Royster to Stay Put

PSU lost a key underclassman earlier this week when Navarro Bowman declared for the NFL draft but RB Evan Royster will stick around for his senior season. The first team All Big Ten back made his decision on Wednesday.

I wanted to return to finish my degree and for my final year at Penn State, I'm looking forward to next season.

Royster will play an even bigger part in the Penn State offense next year with the uncertainty at QB.
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Bowman to Enter Draft

Penn state Jr linebacker Navarro Bowman has declared for the NFL Draft. #11 is projected to be a high 1st round pick.

I sat down with my family and the right choice for me is to pursue the next level," Bowman said. "I'm proud of my accomplishments in college but it's also a time to take care of my family

zombienation

Blackshoediaries
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2010 Capital One Bowl Game Notes

Click Here for Game Notes

When: Friday, January 1, 2010
Where: Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium (65,438)
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET
Attendance: 65,000
Series Record: Penn State leads, 1-0
Penn State Captains:
No. 17 Daryll Clark, Sr., QB
No. 45 Sean Lee, Sr., LB

Television: The contest will be televised by ESPN on ABC to national audience with Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge and Erin Andrews calling the action. The Nittany Lions are appearing on television for the 190th time in their last 192 games.
Radio: Penn State Sports Network (60 stations) Radio Team (10th year)
Play-by-Play: Steve Jones; Analysis: Jack Ham
Web stream: www.GoPSUsports.com
LSU Sports Radio Network: (Joe Hawhtorne, play-by-play; Doug Moreau, analysis; Jordy Hultberg, sideline). Sports USA Radio (Rich Cellini, Charles Arbuckle, Ross Tucker, Rich Herrera).


Coaches:

Joe Paterno
Penn State Record 393-129-3 (75.1), 44th Year
Overall Record: Same
vs. LSU 1-0
60th year on Penn State staff...all-time leader in career wins among FBS (1-A) coaches...300 wins faster than any coach in NCAA history...College Football Hall of Fame inductee in 2007.


Les Miles
LSU Record 51-14, 5th Year
Overall Record 79-35, 9th Year
vs. Penn State 0-0


The Series: The Nittany Lions and Tigers are meeting for just the second time. Penn State captured a 16-9 win over LSU in the 1974 Orange Bowl to cap the school's and Joe Paterno's first 12-0 campaign.


Lions and Tigers to Clash for Second Time in Capital One Bowl


Two of the nation's storied powers will meet for just the second time in the 64th Capital One Bowl. Penn State (10-2) and LSU (9-3) will be meeting for the first time since their 1974 Orange Bowl clash, which resulted in a 16-9 Nittany Lion win to clinch the program's first 12-0 campaign. The No. 13 Nittany Lions are playing in their fourth different New Year's bowl game in the past five years, having played in the 2006 FedEx Orange Bowl, 2007 Outback Bowl and 2009 Rose Bowl. Penn State's last game was a 42-14 win at Michigan State on Nov. 21. The Tigers posted a 33-30 overtime win over Arkansas on Nov. 28 in their last regular season game. Penn State has a 50-13 (79.3) record since the start of the 2005 season, the nation's eighth-best record over that span. LSU is No. 9 with a 51-14 mark (78.4) over the past five seasons.


Nittany Lions have Nation's No. 3 Bowl Winning Percentage


Penn State is No. 3 in the nation in bowl winning percentage among schools with at least 10 post-season victories, earning a 26-13-2 record for a 65.8 winning percentage. The Nittany Lions also are third nationally with 26 bowl victories and their 42nd bowl visit ranks eighth nationally. Boston College (13-6, 68.4) and USC (31-16, 65.9) are the only teams with at least 10 bowl wins that have a higher winning percentage than Penn State. Penn State leads all Big Ten Conference teams in bowl victories, appearances and winning percentage. Coach Joe Paterno is the all-time leader in bowl wins (23-11-1 record) and appearances (36th). He is third with a 67.14 winning percentage among coaches with at least 12 bowl visits.


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5 PSU Recruits to Play in U.S. Army All American Bowl

Penn State will be the only program to have 5 players on a single roster and are tied with USC and Texas as having the most overall (5) recruits (going in). This is the game where some players announce mid-game where they intend to play.

