Author Archives: John Patishnock

11.10.22
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Penn State Preview: Maryland

Penn State has completely dominated the series against Maryland (41-3-1) and won 31-14 last season at College Park (pictured). Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Beaver Stadium, and alumni and fans not attending can catch the game on FOX. Photo credit: Steve Manuel

Each week, we’ll tell you what to expect, what to keep an eye, and where and when you can catch the Nittany Lions this football season.

Game details: 3:30 p.m. kickoff, vs. Maryland, broadcast on FOX.

Venue: Beaver Stadium, where Penn State boasts an all-time record of 308-80.

Weather forecast (via Accuweather): High of 49; breezy and cooler with intervals of clouds and sunshine.

The line: Penn State -12.

All-time series: Penn State leads 41-3-1.

Last week: Penn State rolled Indiana 45-14, while Maryland stumbled at Wisconsin, 23-10.

Last meeting (2021): The Nittany Lions brushed aside the Terps 31-14 at College Park, with Sean Clifford throwing three touchdowns — all to Jahan Dotson, who scored four times early this season for the NFL’s Washington Commanders before an injury sidelined him. Current safety and team captain, safety Ji’Ayir Brown, iced the win with an 87-yard interception returned for a touchdown.

The lead: Saturday’s game features the third- and fourth-ranked scoring offenses in the Big Ten, with Penn State (34.4) and Maryland (31.4) both averaging 30-plus per game. The two squads are also ranked together for scoring defense: Penn State (21.1), Maryland (24).

So, what will give?

At 6-3, Maryland is having a successful season by its standards, though the Terps lost to Michigan and have yet to face Ohio State, so Maryland has largely feasted on mid- and lower-tiered teams. Penn State defensive tackle Chop Robinson faces his former team, transferring to University Park from College Park, home to Maryland. The Terps beat Indiana and Northwestern by a combined 12 points. That’s respectable, I guess, though that type of effort won’t get them a win Saturday.

Penn State’s the better team, so from any angle, with much more to play for this season. If the Nittany Lions stay focused and don’t play down to their competition — and play up to their standards — they should continue their march to a 10-win season.

Big Ten schedule:

Indiana at Ohio State, noon (FOX)

Rutgers at Michigan State, noon (BTN)

Purdue at Illinois, noon (ESPN2)

Wisconsin at Iowa, 3:30 p.m. (FS1)

Nebraska at Michigan, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

Maryland at Penn State, 3:30 p.m. (FOX)

Northwestern at Minnesota, 3:30 p.m. (BTN)

Academic excellence: Per Penn State football’s game notes: A total of 552 Penn State student-athletes have earned Academic All-Big Ten honors since the team began competing in the conference in 1993. Each honoree totaled at grade point average of at least 3.0 while being a letterwinner.

Trivia tidbit: Penn State tied a program record last week with 16 tackles for loss.

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11.04.22
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Hoosier Hospitality

The Pep Band — comprised of members of the Blue Band — performs during Friday night’s welcome event in Bloomington. The Alumni Association funds the Pep Band’s travel expenses for away football games, helping to bring Penn State spirit to alumni and fans across the country.

Felt good to return to Bloomington. It had been a while, you see.

Not for the football team. The Nittany Lions visited two years ago to play the Hoosiers. Though since COVID restrictions were securely in place, we (the Alumni Association) didn’t have the opportunity to travel and catch up with our Indiana Chapter. Friday night, for the first time in four years, that changed, as about 50 alumni and fans packed a reserved space in one of downtown Bloomington’s popular gathering spots. For anyone familiar with Bloomington, it was Crazy Horse, on Kirkwood Avenue, right through the heart of downtown.

You can see the archived livestream of the Pep Band and cheer squad performing on Facebook, and members will see and hear more from the band and cheerleaders in Monday’s email. The students will appear during Saturday’s Roar Tour, the premier pregame pep rally we host at away games. And as a perk, we’ll also send the email to non-members who attend the Roar Tour stop.

Earlier, we walked around Indiana football’s Memorial Stadium, sharing the customary photos we always aim to get on the road. Mainly, Penn State football’s massive equipment truck and a few stadium images. You can’t miss the equipment truck, though we almost did this evening, not seeing it until we finished our lap, tucked beneath the stadium’s lower concourse.

For the rest of the weekend, stay tuned to our Facebook page and Twitter channels for the Alumni Association and The Football Letter.

