October 2009 Archives

Welcome to the York Daily Record's ninth Penn State live chat of the season. The No. 12 Nittany Lions (7-1, 3-1 Big Ten) will continue its Big Ten play after demolishing Michigan at the Big House, 35-10 against unranked Northwestern (5-3, 2-2). Today's game will kick off at 4:30 from Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill.

Click here to be taken to the Penn State-Northwestern breakdown page.

For a story on Penn State's Graham Zug and Northwestern's Zeke Markshausen, click here.

To read about Penn State's ferocious defense, click here.

To find out what impact Halloween has on Ryan Field and this matchup, click here.

To read Frank's column on Penn State's focus ability, click here.

Check out this great video by Brad Jennings on the best Halloween costumes Penn State players have ever worn:

Keep an eye on Penn State fullback Joe Suhey today.

Sure, he's exceeded most expectations by being a reliable pass-catcher out of the backfield and even a decent short-yardage runner at times.

The best thing, though, is that he's making a homecoming. He grew up maybe 15 minutes or so from Northwestern's campus. His father, Matt Suhey, a former Penn State star fullback and later a blocking back for Walter Payton, stayed here after his days with the Chicago Bears.

That makes Joe Suhey a fourth-generation Nittany Lion.

And there could be more to come from the family. Joe has a younger brother playing football in high school.

Really, though, the Suhey family base is still State College. Joe's grandmother and football-playing uncles, Paul and Larry, still live there.

With about 10 minutes to go before kickoff, the Wildcats and Nittany Lions are done warming up, back in their locker rooms.

And we're wondering when all of the fans are going to get here?

Entire sections of the stands at small Ryan Field are nearly empty. Could there be 20,000 people here so far?

The winds are blowing pretty hard, looks like 15 to 25 mph or so.

Temperatures in the mid- to upper-40s.

But at least it's not raining. Penn State sports information reps are saying this will be the first game without precipitation since Temple, which goes back to Sept. 19.

It certainly hasn't been an easy week for Penn State coach Larry Johnson and his family.

That's why it was perfect moment for the defensive line coach on Friday night when he met up with former player Anthony "Spice" Adams and his family in the lobby of the Hilton here in Northbrook, Ill., the team hotel.

Adams, a defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears, came with his wife, Andenika, and their toddler son, Anthony III, and one of Adams' cousins.

Johnson served as a second father to Adams during his time with the Nittany Lions, helping turn his player's career around with some timely counseling and support.

Even now, Adams still spends a couple of weeks each summer training with Johnson and the Lions in State College.

On Friday night, Johnson walked off the elevator and approached the clan with open arms, ready to scoop up little Anthony III.

They all exchanged hugs and smiles and small talk.

So it certainly was a nice break for Johnson.

The past week had partly been spent dealing with the latest trouble son, Larry Jr., has gotten into while playing for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Johnson Jr. was suspended for allegedly making two gay slurs in the past week, the first on his Twitter account.

I think we must give a big shout-out to the Penn State women's volleyball team.

Hey, they made the ESPN Sportcenter highlights. They deserve all the attention they can get.

The Nittany Lions just won their 88th-straight match on Friday night by beating No. 7 Minnesota. That 88, by the way, ties the famous UCLA men's basketball streak.

Top-ranked Penn State (24-0) has won the past two national titles and is now tied for the fourth-longest win streak in NCAA history.

There's a little bit of pressure to do the Northwestern football trip right, you know.

This isn't West Lafayette, Ind., OK?

There's stuff to see and do and lots of parking jams to get into around Chicago.

So, of course, we had to take advantage of all of that.

Let's put it this way: More rain and rush-hour Friday afternoon traffic wasn't going to keep four Pennsylvania reporters from finding the suddenly legendary Cemitas Puebla restaurant for lunch downtown.

It's been a while since we've been in the north suburbs of Chicago.

Four years for the Nittany Lions.

Usually, Penn State has had the upperhand against Northwestern when it comes to football, except for that bizarre, inept contest here back in 2003.

Sure, the 1995 Michigan game in Beaver Stadium was known for the 18 inches of snow that fell the week leading up to it.

But the 2003 game in Evanston actually featured snow during the game -- enough to cover the field in a couple of inches.