Linebackers Khairi Fortt and Mike Hull, QB Paul Jones, RB Silas Redd, and FB Zach Zwinak will all play for the East squad. But that core group could expand by game's end. Running back Marcus Lattimore and DT Sharrif Floyd -- No. 2 and No. 1 respectively at their positions nationally -- are both seriously considering Penn State as one of their top schools. (ZombieNation)

Say what you want about Paterno hurting the team by sticking around. Recruits are still coming in, this is the best class in a long time and among the best in the nation.

Game: Jan. 9, 2010 at 1 p.m. on NBC

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PSU takes on Temple

PSU heads into North Philly as the 5-2 Nits take on the 5-2 Temple Owls. Taylor Battle leads the Lions in scoring (20.1), assists (3.6) and rebounds (6). Penn State has not been very impressive so far this season although they did knock off Virginia on the road. The got hammered by UNC Wilmington (ugh) and lost to Tulane (ouch).

Ryan Brooks leads the Owls in scoring (13.6) and Lavoy (don't call me Larry) Allen leads the team in boards (9.6)

DW and rare reader and almost never contributor, Moose, will be in attendance after enjoying some of the local North Philly watering holes. Heard its a beautiful area. Expecting Temple to roll in this one.
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Penn State # 11

Penn state moved up to number 11 in the BCS Standings. They are number 10 in the AP Poll and number 9 in the Coaches Poll but the BCS Computers have them down at number 19.

Dissapointing season for the Nits. They played an easy schedule and lost at home to the only good teams they played. Those two teams happen to be just ahead of them in the BCS - and 8 and 9.

Down year overall in College Football in that a team with no real significant wins can possibly finish in the top 10. Maybe PSU can salvage the season with a Bowl win..
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Penn State @ Michigan State Game Notes

Click Here for the Game Notes:

When: Saturday, November 21, 2009
Where: Spartan Stadium (75,005)
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
Attendance: 75,005 (sold out)
Series Record: Penn State leads, 13-12-1
Penn State Captains:
No. 17 Daryll Clark, Sr., QB
No. 45 Sean Lee, Sr., LB


TELEVISION: The contest will be televised by ABC/ESPN to national audience with Mike Patrick, Craig James and Heather Cox calling the action.
The Nittany Lions are appearing on television for the 189th time in their last 191 games.

RADIO: Penn State Sports Network (60 stations)
Radio Team (10th year)
Play-by-Play: Steve Jones; Analysis: Jack Ham
Web stream: www.GoPSUsports.com
Spartan Sports Network (George Blaha, play-byplay;
Jim Miller, analysis; Jason Strayhorn, sideline).
XM Radio 196; Sirius 129.

COACHES:
Joe Paterno
Penn State Record . .392-129-3 (75.1), 44th Year
Overall Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Same
vs. Michigan State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-5
60th year on Penn State staff...all-time leader in career wins among FBS (1-A) coaches...300 wins faster than any coach in NCAA history...College Football Hall of Fame inductee in 2007.

Mark Dantonio
MSU Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22-15, 3rd Year
Overall Record . . . . . . . . . . . . .40-32, 6th Year
vs. Penn State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-1

THE SERIES: The Nittany Lions and Spartans first met in 1914 and Penn State leads the series, 13-12-1.
With Penn State's entry into the Big Ten in 1993, the teams have played in the regular season finale the past 16 years, with the winner claiming the Land Grant Trophy.
The Nittany Lions won, 49-18, last year in Beaver Stadium in a battle for the Big Ten Championship.



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PSU Pulls a Henry Hill on Fans

News from State College via The Big Lead and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette online:

Cutting to the chase: For many years, Penn State has charged Nittany Lion Club members a minimum of $100 per seat per season for the opportunity to purchase tickets. That goes for tickets on the 50-yard line or in the end zone.

The school has not yet announced specifics of the proposed arrangements, but according to a report in Sunday's Harrisburg Patriot-News, which school spokesman Greg Myford did not dispute in Monday's Mirror, PSU is considering raising the mandatory minimum to $600 between the 40-yard lines, $400 between the 40s and the goal lines and $200 in the end zone. 

Oh you’re unemployed, fuck you, pay me. Can’t afford to send your kids to college, fuck you, pay me. The country is in the midst of an historic recession, fuck you, pay me. You don’t think a mediocre two-loss football team deserves and exorbanant increase in ticket prices in order to support non-money-making sports clubs….you get the idea.

As long as they still have $1 pitchers at The Lions Den, I’m good. 

