http://www.sportsnipe.com Penn State Nittany Lions Football, Team News, Updates, and Stats from all sports sources, updated continually. http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936881/penn-state-earns-carolina-classic-crown.html The No. 1 Penn State women’s volleyball team (3-0) secured a 3-0 (25-15, 25-9, 25-16) victory against Campbell (0-3) to become the Carolina Classic Champions. The Nittany Lions record-breaking winning streak increased to 105 consecutive matches. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936880/nittany-lions-drop-30-final-to-virginia.html Sophomore Ayla Halus (Hershey, Pa.) had her second-straight double-digit save performance, but it wasn't enough as No. 3 Virginia downed the Penn State field hockey team, 3-0. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936879/starting-qb-still-undecided-at-penn-stat.html It's still a three-man race for the starting quarterback job at No. 19 Penn State. The depth chart released Sunday ahead of next weekend's opener against Youngstown State listed sophomores Matt McGloin and Kevin Newsome along with freshman Robert Bolden on the first team. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936878/frosh-bolden-tabbed-penn-state-starter.html It's a Bolden move for No. 19 Penn State. Coach Joe Paterno tabbed freshman Robert Bolden the starter for the Nittany Lions' opener Saturday against Youngstown State. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936877/rapid-recap-youngstown-stpenn-st.html Quarter-by-quarter recaps from the Youngstown State-Penn State game. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936876/true-frosh-qb-leads-psu-in-rout.html True freshman Rob Bolden threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns, Chaz Powell had a 100-yard kickoff return for a score and No. 19 Penn State brushed off a sluggish start Saturday to beat Youngstown State 44-14. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936875/penn-states-focus-turns-to-alabama.html The game Penn State fans have circled on their calendars for years is almost here. After manhandling FCS school Youngstown State, the level of competition increases dramatically in Week 2 for the 19th-ranked Nittany Lions with a visit to No. 1 Alabama. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936874/watch-joepa-vs-bear-tuesday.html In anticipation of Penn State’s football game at Alabama next weekend, the Big Ten Network will debut JoePa vs. The Bear at 9 PM ET on Tuesday. The 30-minute original special chronicles the uncommon connections and mutual respect held by Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno and long-time Crimson Tide coach and six-time national champion Paul "Bear" Bryant. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936873/saban-ingram-daytoday-for-saturday.html Alabama coach Nick Saban said Wednesday that tailback Mark Ingram is unlikely to play for the top-ranked Crimson Tide against Penn State. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936872/lb-lee-qb-clark-elected-penn-st-captains.html STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- Linebacker Sean Lee and quarterback Daryll Clark have been elected captai... Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936871/paterno-softens-stance-on-big-ten-expansion.html CHICAGO -- Penn State coach Joe Paterno on Tuesday backed off his recent comments supporting the add... Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936870/penn-state-over-lsu-easily.html Wins and losses go only so far when trying to pick apart a bowl matchup. Penn State (10-2) has one more win than LSU (9-3), but far too many in the main stream media have gone with the Tigers to beat the Lions. Why? Well, I think we know: OMG-ESS-EE-SEE-SPEED! I will tell you one thing the pundits are not using to reach their Capital One Bowl predictions: facts.I try not to shill for anyone, but it's tough to argue against Phil Steele's ability to predict college football seasons. So, why would predicting the bowl season be any different? It's not, really. You see, Steele uses facts and statistics to predict football games; not some empty public perception of a league (SEC) so dominant that not a single team could ever beat it. Sorry, but just because you call the SEC "fast" does not make its individual teams automatically better than the opposition. Steele published one of the most interesting blog posts I've seen from any sane analyst this bowl season. This year?s top 10 differences in net yard rankings between bowl participants. Why should Penn State fans care? Because the Lions are tied for first (w/Texas Tech-Michigan State) in Net Yard Ranking Difference (NYRD); the Lions are 43 spots ahead of LSU -- Penn State is No. 7 in NYRD nationally (+89.3 ypg), while LSU is No. 50 nationally (-45.3 ypg). That's right, folks. The Tigers come into the Capital One Bowl having been outgained by their opponents by almost 50 yards per game. The net yards difference between Penn State and LSU is 134.7 yards per game, which is the fourth-best (in favor of Penn St) going into the bowl season. As Steele broke it down in normally-concise fashion, his stats showed that of the top five 2008-09 bowl teams with the biggest net yard differences (NYD), four of them won their bowl games; one of them included USC's 208.3 NYD over Penn State going into last season's Rose Bowl. So Lions fans have first-hand knowledge of what can happen when this stat is in your team's favor... or not. Just to name a few teams that have a better NYRD than LSU: Oregon State, Arizona, Missouri, Wisconsin, Iowa, Tennessee, South Carolina, Northwestern, Stanford, USC, Georgia, and Auburn. Including those SEC teams I just mentioned, a total of eight SEC teams have a better NYRD than the Tigers going into the bowl season. To wrap this all up, I'd just like to remind pundits who seem to think LSU is a lock to win this game, that you are entitled to your own opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts.¹ **Just a quick update: Phil Steele picks Penn State by five. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936869/big-ten-bowl-review-champs-sports.html Let's take a ride around the MSM's Big Four to see what they have to say about the Big Ten's bowl debut last night: (I'll try to do this for every day the Big Ten plays a bowl)? If the win over Miami is any indicator of what the Badgers are capable of, Wisconsin could be at the top of the Big Ten when 2010 ends, writes Andy Staples at SI.com and Adam Rittenberg at ESPN.com.? SportingNews' Matt Hayes is confused: how could a speedy southern team actually lose to a slow northern team? Something must have been seriously wrong with Miami last night, according to Hayes; because you know, there's no way Wisconsin might actually have been a better team than the 'Canes. ? Of course, anyone with half a brain could see that Wisconsin not only came into the game better prepared, but was in fact the better overall team on the field, writes Rittenberg. Even Heather Dinich had to agree. ? I don't know why I even go to CBSSports.com. All we got on this game was the wire story and a bunch of message board whack jobs. Dennis Dodd must be waiting until all the Big Ten bowls are played, then he can pick out the few losses to argue that the Big Ten should drop football and the SEC should just become the NFC Southeast. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936868/mike-leach-fired.html Yeah, real surprising. Texas Tech has reportedly fired head coach Mike Leach. He had been accused of mistreating a player. Michigan State fans must be wondering how this could affect their opponent. We'll see. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936867/sloppy-field-could-mean-bowl-for-psu.html Don't get all giddy. This could hurt Penn State just as much as LSU: Conditions were so bad for the Miami-Wisconsin game Tuesday night players were replacing sod before snaps. Hurricanes running back Graig Cooper also injured his right knee without being touched. - AP Remember last season at Purdue, when Penn State running backs were slipping and sliding all over the field, costing the Lions some points? Yeah, this could be worse, in a much more important game. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936866/captial-one-bowl-preview-no-13-penn-state-vs-12-louisiana.html Kickoff/TV: Friday, January 1, 2010; 1 p.m. ET/ABC (Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge and Erin Andrews)Weather Forecast: Scattered showers.Series Record: Penn State leads, 1-0. Host: Louisiana State TigersRecord: 9-3 (5-3, SEC)Last Game: Beat Arkansas, 33-30(OT)Injuries: RB Charles Scott (clavicle) - out for season; RB Keiland Williams (ankle) - out for season; RB Richard Murphy (knee) - out for season; WR RJ Jackson (foot) - out; DT Akiem Hicks (undisclosed) - outKey Players: (offense) QB Jordan Jefferson, WR Trindon Holliday, WR Brandon LaFell; (defense) LB Kelvin Sheppard, CB Patrick Peterson, DT Drake NevisHead Coach: Les Miles, 5th season at LSU, 51-14; 9th season overall, 79-35; 5-2 bowl record. Season Statistics:Offense - 129.6 rush/180.1 pass/25.5 points per gameDefense - 134.2 rush/192.4 pass/16.0 points per gameTO Margin - (+7)/(0.58) per gameLouisiana State, on paper -- For a team that has been out gained by 16 yards per game this season, the Tigers are quite fortunate to have reached nine wins. Louisiana State has lived off of its fantastic turnover margin (+7), and ability to start offensive drives with short fields, courtesy of probably the best return game in the nation (18.6 yds per punt return). That stat will be sure to strike fear into Penn State, particularly since speedster Trindon Holliday isn't the only one responsible for LSU's punt return success; Holliday averages 17.7 yards on 18 returns and one touchdown, while Chad Jones also added a score to his 21.5 yards per return on six attempts. But that's about as explosive as this LSU team has been in 2009. Defensively, the Tigers have been stout, but not nearly as transmittable as in recent seasons. In the five seasons previous to 