The rain has finally stopped and the Nittany Lions have made it to team headquarters here at the Hilton Hotel in isolated Northbrook.

Nothing like being in the north Chicago suburbs, away from most everything.

But that's how Joe Paterno likes it.

For now, it appears that tomorrow's weather should be clear and dry, though quite a bit cooler than back East, maybe with high temperatures in the low-50s to go along with considerable wind.

Reports are that second-string tailback Stephfon Green, his speed a favorite on screen passes, has made the trip despite a bothersome ankle.

Don't expect Green to play much if at all, though. Everyone seems to think that sophomore Brandon Beachum, the former water and towell boy in high school for quarterback Daryll Clark, will continue to get No. 2 reps.

Water boy?

That's a story we'll have to get around to later.

Once again, Joe Paterno is on the the Paul "Bear" Bryant College Football Coach of the Year Award Watch List.

That's a big title.

What it means is that Paterno is one of about 20 candidates hoping to be named "coach of the year." Joe won it three times before, the most recent in 1986.

He was a finalist in 1994 and 2005.

He's going up against the likes of Pete Carroll (USC), Mack Brown (Texas), Urban Meyer (Florida), Nick Saban (Alabama) and Nittany Lion fans' dreaded rival from the west, Pitt's Dave Wannstedt.

It seems to be the year of the Boilermakers in the NFL. Three pro teams remain undefeated so far this season, and each boasts a former Purdue quarterback on its roster -- New Orleans has Drew Brees, Denver has Kyle Orton, and Indianapolis is breaking in rookie Curtis Painter.

Check out this story from The Associated Press on the success of these former Purdue QBs.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Perhaps the secret to NFL perfection is having a former Purdue quarterback on your roster.

The New Orleans Saints, Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts are a combined 18-0 this season, and they are the only unbeaten teams remaining in the league. New Orleans' Drew Brees and Denver's Kyle Orton are having career years, while Indianapolis rookie Curtis Painter is learning under Peyton Manning.

It so happens that all three became stars at Purdue under former coach Joe Tiller's spread offense. And with Purdue senior Joey Elliott leading the Boilermakers past Ohio State two weeks ago, it's a good time to be a member of a tightly knit Purdue quarterback fraternity that stays in touch and pulls for one another.

Penn State is still riding the momentum from last week's win against Michigan in the Big House. This week, the Nittany Lions travel to Northwestern to take on the Wildcats.

The Lions' offense has been clicking in the last several games, and quarterback Daryll Clark has targeted several different receivers. Penn State hopes to continue its success this week against a beat-up Northwestern secondary.

One of the players who has emerged on the Lions' offense is wide receiver Graham Zug, who caught three touchdown passes in last week's 35-10 win over the Wolverines. For Zug's views on this week's matchup, take a look at this video from the Big Ten Network.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State defensive end Thaddeus Gibson is the only current member of the team who is brave enough to take a football coaching class taught by head coach Jim Tressel.

"He's always in class, he's always in the first row," Tressel said. "So if you're there, you've got a chance."

Tressel added that he believes Will Smith is the only Ohio State player to ever get an A in the class.

Outside linebacker Jim Cordle said he also got an A, but Tressel said he thought it was actually an A-minus.

"I think I got an A in that class," Cordle said with a grin. "I want to look back and check."

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- When looking ahead to the rest of No. 17 Ohio State's season, the last three games? They've got buzz. The final three weeks, the Buckeyes travel to Beaver Stadium to take on the Nittany Lions, then host Iowa before wrapping up the season in the Big House against Michigan.
That buzz is decidely absent for Saturday's fish-in-a-barrel contest with overmatched and undermanned New Mexico State.
The Buckeyes (6-2, 4-1 Big Ten) go out of the league to host New Mexico State at noon Saturday. The Aggies are 3-5 on the year.
Not too surprisingly, tickets still remain for the contest.

Frank Bodani is once again here to answer your Penn State football questions at 8 p.m. Monday.

Read Frank's Monday column here.

We'll see you at 8 p.m.

Welcome to the York Daily Record's eighth Penn State live chat of the season. The No. 13 Nittany Lions (6-1, 2-1 Big Ten) will continue its Big Ten play after a convincing 20-0 win against Minnesota at Beaver Stadium. Today's game will kick off at 3:30 from Michigan Stadium.