 

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No.14 PSU

Saturday’s game wasn’t pretty, but PSU came back from an early 10-0 deficit to defeat Indiana 31-20 at Beaver Stadium. The win, combined with losses from No.9 USC, No.14 Miami, No.15 Houston, No.16 Utah and No.17 Arizona, helped Penn State make the jump to No.14 in this week’s BCS standings, keeping hope alive for an at-large selection into one of the four BCS bowls, excluding the National Championship. PSU needs to finish in the top 14 in the final BCS standings on December 6^th to qualify for a BCS bowl. The Lions play their final game of the season this Saturday at Michigan State, and following that game their fate will be largely decided by teams ahead of them. MSU is a tough road game to end the season on - hopefully JoePa has one more win in him for 2009.

BCS Standings:

1	Florida
2	Alabama
3	Texas
4	TCU
5	Cincinnati
6	Boise State
7	Georgia Tech
8	LSU
9	Pittsburgh
10	Ohio State
11	Oregon
12	Oklahoma State
13	Iowa
14	Penn State

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'09-'10 Penn State Nittany Lions

2008-09: 27-11, 10-8, NIT

Key Losses: F Jamelle Cornley, G Danny Morrissey, G Stanley Pringle

Key Freshmen: G Tim Frazier, G Jermaine Marshall

Projected Starting Five:
Talor Battle, Junior, Guard, 16.7 points per game
Chris Babb, Sophomore, Guard, 2.8 points per game
David Jackson, Junior, Forward, 4.5 points per game
Jeff Brooks, Junior, Forward, 3.3 points per game
Andrew Jones, Junior, Forward, 6.2 points per game

Backcourt:
This team is essentially Talor Battle, and then everyone else. The junior guard is on the Naismith Award Watch List for 2010 after an impressive ’09 campaign, and is the only member of the team who averaged more than 7 points per game last season. Danny Morrissey, PSU’s sixth man from last year is gone this year, leaving a big hole in the backcourt for sophomores Cammeron Woodyard and Chris Babb to fill.

Frontcourt:
PSU is bringing back three players who started at least twelve games last season, and 6-9 sophomore Andrew Jones should step up to lead the group. Jones averaged 6.2 ppg and 5.8 rpg in his freshman year, and PSU will need him to become a consistent scorer for the team to succeed in the coming season.

Player to Watch: Talor Battle, 5-11 PG, 16.7 ppg 5.0 apg in 2009. See above. He’s nasty.

Prediction: I’m saying they make it to the Big Dance this year. They got screwed last season - this is their year.
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Ohio State @ Penn State Game Notes

Full Game notes click here.
When: Saturday, November 7, 2009
Where: Beaver Stadium (107,282)
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
Attendance: 109,000 (sold out)
Series Record: Tied, 12-12
Penn State Captains:
No. 17 Daryll Clark, Sr., QB
No. 45 Sean Lee, Sr., LB


Television: The contest will be televised by ABC/ESPN2 to national audience with Sean McDonough, Matt Millen and Holly Rowe calling the action.

The Nittany Lions are appearing on television for the 187th time in their last 189 games.

RADIO: Penn State Sports Network (60 stations) Radio Team (10th year)


Play-by-Play: Steve Jones; Analysis: Jack Ham

Web stream: www.GoPSUsports.com
Ohio State Radio Network (Paul Keels, play-byplay; Jim Lachey, analysis; Marty Bannister, sideline). Touchdown Radio (Frank Frangie, Gino Torretta, Roxy Bernstein). XM Radio 144; Sirius 123.

Coaches:


Joe Paterno
Penn State Record: 391-128-3 (75.2), 44th Year
Overall Record: Same
vs. Ohio State 8-12
60th year on Penn State staff...all-time leader in career wins among FBS (1-A) coaches...300 wins faster than any coach in NCAA history...College Football Hall of Fame inductee in 2007.


Jim Tressel
Ohio State: 90-21, 9th Year
Overall Record: 225-78-2, 24th Year
vs. Penn State: 5-3


The Series:
The series is tied, 12-12. Penn State won, 13-6, last year in Columbus. The home team has won 12 of the 16 meetings since the Nittany Lions began Big Ten play in 1993, but the visiting team has won the last two contests.

The squads next meet Nov. 13, 2010 in Ohio Stadium.



