity still awaiting Penn State if the Lions can continue to build on their solid, if insufficient performance at the Horseshoe. Two teams awaiting in the final four weeks of the regular season appear in the top ten of this year's first (and quite possibly the dumbest) edition of the college football playoff rankings. Mailman, Chris, and Kevin wrap up the Ohio State game, grouse about the lunacy of the selection committee's twisted and contradictory ranking logic, and look ahead to Penn State's trip to College Park to face Maryland.

HOSTED BY: Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

The Obligatory Keystone Crossover: Episode 8

Big Heads Media — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 09:59:50 -0400

One relatively routine hit on QB Sean Clifford during the first quarter of the Iowa game produced a dramatic ripple effect on Penn State's 2021 season and, quite possibly, beyond. A dominating offensive performance that, had it been sustained, would have likely resulted in the Lions leaving Kinnick victorious and destined for the top two instead fizzled, and an undefeated season with championship aspirations gave way to a two-game (and counting) losing streak. Even as rumors continue to swirl around James Franklin's candidacy for job openings at USC (again), LSU, and perhaps elsewhere, the sudden run of bad fortune on the field has left the attitudes of both Penn State's fans and Franklin's would-be future employers are in flux. Chris and Jim dive into those shark-infested waters in this week's episode.

Remember to subscribe to the Keystone Kickoff podcast (see below) to continue getting every weekly installment of The Obligatory Keystone Crossover.

FEATURING: Chris Buchignani, Jim Galanti

We’re excited to be partnering with the team at Keystone Sports, more folks who love the Nittany Lions like we do.

FALL '21 Episode 16: Post-Illinois, Pre-Ohio State Mega Show

Big Heads Media — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 22:34:47 -0400

Over four agonizing, rain-soaked quarters and 75 overtime periods only vaguely resembling the sport of football, what had mostly felt like a decidedly-different, and potentially-special, season for James Franklin and the Nittany Lions descended into depressingly-familiar disappointment, as Penn State slowly transformed a campaign full of promise and a Top 10 ranking into a disfigured wreck with a mind-numbingly idiotic Homecoming loss to 2-5 Big Ten basement dweller Illinois. So here we are, yet again, picking up the pieces of another year gone wrong amid Franklin-to-USC rumors that are as persistent as they are exhausting. We all need some group therapy, and this was our shot at it - for us, and maybe by extension the audience. It's a long one, and just like the Joker's plastic surgeon, we did the best we could do with what we had to work with (including our own battered psyches). Raw, spontaneous, and reflective of the complicated contradictions of this beautifully stupid thing we call fandom, we hope our catharsis can be yours as well. Let's Go State.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '21 Episode 15: Penn State, By the Numbers

Big Heads Media — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 05:15:09 -0400

As the Nittany Lions prepare to return to action, Chris and Mailman are joined by Nathan Wilmot, the analytics columnist for For The Blogy, who has developed his own advanced metrics for quantifying the performance of college football teams. Nate looks back over Penn State's ups and downs through the first six games of 2021, a Top 10 half-campaign dominated by a defense that so far stands alongside its proudest peers in program history, whether you're using the eye test or going by the numbers. With the hapless Illinois Fighting Illini headed to Happy Valley, he also previews the Homecoming matchup and looks ahead to a stiff test in Columbus against Ohio State the following weekend. A lifelong PSU fan, Nate also gives his view on the team so far, the quarterback situation (of course), and whether Bret Bielema has already given up on this year. It's fresh perspective on a familiar topic to take you into Homecoming Saturday and beyond.

Check out For The Blogy Throwback "Penn State vs. Illinois 2012"

HOSTED BY: Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Nate Wilmot

FALL '21 Episode 14: Will Nittany Lions Become Penn State Employees?

Big Heads Media — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 20:30:06 -0400

Even as the Nittany Lions chase another Big Ten title, fighting to defend a Top 10 ranking while battling the injury bug, it wouldn't be a season of the podcast without a couple of #Obligatory digressions, and what better time for one than coming off Penn State's bye week? (Boiler Up.) It has become increasingly difficult over the last 12 months for even the most casual college football fans to evade news stories and commentary about the social and legal battles roiling the future of the NCAA and college sports. From the halls of the United States Supreme Court to the memoranda of the National Labor Relations Board, public opinion and political willpower are shifting in ways that could drastically transform the future of college sports at Penn State and beyond. In order to start unpacking a dense and complicated topic, Chris and Kevin enlist the help of Sam C. Ehrlich, J.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Legal Studies in the Department of Management at Boise State University. Are student athletes destined to become university employees? Where and how did this process start, and what does the future hold? We spend a solid hour with an expert, exploring the answers to these questions and others driving the most volatile era for college athletics in at least 50 years.

HOSTED BY: Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Dr. Sam Ehrlich

The Obligatory Keystone Crossover: Episode 6

Big Heads Media — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 23:37:00 -0400

Hair metal rockers Cinderella perhaps put it best with their 1988 hit: "Don't Know What You Got (Til It's Gone)." Sean Clifford was shredding the vaunted Iowa Hawkeyes defense in hostile environs until an injury put him out of the game early in the second quarter. At that point, Penn State fans the world over, many of whom had harbored doubts about the third-year starter (and were rarely shy about expressing them), realized just how vitally important Cliff is to this team's success. Jim and Chris review the carnage from Kinnick and results from around the country and ponder just how essential recruiting and developing the QB position will be to James Franklin's pursuit of that elusive "elite" status. Remember to subscribe to the Keystone Kickoff podcast (see below) to continue getting every weekly installment of The Obligatory Keystone Crossover.

FEATURING: Chris Buchignani, Jim Galanti

We’re excited to be partnering with the team at Keystone Sports, more folks who love the Nittany Lions like we do.

FALL '21 Episode 13: Post-Iowa Therapy

Big Heads Media — Sun, 10 Oct 2021 22:56:25 -0400

A game that began with the promise and excitement of a top 5 matchup for your Penn State Nittany Lions rapidly devolved into a frustrating and dispiriting war of attrition that ended, as nearly all such games at Kinnick Stadium do, in an agonizingly close loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes. As one key Lion after another limped to the sidelines, the only thing more miserable than the mounting injury toll was the behavior of Iowa’s fans when players went down. But what’s done is done. Penn State has lost its chance at an unblemished season, but opportunities for redemption await. Though questions abound, the upcoming bye week affords James Franklin, his staff, and their players the time to find the answers. The second half of the schedule will tell the tale of 2021, and we’ll help you flush the latest edition in the godawful saga of Penn State versus Iowa and go on to the next.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '21 Episode 12: Penn State at Iowa

Big Heads Media — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 20:49:42 -0400

Wrapping a week's worth of Penn State football news into one whirlwind podcast, our full cast of characters share one long, lingering glance back at the Stripe Out before closing the book on the Nittany Lions' non-revenge-game "Revenge Game" shutout of the Indiana Hoosiers. Brandon Noble, who once upon a time played for college-legend-turned-NFL-punchline Steve Spurrier, shares some perspective on the current controversy embroiling analyst-turned-laughingstock Urban Meyer, and the guys give their thoughts on what will be the biggest game yet of a season sure to be full of them for #4 Penn State, a road trip to the hostile environs of Kinnick Stadium to take on the #3 Iowa Hawkeyes.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

Obligatory Keystone Crossover: Episode 5

Big Heads Media — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 09:26:52 -0400

In the midst of an exciting season that has seen the Penn State Nittany Lions rise to fourth in the nation after five weeks and on the eve of their biggest yet against Iowa, Jim and Chris take a moment to stop and smell the roses - specifically, to appreciate quarterback Sean Clifford and receiver Jahan Dotson, who connected for two scores against Indiana and, in so doing, surpassed Todd Blackledge and Kenny Jackson as State's all-time passing touchdown combo. We appreciate their accomplishments along with those with whom they share the record books and reflect on how lucky Penn Staters have been to watch so many great players represent the Blue and White.

FEATURING: Chris Buchignani, Jim Galanti

We’re excited to be partnering with the team at Keystone Sports, more folks who love the Nittany Lions like we do.

FALL '21 Episode 11: Indiana at Penn State

Big Heads Media — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 00:01:00 -0400

No Penn State fan needs to be reminded about what transpired the last time the Nittany Lions faced Indiana's football team. The debacle of sloppy and undisciplined play, uninspired playcalling, and unearned bravado, capped off with a highly-controversial replay review, began State's disastrous fake season with a whimper. Now, undefeated Penn State prepares to host the Hoosiers under the lights with far loftier goals than "revenge" against the likes of Indiana. Still, this moment recalls the 2008 White Out, when Illinois - another traditionally-middling conference cellar dweller coming off its second-ever win against Penn State the previous year and awash in self-importance - was rewarded with a night under the lights at Beaver Stadium and a subsequent ass-kicking. Will this season see a similar result? Time will tell. We begin this episode with a brief revisitation of our mental state immediately following the 2020 Indiana game and take it from there.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

Obligatory Keystone Crossover: Episode 4

Big Heads Media — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 00:14:00 -0400

Maybe it's time to go back to "Legends" and "Leaders." After years of the scales tipping in favor of the Big Ten's East division, home to college football powerhouses Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan, the disparity between the two halves the conference seems even more pronounced in 2021. Chris and Jim look at the might East versus the lowly West while pondering whether the sketchy post-Penn State performance of the Nittany Lions' prior foes is worthy of concern.

FEATURING: Chris Buchignani, Jim Galanti

We’re excited to be partnering with the team at Keystone Sports, more folks who love the Nittany Lions like we do.

FALL '21 Episode 10: So Much for the Afterglow

Big Heads Media — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 17:26:20 -0400

No matter how rosy and promising the big picture may appear, no matter how satisfying and cathartic the experience has been, no matter how well your expectations have been met (and probably exceeded) thus far, four games into a 4-0 season for Penn State that has seen the Nittany Lions climb the rankings all the way to number four in the nation, there is still one nagging inconsistency that has yet to be adequately addressed in what has otherwise been a basically perfect beginning to this literally perfect start: We're of course referring to the University choosing to senselessly scan the bar code of every tailgate parking pass on the way into the lots before big games. But it could also apply to Penn State's maddening inability to run the football, an increasingly troubling trend that extended into the Lions' otherwise relatively thorough beating of the Villanova Wildcats. Brandon and Chris get into all of that and more.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Chris Buchignani

FALL '21 Episode 9: Villanova at Penn State feat. Ben Jones, StateCollege.com

Big Heads Media — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 01:22:03 -0400

With nearly all of Penn State's divisional opponents in the Big Ten East showing substantial improvement early in the 2021 season and a number of difficult road contests still awaiting the Nittany Lions, there look to be precious few breathers on the upcoming schedule. That makes this weekend's visit from the FCS Villanova Wildcats an important opportunity to sit starters early and get playing time for players down the depth chart. It also offers an opportunity to pause and reflect on an entertaining three-game opening stanza that has seen the Lions rocket up the rankings. Ben Jones, Penn State beat reporter for StateCollege.com, joins the show to reflect on covering a team that has pleasantly surprised many of even its most devoted fans on the way to the program's first-ever 3-0 start to feature two wins over ranked opponents.

Read Ben Jones' Penn State football coverage at StateCollege.com: http://www.statecollege.com/news/authors/ben-jones,191/

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Ben Jones

Obligatory Keystone Crossover: Episode 3

Big Heads Media — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 12:20:55 -0400

We have been hearing from James Franklin and many others about the immense talent Penn State has at tight end this season and waiting to see how new offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich would put it to use. The wait is over, and the timing couldn't have been better, with a ranked Auburn team in town for a White Out. Jim and Chris discuss a breakout night for all three of the team's top tight ends and what it tells us about Yurcich's ability and willingness to utilize the weapons at his disposal.

FEATURING: Chris Buchignani, Jim Galanti

We’re excited to be partnering with the team at Keystone Sports, more folks who love the Nittany Lions like we do.

FALL '21 Episode 8: Auburn Afterglow

Big Heads Media — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 22:47:26 -0400

There are but a precious few places where the forces of the college football universe can all align to create a special and resonant moment that touches the lives of thousands of people in hundreds of ways, uniting people of all different backgrounds - young and old, near and far away - in a shared appreciation of a unique American ritual. Luckily for all of us, Happy Valley is such a place, and for those of us fortunate enough to call ourselves Penn Staters, it is a second home that beckons strongest on Autumn Saturdays when the home team does battle for love and loyalty to Alma Mater beneath the watchful gaze of Old Mount Nittany. Whether you watched at home or from the stands, dressed all in white, you were treated to a beautiful four-quarter masterpiece that, at its conclusion, indelibly etched another memorable chapter into the already-legendary chronicles of Penn State football. We pause to appreciate it all, from the profane to the profound.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '21 Episode 7: Auburn at Penn State

Big Heads Media — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 23:00:45 -0400

A big weekend in Happy Valley looms. In under two decades, the Beaver Stadium White Out has cemented its status among the most distinctive traditions of the great American ritual that is college football. After the coronavirus pandemic denied Penn Staters the opportunity to take part in 2020, the White Out returns for a huge non-conference battle - a rare Northern road trip for an SEC school as #22 Auburn arrives to take on #10 Penn State - and ESPN's College GameDay is once again back in the Valley to mark the occasion. The guys talk about the evolution of the tradition, GameDay's newfound affection for State College, and what to expect when the Nittany Lions take on the Tigers. All this plus Brandon Noble's memories from the 1996 Outback Bowl, the waterlogged game that gave Penn State its half of the all-time series with Auburn that is currently tied 1-1. Here's hoping the Lions break the stalemate in our favor on Saturday. #WeAre

Moxie: The Worst-Tasting Soda on Earth

For the Blogy: Quantifying the White Out

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Mike Levine

Obligatory Keystone Crossover: Episode 2

Big Heads Media — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 23:00:00 -0400

When you run the company, you can't get fired. When you're publishing your own podcast, you can't get canceled. And so, the Obligatory Keystone Crossover, an experiment in collaboration (in our case) and tolerance (in theirs) between Obligatory and the Keystone Sports Network is back for a second installment. In this episode, Chris handles the hosting duties and has some sage career advice to drown out the clickbait for James Franklin, while Jim zeroes in on what's changed for Penn State, and its third-year QB, since beginning the 2020 fake season at 0-5.

FEATURING: Chris Buchignani, Jim Galanti

We’re excited to be partnering with the team at Keystone Sports, more folks who love the Nittany Lions like we do.

FALL '21 Episode 6: Ball Busted

Big Heads Media — Sun, 12 Sep 2021 22:37:58 -0400

After 651 days of barren tailgate fields, empty bleachers, and often-uninspiring football played in eerie silence, Happy Valley's home game drought is over. The crowds and energy that are the lifeblood of town and campus in Autumn came flooding back into State College last weekend, welcoming home a team led, in the best tradition of the program, by their defense. After two outings, it looks like a unit capable of keeping them in every game they'll play. For two classes of Penn State students, it was their first time experiencing the magic of Nittany Lions football inside Beaver Stadium, and for many thousands of others, the day marked a joyful reunion after a long and painful separation. There were some kinks to work out, on the field and outside the stadium, but nevertheless, the day itself was pretty much perfect. We take a final look back at Penn State's win over Ball State before turning our attention, along with eyes across the college football world, to a White Out under the lights against a ranked SEC opponent.

