Pitt Redshirt Diaries : Penn State football

Rose Bowl picks and the New Year's weekend slate!

Dan Gigler — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 01:57:00 GMT

The greatest day of the year for college football fans is here! THe heck with your New Year's resoluations, today is all about laying around, stuffing your face and watching game after game of glorious gridiron action.

In our ongoing bowl poll, Ron Musselman and Ray Fittipaldo have pulled into a tie for first place, with Chuck Finder nipping at their heels and Paul Zeise bringing up the rear. The standings:

Fittipaldo: 11-11
Musselman: 11-11
Finder: 10-12
Zeise: 8-13 (Paul didn't pick the Pitt game)

Thursday, Jan. 1

Rose Bowl: Southern Cal (11-1) vs. Penn State (11-1)

FITTIPALDO: I covered the last Penn State-USC game. It was at Giants Stadium in some kind of kickoff classic type of game. The Lions had negative yards rushing. They could be in for a similar day against the Trojans' defense. Take USC.

ZEISE: I think it will be fun to watch USC linebacker Ray Malauga (or some spelling close to that) chasing Darryl Clark all around the field but I think anyone who thinks this will be a blow-out is kidding themselves. Penn State wins bowl games -- as does USC -- and the Nittany Lions have the kind of defense and offensive line to match physical with the Trojans. I also think Penn State has more motivation and more to prove as they feel like they are getting overlooked and dissed while USC would rather be anywhere else than playing a home bowl game for the fourth year in a row.

MUSSELMAN: Not picking this game for obvious reasons. I cover Penn State.

FINDER: Pete Carroll resigns once he realizes that Joe Paterno started working at Penn State the year before Pete was born. Oh, but it's a Trojans conquest, because the Nittany Lions haven't played a defense this good. Go with USC.

Everyone talks about JoePa's age, but no one ever tells Hef (also 82) to retire ...

Outback Bowl: Iowa (8-4) vs. South Carolina (7-5)

FITTIPALDO: You're not doing your job on New Year's Eve if you're up early enough to watch this game. Maybe you catch the ending, but definitely nothing before halftime. Iowa wins.

ZEISE: Iowa turned it on down the stretch and showed that Kirk Ference guy can still coach a little bit and smashmouth football is still not a bad way to go. South Carolina, like Georgia and LSU, is always overrated and mostly because the ESPN talent love to wax poetic about the greatness of Steve Spurrier. Unfortunately, Spurrier ain't been great since he left Gainesville and what he's done is taken South Carolina from mediocre to … mediocre. Pick: Iowa.

MUSSELMAN: The Hawkeyes beat the Ol’ Ball Coach, Steve Spurrier. Iowa wins.

FINDER: Offensive genius Steve Spurrier, please pick up a white courtesy phone. . . . This could be a 3-2 final, but Iowa's Shonn Greene will lead the boring victory charge.

Watching Steve Spurrier go ballistic and throw his visor is one of the joys of college football.

Capital One Bowl: Georgia (9-3) vs. Michigan State (9-3)

FITTIPALDO: Better troubled Steelers first round pick, Georgia's Tim Worley or State's Plexico Burress? I'll take Burress. And I'll take Michigan State too.

ZEISE: Georgia was going to win the national championship this year, we were told, over and over and over again all summer long. Of course, three losses later it can't be long before the SEC apologists in the national media start saying that those three losses is a testament to how tough the SEC really is, as opposed to the fact that, well, the Bulldogs just weren't that good. Michigan State is about as exciting as watching paint dry but Mark Dantonio is a great coach who knows how to coach winning football and they will maul the Bulldogs physically in this one.

MUSSELMAN: The Spartans will have to wait another year for a bowl victory. Give me Georgia.

FINDER: These two battled in a high-scoring thriller back when Plaxico Burress was a young gunslinger. Georgia's Knowshon Moreno has more around him than Michigan State's Javon Ringer, maybe even a lot more.

Gator Bowl: Nebraska (8-4) vs. Clemson (7-5)

FITTIPALDO: Can someone please tell me how Clemson gets to play in a New Year's Day bowl game? Or Nebraska for that matter? I'd like to propose a rule. You can only play if a New Year's Day bowl if you're ranked. Go with Nebraska.

