On a sunny Saturday afternoon, the defense shined the brightest for the Penn State Nittany Lions as they cruised to a 33-13 victory over the Kent State Golden Flashes in their season opener. As a unit, the defense of the Nittany Lions allowed only six points while the offense gave up seven as the result of a Trace McSorley fumble returned for a touchdown in the second quarter. The Nittany Lions got two touchdowns through the air from McSorley with DaeSean Hamilton hauling in a first-quarter ... Read More
Cheers and Jeers: Lights out second half defends helps Penn State win season opener
The Penn State Nittany Lions defeated the Kent State Golden Flashes 33-13 Saturday afternoon at Beaver Stadium. Here's what the Nittany Lions had to cheer about and what they had to jeer about from the game. Cheers Forcing turnovers, something Penn State wanted to improve on from last season, played a major part in the Nittany Lions having success on defense. Marcus Allen forced and recovered a Kent State fumble in the second quarter leading to Saquon Barkley touchdown run. On the first ... Read More
Conner, defense lead Pitt to victory
The Panthers utilized a similar formula for success in a season opening victory 28-7 over Villanova Saturday afternoon. Pitt rode workhorse James Conner and a strong defensive effort to the win. It was a lethargic start offensive start for the Panthers in the season opener against Villanova. The first quarter ended scoreless in Pittsburgh. Pitt kicker Chris Blewitt pushed a field goal attempt wide right to open the second period adding to the misery, after the Panthers first extended ... Read More
Results are necessary for Franklin in Year 3
James Franklin begins his third year at the helm of the Penn State Nittany Lions football team on Saturday. Since the day Franklin was introduced, he has talked the talk about continuing the Success With Honor culture former head coach Joe Paterno instilled during his tenure. Franklin inherited a program with a quarterback Christian Hackenberg, who was coming off the best year a quarterback has had since the Nittany Lions were quarterbacked by future NFL quarterback Kerry Collins. Franklin ... Read More
Penn State takes on Kent State in season opener
Kent State Golden Flashes vs. Penn State Nittany Lions The Records: Kent State (Last year: 3-9, 2-6 MAC). Penn State (7-6, 4-4 Big Ten). The Coaches: Kent State: Paul Haynes, fourth season, 9-26 overall record. Penn State: James Franklin, third season, 38-27 overall, 14-12 at Penn State. The Game: The Saturday match-up is the season opening game for both Kent State and Penn State. The Golden Flashes look to get back to winnings ways in head coach Paul Haynes fourth season at the helm ... Read More
Penn State counting on experienced linebackers, secondary
As the offense was tasked to find a new coordinator, so to was the defense this season after former defensive coordinator Bob Shoop left for the Smoky Mountains and University of Tennessee. Head coach James Franklin promoted from within and named Brent Pry the new defensive coordinator for the Penn State Nittany Lions. The odds are stacked against Pry in what looks to be the weakest year for the defensive unit in recent history. Pry, an Altoona native, is tasked with replenishing a defensive ... Read More
Penn State to commemorate 50th Anniversary of Paterno debut
Hidden deep in a release yesterday highlighting promotions for the upcoming Penn State football season was a tidbit of information announcing the university's plans to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the late Joe Paterno's first game as head coach of the Nittany Lions. The former head coach, fired as a result of fallout from the arrest of former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, passed away in 2012 after a lengthy battle with cancer. The commemoration will be the first time the ... Read More
Improved Pitt defense should provide Panthers a boost
Every year, more colleges try to “modernize” their offenses by leaning more heavily on the spread concept and airing the ball out a ton. Though I can promise you this, no matter how trendy spread, up-tempo offenses have become, Pittsburgh football will always rest on two pillars. Regardless if it’s Pitt or the Steelers, Pittsburgh football revolves around a strong ground game and ferocious defense. The Panthers clearly having the imposing running game part locked down. I’ve already gushed ... Read More
Penn State position group preview: Offense
The Penn State Nittany Lions' offense will look completely different for the James Franklin-led squad in 2016. Gone is record-setting quarterback Christian Hackenberg. Gone is offensive coordinator John Donovan. Gone is offensive line coach Herb Hand. Trace McSorley will inherit the Penn State offense left behind by Hackenberg, this after Franklin named McSorley the starter Wednesday. For the first time in the three years Franklin has been the head coach, he'll be able to play a ... Read More
Rivalry games a plenty for Penn State in 2016
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