HOSTED BY: Mike "The Mailman" Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '21 Episode 5: Ball State at Penn State

Big Heads Media — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 22:41:45 -0400

Happy Valley is ready for a family reunion. After an impossibly long layover nobody could have foreseen when the 2019 Nittany Lions closed out their home schedule with a win over Rutgers on Senior Day, the Greatest Show in College Football returns to Beaver Stadium this Saturday (and the next three to follow). The spirit of the Valley will be felt again in the Downtown on Friday afternoon. The tailgating fields will fill up early on the morning of gameday. The student section will be rocking with the energy that sustains campus and community. And fans of a certain age will grudgingly figure out how "Apple Wallet" works on their way into the stadium. Handling this episode on their own, Chris and Kevin (on the road back from the Baseball Hall of Fame inductions in Cooperstown, NY) wax poetic about the return of fans and the accompanying home game atmosphere, ponder the necessity of virtual tickets and numbered lots, and talk through the game scenarios for Penn State's matchup with an experienced Ball State team looking to play spoiler after its MAC Championship season in 2020.

HOSTED BY: Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

Obligatory Keystone Crossover: Episode 1

Big Heads Media — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 14:25:59 -0400

Introducing the Obligatory Keystone Crossover, an "alliance" (if you will) between two teams of content creators who share a mutual love for Penn State and the sound of their own voices. As part of this new collaboration, our personalities will connect each week for some crossover conversation, sharing different perspectives on the Nittany Lions' season as it unfurls. We'll take a little bit of this and a little bit of that from our two shows, mash it all together, and make you some extra football content for the middle of your week. Enjoy this first-episode "beta test." There's plenty more to come.

FEATURING: Chris Buchignani, Jim Galanti

We’re excited to be partnering with the team at Keystone Sports, more folks who love the Nittany Lions like we do.

FALL '21 Episode 4: The Joy of 1-0

Big Heads Media — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 22:25:01 -0400

The wait, long and miserable though it may have been - through global turmoil and an on-again, off-again season that maybe would have been better left staying "off-again" - was worth it. With a gutsy road performance against a higher-ranked opponent that recalled the glory days of Penn State football, led by a defense that could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the many legends who wore the Blue and White before them, James Franklin and the Nittany Lions began the 2021 campaign in style, pulling out a dramatic 16-10 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers. Penn State went 1-0 this week to start 1-0 this season, and the possibilities that now lay before this team hold a promise for all those who love the name of Dear Old State.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Chris Buchignani

FALL '21 Episode 3: Penn State at Wisconsin

Big Heads Media — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 22:02:08 -0400

The long wait - in many respects, far longer than is usual for this time of year - is finally almost over. Penn State travels to Madison, Wisconsin this weekend to take on a Badgers team facing many of the same questions haunting James Franklin's squad coming off the Big Ten's bizarre and frustrating fake season in 2020. In many ways, a road trip to face a ranked opponent in a hostile environment may seem a less than ideal way to launch a comeback campaign, but perhaps this early test of the 18th-ranked Nittany Lions' mettle represents exactly what they need - a chance to show their fans, and themselves, that last year is over, and that better, more focused coaching and a return to a conventional offseason are the keys to unlocking the talent on a roster primed to compete for a New Year's Day bowl and perhaps more. We sound off on all the challenges, from without and within, that await Penn State at kickoff.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '21 Episode 2: Penn State Roster Breakdown (Defense)

Big Heads Media — Sun, 29 Aug 2021 23:01:00 -0400

Joe often said that quarterbacks receive too much credit when the team is winning and too much blame when the team is losing. In this era of unprecedented point-scoring in college football, that disproportionate ratio extends to the entire offense. It has perhaps provided a smokescreen for Brent Pry's defense, which has quietly failed in key situations when State faltered over the past few seasons and then totally cratered during the team's infamous losing streak to start last year. There are bright spots to suggest an impending reversal, to be sure, with the arrival of potentially-impactful new additions through the transfer portal, a secondary stocked with pro-caliber talent, and a few linebackers who appear poised to turn the corner. Will it be enough to offset attrition, injury, and inexperience along the all-important defensive line? Chris and our ringers explore this question and more as they scrutinize Penn State's talent on the defensive side of the ball.

HOSTED BY: Chris Buchignani

GUESTS: Mike Levine, Nick Mantegna

FALL '21 Episode 1: Penn State Roster Breakdown (Offense)

Big Heads Media — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 23:01:00 -0400

Per Obligatory tradition, one of our most popular features returns: the Penn State football preview in which Chris enlists the assistance of fellow LION 90.7fm alumni to analyze the Nittany Lions roster in two installments, beginning with the offense. This year, former FIU and Miami Hurricanes broadcaster Mike Levine returns, per usual, and he is joined by Villanova Athletics and Big East Network broadcaster Nick Mantegna, reuniting a student radio broadcast team 20 years after they brought their half dozen listeners such unforgettable gems as Joe Paterno's record-breaking 324th career win versus Ohio State and such forgettable disappointments as most other games in the 2001 season.

After a disastrous fake season in which first-year offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca's unit did little to prevent a historically-bad 0-5 start, James Franklin was quick with the hook, replacing Ciarrocca with the highly-coveted Mike Yurcich, whose rapid rise through the coaching ranks has included successful stints at Oklahoma State, Ohio State, and Texas. The cupboard is far from bare for Yurcich, who'll scheme plays for some of the most talented running backs and tight ends in the country plus a returning duo of wideouts who should rank among the most dangerous in the Big Ten. But as ever, it all comes down to the guys up front. Can offensive line coach Phil Trautwein coax the breakout performance Penn State have waited on for years? Will it matter if third-year starting quarterback Sean Clifford cannot elevate his play under Yurcich's tutelage? Chris and our ringers tackle these questions and more as they scrutinize Penn State's talent on the offensive side of the ball.

HOSTED BY: Chris Buchignani

GUESTS: Mike Levine, Nick Mantegna

SUMMER '21 Episode 5: The Real Hiking Viking

Big Heads Media — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 10:40:17 -0400

We wrap up our 2021 Summer semester with this extended conversation with returning guest Tom Gathman, better known to outdoor and adventure enthusiasts across the globe as The Real Hiking Viking. A Marines Corps combat veteran, Tom grew up around Penn State football and Joe Paterno - really - his dad produced Joe's famous Holsum Milano bread advertising campaign, which he discussed during our short introductory conversation with him earlier this year. These days, he backpacks all over the world, pitting himself against the elements in long treks far from civilization, but never so far that he misses a Nittany Lions kickoff during the Fall. Sought-after as an outdoor brand ambassador and a die-hard Penn State football fan, Tom also produces the weekly Blue & White Brothers Podcast during the season. In this wide-ranging interview, Chris and Mailman go in-depth with Tom about life on the trail, loving the Lions, and the best way to avoid being eaten by a bear.

The Real Hiking Viking's website: http://www.therealhikingviking.com/

Tom's previous appearance on the podcast: https://www.statecollege.com/obligatory-psu/spring-21-episode-22-the-award-winner-the-hiking-viking/

HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Tom Gathman (The Hiking Viking)

SUMMER '21 Episode 4: Unlicensed

Big Heads Media — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 10:30:17 -0400

On July 1, 2021, the epoch of college football that began in 1869 with Rutgers and Princeton playing a bizarre combination of soccer and rugby came to a close, and a whole new era began. That might be overstating things a bit, but not much! If nothing else, the advent of name, image, and likeness (NIL) monetization for college athletes marks an end to the NCAA's increasingly-controversial notion of amateurism as the foundation of intercollegiate athletics, an idea dating back to the early 1900s. One week in, the early returns have included much of the chaos and uncertainty you'd expect from the ruling body's hands-off, Wild West approach to perhaps the most significant change in its history. If nothing else, on the Miami Hurricanes' next trip to the national title game, they'll all be able to afford their own fatigues (although after 16 years in the ACC, maybe they ought to focus on their first win in the conference title game to get started). There will plenty of time to assess the new world of college football and plenty more good discussions about it here on the show. For now, we give our early reactions and predictions for how Penn State can navigate this volatile, new landscape.

HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

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SUMMER '21 Episode 3: College Football Playoff Expansion Pt. 2

Big Heads Media — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 22:35:06 -0400

Once upon a time, Joe Paterno's Penn State Nittany Lions were the new kid on the college football block, struggling to earn respect among the established titans of the sport while battling entrenched stereotypes about the inferiority of "Eastern football." It felt like a rigged game in which even going undefeated wasn't nearly enough. Today's Group of Five conference contenders - Boise State, UCF, Cincinnati - face a similar uphill climb, but the coming expansion of the college football playoff may finally afford these programs and their frustrated fans a chance to escape the on-deck circle. Meanwhile, Old State has long since graduated to the ranks of the bluebloods, and the move to 12 teams has far different implications for the Lions and their current head coach in the pursuit of a coveted national title. From opening doors for the sport's scrappy underdogs to impacting - positively, we hope - everything in Happy Valley from recruiting to the fans' psyches, we further explore the near-future of college ball in the chaotic playoff era.

"Taking 'The Walk' with James Franklin" by Ben Jones of StateCollege.com: https://www.statecollege.com/penn-state-football-taking-the-walk-with-james-franklin/

Part 1 of our Playoff Expansion discussions: https://share.transistor.fm/s/b75ef3e6

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

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SUMMER '21 Episode 2: SCOTUS stiff arms the NCAA

Big Heads Media — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 23:00:30 -0400

When is losing 9-0 more embarrassing than losing 6-4? When you're the governing body of one of the nation's most venerable and popular sports leagues and you're handed a unanimous legal shellacking by a politically-divided Supreme Court in the most charged atmosphere of partisan polarization in a century. Many Americans have wondered what force could possible compel us to come together in unity, and that turned out to be the venal cynicism and stupefying incompetence of the NCAA. The organization and its nincompoop president Mark Emmert certainly make fun rhetorical punching bags, and there's good, clean fun to be had from reveling in their deeply-deserved embarrassment and misfortune. But once the dunk tank is closed, is the new course being plotted for college athletics one that will ultimately please fans and preserve what made it worth caring about in the first place? Are we even asking the right questions to find out before it's too late?

NCAA Financial Calculator (USA Today): https://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/finances/

SPRING '21 Episode 13: The NCAA on Trial: https://share.transistor.fm/s/e0e11d0c

HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

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SUMMER '21 Episode 1: College Football Playoff Expansion Pt. 1

Big Heads Media — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 22:15:15 -0400

Few teams have been more consistently cheated of the chance to prove their worthiness as title contenders on the field than the Penn State Nittany Lions. Joe Paterno famously coached four teams that went undefeated and uncrowned, and as he was for so many of college football's eventual innovations, Joe was an outspoken advocate for a playoff system to determine a champion. After years of hearing it would never happen, an actual four-team playoff still left the 2016 Big Ten Champion Nittany Lions on the outside looking in. So news that the college playoffs are set to expand to include 12 teams in the near future should be welcome in Happy Valley, where the home team would have made a 12-team field in four of the last seven years. But might moving from four top contenders to 12 teams overall prove "too much of a good thing?" That's the question we tackle as we begin our examination of the college football playoff's inevitable expansion.

12-Team Playoff Brackets (2014-20): https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-playoff-expansion-how-a-12-team-field-would-have-looked-in-each-of-last-seven-seasons/

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

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SPRING '21 Episode 24: Two White Outs Twice As Nice?

Big Heads Media — Mon, 24 May 2021 21:53:59 -0400

With the announcement that Penn State's highly-anticipated non-conference matchup with Auburn will kick off under the lights at Beaver Stadium, anticipation is high that the marquee matchup will also see the triumphant return of the Greatest Show in College Football: The Beaver Stadium White Out. While some fans consider this a welcome opportunity to shift the annual (except during global pandemics) White Out off the alternating schedule of Michigan and Ohio State, others see November's visit from the Wolverines an opportunity to White Out the Beav for a second time, an unprecedented move for highly unusual times. So in this episode, we kick around the question of how much is too much of a good thing and reminisce about some of the greatest night game environments in the history of Penn State football.

HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

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SPRING '21 Episode 23: Penn State Letterman Lydell Sargeant

Big Heads Media — Thu, 13 May 2021 22:32:25 -0400

The guys interview Penn State Football Letterman Lydell Sargeant, a Pittsburgh native who committed to PSU as part of Joe Paterno's legendary 2005 recruiting class, the only class in school history with two Big Ten titles over their time in Happy Valley. After switching from receiver to defensive back following his freshman season, Lydell saw increasing playing time in State's defensive backfield over the next several years, culminating in an All Big Ten senior season in which he led the 2008 conference champs in interceptions and pass breakups. That year he was also heavily involved in Barack Obama's presidential campaign efforts on campus and around State College.

After an NFL career with the Buffalo Bills was cut short by injury, he returned to Penn State to work in Athletics, served on the Football Lettermen's Club executive committee, and earned a master's degree in sports management studies from California University of PA. He went on to positions with Marquette, Utah Valley University, and UCLA before assuming his current position as Associate AD for Development and Revenue Generation at Morgan State University, an HBCU located in Baltimore, Maryland.

2008 Oregon State at Penn State: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87JXQGD9_54
2008 Penn State at Wisconsin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UMDDQsVF3o
2008 Penn State at Ohio State: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFKn2d2hYXM

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Lydell Sargeant

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SPRING '21 Episode 22: The Award Winner & The Hiking Viking

Big Heads Media — Mon, 10 May 2021 21:56:36 -0400

Listen to guest Miriam Colvin's award-winning podcast: https://soundcloud.com/miriam-colvin/competition-with-the-best

With Spring football and the NFL Draft in the rearview, the guys turn their attention to exploring some of the interesting stories and people in and around the Nittany Valley. Penn State freshman Miriam Colvin had only tried producing a podcast once before, but when she decided to document an old family story that tied back to the great Muhammed Ali, the final product - "Competition with the Best" - ended up winning NPR's national Student Podcast Challenge. Miriam gives an account of her journey from Sunshine State to Happy Valley and achieving this cool recognition.

USMC vet Tom Gathman grew up around Penn State football and Joe Paterno - really - his dad produced Joe's famous Holsum Milano bread advertising campaign. Now "The Hiking Viking" backpacks all over the world, pitting himself against the elements in long treks far from civilization, but never so far that he misses a Nittany Lions kickoff during the Fall. Sought-after outdoor brand ambassador and die-hard PSU football fan, Tom also produces the weekly Blue & White Brothers Podcast during the season. He checks in with the guys ahead of his next adventure and is set to return for a full episode later this Summer.