ZEISE: Pitt fans, remember the name Bo Pelini? He was one of the finalists for the Pitt job a few years back and in just one year at Nebraska he has the Big Red nation dreaming about national titles again. The Cornhuskers have a ways to go to get back to dominance but they are pretty good already. Clemson should not be in a January 1st game. Heck, given the way their season went they don't deserve to be in a Dec. 1st game. Pick: Nebraska.

MUSSELMAN: This would have been a great matchup 20 years ago, but in its current incarnation, I'll take Nebraska.

FINDER: West Virginia or Pitt probably wish they were here, in warmer, Florida climes. Clemson and its traveling fans introduce interim-turned-head coach Dabo (we're not making that up) Sweeney to what few Americans are watching and wondering, "Man, the Tigers have some talent."

Orange Bowl: Cincinnati (11-2) vs. Virginia Tech (9-4)

FITTIPALDO: Could the Bearcats beat the Bengals? I've got a better question: will anyone watch this game? Take Virginia Tech.

ZEISE: The ACC should thank its lucky stars that the Big East let them borrow Frank Beamer and company because, well, without Virginia Tech, who would win that wretched league on an annual basis? As for Cincinnati, the Bearcats want to prove they belong and they have the defense and the quarterback to do so.

MUSSELMAN: Cincinnati in a BCS game is almost comical. Pick: Virginia Tech.

FINDER: Wait, wasn't there supposed to be a Big East-ACC play-in game to get to a BCS bowl? Two teams that play to their defenses, but Cincinnati has more offense.

The Bearcts are the best football team in Cincinnati -- pro or college.

———
Friday, Jan. 2

Cotton Bowl: Texas Tech (11-1) vs. Mississippi (8-4)

FITTIPALDO: Mississippi is the only team to beat Florida this season. Texas Tech is the only team to beat Texas. What does it all mean? Absolutely nothing. Take Texas Tech in a shootout.

ZEISE: The Red Raiders will throw the ball all over the field but Houston Nutt has the Rebels headed in the right direction. Don't forget, the Rebels are the team that won at Gainesville against Tim Tebow and company while Texas Tech got spanked by Oklahoma. Finally one of those overrated SEC teams gets it right: Mississippi.

MUSSELMAN: The Red Raiders gunning for their first Cotton Bowl win. Take Texas Tech.

FINDER: Graham Harrell and Texas Tech take out their collective angst on Mississippi, 144-0.

Liberty Bowl: Kentucky (6-6) vs. East Carolina (9-4), 5 p.m.

FITTIPALDO: Shouldn't this game be played in late December when no one is watching? I'll take the Pirates to win because I can never say that during baseball season. East Carolina wins.

ZEISE: Kentucky has a coach in waiting in Joker Phillips. A coach in waiting, at Kentucky? Are you serious? Is that a joke...r? Why do you need a coach in waiting when your program is, well, mediocre in its best seasons? As for East Carolina, they are a giant killer as they opened the season with some very big wins over highly ranked opponents. And fortunately for them, Kentucky is neither a giant or highly ranked, or good for that matter.

MUSSELMAN: Coach Skip Holtz’s Pirates will finish back in the Top 25. East Carolina is the pick.

FINDER: After beating ranked Virginia Tech and West Virginia to open the season, wasn't East Carolina destined for greater things than . . . Memphis? Still and all, Pirates skipper Skip Holtz builds his coaching resume with an East Carolina triumph.

Sugar Bowl: Utah (12-0) vs. Alabama (12-1)

FITTIPALDO: Insert Mormons in New Orleans joke here. Roll Tide roll. Alabama is the winner.

ZEISE: Alabama is not very fun to watch but boy the things they do well, like run the football and play defense, they do very well. The Utes are probably the best of the non-BCS teams to have been selected for a BCS game in recent history -- even better than their last edition with Alex Smith, the one that smacked Pitt around the Fiesta Bowl. But I think they are also playing against the best opponent of the lot -- Alabama -- as well.

MUSSELMAN: Making first Sugar Bowl appearance since 1993, when it beat Miami to win its sixth national championship, it'll be a sweet night for Alabama.