Click here to be taken to the Michigan-Penn State breakdown page.

For a story on Penn State's athletics specimen Andrew Quarless, click here.

To see what Michigan's defense has to say about Penn State's top running back (Evan Royster) click here.

To read about what Sean Lee thinks about the Michigan game, click here.

Media members had a most unusual welcome upon entering the Michigan Stadium grounds today.

After showing our credentials, university police told us to place our computer bags on the ground and step away.

A police dog than proceeded to sniff and search each bag.

Certainly, it was an interesting twist on the whole post-911 routine upon entering stadiums. Usually, some type of official simply looks quickly through each bag by hand before passing us along.

With about an hour to go before kickoff, the wind is blowing pretty hard here in the Big House.

The teams are warming up and coaches on both sides are standing around watching, their jackets and pants blowing like they're in a wind tunnel.

Predictions call for temperatures to hold pretty steady throughout the game, in the mid-40s or so.

Our immediate thought is that isn't a good sign for Penn State kicker Colin Wagner, who has yet to impress us even on sunny, warm, calm afternoons.

If this holds up, watch for the success of the running games to possibly determine things. That could help the Nittany Lions, who have been particularly strong against the run this fall so far.

The breakfast buffet at the Marriott team hotel today in Ypsilanti featured a special guest.

Try a low-key appearance by Ed Helms, the actor who starred in the recent comedy, "The Hangover," and who also plays sales rep Andy Bernard on the hit sitcom, "The Office."

We're not sure of Helms' Michigan connection. He's from the Deep South and went to college at Oberlin.

He was quietly having lunch with a couple of friends, at one point chatting about "The Hangover."

Helms played dentist Stu Price in the movie. He also is scheduled to appear in the Hangover 2, now scheduled for a 2011 release.

We didn't approach Helms, though this kind of was a big moment. "The Office" happens to be a personal favorite.

Joe Paterno is ranked 25th in America, at least when the talk is about 80-year-olds.

Slate Magazine annually ranks the most powerful octogenarians, and this year Penn State's Paterno comes in at No. 25, down eight spots from last year.

Tops on the list? That would be Thomas Monson, also 82. He's the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints.

Other notables include Barbara Walters (No. 4), Henry Kissinger (11), Hugh Hefner (19) and Jimmy Carter (20).

The Nittany Lions will be without No. 2 tailback Stephfon Green when they take on Michigan in the Big House this afternoon.

Green, one of the fastest players on the team, aggravated a chronic ankle problem last week vs. Minnesota and did not make the trip to Ann Arbor on Friday.

So the new backup tailback, behind Evan Royster, will be either Brandon Beachum, Brent Carter or some combination of both.

Neither has seen significant carries this season.

The Nittany Lions march into Ann Arbor this weekend to take on the Michigan Wolverines, led by quarterback Daryll Clark. Penn State has typically struggled at Michigan and is looking for its first win in the Big House since 1996.

The Lions carry some momentum into this game, since their offense has finally started to click. In the past three weeks, Penn State has racked up 1,500 yards of total offense and scored 14 touchdowns while committing just two turnovers. Clark is obviously a big part of that, scoring six of those TDs himself while throwing just one interception.

In this video from the Big Ten Network, hear what Clark has to say about the upcoming clash in Michigan and Penn State's strategy to overcome its Wolverine woes.

The Penn State-Michigan game leads the slate of Big Ten matchups this week. The Nittany Lions head to the Big House to face true freshman quarterback Tate Forcier and the Wolverines at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

In other Big Ten action this week, undefeated Iowa takes on Michigan State, Illinois meets Purdue, Indiana and Northwestern clash, and Minnesota takes on Ohio State, which is still stinging after being upset last week by the Boilermakers.

Get a preview as The Associated Press takes a look at some of the storylines coming out of this week's games.

On the rebound: Penn State TB Evan Royster (at right) appears to have finally recovered from the flu-like illness that slowed him earlier this season.
After running for 137 yards on 23 carries last week against Minnesota, Royster is itching for a bigger workload this weekend at Michigan, especially with the status of backup Stephfon Green in doubt because of a chronic right ankle injury.
"It looked like he was hurting pretty bad," Royster said this week. "I wouldn't mind taking a couple more carries."

Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez intercepted a pass in 1984 to help West Virginia beat Penn State -- and Joe Paterno, of course -- for the first time in 27 years.
Before the game, Rodriguez's girlfriend -- and now wife, Rita -- had a request for JoePa during warmups.
"She went up to coach Paterno during warmups and said, 'In the spirit of good sportsmanship, would you mind taking a picture with my cheerleaders and myself?'" Rich Rodriguez recalled this week. "He was like the biggest celebrity she had ever met.
"We still talk about that, still laugh about that. Whenever we see each other, he still gives Rita a big hug and laughs."
Rita Rodriguez cherished the picture and said she saw it last year when she was moving into the family's house in Michigan and was trying to find it to share with reporters this week.

Joe Paterno has a small spot on the cover of Sports Illustrated this week.

And a pretty big feature story place inside.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Joe Posnanski "takes an in-depth look at the life, family and career of Joe Pa. Posnanski's profile on this legendary coach is an elongated thank-you note to Joe's father, Angelo, who allowed Joe to forgo a career as a lawyer and follow his passion-for 60 years and counting," stated a preview note mass emailed from the SI communications department.

After being heralded as the preseason Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor has had some struggles this season. He was responsible for four turnovers over the weekend, as the Buckeyes were upset by Purdue.

Despite the miscues, Pryor's s coach is standing by the quarterback, defending every last turnover. Read more in the following story by Associated Press writer Rusty Miller.

The Nittany Lions host the Buckeyes on Nov. 7.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Besieged by angry Ohio State fans who think his quarterback should be benched or moved to wide receiver, coach Jim Tressel defiantly said Tuesday he will make no major changes.
Terrelle Pryor remains the 18th-ranked Buckeyes' starting quarterback, even though he threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles -- and could have had another three or four turnovers -- in a stunning 26-18 loss to two-touchdown underdog Purdue on Saturday.
"From the film grade standpoint, he probably had less minus plays than he did in the past couple weeks," Tressel said on Tuesday. "Now, that's the good news. Here's the bad news: The minuses that we had were those triple minuses."

Sometimes I think back to the first Penn State-Michigan football game I covered.

It was 1994, my first season on the Nittany Lion beat.

I was 25, just got moved to the sports department in August and was really just figuring out what I was doing.

So I still didn't realize the magnitude of this matchup, the venue or how good this Penn State team would turn out to be.

Talk about Penn State football tonight at 8 with beat reporter Frank Bodani

No. 14 Penn State (6-1, 2-1) won its second Big Ten contest of the season in a snowy Beaver Stadium, 20-0, against Minnesota (4-3, 2-2). The Golden Gophers had no answer for Penn State's swarming defense as multiple players helped to hold Minnesota's offense to 138 total yards. Daryll Clark threw for 287 yards and one touchdown and Derek Moye had six catches for 120 yards. Evan Royster also rushed for 137 yards on 23 carries.

Below you'll find videos of a postgame roundup video from York Daily Record reporters Frank Bodani and Jim Seip.

Welcome to the York Daily Record's seventh Penn State live chat of the season. The No. 14 Nittany Lions (5-1, 1-1 Big Ten) will return to Big Ten play after an easy 52-3 victory against Eastern Illinois at Beaver Stadium. Today's game will kick off at 3:30 where snow is expected to be falling in Happy Valley.

Check out this pregame video with reporters Frank Bodani and Jim Seip at a snowy Beaver Stadium.

Click here to be taken to the Minnesota-Penn State breakdown page.

For a story on Penn State's pass rush, click here.

To find out who is 315 pounds and plays ice hockey, click here.

To read about star Gopher receiver Eric Decker, click here.

And for the latest regarding the snowy possibilities and tailgating woes, click here.

And the always entertaining Lion Truth features the meal players would cook for their date... Video by Brad Jennings.

About 30 minutes before kickoff and the Beaver Stadium field looks great as both teams warm up.

Watching Derek Moye and Andrew Quarless making sharp cuts on practice routes in the south end.

The footing looks good.

Despite the bizarre snow, it's really not too bad outside. It definitely was colder, more blustery, at the Michigan State game here last November.

