Penn State Football: Still One Team

Since the fall of 2011 Penn State football has gone through a transformation that no one thought they would ever see. Under coach Joe Paterno Penn State was a traditional run first team. The offense was highly predictable at times which frustrated fans but it always seemed to work. They won games, they won Big Ten championships, and made it to the postseason. They never really had to worry about the defense, which was always the strength of the team. It would keep them in games when the offense would struggle to put points on the board. It seemed that every year we were waiting for a new type of offense to take the field but for the most part it stayed the same. However, the 2008 and 2009 seasons  brought a little hope of something that we might see down the road. With Daryll Clark at quarterback, Evan Royster in the backfield, and the trio of Derrick Williams, Deon Butler, and Jordan Norwood catching passes, the Nittany Lions developed what was called the "spread HD" offense. It was an up-tempo, point scoring offense with big play potential. The 2008 season ended on a sour note though with a 38-24 Rose Bowl loss to USC. The 2009 season saw much of the same type of offense. With Williams, Butler, and Norwood moving on, they were replaced by Derek Moye, Graham Zug and tight end Andrew Quarless. The spread HD offense kept the same trend as the year before with the up-tempo and highly productive offense. The Nittany Lions made it to another bowl game, this time with a better result beating Les Miles and his LSU Tigers in the Capital One Bowl 19-17. The following season saw a quarterback battle between freshman Rob Bolden and walk on Matt McGloin go well into the season before McGloin would eventually get the nod. The offense struggled at times and couldn't seem to find a rhythm throughout the season. The defense was on par with its normal self for the most part but did have its struggles. The team would go on to lose in the Outback Bowl to Urban Meyer and the Florida Gators 37-24. The 2011 season saw Matt McGloin take over the leader position on offense. The former walk on saw his fair share of criticism for some of his mistakes which were costly at times. Little did we know that those mistakes would be the least of his worries, and the worries of those who supported the Nittany Lions. 

November 2011 would be a month that no Penn State fan or anyone who watched TV would forget. The Penn State sex abuse scandal opened up, and boy did a lot fall out. The season ended with a 30-14 loss in the Ticket City Bowl to Houston but no one really cared too much about that. Everyone focused on the scandal and focused on who was involved, or who wasn't involved. We're not going to look at the past because people seem to be doing that a lot lately with the scandal, almost three years after the fact. 

The search was on for the next head coach at Penn State. A search many Penn Staters thought should stay within the current staff. Former President Rodney Erickson and Athletic Director Dave Joyner created a search committee to find that new head coach, and they had to make it a good one. On January 7th, 2012, the search committee introduced their choice in former New England Patriots head coach Bill O'Brien. The man who had been known for his verbal fight with Tom Brady on the sidelines took over as Penn State's 15th head coach. Just over six months after being named head coach, O'Brien had to deal with his first hurdle as the leader of the Nittany Lions, and it was a big one. Around 11AM on July 24th, NCAA President Mark Emmert handed down the most intense penalties any school had ever received. Those penalties included a four-year postseason ban, a loss of 40 scholarships over a four-year span, the vacating of all wins from 1998-2011 (112 wins total), and perhaps the most significant penalty was that any current player could transfer away from Penn State to any school and play right away. The goal of the sanctions handed down by Emmert was to essentially shut down the football program without actually doing so. That might have been their goal but Penn State fans were not about to let that happen. 

The 2012 season began with more questions than any other season in Penn State history. It was different to say the least. The first season without Joe Paterno as head coach since 1966. The team had names on the back of the jerseys. Bill O'Brien had never been a head coach. Everything was stacked against the team but that's never been a real surprise for Penn State. The team was led by a group of seniors who meant more to the program than any win could ever bring. It was a group of seniors who when everyone else left, they stayed. When people doubted them, they made them second-guess. When their backs were against the wall, they came out fighting. Moral of the story is they never gave up and never listened to the talk. They just did the only thing they could do, play football. 

