Daily Record/Sunday News - Jason Plotkin
GoPSUSports.com caught up with O’Brien and conducted question-and-answer sessions with him. In the first, O’Brien talks about his perception of spring practices and how the offense is shaping up. In the second part of the interview, O’Brien answers queries regarding the Lions’ defense and special teams, as well as looking ahead to training camp (which begins Aug.6) and the nonconference schedule.
Continue reading
Penn State football players have served this country in the military at least since first World War.
And so Memorial Day has always brought feelings to them most of us cannot quite understand.
It’s always a special day, usually in small, private, personal ways for those like Wally Triplett, James Harding and Lance Hamilton. As it is for current Nittany Lion fullback P.J. Byers.
From Korea to Vietnam to Iraq to whatever front line is yet to come.
They were heroes and history makers beyond the football field.
They were proud and yet often conflicted.
Former Penn State football player Wayne Wolfkeil was shot down and presumed killed during a fighter mission in Vietnam.
Today’s staff editorial at YDR.com argues that Joe Paterno and other highly paid state employees should not get pensions. The family of the late coach is slated to get $13.4 million.
Here’s an excerpt:
…The payment – a lump sum of $10.1 million and the rest paid out over the next two years – makes a strong case for reforming the state pension system.
Coach Paterno’s pension comes from the State Employees’ Retirement System, which covers everybody from a PennDOT flagger to the highest-paid employee in the state. As it is, the formula for determining pensions cuts off at $240,000 a year – still a pretty good figure. Even at that income level, a person should be able to provide for a comfortable retirement without having to collect a pension.
And that may be the issue. A number of very highly paid state employees are able to get huge pensions at a time when current employees are concerned about the future of the system.
What do you think?
There is something to be said for college football trophy “watch lists” in May:
There are a lot of candidates.
And another thing: Most of us will forget about these things until we are reminded of the lists getting cut in, say, four or five months.
Anyway, it’s still worth noting that Penn State’s Matt Stankiewitch has been named to the Rimington Trophy “watch list” to honor the nation’s top center.
Much of Silas Redd's success as a tailback will be because of the blocking of guys like Matt Stankiewitch.
Our main man Frank Bodani is back again to talk with you about PSU football.
Join him here at 8 p.m.!
It should be noted that Penn State’s trip to Virginia in Week Two will be quite the early-season gauge.
Now, it seems like it will be a bit easier for Nittany Lion fans to get there and enjoy it.
Do you like your noon football on a beautiful ACC campus?
Some worried that the game would be moved to a Thursday night, to accommodate ESPN.
Others wondered if it would be played Saturday night in Charlottesville.
Continue reading
Penn State fans now have another reason to like Bill O’Brien.
He’s been saying what they want: The Nittany Lions should play more national powers in the non-conference schedule, especially to start the season.
For years, fans have complained about paying big money to see too many home games against opponents no cares about. Too many lopsided victories with little to gain. Too many Coastal Carolinas and Buffaloes.
And O’Brien wants to change things.
More big names.
Bill O'Brien wants his Lions to start their seasons against the nation's best.
Bill O’Brien and his fellow Penn State coaches put in nearly 700 miles over the past week, meeting and greeting supporters at six stops in four states during the second leg of the Coaches Caravan.
The modified Fullington bus made stops in Hazleton, Pa.; Bethlehem, Pa., New York City, South Iselin, N.J.; Hartford, Conn. and Scranton, Pa.
The coaches were greeted by fans at each location, but Scranton wrapped up the second week of the tour in grand fashion. A capacity crowd of more than 930 fans were on hand, making it the Caravan’s largest stop to date. Some fans lined up 90 minutes before the start of the program to shake hands, get O’Brien’s autograph or snap a photo.
Nittany Nation is the place to go for the latest news and rumblings about the Penn State football program. Our team of contributors, led by longtime Nittany Lion beat reporter Frank Bodani, will offer perspectives and insight on PSU from the present and past, along with coverage of York County's unique connections to Penn State football.