Meanwhile, half of the press box just erupted in a false-alarm cheer as Purdue nearly picked off Terrelle Pryor with five minutes left.

It started 28 miles from State College this morning.

The snow.

Hanging heavy on the trees. Piling up on the grass along Route 322.

Falling heavy from the skies.

Great time for a backup on top of a mountain,

Fortunately, the roads were fine, just wet. And the dire predictions of a Penn State parking calamity because of the closed grass lots must have scared away plenty.

We rolled right into our lot across from Beaver Stadium by 11:30.

We had enough time to take a walk to the Creamery where we watched in amazment as the customer line for cones still stretched out the door ... in a lousy mix of rain and snow flurries.

The best part, though?

That would be hearing about the classic interaction between former PSU All-America tailback Ki-Jana Carter and our photographers.

Seems like Ki-Jana was pretty proud of the snowman he built outside of the stadium.

He posed for some video and handed out his business card (check out www.ByoGlobe.com).

Inside the Beav, there was just a little bit of shoveled pregame snow along the back of the end zone.

What a start to the day.

.

Football?

That's right. The Nittany Lions and Minnesota Golden Gophers are set to kick off from a snowy, cold Beaver Stadium at 3:30 p.m. Here are some pregame shots of the powder in the area, as well as a video of former Penn State running back Ki-Jana Carter playing in the snow.

TRICK QUESTION: What does Penn State coach Joe Paterno have in common with Robert Atkins, Arthur Agatston, Jean Nidetch, Jenny Craig, Richard Simmons and Harold Katz?

If you guessed it has something to do with weight loss, you'd be correct.

To read more about JoePa's method of slimming down his Lions, take a look at this story by Philadelphia Daily News writer Bernard Fernandez.

Penn State takes on Minnesota this week, but there is plenty of other Big Ten football action going on this weekend.

Here is a breakdown of Saturday's games by The Associated Press:

Penn State takes on Big Ten foe Minnesota this week. Elsewhere in the conference this Saturday, Iowa clashes with Wisconsin, Northwestern takes on Michigan State, Ohio State faces Purdue, Illinois takes on Indiana, and Michigan squares off in a non-conference game against Delaware State.

Here is a look at some of the story lines going on around the Big Ten this week from The Associated Press.

Brand new bowls: The Big Ten has three snazzy, shiny new bowl trips lined up, starting next season.

Now, if it could just figure out a way to win more bowl games.

The conference announced this week that it has signed agreements for the 2010-13 seasons with the Gator, Texas and Dallas bowls and has dropped its affiliations with the Alamo, Champs and Motor City bowls. The Big Ten is in the midst of an eight-year extension with the Rose Bowl that runs through the 2013 season and still retains affiliations with the Capital One, Outback and Insight bowls.

The three new Big Ten bowls will pit conference teams against opponents from the SEC, Big 12 and Conference USA in Jacksonville, Fla., Houston and Dallas, respectively.

The Texas Bowl will be played in late December, followed by six more Big Ten bowl games over a 26-hour window on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, 2010-13.

Penn State defensive tackle Jared Odrick has been having a strong season on the field for the Nittany Lions. In last week's game against Eastern Illinois, Odrick had 3 1/2 tackles for loss.

On the season, Odrick has had a part in 22 tackles, seven of them solo efforts. He also likes to get after opposing quarterbacks, notching four sacks so far this season for the Lions.

In this video from the Big Ten Network, Odrick talks about last week's victory, this week's matchup with Minnesota and even a little about the weather in Happy Valley.

Penn State takes on the Minnesota Golden Gophers this weekend at Beaver Stadium. One Minnesota player has overcome some major obstacles to get back on the football field. Here's a story about running back Kevin Whaley, pictured at right, from Associated Press writer Jon Krawczynski.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota running back Kevin Whaley has always been on the quiet side, and that didn't change after a bullet tore through his leg less than six months before he started his college football career.
"He didn't talk much about it," recalled Whaley's mother, Tracey. "He just kept saying, 'I'm going to be all right.' He knew in his heart that he would get back."
The road back has been long and bumpy and included an arrest last year during his redshirt freshman season. But coach Tim Brewster could not be more proud of the strides Whaley has made on and off the field.
Whaley rushed for 79 yards and a touchdown on eight carries in a victory over Purdue last weekend, giving the Gophers' ground game a much-needed jolt.