Back-to-back losses to open the season was not the way Bill O'Brien wanted to start. Especially with those losses coming to Ohio and on the road against Virginia. In their return to Beaver Stadium, the Nittany Lions got their first win by defeating Navy 34-7. The resilient team came to play every week after that winning 8 of their last 10 games and finishing 8-4 including a Senior Day win against Wisconsin. That would be good enough for a New Years Day bowl or potential BCS game but due to the sanctions Penn State was not eligible for postseason play. Coming into the 2013 season and his second season as head coach, Bill O'Brien brought in high school standout and one of the top recruits in the nation, quarterback Christian Hackenberg. O'Brien also had to replace that senior class that included All American defensive tackle Jordan Hill, fullback Michael Zordich, linebackers Michael Mauti and Gerald Hodges. Mauti was the heart and soul of not only the defense, but the entire team. The season started with a bang with wins against Syracuse and Eastern Michigan. The first loss of the season came in the third week of the season against future first round pick Blake Bortles and Central Florida. The Nittany Lions would go 5-4 over the next nine games and go on the finish with a 7-5 record. Questions arose after the season as to whether or not Bill O'Brien would stick around or head off to the NFL. When the Houston Texans came calling, O'Brien could not turn it down. The search for a new head coach was on again. Enter James Franklin. 

January 11th, 2014, James Franklin is named the 16th head coach at Penn State. Much like Bill O'Brien, people knew very little about Franklin. A native of Langhorn, Pennsylvania, Franklin made his name at Vanderbilt where he led the Commodores to three straight winning seasons and three straight bowl appearances (2-1 in those games). Vanderbilt had been a doormat for SEC teams to beat up on but after Franklin took over, he brought a little bit of swagger to the program. Along with being a great coach, he might be an even better recruiter. In his introductory press conference he said that Penn State would "dominate the state" in recruiting and so far up until this point he hasn't disappointed boasting a top 5 class for 2015. Don't forget he still has to deal with the limited scholarships. Franklin hasn't coached a game yet but has brought a certain level of energy to the team and it's being felt throughout the community. He wants to sell out every game the team plays in Beaver Stadium. More importantly he wants to win. The past two season have come around with much anticipation and excitement and this season looks to follow that trend. 

Penn State football has changed recently in more ways than one but one thing that will never change are the fans. From the season ticket holders of 50 years to the newborns going to their first game, and everyone in between. Those fans are what makes Penn State such a special and unique place. We've seen the dark times in Happy Valley and they were as dark as you could possibly get but no matter what is happening, winning or losing, and no matter who the head coach is, Penn State fans will always show up. The NCAA tried to decimate the program. They tried to take everything away from a proud university. They tried to kill the spirits of 107,000 strong. They did the opposite of those thing. All the negativity brought upon the school made it stronger and at the end of the day it brought a community closer together and made a group of fans proud to yell out "We Are!", with the hopes of an even louder response of "Penn State!"

Homecoming

It happened. LeBron James made the decision to return to Cleveland and rejoin the Cavaliers. Four years ago he took his talents to South Beach and the reaction from people in northeast Ohio was as you might expect, anger. It seemed that in every video you saw from the night LeBron said those famous words was of Cavalier fans burning their number 23 jerseys. The way James approached this years free agency was much different from what it was in 2010. He didn't sit on a stage in front of the cameras, he didn't give a whole speech to the world about why he did what he did, he handled it like a professional. He was quiet. It was somewhat of a maturation process for LeBron in the sense that he realized coming home to Cleveland is the last chapter he is going to write and he wants to do everything he can to bring the city who once loved him, then hated him, and now loves him again, the championship they deserve. When the news broke yesterday that the King was returning to the team that drafted him in 2003, the people of Cleveland took a 180 degree emotional turn from what they were at when he left. It seemed that they've been ready to welcome him back with open arms when they found out the possibility of a return. In the letter he wrote to Sports Illustarted, and as told by Lee Jenkins, James says he's ready to accept the challenge in Cleveland and says in his own words, "I'm coming home". He knows what he has in Cleveland with All Star point guard Kyrie Irving, rookie Andrew Wiggins, who with the tutoring of James can be in that next group of great players, and a supporting cast that is deeper and more talented than what he had previously. He also knows that winning won't come right away and it won't come easy; "I'm not promising a championship. I know how hard that is to deliver. We're not ready right now. No way....It will be a long process, much longer than it was in 2010". For him to admit that and understand that this won't be an overnight success says a lot about what he is willing to do. He wants to bring the city that drafted him its first professional sports title in 50 years. He is also returning to play for an owner in Dan Gilbert, who called James a coward and also mentioned that he quit on the team in multiple instances. LeBron and Gilbert met face-to-face and worked out their differences says James; "We talked about it. Everybody makes mistake. I've made mistakes as well. Who am I told hold a grudge?" That also says a lot about LeBron and his willingness to put all of the negativity behind him from the fallout of his decision and return home.