The Real Hiking Viking's website: http://www.therealhikingviking.com/

Miriam on NPR's "All Things Considered": https://www.npr.org/2021/04/21/989608753/competition-with-the-greatest-podcast-winner-fact-checked-family-lore

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUESTS: Miriam Colvin, Tom Gathman (The Hiking Viking)

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SPRING '21 Episode 21: Penn State NFL Draft Wrap-up w/ Sheil Kapadia

Big Heads Media — Mon, 03 May 2021 22:02:18 -0400

Six Penn State Nittany Lions were taken in the 2021 NFL Draft, with linebacker Micah Parsons and edge rusher Odafe (Jayson) Oweh going in the first round. Tight end Pat Freiermuth headed to Pittsburgh via the second round, and three other Lions - defensive end Shaka Toney and offensive linemen Michael Menet and Will Fries - going off the board consecutively in the seventh. Penn State (and LION 90.7fm) alumnus Sheil Kapadia of The Athletic joins the show to evaluate the team fit and professional outlook for all six Staters selected.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Sheil Kapadia

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SPRING '21 Episode 20: Penn State in the NFL Draft w/ ESPN's Matt Bowen

Big Heads Media — Wed, 28 Apr 2021 11:12:29 -0400

Which Nittany Lions will hear their names called (and when) in the 2021 NFL Draft? ESPN pro football analyst Matt Bowen joins the show to evaluate Penn State's prospects in the 2021 draft class, including Micah Parsons, Jayson Oweh, Pat Freiermuth, and Shaka Toney. Matt was a four-year letterwinner as a safety at Iowa, earning second-team All America and first-team All Big Ten during his college career. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in 2000, and his seven-year NFL career also included stints with Green Bay, Washington, and Buffalo. Currently, he serves as an NFL writer and analyst at ESPN, including co-hosting the incomparable NFL Matchup.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Matt Bowen

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SPRING '21 Episode 19: Blue-White Redux Review

Big Heads Media — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 21:32:42 -0400

Why have one real Blue-White Weekend when you can hold two fake ones instead? Well, for plenty of reasons, of course, but after the last 12 months, you take whatever you can get. After holding an open football scrimmage (or practice or something) for Penn State freshmen a week prior, the Nittany Lions returned to Beaver Stadium for their 15th and final practice of the Spring season and gave University Park's senior class a send-off under the lights. Intriguing plot lines that emerged during our first peek at the 2021 squad continued to develop, while concerns about the progress of new coordinator Mike Yurcich's offense may have been at least partially addressed. Chris and Mike the Mailman share their first-hand observations and impressions from their strange, but welcome return to the House that Joe Built.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

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SPRING '21 Episode 18: Penn State alum Rob Lawless (Rob's 10k Friends)

Big Heads Media — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 22:25:53 -0400

After graduating from Penn State in 2013 with a degree in Finance, Rob Lawless began work at the global consulting firm Deloitte, later moving on to start-up venture RJ Metrics. When that company was acquired in 2015, he turned his full attention to meeting 10,000 new people and spending an hour with each of them. To date, Rob has met over 3,500 people from 35 states and 60 different countries, along the way appearing on media outlets like the TODAY Show, On the Air with Ryan Seacrest, and now this dopey podcast. We love highlighting good stories and interesting people from the Nittany Valley, so we hope you enjoy this conversation with Rob, who covers all those bases and then some.

Rob's 10k Friends: https://www.robs10kfriends.com/

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Rob Lawless

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SPRING '21 Episode 17: Penn State Scrimmage Summary w/ Nubyjas Wilborn

Big Heads Media — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 22:40:08 -0400

Only freshmen and reporters were allowed inside Beaver Stadium for what turned out to be the first of two Fake Blue-White Saturdays (with the next to follow a week later for seniors), so the guys enlisted the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Penn State football reporter Nubyjas Wilborn to share insights and observations on this first look at the 2021 Nittany Lions. The defensive front seven and heralded freshman Kalen King delivered eye-opening performances, while the quarterback position and - stop us if you've heard this one before - offensive line left ample room for improvement. Nubyjas expounds on these and other takeaways from Penn State's 12th of 15 Spring practices.

Nubyjas Wilborn's Five Takeaways from Blue-White Weekend: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/psu/2021/04/17/Penn-State-Nittany-Lions-football-Blue-White-five-takeaways/stories/202104170045

Follow all of Nubyjas' Penn State coverage the Post-Gazette: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/psu

Watch every Penn State Spring Football coach & player media call (via Blue White Illustrated): https://www.youtube.com/c/bluewhiteillustratedvideo/videos

HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Nubyjas Wilborn

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SPRING '21 Episode 16: Penn State Spring Roster Review

Big Heads Media — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 23:24:26 -0400

Fake Blue-White Saturday is upon us, so why not mark the occasion by squeezing the last droplets of #content from a traditionally substance-free weekend that this year is a literal non-event? Great friend of the show Mike Levine, Buchignani's former student radio broadcast partner on The LION 90.7fm, joins the show to help review key storylines at each position group on offense and defense as Penn State wraps Spring practice. This may come as a surprise, but the conversation ends up in a lengthy digression, this time concerning the long-term numbing effect of the gridiron frustration and disappointment parceled out by the Nittany Lions over the last half-decade. If you want to know what feeling optimistic and bad all at once is like, then listen to this entire episode!

Offensive Line Coach Phil Trautwein's Media Availability: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfZHkiOc5LY

Watch every Penn State Spring Football coach & player media call (via Blue White Illustrated): https://www.youtube.com/c/bluewhiteillustratedvideo/videos

HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Mike Levine

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SPRING '21 Episode 15: Penn State Spring Football Stories #2

Big Heads Media — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 22:25:19 -0400

More feeding the #content-starved beast with morsels of news and insight plumbed from the depths of Penn State Spring Football coach and player interviews. Former Nittany Lions offensive lineman Keith "Goon" Conlin (1991-95) of The Lion Country Kia Goon & Ironhead Show sits in with Brandon, Chris, and Mike the Mailman. Discussions cover the importance of returning to "real" Spring football in 2021, the impact of new offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich, and the (remote?) possibility that PSU's offensive line might not disappoint this season. Even if you learn nothing, you get an offensive and defensive lineman in the same (virtual) room and the insults fly, so there's always the entertainment value.

Watch every Penn State Spring Football coach & player media call (via Blue White Illustrated): https://www.youtube.com/c/bluewhiteillustratedvideo/videos

For The Blogy's Blue-White Game improvements: https://fortheblogy.com/sunday-column-a-few-ways-to-make-the-blue-white-game-more-colorful/

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Keith Conlin

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SPRING '21 Episode 14: Penn State Spring Football Stories #1

Big Heads Media — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 23:14:24 -0400

Spring football is back in Happy Valley for the first time in nearly two years, and for a program that struggled mightily through 2020 without the benefit of offseason practices, its return has been warmly received by coaches, players, and fans. With James Franklin, several Nittany Lions assistant coaches, and multiple players addressing the media each week, we'll be sharing some highlights along with commentary on what it all might mean as Old State gears up for a critical Fall. In this episode, we're talking talent and flexibility at linebacker, transfer portal reinforcements along the front four, and two young siblings with possible stardom in their future. Fair warning: You'll have to wade through the usual tangents and digressions (all good stuff!) to get there.

Watch every Penn State Spring Football coach & player media call (via Blue White Illustrated): https://www.youtube.com/c/bluewhiteillustratedvideo/videos

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

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SPRING '21 Episode 13: The NCAA on Trial

Big Heads Media — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 07:58:20 -0400

What a mess. For many years now (and several decades prior, really), the NCAA and its member schools have been losing ground in their seemingly-hopeless battle to preserve the concept of "amateurism," which they view as the basis for college sports. It's a system that has walled college athletes off from the benefits of skyrocketing revenues. Even as the business of college sports has prospered, many believe the value returned to the athletes hasn't kept pace. Under the august leadership of odious dunce Mark Emmert, the NCAA can barely offer a coherent defense of its current model, let alone undertake any serious reform of it. And now the latest battleground is the United States Supreme Court. There are no easy answers to be had, and this discussion offers varying perspectives on the matter as college sports stands trial before the highest court in the land. And after that long shot of seriousness, chase it with analysis of former Penn State point guard Jamari Wheeler's troll game in transferring to Ohio State.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

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SPRING '21 Episode 12: Penn State Reporter Mark Wogenrich, SI.com

Big Heads Media — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 09:21:02 -0400

SI.com's Penn State reporter Mark Wogenrich returns to the show to talk about the transition from the bad, fake season of 2020 to the critical offseason and Spring practices of 2021. After sharing a few recollections of the bizarre experience of covering Penn State football from an empty Beaver Stadium, he offers observations from Spring football coach and player interviews, early thoughts on the 2021 season, and even some speculation that two Nittany Lions (Micah Parsons and Jayson Oweh) could go in the top 10 of the NFL Draft for the first time since 2000. Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State football since 1999, beginning at The Allentown Morning Call and now for Sports Illustrated’s Penn State channel.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Mark Wogenrich

If you missed it, check out Mark's first guest appearance from last Summer: https://share.transistor.fm/s/322c08cf

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SPRING '21 Episode 11: Jeff "Ironhead" Byers, Voice of Penn State Wrestling

Big Heads Media — Tue, 23 Mar 2021 11:09:11 -0400

Despite falling just shy of the overall team championship at the 2021 NCAA Wrestling Tournament, Penn State's second-place finish included a spectacular four-for-four title match performance on the final night of competition, crowning four individual national champions for the Nittany Lions. Jeff "Ironhead" Byers, the long-time voice of Penn State Wrestling and co-host of The Lion Country Kia Good & Ironhead Show, shares observations and experiences from a tumultuous year for the wrestling team that nevertheless culminated in impressive fashion. Get a fascinating behind-the-scenes account of Penn State's dynasty-in-progess, one of Happy Valley's best unfolding stories.

HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Jeff "Ironhead" Byers

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SPRING '21 Episode 10: David Eckert of Blue White Illustrated (Penn State Hockey, Hoops+)

Big Heads Media — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 01:00:00 -0400

Blue White Illustrated's resident jack of all trades David Eckert visits the show to talk about the present and future for Penn State's men's basketball and ice hockey teams, two programs that, each in their own way, struggled through tough years after helplessly watching historic seasons get cut short by the pandemic in 2020. Is new head coaching hire Micah Shrewsberry the leader to finally break PSU's cycle of futility in hoops? Can Guy Gadowsky build on a rocky rebuilding year and keep his young hockey team on an upward trajectory? Can Kevin win Mailman's March Madness survivor pool? Possible answers to at least some of these questions await.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: David Eckert

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SPRING '21 Episode 9: Penn State Letterman Brandon Noble (Part 2)

Big Heads Media — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 07:44:57 -0400

Brandon continues recounting his football journey, this time focusing on his two seasons as a full-time starter for Penn State. These years spanned a "disappointing" encore to the 1994 Big Ten title in '95, punctuated by a legendary snow-swept home victory over Michigan and a bounce-back bowl win against Auburn, followed by an 11-2 season in '96, in which Brandon was named a senior captain and finished out his PSU career as defensive MVP of the Fiesta Bowl. Brandon reflects on this era of Nittany Lions football as well as his struggles breaking into the NFL as an undrafted free agent on the San Francisco practice squad. There's a lot to tell about his time in the pros (Barcelona, Dallas, Washington), and Chris, Kevin, and Mailman kept dragging him into digressions (go figure), so there will be a Part 3 in the not-too-distant future.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

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SPRING '21 Episode 8: Penn State Letterman Brandon Noble (Part 1 Redux)

Big Heads Media — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 23:16:28 -0500

Re-releasing Part One of our interview with Obligatory co-host Brandon Noble (originally published in August 2019) in advance of the all-new second installment coming next week. Brandon's got a great story about the intersection of life and football, and he tells it well.

In this first interview, Brandon talks about the journey that took him across the country – from Southern California to Virginia Beach – and eventually to Happy Valley, suiting up for some of JoePa’s best teams in the mid-1990’s: The recruiting process, choosing between Michigan and Penn State, and his first three years in the program, which included plenty of adversity and adjustment as well as a chance to play for an undefeated Big Ten and Rose Bowl champion. Our next installment will cover his role as a key starter at defensive tackle in 1995-96, from the legendary "Snowball Game" against Michigan in '95 to ending his career as Fiesta Bowl MVP the following year, and how his pro football career nearly ended before it began.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Chris Buchignani

SPRING '21 Episode 7: Penn State's Promising Winter

Big Heads Media — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 08:54:39 -0500

Although adversity of all kinds plagued the Nittany Lions last season on their way to a historic 0-5 start, hope is on the horizon and help is on the way. From a recent commitment from blue chip quarterback Drew Allar, potentially the Franklin staff's biggest QB recruit thus far, to a series of roster, staff, and facility improvements, the signs are everywhere that Penn State football is poised to bounce back in a major way from the struggles of 2020. In this episode, the guys review 10 stories from the nascent off-season that all point in a positive direction for the program's future:

10. Arrival of new coaching consultants
9. Lasch upgrades approved
8. Xfer Portal addition by subtraction
7. Safeties coach Anthony Poindexter
6. Kenny Sanders returns
5. Xfer Portal addition by addition
4. TE coaching turnover
3. Key seniors come back
2. New OC Mike Yurcich
1. A semi-normal Spring

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

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SPRING '21 Episode 6: Facilities Follies

Big Heads Media — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 08:58:46 -0500

Water slides and flight simulators for all. Penn State's plan to spend millions on renovations and upgrades to the Lasch football building created a stir when Jay Paterno spoke out against it while Letterman and fellow trustee Brandon Short was equally outspoken in his support. Although the plan was approved to move forward, comments from LaVar Arrington fanned the flames of controversy, and the issue generated a lot of conversation across social and traditional media. In this episode, the guys weigh in on a question with no simple answers.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

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SPRING '21 Episode 5: Penn State's 2020 Good & Bad, Part 2

Big Heads Media — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 11:54:01 -0500

If nothing else, the wild fake season of 2020 was history-making for the Penn State Nittany Lions, in ways both awful (0-5) and terrific (900 wins). From a wealth of young talent showing out at the skill positions to the many maddening instances of game mismanagement, the guys continue their reflection on the good and bad aspects of a season like none other here in Happy Valley.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

SPRING '21 Episode 4: Penn State's 2020 Good & Bad, Part 1

Big Heads Media — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 11:28:39 -0500

2020 was a year like none other for all of us, so it only makes sense that it was historic in all the wrong ways for James Franklin and the Penn State Nittany Lions. Before finally turning the page on a tumultuous fake season that saw PSU get out to its worst start in program history, the guys are taking one last, long, meandering look back on the things that made 2020 awful, and also maybe so bad, for Penn State. Kevin is in rare form for this one, so come for part one of our digression-riddled retrospective on the largely-miserable slog of 2020 Penn State football, but stay for Kevin's eloquent self-analysis of his complicated love-hate relationship with the head coach.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

SPRING '21 Episode 3: Penn State Offense Past & Future w/ For The Blogy

Big Heads Media — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 11:35:29 -0500

The guys welcome in Coach Nick Codutti of ForTheBlogy.com to talk about the past and future of Penn State's offense under James Franklin. All season long, For The Blogy has been publishing game film analysis from Coach Codutti, including a recent feature on what to expect from new offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich. The Obligatory guys are big fans of everything FTB has brought to Penn State football coverage this year, so it was great to have Nick join the show and talk about what held the Nittany Lions back in 2020 and what might be in store from a new-look offense with multiple impact starters returning.

For the Blogy on YouTube

Coach Nick Codutti on YouTube

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Coach Nick Codutti of For The Blogy

SPRING '21 Episode 2: Penn State Hires OC Mike Yurcich

Big Heads Media — Fri, 08 Jan 2021 21:16:26 -0500

In a genuinely shocking power move, James Franklin relieved first-year offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca of his duties as Penn State's offensive coordinator to bring in newly-available superstar assistant Mike Yurcich, reportedly a favorite for the job a year ago before being lured away by big bucks at the University of Texas. Ben Jones, Penn State beat reporter for StateCollege.com, joins the conversation as the guys react to the surprising news, and all involved conclude that the message is clear: James Franklin's not messing around.

Ben's article on the Mike Yurcich hire: http://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/penn-state-football-concepts-terms-and-question-key-as-yurcich-takes-on-new-role,1484833/

"Happy Valley Hockey" by Ben Jones: https://www.amazon.com/Happy-Valley-Hockey-Ben-Jones/dp/0692964037

Read Ben Jones' Penn State football coverage at StateCollege.com: http://www.statecollege.com/news/authors/ben-jones,191/

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Ben Jones

SPRING '21 Episode 1: Penn State Portal Plunder

Big Heads Media — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 22:08:18 -0500

And we're back. After enjoying some time off for the holidays (just like Penn State), the guys return to wrap up the 2020 bowl season and dig into the surprising amount of early roster news for the Nittany Lions - from transfers and departures to recruiting to an influx of new blood via the transfer portal. Say what you will about the portal, it's here to stay (at least for the time being), so it's nice to see James Franklin and his staff importing talent to Happy Valley instead of just shipping it out. Come from the Penn State talk, stay for the bizarre Christmas tree rituals of Mike the Mailman's childhood and Brandon hellish story of getting stranded in Cleveland. It's good to be back in the saddle, and we're glad you're along for the ride.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '20 Episode 33: State College isn't "Bowls-burg"

Big Heads Media — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 08:12:05 -0500

So that's that. You can close the book on Penn State's 2020 fake season. Unlike many teams across the country and most of their Big Ten peers, the Nittany Lions managed to play all of their scheduled games, which wasn't always a great thing. James Franklin's team stumbled out to an 0-5 start, the worst in school history, but rebounded to win its next four games, becoming only the ninth college program to reach 900 all-time wins in the process. And with the announcement that Penn State will forego a bowl game (and an opportunity to finish at .500), we have come to the end. The guys have pretty strong feelings about the year and the decision to pass on a bowl game especially, and they let 'em fly. Can't wait for the internet to react to this one!