This week the Nittany Lions take on Minnesota. It's the first time since 2006 that the teams have clashed, with Penn State marching into Minneapolis and claiming a slim 28-27 victory that season.

This weekend is homecoming in Happy Valley, and the Lions are looking to win.

Get a little more insight into this week's matchup and hear what several Nittany Lions have to say in this video from the Big Ten Network.

Not only is Harrisburg jumbo defensive tackle Brandon Ware trying to recover from a broken bone in his foot, he's also stuck in Joe Paterno's dog house.

Which means he may not play a down this season.

Though Ware is expected to begin working out again with the team for the first time since injuring the foot in preseason workouts, Paterno was upset when talking about the redshirt freshman on Tuesday.

"Don't look forward to Brandon Ware doing anything this year," Paterno said. "He's way overweight, he's cutting classes. Brandon Ware, right now, is in my dog house, and I have no plans to use Brandon Ware."

It's still unclear whether All-America linebacker Sean Lee will finally be cleared to play again when Minnesota comes to Beaver Stadium on Saturday.

But it appears that he's closer than he's ever been since injuring his knee last month.

Lee tested the sprained knee in practice on Monday and seemed to pull through OK. Coach Joe Paterno, though, was hesitant when asked to make a prediction on Lee's game status.

"I'm anxious to see how he feels today when we go out there," Paterno said. But, "It's still not a done deal. I'm not sure whether he's going to make it or not this Saturday, but he's working like a dog trying to.

"We're not going to take any chances with his future," Paterno added later in his weekly press conference. "I keep telling him, 'Take it easy, Sean. Take it easy. Don't overdue it.'

"It would be selfish on our part and foolish on his if he went in there when he just doesn't feel like it's 100 percent."

Frank Bodani is here again, as he is every Monday night at 8 p.m., to answer your Penn State football questions.

If you'd like to look past Penn State's 52-3 demolition of Eastern Illinois, feel free, and ask away about Minnesota.

To read Frank's Monday column, click here.

And here's Steve Navaroli's column for the EIU game and a notebook as well.

We'll see you at 8 p.m.

No. 14 Penn State (5-1, 1-1) didn't have to try too hard in this one, as the Nittany Lions rolled over Eastern Illinois (4-2, 2-1), 52-3, Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Daryll Clark had three touchdown passes, including a 51-yarder to Chaz Powell and Kevin Newsome got some time in mop-up duty.

Below you'll find videos of a postgame roundup video from York Daily Record reporters Frank Bodani and Steve Navaroli as well as Joe Paterno's post-game press conference, raw footage of Bowman's fumble return, and a slideshow video.

Be sure to check the YDR's Penn State page as well as this blog for much more content regarding Saturday's win.

Also, please log on next week for another live multimedia chat when Penn State will jump back to Big Ten competition against Minnesota. Kickoff is schedule for 3:30 at Beaver Stadium.

Welcome to the York Daily Record's sixth Penn State live chat of the season. The No. 14 Nittany Lions (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) will face perhaps their weakest opponent of the season in a Football Championship Division opponent -- Eastern Illinois (4-1, 2-1) at noon at Beaver Stadium. It will be Penn State's first home game since losing to now-No. 12 Iowa, 21-10 on national television.

Here's a pregame video from Frank Bodani and Steve Navaroli.

For more coverage leading up to the Nittany Lions' intriguing game against Eastern Illinois, here are some links. Lots of linkage coming your way, so hang on.

Find out why Eastern Illinois coach Bob Spoo is a legend in his own right. Or what you should know about the Panthers. Or how the Lions matchup against another big cat. Also take a look at why Penn State's stepping away from the Big Ten and why Joe Paterno is defending the decision. Also EIU's Jake Christensen has made it all the way back.

Stick with us all afternoon as we've got you covered regarding everything PSU, including live photo and video updates throughout the game. You're welcome and encouraged to comment on what you see/read.

We'll also provide a live streaming video feed of Joe Paterno's post-game press conference.

And check out the video below for Penn State players offering their thoughts on what live concert for which they'd most like to have front row seats. Video by Brad Jennings.