If you think that the money was the reason he returned, or lack of money from Miami was the reason, you're looking at it all wrong. It might be easy to sit back and say that this was an easy choice for James, but leaving Miami probably wasn't the easiest thing for him to do. He clearly isn't worried about winning right now, having won two rings in Miami and having made it to the Finals four straight times means he knows what it takes to get there and ultimately win. He sees that with Cleveland and sees the opportunity to add more titles to his resume. A resume in which it will always be compared next to Michael Jordan's. That isn't what he is worried about though, sure he wants to be the greatest of all time, what athlete doesn't? LeBron has been building his own legacy since he was 17 years old. It's us the fans and the media who try and build his legacy and when it doesn't go the way we want, we try and erase it and start over. It turns out we can't do that and all we can do, and all we should do, is sit back and appreciate what he is doing. If there is one thing I've taken away from his career that's how to be a fan. He has a long way to go in his career and we all need to stop building him up and tearing him down every time he makes a mistake or doesn't win the big game. We need to just enjoy what he's doing and the athlete that he is because it only comes around once in a lifetime.

• You can read his letter to SI.com here 

The Circus That Is, NBA Free Agency

Every summer after the NBA season ends and a champion is crowned, a free agent frenzy begins. Some summers are a little more lack luster than others, but this summer has been filled with more drama than any summer in the last four years. There is no shortage of star power in this free agent class headlined by All Stars LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh. When the free agent period opens, people start to throw together any possible options of where the big names will land. This summer in particular, the stories seem to change every day and if you watch ESPN programming for more than five minutes you might end up hearing 3-5 different stories. It's hard to really believe anything that you might hear because it changes so many times during the course of the day. Here's a quick breakdown of the possible destinations James, Anthony, and Bosh. 

LeBron James:

• Miami- If LeBron were to resign with Heat, he would have a much better opportunity to win more titles. Which, if that's what he is worried about like he says, then I shouldn't have to go any further. He would have to take less money which seems to be a deal breaker for any athlete these days. According to Forbes Magazine, James was the 3rd highest paid athlete for 2013. The Heat forward made an estimated $72.3 million dollars with $53 million coming from endorsements and $19.3 million from salary. Staying in Miami would likely bring back Chris Bosh but would require James to take a pay cut, which doesn't seem to be a popular option with this years free agent class. 
• Cleveland- This would be the fairy tale story that everyone wants to see happen. Four years ago made the decision to leave Cleveland and take his talents to South Beach, don't think Cavalier fans have forgotten that either LeBron. If he chooses to come back to his home state he'll have to adapt to a younger, less experienced team. It would also be a bigger challenge to consistently get to the Finals and win multiple championships. On the plus side however, he would be playing along side point guard and rising star Kyrie Irving and number one draft pick Andrew Wiggins. There would be no guarantees by playing in Cleveland, but boy would it make for a great story. 

Carmelo Anthony:

• New York- Melo didn't really have much help last year with the Knicks and failed to make the playoffs but he also didn't have Phil Jackson running the show in the front office. One of the best basketball minds in NBA history was announced as the President of Basketball Operations in March and brought in one of his former players and five-time NBA champion, Derek Fisher, to be the next head coach. Fisher was a member of five Lakers title teams in the 2000's, all five as a player for Jackson. The Knicks are trying to make the best moves possible to bring back the seven time All Star including offering him a maximum contract deal of 5-years, $129 million dollars. Another move the Knicks have reportedly been trying to make is bringing in Lakers center Pau Gasol. Gasol, also a free agent, has been rumored to be a target for the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, and is also considering returning to the Lakers if they could lure Anthony away from New York. 
• Los Angeles- With Kobe Bryant coming off a leg injury in which he missed all but six games last season, the 35 year old Bryant is poised for a comeback season and having Anthony along side him would potentially allow some of the pressure to be taken off the Lakers All Star. If Gasol decides to stay in Hollywood and is joined by Anthony, the West could have their own "Big 3" and Los Angeles would be a two team town. 
• Chicago- Point guard Derek Rose is finally healthy again, we hope, and is looking to get back to the level he was at before his second knee injury in as many seasons. If he wants to overcome the hurdle of losing in the conference, having a player like Anthony to rely on is not a bad way to solve that problem. Having the reigning 2014 NBA Defensive Player of the Year in Joakim Noah protecting the rim and getting 12.8 rebounds a game last season, it would be hard not to put the Bulls right at the top of Eastern conference. 

