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| Recruiting depth along the lines is critical to any team's success. Penn State knows this all too well. (Pictured: Stefen Wisniewski. Photo: LBU/Mike) |
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| Poz is hurt again... ugh! |
Royster Sixth on ESPN's Heisman Watch"Evan Royster, Penn State: A veteran line and a young quarterback translate into a lot of responsibility -- and opportunity -- for this senior running back."Excuse me? Veteran offensive line!?!? Perhaps by age, but I don't think I have to tell you this offensive line isn't quite experienced. Then again, can't really expect any more from ESPN. I still have yet to hear them mention a single Penn State player's name on the air. Earth to the World Wide Leader, there's more than just a coach here in the valley.
"If this was all happening halfway through the season during a bye week I would say no big deal. Every team hits the wall at some point in the season. Their bodies hurt, they are mentally exhausted, maybe a weaker opponent is coming up and they just let up on the effort. You have to expect that. But this is the second week of preseason practice. You would think after an entire summer of lifting weights and running drills with football just three weeks away that these guys would be chomping at the bit to strap on the pads and hit each other. Especially with nine slots open on defense that are up for grabs.
But instead we're hearing that Alabama is having problems getting motivated? To me, that's a serious red flag if I'm a Crimson Tide fan. That tells me these guys spent the summer reading the headlines and celebrating their championship instead of finishing hard on that last sprint or fighting through that last bench press when your arms feel like they have nothing left to give. Nobody is going to give you anything just because you're Alabama. Let's hope they learn that the hard way on September 11."
t to Jared to report on time," Rosenhaus told the Associated Press. "The other day he said to me'Do everything you can so I can report Thursday night for the first meeting.'"
"If somebody wants me, they know how to get me. They may not get me right away. They may call in the morning and Sandi (Segursky, his administrative assistant) will call me and tell me I have three messages. "OK, I'll get back to them this afternoon." I don't need a cell phone.And no, he doesn't have a twitter either.
I know how to use a cell phone. I don't know how to use these phones that they use to take a picture. I'm walking around the campus or walking down the park in the back of my house, and somebody runs out carrying this little thing that looks like a cigarette lighter and takes a picture."
Asked if Mauti is back to 100 percent, Stupar replied, "I'd say it's better than that - 110 percent. He's looking awesome."Mauti was always an exceptional talent that was supposed to give Josh Hull a run at the starting gig last year before getting hurt. If he truly is 110%, why not give him a shot at starting?
Three times since 2002, Ohio State has played for the national championship, winning one. Best of all in this Buckeye company town: It has eviscerated Michigan lately, stuffed the remains in a 55-gallon drum and hidden what's left out in the woods. Along the way, it arguably has lapped Penn State as Linebacker U. in the last decade, produced a Heisman winner while fervently following the precepts of a bookish man who believes that the punt may be the game's best weapon.Let's be clear on this. Ohio State could not have even arguably lapped Penn State as Linebacker U. That is because there is no argument to be had. I'll make this short and sweet. No matter how hard Dennis Dodd, or anyone else, tries to change college football history and culture, Penn State will always be Linebacker U. This is not like Miami as Quarterback U, or USC as Tailback U, as those programs have only a modest working relationship with those monikers. No, the Linebacker U nickname to the Penn State culture is on the level of Bear Bryant to Alabama, the "Blackshirts" to Nebraska, or the "Script Ohio" to the Buckeyes--it's ours. Dodd can say otherwise all he wants. But nothing will change it: Penn State is Linebacker U, end of story.
"In the early 1970s I sat in the open end zone bleachers. After the 1978 expansion I sat in SK -- the “Kids’ Section,” where kids sat at the price of (I hope you’re sitting down for this) $4 a game. The price jumped to $6 a game. Adjusting for the rate of inflation, that 1978 ticket would cost just over $20 today.As always, JayPa gives us a good read.
I sat in the end zone all the way until the 1983 season, when I started working in the press box for Sports Information.