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For more on The Football Letter, (requires Alumni Association member log-in), click here.

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11.01.22
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Saving The Roar: World Television Premiere

The 2012 team, pictured on Senior Day prior to beating Wisconsin, had its story detailed in Saving The Roar. The film’s world television premiere is set for January, with cornerback Steph Morris (No. 12, second from left, middle row), sharing the news during his appearance on Football Letter Live. Photo credit: Steve Manuel

The timing worked out nicely.

We’re not in the habit of breaking news at The Football Letter. It’s never been part of our approach, and the phrase itself has been overused by seemingly everybody and every organization to place extra emphasis on common knowledge.

However, in this case, the framing fits.

We were thrilled to welcome letterman cornerback Steph Morris to Football Letter Live last month, and while we were talking in the studio before starting the broadcast, Morris shared an exciting and well-deserved update regarding Saving The Roar, a documentary that details the triumph of the 2012 team. You can learn more about the film, which had its world theatrical premiere last year, on its site.

The film’s director and producer, Michael Nash, sent Morris a message about 90 minutes before the show, sharing the news that Warner Bros. Discovery purchased Saving The Roar, and the film will have its world television premiere on Jan. 28, 2023. Additional details are TBD, and we’ll share them when they’re available.

You can watch Morris’ entire appearance on the show on our Facebook page — his Q&A starts around the 28:00 minute mark and he talks extensively about the 2012 senior class and the film. You can also see a select portion of his interview in the embedded video below. The standout cornerback talked about the importance of honoring his commitment, a common theme among that senior class.

We’ve also included a video below of some players from the 2012 team being recognized during the White Out last month. Penn State blew past Minnesota 45-17, with the players addressing the crowd between the first and second quarters.

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10.27.22
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Penn State Preview: Ohio State

Parker Washington (3) and the Nittany Lions host second-ranked Ohio State on Saturday at noon. A win this weekend sets up Penn State for a potential run for the Big Ten East Division title in November. Photo credit: Steve Manuel

Each week, we’ll tell you what to expect, what to keep an eye, and where and when you can catch the Nittany Lions this football season.

Game details: vs. Ohio State, kickoff at noon, broadcast on FOX.

Records: No. 13/13 Penn State (6-1, 3-1), No. 2/2 Ohio State (7-0, 4-0).

Venue: Beaver Stadium, where Penn State boasts an all-time mark of 308-79.

Weather forecast (via Accuweather): High of 58, sunny to partly cloudy. Temps should already be in the low 50s by the time the tailgating lots open at 8 a.m. and should hover in the mid-50s until reaching nearly 60 later in the afternoon. And no significant chance of rain.

The line: Penn State +15

All-time series: Ohio State leads 23-14.

Last week: Penn State bulldozed Minnesota 45-17 on Homecoming Weekend, while Ohio State trounced Iowa 54-10.

Last meeting (2021): Ohio State won 33-24 Columbus, after holding only a three-point edge heading into the fourth quarter.

The lead: Win Saturday, and Penn State vaults itself back into a Top-10 ranking and the conversation for both the Big Ten title and a spot in the College Football Playoff. And all of a sudden, November becomes very interesting. Penn State will be favored in each of its four games next month, and probably be at least a touchdown.

A week after a performance that earned him offensive player of the week in the Big Ten, quarterback Sean Clifford will need another near-flawless outing: he threw for 295 yards and fourth touchdowns, also throwing his third interception. He and his teammates don’t need to be perfect against Ohio State, though certainly their margin of error is slimmer Saturday than it will be at any other point this season.

Worth noting: Penn State will host Big Noon Kickoff, FOX’s college football pregame show, live from University Park for the first time. The broadcast will begin at 10 a.m. and lead up to the game at noon.

Roar Tour: Game result aside, last weekend was a lot of fun, and we always appreciate the opportunity to spend time with our alumni and fans. You can see the action from the Roar Tour at Michigan with our Flickr gallery and by visiting the Live tab on our Facebook page, which has all our archived livestreams featuring the Pep Band, Penn State Cheerleaders, and Nittany Lion. You can join us at either Indiana (Nov. 5), and/or Rutgers (Nov. 19), and we hope to see you next month on the road.

Keep an eye on: Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud. The Heisman Trophy candidate spearheads the Buckeyes’ impressive offense, as he’s thrown for 28 touchdowns against only four interceptions.

