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Neil Rudel's Commentary

Franklin should practice what he preaches

Some nitpicking as Penn State attempts to show it can regroup from its loss to Ohio State: n James Franklin can’t get over the hump in big games, specifically Ohio State (1-10), in part because he allows the moment to get too big for him. He preaches a 1-0 mentality, but it’s clearly not against the Buckeyes. After the gut-wrenching loss, when the Nittany Lions’ red-zone offense was inept, Franklin reiterated Monday what he said after the game, “I had already planned out what I was going to talk to you guys about … There is nothing more than I wanted to do than walk into ...

Will Penn State ever become consistently elite?

If elite is defined by James Franklin, who started this entire discussion after a bitter loss to Ohio State in 2018 (and shouldn’t have because it was the wrong time and because he hasn’t been able to live up to it), then probably not. On the field, the Nittany Lions are a ways off. Franklin proves that every time they line up against Ohio State. Whether that gap can be closed, or be closed by Franklin, is questionable. But for the sake of today’s discussion, let’s take a different path, and I will say Penn State is an elite program, though perhaps not an elite team. Thanks ...

Rudel: Franklin, Nittany Lions get what they deserve

UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State Nation did its part. It was all dressed up in white, louder than ever, and set a new Beaver Stadium attendance record — 111,030 — in anticipation of breaking a now eight-game losing streak to Ohio State on an otherwise perfect Saturday afternoon. But, yet ...

For Franklin and his Nittany Lions, ‘it’s time’

By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com ​There are plenty of games within the game that will help determine Saturday’s outcome. Will Drew Allar, who missed the second half last week at Wisconsin with a left knee injury but reportedly will start, be compromised? If called upon, how effective will Beau Pribula be? Can the Nittany Lions, perhaps also down Dani Dennis-Sutton, get enough pressure on Ohio State quarterback Will Howard to ease burden on the PSU secondary? Can Abdul Carter, a projected high first-round draft pick, take over the game? Will Ohio State, with an ...

Nittany Lions, Kotelnicki must stay aggressive, be creative

What is PSU's best formula for beating Ohio State? By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com Andy Kotelnicki has been the life of the party since arriving at Penn State. The offensive coordinator’s personality and fingerprints have been all over the Nittany Lions’ 7-0 start heading into Saturday’s season-definer against Ohio State (6-1). How Kotelnicki keeps the offense moving against the Buckeyes will go a long way toward pushing the Lions’ program into the elite status James Franklin publicly pledged to attain after a frustrating loss to Ohio State in 2018. He’s still ...

Pribula? No probléma: Backup quarterback’s commitment is rewarded

MADISON, Wis. — In today’s impatient college football world, backup quarterbacks keep the transfer portal a crowded place. That’s why anyone who has followed the Penn State football program feels good for Beau Pribula today. For going on three seasons, Pribula has played second fiddle ...