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Neil Rudel's Commentary

Report: Yurcich firing made before UM game

By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com The No. 1 storyline for the remainder of this season is who will fill the Nittany Lions’ now vacated offensive coordinator position. James Franklin accelerated that narrative by pulling the plug on Mike Yurcich’s tenure last Sunday after Penn State lost to Michigan, 24-15. Or did he do it sooner? According to a report by Audrey Snyder of The Athletic, quarterback recruit Bekkem Kritza met with Franklin last Saturday morning at Beaver Stadium prior to the Lions’ matchup with the Wolverines. The meeting included Kritza’s family and ...

PSU point-counter: Franklin’s game management hurts Lions (Rudel)

This week’s topic is easy. Penn State’s biggest problem is at the top of the totem pole: James Franklin. I said last week the Michigan game was not a must-win for Franklin, and in terms of keeping his job, it wasn’t. Here’s hoping Penn State would never suffer from the complete loss of perspective that has inflicted Texas A&M, which is buying out $76 million of Jimbo Fisher’s contract. Franklin is signed through 2031, and whether he makes it that long — either by his choice, or eventually, Penn State’s — is another subject. But he’s the answer to today’s ...

Frustration continues vs the big boys

UNIVERSITY PARK ­— This was an eerily-similar rerun of the Ohio State game. The Nittany Lions mustered almost nothing offensively against the Buckeyes, and that was exactly the case on an otherwise glorious football Saturday as they lost to Michigan, 24-15, at Beaver Stadium. So Penn ...

Lions’ King believes team will take the next step

In the midst of the Big Ten’s discipline on Michigan’s sign-stealing scheme with its horrific timing, there’s a Top-10 football game in the way this afternoon. And for the No. 2 Wolverines (9-0) and No. 9 Nittany Lions (8-1), it just happens to be the biggest game of the year to this ...

Nittany Lions pass their pre-Michigan test

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Penn State standout offensive tackle Olu Fashanu didn’t think it was a coincidence that the Nittany Lions played their best offensive game of the season Saturday in destroying Maryland, 51-15. “November is the month of champions,” Fashanu said. “This game is a ...

Rudel’s Maryland Highs and Lows

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Following are the highlights and lowlights from Penn State's 51-15 victory over Maryland on Saturday at SECU Stadium: Play of the game: On fourth-and-1 from the Maryland 45 on the Terps’ first series, Curtis Jacobs and Jaylen Reed combined to dump Corey Dyches for a 1-yard loss, setting an immediate tone. Offensive player of the game: Drew Allar completed 25-of-34 passes for 240 yards and four touchdowns. He was not intercepted. Defensive player of the game: Abdul Carter led the Lions with six tackles, including a sack. He also broke up a pass. Most telling ...