Ron Musselman: Welcome to the final regular-season chat of the year. It is raining in Happy Valley, but it won't matter come Saturday, when Penn State closes out its season at Michigan State.

bubs: Michigan State seems to be its typically schizophrenic self this season; good some weeks, bad others. Give me your scouting report on these guys. Who should I be looking for on both sides of the ball for the Spartans?

Ron Musselman: You are right. Michigan State is a hard program to figure out. The Spartans started the season 1-3, including a last-second loss to Central Michigan at home, but they have rebounded to win 5 of their past 7. Key players for Michigan State are QB Kirk Cousins, WR Blair White, K Brett Swenson and MLB Greg Jones. Swenson is one of the best kickers in the country and Jones is one of the top linebackers.

Tracy_Jordan: I generally defer to Joe in matters of the team, I think he has the bona fides to show he knows what he;s doing -- but after last weekend's game and especially the Ohio State game -- I just can't understand the lack of emphasis on special teams. Do you ever see anything changing in this regard?

Ron Musselman: Tracy, some high school teams have better special teams units in most cases. It can't get much worse for Penn State's special teams. Well, maybe it can now that Brandon Beachum has been lost for the season with a knee injury and returner Chaz Powell is out with a shoulder injury. Penn State ranks 113th in kickoff returns among 120 Division I-A teams and 107th in punt returns. It could be along day for the Lions Saturday, especially since the Spartans have a great kicker in Swenson, a good return man in Keshawn Martin and a good punter in Aaron Bates.

ImmaManIm40: How much does PSU lose this year? In other words, what do yaz have coming back, what key positions beyond QB must be replaced?

Ron Musselman: The key losses on offense will be QB Daryll Clark, LT Dennis Landolt, RT Ako Poti, TEs Andrew Quarless and Mickey Shuler and perhaps TB Evan Royster, if he elects to bypass his senior year of eligibility to enter the April NFL draft. On defense, DT Jared Odrick, OLB Sean Lee, MLB Josh Hull and CB A.J. Wallace will be key losses, and everyone figures OLB Navorro Bowman will enter the NFL draft, too. Another big loss will be P Jeremy Boone, who has led the Big Ten the past two seasons.

Phyrst_Fam: Hypotehtically speaking, if Penn State wins on Saturday, what are our possible bowl scenarios? I know all bets are off if we lose.

Ron Musselman: If Penn State beats Michigan State, it will have a decent chance to finish among the top 14 in the final BCS rankings, where it currently is sitting. That would make the Nittany Lions eligible for an at-large berth to a BCS game. If Iowa wins its last game, the Orange Bowl likely would pair either the Lions or Hawkeyes against ACC champion Georgia Tech in the Jan. 5 game in Miami. Most experts believe Penn State would be chosen, given its traveling fan base and TV ratings, even though Iowa won the regular season meeting between the schools, 21-10. I also have heard Penn State mentioned as a possibility for the Fiesta Bowl, but I think that is a long shot.

Hines: You've mentioned who Penn State will lose after Saturday (and the bowl game) who are the returning/rising players we'll be looking for on Saturday's next season?

Ron Musselman: I think the up-and-coming guys who have a chance to reach star potential before their Penn State careers are over include WR Derek Moye, WR Justin Smith, CB Stephon Morris, WR Curtis Drake, DT Ollie Ogbu, DE Jack Crawford and CB D'Anton Lynn. Keep your eye on those guys Saturday.

Peroni: I know trying to handicap Joe's successor is an exercise in futility, but one name I never hear mentioned is Mike McQueary. Admittedly, I couldn't stand the guy when I was a student at Penn State, but he seems to be a natural fit -- young, hometown guy, former QB, he's proven to be an excellent recruiter and offensive coach.

Ron Musselman: Mike McQueary has about as much chance of succeeding Joe Paterno as you and I. McQueary has done a nice job with the wide receivers the past few years, but he's best known as the redheaded coach whom Paterno screams at on the sideline when he's not yelling at the officials.

Hines: What about Newsome? I think its been established that Clark is overrated simply because he's been better than Morelli (and has overplayed given the fact he was lightly recruited), but does Newsome have potential to be better than Clark?

Ron Musselman: Right now, it is hard to tell how good Newsome can be since he plays so little. He has not attempted a pass since going 4 of 5 for 34 yards in mop-up role against Eastern Illinois. And then they stuck him in there in the first quarter for that run last week against Indiana and he lost 3 yards and was never heard from again. I just don't understand why the coaching staff doesn't let Newsome play more, unless they don?t trust him. There have been opportunities to put Newsome in the game with the first-string offense in some of the routs, but it just hasn't happened.

Phyrst_Fam: So then, in the event of a loss, they are looking at Cap One or Outback?

Ron Musselman: Yes, that is correct. One way or another, the Lions are probably going to end up in Florida for the holidays -- at the Orange Bowl in Miami, at the Outback Bowl in Tampa or at the Capital One Bowl in Orlando.

Tracy_Jordan: So where do YOU think you'll be spending New Year's? -- Miami, Orlando, Tampa or Tempe?

Ron Musselman: I have been to the desert in Tempe, Ariz., three times in my newspaper career to cover bowl games, including the 1987 national championship when Penn State upset Miami, and it is a beautiful place. It wouldn't be a bad consolation prize, but I really think Penn State will end up in Florida as I said in the previous question.

Hines: OK, but what do you know about Newsome's pedigree from what the coaches have said about him, how he was out of high school/recruiting/ Blue White game ... I know he hasn't seen much action, I watch all the games.

Ron Musselman: Not sure what answer you are looking for. Coming out of high school, Newsome was regarded as a good passer and runner. But the true freshman just can?t seem to get any playing time behind Daryll Clark. Let's not forget, Clark suffered the same fate during a two-year stretch as the backup to Anthony Morelli.

Tracy_Jordan: Right. So WHERE in Florida. Put it on the line, man.

Ron Musselman: I just want to see the sun. I don't have a preference.

Peroni: I should've stated it better -- could McQueary someday be Penn State's head coach? After Bradley's tenure.

Ron Musselman: Well, Bradley has to get there first before we can worry about McQueary.

Ron Musselman: I want to thank all of you for the great questions this year. Have a great Thanksgiving and Christmas and maybe we will see you all back here for another chat before Penn State's bowl game.

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