FINDER: The ghost of Bear Bryant just won't let Alabama lose in the Sugar. Utah might make a game of it, though.

———

Saturday, Jan. 3

International Bowl: Connecticut (7-5) vs. Buffalo (8-5)

FITTIPALDO: It's not too late to fulfill your dream of playing college football. Call Randy Edsall and tell him you can play quarterback. He'll take you. I'll take Buffalo.

ZEISE: Pitt played 12 games this year and had some very poor play from its quarterbacks, especially down the stretch. Still, the Panthers quarterbacks played like Dan Marino compared to the Huskies mess under center. Buffalo is very well coached and has some very good skill positions and has a lot yet to prove.

MUSSELMAN: Former Nebraska QB Turner Gill has done a great job with the Bulls. Buffalo stampedes.

FINDER: Buffalo's Bills just lost in Toronto. Buffalo's Bulls are on deck at the old SkyDome. Go with UConn.

Nittany Lions and the Men of Troy

Dan Gigler — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:37:00 GMT

Penn State fans are holding their breath, hoping for a Penn State-USC showdown in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.

But first the Trojans have to beat rival ULCA Saturday to clinch a berth in the game. If USC would lose, there would be a three-way tie atop the Pac-10 standings and the Rose Bowl would be looking at that dreaded Penn State-Oregon State rematch.

Nittany Lion Club members will be able to purchase tickets for Penn State's third Rose Bowl appearance starting tomorrow at 10 a.m. Tickets will be available online only at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets.

Rose Bowl tickets are $145 each, and have a $15 handling fee, for a total of $160 per ticket. Information on the student ticket sale for the Rose Bowl will be distributed later this week.

-- Ron Musselman

Of defense and outer space

Chuck Finder — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:49:00 GMT

The subject of the recently stout West Virginia defense -- with six sophomores and one freshman starting, salute -- will be scrutinized inside the inky pages of the PG in coming days. But, first, we wanted to run past you a couple or three innerestin' digits.

Since the opening five minutes of the Colorado game, when the host Buffaloes stomped up two hasty touchdowns, the Mountaineers' defense has:

* Yielded just five touchdowns in the past 355 minutes of regulation and one overtime (their 59 points in this span equate to roughly 9.8 points per game, which would rank them second only to USC's touchdown-per-lousy-Pac-10-game average).

* Allowed just four touchdowns, along with seven field goals, in opponents' 17 trips inside the Red Zone (that 64 percentage would rank them sixth among all major-college programs, although, as it is, they stand No. 16 overall in the category).

* Prevented the opposition from scoring on 81 percent of its possessions (Alabama and Penn State, by comparison respectively, are only 1 and 2 percent better for the entire season).

If you really dig math, you'll figure that something's gotta give this week against Cincinnati, which scores on average one of every three possessions this fall.

One note about the special teams, particularly the kickoff-coverage unit that ranks 119th and last: Courtney Stuart (knee) will miss three to six weeks, Jim Lewis (foot) another week and Archie Sims (apparent concussion) an indefinite period, Coach Bill Stewart said. Added the coach: "I asked what planet Archie was on in a meeting and he said 'Earth,' but he looked to me like he was on Jupiter."

Oh, and as expected -- he did beat then-No. 24 South Florida last week -- Tony Pike will start at quarterback for Cincinnati.

The indispensable Daryll Clark

Dan Gigler — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:45:00 GMT

Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark has been selected as one of the country's Most Valuable Players at the midpoint point of the season.

The Sporting News college football reporter Matt Hayes selected Clark No. 6 among his “Most Indispensable” players and their “importance in relation to the national title and conference championship races.”

In his first season as a starter, Clark has led the Nittany Lions to a 6-0 record (2-0 Big Ten) and the No. 6 ranking in the polls. The junior from Youngstown, Ohio, leads the Big Ten in pass efficiency and is directing one of the nation’s most balanced and prolific offenses.

Clark, a junior from Youngstown, Ohio, has led the Big Ten in pass efficiency the past four weeks and is No. 11 nationally with a 162.4 rating. For the season, he is 80 of 124 (64.5) for 1,116 yards, with nine touchdowns and one interception. He also has 133 rushing yards on 32 carries (4.2), with four scores.

