Stats for Saturday is back with its third installment. This week, I looked at the successes and failures of the game vs. Virginia, and I delved into some scouting stats for Navy.
I gave everyone the benefit of the doubt for the first home game. I figured, it's a new era, let everybody learn new traditions together. Some people did, and some people looked like they had never been to a sporting event ever, let alone a Penn State football game. This is obviously understandable, but here are a few tips for the newbies for Saturday's game.
The Penn State Nittany Lions have played several hundred home football games at Beaver Stadium. They are used to that part of the equation. What this current team is not used to is having two straight losses to start the season, and their opponent on Saturday. The last time the Nittany Lions (0-2) faced the Navy Midshipmen (0-1), Gerald Ford was president. It has been a long time--almost forty years-- since the teams met, but if the result is similar to the September 21, 1974 game, things are going to get really ugly in Happy Valley.
Devin Pryor never planned to walk on at Penn State. However, consistent pressure from friends and coaches eventually swayed Pryor. More on the European football player's interesting journey to Penn State after the jump.
Staff predictions return for Week 3 as various Onward State writers offer their thoughts on tomorrow's game at Beaver Stadium in which the Penn State Nittany Lions (0-2) face the Navy Midshipmen (0-1). Let's get right to the picks.
The Penn State Nittany Lions need to focus on winning a football game, but for two players, the contest against Navy is extra special. P.J. Byers and Brent Smith are not your typical college football players. Start with their age. Most guys are not playing at age 26 and 27 respectively. That's not what makes them different though. Their background and military experience before they arrived at Penn State does.