Chris Bosh :

• Miami- Four years ago Bosh made the same decision fellow free agent LeBron James did and joined the Miami Heat. Bosh's role was with the Heat was diminished from the level it was at when he was a member of the Toronto Raptors. The former top 10 pick in 2003 was a consistent 20 point, 10 rebound a game player before coming to Miami. At 6'10", Bosh was a versatile player for the Heat and made his fair share of big plays over the last four season. Returning to Miami would mean taking a pay cut and potentially missing out on a maximum contract deal but it would also mean his chances of winning another title would be much higher. 
• Houston- The Texas native has been rumored to be a target for the Rockets who would be able to offer him a maximum contract worth $88 million dollars over four years. If he does decide to go with Houston, he would be joining the duo of Dwight Howard and James Harden. He would also be back at the position which he is most comfortable, power forward. Bosh might be the missing piece the Rockets need to get to the Finals and capture their first NBA championship since 1995. 

It remains to be seen what these three members of the 2003 draft class with do and the rumors will continue to swirl until they give the final word on their decision. All we can do for now is sit back and enjoy the circus that is, NBA free agency. 

NFL Combine/Draft Players to Watch Part 3: Darqueze Dennard

Darqueze Dennard: 5'11" 197 Cornerback, Michigan State

Darqueze Dennard is another name that might not be very high on people's draft boards but could very well be a steal in the upcoming draft. Dennard has average size for a corner but is a very physical one. In college, his coaches had confidence in his ability so much that they essentially put him on his own island and matched him up with the opposing teams best receiver and more times than none Dennard came away with the one on one victory. The tape will show that. The tape will also show that he isn't afraid to set the edge on the corner, come up and make the tackle. He can jam the receiver at the line which disrupts the rout and he has good footwork, and has fluid hips which allows him to flip and run with the receiver while also staying low. He has the ability to play both man coverage or zone coverage, however he isn't significantly better at one or the other. When at the next level, he'll be able to jam the receiver but could lose the battle after that since be doesn't have the elite speed to stay with the best of the best. He has great recognition of what routes receivers are running in terms of situational football. He also does a great job of locating the football and making a play on the ball. Dennard is also very physical and isn't afraid to use his hand which in college he could get away with, at the next level he won't be as lucky when dealing with bigger and more physical receivers. He will also need to work on his hands while fighting down field. Overall, the All Big Ten, All America, and Thorpe Award winner can be a top-tier corner if he can polish up some of his techniques. Look for Dennard to be off the board mid to late first round.

Prediction: 22nd overall to the Eagles 

NFL Combine/Draft Players to Watch Part 2: Blake Bortles

Blake Bortles: 6'3" 227 Quarterback, Central Florida 
Bortles might not be a household name to the average fan but in due time he will become one. The junior quarterback, who led Central Florida to a 12-1 record and a birth in the Fiesta Bowl beating Baylor 52-42, finished this season with 3,580 yards and 25 touchdowns. The BCS game was the first in the schools history. Potentially the first quarterback taken off the board in April, the 6'3" Bortles has the build of an NFL ready quarterback and has above average arm strength to make all the throws and can fit it in a tight window if he has to. He doesn't have an elite arm however, but he can deliver the ball down the field with some accuracy. He also has the ability to escape the the pocket and keep the play alive while also keeping his eyes down field. He can pick up the necessary yards to get a first down and doesn't always go down easy because he is such a big quarterback. He led the Golden Nights into Happy Valley in the third week of the season and came out with a 34-31 victory over Penn State. Then two weeks later he led his team into Louisville and beat another potential top ten pick in Teddy Bridgewater and his then undefeated Louisville Cardinals. At the next level he's going to have to better his accuracy to make all the throws. He also has the tendency to stare down the receiver and allow the defensive backs to make a play on the ball. The comparisons have been made to former number one overall pick Andrew Luck with his size and ability to escape from the pocket. The Houston Texans hold the top pick in the draft and with Bill O'Brien taking over and having seen Bortles in person, he might look at the Central Florida product and see a franchise type quarterback. Bortles has the NFL Combine and his pro day to show scouts he is worthy of a top ten pick. 