He is sixth in the conference in passing yardage (186.0 ypg) and sixth in total offense (208.2 ypg), having left each of the first four games before the end of the third quarter.

Clark has been responsible for 18 of Penn State’s 40 longest plays from scrimmage this season, with 16 completions and two carries of 20 yards or more.

-- Ron Musselman

PSU: Blue Royster Cult

Dan Gigler — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:10:00 GMT

With each passing week, another Penn State player raves about the ability of starting tailback Evan Royster.

He leads the Nittany Lions in rushing with 306 yards and six touchdowns.

Royster is averaging 8.1 yards per carry and has put together back-to-back 100-yard games entering Saturday’s contest against temple at Beaver Stadium.

The redshirt sophomore is quickly becoming a folk hero.

He has been dubbed "Rolls Royster" and there was a sign in the student section two weeks ago that read "Blue Royster Cult."

Royster initially didn’t know anything about the American rock band "Blue Oyster Cult" that formed in New York in 1967 and it still somewhat active today.

"I actually saw a Facebook page about it, and it cracked me up," he said. "But I had never heard of it. Someone said they sang a song about a cowbell."

Royster didn’t play against Temple last year. He carried the ball just once in Penn State’s 31-0 victory before leaving with a sprained ankle.

Safety Anthony Scirrotto said Royster "cuts very nice, he has breakaway speed. I think people underestimate his speed and don't realize how fast he is until he's running by them."

-- Ron Musselman

More Cowbell for Walken, More Royster for PSU.

Daryll Clark's mentor

Dan Gigler — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:14:00 GMT

Daryll Clark said today that he talks to former teammate Michael Robinson once a week.
Robinson was the Nittany Lions’ quarterback in 2005, when Clark redshirted, and is now a running back with the San Fransisco 49ers.
"We talk about pretty much everything," Clark said." We talk about school. And as far as football goes, any ups and downs I might be facing."
Robinson sent Clark a text message after watching a clip of one of his electrifying runs during Saturday's 45-14 win over Oregon State at Beaver. Robinson joked in the text that Clark should have scored on the play.
Clark said he doesn’t mind being compared to Robinson.
"Any time you compare me to a guy who only had one year to start, without having to share time, and you lead a team to 11-1 record and to being a national contender, and the numbers you put up, the leadership you had and the success you had, I’ll take that compliment any day," Clark said.
"When they call me little Mike Rob, I’m just saying, `Thank you all the time." Because he was a great player and he got it done. He was a straight up playmaker."
-- Ron Musselman

In case you've forgotten just how good Robinson was at Penn State, have a look:

PSU: Powell receiving good advice

Dan Gigler — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:47:00 GMT

Chaz Powell was pegged to play safety at Penn State.

The redshirt freshman had three tackles in the Blue-White game this spring and was targeted for a backup role this fall. But then the coaching staff huddled, changed its mind and moved Powell to wide receiver.

The move paid off Saturday when he went 55 yards for a touchdown the second time he touched the ball in the third quarter against Coastal Carolina.

Powell was a running back and receiver in high school at Susquehannock, so the transition hasn’t been all that difficult.

"He had about four plays that we had him work on," coach Joe Paterno said. "I told him, 'Chaz, I want you to be good at four plays. Nobody knows what they are going to be.' He doesn't have to know the whole offense. This week, we can give him a couple more. But it is obvious if he can get the ball in the right spot and give him a step, he's a tough kid to catch."

Powell’s versatility is a big bonus. He can line up in the backfield, in the slot or spread out wide, much the same way Derrick Williams does. Powell has met regularly with starting quarterback Daryll Clark to review the terminology and plays.

"It's a little hectic, but I'm coming around," Powell said.

Some notes and nuggets from Penn State’s 66-10 pasting of Coastal Carolina Saturday:

Derrick Williams’ 89-yard kickoff return in the second quarter was the first of his career. He also has two punt returns for scores – against Temple in 2007 and Notre Dame a year ago.

