Skip to main content

Black Shoe Diaries

https://www.blackshoediaries.com/ | 612 entries published

DOMINATE THE STATE

Latest Entries

YAY HOOPS (?): Penn State vs. USC Open Thread

For the first time ever, USC will play a basketball game in State College. The Nitanny Lions are fresh off a 41-point loss to No. 2 Michigan and are still searching for a second Big Ten win this season. The game will tip off at noon from the BJC. As always, open thread rules apply. […]

about 1 month ago | 4 reads

Penn State vs. USC Preview: The Trojans Come to Town

How To Watch Who: USC TrojansRecord: 17-6, 6-6 Big TenWhen: Sunday, February 8th, 12:00 p.m. ESTWhere: Bryce Jordan Center, University Park, PAKenpom Ranking (PSU): 49 (134)TV: BTNRadio: Penn State Sports NetworkVegas Line: Penn State +3.5Over/Under: 155.5 What To Watch For Prediction As much as Penn State can put up a fight in this one, USC is too well-rounded, with nearly five players averaging double […]

about 1 month ago | 3 reads

Winter Sports Update: Women’s Hockey Sweeps Again

Women’s Hockey (26-4) The women’s hockey team stayed unbeaten with 3-0 and 5-2 wins over Robert Morris last weekend. McKenna Walsh, Maddy Christian, and Grace Outwater all scored in the outdoor game at Beaver Stadium to lift Penn State to a 3-0 win. In Game 2, Penn State overcame an early 2-0 deficit and scored […]

about 1 month ago | 3 reads

Wrestling Preview: #1 Penn State vs #11 Michigan

The Nittany Lions hit the road for the last time before the NCAA tournament in Cleveland, this time taking on the Wolverines in their school’s basketball arena (which they’re hoping to “light up”). A few years ago, when the current Penn State streak was in its infancy, Michigan was the team best poised to take […]

about 1 month ago | 5 reads

YAY HOOPS (?) Open Thread: Penn State vs. Michigan

Fresh off their first win in Big Ten play, Penn State basketball hits the road to take on Michigan hoping to start a win streak. Tipoff is at 6:30pm on FS1. As always, open thread rules apply. No politics, religion, NSFW content, or illegal streams, and be civil.

about 1 month ago | 3 reads

NCAA Hockey Bracketology: February 5

As of this morning, the NCAA Tournament picture looks like this, based on NPI and conference standings. Please note that projected conference tournament winners are in italics and are based on current in-conference point percentage: Locks (5): Michigan, Michigan State, North Dakota, Western Michigan, Penn StateSafe (5): Providence, Cornell, Minnesota-Duluth, Quinnipiac, DartmouthBubble In (5): Denver, Boston College, […]

NHL

about 1 month ago | 5 reads

REPORT: New WR Coach Noah Pauley to be Hired by Packers

It appears one of Matt Campbell’s most promising assistants will be departing Penn State before coaching his first game with the Nittany Lions. Wide receivers coach Noah Pauley is reportedly being hired to join the Green Bay Packers, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. Pauley was regarded as a rising star in the coaching […]

NFL

about 1 month ago | 3 reads

Hoops Preview: Penn State Faces Rematch at Michigan

How To Watch Who: Michigan WolverinesNET Ranking (PSU): 3 (131)Kenpom Ranking (PSU): 1 (130)When: Thursday, February 5thWhere: Crisler Arena, Ann Arbor, MITime: 6;30 PM ESTTV: FS1Radio: Penn State Sports NetworkLine: Michigan -25.5 (FanDuel) What To Watch For Prediction Michigan got caught playing with their food last time they faced the Nittany Lions and it nearly cost them a win. I don’t see them making […]

about 1 month ago | 3 reads

Report: Gavin McKenna Facing Assault Charge

Penn State hockey’s Gavin McKenna is reportedly facing an assault charge following an alleged altercation on Saturday night: Per Onward State, the incident occurred near the 100 block of S. Pugh Street in downtown State College, and the victim suffered a broken jaw. As this is still a developing story, it is unknown at this […]

about 1 month ago | 2 reads

Wrestling Media Availability with Cael Sanderson

This afternoon, Head Coach Cael Sanderson spoke to media ahead of Friday’s 6pm EST dual at Michigan in Ann Arbor. Cael Sanderson – Head Coach Practicing against defensive tactics and limiting frustration? Yeah. I mean, we’re obviously preparing and it’s not anything new, right? I mean, anytime you have a good wrestler or like a […]

about 1 month ago | 2 reads

Blessed & Honored: Kemon Spells Commits To Georgia

National Signing Day Is Here 15 years ago, this day would have been massive. But now with the early NSD period in December, the first Wednesday in February is just a footnote in the recruiting calendar. Penn State’s class is basically, with four-star WR Samson Gash expected to stick with his commitment to Michigan State […]

about 1 month ago | 3 reads

Penn State-Northwestern Game Moved to Friday in Ryan Field Debut

Penn State and Northwestern will make history when they meet in 2026. The match-up, which has now been moved to Friday, October 2, will be the first game played in Northwestern’s newly updated stadium, Ryan Field. Northwestern’s first two home games will be played at Northwestern Medicine Field, which served as a temporary lakefront home […]