Prediction: 4th overall to the Cleveland Browns 

NFL Combine/Draft Players to Watch Part 1: Jadeveon Clowney

Jadeveon Clowney: 6'6" 275 Defensive End, South Carolina
Since coming to South Carolina, the name Jadeveon Clowney has been synonymous with the number one overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Clowney has an unbelievable combination of size, speed, strength, and pure athleticism. It seems that he can use any of those tools to get by his man and cause havoc in the backfield. He demands double and sometimes triple teams because when he is matched one on one with a tackle or tight end, more times than none it won't go well for the offense. If you watch tape of him or watch a game you'll notice that one of his most impressive attributes is his first step. He gets off the line and is in the backfield before the tackle can get out of his stance. He is primarily a 4-3 defensive end and that's where I see him playing at the next level but he can transition to a 3-4 outside linebacker as a primary pass rusher. He does have flaws in his game however, he tends to play high and at 6'6" that will cause him to get knocked off balance which will take him out of the play. He also has been known to take plays off and labeled at "lazy" which some think outweighs all the dominance he has. At the next level he will get one on one match ups a majority of the time which will allow him to use his arsenal of natural abilities to rush the passer or make plays in the backfield. Of course it's hard to say how his game will translate at the next level but if he is put in the right system he could flourish and be one of the all time greats. Clowney finished his career as a Gamecock with 47 tackles for loss and 24 sacks. Comparisons have been made to Buffalo Bills defensive end and former number one overall pick, Mario Williams, Clowney is a much better athlete than Williams but it remains to be seen how good he can be. He's a special type of athlete that you don't always see and whoever drafts him is getting a very rare talent. Look for Clowney to be off the board before in the first five picks. 

Prediction: 1st overall to Texans 

Jordan Hill: Part 3, The Finale

          You don't have to go undefeated, have a Heisman Trophy winner, or win a National Championship for your team to be remembered. You just have to stick together, and that's exactly what the 2012 Penn State football team did. Which is why they will go down as one of the best, if not the best, Penn State teams ever. They had the leaders that other teams wish the had, leaders such as; Michael Mauti, Jordan Hill, Gerald Hodges, Michael Zordich and Stephon Morris just to name a few. They had a whole community behind them when no one else was. They had 100,000 strong cheering when they ran onto the field at Beaver Stadium. They never listened to the media, who said they would win a maximum of 3-4 games. They had 8. They blocked out the negativity surrounding their situation. They went out every Saturday and gave 100% every snap. They went out every Saturday and did whatever they could to put on a show for the fans. I can't remember coming into a season anticipating that first kick off, the energy was felt on every snap. For 60 minutes on fall Saturday's, you could escape what was happening outside, come into Beaver Stadium and watch those who stayed give everything they could to show why we are still Penn State. This team was lead by a group of seniors who had a choice, either let the obstacles put in front of them keep them down or rise up and show those who doubted them what Penn State was really about. I had the opportunity to get to know one of those senior leaders, Jordan Hill. I not only got to know him and the person he was, but in the process got a learning experience on how to overcome anything. 
          A native of Steelton, Pennsylvania, Hill is a very humble individual which stems from the way he was raised. You won't see him asking for the spotlight, but what will you see is an individual who is quiet, humble, and just loves to play football. You'll also see someone who gives 100% on every snap, and has a non stop motor, which because of that and his play this season he earned All Big Ten and All American honors. He also accepted an invitation to play in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama this coming January. Off the field he is like any other college student, he hangs with friends, he plays video games, watches TV, and just has a good time. He has a great group of people surrounding him who will no doubt support him through everything he does. 
          On the field he was a terror to opposing offensive lines, quarterbacks, and running backs. Just ask Wisconsin. On senior day, Hill saved his best for last and had the game of his life. ESPN announcers who called the game said they had never seen a defensive lineman dominate a game the way Hill did. In that game he ended with a career high 12 tackles (8 solo), 2 sacks, and 3.5 tackles for loss. It seemed that #47 was in the backfield on every play. On the season the All American accumulated 64 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, and fumble recovery. I sat down with him and asked him some questions about the season, his future, and Penn State:

Looking back on the season, how did you do compared to how you wanted to do?
"I compared pretty good to the numbers I wanted. Missed the sacks by 1 and tackles for loss by 1 but overall I was happy."
What was the hardest part of the past year?
"Those first two loses, didn't want to come out like that." 
What are you most looking forward to in the next few months leading up to the NFL Draft?
"The draft workouts and meeting all the people."
What was the best part or your favorite part of the season?
"The best part was the Wisconsin game because of how we went out. My favorite part was the locker room after Northwestern, that was crazy."
If you were a coach out recruiting, how would you sell Penn State?
"You're getting a great coach, a great education, a great place to play football, and a chance to go to the NFL. Easy as that." 

I speak for all Penn Staters when I say this Jordan, thank you. 

My Top 5: Beaver Stadium Games

If you grow up in State College you only know one thing, Penn State football. It takes over your life at a very young age, and if you're lucky enough you can start going to games at that young age. If its professional football you want you'll have to travel to Pittsburgh or Philadelphia. Going to a game at Beaver Stadium is as close as you'll get to a professional atmosphere, sometimes it's better. I've been going to games since I was about 5 years old and since then there have been many memorable games at Beaver Stadium, here are my top 5 most memorable games:

1) September 1st, 2001: The #2 ranked Miami Hurricanes come to Happy Valley. 
         If you're a Penn State fan you all ready know where this is going. Penn State lost the game to the eventual National Champions 33-7. That Hurricanes team lead by many potential NFL stand out players, was on of the most dominant teams to step foot on a college field, but the story line behind the game meant more to the Penn State community. Just a year prior to the game, Penn State cornerback Adam Taliaferro suffered a serious spinal injury against Ohio State. Doctors gave him a 3% chance of walking again. A year later in front of 109,313 people, on national television, Taliaferro ran onto the field prior to the game. If you were at the game it's a moment you will never forget. A moment so powerful, so moving, so motivational, it inspired a book to be written about Adam Taliaferro's journey. (Miracle in the Making, a must read). When he ran onto the field, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. Taliaferro leads the Nittany Lions

2) October 8th, 2005: #6 Ohio State rolls into State College under the lights.
          This seemed to be "the year" for Penn State. Following 3 straight losing seasons Penn State started off 5-0 heading into this clash against a Troy Smith lead Ohio State Buckeyes team. It was the teams first big test of the season, two weeks prior they got over their first speed bump by beating Northwestern in the final minutes. The season saw Joe Paterno start 4 true freshman: Derrick Williams, Justin King, Jordan Norwood, and Deon Butler. Williams was the cornerstone of the recruiting class that year as he was the number one recruit coming out of high school that year. He brought along King (both 5-star recruits), along with other highly talented players. It seemed to be the "swagger" they were missing to compete with the top teams in the nation. ESPN's College Gameday came to town for the game, which added more anticipation. When Kirk Herbstreit, (Ohio State alum and co-host of College Gameday) said at halftime; "that's the best student section in the country", people really took notice of the students. He hasn't been wrong since then. The Nittany Lions went on beat the Buckeyes 17-10 in front of 109,839. They would finish the season 11-1 with an Orange Bowl victory over Florida State. 

3) November 6th, 2010: Joe Paterno gets win 400. 
          Penn State trailed 21-7 going into halftime. Lead by quarterback Matt McGloin, the Nittany Lions came from behind in the second half and scored 28 unanswered points to win 35-21. The game was more than that, Joe Paterno became the first head coach in FBS history to get 400 wins. It would have been one thing if they had won without coming from behind, but the fact they were down by 14, and just kept scoring made it that much more memorable. Anyone who was at the game will tell you how loud it was when they tied it up, then took the lead. Linebacker Michael Mauti ended the game by sacking Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa. 400 Wins

4) October 29th, 2011: JoePa goes for 409 against Illinois in the snow.
         The game wasn't exciting until the final minutes. Coach Joe Paterno was looking to pass Grambling State's Eddie Robinson to become the winningest coach in Division 1 history. Wide receiver Derek Moye, who had injured his foot earlier in the week, was not expected to play unless it was an emergency situation. The situation called for Moye in the final minutes, as he caught 2 passes and had drew a pass interference on a 4th down late in the game which gave Penn State a first down. Running back Silas Redd scored from three yards out to give Penn State a 10-7 lead. Illinois drove down to the field to attempt what would have been a game-timing field goal. What happened next was one of the most incredible things I've ever been apart of at Beaver Stadium. As Illinois was getting set up for their field goal, the student section at that end of the stadium moved to the center of the stadium behind the goal post and in direct line of the kicker. He missed the 42 yard attempt and Beaver Stadium exploded with excited, by far one of the loudest moments ever at Beaver Stadium. He missed it!

