Penn State category, Page 72
Nittany Lions hoping Brandon Smith can minimize loss of Micah Parsons
The meeting between two freshmen in their first college football games was brief and harsh. Kiahn Martinez, a 5-foot-7 running back for Idaho, hauled in a pass in the flat, turned up field and, well, that’s when he met the future of Penn State’s linebacking corps. Brandon Smith was a...
It’s almost ‘go time’ for Big Ten; Buckeyes favored again
The wait is almost over for the Big Ten. The ACC, Big 12 and SEC have been playing anywhere from three to five weeks amid the pandemic, and all the players and coaches around the Big Ten could do is watch. “Most of it’s been torture, just not being able...
For Penn State’s Ciarrocca, new offense all in the details
There will be 11 players on offense, moving as one unit, playing out a barbaric symphony with equal parts precision and brutality. That’s how Kirk Ciarrocca wants it, and how he sees it developing. At some point in time, anyway. Penn State’s offensive coordinator is sure of one thing, though:...
New coach Phil Trautwein already making impact on Penn State’s offensive line
Like a lot of football players in the Big Ten, Penn State center Michal Menet has dealt with a lot of questions during the past few months. With the conference initially canceling its 2020-21 season before ultimately deciding to play a delayed and condensed schedule, Menet has had plenty of...
Wait almost over for favored Buckeyes, Big TenVideo
The wait almost is over for the Big Ten. The ACC, Big 12 and SEC have been playing anywhere from three to five weeks amid the pandemic, and all the players and coaches around the Big Ten could do is watch. “Most of it’s been torture, just not being able...
Kickoff time set for Penn State’s opener against Indiana
Penn State’s football team will open its 2020-21 season in a road game against Indiana at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 24. The contest will be broadcast on FS1. The Big Ten had initially canceled its 2020-21 season because of concerns regarding the coronavirus before ultimately deciding to delay the start until...
’51-6, that’s all I got to say’ – before homecoming, Miles Sanders recalls last game at Heinz FieldVideo
He went to high school about 10 miles from Heinz Field, and he was afforded two opportunities to play at the venue during college. Forty-eight hours before his first game at Heinz as a professional, Miles Sanders recalled the most recent time he played there. “51-6,” Sanders told reporters on...
Reconfigured season places Penn State in the Big Ten fire immediatelyVideo
Through James Franklin’s first six seasons, Penn State eased into its schedule playing 18 nonconference opponents, most of whom did not present the same challenges found in the Big Ten. Nothing unusual about that. In a typical season, and this one certainly does not qualify, many Power 5 schools employed...
Penn State, Big Ten aim to open men’s hockey season by Nov. 13
The Big Ten announced it is aiming to open the 2020-21 men’s hockey season by Nov. 13. No schedule has been announced, but play will involve a 24-game regular season scheduled for all seven members of the conference. Penn State is a member of the conference as is Michigan, Michigan...
Penn State’s Michal Menet sees max prep, attention to detail under new O-line coach Phil Trautwein
Michal Menet has been around about as long as is permitted with one program in college football. This will be his fifth season, counting a 2016 in which he redshirted. Combined with his mature appearance, you’d not be surprised if the Berks County native gets his share of “Pops” references...
Joey Porter Jr. ready to ‘rock and roll’ for Penn State
Even if he didn’t know when his next game was going to be, Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. remained prepared throughout August and September while the Big Ten’s 2020 season was still canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. “It’s definitely hard,” Porter Jr. said via video conference Thursday. “Because...
Penn State is comfortable with options to replace Micah Parsons
In a shortened season bound to be filled with uncertainty, one thing will be concrete for Penn State. There will be no Micah Parsons. On Aug. 6, the star linebacker decided to opt out of the 2020 campaign because of the coronavirus pandemic as well as his prospects as a...
James Franklin, Penn State ready to embrace the ‘new normal’
It rained Tuesday in State College. James Franklin didn’t mind. In fact, Penn State’s football coach enjoyed it. “I would actually say it was even positive (Tuesday),” Franklin said via video conference Wednesday. “We had bad weather. We had rain, and we were able to get wet-ball work, which I...
