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Clifford: Lions have proven they can’t win without him

Who is Penn State’s MVP (Most Valuable Person) so far this season? By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com You’ve noticed the phrasing to allow for a member of the coaching or support staff. And Cory’s nomination of Brent Pry makes sense. Pry has been a pillar of stability, an invaluable right-hand man to James Franklin since arriving in 2014, and his defense has played at a high level almost all year. Plus he’s an Altoona guy so I’m partial there, too. But Penn State’s 2021 MVP (most valuable player/person) is Sean Clifford. When Cory was taking a poll a ...

When it comes to value, Pry is the top guy at PSU

Who is Penn State’s MVP (Most Valuable Person) so far this season? By Cory Giger For the Mirror The wording of this question is very important. It’s not most important player. That’s quarterback Sean Clifford, obviously, because we’ve seen why he’s really the most important player to his team’s success in all of college football. It’s not most valuable player, which I generally deem as the best player. That’s Jahan Dotson, who might be the best wide receiver in Penn State history. We’re asking about the most important person in the PSU program this season, ...

WR Dotson separates PSU from Terps

Penn State stopped the bleeding Saturday that was dripping from its three-game losing streak with a 31-14 win at Maryland and, in doing so, the Nittany Lions can approach the remaining three games of the regular season with a positive vibe. Sean Clifford acknowledged this particular 1-0 — the program’s mantra — could be listed in bold-face type. “We were on a losing streak,” he said. “Every win feels good (but) we put in so much effort and so much time. A lot of teams might have folded with what we’ve gone through, but we just went back to work.” Heading into a ...

Bensons provide view of Maryland

Maryland has been a member of the Big Ten Conference since 2014, and, similar to when Penn State joined the league 29 seasons ago (already), it’s not been the easiest transition. For one, the Terps do not have a dominant football program so a division including Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan and now a Michigan State program on solid ground adds to the challenge. As Maryland and Penn State, both 5-3 overall and 2-3 in the Big Ten, are set to test each other at Maryland Stadium (3:30 p.m., FoxSports1), two proud Altoona alums who made their marks with the Terps weighed in. Two of ...

PSU point-counterpoint: What is your best bowl game scenario?

It’s a slam dunk: Pitt. Even if Penn State goes unbeaten in November — though it’s more likely the Nittany Lions will be 2-2 — this season imploded with losses to Iowa and Illinois. It could have been rescued by beating Ohio State, but that didn’t happen. The Lions hung in admirably and played hard, but the bottom line was a 33-24 loss and a three-game losing streak. Penn State will be double-digit favorites over Maryland and Rutgers, and if the Lions split with the Michigans — Harbaugh and Sparty — they’d land at 8-4. So instead of sliding into a been-there-done-that ...

PSU point-counterpoint: What is your best bowl game scenario?

Neil is right. Now, I don’t always like to say that because, well, I don’t want him to get overconfident. But yes, a Penn State vs. Pitt matchup in a bowl game somewhere would be awesome. I would love to watch Kenny Pickett square off against the Penn State defense. But there’s another quarterback I wouldn’t mind seeing Penn State play — probably in the Outback Bowl — and that’s Will Levis from Kentucky. Personally, I just want to talk to him during the pregame interviews and ask him how in the world he can eat a banana with the peel still on, as well as put mayonnaise ...