5) September 8th, 2007: Notre Dame comes to the White House.
          As soon as you walked into Beaver Stadium you couldn't help but think to yourself, "wow, where am I?". In 2005 there was the student White Out, but in 2007, it became the full stadium White Out. Easily one of the if not the greatest scenes in college football. In front of 110,078 Penn State beat the Fighting Irish 31-10. Late in the first quarter, wide receiver Derrick Williams field a punt, made one cut, a juke, and returned it 78 yards for a touchdown. In what was one if not the loudest moments to ever happen at Beaver Stadium. 

Jordan Hill: Part 2, Mid Season

After a 0-2 start, the Nittany Lions stormed into Iowa City with a level of confidence that we haven't seen from a Penn State team in a while. They cruised by the Hawkeyes 38-14, the offense looked flawless and the defense looked very much the same as it has all season, fast and dominating. They have a certain swagger about them now, guys are all over the field making plays and it has shown with Lions now having a 5-2 record going into next weeks highly anticipated match up with an Urban Meyer led Ohio State Buckeyes team who is 8-0 and could be without it's Heisman Candidate quarterback Braxton Miller. One of those players who's been making plays is defensive tackle Jordan Hill. I sat down with him for a mid season report on his season and where he thinks the team is.
*The questions were prior to the Iowa game

-Where are you in terms of where you thought you'd be? Stats and overall play?
I started off slow but I'm gaining momentum, I'm two tackles behind where I wanted to be. (He has 28 and wanted to be at 30)
-You guys started off 0-2, what clicked and started this 4 game win streak?
Just not getting down on ourselves and knowing we could do it. 
-What are your goals for the rest of the season individually?
Just continuing to be a vocal leader and play the best I can possibly play
-You play next to DaQuan Jones, he's in the same position you were in last year when you played next to Devon Still. What are you trying to teach him in terms of becoming the leader next season?
Just gotta keep passing the torch down, easy as that. 
-What are you most looking forward to the rest of the season?
Winning out. 
-If you had to tell the fans one thing for these final 6 games, what would it be?
Sit back and watch.

Short answers, but straight to the point. Should be a fun final 5 games.

There are 5 games left on the season and Hill knows that, making the most of each game is what he has been doing the whole year. Through 7 games he has 37 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 4 tackles for loss. His play on the field has been great but it's what he does off the field that is more important. He has been one of the main leaders on this team. Coach Bill O'Brien turns to guys like Hill, Michael Mauti, Michael Zordich, and Gerald Hodges on defense to keep things together and make sure people realize Penn State hasn't gone anywhere. People were upset a few weeks ago when teammates Michael Mauti and Gerald Hodges, along with Hill, didn't get national recognition for their play and were left off a few award list's. They don't seem to care, they just seem to use it as fuel for a fire that's been burning since last November. Next weekend with the Buckeyes coming to town, all eyes will be on Beaver Stadium as they have been all season. The lights will be bright for the 5:30 kick off, but this team has been ready all season.

Reminder for everyone: Largest crowd ever; 110,753
*FULL STADIUM WHITEOUT*

Replacement Refs vs The Actual Game

It was nice to see that the NFL didn't have a lockout this season, well the players at least. There is now the lockout of the officials, which for all of us who have bashed them in the past (I've been on that train a lot) this season has been much worse than recent years, and we've only had two weeks. Mike Tirico of ESPN's Monday Night Football compared the officials to a substitute teacher and the players were doing things they wouldn't normally do with regular officials because they could get away with it. I couldn't agree more with him. Some of these officials seem like guys who have been pulled out of the crowd or as I saw someone say on Twitter last night "I'm pretty sure I saw that guy at Footlocker today". Which also seems like a reasonable assumption. Last nights game between the Falcons and Broncos took 3 hours and 27 minutes, 30 minutes longer than a regular overtime length game. Atlanta held on for the 27-21 win. The story of the game shouldn't have been the officials and how awful they were but how good the Falcons looked offensively and defensive against a Broncos team that had beaten a pretty decent Steelers team the previous week (Pittsburgh beat the Jets 27-10 this week). Denver had four turnovers in the 1st quarter, Peyton Manning throwing 3 interceptions and Knoshon Moreno fumbled, Manning wasn't putting the blame on anyone but himself after the game which he normally does; "I've just got to take care of the ball better". Matt Ryan on the other hand had a good all-around game going 24/36 for 219 yards and 2 touchdowns. His favorite target was Roddy White who had 102 of those 219 yards and one touchdown. 

