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Morning Link
Good morning. Five days until the season starts. Here's my story on safety Anthony Scirrotto, who looks for redemption this season, in this morning's paper. Here is also my whimsical look at the season ahead (also in the paper, but not online):
Coastal Carolina Saturday, noon.
Here's what to expect: Senior Daryll Clark will start at quarterback. Sophomore Pat Devlin will play as much as Clark. The quarterback competition will not become any clearer. Here's what not to expect: Another Appalachian State. A Football Subdivision team, Coastal Carolina has nowhere near the amount of talent Appalachian State had when it upset Michigan on the road in the 2007 opener.
Oregon State Sept. 6, 3:30 p.m.
The Beavers may not be a Pac-10 powerhouse, but they won seven of their last eight games last season and should present a good test. Clark and Devlin will become frustrated, and angry Lions fans call for third-string quarterback Paul Cianciolo. However, Penn State will rely on its running game behind its experienced line and win a squeaker
At Syracuse Sept. 13, 3:30 p.m.
It's been 18 years since the Lions and the Orange met. It should be another 18. Unfortunately, Syracuse is on the schedule for 2009. This will be Clark's breakout game and his euphoric supporters will spout comparisons to former Lions quarterback Michael Robinson. It's 2005 all over again, they claim. Meanwhile, back in reality, the Lions paste Syracuse - the new Temple.
Temple Sept. 20, noon.
Speaking of the Owls, Temple travels to State College for its latest Washington Generals-Harlem Globetrotters-like blowout by Penn State. Freshman running back Stephfon Green zooms for two long touchdowns and Devlin strikes back. After the game, coach Joe Paterno asks, "Why do I have to make a decision at quarterback?" Penn State is 4-0 and ranked No. 10 in the country, and State College is peachy on Paterno.
Illinois Sept. 27, 8 p.m.
It's a full-on "White Out" for the Illini's prime-time, nationally televised visit to Beaver Stadium. But Illinois' Arrelious Benn takes the opening kickoff back for a touchdown and the Lions' Big Ten opener sours in 11 seconds. Still, Penn State's front four, led by end Maurice Evans, corrals dual-threat quarterback Juice Williams and the Lions stay close. With minutes to play, Clark turns into Anthony Morelli and throws his third interception and the Lions lose. Paterno says Clark is still his starter, but Devlin is his "second-half starter."
At Purdue Oct. 4, TBA.
The last meeting between coaching comrades Joe Tiller and Paterno - before Tiller rides off to go fly-fishing - turns into a lovefest as each team refuses to play defense. The Lions win a shoot-out, though, as their trio of senior wide receivers, Deon Butler, Derrick Williams and Jordan Norwood, account for 15 catches for 263 yards and three TDs.
At Wisconsin Oct. 11, 8 p.m.
The difficult three-game stretch that will likely decide the Lions' success or failure begins in Madison. Up until their home loss to Ohio State the week before, the Badgers hadn't lost a home game since 2005. They look to start another streak with an old-school, smash-mouth tilt that has Paterno abandoning the Lions' so-called "Spread HD" offense. Penn State, at one point, lines up two tight ends, two tailbacks, and a fullback for an entire drive. The Lions score their lone touchdown on the way to a 10-7 loss.
Michigan Oct. 18, 4:30 p.m.
Fans adopt a cheer in the lead-up to Michigan: "10-0 and Joe must go!" With nine straight wins in the series, the Wolverines enter Beaver Stadium looking to cure what ails new coach Rich Rodriguez. Michigan is 3-3, but still confident the Lions will find a way to lose. Clark, however, has other plans and guides Penn State to a relatively easy win, exorcising the curse. The stadium erupts; the students storm the field, pull down the posts and carry the remains to Paterno's front lawn on McKee Street.
At Ohio State Oct. 25, 8 p.m.
The Buckeyes are 7-1 but still in the national championship picture. The Lions, coming off the Michigan win, still feel they can climb into the BCS conversation with an upset. It's not to be, as freshman Terrelle Pryor tallies three rushing TDs and Ohio State rolls. Paterno is not impressed with Pryor. "He's only a freshman," he says.
At Iowa Nov. 8, TBA.