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '20 Episode 32: Recruiting, Illinois & the Big Ten are Dumb

Big Heads Media — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 22:42:30 -0500

The snow is falling in Happy Valley for early National Signing Day. In a year in which the Nittany Lions gave their fans plenty of reasons to worry about the health of the program, is a 28th-ranked recruiting class yet another cause for concern? The guys dig into that question before moving on to other targets, namely a hobbled Fighting Illini team that comes to Beaver Stadium without their head coach (the fired Lovie Smith) and his absolutely tremendous beard. Will the Illinois players come out fired up to play well for their departed boss, or have they already checked out on this all-around miserable season? The answer may dictate how Penn State finishes its season as the Lions seek to preserve a .500 finish in a potential bowl game.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '20 Episode 31: Threeve

Big Heads Media — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 22:32:44 -0500

Is this ostensibly the "Michigan State wrap-up show?" Yes. Does the conversation eventually meander its way back to some discussion of Penn State's 39-24 reclamation project against Sparty that moved the Lions to 3-5 on the year? Again, yes. Do Mike, Brandon, and Chris also seize on Kevin's absence as their "jailbreak" opportunity to run the discussion directly off the rails almost immediately? For a third time (one for each win so far this season!), yes. But honestly, who has better digressions? It's a full-spectrum exploration of a positive weekend from an exceptionally weird season to tide you over until whatever we decide to talk about for the "Illinois" show.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Chris Buchignani

FALL '20 Episode 30: Penn State Going for 901

Big Heads Media — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 22:38:42 -0500

Well, it has been, as they'd say in days of yore, "a long, strange trip," but we are finally coming down to the last weeks of 2020 and its suitably bizarre fake college football season. How many games do the Nittany Lions have left after this weekend? One? Two? None? Who knows? We are reasonably sure that Penn State will have a chance to extend its winning streak to three games versus Michigan State on Senior Day. Befitting this relatively unexciting matchup with Sparty to end the regular season (ah, the good old days), the guys deliver an episode that really shows off Obligatory's range: From briefly applauding Penn State basketball and trashing the college football playoff rankings to waxing poetic about 900 wins and even talking about this week's football game. We hope to consistently bring a little mirth to this pandemic-addled holiday season all across Nittany Nation. #WeAre

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '20 Episode 29: Silent Knights

Big Heads Media — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 22:24:22 -0500

It wasn't always pretty, and in the end, it was, after all, only Rutgers, but dammit, in a season full of misery and disappointment, the "surging" Nittany Lions combined a solid defensive outing, a second week of much-improved offensive line play, and a maddening number of QB draws to leave New Jersey with their second win of the fake 2020 season, the 900th victory in program history. The guys enjoy the opportunity to say some complimentary things about Penn State before attention turns to the Battle for the Land-Grant Trophy and a possible berth in a crappy bowl game.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '20 Episode 28: Must We Discuss Rutgers?

Big Heads Media — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 04:09:00 -0500

Penn State hits the road for a second straight week in search of a win that will resonate in the moment and for eternity - a badly-needed follow-up to a potentially program-salvaging win last last week would not only move Penn State to 2-5 on the year, but also into the exclusive club of college football programs with 900 all-time victories (PSU would be the ninth team to achieve this feat). And while this week's opponent may have the patina of history ("The Birthplace of College Football!") nobody wants to think, talk, or care about Rutgers football (nor should they). After some requisite discussion of the surprisingly above-worst Scarlet Knights of 2020, they move on to the question of Ohio State's imperiled Big Ten Championship qualifications and the health of the playoff picture heading into the fake season's home stretch.

And happy birthday to the heart of the show, Mike the Mailman, one of the most precious treasures of the Nittany Valley.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '20 Episode 27: Michigan Man? Handled.

Big Heads Media — Sun, 29 Nov 2020 22:34:25 -0500

In the name of all that is holy and good, rejoice and give thanks! Your Penn State Nittany Lions are no longer winless for this horrendous 2020 campaign, in all its miserable fakery. After digging a historically-unprecedented 0-5 hole for themselves, all this team did was go out and do something only three prior installments of Penn State football have managed: Beat Michigan at the Big House (also a first for James Franklin). In a moment when the Lions desperately needed a win like perhaps never before, Penn State had the remarkably good fortune of encountering a program in even worse condition than #WeAre. Relieved and elated to be talking about a win, though trying to remain grounded and realistic, the guys react to State's cathartic triumph in the Buyout Bowl.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '20 Episode 26.2: And Michigan Still Sucks

Big Heads Media — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 21:00:00 -0500

What is our possibly-brilliant nickname and gimmick for this game on Saturday? You'll just have to listen and find out. It's a special holiday-week bonus episode looking ahead to Penn State's meeting with Michigan this weekend, basically because we have to (it's called "Obligatory" for a reason). Chris, Kevin, and Mailman preview (sort of) the Nittany Lions' matchup with the Wolverines, a genuinely unappealing contest between two indisputably bad football teams that will still air on national network TV because #brand. It's a brief appetizer or after-dinner aperitif to accompany your Thanksgiving meal and mentally prepare you for the miserable slog awaiting us all. Happy Thanksgiving!

HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '20 Episode 26.1: Nubyjas Wilborn, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Big Heads Media — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 22:03:51 -0500

In this installment, the guys welcome in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Penn State reporter Nubyjas Wilborn, who first met Kevin when they both traveled to Lincoln, Nebraska for State's ill-fated meeting with the Cornhuskers. Having joined the beat only recently and lived and worked in SEC country, Nubyjas brings some fresh and valuable perspective on Penn State's program as it continues to struggle through tremendous difficulties, including its now-historic lack of success of on field. It's a fun, thoughtful discussion that will take you on a glide path into your holiday weekend. And Kevin, Mailman, and Chris will be back again with a bonus episode before the Lions face the Wolverines.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Nubyjas Wilborn

FALL '20 Episode 25: Historic Futility

Big Heads Media — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 22:37:18 -0500

Welcome to the new normal. We now live in a world where a Penn State football team has begun a season with five consecutive losses, a dubious historic milestone made manifest by the Nittany Lions' disorganized, disinterested, dispiriting 41-21 home loss to Iowa. In what is becoming a depressingly familiar pattern, pretty much everything that could go wrong for Penn State did, and now this team that began the season ranked as high as #7 has fallen to 0-5 (the first top 10 team to ever do so). Brandon, Kevin, Mailman, and Chris once again convened following a game's conclusion to commiserate, vent, and vainly seek answers. This one is pretty much a stream-of-consciousness brain dump. The state of the program is such that we're going to have to continually seek out new ways of making this engaging, interesting, and also fun (remember when football was fun?), but first, there had to be a blood-letting. Hope you find it therapeutic.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '20 Episode 24: Corn Belted

Big Heads Media — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 23:23:25 -0500

In this special mid-week Corn Belt Omnibus edition of Obligatory, the guys look back on another frustrating Saturday, as the Penn State's trip to Lincoln brought a few signs of life, but ultimately ended up like every contest thus far in 2020, dropping the Nittany Lions to 0-4 for only the second time in program history. The only other time PSU dug itself a four-loss hole to start the season (2001), the Lions won their 5th game and managed to string together some wins to remember. Will history repeat as an improving Iowa Hawkeyes team comes to Happy Valley, with Penn State desperate to stave off its first-ever 0-5 start? Brandon, Chris, Kevin, and Mailman wrap up Nebraska, look ahead to Iowa, and try their best to solve the puzzle box of the 2020 Nittany Lions.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '20 Episode 23: Centre Film Festival & Nebraska

Big Heads Media — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 12:52:56 -0500

The Nittany Lions may be reeling at 0-3, but there's always a lot to celebrate here in Happy Valley. The guys take a break from the doom and gloom of football talk to welcome in Pearl Gluck and Curt Chandler, faculty in Penn State's Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, to learn about the Centre Film Festival, happening this weekend (Nov. 13-15), and the fun and challenge around adapting it into a virtual event for 2020. Tickets are available to stream over 50 films of all genres on-demand all weekend with live Q&As and other events throughout. Afterward, there's some discussion and predictions for Penn State's trip to Nebraska, and everything kicks off with Mike the Mailman's gambling picks for this weekend.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUESTS: Pearl Gluck, Curt Chandler (Centre Film Festival)

FALL '20 Episode 22: Embarrassing Garbage

Big Heads Media — Sat, 07 Nov 2020 22:39:57 -0500

Already teetering on the brink of collapse at 0-2, the Penn State Nittany Lions are now fully circling the drain after a tragic 35-19 home loss to the Maryland Terrapins, a raging dumpster fire for the ages that offered absolutely zero redeeming takeaways and indicted the entire football program from top to bottom. Brandon, Kevin, Chris, and Mailman assemble immediately following the merciful end of State's miserable, exhausting four-quarter disintegration for a raw and unfiltered reaction to this astounding disaster of epic scope. Embarrassing. Unacceptable. Stunning. Enjoy!

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '20 Episode 21: Talking Penn State w/ Ben Jones of StateCollege.com

Big Heads Media — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 11:11:06 -0500

Ben Jones, Penn State beat reporter for StateCollege.com, joins the guys to talk about the experience of covering Nittany Lions football in a global pandemic, the state of the Penn State program in its pursuit of Ohio State, and various other Nittany news from the "resignation" of Pat Chambers to the Maryland game that will make or break the Lions' fake 2020 season.

Read Ben Jones' Penn State football coverage at StateCollege.com: http://www.statecollege.com/news/authors/ben-jones,191/

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Ben Jones

FALL '20 Episode 20: Ohio State Autopsy w/ Donnie Collins, Scranton Times-Tribune

Big Heads Media — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 07:11:49 -0500

In this episode, the guys break down a clash of legendary titans in Happy Valley. But after discussing the Fantasy Flavor League's concluding matchup of Bittersweet Mint versus Death by Chocolate, they also get into Penn State and Ohio State. What can we take away from the Nittany Lions' disappointing 38-25 loss that dropped the team to 0-2? Brandon, Chris, Kevin, and Mailman are joined by Donnie Collins of the Scranton Times-Tribune to talk lessons and observations from the OSU game. Brandon wants more accountability for the defense; Mailman expects improved player development, and Chris wraps things up by risking a bold prediction.

Vote in the Creamery Fantasy Flavor League

Donnie Collins on Ohio State-Penn State and taking stock of the beatdown: https://accessnepa.com/uncategorized/psu-ohio-state-four-more-quarters-taking-stock-of-a-beatdown

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Donnie Collins

FALL '20 Episode 19: Ohio State Visits Spooky Valley

Big Heads Media — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 22:52:32 -0400

If Penn State hosts a night game and no fans are there to see it, is it still a White Out? Like everything else on the carnival ride from Hell called 2020, what should be one of the biggest holidays on the annual Penn State calendar - a White Out weekend with College GameDay and Ohio State in town (and on Halloween no less!) - arrives with an unfamiliar emptiness (right down to the stadium). After sharing some final Indiana thoughts, bemoaning the lack of hardball questions on the Penn State beat, and musing on the experience of an empty Beaver Stadium under the lights, the guys delve into the Nittany Lions' chances of bouncing back from last week against one of the very best programs in the nation. Are biggest obstacles on the field, the sidelines, the recruiting trail, or all three?

It's about as classic an "Obligatory" take on this wildly unconventional weekend as you could wish for: Different thoughts and perspectives from each of the hosts, plenty of digressions, a bit of Happy Valley flavor with some football mixed in. It's all we can do to offer a few moments of escape from the barrage of daily insanity, and we hope it helps! WE ARE

Vote in the Creamery Fantasy Flavor League

For the Blogy's Film Study on PSU/Indiana: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4STS7xgfcE0

Chris Hummer on the OSU/PSU talent gap: https://247sports.com/LongFormArticle/Penn-State-Ohio-State-recruiting-battles-explain-talent-gap-Justin-Fields-Julian-Fleming--153782851/#153782851_1

Mark Wogenrich on Replicating the White Out: https://www.si.com/college/pennstate/football/penn-state-football-ohio-state-whiteout

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '20 Episode 18: We Lost to Indiana

Big Heads Media — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 08:34:48 -0400

Well, we asked for Big Ten football in 2020, and we got it. A classic case of "Be careful what you wish for." What can you say about a program with playoff aspirations in self-styled pursuit of "elite" status that goes on the road and loses to Indiana... in football? Kevin leads the way; Chris and Mailman follow, and they try to figure it out. Commentary on the game's many, many frustrating mistakes including Devyn Ford's baffling decision to score, the controversial final play that never should have been necessary, and the overall state of the Penn State football program. Who knew a fake season would create so much real angst?

HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '20 Episode 17: Indiana, Indiana (and Pat Chambers)

Big Heads Media — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 08:15:54 -0400

Pat Chambers tosses the Penn State news cycle into appropriate-for-2020 chaos by resigning only days before the long-delayed start of the football season. Undaunted, the guys touch on the breaking news before moving on to Nittany Lions football. Mike, Brandon, Chris, and Kevin give their thoughts on the loss of Journey Brown, notes from the season's first depth chart, and what to expect from a deceptively dangerous Indiana Hoosiers team + Kev waxes poetic about his favorite Bloomington haunt Nick's English Hut. Mailman gives his trends and picks for the weekend, while upset-minded upstart Grilled Stickie takes on traditional power WPSU(X) Coffee Break in the Week 4 Breakfast Bowl of the Penn State Berkey Creamery's Fantasy Flavor League. Get your votes in now.

Creamery Fantasy Flavor League

"Dad's Bucket," Kevin's recommended piece on Nick's English Hut in Bloomginton: https://idsnews.indiana.edu/news/dads-bucket/index.html

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '20 Episode 16: Penn State Roster Breakdown (Defense)

Big Heads Media — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 08:33:17 -0400

Friend of the show Mike Levine returns, joining Chris to break down the Penn State Nittany Lions defense by position (reuniting the LION 90.7fm's 2000-01 football broadcast team). Despite the departure of Micah Parsons, who was set to be one of the top players in college football, the cupboard is hardly bare for defensive coordinator Brent Pry. Mike and Chris take a closer look at a solid and steady defensive line, promising young secondary, and a linebacking corps that, even without Micah, looks primed to continue the tradition of Linebacker U. Plus, head into the weekend with Mike the Mailman's Trends to Treasure.

Creamery Fantasy Flavor League

HOSTED BY: Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Mike Levine

FALL '20 Episode 15: Penn State Roster Breakdown (Offense)

Big Heads Media — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 08:04:07 -0400

Chris enlists the assistance of friend and fellow LION 90.7fm alum Mike Levine to analyze the 2020 Penn State roster in two installments, beginning with the offense. New coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca brings a track record of success to an offense stacked with veteran talent at nearly every position (with the notable exception of wide receiver). Chris and Mike break down each position group, talk about areas of promise and room for improvement, and speculate on how Ciarrocca's influence might impact a unit expected to be the strength of this year's Nittany Lions. Plus a little non-football analysis as upstart Monkey Business takes on tried and true Peanut Butter Swirl in the Penn State Berkey Creamery's Fantasy Flavor League. Defense and special teams next episode.

