Penn State to host annual coaching clinic with new staff

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Frank Bodani

Coach Bill O’Brien and his staff will welcome several hundred coaches March 30-31 for the Penn State Annual Football Coaches Clinic.

The clinic will feature two days of lectures and demonstrations by the Nittany Lions’ staff, including O’Brien, who was named head coach Jan. 6.

Penn State’s annual spring gathering traditionally draws more than 800 high school and youth league coaches from all parts of the country and beyond.

The clinic begins at 9 a.m. on March 30, with final registration starting at 7:30 a.m. in Holuba Hall. O’Brien will speak to all clinic attendees Friday night prior to the coaches’ social gathering.

Included will be an opportunity to observe a full practice, as well as presentations by Penn State’s new strength and conditioning staff, led by director Craig Fitzgerald.

The clinic costs $85 per person and includes Friday’s lunch and dinner and the Friday night social.

Coaches interested in attending can register or get more information at www.gopsusports.com/camps/fb-coaches-clinic. Coaches also can call 814-865-0561, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Joe Paterno’s Harrisburg memorial Mass to be televised

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Frank Bodani

A memorial Mass to celebrate the life of Joe Paterno will be shown by the Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) on same-day taped coverage.

The memorial for the former Penn State football coach will be held at the Cathedral Parish of St. Patrick in downtown Harrisburg. It will air statewide on PCN at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Paterno’s youngest son, Scott, is expected to make remarks on behalf of the family. Penn State graduate Caroline Jarrod will lead the Trinity High concert choir’s performance during the Mass.

The Bishop of Harrisburg, the Most Reverend Joseph P. McFadden, will lead the celebration.

Local Penn State alums and community members organized the memorial.

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Kennedy, McKenzie celebrate Super Bowl win

Posted on February 8, 2012 by scoons

GoPSUSports.com shares some of the sights and sounds of Super Bowl XLVI before chatting with former Nittany Lions and current Giants players Jimmy Kennedy and Kareem McKenzie. The reporter caught up with the players on the field after New York beat the New England Patriots.

McKenzie is a tackle, and Kennedy is a defensive tackle for the Giants.

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Bill O’Brien’s staff to debut in Blue-White Game

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Frank Bodani

Penn State’s new coaching staff will make an official debut of sorts in the annual Blue-White Game on April 21 in Beaver Stadium.

Bill O’Brien’s staff, includes just two holdovers, assistants Larry Johnson and Ron Vanderlinden, from the Joe Paterno regime.

As always, the Blue-White Game will be just part of a weekend featuring a carnival, fireworks and the Penn State Idol finals.

Of course, autographs, admission and parking will be free for the scrimmage.

The festivities also will continue to stretch into Sunday, as well, with a fundraising 5K race and an additional day for the carnival.

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Chaz Powell one of seven Lions going to the NFL Combine

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Frank Bodani

Susquehannock’s Chaz Powell is one of seven Nittany Lions headed to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis at the end of the month.

The former Penn State cornerback and kickoff returner was an honorable mention All-Big Ten pick last season.

Now, he will be joined by these other Lions in Lucas Oil Stadium Feb. 22-28: defensive end Jack Crawford, cornerback D’Anton Lynn, wide receiver Derek Moye, defensive tackle Devon Still, linebacker Nate Stupar and guard Johnnie Troutman.

Penn State’s seven invitees are tied for fourth-highest in the nation, behind only Alabama (9), LSU (8) and Wisconsin (8). Oklahoma, Oregon, USC and Iowa also will have seven participants.

Crawford, Lynn, Powell, Still and Stupar were major contributors to a Penn State defense that ranked No. 1 in the Big Ten and fifth nationally in scoring defense and 20th in the NCAA in total defense.

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Penn State live chat, Feb. 6

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Jessica Sprenkle

You know the drill: Frank will host his weekly live chat at 8 p.m. Monday. In the meantime, here’s his column introducing Penn State recruit Steven Bench, a rare Nittany Lion prospect from Georgia.

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Nittany Lions well represented at Super Bowl XLVI

Posted on February 5, 2012 by scoons

When the New England Patriots and New York Giants clash Sunday in Super Bowl XLVI  in Indianapolis, Penn State will be well-represented.

The Penn State contingent is headed by new head coach Bill O’Brien and includes three former standout student-athletes — Kareem McKenzie, Jimmy Kennedy and Rich Ohrnberger.

O’Brien is the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for the AFC champion Patriots. McKenzie, a tackle, and Kennedy, a defensive tackle, are members of the Giants, while Ohrnberger, a guard, is with New England.

For the 41st time in 46 Super Bowls, at least one Nittany Lion will be part of the action, with at least one guaranteed of being on this year’s title team.

Thirty-three PSU alums have earned a total of 49 Super Bowl rings, most recently tight end Andrew Quarless with the Super Bowl XLV champion Green Bay Packers.

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Mementos at JoePa statue being dried out

Posted on February 2, 2012 by scoons

Flowers, candles, signs and other mementos were placed at the Joe Paterno statue outside Beaver Stadium in State College. These items are being dried out then returned to the Paterno family. (York Daily Record/Sunday News - Jason Plotkin)

The dozens of signs, bouquets of flowers and other items left by fans at the Joe Paterno statue outside Penn State’s Beaver Stadium in honor of the late Hall of Fame coach have been removed and stored inside the stadium to dry out.

University officials said the items were removed early Wednesday morning with the prior knowledge of Paterno’s family. Penn State says the family will have a chance to look at all the items to decide what to keep or donate.

Fans will still be allowed to leave more tributes. By mid-morning Wednesday, a lone bright-yellow daffodil rested at the base of the bronzed statue.

“We understand people want to do the right thing and we certainly appreciate their thoughts,” said Paul Ruskin, a spokesman for the university’s physical plant office. “It could go on for quite a while.”

Paterno’s son, Scott, in a tweet, thanked stadium employees for “collecting and protecting the mementos from the statue – hope to display them again someday.”

The statue turned into a makeshift memorial after Paterno died Jan. 22.

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PSU Podcast: Feb. 1

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Jim Seip

Frank Bodani and Jim Seip discuss Penn State’s first recruiting class under head coach Bill O’Brien.

Posted in Bill O'Brien, Frank Bodani, Jerry Sandusky, Jim Seip, Joe Paterno, Penn State, Podcast, PSU alumni, Recruiting | Leave a comment

Penn State announces two more football hires, including strength and conditioning coach;

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Frank Bodani

Penn State has officially announced two more hires to new coach Bill O’Brien’s staff, including one of the top young strength and conditioning directors in the nation.

Joining O’Brien will be Jim Bernhardt (director of player development) and Craig Fitzgerald (strength and conditioning). Fitzgerald replaces longtime strength coach John Thomas.

Bernhardt coached O’Brien at Brown University. He also spent time at Central Florida as a director of football operations, recruiting coordinator and running backs coach, in addition to stops coaching high school football.

Fitzgerald comes to Penn State after leading the South Carolina strength and conditioning program for three years under coach Steve Spurrier.

Fitzgerald and new Nittany Lions’ defensive backs coach John Butler both graduated from LaSalle College High in Philadelphia and worked together at South Carolina.

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