Penn State had five players making their first career starts – quarterback Daryll Clark, tailback Evan Royster and wide receiver BrettBrackett on offense (the Lions opened in a four-receiver set) and middle linebacker Josh Hull and outside linebacker Bani Gbadyu on defense.

Four true freshmen played for the Lions, including Brandon Beachum, Jack Crawford, DeOn’tae Pannell and Michael Mauti.

Derek Moye, Joe Suhey, Andrew Szczerba, Stephfon Green and Brent Carter all registered the first catches of their career.

Evan Royster’s three rushing touchdowns were a career high and the most by a Penn State tailback since Tony Hunt turned the trick against Temple in 2006.

The Lions are 53-11 in non-conference games since starting Big Ten play in 1993. Oregon State will visit Beaver Stadium next Saturday.
By Ron Musselman

CSI: PSU

Dan Gigler — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:55:00 GMT

Catching passes, catching killers

If Penn State wide receiver Deon Butler doesn’t make it in the NFL next season, he will have another profession to fall back on.
Butler, a forensics science major, did a three-week internship with the homicide unit at the Philadelphia Police Department this summer.

It was one murder scene after another in a city that had 392 homicides a year ago.

"We get so caught up in State College in our little bubble here,’ Butler said. "We don't really see what happens in the outside world. A lot of these kids at the [murder] scenes were between 18 and 24, my age and younger. Just seeing the stuff that they were doing, drugs and guns and killing each other, was definitely a humbling experience."

Butler helped searched for bodies. He marked crime scenes and took photos.

"That was definitely a humbling experience," he said.

The guy who helped Butler secure the internship was Dr. Robert Shaler, a Penn State professor. He helped identify the victims of the World Trade Center attacks in 2001.

"My dream is to be the guy on the scene," Butler said. "I like the challenge [of solving the case], but on the other side of it, I like helping families out ... to help them resolve things and get some closure in their life."

-- Ron Musselman

Penn State depth chart released

Dan Gigler — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:55:00 GMT

Penn State released its depth chart tonight in advance for Saturday's non-confernece opener against Coastal Carolina at Beaver Stadium.
No big surprises, except that the quarterback position lists Daryll Clark OR Pat Devlin -- just about everyone in the free world expects Clark to get the call when coach Joe Paterno holds his first weekly news conference tomorrow.

The depth chart follows:

OFFENSE

Wide Receiver

1. Derrick Williams (6-0, 199, Sr/Sr), 2. Graham Zug (6-2, 182, Jr/So), 3. Devin Fentress 5-10, 174, Gr/Jr)

Left Tackle
1. Gerald Cadogan (6-5, 314, Sr/Sr), 2. Dennis Landolt (6-4, 303, Sr/Jr)

Left Guard
1. Rich Ohrnberger (6-2, 296, Sr/Sr), 2. Mike Lucian (6-2, 296, Sr/Sr)

Center
1 A.Q. Shipley (6-1, 300, Sr/Sr), 2. Doug Klopacz (6-3, 287, Jr/So)

Right Guard
1. Stefen Wisniewski (6-3, 294, So/So), 2. J.B. Walton (6-3, 297, So/Fr)

Right Tackle
1. Dennis Landolt (6-4, 303, Sr/Jr) 2. Lou Eliades (6-4, 313, Jr/So)

Tight End
1. Mickey Shuler (6-4, 250, Sr/Jr), 2. Andrew Szczerba (6-6, 262, So/Fr), 3. Andrew Quarless (6-5, 250, Jr/Jr)

Quarterback
1. Daryll Clark (6-2, 235, Sr/Sr) OR Pat Devlin (6-4, 221, Jr/So), 2. Paul Cianciolo (6-4, 220, Gr/Sr)

Running Backs
1 . Evan Royster (6-1, 211, Jr/So) - TB, 2. Stephfon Green (5-10, 194, So/Fr) – TB, 3. Brent Carter (6-2, 211, Jr/So) – TB, 4. Joe Suhey (6-1, 220, So/Fr) - TB, 5. Brandon Beachum (6-0, 221, Fr/Fr) - TB
1. Dan Lawlor (6-2, 245, Gr/Sr) – FB, 2. Larry Federoff (5-11, 237, Sr/Jr) - FB