Academic excellence: A total of 552 of Penn State football student-athletes have earned Academic All-Big Ten honors since 1993 for owning at least a 3.0 grade point average and being a letterwinner.

Trivia tidbit, Part 1: Penn State didn’t allow any sacks against Minnesota, a feat the Nittany Lions have achieved three times this season.

Trivia tidbit, Part 2: ICYMI: Sean Clifford became the all-time completions leader at Penn State last week, and the four-time team captain now has 722, two ahead of Trace McSorley.

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For more on The Football Letter, (requires Alumni Association member log-in), click here.


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10.20.22
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Penn State Preview: Minnesota

Penn State hosts Minnesota on Saturday night for the Nittany Lions’ 14th full-stadium White Out. Last season, Penn State upended Auburn 28-20 during the program’s yearly White Out game. Photo credit: Steve Manuel

Each week, we’ll tell you what to expect, what to keep an eye, and where and when you can catch the Nittany Lions this football season.

Game details: vs. Minnesota, 7:30 p.m. kickoff, broadcast on ABC.

Records: No. 16 Penn State (5-1, 2-1) vs. Minnesota (4-2, 2-1).

Venue: Beaver Stadium, where Penn State boasts an all-time mark of 307-79.

Weather forecast (via Accuweather): Thank goodness. After nonstop rain against Northwestern and chilly conditions in Ann Arbor, the forecast is calling for a high of 68 and a minimal 5% change of precipitation. So, there should be great tailgating weather. By the time kickoff rolls around, temps will dip and eventually settle into the high 40s.

The line: Penn State –4.5

All-time series: Penn State leads 9-6, with a 5-2 advantage at home.

Last week: Penn State suffered its first defeat of the season at Michigan (41-17), while Minnesota dropped its second straight, falling to surprisingly good Illinois (26-14).

Last meeting (2019): The Gophers won in Minneapolis in a battle of ranked teams. No. 17 Minnesota handed No. 17 Penn State a crippling blow to the Nittany Lions’ conference and national title hopes, winning 31-26.

Throwback classic (1994): In Penn State’s conference opener, the Nittany Lions went on the road and wiped out the Gopher, winning 56-3. Recently on Football Letter, former equipment manager Spider Caldwell said following that game, Minnesota’s coaches told Penn State’s staff that they knew exactly what the Nittany Lions were going to run, and they still couldn’t stop them. You can see Spider’s full interview on our Facebook page, which begins around the 30:30 mark.

The lead: So, will history repeat itself again? It’s beyond cliché to ask this question, though it must be asked. Following its first loss of the season in recent memory, Penn State has shown a tendency to trip up again the following week. It’s near impossible to imagine a letdown during a primetime kickoff in the White Out, though the Nittany Lions looked sluggish for the entire first quarter in Ann Arbor following their bye. If that happens again, look out.

As we said in The Letter earlier this week, with true freshman and highly prized recruit Drew Allar available to go, a lot of eyes will look toward the sideline with every Penn State possession that doesn’t result in points. That’s not good for the offense. That’s not good for the defense. That’s not good for anyone in the program.

During his weekly press conference on Tuesday, James Franklin said that Clifford has earned the right to be on the field. He’s right. Beyond everything that he’s contributed to the program, Clifford has looked sharp for most of the season, leading the Nittany Lions to a 5-0 start and a Top-10 ranking before the misstep at Michigan. Reverse that result this weekend against the Gophers, and suddenly, the showdown with Ohio State the following week can vault Penn State back into the conference title conversation and significantly decrease Michigan’s margin of effort.

Roar Tour: Game result aside, last weekend was a lot of fun, and we always appreciate the opportunity to spend time with our alumni and fans. You can see the action from the Roar Tour at Michigan with our Flickr gallery and by visiting the Live tab on our Facebook page, which has all our archived livestreams featuring the Pep Band, Penn State Cheerleaders, and Nittany Lion. You can join us at either Indiana (Nov. 5), and/or Rutgers (Nov. 19), and we hope to see you next month on the road.

Keep an eye on: Penn State’s defensive front-seven. A week following a painful outing against Michigan, which ran for 400-plus yards, the Nittany Lions face another opponent who likes to keep it on the ground. How Penn State’s defensive line and linebackers hold up against the run, and guard against fatigue, will be critical. Will be interesting to see how many players Manny Diaz rotates in throughout the game.