about 1 month ago | 6 reads

This Week In Happy Valley: Silver Linings

Despite the loss on Saturday, Gavin McKenna turned in a strong performance against Michigan State. Saturday’s crowd was the second-largest ever for an outdoor college hockey game. Penn State’s game-worn jerseys from the outdoor game will be auctioned off. Four Penn State women’s hockey players begin their Olympic journey this week. Men’s hockey fell to […]

about 1 month ago | 1 read

MMLW – Beaver Stadium Hockey

Over the weekend, Penn State hosted Michigan State at Beaver Stadium for an outdoor hockey game. This event has been long in discussion, and had been stymied many times due to the poor “winterization” of Beaver Stadium. Luckily, the powers that be realized the aging stadium needed some upgrades, and is in the process of […]

about 1 month ago | 3 reads

Penn State 75, Minnesota 72: Winning!

The Penn State Nittany Lions have seen the gamut in the first 10 conference games of the season. They’ve nearly beaten the top of the conference, they’ve been blown out against the bottom, and, in true Penn State fashion, have found new and inventive ways to lose games even when they were in prime position […]

about 1 month ago | 4 reads

Wrestling Postview: No. 1 Penn State 26, No. 5 Nebraska 12

With Penn State riding a dominant run through the lower rungs of the B1G, a battle-tested Nebraska Cornhusker squad descended into a raucous 13,000+ Friday night Bryce Jordan Center crowd to test their mettle against the best in the land. The dual outcome was hardly in doubt, but Mark Manning’s team landed some punches, and […]

about 1 month ago | 1 read

Oh, Hello: 2028 DB Deonte Flemings Jr. Commits To Penn State

THE SKINNY Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 190 poundsHometown/High School: Erie, PA (McDowell H.S.)Ranking: N/ANotable Offers: Notre Dame, Pitt, Syracuse, and West Virginia The Nittany Lions don’t have a commit in the 2027 class (yet) but they are now on the board with the 2028 class, landing Erie defensive back Deonte Flemings Jr. after a Junior Day event […]

about 1 month ago | 3 reads

Michigan State 5, Penn State 4 (OT): Cold As Ice

It was an exciting atmosphere at Beaver Stadium on Saturday afternoon for the outdoor game, but Michigan State wrapped up a season sweep of the Nittany Lions with a 5-4 win in overtime. Penn State did a solid job of turning the tide in the second period, but too many mistakes and a near-unstoppable Spartans […]

about 1 month ago | 4 reads

Michigan State 6, Penn State 3: Whelp

After a week of anticipation, Michigan State pounced on Penn State early and did not look back in the Spartans’ 6-3 win on Friday night. The Nittany Lions started slow again and paid dearly for it, falling behind 3-0 in the first period and taking another bevy of penalties. Michigan State has won all three […]

about 1 month ago | 4 reads

Nicholas Singleton Breaks Foot At Senior Bowl Practices

Penn State has a host of players at the Senior Bowl this week — Kaytron Allen, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Zane Durant, Zakee Wheatley, and Nicholas Singleton are all representing the blue and white in Mobile, Alabama, Unfortunately for Nick Singleton though, his week has come to an end. He got hurt during Thursday’s practice, with Rich […]

about 1 month ago | 4 reads

Penn State Hockey Series Preview: Michigan State

Penn State returns to Hockey Valley for a two-game showdown with Michigan State this weekend. All eyes will be on the outdoor game on Saturday, but tonight’s game at Pegula Ice Arena should be a wild atmosphere. Two of the best goaltenders in the NCAA will square off this weekend in a critical battle in […]

about 1 month ago | 6 reads

Winter Sports Update: Women’s Hockey Clinches AHA Title

Women’s Hockey (24-4) Penn State clinched its fourth straight AHA regular season title with back-to-back shutout wins over Delaware. Katie DeSa recorded her 21st career shutout to set a program record. Coach Jeff Kampersal reached 500 wins as an NCAA head coach with the 5-0 win in Game 1. Grace Outwater, Maddy Christian, Danica Maynard, […]

about 1 month ago | 2 reads

Wrestling Preview: #1 Penn State vs #6 Nebraska

We’re back in the BJC, baby! Preseason, many had penciled this dual meet as the biggest one on the calendar for the Nittany Lions after Nebraska’s #2 finish at the 2025 NCAA tournament; then, to the surprise of some, Ohio State stormed out of the woodwork with their young guns and became the Team Most […]

about 1 month ago | 3 reads

Penn State 73, Northwestern 94: Another Loss

The struggle bus rolls on as the Nittany Lions find themselves at 0-10 in the Big Ten, two games away from 17th place. That said, the silver lining is the Lions are back to losing close games, instead of getting the doors blown off them from start to finish. In a back and forth affair, […]

about 1 month ago | 4 reads

YAY HOOPS(?): Penn State vs. Northwestern Open Thread

Penn State continues its quest for a single Big Ten win against Northwestern in Evanston. The game tips off at 8:00 PM, and can be seen on Peacock. If you haven’t done so already, check out our preview. As always, the usual open thread rules apply: Don’t link to any streams, don’t post anything pornographic or […]

about 1 month ago | 3 reads