Bittersweet win for Logano as Gibbs kin mourn

November 8, 2022

AVONDALE, Ariz. — Joey Logano began his career at Joe Gibbs Racing, which signed him to a driver development deal when he was 15, and then put “Sliced Bread” in a NASCAR national series race seven days after his 18th birthday. There was a plan to develop Logano, but it was scrapped when JGR fast-tracked him to Cup after just 19 Xfinity Series starts because Hall of Famer Tony Stewart left ahead of the 2009 season. Logano wasn’t ready for the big leagues, and JGR let him go after four rocky Cup seasons. He landed at Team Penske and on Sunday won his second Cup championship ...

Lions do it their way vs Indiana

November 7, 2022

There have been plenty of Penn State teams – some good, some not — that have gone to Indiana and struggled. In 24 games against the Hoosiers, Penn State has a victory margin of 21.3 points at Beaver Stadium and is 12-0, but in Bloomington, the Nittany Lions are 9-2 but with a victory margin of 7.3. That includes a 3-2 record in the last five trips and a victory margin of 0.8 points. Turns out the venue didn’t matter this time as the Lions left no doubt, running off 38 unanswered points and breezing to a 45-14 win at atmosphere-less Memorial Stadium. “I’m happy with ...

Lions will need to make their own energy

November 5, 2022

By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com Some nitpicking as the Nittany Lions hit November at 6-2 or probably about one game better than most thought they’d be until they opened 5-0: n Today’s game at Indiana will be Penn State’s first game this season played in a sedate atmosphere. Road games at Purdue, Auburn and Michigan were packed. Memorial Stadium won’t be. Indiana has trouble drawing in good years, and the Hoosiers have lost five straight so the Lions will need to find their energy internally. n This is when team leadership — and coaching — is magnified. ...

PSU point-counterpoint: How should the quarterback situation be handled?

November 3, 2022

Clifford has lost right to be permanent starter By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com After last Saturday’s 44-31 loss to Ohio State, Sean Clifford lowered his career record vs. OSU and Michigan to 2-6, without a win over the Buckeyes. James Franklin has maintained loyalty to Clifford. After a shaky start at Michigan, which Clifford didn’t finish due to injury (leaving a QB question for the next game against Minnesota), Franklin said, “Sean has earned the right” to be the starter. That isn’t the case anymore. Not after Clifford was intercepted on the Lions’ ...

Upset bid turns (over) to nightmare

October 31, 2022

UNIVERSITY PARK — The true champion is most dangerous when he sees his own blood. And that’s exactly what happened Saturday afternoon as the Nittany Lions gave No. 2 Ohio State everything it wanted for 51 minutes. The problem is the game lasts 60, and as a result, an encouraging performance and budding upset unraveled into a four-touchdown collapse during a six-minute nightmare. The 44-31 loss came before 108,433 at Beaver Stadium, patrons who have seen it all too often against top-ranked opponents. It extended James Franklin’s streak to 11 straight losses against Top-10 ...

Lions’ best chance is to play keep away

October 29, 2022

PSU football Saturday: Ohio State at Penn State, noon. TV: FOX Radio: TOONA 1430-AM & 99.7-FM; WRAX-FM 106.5 By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com Penn State is unrivaled. It markets itself that way. On the field, though, it’s not been so unrivaled. There have been plenty of teams that have dominated the Nittany Lions (Ohio State), drubbed them (Michigan three times in the last seven years) or upset them (too long of a list to extend this paragraph but it would start with Illinois.) Except for when Pitt is occasionally rationed a spot on the schedule, most ...