Another Monday has resulted in another Penn State linebacker taking home the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week award. This week, it is senior Gerald Hodges winning the conference honor following a fantastic game in Saturday's victory over the previously undefeated Northwestern Wildcats.
With a little over ten minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Penn State had the ball on the Northwestern five yard line, trailing 28-17. The Nittany Lions faced 4th and goal, and O'Brien faced one of the toughest decisions of his young head-coaching career. Kicking has been anything but a guarantee so far this season, but the safer option would have been to attempt the chip shot 22 yard field goal. Instead, he elected to go for it all with the touchdown.
Good morning from Beaver Stadium. It is homecoming in Happy Valley where the Penn State Nittany Lions (3-2, 1-0 Big Ten) are set to host the No. 24 Northwestern Wildcats (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten). The Wildcats are led by Pat Fitzgerald who is in his seventh year as head coach of the program but still searching for his first victory over the Nittany Lions. Bill O'Brien will be looking to build upon his current three game winning streak in his first season coaching the blue and white.
One of the criticisms of the previous coaching staff was that the Nittany Lions never seemed adequately prepared to compete with high quality opponents. Since a victory against Michigan State to clinch a trip to the Rose Bowl in 2008, the Nittany Lions are 1-10 against nationally ranked opponents and o-4 at home. Saturday can serve as an example of how things have changed under a new, energetic regime.
Five individuals with vast experience in working within college athletics convened at the State Theatre in downtown State College for a panel discussing the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the state of amateur sports. Mark Emmert declined an invitation, but the show went on without him.
Over the past year, the entire Penn State Football team has experienced change and new beginnings, but from an individual standpoint, there might not be a player who has undergone more role changes than Bill Belton. He is ready for his season to resume even if it means a few less carries.