Rudel: Nits have chance to make statement
Most people seem to think today’s Big Ten showdown between Penn State and Ohio State will be another low-scoring, defensive struggle. I’m not one of them. Joe Paterno often approaches Ohio State wearing yellow and waving his caution flag, content to let his defense and kicking game attempt to win a big game while limiting offensive mistakes. In a loss earlier this decade in Columbus, his response to the crowd noise was to suddenly eliminate all audibles, which curtailed the Nittany Lions’ offensive flexibility. He later admitted he panicked. Crowd noise won’t work against the Lions today. In fact, Terrelle Pryor, because of his recruiting spurn and his subsequent comments about Happy Valley, faces the most pressure of any visiting player in memory. How he handles this game will say a lot about his maturity. How Penn State handles it will show whether it knows it can’t play too close to the vest and that it knows it was extremely lucky to win last year with that strategy.
» Full StoryPenn State report card
Following is Neil Rudel’s report card from Penn State’s 34-13 win over Northwestern Saturday at Ryan Field:
POSITION GRADE COMMENT
Quarterback A Despite wind, Clark was accurate,...
Breaking the streak
There’s an eight-page feature story on Joe Paterno in this week’s Sports Illustrated that includes a great picture that makes him look closer to 62 than 82.
As if he needs another jinx.
Rudel: Gophers typically give PSU problems
They say it’s not a rivalry until the other guy wins, but that’s not necessarily the case with Minnesota.
Oh, the Gophers have won against Penn State. They’ve won all right.
Rudel: Second half of 2009 will define Nittany Lions
UNIVERSITY PARK — In his assessment of the Nittany Lions’ 52-3 win over Eastern Illinois, Joe Paterno admitted what many suspected all week long.
“I think it was a good workout for us,” he said Saturday.
A “workout” indeed.
Rudel: Twelfth game adds little to college football
Some gameday notes and observations while suggesting an all-star team from Eastern, Western and Northern Illinois could not beat Penn State:
There has been plenty of debate about the merits of today’s game with Eastern Illinois.
Neil Rudel Poll
Should teams with below .500 records be allowed to compete in the playoffs in high school football?
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Hubies Halloween 2009
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