Thoughts while anxiously awaiting the release of the American Idol chick's new CD.

Two embittered rivals, squaring off in front of thousands of loyal supporters, the fate of the state hanging in the balance.

Nittany Lions vs. Cornhuskers? Nope. Rendell vs. Fisher.

Yes, two of college football's perennial powerhouses (can you still call Penn State a perennial powerhouse?) will wage war at Beaver Stadium tomorrow night, exactly five days before Pennsylvania's two gubernatorial candidates take the stage at Eisenhower Auditorium for a debate.

But before Democratic candidate and former Philadelphia mayor Ed Rendell and Republican nominee and Attorney General Mike Fisher bust out the rhetoric, they'll be perusing the grounds outside the stadium tomorrow searching for support from those people with blue faces, barrels of Herlocher's mustard and Franco Harris jerseys sewn when he was actually here. The preferred jargon is 'tailgaters.'

You can hardly blame the candidates for their choice of venue. When the pigskin is kicked off tomorrow night at 8, State College will be the third most populous city in the state, behind only Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

And while Penn State students haven't exactly shown a tendency to tear down the curtains come Election Day, you can be sure that the rest of the 100,000-plus ticketholders are some of the most politically-minded citizens in the state.

Why, you ask? BECAUSE THEY'RE FOOTBALL FANS! WHERE ELSE COULD YOU FIND A MORE PASSIONATE, OPINIONATED GROUP OF PEOPLE?

So Rendell and Fisher will make their way from Jeffrey Field to the Jordan Center over to the bust of Paterno, shaking more hands than the Nittany Lion mascot. They'll smile and make promises and kiss babies and sample barbecue and all of that other fun stuff.

Penn State fans, as is their custom, will be tailgating from the time the sun comes up until long after it's down. And, with the late kickoff, there's a slight chance that they might not be able to maintain their enthusiasm all day, at least not without a few dozen trips to the restroom.

So my proposal is this: Since both candidates will be here, why not allow them to start the debate early?

Say, 6 o'clock?

Concerts have opening bands, why shouldn't big-time football games have opening 'acts,' especially during an election year? If fans are going to see heavy doses of the Nebraska option all night, why not remind them of their options for governor (you're reaching, Rice, you're reaching)?

This debate doesn't have to be anything earth-moving; the candidates can save all of their trump cards until the 19th, or later this fall.

But it would be nice if their respective running mates, Catherine Baker-Knoll and Jane Earll, would go a few rounds as well.

I'm sure the fans would flow into the stadium an hour or two earlier to see some good ol'-fashioned political sparring.

Heck, even the Sea of 'Husker Red, which will likely be the largest visiting contingent Beaver Stadium's ever seen, would probably enjoy it. Tom Osborne didn't get into Congress on good looks alone, you know.

By the time the Blue Band played the National Anthem, the electricity in the air would be palpable.

Then, the crowd could watch the Lions take out all of its vicarious aggression on the field.

(Fisher wants do to what to the union? Oh, Haynes had better hit someone hard on this play.

Rendell's proposed education program is ridiculous. I'm going to boo Jammal Lord extra loudly.)

All it would take is a few tables and chairs, and a couple of extra speakers, set up around the 50-yard-line.

The massive jumbotron screens would let even those still outside the stadium see and hear the candidates.

Need a moderator? Who better than Penn State president Graham Spanier, the former Nebraska chancellor who will no doubt be at the game visiting his old 'Husker pals.

Penn State fans are informed, civic-minded citizens who make up a hefty chunk of this state's voters. The gubernatorial candidates were wise for recognizing this.

Now they should go one step further, and give the good folks in Happy Valley a little extra bang for their football ticket buck.

At any rate, it would assure that Pennsylvania has at least one victor tomorrow night.