Working at the stadium was something a lot of my friends did. Whether it was selling Cokes (Coca-Cola was the official PSU drink then) or programs, parking cars or scalping tickets, there were a lot of jobs that State College kids worked on game days."
"Jared Odrick's deal has $7.133 million guaranteed and max package of $13 million over 5 years, according to league source."This kid deserves everything he gets, because he's sure earned it. Congrats, Jared!
"I've been told that division alignment and scheduling are the top two priorities and should be resolved before Sept. 1. The Big Ten will present data and proposals to the athletic directors, who expect to reach a consensus, like they have on other major topics in the past. Although divisions and a championship game are very likely, nothing is guaranteed. Don't expect any resolution on a championship game next week, although the league certainly has no shortage of options. The Big Ten could go with a rotation or a permanent site, as Roy Kramer advocates. Venues like Detroit's Ford Field, Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium, Chicago's Soldier Field, Cleveland Browns Stadium and Green Bay's Lambeau Field all have expressed interest in hosting the event."And so much more! Can't wait.
The Miami Dolphins used their 28th pick in tonight's NFL Draft to select Penn State's own Jared Odrick. The senior defensive tackle was named the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year, and Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2009.
Sean Lee (45) ran a 4.55 40-yard dash at Penn State's Pro Day yesterday.
Hello, Anthony Morelli. And where've you been?
Morelli was one of 22 former Penn State players who worked out for scouts from all 32 NFL teams. It's been more than two years since he played his last game that counted, the 2007 Alamo Bowl against Texas A&M.
"I'm only 24 years old," he said. "I'm young. I still have a lot in the tank. I just really love the game. There's no quit in me. I'm going to keep going until I exhaust all options."
"Did I help myself? Well, I got a lot of positive reviews," Clark said. "The question [the scouts] have been asking is whether I'm consistent enough to play in the NFL. I feel like I answered that question today."
There has been some speculation that the 6-2, 232-pound Clark could follow in the footsteps of one of his mentors, former Penn State quarterback Michael Robinson, who is now a backup running back with the San Francisco 49ers. Clark and his agent, onetime Penn State and NFL wide receiver Chafie Fields, indicated they'd be resistant to a position change, at least for now, as well as to the possibility of playing in the Canadian Football League.
If there was a circus atmosphere in TebowhaseverythingtoGainesville, then the sunny day and heightened hopes at Holuba Hall truly made it a Happy Valley. At least before the players were X’ed out.
The former Nittany Lions walked in twos and threes from the Lasch Building -- where their height and weight were recorded and their bench presses were tallied -- to Holuba Hall at around 10:30 in the morning. The majority of the group was smiling, happy, upbeat and a bit antsy. Most chatted easily with the three reporters gathered.
A few, however, already saw the future and it was bleak.
“How many bench presses did you do?” cornerback A.J. Wallace was asked.
Hull, who ran a disappointing 4.91-second 40 in Indianapolis, was clocked at 4.71 Wednesday.
“That was my main emphasis coming in today, and I knocked it down two tenths of a second,” said the Milheim native, who also bettered his combine numbers in the broad jump and 3-cone drill. “So I was happy with what I did.”
Bowman, about eight pounds heavier (237) than he was when he played in the Capital One Bowl in January, ran a 4.61, down from 4.72 in Indianapolis.
He also set up meetings in the coming weeks with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Dallas Cowboys. Lee, who ran a 4.74 at the combine, was clocked in the 4.55 range Wednesday.
PSU tight end Mickey Shuler Jr. spent the last two months training for Wednesday's Pro Day at a performance center in Pensacola, Fla.. He believes he made the most of his one shot and is hoping for some workout invites from NFL teams.
Several former teammates congratulated Shuler after his Wednesday workout, including Bowman. The 6-4, 251-pound Shuler said he ran in the 4.6s, broad-jumped almost 11 feet, was measured at 37 inches in the vertical jump and bench-pressed 225 pounds 28 times. Those aren't good numbers. They are great numbers.
“Not too shabby,'' joked Shuler, an East Pennsboro High School grad.