2009, LSU ranked 17th, 12th, 14th, 6th, and 7th in rush defense; the Tigers rank 44th coming into this game. LSU has given up more than 23 points on five different occasions this year, including 26 to Mississippi State and 30 in overtime to Arkansas in the season finale. The Tigers have plenty of talent on this side of the ball, but are definitely pregnable. Going from decent to just plain mediocre, the LSU offense struggled in 2009 to just break 300 yards per game. Injuries were a huge factor in the lack of production, as the Tigers lost their top two running backs before the end of the season. With a lack of a run game, and an already shaky offensive line (Jordan Jefferson has been sacked 24 times), opposing defenses have been able to tee off on the Tigers' passing game. Visitor: Penn State Nittany LionsRecord: 10-2 (6-2 Big Ten)Last Game: Beat Michigan State, 42-14Injuries: RB Brandon Beachum (ACL) - out for season; FB Josh Matzkin (foot) - out; DE Pete Massaro (knee) - out for season; LB Michael Mauti (knee) - out for season; DT Brandon Ware (n/a) - outKey Players: (offense) QB Daryll Clark, RB Evan Royster, WR Derek Moye; (defense) DT Jared Odrick, LB Navorro Bowman, LB Sean LeeHead Coach: Joe Paterno, 44th season at Penn State, 393-129-3; 23-11 bowl record Season Statistics: Offense - 173.6 rush/238.9 pass/29.7 points per gameDefense - 93.9 rush/183.2 pass/11.8 points per gameTO Margin - (+3)/(0.25) per gamePenn State, on paper -- The Lions are a good team, but most definitely not a great one. Penn State beat the teams it should have. In another fantastic job done by defensive coordinator Tom Bradley, the defense has posted its best statistical season in years, even with the loss of three defensive ends (one All-American) and four senior starters in the secondary from last season. The linebackers have been banged up this year, as Sean Lee and Navorro Bowman didn't play a full game together until mid-way through the season. Had both been healthy all year, one or both would have been given All-America recognition. Even in losses to Iowa and Ohio State, the Penn State defense held its own, even in the face of short fields and a sometimes anemic Lions offense. On that offensive side of the ball, Penn State had some fantastic games this season (Illinois, Michigan, Northwestern, Michigan State), but also some putrid outings (Iowa, Ohio State). Against good defensive fronts, the Nittany Lions had trouble containing opponents' pass and run blitzes. That left Daryll Clark with little time to throw, and Evan Royster even less room to run. Much of the offensive woes have been centered around the constantly changing offensive line, which saw three different players at right tackle, and two different at left guard over the course of 2009. Yet, some bright spots have emerged for Penn State, specifically in the wide receivers and tight ends. Derek Moye has become a go-to guy on the outside, while Andrew Quarless finally played like the tight end everyone was hoping for the previous three seasons. Penn State will be looking to give Clark more than two seconds to throw. Of course, none of that matters if the special teams break down, as they did in dramatic fashion against Iowa and Ohio State. The Hawkeyes were able to score on a blocked punt, and kept Penn State pinned deep in its own territory all game long, leading to a momentum-swinging safety. The Buckeyes tore apart Penn State's coverage teams, virtually winning the game solely on field position. The Nittany Lions should not be relied upon to win any game this season on field position. On the field -- Penn State and LSU match up very well on both sides of the ball, with the slight edge to Penn State's defense over the Tigers' offense. I could totally see the Lions' front seven harass Jefferson into several mistakes, while Clark and the PSU offense should be able to move the ball well enough to score some points in this one. But if there's one glaring weakness in this year's Penn State team, it's the special teams and return coverage. How does a team like LSU win nine games while being out gained by 16 yards per game? Field position. That matchup scares the crap out of me. However...The turf could be even scarier for both teams. Bad weather, combined with several football games in the Citrus Bowl this week alone, has left the field in horrid, if not dangerous condition. For a team like LSU, which relies solely on a speed player like Holliday, a chippy field could spell doom. One slip could ruin what should have been a big punt return, which could ruin LSU's chances for victory. Penn State doesn't rely on one specific facet of the game to win. With a healthy stable of running backs, and a defense that might be better than the Tigers' unit, the Lions should have enough in the tank to sneak out of Orlando with a much-needed Big Ten win over the SEC. Prediction: No. 13 Penn State, 24 - No. 12 LSU, 20 Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936865/big-ten-bowl-review-insight.html Gee, thanks Minnesota. Not only did you manage