Academic excellence: A total of 552 of Penn State football student-athletes have earned Academic All-Big Ten honors since 1993 for owning at least a 3.0 grade point average and being a letterwinner.

Trivia tidbit, Part 1: Saturday will be Penn State’s 14th full-stadium White Out, per Penn State Athletics.

Trivia tidbit, Part 2: Sean Clifford passed 10,000-career yards against Michigan last week. Not years. If you know, you know.

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10.14.22
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Michigan Chapter Magic

The Pep Band, Penn State Cheerleaders, and Nittany Lions thrilled alumni and fans at tonight’s alumni mixer in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Photo credit: Steve Manuel

We felt right at home this evening in Michigan. Thanks, largely, to the efforts of our Michigan Chapter.

Along with the Penn State Alumni Association, our Michigan Chapter organized and hosted our Friday night gathering, which featured the Pep Band, Penn State Cheerleaders, and Nittany Lion. The scene took place at Arbor Brewing Company in nearby Ypsilanti, about 10-15 miles from Michigan Stadium.

You can watch the archived livestream on our Facebook page featuring the band and cheer team, along with the non-live recording on our Twitter feed.

Michigan Chapter President Brodie Schultz ’15, ’17g welcomed alumni and fans on the eve of Penn State’s Top-10 showdown with Michigan. Photo credit: Steve Manuel

The chapter sold a raffle and Grilled Stickies that benefited its scholarship program, and plenty of folks showed up early to ensure everything was ready to go.

Chapter President Brodie Schultz ’15, ’17g welcomed Penn Staters on the eve of the Nittany Lions’ Top-10 showdown with the Wolverines on Saturday — kickoff is set for noon on FOX — following his appearance this week on Football Letter Live. Brodie talks about the inspiration behind his creating the chapter’s signature event, a golf outing supporting THON, and how the chapter connects Penn Staters year-round.

You can learn more info about the Michigan Chapter, including its event schedule, social handles, and more, on the chapter’s website.

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10.13.22
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Penn State Preview: Michigan

Keyvone Lee and the unbeaten Nittany Lions head to Michigan this weekend for a Top-10 matchup against the Wolverines. Kickoff is set for noon on FOX. Photo credit: Steve Manuel.

Each week, we’ll tell you what to expect, what to keep an eye, and where and when you can catch the Nittany Lions this football season.

Game details: at Michigan, noon kickoff, broadcast on FOX.

Records: No. 10 Penn State (5-0, 2-0) at No. 5/4 Michigan (6-0, 3-0).

Venue: Michigan Stadium, where Penn State won 27-17 during its last trip in 2020.

Weather forecast (via Accuweather): Old school football weather, with a high of 58 degrees. The forecast also calls for intervals of clouds and sunshine, with a possible shower.

The line: Penn State +7

All-time series: Michigan leads 15-10, including an 8-4 mark in Ann Arbor.

Last week: Penn State had a bye, while Michigan pulled away from Indiana in the second half for a 31-10 victory at Bloomington.

Last meeting: Michigan escaped Beaver Stadium with a 21-17 win.

Prior to kickoff in Ann Arbor in 2018, both the Penn State and Michigan bands performed pre-game, before ROTC Cadet and active duty Marines saluted during the flag-raising, and four F-16 Fighting Falcons flew over Michigan Stadium. Photo credit: Steve Manuel

Throwback classic (1994): Do you believe in messages from the universe? The year of Penn State’s run to the Big Ten and Rose Bowl title in 1994, the Nittany Lions faced Michigan in Ann Arbor on Oct. 15, with a 5-0 record, coming off a bye. That’s the exact situation Penn State heads into this weekend. Defensive back Tony Pittman started for that team — and led Penn State in interceptions the previous season — and you can hear Pittman chat about that team (and game) on this week’s episode of Football Letter Live. Tony appeared with his father, Charlie, a letterman running back who led Penn State in rushing and to two victories in the Orange Bowl in the late 1960s.

The lead: If Penn State will contend for a conference championship and possible spot in the College Football Playoff, going 2-1, at a minimum, over the next three weeks, is absolutely necessary. After Michigan breezed through a non-conference scheduled that offered little resistance, the Wolverines bested Maryland, Iowa, and Indiana to open Big Ten play.

