Rudel: Franco had immaculate legacy, on field and off

December 23, 2022

Franco Harris’ sudden passing — terribly shocking because he was set to have his number 32 retired Saturday as part of Pittsburgh’s 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception — was a body blow to so many of us. Though the Steelers have had other Hall of Fame players of Harris’ stature in terms of what they meant to the team’s success, it was Franco, more than anyone, who galvanized a region and helped turn Pittsburgh into the City of Champions. His remarkable effort, situational awareness and hustle to snag the last-gasp deflected pass at his shoetops against the ...

Clifford leaving legacy of perseverance at Penn State

November 26, 2022

By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com UNIVERSITY PARK — Sean Clifford will exit Penn State with many of its passing records, and yet because the Nittany Lions lost their last six games against Ohio State and Michigan, he won’t be remembered among their all-time great quarterbacks. Clifford has a career record of 30-14 as a four-year starter and team captain, and his accuracy off the field is even higher than on it. As his final days as a Nittany Lion wound down, Clifford admitted he understands the fans’ impatience with him. “I love everything about Penn State, and ...

Lions’ depth carrying them to strong finish

November 21, 2022

The most distinctive characteristic about the 2022 Penn State football team is it’s extremely deep. Just look at the number of players — standout players — the Nittany Lions have been without, and yet here they are, sitting at 9-2 after outclassing Rutgers, 55-10, on Saturday at SHI Stadium. Parker Washington is the latest casualty. The team’s top receiver and punt returner was apparently injured during the week, and his status for this Saturday vs. Michigan State and beyond is in question. Joey Porter Jr., the Lions’ star cornerback, missed his second-straight game ...

Roster-building season never ends for PSU football

November 19, 2022

By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com Injury updates aren’t part of James Franklin’s weekly disclosure with the media. Unless a player is out for the year, Franklin doesn’t discuss it. He feels it’s a privacy matter to protect the player, and he also doesn’t want to help the opposition’s strategy. In the last few weeks, Penn State has been missing numerous regulars, whose absence is generally tied to injuries but then again, we don’t know for sure. Those players include Olu Fashanu, Caeden Wallace, Keyvone Lee, Curtis Jacobs and Joey Porter. Porter wasn’t ...

Should the Big Ten eliminate its two-division format after expansion?

November 17, 2022

No: Current structure best serves PSU, league By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com I’d like to see the Big Ten keep its East and West Division, especially now that USC and UCLA will be joining. There’s no question the East has been stronger and even more so lately with Michigan matching Ohio State in terms of overall dominance. That’s created a distinct imbalance of power when the conference championship is settled with the West Division representative often being a two-touchdown underdog. You would have to think the presence of Southern Cal, and maybe an improving ...

Penn State’s depth on O-line will be tested

November 12, 2022

By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com Some nitpicking as the Nittany Lions welcome Maryland: n Penn State’s offensive line has shown improvement this season. Other than the game at Michigan, when they were dominated up front on both sides, the Lions have run the ball effectively and protected their quarterback(s) reasonably well. Consequently, O-line coach Phil Trautwein has gotten some kudos. The unit’s depth will be tested today against the visiting Terps (3:30 p.m., FOX). Based on reports from the portion of Wednesday’s practice open to the media, possible ...