Ron Musselman: Welcome to another Thursday chat from the foot of the Nittany Mountains in University Park, Pa. It is in the low 30s here today and the rain has turned to snow. The forecast for Saturday's game is similar. It could make for an interesting game against Minnesota.

ImmaManIm40: Any chances PSU will upgrade / modernize the football uniforms after Paterno retires? For starters, why not put the cool logo on helmets? I can remember when the player's number was on his helmet, like Alabama's.

Ron Musselman: I, like you, didn't like the plain uniforms for a long time. But they have kind of come to grow on me now. If I were Penn State, I wouldn't change a thing. I would keep the blue jerseys with white trim and the white pants at home. When you turn the TV on, you never have to ask who is playing. Penn State's uniforms are easily recognizable for their blandness. And believe or it nor, the Lions actually had numbers on their helmets at one time.

dwight: I've caught little snippets of Minnesota in a few games thus far this season; they seem like a generally competant football team. Good, but not great. Accurate? Should Penn State have trouble with them?

Ron Musselman: Right on, Dwight. Minnesota is a good team, but not a great team. The Gophers are pretty much one-dimensional team on offense with Eric Decker. He holds several school records and is the leading receiver in the Big Ten. He has the speed to stretch the field and it will be a stern test for Penn State's secondary. Decker is such a good athlete, he has been drafted in each of the past two years by Major League Baseball teams as an outfielder. r.

IPA: What's the latest on Lee & Bowman?

Ron Musselman: Nothing new to report on Navorro Bowman. He returned to the starting lineup three weeks ago against Iowa and has been starting to play very well. He had a 91-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Eastern Illinois last week. Lee has missed the past three games with a sprained left knee. He has resumed practicing this week on a limited basis, but all indications are he will return against Minnesota Saturday.

bubs: Tell me everything I should need to know about Minnesota.

Ron Musselman: I?ll try to do that. Minnesota hasn?t played Penn State since 2006. All four of the Gophers wins this season have been come-from-behind victories. They have two solid offensive players in quarterback Adam Weber and wide receiver Eric Decker, but Minnesota is last in the Big Ten in total offense and rushing. Unlike Penn State, the Gophers have some of the best special teams in the conference.

StephenPitts: What are the chances we witness a breakout game from the Lions on Saturday?

Ron Musselman: I think a lot depends on how the weather is going to be. If it is raining and snowing as it is now, that could make for some tough sledding. But I guess we could find out for sure if the Lions' running game is for real. Penn State needs to play a complete game on offense and this will be the first time since the loss to Iowa that the starters might actually get to play a full game.

IPA: I've read that it may snow Saturday -- if so, do you think Penn State will run heavy w. Royster & Green?

Ron Musselman: Rain and snow are in the forecast, so I think you could see a heavy dose of Royster and Green. Penn State?s running game has picked it up in the past few games, but it's hard to tell just how good the ground game is given the weak competition so far outside of Iowa.

Joeyoneputt: Is PSU's OL good enough to win a grind it out game in bad weather?

Ron Musselman: We will have to see -- that is the one-million dollar question. Penn State has gone with four different line combinations this year and they have had three different right tackles the past three games. But it looks like Ako Poti will make his second consecutive start there Saturday. The line has been a problem area, but if it's any consolation, the Lions are 14 of 14 in the red zone the past four games.

Joeyoneputt: PSU is getting a great recruiting class together. Given the head coach's age, why are studs still committing to PSU?

Ron Musselman: Penn State has rebounded from the struggles of the early 2000s when Paterno nearly got the boot. He has rebuilt a solid program and has gone 45-12 since 2005. Recruits know Paterno could be gone at any time, but they still want to be part of the atmosphere and the program.

kirkopsu: Where do you see PSU finishing in the Big Ten standings? Do they have a chance to run the table (IE beat Ohio State)?

Ron Musselman: Well, the next month is going to define Penn State's season. They Lions are at Michigan next week, where they haven't won since 1996 and they host Ohio State two weeks after that is what could be a pivotal Big Ten game.

StephenPitts: How would you compare this year's defense with those from the past several years?

Ron Musselman: I think this year's defense has been solid, but with Lee and Bowman missing a handful of games, and the secondary untested, it's still too early to tell. Lee and Bowman have only played four plays together this year.

StephenPitts: What is the athletic department doing about bolstering future schedules with more quality non-conference foes each year? I know they like to schedule one legit program and 3 high schools. Any chance of them adding somebody to go with Alabama, Virginia, etc. in the future?

Ron Musselman: High schools might be an improvement. Just kidding. I would like to see Penn State dump the games against Division I-AA teams. Penn State does have Rutgers on the schedule in 2014 and '15. It's not great, but it sure beats Coastal Carolina and Eastern Illinois.

StephenPitts: What are your thoughts on the new Big Ten bowl alignment revealed yesterday that will kick off next season?

Ron Musselman: I think it's pretty decent. I liked the Alamo Bowl, but it will be gone. No who has ever covered the Motor City Bowl in Detroit will miss it, although there will be another tie-in in Detroit -- the eighth tie-in, if needed.

Joeyoneputt: Do you have any sense that PSU is starting to reach the limit on ticket prices? Seeing empty seats and private sales that involve less than face value.

Ron Musselman: I did see tickets for as low as $10 last week for Eastern Illinois and Beaver Stadium was only two-thirds full at kickoff. I do think the fans are tired of paying $60 or more dollars for a ticket to see a creampuff.

StephenPitts: Andrew Quarless seems like a very talented guy, but under-utilized. He's gotten looks this year, but in small chunks. Will he ever realize the potential many thought he would?

Ron Musselman: Andrew Quarless, it seems, is finally coming of age. He is the team's third-leading receiver with 18 catches for 189 yards. I would expect him to have even more involvement in the offense in coming weeks.

StephenPitts: Penn State 38, Minnesota 16...Derek Moye 3 TD grabs...your thoughts?

Ron Musselman: I think your prediction of the final score may be a little high. It would be nice to see Moye catch three TD passes. Id he does, that would equal his total output for the first six games.

StephenPitts: What's Ki-Jana Carter up to these days?

Ron Musselman: I have seen him on the sideline at a few games. He is now an entrepreneur and sports blogger at OPENSports.com.

StephenPitts: I read where JoePA wants the freshman Hodges to play OLB. Do we need more LBs? Wouldn't it be nice to see him fill a safety role like Mays does at USC, bolstering the secondary with a hard-hitter who can cover ground?

Ron Musselman: Paterno explained the move by saying with all of the spread offenses that you're looking at today, you've got to have a kid who is a pretty good athlete, who is close to being a strong safety, play linebacker. He said Hodges fits that bill.

Ron Musselman: It is snowing even harder here now than when this chat started. Thanks for all the great questions. I hope to see all of you back here next Thursday at 1 p.m.

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