Anybody have any info on Penn State? I can't remember the last time I saw Penn State play. But I plan to dig around and learn about them because I like knowing what we are up against, and it increases my enjoyment and anticipation of the big game... our last game until Fall 2010. For starters, everybody knows Joe Paterno, one of the greatest coaches in any sport in all of history. The guy has been coaching at Penn State since before many current football coaches were born, including Les Miles (Les was born in '53, Paterno started coaching at Penn State in '50). Here is an awesome piece that ABC/ESPN did on Paterno: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQDlaWFeilE[/media] The Penn State student newspaper reported on May 27, 1950 (three years before Les Miles was born) that Joe Paterno, who had been Brown’s quarterback for two years, would be joining the football team as an assistant coach. The article ran on page 3. This picture accompanied the article. The article said: "He has been hailed as the 'smartest quarterback Brown [Ivy League] had in the past five or six years' by Barney Madden, veteran sports editor of the Providence Journal." Paterno was hired at Penn State by head coach Rip Engle, who was Paterno's coach at Brown. Paterno played both ways at Brown University -- quarterback and cornerback, guiding the team to a 15-3 record over the 1948 and 1949 seasons. He also still currently shares, with Greg Parker, the Brown career record for interceptions at 14. Paterno reviews the Nittany Lion playbook in his office on the Penn State campus. Paterno diagrams a play on a see-through screen. August 17, 2009 Paterno brings a pizza to the students in "Paternoville", an area where students have been camping out days before the home football games in order to obtain the best seats.
Penn State's Defensive Coordinator: Tom Bradley. Currently ranked the #5 hottest DC in college football by Rivals.com. He's been coaching for Paterno since 1979 (Defensive Coordinator for the last 10 years), and is rumored to be the eventual successor to Paterno. He's from PA and played for Penn State under Paterno before Paterno immediately hired him as a coach. Penn State's recent defensive performance: Scoring Defense 2009 -- #4 in the NCAA, #1 in the Big Ten 2008 -- #8 in the NCAA 2007 -- #7 in the NCAA 2006 -- #9 in the NCAA 2005 -- #10 in the NCAA 2004 -- #5 in the NCAA Total Defense (ypg) 2009 -- #8 in the NCAA, #2 in the Big Ten (behind Ohio State) 2008 -- #8 in the NCAA 2007 -- #11 in the NCAA 2006 -- #15 in the NCAA 2005 -- #12 in the NCAA 2004 -- #10 in the NCAA
Good guy, just couldn't beat the Bear. We enjoyed the 10 year rivalry with Penn St. Glad it cranks back up next year in newly remodeled 100,000 seat, Bryant Denny. Just a note: He will run the ball on 4th and goal.
Penn State's Offensive Coordinator: Galen Hall (age 69), currently ranked the #11 hottest OC in college football by Rivals.com. He's from PA and played for Penn State when Paterno was an assistant coach there. He was Penn State's QB in '60 and '61 and led Penn State to a 15-6 record. He played QB for the Redskins and the Jets. He was Offensive Coordinator of Oklahoma from '66 to '83 (with Barry Switzer, who coached at Oklahoma from '66 to '88). Hall was head coach of Florida from '84 to '89 (leading Florida to two SEC Championships, both stripped because of the previous coach's NCAA violations... he was named AP Coach of the Year in 1984). Then he coached professional football (including for the Dallas Cowboys) before becoming OC of Penn State in 2004. Penn State's offensive performance under Hall: Scoring Offense 2009 -- #2 in the Big Ten (behind Wisconsin) 2008 -- #1 in the Big Ten 2007 -- #5 in the Big Ten 2006 -- #9 in the Big Ten 2005 -- #2 in the Big Ten 2004 -- #11 (last) in the Big Ten Total Offense (ypg) 2009 -- #2 in the Big Ten (behind Wisconsin) 2008 -- #1 in the Big Ten 2007 -- #7 in the Big Ten 2006 -- #8 in the Big Ten 2005 -- #7 in the Big Ten 2004 -- #11 (last) in the Big Ten
All-American DT Jared Odrick (senior). 2009 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. NFL Draft Scout projects him as the #2 DT in the 2010 Draft (behind only Ndamukong Suh of Nebraska), 1st Round. Coming out of high school, he was ranked the #3 DT in the nation by Rivals.com. As a senior in high school, he was a 2005 USAToday All-American, Parade Magazine All-American, and U.S. Army All-American. [MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg35wOdpEgM[/MEDIA] [MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtUlrCNu5IY[/MEDIA]
jeez, that program really does have everything to do with joe paterno! even the assistant coaches are bred under him.
All-American (CBSSports) LB Navorro Bowman (redshirt junior). Currently ranked the #4 LB in the NCAA by Rivals.com. NFL Draft Scout projects him as the #2 OLB in the 2011 Draft. According to FFToolbox.com: Navorro Bowman is the best 4-3 outside linebacker prospect for the 2010 draft. Bowman has great speed for a 232 pound linebacker and is equally effective rushing the passer or dropping into coverage. Bowman has obvious first round talent, but his mile long list of off-the-field incidences might scare some teams away. Through just 26 games, Bowman has tallied 147 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, broken up 8 passes, intercepted 1 pass, forced 3 fumbles, and even blocked a kick on special teams. He also recovered a fumble earlier this season, which he ran back 91 yards for a touchdown. Bowman is excellent against the run, and rarely misses a tackle if he gets his hands on the ball carrier. He has solid coverage skills, and the speed to turn and run with NFL tight ends and running backs. He will need to work on not biting on play action, because his speed won't save him at the next level. If a team can look past his run-ins with the law, Bowman should go in the late first round if he declares for the draft. Note: he changed his jersey to No. 11 this year, giving a nod to one of the greatest linebackers in Penn State history, 2x All-American and Butkus Award winner LaVar Arrington (3x Pro Bowl in NFL). Bowman speaks frequently by phone with Arrington. The two first met during Arrington's stint with the Washington Redskins, when Bowman was playing at nearby Suitland High School in DC. This friendship, along with their similarity in playing styles, has earned Bowman the nickname "LaVorro".
All-American LB Sean Lee (5th-year senior), Defensive Captain. 3-year starter. Projected as the #2 ILB in the 2010 Draft by NFL Draft Scout (behind only Brandon Spikes of Florida), 2nd Round. From FFToolbox.com: Sean Lee is one the most talented linebackers in the country. ... Lee can play all three linebacker positions in the 4-3 defense, and has the speed to cover sideline to sideline...he is likely to be a high second round pick. Sean Lee (45) and ND's Jimmy Clausen (7), 2007.