For Nittany Lion quarterback and team captain, Sean Clifford, opportunities like the one coming Saturday will largely define his last season, and perhaps his career. Go into Michigan, lead a win over the fourth-ranked team in the country, and propel the team forward will go a long way this season and beyond.

Michigan boasts the seventh-best rushing offense in the country. The flip side: Penn State has the fifth-best rushing defense in the nation. If one side can assert itself at the line in a significant way, that advantage should be a determining factor. Turnovers — forcing and avoiding — will be another. Sounds simple, though as linebacker Tyler Elsdon said a few weeks: “Football, at the end of the day, it’s about tackling and blocking. The team that tackles best and blocks best usually wins.”

Against Central Michigan last month, true freshman running back Kaytron Allen rushed for 111 yards on 13 carries — the first 100-yard rushing game of his career. Photo credit: Steve Manuel

Shoutout to our Michigan Chapter: Our Michigan Chapter — along with the Alumni Association — will host an alumni mixer Friday night. The event has been sold out for weeks, and you can learn more by visiting the chapter’s website and watching this week’s episode of Football Letter Live. Chapter President Brodie Schultz joined the show to preview the weekend and talk about the chapter’s impact and experience in uniting Penn Staters. You can also visit our active list of chapters and affiliate groups to connect with alumni near you or with whom you have shared interests.

Roar Tour: If you’re heading to Ann Arbor for the game, we hope to see you at our Roar Tour pregame pep rally Saturday morning. See the pep band, cheerleaders, and Nittany Lions, and members who attend will receive a commemorative lanyard with the 2022 football schedule and roster.You can sign up for the Roar Tour at Michigan on our site.

Keep an eye on: true freshmen running backs Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton. The duo is averaging 153 rushing yards per game this season, and finding space for them beyond the initial blocks will be crucial for Penn State to build offensive rhythm.

Academic excellence: A total of 552 of Penn State football student-athletes have earned Academic All-Big Ten honors since 1993 for owning at least a 3.0 grade point average and being a letterwinner.

Trivia tidbit, Part 1: Singleton ranks in the FBS, averaging 7.35 yards per carry.

Trivia tidbit, Part 2: Sean Clifford has totaled 8,869 career passing yards, second all-time at Penn State. Trace McSorely is ahead with 9,901.

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10.11.22
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Roar Tour Rolls To Michigan

In a move that surprised nobody, Penn State alumni and fans packed the Roar Tour at Auburn. There are three more opportunities to attend the premiere pregame pep rally this regular season, starting Saturday at Michigan. The event begins at 9 a.m., with complete info on our site. Photo credit: Steve Manuel

The scene at Auburn was as impressive as it was spectacular.

If you think that opener refers to Penn State’s 41-12 victory, that’s understandable. That’s an apt description for the Nittany Lions’ win.

However, we’re talking about the Roar Tour, our pregame pep rally that’s the only place on the road where you can see the Nittany Lion, Penn State Cheerleaders, and Pep Band — comprised of members of the Blue Band. The Alumni Association knows how much the band means to alumni and fans, and how much the band members’ presence has an impact, which is why we fund the Pep Band’s expenses to away games.

Letterman running back Blair Thomas (1985-89) attended the Roar Tour at Auburn, sharing stories on what it was like playing for legendary coach Joe Paterno and greeting fans while signing autographs and posing for photos. Photo credit: Steve Manuel

Penn Staters began showing up more than an hour before the Roar Tour started. Well before the event officially began, the tent was packed, overflowing with alumni and fans wearing blue and white. Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi and VP for Intercollegiate Athletics Pat Kraft both stopped by, as did letterman running back and all-time great Blair Thomas.

Notably, Thomas, like many of the lettermen we meet, spoke about the impact that Penn Staters have when you travel for games.

Your support is felt. You do make a difference. And you have three more opportunities this regular season, starting Saturday in Ann Arbor. If you’ll be in town for the game, signing up for the Roar Tour will be (we hope) at the top of your list. The Roar Tour begins at 9 a.m., with complete details on our website. You can also sign up for Indiana (Nov. 5) and Rutgers (Nov. 19).

If you’re cheering from home, follow us on Facebook and Twitter for our onsite coverage. We’ll do our best to make you feel like you’re there.