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PSU @ Michigan Game Notes

When: Saturday, October 24, 2009
Where: Michigan Stadium ((106,201)
Kickoff: 3:36 p.m. ET
Attendance: 106,000-plus (sold out)
Series Record: Michigan leads, 10-4
Penn State Captains:
No. 17 Daryll Clark, Sr., QB
No. 45 Sean Lee, Sr., LB


Television: The contest will be televised by ABC to national audience with Sean McDonough, Matt Millen and Holly Rowe calling the action. The game will air on ESPN outside the ABC coverage area.

RADIO: Penn State Sports Network (60 stations) Radio Team (10th year)
Play-by-Play: Steve Jones; Analysis: Jack Ham Web stream: www.GoPSUsports.com Michigan Sports Network (Frank Beckmann, playby- play; Jim Brandstatter, analysis; Doug Karsch, sideline). Touchdown Radio (Roxy Bernstein, Gino Torretta, Jon Bloom). XM Radio 196; Sirius 122.

Coaches:


Joe Paterno
Penn State Record: 389-128-3 (75.1), 44th Year
Overall Record: Same
vs. Michigan 4+10
60th year on Penn State staff...all-time leader in career wins among FBS (1-A) coaches...300 wins faster than any coach in NCAA history...College Football Hall of Fame inductee in 2007.


Rich Rodriguez
Michigan Record: 11-18, 2nd Year
Overall Record: 113-73-2, 17th Year
vs. Penn State: 0-1


The Series:
The Nittany Lions and Wolverines are meeting for the 15th time. Penn State won, 46-17, last year, but Michigan leads the series, 10-4.

The four clashes just prior to 2008 were decided by a combined 17 points, all by seven points or less.


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Psu - Del Val Game Notes

Go Here for Game Notes. I understand playing in-state, non-conference cupcakes like Temple but, why Eastern Illinios? I think it was a last minute fill-in game but still...

When: Saturday, October 10, 2009
Where: Beaver Stadium (107,282)
Kickoff: 12:05 p.m. ET
Attendance: 105,000
Series Record: First meeting
Penn State Captains:
No. 17 Daryll Clark, Sr., QB
No. 45 Sean Lee, Sr., LB

Television: The contest will be televised by ESPN Classic to national audience with Dave Lamont and JC Pearson calling the action. The Nittany Lions are appearing on television for the 183rd time in their last 185 games.

Radio Team (10th year)
Play-by-Play: Steve Jones; Analysis: Jack Ham
Web stream: www.GoPSUsports.com
Panther Radio Network (Mike Bradd, play-by-play; Jack Ashmore, analysis). XM Radio 197; Sirius 129.

Coaches:

Joe Paterno
Penn State Record 387-128-3 (75.0), 44th Year
Overall Record Same
vs. Eastern Illinois 0-0
60th year on Penn State staff...all-time leader in career wins among FBS (1-A) coaches...300 wins faster than any coach in NCAA history...College Football Hall of Fame inductee in 2007.

Bob Spoo
Eastern Illinois Record 136-110-1, 22nd Year
Overall Record same
vs. Penn State 0-0

The Series: The Nittany Lions and Panthers are meeting for the first time.

This Week

Penn State plays its final non-conference game, hosting Eastern Illinois in the first meeting between the teams. The Nittany Lions are coming off a 35-17 win at Illinois, while the Panthers are coming off a 36-31 loss to Eastern Kentucky. Penn State has a 44-12 record since the start of 2005, the nation's ninth-best record over that span.

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Penn State vs Illinois Game Notes

Penn State (3-1, 0-1)
at
Illinois (1-2, 0-1)

When: Saturday, October 3, 2009

Where: Memorial Stadium (62,870)

Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. CT/3:30 p.m. ET

Attendance: 62,000-plus (sold out)

Series Record: Penn State leads, 13-3

Penn State Captains:

No. 17 Daryll Clark, Sr., QB
No. 45 Sean Lee, Sr., LB

TELEVISION: The contest will be televised
by ABC/ESPN to national audience with Mike
Patrick, Craig James and Heather Cox calling
the action.
The Nittany Lions are appearing on television
for the 182nd time in their last 184 games.

RADIO: Penn State Sports Network (60 stations)
Radio Team (10th year)
Play-by-Play: Steve Jones; Analysis: Jack Ham

Web stream: www.GoPSUsports.com

Illini Sports Network (Brian Barnhart, play-byplay;
Kurt Kittner, analysis). Sports USA Radio
(Rich Cellini, play-by-play; Gary Barnett, analyst);
Roman Oben, sideline). XM Radio 144; Sirius 123.

