It’s St. Patrick’s Day. Penn State opens spring practice this afternoon. And the Nittany Lions’ season opener in Dublin is just 165 days away. Surely, that’s sufficient reason to watch this… Continue reading
Truly Uplifting
Scott Shirley never imagined how far this thing might go. Continue reading
A Fond Farewell
We lost a great Penn Stater last weekend.
I knew Dolores Astheimer Young ’63 as Lorie, mom of Dave Young ’97, my friend and tailgating partner. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, and doting grandmother, and she was the proud matriarch of a terrific Penn State family. Continue reading
A Family Affair
We don’t usually cover recruiting here at the Blog, but this seems like an appropriate time to make an exception. We got an email Tuesday from Matt Hoffert ’01, a health and phys ed teacher and assistant football coach at Fairfax (Va.) High School—that’s Matt standing, above on the left. The photo was taken last week on National Signing Day; the smiling young man in the ball cap and tie is Nick Scott, a versatile athlete and member of James Franklin’s first Penn State recruiting class. He’s flanked by his parents, Irvin and Kisha. Continue reading
Signing On For A New Approach
Twenty-three years ago, almost to the day, a member of the Penn State football staff was asked about the potential of the Nittany Lions’ just-signed recruiting class, which many analysts were calling the best in the nation. His answer? Continue reading
The Sharks on Special Teams
Maybe the most memorable soundbite from Friday’s press conference introducing James Franklin’s coaching staff came from Charles Huff, the Nittany Lions’ special teams coordinator and running backs coach. Huff, who said he’d been asked repeatedly about the “identity” of his special teams units, offered up a phrase that stumped most (if not all) of the assembled media: a “nekton mentality.”
He smiled as he added, “I’m not sure how many science teachers are in the building…” Continue reading
About Those Balloons…
Photo by Tina Hay
For all of the memorable things James Franklin said when he was introduced last weekend as Penn State’s 16th head football coach, the line about the balloons might’ve been the most memorable of all. In case you missed it:
“Me and my wife and children will be out in this community. We’ll not turn down a speaking engagement. We’ll get out and interact with people … People ask us to blow up balloons at their kid’s birthday party in the backyard, we’ll do that.” Continue reading
The Man For the Job
Penn State got its man.
With James Franklin’s arrival today as the Nittany Lions’ 16th head football coach, that’s the only logical conclusion. Less than two years removed from NCAA sanctions that many thought would cripple the program, Penn State has hired arguably the most dynamic and talented young coaching prospect in the nation. Continue reading
So Long, Bill
Photo by Steve Manuel
Well, it’s official. Bill O’Brien is gone, not quite two years to the day since he first stepped on campus. The 15th head football coach in Penn State history leaves with a two-year record of 15-9, but of course his tenure can never be judged by those numbers alone. Continue reading
From The Archives: Wisconsin
Photo by Steve Manuel
“The cheers and excitement in that final post-game locker room were as loud and jubilant as any in Beaver Stadium history, because these loyal, dedicated Penn Staters had competed for something more important than a bowl game or conference title. They had competed for the honor of their team and their university.” Continue reading
The Football Letter Blog 