Creamery Fantasy Flavor League

HOSTED BY: Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Mike Levine

FALL '20 Episode 14: Blur Your Russell Athletics Logo

Big Heads Media — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 07:58:21 -0400

Penn State Athletics has put out the call for fan-generated videos to use inside Beaver Stadium and on social media. Chris is ready to start filming; Mike the Mailman is skeptical, and Kevin is (unsurprisingly) ambivalent, but all three get a laugh out of one forbidden transgression. With John Dunmore departing the team, the guys review the Nittany Lions unsettled wide receiver group, and then turn to scrutinizing how playoff selection might play out amid the ongoing train wreck of 2020. We've also got Mailman's Trends to Treasure for the weekend. Remember to log on and vote in the Penn State Berkey Creamery's Fantasy Flavor League.

Creamery Fantasy Flavor League

HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '20 Episode 13: Franklin's Great Hires, O'Brien Fired w/ Chad Washington

Big Heads Media — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 10:37:49 -0400

Week 2 of the Penn State Berkey Creamery's Fantasy Flavor League kicks off with a playoff-worthy matchup of Cookies 'n Cream versus Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, and the Obligatory cast has thoughts. On the Penn State football front, James Franklin appears to have made some critical upgrades to his assistant coaching staff over the past couple years. The guys focus specifically on special teams coordinator Joe Lorig and offensive line coach Phil Trautwein, whose respective position groups could make or break a special season for PSU. Also, Chad Washington of the Fort Bend Herald rejoins the show (fresh from a Penn State Alumni Association Houston Chapter meeting) to talk about the end of Bill O'Brien's tenure in Houston and what might be next for the former Nittany Lions head coach.

Creamery Fantasy Flavor League

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Chad Washington

FALL '20 Episode 12: Storylines for Penn State's 2020

Big Heads Media — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 08:43:05 -0400

It's October. We're getting real, live Penn State football this month! With the season approaching, Chris, Kevin, and Mailman kick around some potential storylines of interest - from the local in Happy Valley to all of college football - including how all the changes to James Franklin's staff might impact the Nittany Lions during this bizarre, COVID-shortened season. Chris plays moderator while Kev and Mike chime in on each topic. And per usual, Mike the Mailman has some sports betting Trends to Treasure for the weekend. Remember to log on and vote in the Penn State Berkey Creamery's Fantasy Flavor League.

Creamery Fantasy Flavor League

HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '20 Episode 11: A College Offense Explosion?

Big Heads Media — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 09:36:19 -0400

It's a grab bag of Penn State and college football topics as we get closer to once again enjoying Nittany Lions football Saturdays. James Franklin and staff continue their aggressive approach on the recruiting trail, so proactive, in fact, that they've offered a prospect in the Class or 2026. Scott Paterno began sharing a treasure trove of previously-unseen Joe Paterno footage on Twitter. With the bizarre 2020 college football season ramping up and fans of a Top 10 Penn State already scoreboard watching, it looks like the old adage that defenses are ahead of offenses early on in the season may be aging out. And don't forget: The Penn State Berkey Creamery's Fantasy Flavor League starts this week with Alumni Swirl vs. Scholar's Chip - log on and VOTE today!

Creamery Fantasy Flavor League

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '20 Episode 10: Eating Ice Cream & Opting In

Big Heads Media — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 07:54:19 -0400

The guys wrap up the conversation on college football recruiting, preview the Penn State Berkey Creamery's Fantasy Flavor League by dissecting the recipes and intangibles for Alumni Swirl and Scholar's Chip, and ponder whether Micah Parsons might not end up the last player sitting out for 2020 as Purdue's Rondale Moore announces his return to college football. Plus, Mike the Mailman's "certain to pay off 100% of the time they pan out" gambling trends for the weekend of September 26.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '20 Episode 9: Penn State Football Recruiting w/ Ryan Snyder, Blue White Illustrated

Big Heads Media — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 07:22:26 -0400

Like it or not, recruiting is what separates the great from the elite in college football, and no less authoritative a source on Penn State's recruiting than James Franklin himself just called out the program's recent efforts there. Ryan Snyder of Blue White Illustrated joins the show to break down all the key news and narratives around the talent pipeline in Happy Valley. What impact has the COVID-19 pandemic had on college recruiting, at PSU and elsewhere? Who are some as-yet-unseen young stars set to break out in 2020's short season? What's been up with in-state recruiting? And is that 39th-ranked class of 2021 really as dire as the number makes it look? Ryan's got all the answers, and they'll probably make you feel at least a little bit better by the end!

HOSTED BY: Mike Herr,Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Ryan Snyder

FALL '20 Episode 8: Penn State Football Escapes Limbo

Big Heads Media — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 07:24:08 -0400

It may have taken some time, a lot of confusion, frustration, and a few false starts (and it may not even be a very wise idea!), but Penn State football is coming back, and dammit, we're gonna celebrate. The guys share their initial reactions to the announcement of an eight-game Big Ten season for 2020, start talking a little actual football, and give the things they're most excited to see in this most unusual upcoming campaign for the Nittany Lions. Plus, Mike the Mailman's eerily prescient gambling trends for the weekend of September 20.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '20 Episode 7: To Play, Or Not to Play?

Big Heads Media — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 09:38:52 -0400

Does anyone have even the vaguest clue what is happening with Big Ten football in 2020? Doesn't seem like it. Not the cast of The Obligatory PSU Podcast. Not the endless stream of media talking heads and random program "insiders" on Twitter. Probably not even the people who are supposedly in charge of it (maybe them least of all). Recording as we all wait on the latest round of alleged "votes" that will perhaps finally determine the fate of Penn State football this season, Kevin, Chris, and Mike the Mailman commiserate over the uncertainty and the frustration of watching other teams play while the Nittany Lions are sidelined. Plus, Mailman spills the beans on his now-defunct 1-900 number.

HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '20 Episode 6: Undrafted Nittany Lion to NFL Vet

Big Heads Media — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 10:14:52 -0400

With the NFL season upon us, the guys follow up on the last show about former Penn State players who survived cuts to make a professional roster by giving Brandon Noble a platform to share his own journey of Happy Valley to the pros. Like several current Nittany Lions, Brandon had to take the tougher path of an undrafted free agent. He explains the process of going from Big Ten champ and Fiesta Bowl MVP to a career in Dallas and Washington via Barcelona, Spain. Plus, Chris and Kevin purge their recruiting angst, and Mike the Mailman's got guaranteed-to-not-be-guaranteed gambling trends for the weekend of 9/12.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '20 Episode 5: Penn Staters in the NFL feat. Chris Adamski

Big Heads Media — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 08:37:29 -0400

When James Franklin arrived at Penn State, he listed preparing his players for a shot at the NFL among his top goals, and the program has had great success sending alumni to the next level. With the 2020 NFL season about to commence, numerous Nittany Lions survived cuts to make pro rosters and practice squads: against-the-odds warriors like Trace McSorley and Jason Cabinda, decorated vets such as Sean Lee and Robbie Gould, and young stars set to break out in the likes of Miles Sanders and Chris Godwin. Friend of the show Chris "Buzzsaw" Adamski of TribLive.com joins Chris, Kevin, and Mike the Mailman for a deep dive into who made the cut where and the stories around their football careers thus far. Buzzsaw gives insight on the four Nittany Lions in Pittsburgh Steelers camp: Marcus Allen, Stefen Wisniewski, Saeed Blacknall, and DeAndre Thompkins.

HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Chris "Buzzsaw" Adamski

FALL '20 Episode 4: Penn State Game Day Rituals

Big Heads Media — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 06:30:00 -0400

After plowing through the festering heap of college football "news" from this week - from unsolicited phone calls from the POTUS to unfounded Twitter rumor-mongering from oddly-named accounts - the guys move to swapping stories and fondly recalling their favorite traditions and rituals of a game week in Happy Valley. Brandon goes in depth about the experiences of his playing days and how the team prepared to play in Beaver Stadium. It's a brief return to simpler times with lots of nostalgia and Kevin's excellent edutainment on the unwritten etiquette of student section "popcorning."

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '20 Episode 3: Why All the Big Ten Secrecy?

Big Heads Media — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 10:38:20 -0400

Thanks to pretrial action for a lawsuit that presumably stands little chance of actually succeeding in court, we can finally confirm that there was, in fact, a vote by university leaders to cancel the 2020 Big Ten season, that it was 11-3 in favor, and (probably) that Penn State's Eric Barron joined with the majority. So why did it take the threat of litigation to squeeze this info out of the conference, and what was the point of hiding this information in the first place? The guys discuss the conferences unfathomably bad bumbling of the cancellation announcement and what might explain it. Elsewhere, Brandon is badly sunburned; Mike the Mailman's #MaskUpOrPackUp video racks up clout, and Chris does his best to make enemies of the entire listening audience by saying nice things about Jim Delaney, while Kevin explains to Chris why he's wrong.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '20 Episode 2: Classic Nonsense

Big Heads Media — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 08:29:14 -0400

What better time for a classic Obligatory digression than the pretend start of a non-existent football season? As the gang assembles (like The Avengers, but very different) to begin filming Season 5 of The Obligatory PSU Pregame Show (game optional in 2020), Chris, Mike the Mailman, and Kevin (actually joining from the car ride back to Happy Valley) link up to record the podcast. Predictably, the conversation quickly takes a few left turns and, before you know it, we're all deep down the rabbit hole of bar lines, local regulations, college town pedestrian plazas, and "State College Elections for Dummies." It's silly, non sequitur, and full of the sorts of vaguely Penn State-relevant info you never knew you wanted... in other words, our format. Enjoy!

HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '20 Episode 1: Countdown to Remote at Penn State?

Big Heads Media — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 13:18:11 -0400

Place your bets. Mike the Mailman sets the official Obligatory over/under on weeks until Penn State becomes the latest to make the move to remote learning. With students returning to Happy Valley and bringing the bad press with them - East Halls twerking parties, suspended fraternities, and the student body president calling for online classes on CNN - Brandon, Chris, Kevin, and Mailman spend time talking about the complex lose-lose situation facing the University's leadership and students. Of course, they also begin tackling the miserable truth of an Autumn without Nittany Lions football (not for the last time, rest assured) and the inexplicable, bumbling incompetence with which the unprecedented and controversial move to cancel the season was announced by the Big Ten.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

SUMMER '20 Episode 16: College Sports Chaos w/ Dr. R. Scott Kretchmar

Big Heads Media — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 11:03:22 -0400

Some technical issues held up release of this latest episode, recorded literally as the first news of the Big Ten season's cancellation reached the public. The late-breaking news fit perfectly, however, with the knowledge and background of previously-scheduled guest Dr. Scott Kretchmar, a distinguished Penn State emeritus professor of Kinesiology. Dr. Kretchmar reacts to the prospect of a Fall without football in Happy Valley and beyond alongside Chris, Noble, and Mailman, offering perspective on what it may mean from numerous angles, including that of the fans. The conversation then shifts to the changing landscape of college athletics and the potential for a sea change on the heels of a crazy 2020. Specifically, the panel digs into the #WeAreUnited PAC-12 Players Tribune letter. Scott offers the benefit of his academic background and years representing Penn State's faculty to the NCAA, while Brandon gets fired up defending the value of the college football experience.

Dr. R. Scott Kretchmar, a retired professor and former chair in Penn State's Department of Kinesiology, is one of the leading sports philosophers in the country. He is a founding member and former president of the Philosophic Society for the Study of Sport and past president of the Philosophic Academy of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education and American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education. He has published several books and papers and been recognized with numerous awards throughout his career. He also served as Penn State's faculty representative to the NCAA for many years.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Dr. R. Scott Kretchmar

SUMMER '20 Episode 15: Fake Schedules & No Fans feat. Thomas Frank Carr

Big Heads Media — Fri, 07 Aug 2020 15:17:33 -0400

The first week of August brought more Penn State and college football news than we've had in like three months - from the release of the Nittany Lions' 2020 schedule to the announcement that the Beaver Stadium bleachers will be empty for the games. Micah Parsons opted out; the Big Ten's players united, and a PSU starter blocked Kevin on Twitter. The guys welcome in one of the hardest workers on the Penn State beat - Thomas Frank Carr - to break it all down. T-Frank, as he's known on the radio, is the Program Director of ESPN Radio 103.7 and 1450 as well as the producer and co-host for Sports Talk with Steve Jones. He also is a feature writer for Blue White Illustrated, doing film analysis for Penn State Football games and recruiting. T-Frank also fills various roles within Pro Football Focus, including data collection, and is working towards becoming an analyst for the company.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Thomas Frank Carr

SUMMER '20 Episode 14: A Ticket to Ride

Big Heads Media — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 09:54:54 -0400

Enough of these wide-ranging conversations with interesting guests; time to get back to the basics of Obligatory. With Brandon Noble off for the day, Mailman, Kevin, and Chris get the stage to themselves. A conversation that begins with technical glitches and discussion of frozen pizza commercials from 30 years ago strays into an explanation from Kevin about the fascinating backstory behind some of Penn State baseball's alumni (or a "possible alumnus" in one case) and the curious history of a not-especially-successful program. Discussion often turns to the state of persistent flux surrounding college football in 2020, and the guys spend time considering what may (and should) happen with Penn State's thousands of dispossessed season ticket holders (and their already-collected money).

The Nittany Nation Facebook post on Bill Beaver referenced by Kevin: https://www.facebook.com/groups/689428887757833/permalink/3496332003734160/

HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

SUMMER '20 Episode 13: Mark Wogenrich, Sports Illustrated

Big Heads Media — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 09:56:44 -0400

Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn Sate football since 1999, as the long-time Nittany Lions beat reporter for The Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and most recently for Sports Illustrated’s Penn State channel. Mark joins Brandon, Chris, and Mailman to sift through the shifting signals and steamed hams regarding the chances for college football in 2020. After the requisite (obligatory?) conclusion that no one knows anything for sure, the conversation shifts to Mark's article on James Franklin's time at Penn State and the remarkable program resurgence he has overseen. There's perspective and insight from someone with over two decades spent reporting about Penn State football, some crackpot amateur psychoanalysis from Chris, and a little nostalgia for a simpler time not long past, when Joe Paterno might chew out a reporter during his press conference, but would also host the media for wine and SuePa's best cheesecake on the back porch at McKee Street.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Mark Wogenrich

SUMMER '20 Episode 12: Let's Talk Penn State

Big Heads Media — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 10:11:22 -0400

It's never a bad time to welcome in the hosts of our sister podcast "Let's Talk Penn State." Steve Garguilo and Tim Buckley join the show to talk about the process of producing a Penn State-centric show with even less football content than Obligatory, their days in the Penn State Blue Band, becoming the go-to podcast of Appalachian State fans everywhere, and the unfortunate, inevitable cancellation of the 2020 college football season. Come for banter between old friends; stay for the can't-miss Twitter recommendation at the end.