to get every break in the book but still lost the game, you did it in the utmost painful fashion imaginable. One more point. That's all you needed. Just one.? Adam Rittenberg says it all, pointing to the Marquise Gray's fumble near the Iowa State 20 as the "most damaging giveaway" of the game. So frustratingly true... Meanwhile, ESPN Big XII blogger Tim Griffin likes how head coach Paul Rhodes brought Iowa State back from the depths of the conference, capped off by this win over the Gophers. Incidentally, it was the Cyclones' first over Minnesota in 21 attempts. ? I guess when your bowl game is on the NFL Network, it won't get as much main stream coverage. SI.com, CBSSports.com and SportingNews.com didn't have anything beyond the wire reports. Hey, if they need someone to pump out a few hundred words on a bowl game, I'm free...Tomorrow is the big one, New Year's Day. Outback, Capital One, and Rose Bowls all packed into a seven-hour orgy of Big Ten football. It's amazing how one single day can make or break an entire conference's national perception for the next 365 days. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936864/penn-state-gameday-2010-capital-one-bowl.html Happy New Year everyone! Welcome to your Penn State football Bowl gameday headquarters. Pregame? Capital One Bowl Game Preview: PSU vs LSU? Penn State depth chart (as of 12/31)? Official Game Notes? Penn State Roster? Joe Paterno's Pre-Bowl Press Conference? Big Ten Pick'em: Bowl SpecialPostgame? Game Recap: TBA Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936863/ok-sec-fans-lets-hear.html After nearly a month of constant oral diarrhea spewing from SEC fans' mouths about how Penn State had no chance against LSU, my inbox is now open. So, LSU fans, your apologies should be emailed to: ZombieNationPSU[at]gmail[dot]com Be aware, however, that your emails are open for publishing on this web site. So if you don't want your words put out there for everyone to read, don't send it. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936862/big-ten-bowl-review-outback-capital-one-rose.html Say what you want about how ugly some of the games were (Capital One, Outback), but there's no denying that with Ohio State's dominating Rose Bowl victory, the once-maligned conference played its collective hearts out this bowl season. New Year's Day was the highlight; let's take a look at what "they" are saying.Outback Bowl: Auburn 38, Northwestern 35 (OT)? This loss must have been particularly tough on NU alum Adam Rittenberg, who points out in his typical level-headedness that the Cats had plenty of chances to win the game prior to the final fake field goal. ? I hate linking to just a wire story, but you gotta love the CBSSports.com fan comments on any of the Big Ten-SEC game stories. Here we'll start with the Outback recap.Capital One Bowl: Penn State 19, Louisiana State 17? Penn State did it the usual way, with defense and ball control, writes Rittenberg. ? Evan Royster spoke with SportingNews.com's Brian McLaughlin about the field conditions, among other things. ? For more really funny SEC fan comments, let's see some of them for CBS's Capital One recap. Rose Bowl: Ohio State 26, Oregon 17? Over at TWWL, Ivan Maisel and Adam Rittenberg offer thoughts on Ohio State's victory. ? The Big Ten turned out to be New Year's Day's big winner, according to Matt Hayes at SportingNews.com.? SI.com's Stewart Mandel also throws some praise the Buckeyes' way. I know this was a crappy post. My apologies. But I have some big news coming your way this week that I just know will make up for it. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936861/goodbye-mr-easley.html Highly-rated defensive end prospect, now former Penn State commit, Dominique Easley has changed his school of choice to the University of Florida. This is a definitely a blow to Penn State's recruiting class. However, with such a great group already committed to PSU, this isn't a class-killer. For more on Penn State recruiting, check out the Recruiting Board. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936860/big-ten-bowl-review-alamo.html So it will come down to Iowa. The Big Ten now rests at 3-3 this bowl season following Michigan State's valiant but losing effort against Texas Tech last night. The Spartans held a four-point lead in the fourth quarter, but the Red Raiders' offense was too much. I'd say I'm disappointed by the result, but actually it was much more competitive than anyone had thought, considering Michigan State was without 14 players. Here's what "they" had to say after the loss.? ESPN's Adam Rittenberg was just as shocked at last night's game as anyone. It was a good fight by the Spartans, but the season overall wasn't how things were supposed to shape out. ? Unfortunately, that's it for the MSM coverage of the Alamo Bowl. Sure, there were the wire stories; but I couldn't really find a single bit of analysis by anyone not working for TWWL. Of course, if you want to know more about Mike Leach's firing, that's a different story... Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936859/navorro-bowman-off-to-nfl.html ESPN's Joe Schad reported today that Navorro Bowman will enter the 2010 NFL Draft. While I can't say I'm trilled to see such a great player leave Penn State, I wish him only the best of luck at the next level. Thank you No. 11, for keeping "Linebacker U" alive and well. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936858/capital-one-bowl-review-psu-19-lsu-17.html Let's not kid ourselves. There's only one thing that really matters: Penn State beat the SEC's third-best team. Other than that, however, here are some observations on the win. Stat of the game: 38:21That's how long the Penn State offense held onto the ball. While it was quite painful to see the Nittany Lions fail time and again to punch it into the end zone, keeping the ball away from Jordan Jefferson was critically important. The ball-control objective seemed to become even more critical as the game progressed, when Jefferson and the Tigers scored 14 unanswered points to take the lead. Had Penn State not run off at least five minutes (it ran off 5:57) on its final drive, LSU might not have had to panic the way it did in the final minute. Offensive player of the game: Daryll ClarkCollin Wagner's performance is so close, but the final drive by Clark sealed the deal for me. Specifically, the five yard pass to Graham Zug on 3rd-and-four was a thing of poised beauty. Clark went out on the highest note next to a national title. He exorcised the comeback demons, while proving to the nation that Penn State was far from overrated in 2009. Defensive player of the game: Navorro BowmanThe sentimental pick here would have been Sean Lee, who did play a fantastic final game in the Blue and White. I must go with Bowman, however. Not only did he lead the team in tackles (7) and TFL (1.5), Bowman made the single best decision of the game by taking his sweet time getting off the pile, with precious seconds ticking away on LSU's final drive. Propelling Bowman's decision from just a good one to an all-timer, he drew the crucial personal foul which moved LSU back 15 yards. Play of the game: Moye's 37-yard touchdown catchOh, how we all thought the Penn State offense would actually score touchdowns from then on. Tigers cornerback Patrick Peterson was playing press coverage -- as was most of the LSU secondary -- so Derek Moye and the offense took immediate advantage. Moye's double move to break behind Peterson was eerily reminiscent of the one he used to score against Northwestern. The result was the identical, however. Six points. (I'm sure many of you will disagree strongly with me picking this play, but I think it really sent an early message to LSU that Penn State came to play ball)Final ThoughtsWhen Penn State played aggressive football, the Nittany Lions roared to a 16-3 lead. Clark was allowed to throw on first down, while multiple receivers ran free, even if they didn't always haul in the pass. The success through the air allowed for some decent runs by Evan Royster and Stephfon Green. Penn State was dominating the LSU defense. All the while, the Nittany Lion defenders were having a field day of their own against a weak Tiger offensive line and thin running back corps. But just when Penn State extended its lead to 13, old fashioned Paterno-Ball took over. It was way too soon against a way too talented team. Runs on first down, obvious passing situations on third and long. I nearly wanted to puke when the LSU offense woke up just as Penn State was winding itself into its conservative shell. We know what happened next. I guess it was a good thing that LSU was allowed to come back and take a fourth-quarter lead. If Penn State wasn't forced to stage that comeback, would Clark's legacy ever have been vindicated with a legendary final drive? Probably not. I'll admit that I wanted a great, tough game; but Christ, that was a bit much. Going into the 2010 preseason (holy crap, it's already preseason!), Penn State is in great shape, even with the loss of Navorro Bowman early to the NFL. Depending on whether or not any other juniors leave (Evan Royster), this team has a very strong core returning for next season. There's every reason to look forward to 2010. Of course, predicting anything in college football is about as simple as a hand of Texas Hold'em against Johnny Chan.Final Stats - GoPSUsports.com Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936857/evan-royster-will-return-for-senior-season.html This is a big one. Evan Royster had a pretty good shot at a mid-round selection in this year's NFL Draft. But after his junior campaign didn't produce the kind of smashing success many expected, No. 22 will return for his final season in the Blue and White. Well Evan, we're glad to have you. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936856/big-ten-bowl-review-orange.html Hey, you! Yeah, I'm talking to you, Iowa. You did it again. Georgia Tech crawled back into that game, in much of the same fashion many of your previous opponents did, with a Ricki Stanzi pick-six and all. But all we can say this time is... thank you! It was a full conference effort this season to post a record four bowl wins over top-15 teams; but the Orange bowl domination (better than it looked) was the perfect cap to a great Big Ten bowl season. As for the Hawks' win, here's what "they" have to say about it...? What would we do without Adam Rittenberg? The only reason I actually visit ESPN.com, he has been a beacon among the many dark hack forces at work in the main stream. He breaks down the game for us. ? I'll at least give CBSSports.com credit for putting something out there besides the wire story. Kevin Darst points out just what the Stanzi-effect can do for Iowa. Darst is even suggesting 12-0 in 2010!? Kudos to SportingNews.com as well. They at least use a real reporter, Kevin McLaughlin, to write the game stories. KM writes about how Iowa's preparation won the Orange Bowl....and that's all folks! Three articles... THREE! How pathetic it's become. Had the Big Ten gone 1-6 or 2-5 in bowls this season, I can guarantee we would have been reading page after page of anti-Big Ten vitriol from the big four media outlets. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936855/1150-posts-later.html When I started Zombie Nation more than two and a half years ago, I had no idea what I was doing. Come to think of it, I'm still not completely sure I know what I'm doing. But blogging wasn't something they teach you in journalism school, mostly because that was a time when the main stream media still clung to the hope that it was just a passing fad that could be weathered. So I just kind of put my head down and jumped in without the slightest inkling what would come of this whole thing. I landed on the name Zombie Nation directly because of my love for the Penn State night game atmosphere. My second game ever in Beaver Stadium was the Nebraska night game in 2002. And I'll say this much about it; you have no idea how great night games are until you're marching down the field as the drum major lands his flip in front of 110,753 erupting fans. While "Kernkraft 400" (the real name of the song by Zombie Nation), didn't arrive on the scene until 2004, there was something different about night games in Beaver Stadium prior to 2006. Fans still appreciated every win like it was the national championship game. The stands weren't half-empty for kickoffs, even though Penn State went 26-33 in that five-year span. Things are different now. The aura of the Nebraska win, the 05 Ohio State win, supporting the team in its darkest time. It's all gone now, but that's okay. I get it, as should all Penn State football fans. History is fantastic. Tradition is priceless. But sometimes we have to understand when it's time to move on. That brings us to right now. Penn State just wrapped up a fantastic win over LSU in the Capital One Bowl. That's 51 wins in the five years since 2004. This is not the same program. It is not a team in search of an identity, or even the slightest sustained success. No, Penn State is officially "back," just as we once thought after that Nebraska win, or after the '05 Ohio State win. But this game, probably more than any other, stamps a big S back onto the college football landscape. Four January bowl games in five seasons, five bowls and four wins overall. These are no longer the same Nittany Lions who helped drag this program back from the edge as the fans chanted "Oh, Oh, Oh, Ohoh!" Over, and over, and over again. So, let's look at this as the official closing of the book on Penn State's dark times. This blog, like the memory of all those heart-wrenching losses and Penn State's uneasy return to relevancy, won't be going anywhere. But I will be. As you have probably already heard, Tim from Happy Hour Valley, and Galen and Nick from The Nittany Line will join me to run a new Penn State site. So, 1,150 posts later, this will be my last here on ZN. You can now find me, along with Tim, Galen and Nick, by clicking on the link below: Linebacker-U.com Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936854/rudel-freshman-may-signal-bo.html Joe Paterno has a history of not letting true freshman quarterbacks talk to the media early in their careers. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936853/penn-state-hot-list-for-alabama.html Joe Paterno's Lions have held up well against Southeastern Conference foes in recent bowl games. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936852/penn-states-special-teams-off-to-hot-start-in-2010.html In 2009, there was only one team that had fewer kickoff return yards than Penn State . Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936851/penn-state-football-grading-robert-boldens-debut-performance.html Typically that's quite a fine win if you're a Penn State fan. The only problem was the opposition was Youngstown State. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936850/curious-about-irrational-scheduling-in-college-football.html This is the first of a two part series. If matches are made in heaven, where are mismatches made? As we are about to be consumed by the upcoming high school and college football season, I am curious about some of the truly irrational scheduling that occurs at these two levels. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936849/fan-line-dont-get-too-excited-about-penn-state-football-win-was-only-youngstown.html If Alabama beats Penn State, an empty barrel will call the Fan Line and blame it on Joe Paterno. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936848/espns-college-gameday-to-originate-from-penn-statealabama-game.html Tuesday, September 7, 2010 Photo: GoPSUsports.com ESPN's College GameDay will broadcast from a Penn State game for the sixth time in six years. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936847/penn-statealabama.html Penn State offense vs. Alabama defense Defensive coordinator Kirby Smart brings an aggressive mentality and tends to load up on early downs in an effort to challenge opposing offenses to beat them through the air. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936846/bama-much-stiffer-test-for-no-18-penn-state.html Enjoy season highlights, including a musical performance from... Brian's song While many consider Junior to be 'The Franchise,' Mark Kriege... NASCAR's biggest... Georgia, freshman QB show they know some pretty cool tricks. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936845/paterno-pessimistic-about-psus-chances-at-alabama.html Jerry DiPaola is a staff writer for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. He can be reached at 412-320-7997 or via via e-mail. By Jerry DiPaola PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW Penn State coach Joe Paterno painted a grim picture today of his team's venture Saturday night to play defending national champion and current No. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936844/its-time-for-lions-to-reel-in-left-guard.html Now that concerns have tempered some regarding Penn State's quarterback, the position battle to watch is at left guard. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936843/nfl-selfish-for-suggesting-18game-league-schedule.html You won't ever hear me argue that the NFL isn't all about the almighty dollar. The NFL, after all, is a business. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936842/ol-st-marys-grad-rober-bolden-passes-first-test-as-penn-state-qb.html Ah, so that's the reason Joe Paterno named freshman Robert Bolden Penn State's starting quarterback in the season opener. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936841/two-very-different-quarterbacks-to-meet-saturday-in-tuscaloosa.html Penn State freshman Robert Bolden will start his second game on Saturday against Alabama. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936840/penn-state-football-paterno-deflects-questions-about-bear-bryant.html With the big game only a few days away, the Penn State legend didn't want to talk about the Alabama legend. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936839/penn-states-captain-fantastic.html Nittany Lion senior Brett Brackett put together a career game vs. YSU. Fellow team leader Ollie Ogbu was outstanding, too. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936838/fos-frame-game-powells-return.html Our frame-by-frame breakdown series returns with a new name for 2010. We begin with the first play of the second half in the Nittany Lions' win over Youngstown State. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936837/ysu-report-card.html See who made the grade and who came up short in Penn State's season-opening win over Youngstown State at Beaver Stadium Saturday. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936836/fos-gallery-youngstown-state.html Check out Harvey Levine's images from Penn State's season-opening 44-14 win over the Penguins. From players coming off the bus to the postgame bell-ringing, he had it all covered. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936835/barnes-will-rush-chesapeake-bowl.html Four-star pass rusher Deion Barnes just accepted an invitation to play in the Chesapeake Bowl on December 30th and by then he should be committed to either Penn State, Pittsburgh, Georgia, South Carolina or Michigan. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936834/fos-gallery-special-teams-personnel.html Check out which Nittany Lions were manning which units in Penn State's season-opening win over Youngstown State at Beaver Stadium. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936833/fostv-rocket-screen-breakdown.html Defensive coordinator Tom Bradley and others talk about the play Youngstown State used to burn Penn State for an 80-yard score. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2936832/blanket-coverage-youngstown.html The Penn State football squad managed to knock off the Penguins with a 44-14 victory; get a rundown of the most comprehensive Nittany Lion coverage available. Penn State Nittany Lions Football - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates