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Neil Rudel

Kotelnicki gets turn to fix Nits’ offense

Penn State has its new offensive coordinator, Adam Kotelnicki of Kansas, and the social media world is tripping over itself to decide whether it’s a good or bad hire. I have an idea: Let’s wait and see how the offense functions at least into next October before shaping an opinion. There are things about him to like. Kotelnicki has worked beside and been mentored by Lance Leipold, one of the better coaches in the country and certainly among the most underrated, having turned around Kansas after a successful stint at Buffalo (Bulls, not Bills) and being a Division III national ...

PSU’s defense sets its own tone

DETROIT — Give these Michigan State fans credit. They’ve endured a 4-8 season to forget, starting with the September suspension and subsequent firing of their coach, Mel Tucker, after an alleged sexcapade. And yet, here they were at Ford Field, singing karaoke songs Friday night, well into a 42-0 loss to Penn State. Indoor stadiums can get loud so other than the music, it was important not to let the home team create early momentum. The Nittany Lions’ defense took that challenge, quickly setting a tone by rebuffing two of the Spartans’ first-half drives deep into PSU ...

Pribula opens up Lions’ run game

Some nitpicking as the Nittany Lions draw the curtain on the regular season tonight: - Even if Drew Allar is recovered enough to play against Michigan State (7:30, NBC), expect a healthy dose of Beau Pribula, who stepped in last week vs. Rutgers and rushed for 71 yards on eight carries. Actually, it was Pribula’s presence after Allar’s injury in the second half that opened the Lions’ run game in general and for Nick Singleton in particular. - Pribula has gained 311 yards on the ground this season, an average of 6.0 yards on his 52 carries, including five touchdowns. He’s only ...

What’s the best thing going for Penn State right now? Big Ten expansion will give Lions some renewed hope

By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com It’s a good news-bad news commentary on James Franklin. The good news is he’s clearly established the Nittany Lions’ program as the third-best in the Big Ten behind Ohio State and Michigan. The bad news is he’s clearly established the Nittany Lions as the third-best program in the Big Ten behind Ohio State and Michigan. Many — make that most — would be eager to pencil themselves into 10-2 almost annually and take their chances that they’ll find a way to get over the big-game hump. Certainly Penn State has the resources and ...

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 ...