The fight to secure a New Year's Day bowl bid is on as the Lions head to corn country. After Clark's disappointing performance against Ohio State, Devlin earns his first career start. He delivers, as does cornerback A.J. Wallace, who takes a reverse on offense and scurries to a 72-yard TD as the Lions win. Rumors begin to float that Paterno will not return for next season. "Right now I feel like I could coach another two, five, 10, 20 years," he says.
Indiana Nov. 15, TBA.
With Paterno's future presumably on the line, the team begins to play inspired ball. During some drives, Clark and Devlin take turns on every other down. They man-hug each other each time they run on and off the field. The camaraderie carries into the huddle, and the Lions torch the Hoosiers.
Michigan State Nov. 22, TBA.
The regular-season finale has an ominous feel as fans pack Beaver Stadium for what could be Paterno's last home game. Many of the iconic coach's former players unexpectedly show up and the atmosphere is charged. The Lions and Spartans jockey back and forth, but an Evan Royster 25-yard TD run in the fourth quarter gives him 1,000 yards rushing for the season and Penn State one more regular-season win than the previous two seasons.
Capital One Bowl
Penn State takes on Tennessee and scores a narrow, but satisfying victory. The fans have their double-digit win season, and Paterno earns another year at the helm when university president Graham Spanier announces two weeks later that the coach will be back for another go. "We'll address his future after 2009," Spanier says. As for next year's starter at quarterback, Paterno says, "Why do I have to decide now?"
Wow. Just awful.— tjc- Wow, do you really get paid to write this garbage? I mean really, it's ok to show a little love to your alma mater, but this is way overboard. This is flat out homerism and really belongs on a Penn State message board or something. It's trash like this that caused me and my family to cancel our subscriptions to the Inqy. Who wants to read about you sucking up to the Penn State Prep School for Lifetime Criminals. This is a perfect example as to why PSU is known as a meteorlogical school and not a journalism school.— PhillyTom
- Amen, brother.— tjc
- Oh, snap!— Jeff McLane
- Seriously, Jeff - this is the kind of stuff we see on fan blogs. I'm sure you're a better writer than this. I thought these blogs were supposed to allow for greater insights and interesting anecdotes that wouldn't normally find their way into a regular story (where word counts can often be limiting). I'm not a fan of Philly.com running a Penn State blog (not when the blog dedicated to ACTUAL Philly college sports is updated maybe once a month, and rarely with news of ACTUAL Philly college teams), but if you're going to do this then at least put a little more thought into your posts than the above.— tjc
- It's funny, I've gotten tons of e-mails from readers on this post/story, and the reaction has been pretty much split down the middle. Some thought it was a funny, sarcastic look at what might happen (most likely, not) this season. Some thought it was a serious attempt to predict the season, and thus, idiotic (as you can see from above). Some understood the point and thought it was stupid, nontheless. A sense of humor is obviously subjective so I've learned to develop a thick skin when it comes to writing tongue-in-cheek. Nevertheless, I think there's a place for this type of writing in the paper and on blogs. This blog will have plenty of news, insight, etc. I think if you look at it as a whole, it's already provided some of that and will do more so as the season progresses. But it's a blog, for heaven's sake. There's unlimited space! I can't understand the claims that I'm a homer. I guess that would make writers across the country Penn State homers for picking the Lions in the top 25. It's not like 10-3 gives you the national championship. Anyone who's read my Penn State coverage knows that I'm as hard as anyone on the program. Most think I'm too negative. Anyway, keep the comments coming. Even the ones that insult my intelligence, professionalism and ugly mug.— Jeff McLane
- Jeff, you know this is a Philly paper right? Temple being the only 1A team in the city, you gotta Respect the OWL. Your cheap shots towards the program were probably a main cause for the comments above. Oh, and you kinda look like yoda. You asked for it :)— Leron
- Jeff McLane, where did you go to school? Please don't say Penn State.— xxx
This season is Joe's fourth season on the paper's Penn State beat. He previously covered the Nittany Lions for United Press International from 1976 to 1984.
Emily Kaplan is the Inquirer’s fall intern covering the Nittany Lions. She is a senior at Penn State and has covered a variety of sports for the university’s student-run paper, The Daily Collegian. Over the last two years, she has reported for The Associated Press from State College.
A Montclair, N.J. native, she has also interned at MLB Network, NHL.com and covered the 2012 Olympics in London. Follow her on Twitter here @EKaplan24.
