I date myself a bit as someone who caught the legendary WFAN sports talk “Mike and the Mad Dog” when it was on the Yankees station – YES.
Some of the nicknames given to the duo were “Frandog,” “Know It All & The Village Idiot,” and, most famously, “Fatso & Fruit Loops.”
Nearly two decades following the duo’s split, Chris “Mad Dog” Russo is still loopy.
On ESPN’s First Take, Russo had his segment “What Are You Mad About,” and the lead topic was his disdain for Penn State being ranked No. 2 in the AP Preseason Poll.
“How is Penn State ranked number two preseason football in college?” Russo said. “Number two in the country?”
“Yes, I know their schedule is not that difficult at Ohio State, Oregon, at UCLA, at Iowa, not a big deal. But he (James Franklin) never wins a big game. Lost last year, obviously, to Notre Dame. I don’t care about the SMU (Playoff game). That’s not a big game.
“The quarterback (Drew Allar), I do not like in a big spot. He was terrible down the stretch against the Irish and Franklin was 0-and-10 against the Buckeyes. He never beats them in Michigan, and he has to play in Columbus this year. How is Penn State with their history under Franklin in big spots? How are they getting? I know their schedule is easy, but this is stupid. Second in the country. We start the year second Penn State that had, I don’t care about who they brought back. I don’t care about their defense. I know Nevada, Villanova, easy early.”
Russo concluded his ignorance filled with hyperbole that left analyst Louis Riddick, a Pitt alum, speechless.
Russo doubled down.
“I get all that they are not the second best team in college football here Aug 13. You know why? History? They never, ever, ever respond. And that has to go into the equation when you’re doing these rankings.”
While Riddick did counter Russo very well, it is this poor analysis that people will gravitate towards.
With ESPN being the broadcast partner of the SEC, we have seen first hand their influence that negatively impacts teams.
I am willing to bet Kirk Herbstreit cannot safely walk around Tallahassee for the narrative he authored that left an undefeated Florida State out of the College Football Playoff.
The low hanging fruit Russo goes after is the strength of schedule.
Until the College Football Playoff committee weighs SOS with proper merit, everyone is going to job the situation.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.As Franklin puts it out there over-and-over, a standardization in scheduling.
For Russo to marginalize Penn State’s first-round opponent SMU as not a big game, ask the combatants from both sides if that was a big game.
The winner advanced to the Fiesta Bowl in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal, Penn State needed playoff validation and got it.
Had SMU won, the narrative for Rhett Lashlee’s program would be program altering and they may have been more aggressive in the transfer portal, reaped recruiting rewards, and might be seen as a bigger challenger to Clemson this year.
Russo used worn out tropes to knock Penn State.
There is no hiding of Penn State’s failures of the past, those will be there for eternity.
What wasn’t recognized at all by Russo was what Penn State did to improve to put itself in position to be No. 2.
Much like the watered down journalism and analysis ESPN conveys on its platforms, there was no mention of the experienced running back duo, or the wide receivers that came via the transfer portal, the first round talent on the defensive line, athletes in the secondary, as well as the ability to land Jim Knowles.
Riddick brought most of that up when the segment was over.
The crazy part is Russo has a team of folks he grabs summaries from and builds his debate, the fact none of that is even mentioned by him is gross negligence on his part.
Ultimately, since it wasn’t about LeBron, NBA, Dallas Cowboys, Patrick Mahomes, Travis (Kelce) and Taylor (Swift), or 1950’s/1960’s NBA, Russo falls flat on his face in his take.
Penn State will be better this year. There is plenty of content written by the team and I that back this statement up.
For my sanity, hopefully I am not writing a column in January echoing Russo’s infamous Giants rant.