The Roar Tour is the one place where you can get your picture with the Nittany Lion and cheerleaders, enjoy the band playing fight songs, and hear from Penn State’s leaders. And evident by Thomas, you just may meet a legend and get his autograph — you can see Thomas greeting fans and signing items as part of our highlight video from Auburn.

Go State. Beat Michigan. If you’re heading to Ann Arbor this weekend, we’ll see you there.

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10.05.22
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Legendary Perspective

Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Ham has served as the team’s radio analyst since 2000. Players seek him out for advice on football and life, and head coach James Franklin shares a weekly tradition with Ham, when the two will talk for about a half hour before practice. Along with Dan Connor, the program’s all-time leading tackler who is now a defensive analyst for Penn State, Ham provides first-hand insight to the current team as a letterman. Photo credit: Steve Manuel

Spend time around the Penn State football program — even a few minutes — and you’ll run into legendary Nittany Lions. When they played is almost beside the point. Who they played for is what counts.

For example: Dan Connor and Jack Ham.

Connor, a linebacker and the program’s all-time leading tackler, returned in an official capacity earlier this year, as a defensive analyst and analytics coordinator. This was following an NFL career that spanned six seasons and three teams, with Connor having been selected in the third round by the Carolina Panthers.

At Penn State (2004-07), Connor was a force, twice earning status as a First-Team All-American (2006, 2007) and winning the Bednarik Award as the nation’s best defensive player (2007). Why didn’t he also win in 2006, you may be wondering? Teammate Paul Posluszny claimed the honor.

Connor got into coaching immediately after playing, serving posts at West Chester University, Archbishop John Carroll High School, and Widener University — all located in Pennsylvania — in the time leading up to his current role.

Head coach James Franklin heard that Connor would be interested in coming back to Penn State if an opportunity was available, and in February 2022, Connor — who totaled 419 tackles as a Nittany Lion — re-joined the program where he’s still (rightly) held in high regard.

“That guy’s a Hall of Famer, I’m going to ask him as many questions as I can,” said sophomore linebacker Curtis Jacobs, who’s tied for third this season on the team with 17 tackles, adding a pass breakup and a fumble recovery. “I want to pick his brain as much as I can, because obviously that’s an all-time great, and you don’t get a chance to talk to many all-time greats when you’re playing this game.

“So obviously, every time I have a question, just having him in the room has been really important, because even if he wasn’t a defensive analyst, I’d be bothering him with questions when he came back. You should ask Jack Ham how many questions I ask him when he comes on campus. It’s just great to have a guy like that in the room. Obviously a great dude outside of his legacy, very humble guy, and it’s just been great having him.”

That shoutout to Ham shows that Jacobs understands the legacy he’s now part of. Teammate and fellow linebacker Tyler Elsdon similarly will seek out Ham when he’s around.

“It’s awesome to have someone (Ham) like that at Penn State, and every time I see him, I really do try to talk football with him. I even talk about life with him, too. He’s a great person, and he does have a lot of insight.

“He played at a different time, but football at the end of the day, it’s about tackling and blocking. The team that tackles best and blocks best usually wins. He has a lot of great insight and he’s built relationships with a lot of linebackers on the team, and I think he’s been huge. I look forward to seeing him, and I look forward to talking with him.”

The team has a tradition of regularly sharing inspirational and motivational quotes. It’ll be written on the board in a meeting room, with the quote attributed to the person, usually well-known or even famous. Franklin said sometimes players of this current generation won’t always know who the person is, though he said they’ve talked about Ham and his time at Penn State and in the NFL.

Ham is one of only two Nittany Lions who’ve been inducted into both the College Football Hall of Fame and NFL Hall of Fame — lineman Dave Robinson, who played at Penn State in the early 1960s, is also in that illustrious category — and Ham’s stayed connected over the years as the team’s radio analyst, serving alongside play-by-play announcer Steve Jones since 2000. And when walk-on redshirt senior Drew Hartlaub was awarded a scholarship last year, Ham made the announcement in the locker room, in an inspiring scene that the team shared on its Twitter page.

Franklin and Ham have a weekly tradition, when the Hall of Fame linebacker will stop by on Thursday and ask Franklin questions during a 30-minute walk before practice. Franklin joked that Ham took all of his material recently, when the broadcaster took all the answers from the coach and shared them last week on The Penn State Coaches Show right before Franklin followed him on the weekly broadcast.

