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PSU point-counterpoint: What is your biggest reason for optimism with this team? (Giger)

Nittany Lions cannot waste coaching staff this year This is the best overall coaching staff James Franklin has had during his Penn State tenure, and there’s a lot of reason to be optimistic that the guys he’s surrounded himself with can help the program reach the next level. But it may need to happen this year, before one extremely vital member of the staff departs. Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz was a phenomenal hire by Franklin after Brent Pry left to become head coach at Virginia Tech. With all due respect to Pry, who did excellent work, Diaz just brings a different level of ...

Chance to see backup QBs this afternoon

By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com Some nitpicking as Penn State approaches one of three soft spots on its schedule (Northwestern and UMass are the others): n The NCAA takes its share of flak for terminal lack of oversight — or overreach — but its rule of allowing football players to participate in as many as four games without losing the chance to redshirt is a good thing. And it could come into play for the Nittany Lions’ matchup today with Delaware (noon, Peacock only). Penn State should overpower the Blue Hens pretty quickly, which could trigger a quarterback ...

With college football expanding the playoffs, should the season be 11 games?

Right up front, this is Delaware week, and there are no slam-dunk topics. Cory and I both saw nothing overly flagrant about the late touchdown with six seconds left last week, which happened to cover the spread, but West Virginia had been using timeouts to prolong the game, and the Nittany Lions’ backups were in. So that was off the table. But what about this game? I’m sure you’re excited about it – if, that is, you were able to sell your tickets. And how many of you have a subscription to Peacock in order to see the game? Thought so. Maybe you can somehow pirate it from ...

Young QB Allar lives up to billing

UNIVERSITY PARK — James Franklin approached this season with the idea that he didn’t want first-year starting quarterback Drew Allar to shoulder too much of the load early. So much for the preseason plans. Largely because of Allar, the Nittany Lions controlled their season opener and ...

Slanoc sending a message

By Michael Boytim mboytim@altoonamirror.com It’s not often that high school coaches give their true thoughts on off-the-field drama or the day-to-day challenges coaching brings, especially an active coach. But that’s exactly what Portage varsity football coach Marty Slanoc did Saturday morning, even after the Mustangs opened their season with a convincing win over Conemaugh Valley on the road. Slanoc is in his fourth year as a head coach after taking over for Portage legend Gary Gouse, but he’s spent a quarter of a century on the sideline. He made it clear his post on “X” ...

Nehlen stays close to program at WVU

By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com The last time Penn State played West Virginia was 1992, and the game featured Hall of Fame coaches on both sidelines. One, of course, was Joe Paterno, known as one of the great coaches of all time. The other was Don Nehlen, who gave West Virginia 21 ...