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Neil Rudel

Penn State vs. Michigan State: Extension Bowl

PSU (7-4, 4-4) vs. Michigan St. (9-2, 6-2) Time: 3:30 p.m. TV: ABC Radio: TOONA 1430-AM & 99.7-FM This game at Spartan Stadium could be billed as the Extension Bowl, and there’s only one choice as honorary captain: Agent Jimmy Sexton. Sexton represents both James Franklin and Mel Tucker, and if you thought Franklin’s 10-year, $85 million contract announced Tuesday was over the top, consider Tucker’s contract that was confirmed one day later. It’s also for 10 years, but Tucker’s deal is worth $95 million. News actually broke a week ago that Michigan State and ...

Digesting Franklin’s new deal

The sweet potato pie is going to be especially tasty around James Franklin’s Thanksgiving table. Franklin mentioned the other day that sweet potato pie is his favorite turkey-day fare. Penn State announced Tuesday that it has agreed to a 10-year contract with Franklin, through 2031, worth $85 million including incentives. The breakdown is $7 million annually, a $500,000 annual retention bonus and a $1 million annual life insurance loan. Suffice to say much of the Nittany Nation will need time to digest it. Word began circulating for the past week that an extension — ...

Veilleux, Lions answer sick call

UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State’s quarterback position got stronger Saturday. The Nittany Lions were coping with a strain of the flu that swept through the team and compromised availability for 35 players last week, including 21 because of the flu. “Thursday, it looked like a hospital ward (in the Lasch Building),’’ James Franklin said after Penn State’s 28-0 win over Rutgers Saturday at Beaver Stadium. “There was IVs everywhere. Friday was the same way.’’ The casualties included all the scholarship quarterbacks, and during the final walk-through Friday, the staff ...

Lions’ ground game hitting historic lows

By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com Some nitpicking as the Nittany Lions attempt to keep the season at disappointing, rather than disastrous, today: n Penn State’s lack of a run game is reaching historic proportions. The Lions have currently rushed for 1,067 yards — an average of 106.7 per game— and are on pace to finish with about 1,400 The school record for fewest rushing yards in a season is 1,317 in 2001. The Lions have not had a back rush for 100 yards in a game this year. Keyvone Lee leads the team with 375 yards. There have been occasions when a revolving-door ...

Questions about Franklin have overshadowed 2021

What is the most disappointing aspect of the Lions’ season? There are a lot of choices —all low-hanging fruit — for this topic. The lack of a run game has been a year-long issue. The absence of a competent offensive line, once a program staple, remains a huge issue. And the inability to field or develop a serviceable backup quarterback is the difference between a 6-4 and an 8-2 record. But, to me, without question, the biggest disappointment this year has been the job James Franklin has done. The No. 1 question on the minds of most Nittany Lion followers has concerned ...

Fake FG exposes Franklin

By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com UNIVERSITY PARK — James Franklin has many excellent qualities. He’s a strong communicator, leader and an accomplished recruiter in addition to being a terrific representative of Penn State and college football. But when you get to the day of the game and need spontaneous in-game strategy, well, let’s just say it’s not his strong suit. Whether it’s not calling timeout when he should, or bizarre calls with the game on the line, there have been too many head-scratching situations that have contributed to Penn State sinking into the state ...