Clairton’s Lamont Wade among contenders to serve as return man for Penn StateVideo
Coach James Franklin’s program is still waiting to learn a time and television designation for this year’s opener at Indiana on Oct. 24, but there is still plenty to talk about. The topic we’re diving into this week is the return game, especially now that KJ Hamler is a Denver...
Penn State’s 2021 recruiting stumbling, but hope still alive with football coming back
Diego Pounds was a sure thing for Penn State, until he wasn’t. And that has been an all-too-common sight in the Lions’ 2021 recruiting class, which has experienced just about every type of adversity imaginable in a cycle that certainly won’t go down as one of James Franklin’s best. Penn...
Big Ten, Pac-12 teams back in most unusual AP Top 25 pollVideo
No. 6 Ohio State, No. 10 Penn State and No. 14 Oregon returned to the Associated Press college football poll Sunday, weeks before they start playing, creating a Top 25 as unusual as this season. At the top of the rankings this week, Clemson remained No. 1 with 55 first-place...
First Call: Mike Tomlin can improve some history; NFL fines coaches for ignoring masks; Saquon Barkley checks in
Tuesday’s “First Call” dares to dream big about a Steelers fast start. We also check in on injured Penn State great Saquon Barkley. J.J. Watt identifies a problem for his Houston Texans coming to Heinz Field. And NFL coaches are paying the price if they don’t mask up. Say that...
Penn State will open football season Oct. 24 at Indiana
Penn State will begin its nine-game grind over nine weeks Oct. 24 at Indiana, according to the Big Ten’s reconfigured, conference-only schedule released Saturday. The home opener is Oct. 31 — Halloween night — against Ohio State at Beaver Stadium. The Buckeyes and Nittany Lions were ranked Nos. 2 and...
With Big Ten decision made, hard work begins for Penn State football program
On Wednesday, when the Big Ten made the decision to move forward with a football season, it was hailed as a victory for players, coaches and fans — a cause for great celebration. By Thursday, a little bit of reality began to set in. Penn State’s James Franklin is about...
Could Penn State’s Micah Parsons opt back in for this season?
When it comes to All-American linebacker Micah Parsons, Penn State coach James Franklin is like Tom Bodett in those old Motel 6 commercials. He’ll leave the light on for him. Parsons announced last month that he was opting out of his junior season at Penn State and would begin to...
Penn State TE Pat Freiermuth confirms he’s playing this fall
The Big Ten is back, and Pat Freiermuth never left. Just after the conference announced a return-to-play plan that will kick off the season Oct. 23-24, Penn State’s star tight end confirmed in an interview with the Big Ten Network on Wednesday that he will be playing for the Nittany...
First Call: Steelers-‘MNF’ ratings tank. O.J. Simpson defends Saquon Barkley. Terry Bradshaw’s new TV show.
The Steelers. Plus, a New York audience. That should jolt “Monday Night Football” ratings to open the season! Guess again, ESPN. That’s how we start Thursday’s “First Call.” We also see how O.J. Simpson is supporting Saquon Barkley. And we preview Terry Bradshaw’s new television show. Where’s the remote? A...
NCAA sets Nov. 25 start date for men’s, women’s basketballVideo
The NCAA men’s and women’s basketball season will begin Nov. 25, the day before Thanksgiving. The Division I Council voted Wednesday to push the start date back from the originally scheduled Nov. 10 as one of several precautions against the spread of coronavirus. The later start date coincides with the...
Big Ten changes course, aims for October start to football
The Big Ten is going to give fall football a shot after all. Less than five weeks after pushing football and other fall sports to spring in the name of player safety during the covid-19 pandemic, the conference changed course Wednesday and said it plans to begin its season the...
Wisconsin chancellor says Big Ten football on hold until questions answeredVideo
The University of Wisconsin chancellor said Tuesday that Big Ten football will remain on hold until there are answers to questions about covid-19 testing and tracing, along with possible long-term heart issues related to the coronavirus. Chancellor Rebecca Blank said once the Big Ten leaders have their concerns addressed “we...
