After a fantastic senior season to conclude a wild career, the Burlsworth Trophy, awarded to the nation's top college football who began his career as a walk-on, officially belongs to Matt McGloin.
The same group of people who organized the memorable early morning Rise and Rally event on July 31st have teamed up with "FightOnState" to make sure the 2012 senior class will have an expense-free bowl-like celebration in Atlantic City, New Jersey from January 5-7.
Between penalty kicks, heartbreaking goals allowed, shooting barrages from opponents and several other dramatic moments, the Nittany Lions had conquered it all to arrive at the finals of the College Cup. Yesterday afternoon, in sunny San Diego, the magic ran out as the powerhouse North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the Nittany Lions 4-1 to take home their twenty-first national championship.
The journey began on August 17th in Charlottesville, Virginia. This afternoon, three and a half months later, a dramatic season will come to an end across the country in San Diego, California as the Penn State Women's Soccer team looks to capture its first ever national championship, facing the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Bill O'Brien has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year after a successful first season in Happy Valley that concluded with an 8-4 record. Being the only coach in the conference with no head coaching experience at any level before the season, this is quite an honor for O'Brien who beat out some other accomplished coaches including two-time national champion Urban Meyer who led the Ohio State Buckeyes to an undefeated season.
After several individual weekly awards throughout the year, it is fitting that Penn State had two players take home conference honors following the season finale. Senior defensive tackle Jordan Hill was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after a monster game while kicker Sam Ficken won Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week after making the game-winning field goal against Wisconsin.