Appalachian State is "Hot! Hot! Hot!" https://youtu.be/pVENWl8uBeg

Let's Talk Penn State Investigates: Hot! Hot! Hot! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-talk-penn-state/id1305484061?i=1000418690317

Check out the premiere of Dr. Kirk French's "Land and Water Revisited" Friday, July 24, 2020 7pm Eastern on YouTube Live
https://www.landandwaterrevisited.org/

HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUESTS: Tim Buckley, Steve Garguilo of Let's Talk Penn State

SUMMER '20 Episode 11: Chad Washington, PSUHouston.org

Big Heads Media — Fri, 17 Jul 2020 11:15:08 -0400

A Texas native, Chad Washington picked Penn State site unseen after meeting a campus recruiter. After arriving in Happy Valley, he experienced snow, wrote for the Daily Collegian, and like so many others, quickly embraced life a Nittany Lion. After graduation in 1998, Chad worked for outlets like CNN and Gannett Newspapers and covered the college football programs at Houston, Rice, Louisiana-Lafayette and LSU. Currently, he writes news and sports for the Fort Bend Herald (a suburban Houston newspaper), covering mostly high school and college football along with the NFL's Houston Texans. He is also an at-large board member of the Penn State Alumni Association Houston Chapter. He talks with the guys about learning to love Penn State basketball, covering Bill O'Brien and local fan sentiment around the former Lions coach, along with the wholly unique institution that is Texas high school football and the almost unthinkable prospect that it may not be played in 2020.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Chad Washington

SUMMER '20 Episode 10: College Players Retro #1

Big Heads Media — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 11:20:38 -0400

With decades of passionate Penn State fandom and, in the case of Brandon Noble, five years wearing the Blue and White followed by a decade in the pros, the guys have witnessed a lot of incredible talents suit up for both the Nittany Lions and their opponents. In this installment, they reminisce about some of their favorites, from PSU greats like Aaron Harris and Courtney Brown to loathed, but respected enemies like Juice Williams, Orlando Pace, and Antwaan Randle El. Few of sports fandom's simple pleasures are better than indulging in a good "hey, remember some guys" conversation that takes you back to fun times appreciating incredible efforts from your favorite, and even not-so-favorite, players, and few times for that indulgence are better than now, amidst the uncertainty of our times when the chance to make more such memories in 2020 remains very much in doubt. Enjoy the diversion and maybe a chance to educate yourself on the greatness of some college players past.

Aaron Harris Penn State Highlights: https://youtu.be/TCicgnC6WLU

Antwaan Randle El IU Highlights: https://youtu.be/4Ynm1xKY_tg

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

SUMMER '20 Episode 9: "Sunshine" Shane McGregor

Big Heads Media — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 09:12:10 -0400

Shining a ray of Sunshine into dark times. Shane McGregor, who is easily Happy Valley's most recognizable and beloved scout team quarterback, thoughtfully reflects on his five-year (2008-12) journey as the "Forrest Gump" of Penn State football - on the sidelines, in the meeting rooms, and behind the scenes for perhaps the most eventful stretch of Penn State football history, spanning Joe Paterno's last contender to Bill O'Brien's Iron Lions. From the funny to the thought-provoking, these stories from a lifelong fan who chased his dream will brighten the day of any Penn State fan and remind you what makes the Nittany Valley a special place worth loving.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Shane McGregor

SUMMER '20 Episode 8: Extra Points with Matt Brown

Big Heads Media — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 11:00:00 -0400

College football author and journalist Matt Brown (not to be confused with State College's own college football author and journalist Matt Brown) specializes in covering the deeper stories behind the usual headlines in college football. He joins the Obligatory crew to shed light on a number of issues set to impact the sport's near and long-term future, including COVID-19 and impending decisions about the 2020 season at all levels of football, a potential fissure between the Power 5 conferences and the NCAA, and federal legislation granting student athletes the right to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights. Formerly in charge of SB Nation's college football properties, Matt is also the author of "What If?: A closer look at college football's great questions" and publishes his own weekly college football newsletter, "Extra Points with Matt Brown."

Subscribe to Matt Brown's "Extra Points" newsletter: https://mattbrown.substack.com/

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Matt Brown

SUMMER '20 Episode 7: Decoding Sandy Barbour

Big Heads Media — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 08:30:00 -0400

In this extended holiday weekend episode, the Obligatory crew welcomes back Chris "Buzzsaw" Adamski of TribLive.com to break down and analyze the carefully chosen words of Penn State Athletic Director Sandy Barbour's latest press conference. What hints, if any, were offered about the fate of college football in 2020 and fan attendance at Beaver Stadium? What media member has the most interesting Zoom background? Is Sandy better at dodging questions than Bill O'Brien? In addition to having fun with these and other topics, Brandon explains the distinctions among line positions to Mike the Mailman, the guys talk about BTN's All-Decade team and whether Allen Robinson is State's GOAT receiver, and Kevin speaks out in solidarity with the staff of Olive Garden in Cranberry. #WeAre

As noted in this episode, here is the GoFundMe set up to help the family of the late Juan Garcia, the Penn State student who has died from complications due to COVID-19: https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-juan-garcia

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Chris "Buzzsaw" Adamski

SUMMER '20 Episode 6: Penn State Alumni Assoc. CEO Paul Clifford

Big Heads Media — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 11:00:00 -0400

In 2020, the Penn State Alumni Association - the largest dues-paying college alumni association in the world - celebrates 150 years of connecting Penn Staters with their alma mater and each other. In this episode, good friend of the show Paul Clifford, now in his fourth year serving as Alumni Association CEO, joins Mailman, Kevin, and Chris to talk about the journey that brought him here to Happy Valley to serve in this critical role and some lessons learned along the way. The guys talk Penn State sports, Penn State spirit, and Penn State in the age of COVID-19. True to form, Kevin manages to land a few snarky jabs whenever the openings present. Paul's roles in coordinating the efforts of the Alumni Association and serving as its most visible personality are critical in shaping and holding together the fabric of the Penn State community. We hope this will be the first of many visits to Obligatory to talk with him about the place and school we all love.

Join the Penn State Alumni Association: https://www.alumni.psu.edu/

HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Paul Clifford

SUMMER '20 Episode 5: Happy Valley Retro #1

Big Heads Media — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 12:00:00 -0400

In the best of times, a nostalgic walk back down State College's version of memory lane is an enjoyable distraction. These days, after months of quarantine and social distancing and with the complexion of Penn State's 2020 fan experience very much in flux, the diversion is all the more welcome. Brandon, Chris, Kevin, and Mailman each share recollections of some of their favorite Happy Valley restaurants, bars, and hangout spots from their college days or after that have since disappeared. While a few stalwarts like the Corner Room and The Phyrst have persisted for many decades, most staples of college life - even seemingly implacable ones like The Rathskeller or Ye Olde College Diner - have come and gone. We hope you manage to make the trip to Happy Valley this Fall, even if we're all rooting on the home team from bars and pop-up viewing spots, but until you're back home, here's a fun reminder of what makes the place so special from four loyal Nittany Lions who love it.

Playland Arcade (State College, PA): https://youtu.be/5bW9mDniB8c

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

SUMMER '20 Episode 4: Good Coach, Bad Losses

Big Heads Media — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 14:30:00 -0400

Who knows what the Beaver Stadium attendance policy will look like come this Fall? As the cast's optimism levels about ticket availability continue to seesaw from week to week (hour to hour?), Brandon talks about the multiple risks - strategic and otherwise - of replacing absent crowd noise with live microphones at field level during game broadcasts. The gang also heaps some well-deserved praise on James Franklin for the remarkable job he has done at Penn State, but Chris and Kevin, confronted with a listener question, explain how their support for Coach Franklin doesn't rule out persistent frustration with State's seemingly-annual loss to a team with inferior coaching and less talent.

Big Ten coach rankings 2020: James Franklin stays at the top, but Ryan Day closes the gap: https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/big-ten-coach-rankings-2020-james-franklin-stays-at-the-top-but-ryan-day-closes-the-gap/

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

SUMMER '20 Episode 3: Why Prepare?

Big Heads Media — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 09:30:00 -0400

Plans. Everybody has them, as Mike Tyson once said, until they start getting punched in the face. Well, "everybody" except maybe Noble, Chris, Kevin, and Mailman. And sometimes plans are overrated. For this installment, the guys just smashed "Record" and left the rest to fate, resulting in a fun and wide-ranging conversation that ended up covering a lot of ground. There's some college football talk about early enrollments, graduate transfers, and the portal. Kevin explains the two top behaviors for identifying "old people" and his attempt to Jedi mind trick Penn State's survey about Fall attendance at Beaver Stadium (Kev gives his "official" prediction on 2020 stadium capacity). Mailman shares some listener questions and PSU trivia. And there's even a half-assed explanation of why Chris edits out the swear words from the podcast. It's beautiful nonsense at its best. Hope you enjoy! #WeAre

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

SUMMER '20 Episode 2: Penn State, The Playoffs & the Agony of "Almost"

Big Heads Media — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 15:30:00 -0400

There's something to be said for 5 to 15 in the college football rankings as the most miserable, polarizing, and frustrating zone to inhabit in all of sports. Your team is recruiting well, developing talent, winning lots of games (into the double digits near-annually), and regularly playing in top tier bowl games. Your squad occupies a position that would be the envy of 90% of fans in the sport, and yet a large segment of yours are perpetually cranky, ready to fire the coach, and even consider their team to be a "failure." This is the unforgiving reality of the playoff era, where every team with a legit shot at the final four ratchets up the pressure with each year it fails to get there. You can call it "a good problem to have" (and you'd probably be right), but Penn State is lucky enough to face this "problem." The guys use the respite of the offseason to dig into implications of this paradox - for the Nittany Lions and all of college football.

Articles referenced in this episode:

10 CFB teams most ready to break through for a national title: https://247sports.com/LongFormArticle/College-football-teams-national-championship-drought--147742149/

Updated 4-year recruiting rankings for all 130 teams, where the SEC completely dominates: https://www.sbnation.com/college-football-recruiting/2019/2/7/18215228/college-football-recruiting-rankings-2019-class

College football teams with the most NFL draft picks since 2000: https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2020-04-27/college-football-teams-most-nfl-draft-picks-2000

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

SUMMER '20 Episode 1: Oasis of Nonsense in the Desert of Awful

Big Heads Media — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 11:00:00 -0400

Everything is confusing, uncertain, and, for the most part, terrible. In such volatile times, the Obligatory crew retrenches to the one thing for which they are (arguably) qualified, creating a few moments of levity and camaraderie that offer listeners some respite from what feels like an unending barrage of bad news and depressing images. Life in Happy Valley continues, so Kevin reports back on the surreal experience of The Phyrst's post-quarantine midnight opening. Penn State defensive lineman Damion Barber became the latest Nittany Lion to enter the transfer portal, and the guys discuss the diminishing concerns over such departures. Chris explains his "hot take" that he maybe doesn't care if Penn State ever wins another championship in football. Nothing seems good right now, but meaningful progress is rarely comfortable. We hope we can afford you a few opportunities to relax and smile along the way. Be safe, and take care of each other. #WeAre

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

SPRING '20 Episode 18: Football? Football.

Big Heads Media — Fri, 29 May 2020 10:30:00 -0400

After many weeks of mostly pessimism over the fate of college football in 2020, the dark clouds seems to be quickly parting, and now at least a somewhat normal season seems to be the most likely outcome. With the credible prospect of football on the horizon, Brandon, Chris, Mailman, and Kevin relish the chance to engage in groundless speculation over what the Fall might bring to Happy Valley? Will Beaver Stadium have fans? If so, how many, and who gets in? Will there be tailgating? Will the highly-anticipated road game with Virginia Tech take place, and will there be enough people in the stadium to make "Enter Sandman" intimidating? In other news, Kevin joins the podcast from the road, as he drives from Pittsburgh to State College to make the 12:01 AM opening of The Phyrst on Centre County's first official day "in the Green."

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

SPRING '20 Episode 17: Booze & Quarantine w/ Kirk French

Big Heads Media — Tue, 19 May 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Always a welcome guest on any Obligatory property, Penn State's resident professor of “Booze and Culture” Dr. Kirk French, who was recently honored as one of six University-wide recipients of the George W. Atherton Award for Excellence in Teaching (despite his association with our show!), rejoins the show to talk about wrapping up the semester and adapting his recent documentary film release in the time of COVID-19. Many of us are finding the time to reconnect with old friends, and the guys are no exception. After years of goofing around with Brandon, Kevin, Chris, and Mailman, Kirk is pretty much an honorary member of the cast, so when they were all able to (virtually) reunite, the conversation quickly and unsurprisingly sprawled out all over the place, from the spike in sales of locally-sourced liquor to an anthropologist's view of quarantine culture. Here's hoping these deep digressions offer some thoughtful escapism from troubling times. Stay safe! #WeAre

Check out Kirk's last appearance on the podcast: https://share.transistor.fm/s/1a03940c

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Kirk French

SPRING '20 Episode 16: (Olive) Garden of Earthly Delights

Big Heads Media — Tue, 12 May 2020 11:00:00 -0400

The things we do for breadsticks... In this installment of the podcast, a full episode's worth of the sort of absurdity that could only emerge from our uniquely absurd times, Kevin Horne recounts his brush with viral social media fame stemming from his blow-by-blow live Tweeting of a very chaotic Mother's Day at the Cranberry Township Olive Garden. Packed with the types of digressions beloved by the Obligatory faithful (and bemusing to all others), from the perils of being named "Karen" in 2020 to the literal interpretation of Giant Eagle, this is an especially lighthearted installment of the show that is sure to make you chuckle. Kevin tells his story and describes the interesting aftermath. Enjoy. Stay safe. Stay sanitized. Stay home. Congrats to the Penn State Class of 2020. #WeAre

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

Kevin's Original Thread: https://twitter.com/KevinHornePSU/status/1259594232844746756

With Anonymous Employee Context: https://imgur.com/gallery/pT77ATL

Interviewed by WTAE: https://www.wtae.com/article/customer-live-tweets-restaurant-wait-experience-goes-viral/32438430?fbclid=IwAR0lav5qKmXhk_0NOvp8knh7D8LaFESbV2k2dGDwrJnjiYsXMTRp_KU1uI4#

SPRING '20 Episode 15: Penn State Memories

Big Heads Media — Fri, 08 May 2020 09:30:00 -0400

The live experience of college football sets it apart from most other sports. There are few other settings where you can experience something as thrilling as the Penn State White Out. With some extra time on their hands and ample "air time" to fill, the guys seized the chance to reflect and swap stories from some of the best times they've had seeing the Nittany Lions play in person. Mike, Chris, and Kevin all talk about memorable road trips and unforgettable games played at Beaver Stadium, while Brandon talks about some of the best moments he had on the field. Enjoy. Stay safe. Stay sanitized. Stay home. #WeAre

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

SPRING '20 Episode 14: Fiesta, Fires & Fritz

Big Heads Media — Tue, 05 May 2020 09:15:00 -0400

For many Penn State fans, one of the highlights of the entire quarantine came last week when NBC Sports replayed the 1987 Fiesta Bowl, Penn State's dramatic upset victory over to Miami to claim its second national title. The guys talk about that game, the experience of watching it back in 2020, hearing stories from former players on the Alumni Association livestream, and whether they can get into replays of old games. Elsewhere, Kevin gets lots on hiking trails behind the Arboretum; Brandon Noble sets his parents' car on fire, and Chris explains how Penn State nicknamed its positions on defense. Enjoy. Stay safe. Stay sanitized. Stay home. #WeAre

Here's the Michael Weinreb article referenced in the show: The Night College Football Went to Hell

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

SPRING '20 Episode 13: Nonsense & NIL

Big Heads Media — Fri, 01 May 2020 09:20:00 -0400

Before launching our upcoming multi-episode look back at great Penn State football from the past, the guys take a customary spin through all manner of nonsensical, non sequitur distractions and digressions. After an extended detour into topics ranging from Kevin's quarantine crankiness levels to traffic patterns at the grocery store, the boys finally come around to some college football talk. There will be a lot of speculation, investigation, and prognostication over the coming months (and years) following the NCAA's announcement that college football players will soon be allowed to personally profit from their name, image, and likeness rights. It will surely prove a watershed moment that launched a thousand thinkpieces, podcasts, etc., but here the guys begin their very first contemplation of how it might monumentally alter the sport's balance of power. Enjoy. Stay safe. Stay sanitized. Stay home. #WeAre

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

SPRING '20 Episode 12: Penn State & the NFL Draft

Big Heads Media — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 08:20:00 -0400

