Second-half play must improve for Penn State football team
coach speak with penn state football coach Matt Campbell
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Following are the highlights of Penn State's Tuesday press conference with head coach Matt Campbell, defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn, quarterback Rocco Becht and offensive lineman Cooper Cousins:
Saturday's game: vs. Minnesota (7 p.m., FS1)
Records: Penn State (5-4 overall, 2-4 in the Big Ten), Minnesota (5-4 overall, 3-3 in the Big Ten.)
Odds: Penn State is a 9.5-point favorite.
Rankings: Both teams are unranked by the Associated Press.
Series: Penn State leads, 11-6
Second-half woes
Since the start of Big Ten play, opponents have outscored Penn State in the third quarter, 42-9. It's 84-40 if you include the entire second half.
It hasn't been a problem that came up suddenly at Washington last weekend, but the problem became magnified when the Huskies outscored the Lions, 19-0, after Penn State held a 28-6 lead at halftime.
"It was a win, but it wasn't a win that you felt good about at the end of the day," Lynn said. "When you look at that second half, we didn't play like we deserved to win. We all felt like that."
Campbell said there's 'an elite sense of urgency' from him and the staff to fix the problem.
"It's a real problem," Campbell said. "I'll be honest with you. My concern is I think there's times where it's a mental maturity piece of it. You're up in some of those games, and it's kind of almost like it's a mental relapse. We've got to figure it out and it starts with the head football coach.
"Our players understand that it's not okay. It's an area that we have to demand a pathway forward.
Update on Ham
Campbell opened his time by giving an update on beloved Penn State icon and current radio color analyst Jack Ham, who suffered a medical emergency on Saturday during pregame.
Campbell, athletic director Pat Kraft and radio play-by-play broadcaster Steve Jones went to the hospital in Seattle after the game on Saturday to see Ham. Campbell also said he talked to Ham on Monday and Tuesday, and he is in stable condition and still in Washington.
"We hopefully get him back here sooner than later," Campbell said.
Campbell also expressed gratitude on the well wishes he and the athletic program have received on behalf of Ham.
"Obviously what Jack and his family mean to Penn State football, and on behalf of our program and obviously the athletic department -- the love, the care we have gotten on behalf of Jack, we really appreciate it greatly," Campbell said.
Waiting on Howard
Campbell said that wide receiver Koby Howard's return has been put on pause as he makes his way back from an injury during non-conference play.
"Nobody is pressing more to get back on the football field," Campbell said. "We were trying to beat a timeline coming back. I refuse to put Koby back on the field until he is 100 percent ready to go back on the football field."
It is becoming fair to wonder if it's the end of the season for Howard, who has now been out for over seven weeks. In the meantime, Howard was spotted engaging in what was going on with the team in Washington.
"I'm excited to have him on the sideline as another coach, but obviously a little upset that we're putting (his return) on pause," Becht said.
Looking elsewhere
This is the time of year where players would be looking to make a move to another program and enter the transfer portal when it opens on Jan. 4.
Cousins said there were coaches that reached out to him in the aftermath of last season when James Franklin was fired, but he never really considered any other options. Cousins has two sisters and a brother, plus more family members that have all attended Penn State.
"It means a lot to play for Penn State and be a student at this university," Cousins said. "I think a Penn State degree means a lot in today's world. I love this place and what it's about."
Notable ...
n It was announced Monday that next week's Senior Day game with Rutgers will be a 3:30 p.m. kickoff and will be televised on FS1.
(Compiled by Andy Stine of the Altoona Mirror. He can be reached at astine@altoonamirror.com.)