COACHES:
Joe Paterno
Penn State Record . .386-128-3 (74.9), 44th Year
Overall Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Same
vs. Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-2
60th year on Penn State staff...all-time leader in
career wins among FBS (1-A) coaches...300 wins
faster than any coach in NCAA history...College
Football Hall of Fame inductee in 2007.

Ron Zook
Illinois Record . . . . . . . . . . . . .19-32, 5th Year
Overall Record . . . . . . . . . . . . .42-46, 8th Year
vs. Penn State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-3

THE SERIES: The Nittany Lions and
Fighting Illini are meeting for the 17th time. Penn
State leads the series, 13-3, including a 10-2
mark since the Lions began Big Ten play in 1993.
Penn State earned a 38-24 victory over
Illinois on Sept. 27, 2008.

The squads next meet on Oct. 9, 2010 in
Beaver Stadium.
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PSU #5

Penn State's 28-7 win over Syracuse has moved them from #7 to #5 (along with Ole Miss) in the AP Poll - thanks to Houston knocking off OK State. The Nittany Lions stay at #5 in the coaches poll. It is nice to be ranked this high but they better improve in a hurry if they wish to stay. Daryl Clark and the receivers, have looked good but that may be because Akron and 'Cuse have stuffed the box eliminating PSU's run game.

It is a good thing to see these unproven receivers have success but it will be more difficult come conference play. Akron and Syracuse have been successful in limiting Royster and the run game's production. Maybe I am being harsh but I feel like the '08 Nits would have put up 50 on those teams. Temple next...
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PSU to Play at FedEx in 2010

Penn State and Indiana announced today that the teams will meet at FedEx Field in Washington, D.C. on November 20th next season. It will be a home game for Indiana. This has to be one of the dumbest things I have ever heard. Why would IU want to play a "home" game in a city where their opponents have an enormous fan base?

Penn State athletic director Tim Curley said in a statement. "This game will provide a great chance for some of our players to play close to home and for our fans and the more than 40,000 Penn State alumni in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Washington, D.C. to see the Nittany Lions play in person."

I guess Indiana could care less about giving up home-field advantage. I would be pretty pissed if I were a Hoosier football fan...not that Hoosier football fans exist or anything, I'm just saying. Whatever, I'll be there.



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The Morning After - Weekend Edition

O's 7 Phillies 2: The Phillies home woes continue as Rich Hill pitched a rare good game holding the Phillies to 2 first inning runs over 6+. Antonio Bastardo pitched relatively well allowing 4 runs over 7 innings. Jayson Werth, the only Phillie who showed up for this homestand, had a 2 rbi double for the Phillies in the first inning giving them an early 2 run lead, beofre th Phillies decided to put their bats away for the night. For anyone looking for a bright spot, the Phillies got 7 innings from a starter and only used Bastardo and Jack Taschner so they should have a fairly rested bullpen for tonight's game. The NL East lead is down to 2 games. Happ looks to right the ship tonight against Brad Bergesen, another no-name who the Phillies will try to make look like Cy Young. No, I think Happ pitches a gem tonight and Hamels wins tomorrow. Go Phils

LSU 14 Arkansas 5: LSU cruises into the CWS Final riding a 13 game winning streak. Arkansas tried to keep it close using Closer Stephen Richards to start the game due to an exhausted rotation. He did, up until the third inning when LSU scored 3 runs off of him and relievers. There was no stopping LSU. Tigers starter Anthony Ranaudo pitched 6 scoreless innings, only throwing 77 pitches, which may make him available for game 2 of the finals on Tuesday.

Texas 4 Arizona State 3: Two outs from forcing a rematch to decide who makes the CWS Final Arizona State could not hold on. Texas' Cameron Rupp hit a game-tying solo homerun with one out in the ninth and two batter later Texas won on a walk off homer by Connor Rowe. The Instant Classic sets up a CWS final between Texas and LSU.

U.S. OPEN: Mike Weir (-6) has a 2 stroke lead after round 1.

U.S. Basketball: Villanova's Corey Fisher and Penn State's Taylor Battle are two of twelve collegiate players named to the U.S. Team for the World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia in July. Road Trip anyone?

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