Penn State punter Jeremy Boone goes out onto the field, game after game, for the Nittany Lions and gets little attention. His role isn't as glamorous or high-profile as that of the Daryll Clarks , Sean Lees or Evan Roysters of the world. His role is vital to the team's success, however.

In last week's win against Illinois, Boone averaged 49.5 yards on his four punts, boosting his Big Ten-leading average to 48.8. It was the way he mixed precision with power, however, that got him noticed. His 66-yard rocket in the first quarter, the third-longest punt of his career, was downed at the Illini 3-yard line, and another punt in the first half was downed at the 1-yard line.

Because of his performance against Illinois, Boone was named the conference's Special Teams Player of the Week, sharing the honor with Northwestern placekicker Stefan Demos.

For more on Boone, check out this Philadelphia Daily News story by writer Bernard Fernandez.

Last weekend, college football officials flagged a Georgia player for excessive celebration after catching a fourth-quarter touchdown pass, right. The penalty on the ensuing kickoff gave LSU decent field position, allowing the Tigers to drive down the field, score and ultimately win the game.

Debate has been raging about this penalty and the subject of end zone celebrations in general.

I don't agree with the NCAA rules. Scoring a touchdown, especially in a close game, is reason for celebration. It's a high-emotion situation. It's not reasonable to ask these players, with adrenalin pumping, to temper that emotion. That being said, I don't condone any kind of taunting of the opposing team. End zone displays should be a way to celebrate your own accomplishments, not to demean your opponents.

Here is another opinion on the subject, by Dallas Morning News writer Kevin Sherrington.

Frank Bodani is here again, as he is every Monday night at 8 p.m., to answer your Penn State football questions.

Read Frank's game story from Penn State's 35-17 victory against Illinois here. And here's a notebook from the same game.

We'll see you at 8 p.m.

Welcome to the York Daily Record's fifth Penn State live chat of the season. The No. 15 Nittany Lions (3-1, 0-1) will try to rebound from their shocking loss to previously unranked Iowa in their Big Ten opener. This afternoon's game against Illinois (1-2, 0-1), which kicks off at 3:30, will be the first away from Beaver Stadium for the Nittany Lions. Memorial Stadium will be the site for two teams on looking to turn things around.

This week we won't be with you live from the Memorial Stadium, but watching right along from the office, so feel free to offer your thoughts on anything going on in the action, what went wrong last week, what's going right (or wrong this week) and anything else on your mind.

Check out this edition of The Lion Truth to find out what the last movie that made Penn State's football players shoot some waterworks. Video by YDR/SN visual editor Brad Jennings.

For more coverage leading up to the Nittany Lions' first road game, here are some links:

For a straight preview of the game, click here. Illinois' Donsay Hardeman can really lay a hit on people. Enemies on the field, friends off it for Clark and Williams. Frank's column on Penn State having to regroup.

There is precious little time for recreational activity on a Penn State road trip.

Expect airport delays. Expect shuttle service holdups. Expect Midwest weather dilemmas.

But you have to eat.

And you might as well get a little exercise.

Penn State officials say that can't remember a time when more true freshmen made a road-game roster.

At least nine rookies made the trip to Illinois, and that's not even including speedster Devon Smith who has returned kicks and played at receiver but stayed in State College with a concussion suffered in the Iowa game.

Those who came along to Champaign-Urbana include receivers Curtis Drake and Justin Brown, safety Gerald Hodges, quarterback Kevin Newsome, cornerback Stephon Morris, defensive end Sean Stanley, defensive tackle Jordan Hill, center Ty Howle and snapper Emery Etters.

Hill, Howle and Etters have not played yet, preserving their redshirts so far.

Hodges and Newsome enrolled at Penn State in January.

Linebacker Sean will probably miss his second-straight game with a sprained knee when the Lions play at Illinois on Saturday afternoon.

A more definite scratch is true freshman speedster Devon Smith, a kickoff returner and receiver. He suffered a concusion against Iowa and won't make the trip to Illinois, coach Joe Paterno said on his weekly radio show.

And the status of receiver Chaz Powell, a Susquehannock High grad, is uncertain. Paterno mentioned that Powell had been sick all week.

We'll have more updates later today from Champaign, Ill. after the team arrives at its Holiday Inn headquarters.