That level of banter and mutual respect is one example of how Franklin has bridged the gap between himself and guys who played for the Nittany Lions prior to his arrival in 2014. Hiring Connor, and several other lettermen, is another. At a tradition-rich program like Penn State, making those connections is critical. And Franklin’s done that.

“He’s been great, as you can imagine,” Franklin said in describing Ham’s impact. “Both (him) and Steve Jones, they do a phenomenal job for us just all the time.”

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09.29.22
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Penn State Preview: Northwestern

The Blue Band performed prior to kickoff last Saturday against Central Michigan. Penn State is home again this weekend, hosting Northwestern for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on ESPN. Photo credit: Steve Manuel

Each week, we’ll tell you what to expect, what to keep an eye, and where and when you can catch the Nittany Lions this football season.

Game details: 3:30 p.m. kickoff, against Northwestern, broadcast on ESPN.

Records: No. 11/12 Penn State (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) vs. Northwestern (1-3, 1-0 Big Ten)

Venue: Beaver Stadium, where Penn State boasts an all-time record of 306-79.

Weather forecast (via Accuweather): It’ll be October, and it’s starting to feel like football season. Temps will be in the mid- to-late 50s with a high of 57, and we’re expected to receive some rain from Tropical Rainstorm Ian. Looks like alumni and fans may want to bring a jacket Saturday.

The line: Penn State -25.5.

All-time series: Penn State leads 14-5 and has won seven of the last nine matchups.

Last week: Penn State stayed unbeaten with a 33-14 triumph over Central Michigan while Northwestern dropped its third straight game with a 17-14 home defeat to Miami (Ohio). The RedHawks kicked a late 36-yard field goal to keep the Wildcats winless since their season-opening victory over Nebraska in Ireland. So, Northwestern is still searching for its win on U.S. soil this season.  

Worth noting: In last Saturday’s win over Central Michigan, senior quarterback Sean Clifford tossed three touchdowns in a game for the 14th time.

Last meeting (2017): Penn State won 31-7 at Ryan Field, with Saquon Barkley and Trace McSorley both scoring on the ground to pace the offense. Barkley finished with two scores and McSorley added a scoring toss to DaeSean Hamilton.

Throwback classic (2005): Michael Robinson’s clutch leadership was on display as he led Penn State to a touchdown with less than a minute at Ryan Field en route to the Nittany Lions winning the Big Ten, and then outlasting Florida State in three overtimes in the Orange Bowl.

While Robinson’s 36-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Williams rightly receives plenty of attention, his 20-yard strike to tight end Isaac Smolko in the middle of the field on 4th-and-15 — from Penn State’s 15-yard line — kept the drive going. You can see a condensed version of the game on YouTube.

The lead: If Penn State successfully fulfills their weekly mission — going 1-0 — the Nittany Lions will head into their bye 5-0, and with a probable Top-10 ranking. Waiting for them after their brief respite will be a critical three-game stretch against Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio State. The Golden Gophers vaunted into the rankings after trouncing Michigan State in East Lansing last weekend.

On Saturday, if Clifford can even come close to the consistency he’s exhibited so far this season — 12 total touchdowns, only one interception — the Nittany Lions should be able to rotate in a bevy of backups and younger players, positioning the team to have plenty of depth when Penn State encounters the teeth of the conference schedule.

Count on: Hearing a huge ovation when senior punter Barney Amor is announced during starting lineups Saturday. The transfer from Colgate has endeared himself to coaches, teammates, and fans with his surgeon-like precision on the field, and his affable demeanor off it. Daily Collegian writer Max Ralph lists some of the reasons that distinguish Barney on this Twitter post.

Keep an eye on: Penn State’s secondary. The Nittany Lions lead the nation, by a wide margin, with 41 pass breakups. That’s the number they had all last season, and they’re outpacing every other team in the country by 16 in that category.

Academic excellence: A total of 552 of Penn State football student-athletes have earned Academic All-Big Ten honors since 1993 for owning at least a 3.0 grade point average and being a letterwinner.

Trivia tidbit, Part 1: Penn State has one of the best turnover margins in the country at plus-eight. Helping that metric: the Nittany Lions have caused four turnovers in each of the last two games.

Trivia tidbit, Part 2: James Franklin can reach 100 career victories this season. He’s currently 95-49, including a 71-34 mark with Penn State.

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