Wide Receiver
1. Deon Butler (5-10, 170, Gr/Sr), 2. Derek Moye (6-5, 202, So/Fr), 3. Kevin Cousins (6-3, 207, Sr/Jr) OR Chaz Powell (6-1, 201, So/Fr)

Wide Receiver
1. Jordan Norwood (5-11, 171, Gr/Sr), 2. Brett Brackett (6-6, 234, Jr/So), 3. James McDonald (6-2, 201, Sr/Jr)

DEFENSE
Left End
1. Maurice Evans (6-2, 262,Jr/Jr), 2, Eric Latimore (6-6, 262, So/Fr)

Left Tackle
1. Abe Koroma (6-3, 312, Jr/So), 2. Jared Odrick (6-5, 303, Jr/Jr)

Right Tackle
1. Ollie Ogbu (6-1, 2989, Jr/So), 2. Chima Okoli (6-4, 298, So/Fr)

Right End
1. Josh Gaines (6-1, 273, Sr/Sr), 2. Jerome Hayes (6-2, 248, Sr/Jr), 3. Kevion Latham (6-2, 252, So/Fr)

Outside Linebacker
1. Tyrell Sales (6-2, 238, Gr/Sr), 2. Nathan Stupar (6-1, 233, So/Fr)

Inside Linebacker
1. Josh Hull (6-2, 239, Sr/Jr), 2. Chris Colasanti (6-2, 240, So/So)

Outside Linebacker
1. Bani Gbadyu (6-0, 223, Jr/So), 2. Navorro Bowman (6-1, 228, Jr/So), 3. Michael Mauti (6-2, 228, Fr/Fr)

Left Cornerback
1. Tony Davis (5-10, 192, Sr/Sr), 2. Willie Harriott (5-8, 185, Sr/Jr), 3. Jesse Alfreno (5-11, 195, Jr/So)

Free Safety
1. Anthony Scirrotto (6-0, 197, Sr/Sr), 2. Drew Astorino (5-10, 191, SoFr), 3. Cedric Jeffries (6-2, 215, Jr/So)

Hero
1. Mark Rubin (6-2, 220, Gr/Sr), 2. Knowledge Timmons (5-10,
187, Jr/So)

Right Cornerback
1. Lydell Sargeant (5-10, 190, Sr/Sr) OR A.J. Wallace (6-1, 197, Jr/Jr)

SPECIAL TEAMS

Punter
1. Jeremy Boone (5-9, 178, Sr/Jr) 2. Ryan Breen (6-2, 194, So/Fr)

Kicker
1. Kevin Kelly (5-7, 164, Sr/Sr), 2. Collin Wagner (5-9, 170, Jr/So)

Kickoff Returners
1. A.J. Wallace (6-1, 197, Jr/Jr), 2. Derrick Williams (6-0, 199, Sr/Sr)

Punt Returners
1. Derrick Williams (6-0, 199, Sr/Sr), 2. Anthony Scirrotto (6-0, 197, Sr/Sr)

Old news is good news

Dan Gigler — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:27:00 GMT

It's been a quiet preseason in University Park. No players have been arrested for off-the-field incidents. Not that we know of anyway. Penn State is actually making news off the field.No big news to report. Just old news making its way back into the news.

The Nittany Lions are one of four major programs being honored by Sports Illustrated with an 80-page commemorative issue, which has hit the newsstands.

Among the features in the publication -- called a Celebration of Nittany Lions Football -- are a review of the Top 20 greatest moments in school history, a profile of All-American linebacker Shane Conlan, the last word by former Penn State standout Matt Millen and Rick Reilly’s profile of coach Joe Paterno when he was selected SI's Sportsman of the Year in 1986.

The special issue also includes a season preview of the upcoming season, a photo essay on spring practice and the Blue-White Game and a feature on the Nittany Lions’ trio of standout wide receivers -- Deon Butler, Jordan Norwood and Derrick Williams.

For those counting, it marks Penn State's 12th appearance on the cover of SI during Paterno's legendary coaching career. He will open his 43rd season as the Lions' boss next Saturday when Coastal Carolina comes to Beaver Stadium for the non-conference opener.

SI will not be there to cover the blowout.

-- Ron Musselman