BlueWhite Tailgate Pawcast: Penn State Football

Penn State has massive expectations in 2025. One man who knows a thing or two about expectations, hype, and meeting those expectations is Penn State great Lavar Arrington. For nearly an hour, Arrington hits on a variety of topics from the team to NIL and the legacy of the "Grand Experiment." The All-American and All-Pro dives deep on the BlueWhiteTailgate podcast with the guys as he gives us his impressions of DC Jim Knowles. Is the media making too much of how difficult his defense is to run? The great LB dives deep into the X's and O's with this years Penn State squad. What sets this defense apart from other past schemes? Does Arrington see a weak spot on the team?Lavar also talked about his legacy with the Blue & White. How did his #11 become a symbol worn by great defensive players and maybe the most well known number at Penn State? Making sure to pay homage to #31 and LB greats that have worn that jersey, Arrington talks about his conversations with Tom Bradley and setting his own path, the Stix City nickname, the talks with NaVorro Bowman, Micah Parsons, Brandon Bell and Abdul Carter. How does Arrington see the allocation of the number playing out in the future?Did you know the man known for the Lavar Leap was once a prized D-1 basketball coach for some of America's biggest programs? You do now and Arrington tells some great stories of his basketball days. Want your thoughts heard? Email the show at [email protected].

The calendar turns to August and the hype train is full steam ahead for Penn State in 2025.  Who do you have as the preseason number one team in the nation? 

At least one among Andrew, Frank and Mike sees Penn State being ranked #1 in the AP poll. 

Former Penn State offensive lineman Landon Tengwall, who is building a media empire featuring his Behind the Wall podcast and College Football Show joins the discussion. Mike, Frank, Landon and Andrew dive into it all. 

Is James Franklin a better coach than Ryan Day?  Does Penn State have a better staff than the Buckeyes?  Is it a national championship or bust for the Lions?  How is the Lions D going to implement the Jim Knowles defense?  Who can Penn State ill afford to lose to injury this year if they want to compete for the championship? 

These are just some of the questions the guys dive into in a wide ranging show.

Email the show and join the conversation at [email protected]

The heat is up and we mean way up as Penn State hits Big Ten Media Days in Vegas.  The only thing hotter than the temps are the expectations around the 2025 Nittany Lions.  At Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Penn State was represented by James Franklin, QB Drew Allar, OL Nick Dawkins, and S Zakee Wheatley. 

Frank, Mike and Andrew dive right into Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti continuing to advocate for four automatic bids each for the Big Ten and SEC in the CFP and what about this idea for a play-in round in the CFP to "connect" the regular season to the postseason?Penn State was the star of the show on the strip. as the preseason hype has peaked. 

The KGB gang talks about everything from preseason Big Ten honors for a trio to the Lions being tabbed the top team in the conference and country by multiple outlets. 

How does James Franklin handle the pressure? Well he pushed back on preseason rankings, emphasizing: “Rankings don’t matter  the work does.” He urged focus on daily grind over headlines. 

All that and more in this edition of the BlueWhite Tailgate Pawcast.

Email the show at [email protected]

Talkin' Hockey Valley in JulyMike, Frank, and Andrew welcome Penn State Author and writer Ben Jones to the show to talk Penn State Hockey as Gavin McKenna commits to the Lions. What does this generational talent mean for expectations for next season? Is there more pressure on Penn State to make this marriage work out? Penn State's program has had a meteoric rise in the decade since Pegula Ice Arena was built, what is the driving force behind their success since they dropped the puck against Army in the first game? All that and more with Ben Jones. Penn State football topics on the docket includes a fan email that says we need to evaluate all QB's the way we evaluate Drew Allar.Most importantly we talk Penn State volleyball and the ESPY Awards with head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley as she is awarded the Jim Valvano Perseverance Award for her courageous fight against cancer. email the show at [email protected]

Contact the show at [email protected]

The tides of recruiting are as unpredictable as the Drake Passage. Top recruiting targets that seem like a lock suddenly bolt across the country spurning the home state school.

A week later a long shot decides to make a pledge. Part of that intrigue is what makes college football great all year long.

The world of recruiting continues to evolve and Penn State over the past few weeks has experienced both the highs and the lows.

We dive right into the discussion regarding James Franklin's class of 2026.

Penn State wrestling is dominating the headlines and social media. media but not in. a good way. A former champion, Aaron Brooks, faces adversity with an illness and then makes a mistake that costs him off the mat.

A report out of State College from the Collegian puts Carter Starocci's name in the headlines for some wrong reasons. Frank, Mike and Andrew discuss the report.

It is the slowest time of the year for Penn State football, the recruiting trail has unfortunately gone quiet but we can still make some noise with the Blue & White.

Former Penn State quarterback Zack Mills joins the show to talk some ball. How does the former QB1 see the development of Drew Allar coming along and what steps he sees Drew taking in his final off season?

Mills dives into how he sees Penn State being perceived by recruits and schools in the DC area. Zack also talks about the current state of college football.

After a chat with Mills the guys go through and discuss Penn State's best signal callers from the Big Ten era and also all time. Where does your favorite player rank?

Take a listen and find out! Join the conversation at [email protected]

contact the show: [email protected]

The College Football Playoff has undergone some changes. No more conference champions earning an undeserved first round bye. Now the top four teams to finish the season will actually be rewarded the path they deserve.

And as we are headed for a 16 team playoff, we debate if this Is good for college football? Will the Big Ten and SEC control eight of those spots? Is that fair and will it leave good teams out who aren't considered "major material."

Are we headed to an era where only major brands get in?

The guys also talk James Franklin and staff's recent media availability. What was interesting? Frank tells us Terry Smith has high praise for one of his guys and Mike has a chat with Dan Connor.

Plus a little basketball recruiting for Penn State and coach Mike Rhoades.

contact the show at [email protected]

The long wait of the offseason drags on what is there to talk about? Well Frank, Mike and Andrew play a little "Fact or Fiction" with five questions heading into this year.

Will James Franklin shred his reputation nationally?

Will Drew Allar be a top 5 QB at Penn State of all-time?

Those are just two of the questions we pose in our hypotheticals for the 2025 year.

We also talk to Rob Oshinskie of Victory Sports and Fitness. A former GA at Penn State, Rob has worked with many athletes at the NFL, MLB level, and plenty of Penn State athletes find their way to his gym as well as high level D1 recruits. We pick Rob's brain on the edge every athlete is looking for and how these players train away from campus.

Finally a little discussion about the best Penn State defensive backs of all-time. Where is Joey Porter Jr, Darren Perry and the like rank.

That and more on the BlueWhiteTailgate Pawcast--

Who should be preseason #1? Is Penn State getting too much credit in some way to early polls just for clicks?Penn State has some great history at the running back position. Who is the best of all time? Is it Saquon, Lenny Moore or someone else. Frank, Mike and Andrew talk about the history of Penn State running backs and Andrew has some "choo choo" interesting comments.

Spring Practice is in the books for the Nittany Lions as the Lions head into the summer after a windy day in the construction zone formerly known as Beaver Stadium.

Mike Gross, Frank Bodani and Andrew Kalista try to break down why James Franklin and fans can't seem to get along.

How has this team come out of the spring season.? What and where do the Lions look in the transfer portal? Are the WR's ready to push PSU to the next level? And will Penn State's 2026 draft class be its best ever?

Those questions have answers in this edition. of the. BlueWhite Tailgate Pawcast.