In a time when the sports world has been turned completely upside down, the NFL Draft continues on undeterred (even though it will be on Zoom), and several Nittany Lions will look to hear their names called over the course of the three-day event. In this episode, the guys welcome back Eric Galko of Optimum Scouting to break down the prospects for Penn State's crop of draft-eligible players. While defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos appears destined for a first-round selection with receiver KJ Hamler to follow in rounds two or three, a lot of intrigue surrounds how many more Lions may go in the draft's later stages. Eric gives his thoughts on the outlook for Robert Windsor, John Reid, Steven Gonzalez, Cam Brown along with other potential undrafted free agents and former Penn Staters like Juwan Johnson and Tommy Stevens. Stay safe. Stay sanitized. Stay home. #WeAre

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Eric Galko

SPRING '20 Episode 11: PSU Barstool Viceroy Derek Shuman

Big Heads Media — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 09:05:00 -0400

Derek Shuman is a Penn State senior who has been the viceroy (i.e. Editor-in-Chief) of Penn State Barstool for most of his college career, a time period that has seen the account's social media following grow to nearly a quarter million, the most of any Barstool college account in the country. From Pottsville, PA, Derek will be joining the mothership of Barstool in New York after graduation as a social media intern. He joins the guys to share his fascinating Penn State story - a journey from legacy aerospace engineering student to social media mastermind that included plenty of unforgettable experiences, among them partying with the Jonas Brothers at Champs Downtown. Over the last several years, Derek has channeled and amplified the vibe and voice of Penn State campus life to greater success than anyone in the game. It was a pleasure to hear his reflections on that experience and stories from the field. Enjoy this story from a true Nittany Lion who successfully discovered and chased a dream here in Happy Valley. Stay safe. Stay sanitized. Stay home. #WeAre

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Derek Shuman

SPRING '20 Episode 10: "Penn State fans are average" & Other Heresies

Big Heads Media — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 08:45:00 -0400

What better time to stir the pot than during a global quarantine? With all four of the Obligatory cast back together again, the guys take on some sacred accepted "truths" of the Penn State community and argue that, in fact, they're more misconception and myth. Mailman wants football fans to lose to their fixation on winning, while Chris insists you need to stop obsessing over "4th and 5." But to no one's surprise probably, Kevin has the spiciest take when he challenges the notion that Penn State has "great" sports fans. In other news, Brandon Noble becomes a cable news/PSU social media celebrity, and Mike the Mailman recounts the time he got a call from the Postmaster General. Hate mail is still interaction, and isn't that something we're all craving more than ever? So have at it, Nittany Nation. We do our best this time out to be unlikable (more than usual) for your aggravation and entertainment. Enjoy! And stay safe. Stay sanitized. Stay home. #WeAre

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

SPRING '20 Episode 9: Is Bill O'Brien Hurting His Reputation?

Big Heads Media — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 09:55:00 -0400

Time spent alone with your thoughts (and without any sports) during quarantine affords the opportunity to ponder the answers to life's big questions. In this episode, the guys (minus Mailman) talk about the York Daily Record's coverage of Brandon's work delivering food to frontline healthcare workers and then dive into a few such questions: With Bill O'Brien struggling to win in the playoffs and earning enemies in Houston, is he re-shaping his legacy - within the Penn State fanbase and everywhere else - for the worse? Do we, or should we, even care? Would a one-month "social media quarantine" prompt a comeback for human sanity in the same way a month of everyone staying home has sparked some environmental restoration? Was Christian Hackenberg ever that good? Should hockey teams start using 600-lb. goalies (think about it; this could work!)? We hope you enjoy listening to the conversation as much as we enjoyed having it and that we can offer a pleasant distraction in uncertain times. Stay safe. Stay sanitized. Stay home. #WeAre

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

SPRING '20 Episode 8: TribLive's Chris "Buzzsaw" Adamski

Big Heads Media — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Perhaps no two-year span in the history of Penn State football held a greater combination of good, bad, unforgettable, regrettable, remarkable, and confusing than 2013-2014. This time period saw arguably the greatest game in Beaver Stadium history in State's four-overtime win over Michigan in 2013 along with its biggest road upset (by point spread) versus Wisconsin in that same year. It also included a laundry list of embarrassing losses. Bill O'Brien left. James Franklin arrived. The team struggled with roster depth resulting from unprecedented sanctions, but also saw those restrictions begin getting rolled back. To reflect on it all, the guys welcomed Buchignani's fellow student radio alum Chris "Buzzsaw" Adamski of TribLive.com, who covered the team during those years before transitioning to the Pittsburgh Steelers beat. Stay safe. Stay sanitized. Stay home. #WeAre

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Chris "Buzzsaw" Adamski

SPRING '20 Episode 7: Postcards from the Edge

Big Heads Media — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 10:15:00 -0400

Another week spent sheltering at home, and we can happily report that Mike the Mailman is safe and sound. In this episode, the gang fields Twitter questions from the audience (keeping fully on-brand, not a single serious or Penn State sports-related one in the bunch) while also trading stories on their respective observations of supermarket conditions and alcohol availability amid self-imposed isolation. They also talk coping strategies in a world without sports. We hope some time spent with these four friends trying to keep each other sane through crazy times lifts your spirits and brightens your day. Stay safe. Stay sanitized. Stay home. #WeAre

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

SPRING '20 Episode 6: Quarantine Blues

Big Heads Media — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 11:45:00 -0400

Nobody wants to be the one who infected Mike the Mailman with coronavirus, so social distancing it is. For the first time in a long time, the full cast of The Obligatory PSU Pregame Show gets together on the podcast to catch up and commiserate on the most unusual state of world affairs. From Kevin's choice to ride out the contagion holed up on the New England coast to the gang's sense of disappointment at the loss of a promising Penn State sports season, the boys give voice to the mixture of mundane and profound woes afflicting us all right now. Brandon talks about what will be necessary to ramp back up into a college football season (fingers crossed) without Spring ball or perhaps even a conventional Summer session, plus how it might have been easier back in the tougher, #gritty days of yore. This is the first of many dispatches from isolation for the Obligatory cast. We're happy to be back and here for you - please bear with the audio quality as we work to improve it. Stay safe. Stay sanitized. #WeAre

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

SPRING '20 Episode 5: THON Mail Call & More

Big Heads Media — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 08:05:00 -0500

Way back in 1989, Penn State students first invited an increasingly-recognizable campus postal worker to deliver mail to the dancers at the annual Dance Marathon (held in the White Building). Over three decades later, Mike the Mailman is still doing THON Mail Call. After Mike tells some stories about how the process has evolved into the massive operation that now happens each year at the Bryce Jordan Center, the guys move on to Penn State's surprising basketball season and seamlessly transition into a series of wholly unrelated digressions, classic Obligatory style.

HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

SPRING '20 Episode 4: Unsolved Murders at Penn State

Big Heads Media — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 11:15:00 -0500

Most Penn Staters have heard of the unsolved murder in the Pattee Library stacks, but few know the whole story. This week, the guys sit down with true crime author Derek J. Sherwood to discuss his books "Who Killed Betsy? Uncovering Penn State University's Most Notorious Unsolved Crime" and "Nittany Nightmare: The Sex Murders of 1938-1940 and the Panic at Penn State." Enjoy this not-to-be-missed exploration of Happy Valley's sparse, but grisly history of unsolved crime. Spoiler Alert: Everyone is a suspect; even a certain, seemingly-squeaky clean former campus postal employee.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Derek J. Sherwood

SPRING '20 Episode 3: Ben Jones of StateCollege.com

Big Heads Media — Sat, 01 Feb 2020 21:15:00 -0500

Ben Jones is a Happy Valley native who launched onto the scene as an on-the-ground student reporter during the early days of the Sandusky scandal and has spent nearly a decade covering Penn State sports for StateCollege.com. Ben writes a regular column for the site and covers football, men's basketball, and men's ice hockey, the subject of his book Happy Valley Hockey. After years of faux-antagonism with Kevin on Twitter, the guys finally found a time to sit down with Ben and spin through it all. Enjoy this discussion that covers a range of PSU sports-related topics with one of veterans of beat.

HOSTED BY: Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Ben Jones

SPRING '20 Episode 2: Penn State Hoops & Hockey w/ David Eckert of BWI

Big Heads Media — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 08:50:00 -0500

The new year is bringing what may be one of best Winter/Spring sports seasons for Penn State in many years; the men's ice hockey team is ranked in the top 10 and poised for a postseason run at the Frozen Four, while the men's basketball team has seen its first top 25 appearance in a quarter-century, and fresh off a home pasting of #21 Ohio State, stands a great chance of joining in March Madness for the first time since 2011. David Eckert, who provides insightful coverage of both sports for Blue White Illustrated, joins Chris and Mike Levine, back for another week, to cover a range of topics pertaining to both teams, from basketball's path to the Big Dance to hockey's opportunity for "home ice" playoff games in Allentown.

HOSTED BY: Chris Buchignani

GUESTS: David Eckert, Mike Levine

SPRING '20 Episode 1: 2019 Nittany Lions in Review

Big Heads Media — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 09:30:00 -0500

Back again, and still better than nothing. #Obligatory kicks off its 2020 podcasting season with a look back at 2019.

Penn State entered the season on the heels of an underwhelming 2018 season that saw the Lions finish 9-4 with a Citrus Bowl loss to Kentucky, seeking to replace program legend Trace McSorley at QB (first with Tommy Stevens and eventually Sean Clifford). With their third 11-win finish in four seasons, another New Year's Six Bowl victory, a Top 10 final ranking, and a new contract extension for head coach James Franklin, indicators point toward positivity and stability. Chris Buchignani is joined to by friend of the show and fellow LION 90.7fm radio alum Mike Levine as they revisit their 2019 season preview and break down the successes and failures of an encouraging year in Happy Valley.

HOSTED BY: Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Mike Levine

FALL '19 Episode 13: Bowling for Roses (or Orange Cotton)

Big Heads Media — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 10:00:00 -0500

Penn State's path to Pasadena still looks open after the final week of the regular season, but did a decidedly lackluster showing at home versus lowly Rutgers imperils the Lions' New Years Six chances if the Badgers somehow end up in the Rose Bowl? How might chaos over Championship Weekend impact State's postseason destination? Could the Lions somehow miss out on the New Year's Six altogether? After commiserating over PSU's pedestrian effort against the Scarlet Knights, Chris and Mike the Mailman bring in an expert to bring order to the chaos. Jen Krippel from Collegiate Athletic Travel, a national leader in comprehensive bowl travel packages, breaks down the various bowl scenarios, including a few surprises.

HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Jen Krippel, Collegiate Athletic Travel

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FALL '19 Episode 12: Moral Victory Formation

Big Heads Media — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 13:50:00 -0500

The Nittany Lions traveled to Columbus and, as the script called for, left in defeat. The manner in which they were defeated however - by a comparatively narrow margin (the 21-point underdogs lost by 11) and having finally forced the Buckeyes into a four-quarter game - left many fans with a good feeling about Penn State's bowl prospects and season overall. Chris, Kevin, and Mike the Mailman wrap up Ohio State weekend, touching on the play of State's defense and a potential QB controversy, before moving on to a review of the season as a whole and an assessment of State's potential bowl destinations. Befitting an opponent of their stature, there is little to no discussion of Rutger.

HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

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FALL '19 Episode 11: Social Media is Worse than Ohio State

Big Heads Media — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 00:30:00 -0500

Over the last several years, Penn State and Ohio State have played in some of the most entertaining and memorable games in all of college football, and now the Nittany Lions and Buckeyes are set to run it back with a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game up for grabs. Although PSU's playoff aspirations are still very much in play, the path to the postseason runs through Columbus and perhaps the nation's most complete team. Chris and Brandon take a lengthy detour to delve into the recent news story surrounding Sean Clifford's brush with social media trolls before bringing in Kevin to straddle the line between pessimism and realism in assessing underdog Penn State's chances of pulling the upset.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

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FALL '19 Episode 10: Gopher Broke

Big Heads Media — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 12:10:00 -0500

Twenty years ago, the undefeated Penn State Nittany Lions, anchored by a stifling defense and led by a generational linebacker wearing number 11, had their eyes set on Big Ten and national championships, only to see those ambitions derailed by a Minnesota Golden Gophers program that hadn't been to the Rose Bowl since 1961. Time is a flat circle. Chris Buchignani, Kevin Horne, and Mike the Mailman retreat to the comfort of Mailman's Linden Hall BnB to lick their wounds, commiserate over yet another Penn State defeat to an (on paper, at least) less-talented opponent, and hopefully offer listeners a cathartic therapy session before moving ahead with a season in which (on paper, at least) the path to all of the Nittany Lions' goals remains open.

HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '19 Episode 9: On Number Four and Franklin's Future

Big Heads Media — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 11:25:00 -0500

Fresh off witnessing Penn State men's basketball's successful season opening victory (and 31.5-point cover) versus the Maryland College of Interior Design (or something), Chris Buchignani and Kevin Horne celebrated over beers at Kevin's apartment. The guys savored the admittedly-symbolic victory of Penn State's first-ever week as a member of the College Football Playoff Top Four, ruminated over the annual "James Franklin is leaving for _______" coaching carousel rumors, and tempered their trepidation about the Nittany Lions' road trip to Minnesota to take on the undefeated Golden Gophers.

HOSTED BY: Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '19 Episode 8: "Iron Lions" Exec Producer Bob Morgan

Big Heads Media — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 12:25:00 -0400

In the Fall of 2012, dark shadows loomed long over the Nittany Valley - pain, anger, confusion, uncertainty - and in the midst of this unprecedented turmoil, first-time head coach Bill O'Brien and a team of truly remarkable young men rose above it all to uplift an entire community, authoring an unforgettable season for the ages. The documentary film "Iron Lions" tells the story of "the greatest 8-4 season ever played" with candid input from many key coaches, players, and other outside voices offering unique perspective on one of the most fascinating stories in Penn State, and indeed American sports, history. In this episode, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani, and Mike the Mailman spend an hour with Penn State alumnus Bob Morgan, the film's producer, for a wide-ranging conversation about the journey of creating the film alongside some of the team's biggest stars.

HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Bob Morgan

FALL '19 Episode 7: Sparty Vanquished

Big Heads Media — Mon, 28 Oct 2019 10:45:00 -0400

The Michigan State Spartans have enjoyed unprecedented success against Penn State in recent years, finding new and awful ways to torture James Franklin's team and its fans, so much so that Chris and Kevin had already all but conceded PSU's first loss of the season. A foreboding repeat of 2017's infamous sloppy conditions did nothing to blunt their fears, but once the game kicked off, a still-undefeated and now-top 5 Nittany Lions squad proved that those concerns belonged in the past. With Kevin in the stands in East Lansing, exorcising the demons of his last rain-soaked trip out there, Brandon and Chris made the trek to Mike the Mailman's house to watch the game together. Immediately after it ended, the guys fired up the podcast gear and reacted to the cathartic win that brought Old State to 8-0.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Chris Buchignani

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FALL '19 Episode 6: The Agony of Victory

Big Heads Media — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 10:15:00 -0400

The Michigan Wolverines, a team that has tormented Penn State throughout much of its Big Ten-ure (sorry), rolled into Happy Valley for a prime time White Out game highlighted by ESPN College GameDay's third visit to campus in as many years. Having fallen short of lofty preseason expectations and with criticism of head coach Jim Harbaugh mounting, the Maize and Blue were desperate for a season-defining win. The Nittany Lions battled for four quarters and emerged victorious and unblemished, despite surrendering a once-daunting lead in the game's second half, and Penn State fans are "Angry on the Internet." Are they justified? Is this something of an overreaction? Does any of it matter with Sparty looming? Chris, Brandon, and Mike the Mailman sound off.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Chris Buchignani

Referenced in this episode:

The Curious Case of the Disappearing Penn State Offense by Mike Poorman

Master Class - Michigan St. Part 1 (2018)

FALL '19 Episode 5: The Pitt Rivalry Bites the Dust

Big Heads Media — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 16:00:00 -0400

Or, The Early Offensive Lamentations of 2019

What to take from Penn State's 45-13 victory over the Buffalo Bulls? While the final score may look like a standard, early-September blowout, the Lions struggled in several key areas of concern, and everything from the run game to offensive playcalling has Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani, and even Mike the Mailman on edge. The guys dig into potential takeaways from a confusing night in Beaver Stadium before moving on to the age-old question of whether Penn State ought to continue playing its in-state rival Pitt. The conversation may have been an annual occurrence these last four years, but only because people clearly care, and the Obligatory crew weighs in with their evolving views on the subject. Mike the Mailman has some more NCAA trends to play for Week 3 of college football, and Chris has some positive feedback on the game day parking logistics.

HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '19 Episode 4: Keith "Goon" Conlin & the 1994 Nittany Lions

Big Heads Media — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 10:30:00 -0400

Or, The best PG stories of college football's greatest offense

The Penn State-Buffalo game marks the University's official celebration of the 1994 undefeated Big Ten (and National - we agree with the New York Times) Champion Nittany Lions. With an offense that may have been the most potent in the sport's history, the team certainly ranks among State's all-time best, featuring legendary stars like Kerry Collins, Ki-Jana Carter, Kyle Brady, and Bobby Engram along with a punishing offensive line that devastated everyone in their path. Last month, Keith "Goon" Conlin, starting tackle on that line, joined Chris, Kevin, and Mailman for an event with the Lake Erie Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association to share his memories from that magical run. Goon brings all his characteristic honesty and humor to the account, covering everything from making the cover of Sports Illustrated to vainly trying to sneak seconds past Joe Paterno at the pre-Rose Bowl meal. For those who experienced it, it's hard to believe 25 years have passed since that special Autumn in Happy Valley. Enjoy this insider's look back at a time when the Lions ruled the sport like few before or since.

HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Keith Conlin

FALL '19 Episode 3: Parking, Idaho & Gambling

The Obligatory PSU Podcast — Mon, 02 Sep 2019 14:00:00 -0400

Or, Mike the Mailman's Insider Info - Only $2.95/minute!

You can only learn so much from a football game where the final score is 79-7, but Kevin, Chris, and Mike do their best during a Labor Day confab on the front porch of Mailman's Linden Hall bed and breakfast. The guys also review the decidedly mixed social media reviews of Penn State's new game day parking and traffic rules. Kev and Mailman also spend some time explaining the finer points of sports gambling to Chris, and Mike offers some "dead money" and "live dog" teams for each conference in 2019.

HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

FALL '19 Episode 2: The Matt McGloin Interview

The Obligatory PSU Podcast — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 12:00:00 -0400

Or, Not the #Moxie We Need, But the #Moxie We Deserve

Matt McGloin has had one of the most interesting personal journeys in Penn State (if not all of college football) history, arriving on campus without a single FBS scholarship offer, buried on the depth chart as a walk-on QB, and yet ascending to the starting role, setting school passing records his senior year, and then willing his way to an NFL career as an undrafted free agent. Along the way, he became a critical leader of Old State's most important and special team ever - the legendary "Iron Lions" of 2012. It was recently announced that Matt will return to Happy Valley this Fall as part of Penn State football's team coverage. Earlier this Summer, Matt joined Chris and Mike the Mailman at an event hosted by the Centre County Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association to talk about his life in football and the challenges - both on and off the field - of weathering the storms of scandal throughout the 2012 season.

HOSTED BY: Mike Herr, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Matt McGloin

FALL '19 Episode 1: Penn State Football Roster Breakdown

The Obligatory PSU Podcast — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 15:00:00 -0400

Or, That Time Chris Took Over and Talked Nothing But Football

Forced by scheduling issues - and/or pulling rank to hi-jack the #content - to work without Brandon, Mailman, and Kevin for this episode, Chris enlists the assistance of friend and fellow LION 90.7fm alum Mike Levine to analyze the 2019 Penn State roster on both sides of the football. The excitement of a young, but undeniably talented squad is one of the key offseason storylines for the Nittany Lions. Just what do James Franklin and staff have to work with heading into this season? Chris and Mike break down each position group, talk about their hopes and expectations for team leaders and breakout performers, and rank their confidence levels for each position on offense and defense.

If you're one of those #Obligatory fans who wishes the guys talked a little more football from time to time, then this episode is for you. Otherwise, just sit tight. We'll back to the usual non-sequitur absurdity in short order.

HOSTED BY: Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Mike Levine

SUMMER ’19 Episode 5: Booze & Culture w/ Kirk French

The Obligatory PSU Podcast — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 13:58:33 -0400

Or, The Class You Wish You’d Taken at Penn State

How to get modern college students interested in learning about anthropology? For Dr. Kirk French, the answer revealed itself during a classroom lecture: Make it all about booze. In this episode, the guys are thrilled to welcome Penn State professor, frequent guest on The Obligatory PSU Pregame Show, and Obligatory “fifth Beatle” Kirk French to explain the fascinating origins of his now-famous “Booze and Culture” anthropology course, which this Fall will have over 700 undergraduates enrolled. Kirk also talks about his latest project, returning to a 1961 documentary film created by Penn State Evan Pugh Professor of Archaeological Anthropology, William T. Sanders to produce the follow-up, “Land and Water Revisited.”

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Kirk French

SUMMER ’19 Episode 4: Mauti, Zordich & the Iron Lions

The Obligatory PSU Podcast — Wed, 03 Jul 2019 21:44:56 -0400

Or, Heart & Soul of the Greatest 8-4 Season Ever Played From the moment two Penn State legacies emerged from the Lasch Building amidst Penn State’s darkest hour and brazenly declared to the world that the 2012 Nittany Lions viewed a whirlwind of media scrutiny, public backlash, and NCAA sanctions as “an opportunity, not a punishment,” the lives of seniors Michael Zordich and Michael Mauti – along with the story of Dead Old State – changed forever. Now a team of filmmakers are nearing completion on an ambitious documentary film, Iron Lions, chronicling the incredible 2012 Penn State football season. Brandon Noble recently sat down over beers with Mauti and Zordich to talk football, life, the roller coaster ride of 2012 and how it shaped them as men, and their involvement with helping bring Iron Lions to the screen. FROM THE ‘IRON LIONS’ TEAM: Production on “IRON LIONS: The Greatest 8-4 Season Ever” is well underway, and we hope to complete the film by August of 2019. IRON LIONS is the true story about the 2012 Penn State Football team, who rose from the ashes and defined what it means to have “Success With Honor.” Fueled by childhood dreams and legacy bloodlines, this team of Iron Lions stayed and fought for something much greater than football. This films tells their triumphant story. You can watch the trailer at www.ironlionsmovie.com where you will hear from several of the Iron Lions, Franco Harris, Coach Bill O’Brien, and Saquon Barkley. We are close to raising the funds to create this movie, but we need YOUR support to help us reach final fundraising goals. These funds are necessary to make the best film possible, so the world can watch and hear the powerful story of these young men who stared adversity in the face and did not back down. HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble GUEST: Michael Zordich, Michael Mauti

SUMMER ’19 Episode 3: The Brandon Noble Interview, Part 1

The Obligatory PSU Podcast — Wed, 19 Jun 2019 23:44:21 -0400

Or, How to Avoid Being Switched from D-Lineman to Center

The guys try a bit of role reversal this week, giving Brandon a chance to be the “guest” and talk about the journey that took him across the country – from Southern California to Virginia Beach – and eventually to Happy Valley, suiting up for some of JoePa’s best teams in the mid-1990’s. In this first interview, Brandon talks about the recruiting process, choosing between Michigan and Penn State, and his first three years in the program, which included plenty of adversity and adjustment as well as a chance to play for an undefeated Big Ten and Rose Bowl champion in State’s second year of membership in the conference. A future installment will cover his role as a key starter at defensive tackle in 1995-96 and the roller coaster ride through the professional ranks that followed.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Chris Buchignani

SUMMER ’19 Episode 2: PSU Hockey Alum David Goodwin

The Obligatory PSU Podcast — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 07:16:23 -0400

Or, How to Ruin #CawlidgeHawkey in Four Short Years When our guest this week, David Goodwin, was being recruited, the Pegula Ice Arena hadn’t even broken ground; by the time he graduated as a senior captain, the Penn State men’s ice hockey team were Big Ten champions. The guys enjoyed a great conversation with David about his Penn State journey: The less-familiar path traveled by college hockey prospects and the unique advantages of being a 21-year-old freshman, buying into the vision of Penn State’s new hockey program and the process of making it a reality, memories from his time in Happy Valley and the experience of playing professionally after college in Europe. Note: David, a St. Louis native, is naturally a big Blues fan, and as we recorded, the outcome of Game 7 was still TBD. Congrats to the Goodwin family and St. Louis fans everywhere. Was it the skill and “grit” of the players that finally put them over the top, or was Mike the Mailman’s Blues t-shirt that was real good luck charm? We may never truly know. HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Chris Buchignani GUEST: David Goodwin

SUMMER ’19 Episode 1: Fleming’s Flight feat. Frank Bodani

The Obligatory PSU Podcast — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 23:15:31 -0400

Or, “Gritty” — Not Just a Creepy/Lovable Mascot

A long and bitter recruiting fight ultimately went against the Nittany Lions when 5-star “can’t miss” (JINX!) 2020 wide receiver Julian Fleming of Catawissa, PA made a sudden heel turn in choosing Ohio State. Wailing and gnashing of teeth predictably ensued, but how much of a problem is losing out on such a highly-regarded in-state recruit for James Franklin and his staff? Maybe a big one. The guys welcome Frank Bodani of the York Daily Record to break down the disappointing turn of the events and its wider implications for #DominateTheState from the pessimist’s view and the “glass half-full” perspective. Brandon questions the current team’s grit, while Kevin questions whether grit exists beyond sports cliches.

Check out Frank Bodani’s column on Julian Fleming’s commitment to Ohio State: https://www.ydr.com/story/sports/college/penn-state/football/2019/05/28/penn-state-football-recruiting-what-if-julian-fleming-picks-ohio-state/3745467002/

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Frank Bodani

SPRING ’19 Episode 4: Never Graduate

The Obligatory PSU Podcast — Thu, 09 May 2019 00:18:11 -0400

Or, The 2 Return Trips All Penn State Alumni Should Make

The whole gang is finally back together, and in classic Obligatory fashion, the conversation quickly skews into a digression from which it never fully recovers. Brandon, Kevin, Chris, and Mailman relax by the banks of Spruce Creek at Voodoo Brewery’s State College location, waxing philosophical on a range of topics including: Beer (of course), Summer in Happy Valley, Penn State graduation, the end of “Senior Week,” Penn State’s two law schools, the street value of a Brandon Noble autograph (and your chances of receiving one in the mail, upon request), and Chris’ two pieces of essential advice for every PSU alum planning a trip back to State College:

Pick and non-event weekend in the Summer, and come back for a relaxing weekend to experience town, campus, and the surrounding areas (experience Mount Nittany!) during the slowest-paced time of year.
Plan a Fall football trip far enough in advance to take the extra time off and arrive mid-week. Experience town and campus on the Thursday and Friday leading up to the game, and make some time to walk through the surrounding neighborhoods to appreciate what a great college atmosphere we have at Old State.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani

SPRING ’19 Episode 3: After the Draft

The Obligatory PSU Podcast — Sat, 04 May 2019 08:53:10 -0400

Or, Kevin’s Antebellum Adventure

The Nittany Lions had a very respectable six players selected in the 2019 NFL Draft, with fan favorite Trace McSorley coming off the board in the sixth round to Baltimore. A total of four Penn Staters (two draft picks, two undrafted free agents) will remain in-state to suit up for the Eagles. Brandon, Chris, Kevin, and #Obligatory newcomer Paris Palmer (Penn State OT ’15-16) eventually get around to talking about the draft, the decision process around leaving early, and whether declared underclassmen who aren’t drafted (like PSU’s Ryan Bates and Kevin Givens) should be able to return to school. But first, Kevin returns to the show in rare form, giving a great lesson in craft beer appreciation along with a recap of his tour of several college campuses in SEC country. Mike the Mailman is on assignment.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani, Paris Palmer

SPRING ’19 Episode 2.1: Very Dark & Full of Spoilers

The Obligatory PSU Podcast — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 22:53:13 -0400

Or, Let’s Talk Game of Thrones

SPOILER ALERT!!!

We are super serial, you guys. MAJOR SPOILERS for Game of Thrones up to and including Season 8 Episode 3 plus some sundry, semi-spoilery references to Avengers: Endgame. If you haven’t watched yet, come on back after. If this pop culture stuff isn’t for you, no worries – another episode wrapping up Penn State’s big NFL draft weekend is on the way.

In the spirit of Obligatory’s best digressions, Brandon and Chris venture far beyond the Wall to review the most hotly-anticipated television event since last season’s Obligatory PSU Pregame Show finale. The show’s production and technical guru Jonnie Baker comes along for the ride as do Steve and Tim of the Let’s Talk Penn State podcast. Did “The Long Night” live up to the ridiculous hype, or was it at least a bit of a disappointment? Enjoy this bonus episode, an let us know what you think of the guys ranging off into other topics from time to time.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Chris Buchignani

GUESTS: Steve Garguilo, Tim Buckley (Let’s Talk Penn State); Jonnie Baker

SPRING ’19 Episode 2: PSU in the NFL Draft

The Obligatory PSU Podcast — Wed, 24 Apr 2019 20:57:00 -0400

Or, Tommy Stevens Predictions Sure to Go Wrong

Mike the Mailman swings back through State College amidst his whirlwind tour of Alumni Association speaking engagements, and just in time to join Chris and Brandon in discussing the surprising twist in Penn State’s 2019 quarterback battle – fifth-year senior Tommy Stevens’ decision to enter the transfer portal and finish his career elsewhere. Meanwhile, another sizable crop of Nittany Lions will look to hear their names called in the 2019 NFL Draft. Eric Galko of Optimum Scouting joins the show to offer insight on the pro prospects of Trace McSorley, Miles Sanders, Amani Oruwariye, Connor McGovern and several others looking to become the latest Lions to play on Sundays. If all that’s not enough, learn the incredibly idiotic game Brandon and former Penn State OT Keith “Goon” Conlin played during their college days that led to dental surgery later in life.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Mike Herr, Chris Buchignani

GUEST: Eric Galko

SPRING ’19 Episode 1: Blue-White Blues

The Obligatory PSU Podcast — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 11:06:04 -0400

Or, Happy Valley Voodoo of Slab Cabin Run

Mike the Mailman is on assignment (playing cards), but the rest of the gang – Penn State and NFL defensive tackle Brandon Noble, former Onward State managing editor Kevin Horne, and aspiring virtual lion tamer Chris Buchignani – are all on hand for the triumphant return of the Obligatory podcast. The guys kick back along waters of Slab Cabin Run enjoying the hospitality of Voodoo Brewery and cover a range of topics in this return episode – the forgotten tradition of “not walking on the S” and the importance of ritual, the family-friendly (and less so) aspects of Blue-White Weekend, the killer instinct of local birds of prey, and the cultural phenomenon that is Game of Thrones (Brandon and Chris even sneak in some football talk while Kevin gets a refill). It’s good to be back!

This was recorded 24 hours before Tommy Stevens entered the transfer portal. Enjoy this break from pointless speculation and stale takes and thank us later.

HOSTED BY: Brandon Noble, Kevin Horne, Chris Buchignani