Those are side stories compared to officiating which like I said before was awful. There were flags thrown then pick up and not even mentioned why they were thrown in the first place, there were officials shoved, players getting into scuffles (which happened in the Eagles-Ravens game), missed calls, and the amount of time it took them to actually give the call was absolutely ridiculous. The best part might have been when the officials would call the Falcons "Red" instead of Atlanta. 

It's most likely going to be a week to week process for these guys, let's just hope it doesn't take them to the Super Bowl to figure things out. I give them some credit because they were just kind of thrown into this situation but still, these officials are slowing the game down and making it very hard to watch sometimes. It'll be interesting to see how things go in the next few weeks because if things keep going like they are, the regular officials will have leverage in making a deal and will hopefully get back on the field soon. We need you Ed Hochuli! 

Jordan Hill: Part 1, off the field

If you know anything about me you know that Penn State is my life, people can say what they want about us and they can write whatever they want about us, but they can't take away the fact that I am Penn State and WE are Penn State. This summer I learned a lot more about what that meant. I had the opportunity to work with Penn State senior defensive tackle Jordan Hill. It's an opportunity I'm very thankful for. I got to know the Jordan outside of football, when the camera's weren't on, when the media wasn't in his face 24/7, and that Jordan is in one word, quiet. I was sitting at home one night and got a call from Jordan, the first thing he said to me was "you wanna move in?". That was when former teammate and roommate Justin Brown decided to transfer to Oklahoma. I quickly said yes because why would I want to pass up an opportunity to better myself by learning from someone who has dealt with so much negativity. To me it's a once in a lifetime opportunity. I sat down with Jordan and asked him some questions about everything that's gone on and his mindset going forward. I asked what his initial reaction was to the sanctions, he simply said "here we go again", a reaction he said that many players had. They didn't quite understand what exactly was going on until Head Coach Bill O'Brien broke it down for them. When I asked what he first thought of the hiring of O'Brien he said he didn't know much about him, "once Coach (Larry) Johnson called me and told me who he was I was on board and ready to go". Hill has been on board through and through, asking him why stay at Penn State, "I stayed for my teammates, I stayed to help the University, I stayed because I love Penn State". People have expectations for Penn State this year, some think we might win 8 games, others think we win 5, that's fine with Hill because he has his own expectations for his team and himself; "go out and play as hard as we can, execute our game plan, and win every game. Off the field, graduate. On the field, Big Ten Player of the Year, All Big Ten First Team, and First Team All American". Jordan is poised to have a big year, many project him as a potential first round pick. He isn't worried about that though, he just wants to go out and play. He describes himself as "quiet", "soft spoken, and "humble", which if you didn't know him you might not think it. People give athletes a label that they aren't regular people, I got to hang out with Jordan the night the sanctions were announced and when I came over he was relaxing playing some Playstation, something normal people do. He isn't one to flaunt himself like other athletes, he doesn't care much for the spotlight. Talking to him at work one day he I said "a lot of people don't know who you are, you've kind of been overshadowed in your career", he replied with "that's fine with me, I'll let my game speak for itself". When number 47 runs onto the field I'll be happy to say that's my roommate. Penn State heads into this 2012 season with new things everywhere you turn. This year it's going to matter what the name on the back says because those are the ones who decided to stay and help Penn State get through this beyond difficult time. Bill O'Brien has his hands full this year but Hill said he is the right guy to do it and nothing is going to phase him. The excitement level in Happy Valley is something I've never seen before, the town is standing behind this team every step of the way, and I'm truly honored for have two of these men as roommates. The motto for the season is "One Team" and that will be in full force come Saturday when Ohio University comes to Beaver Stadium. Take a minute and close your eyes, think about what the first "We Are" chant will feel like, got chills? I do.