Penn State’s Anthony Zettel continues to rake in preseason honors, named this week to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy Watch Lists; senior safety Jordan Lucas also received a nod from the Nagurski committee. Named for the now infamous star for the University of Minnesota and the Chicago Bears, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy is given annually to the National Defensive Player of the Year. The Outland Trophy is given in honor of All-American University of Pennsylvania lineman at the ... Read More
Mangiro, Carter top preseason watch lists for Nittany Lions
Several members of the Penn State Nittany Lions football team have been named to preseason watch lists in the past few weeks. Senior center Angelo Mangiro, who started each game and controlled a young, inexperienced offense at Penn State last year, was added to the Rimington Trophy Watch List on Wednesday. Over the course of the 2014 season, Mangiro played at least three different positions, offering a versatility that James Franklin desperately needed. The Rimington Trophy, given to the ... Read More
Column: Could Franklin be Penn State’s “Great One?”
It is not out of the realm of believability to say that James Franklin’s 2014 was pretty good. Great, even. In January, he was hired to be the head football coach of a fairly prestigious university (a team in his home state that he grew up watching, nonetheless), he scraped out a winning season despite having a severely depleted team, and he led Penn State to its first bowl game since 2012 and it’s first bowl win since 2010. So the question becomes this: will 2015 bring greatness for ... Read More
Christian Hackenberg: junior joke or answer to prayers?
The question on every Penn State fan’s mind is this: Will Christian Hackenberg live up to the hype of his freshman year, or will his sophomore slump turn into a junior joke? Arguments from professionals and fans alike swing both ways; they range from calling Hackenberg, the junior quarterback from Palmyra, Virginia, washed up and overrated to calling him the best college quarterback; from saying that he’s all talk and no delivery to declaring that he will go number one in the 2016 NFL ... Read More
Michal Menet an answer for Nittany Lions?
With high school junior Michal Menet’s verbal commitment to James Franklin, Penn State has secured the top in-state recruit and locked in its ninth verbal commitment for the Class of 2016. The 6-foot-5, 271-pound offensive lineman struggled to decide between the Nittany Lions and the Duke Blue Devils, but ultimately decided to stay in-state and close to home. His announcement came last Friday at a school assembly, after which he proudly announced that Penn State is “the place I want to be, ... Read More
Dick Hoak: A Pittsburgh legend; the college years
It’s hard to think of Pittsburgh Sports legends and not include the name Dick Hoak on any list. The mere fact that Hoak accomplished what he did in both his playing and coaching career without ever leaving his backyard makes Hoak’s accomplishments that much more special. Those not familiar with Hoak, he not only was a high school standout at Jeannette High School, but took those talents to Penn State University where he excelled on both sides of the ball. From there Hoak was drafted by the ... Read More
Penn State 2015 Recruiting Recap
For most college football fans, there is no greater day than National Signing Day. There ends the rumors, the speculations, the hopes, and for some, the fears of recruitment. James Franklin is known for his aggressive recruiting style, famously stating that he considers Maryland and New Jersey “in-state,” and promising to dominate the state when collecting players for the Nittany Lions. So far, according to the number 12 ranking by Scout, a number 14 ranking on ESPN and 247Sports, and number 15 ... Read More
NCAA Proposes Settlement to Restore Paterno’s Wins
The NCAA proposed a settlement on Friday that would restore the Penn State football team’s wins that were vacated after the Sandusky child molestation scandal. Included in the deal is a new $60 million fine that would help provide for educational programs and reporting mandates for suspected child abuse in Pennsylvania. Per the NCAA, the proposed agreement includes the following: • Penn State agrees to commit a total of $60 million to activities and programs for the prevention of child ... Read More
He’s Ficken Here: Penn State Kicker Ends Illustrious Career
Sam Ficken is Penn State’s man of the hour, just like he has been for the last five months. It all started with his game-winning 36-yard field goal against UCF in Dublin, Ireland, at the Croke Park Classic and it ended with his game-winning extra point attempt (after tying the game on a 44-yard field goal with 20 seconds left in regulation) against Boston College in the New Era Pinstripe bowl at Yankee Stadium. Walk-off wins, which bookended his senior season, seem to have become Ficken’s ... Read More
Family Doesn’t Die
Penn State relies on the importance of family. University fans probably have some whiplash from the roller coaster they have been on in the last few years. New coaches, sanctions, and the departure of beloved players have hit fans where it hurts, but there is one thing that they can rely on, no matter the circumstances. They have the loyalty and dedication of a family from their football team. Familial ties have always been strong amongst the Nittany Lions, and that’s probably head coach ... Read More