Third Place Might Not Be Good Enough: But There Is Still Hope

Yesterday, the Penn State Men's Basketball Team beat Towson to bring its overall record to 6-1 on the year. The Nittany Lions won 78-54, behind a near triple double from Talor Battle (15 Pts, 9 Asst, 8 Reb). This victory comes on the heals of a tough five-point loss to Rhode Island, one day earlier. A win against Rhode Island would have put Penn State into the championship game of the Philly Hoop Group Classic to play the host team: #20 Villanova. Instead, the Nitts had to settle for 3rd Place and a victory over an average mid-major Towson team.

As previously discussed on this board, due to Penn State's below-average non-conference schedule, I felt like Penn State needed to beat Rhode Island, and possibly beat Villanova, to be in a position to make a realistic run at an NCAA bid. That obviously did not happen. Certainly, even a win against Rhode Island and a loss to Villanova would have done more for Penn State's RPI, than a loss to Rhode Island and a win against Towson will do.

However, all is not lost. Penn State can redeem itself this week when they travel to Georgia Tech for the ACC-Big Ten Challenge and host in-state rival Temple. While neither has the national recognition of a top-20 Villanova team, back-to-back wins against Georgia Tech and Temple would go a long way to a 12-1 non-conference record and a great deal of momentum going to an 18-game Big 10 schedule (a schedule that includes two chances against #6 Michigan State, #9 Purdue, and #19 Wisconsin).

Looking ahead, for Penn State to have a realistic shot at an NCAA bid, Penn State must finish 5th or better in a top-heavy Big Ten conference. For example, last year the 5th place team was Ohio State. The Buckeyes finished 10-8 in conference and 19-13 overall. However, Ohio State finished the season on the dreaded NCAA "Bubble," and ended up winning the NIT tournament.

Assuming that 10-8 will get Penn State to 5th place this year, and assuming that they can go 2 for 2 this week against a couple of good teams, that would leave the Nitts with a 22-9 overall record and a very good chance at an NCAA bid. They would at least be in every bubble discussion going into Selection Sunday. But to do that, they must bounce back this week and continue to play with confidence and poise, especially on the road against Georgia Tech on Wednesday night.

Is It Too Early To Talk About Next Year?

Updated: December 8, 2008

With the 2008 regular season in the books and a date with USC in "The Granddaddy of Them All," (Official Rose Bowl Countdown Ticker) it's not to early to talk about next year, is it? I don't think so, especially since it's the underclassmen that will get most of the reps over the next six weeks. With that in mind, here is my projected depth chart going into spring practice and the Blue-White Game.

OFFENSE:

Quarterback

1. Daryll Clark
2. Pat Devlin
3. [Freshman]--Hopefully, Kevin Newsome
   

Running Back

1. Evan Royster
2. Stephfon Green
3. Brandon Beachum or
4. Brent Carter

Fullback

1. Joe Suhey or
   
2. Michael Zordich
   

Wide Receiver

1. Brent Brackett
2. Graham Zug
3. Derek Moye
4. Chaz Powell
5. A.J. Price or
   
6. [Freshman]--Hopefully, Justin Brown
7. [Freshman]--Hopefully, Antone Exum

Tight End

1. Andrew Quarless or
   
2. Mickey Shuler
3. Andrew Szczerba
4. Mark Wedderburn
   

Left Tackle

1. Deon'tae Pannell
2. Nerraw McCormick or
   
3. Nate Cadogan (F) or
   
4. Adam Gress (F)
   

Right Tackle

1. Dennis Landolt
2. Nerraw McCormick or
   
3. Eric Shrive (F) or
4. Adam Gress (F)
   

Left Guard

1. Lou Eliades
   
2. Johnnie Troutman
3. Matt Stankiewitch

Right Guard

1. J.B. Walton
2. Johnnie Troutman
3. Matt Stankiewitch

Center

1. Stefen Wisniewski
2. Quinn Barnam or
3. Matt Stankiewitch
   
4. Ty Howle (F)
   

DEFENSE:

Defensive End

1. Aaron Maybin (if not the NFL Draft)
   
2. Maurice Evans (if not the NFL Draft)
3. Jack Crawford or
4. Kevion Latham
5. Jerome Hayes (if he comes back fully from 2nd ACL)
6. Eric Latimore
   

Defensive Tackle

1. Jared Odrick (if not the NFL Draft)
2. Abe Koroma or
   
3. Ollie Ogbu
4. Devon Still
5. Chima Okoli or
   
6. Brandon Ware
   

"Sam" Outside Linebacker

1. Navarro Bowman
2. Bani Gbadyu
   
3. [Freshman]--Hopefully, Jelani Jenkins
   

"Fritz" Outside Linebacker

1. Nate Stupar or
2. Michael Mauti
3. Michael Yancich
   

"Backer" Middle Linebacker

1. Sean Lee
2. Josh Hull or
   
3. Chris Colasanti

Cornerback

1. A.J. Wallace
2. D'Anton Lynn
3. Darrell Givens (F) or
   
4. Derrick Thomas (F) or
   
5. Stephon Morris (F)
   

Strong Safety

1. Knowledge Timmons
2. [Freshman]--Hopefully, Gerald Hodges
3. Cedric Jefferies

Hero

1. Drew Astorino
2. Nick Sukay

SPECIAL TEAMS:

Place Kicker

1. Collin Wagner or
2. Anthony Fera (F)
   

Punter

1. Jeremy Boone
2. Ryan Breen
   

Kick Returners

1. A.J. Wallace
   
2. Chaz Powell
   
3. Devon Smith (F) 0r
4. Derrick Thomas
   

Punt Returner

1. Devon Smith (F) or
2. Derrick Thomas or
3. [Other Freshman]
   

Linebacker Mike Hull Commits For 2010

With over two months until National Signing Day for the 2009 recruiting class, Penn State picked up its first commitment for the class of 2010. According to BWI, legacy linebacker Mike Hull, from Canonsburg, PA, committed to Penn State during his unofficial visit for the Michigan State game. Even though most recruiting services do not evaluate recruits until the summer following their Junior year, Hull is already ranked by Rivals.com on its top 250 list of Juniors to watch.

For its 2009 class, Penn State has already received one commitment from New Jersey middle linebacker Glenn Carson, and hopes to receive a commitment from all-everything Jelani Jenkins, who has drawn early comparisons to LaVar Arrington for his closing speed, athleticism, and hard-hitting mentality. Jenkins would be considered, by many, to be the crown jewel of Penn State's 2009 class.

Penn State loses one linebacker following this year, Senior Tyrell Sales, and only one linebacker following the 2009 season, All-American candidate Sean Lee. With commitments from Carson and Hull already in the fold, if Jenkins chooses LinebackerU, Penn State may be done recruiting linebackers until its 2011 class.

I Should Have Listened To My Mother

Deon Butler's stat line for Michigan State game: three receptions for 133 yards. Not bad, until you see that all three receptions came in the 2nd half and all three went for touchdowns. Wow. While Joe Paterno may not like to reflect right after a game like this, I don't have that problem. Butler's incredible performance got me thinking. Amidst the 49-18 rout of Michigan State, an automatic BCS birth, and a trip to the Rose Bowl, I realized something: my Mom was right... again.

During the 2005 Big Ten Championship season, I remember a discussion that I had with my Mom. You see, every couple of years, when new group of players comes through the football program, my Mom picks out one or two younger players who are "her guys" and who she will cheer for above all others. In 2005, my Mom targeted Deon Butler. Not Derrick Williams, not Jordan Norwood, and not Justin King. It wasn't that she did not also like those players, but there was just something about Deon that appealed to her. I tried to talk her into Derrick Williams, but I think she liked the smoothness and quiet confidence of Deon.

Four years later, Butler, Norwood, and Williams rank #1, #3, and #4 on the all-time reception list, respectively. For my Mom, choosing any one of these three outstanding players to follow would have been a great choice. But Deon was always her guy. And after a game like this, who can blame her?

From walk-on defensive back, to arguably the best Penn State wide receiver of all-time, that's not a bad legacy to leave at Penn State. As for my Mother (and I hate to say it), she was right. Don't get me wrong, I'm not disappointed that Deon turned out to be the player that he did. I could not be happier for him, but I'm never going to hear the end of it.

However, now that Deon Butler has only one game left to play in his Penn State career, my Mom has chosen a new player: Freshman running back Stephfon Green. Who knows, if Green is able to duplicate as a running back what Butler did as a wide receiver, I may start taking my Mother's advice on more than football, like on stocks and bonds in this crazy market...

Men's Basketball: High Expectations Require An Early Season SPLASH . . . Or Else

“If we don't make the NCAA Tournament, that's a failure on my part.” Senior Jamelle Cornley (PF) spoke those words in a recent preseason interview for FightOnState.com. With all due respect Jamelle, if Penn State does not make the Big Dance, it will not be your fault.

Right now, Penn State is in college basketball purgatory. They are not yet a team projected to contend for a Big Ten title, nor an NCAA bid. But they finally have the talent and depth to beat every team in the Big Ten. If you are looking for evidence of this fact, look no further than last year's resume.

• 2007-2008 Record: 15-16 (7-11).
• Wins against #20 Michigan State, #24 Indiana, Illinois (twice), Virginia Tech, and Seton Hall.
• Losses to Rider, Central Florida, Wisconsin (by 25 at home and by 36 on the road), Michigan St. (by 37 on the road), and Purdue (by 22 at home).
• Only needed to beat Illinois in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament to become eligible for the NIT Tournament, but lost on a reverse layup with 3.8 seconds left.

This kind of Jekyll & Hyde performance is to be expected from a team who is still learning how to win on a consistent basis. It did not help that First Team All-Big Ten forward Geary Claxton went down with an ACL four games into the Big Ten schedule. Add to that fact, three Freshman starters and a fourth who was a Juco Transfer, and it should not surprise anyone that consistency was that team's biggest hurdle.

Fast forward to November 2008 and the Men's Basketball Team has sprinted out to a 3-0 record, with wins over three teams they were expected to beat.

However, to make an NCAA Tournament when national expectations for your program are modest at best, a team like Penn State must make a SPLASH in its non-conference schedule. It must then ride that wave of momentum into its conference schedule, beat a few high-profile teams (like #7 Michigan St., #10 Purdue, #22 Wisconsin, and Ohio State), and finish in the top-5 of its conference standings.

While only time will tell if they can pull off the conference wins they did last year, Penn State has a bigger issue: who are they going to beat in their non-conference schedule to make the necessary splash? The problem is, that big "splash" win is hard to find on the 2008-2009 non-conference schedule.

As presently scheduled, Penn State does not play a top 25 teams until it hits the Big Ten schedule. The best teams they will play are Rhode Island and Georgia Tech--good teams, but neither is Kentucky or North Carolina. The only hope Penn State has is in the Philly Hoop Group Classic. The what? That's right, the Philly Hoop Group Classic. While I can not confirm this fact, the pessimist in me says that this is a tournament designed to make one team look good against lower competition. This year, that is 2008 Sweet Sixteen team and #23 Villanova--Penn State's only chance to beat top 25 team before January.

To even play Villanova, Penn State must beat Rhode Island in the first round, on Friday, November 28th. If Penn State is able to get past the Rams of Rhode Island, they will have their shot at making a real splash before the Big Ten season starts. And they had better take advantage of the opportunity because, lately, the NCAA Selection Committee seems to put as much weight on who you beat in your non-conference games, as they do on conference performance.

So, as you can see Jamelle, you will not shoulder all of the blame if this team does not make the NCAA tournament. Until the national media recognizes Penn State as more than just a football school, the Men's Basketball Team at Penn State will have to fight media perception, in addition to its on-court opponents.

What is the only way to get the media's attention? Get in their collective face and don't blink. Not once. Don't give them one opportunity to doubt you. Win the games you are supposed to win and beat Rhode Island and Villanova on consecutive nights. Then finish in the top 5 in the Big Ten, winning several big games along the way, and get a first round bye in the Big Ten Tournament. Then, maybe, this up-and-coming program will get the respect they deserve and their first NCAA birth since the 2000-2001 season.

This team finally has the talent and depth to do it. And if Jamelle Cornley--who has more heart than any other player in the Big Ten--has anything to say about it, Penn State will be Dancing in March once again.

The Nittanys: Regular Season Awards and Honors

Much like the Emmys, here are the Regular Season awards and honors prior to the Michigan State game.

Offensive MVP: Evan Royster (Hands down, it's not even close.) 2nd Place: Derrick Williams.

Defensive MVP: Navarro Bowman (How quickly we forgot about Connor and Lee at Linebacker U.) Close 2nd Place: Aaron Maybin.

Special Teams MVP: Jeremy Boone (His consistency over the last two years is part of the reason why our defense has held teams to less than 12 points per game.) Close 2nd Place: Kevin Kelly.

(Note: The "V" in MVP stands for "valuable" and accolades above reflect the the player's value to the team. This is not the "most outstanding player" award.)

Unsung Hero, Offense: Derrick Williams (It's amazing that this do-everything co-captain still has some doubters regarding what he means to this team. See also this article for more information on what he has meant to Penn State for four years.) Close 2nd Place: Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood.

Unsung Hero, Defense: Jared Odrick (He's not as flashy as Aaron Maybin, but he's been as disruptive to opposing teams as Maybin has been all year, if not more so. Let's all hope that he sticks around for another year and the big NFL $$ don't come calling first.) Close 2nd Place: Tony Davis.

Unsung Hero, Special Teams: Nate Stupar (Whether on punt coverage or kickoff coverage, Stupar brings the intensity and effort on every play.) Close 2nd Place: Michael Mauti.

Most Outstanding Freshman, Offense: Stephfon Green (As Scott Van Pelt would say: Green has T.U.P. = Tremendous Upside Potential.) Close 2nd Place: No one.

Most Outstanding Freshman, Defense: Michael Mauti (He has not played as much as Drew Astorino or Jack Crawford because of depth at the linebacker position, but you can see he's going to be a special player once he gets the reps.) Close 2nd Place: Drew Astorino.

Coach of the Year: Tom Bradley (When Hall of Fame coach Joe Paterno spends most of the year coaching from the press box and the team goes 10-1 (on the verge of its second Big Ten Championship in four years), someone has to get the credit. There's no question that Tom Bradley is a large reason why this team did not miss a beat with JoePa in the press box.) Close 2nd Place: (I can't believe I'm writing this...) Jay Paterno.

What to watch for at Beaver Stadium on Senior Day (other than the game on the field, obviously)

With a large incoming recruiting class (25+) expected on national signing day this February, there is speculation that several redshirt juniors will graduate this year and will not be returning for their final year of eligibility. In the past, the biggest indicator that a player will not return for their final year is if they are recognized on Senior Day.

Here is a list of possible redshirt juniors who may elect not to return:

1. Kevin Cousins (WR)
   
2. James McDonald (WR)
   
3. Ako Poti (OG)
   
4. Nerraw McCormick (OT)
   
5. Devin Fentress (DB/WR)
   

So, if you are one of the lucky 109,000 plus to be in attendance on Saturday, make sure you are in your seat before the Seniors are recognized and you will have a good idea which players won't be back in 2009. Personally, it would not surprise me if any variation of these players chooses to return or not return.

Edit (Nov. 22, 2008): As it turns out, none of the above players were recognized on Senior day. So, while we still do not know who may or may not return for their fifth year of eligibility, I would not rule out the possibility since we need to make room for a recruiting class that is probably going to be 27 strong.

Why Derrick Williams is the "Most Important Player" to ever play at Penn State

It’s amazing how quickly the college football season comes and goes for us fans. Even so, I can't imagine how fast Senior Day came for Senior Co-Captain Derrick Williams.

Just four years ago, Williams was ready to graduate from Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, Maryland, and was one of the most coveted high school recruits in the country (consensus top 10 recruit). As you can imagine, however, there are certain expectations that come along with those accolades. Fast-forward approximately 1260 days and it can be argued that Derrick Williams not only met, but surpassed those expectations. But there are some doubters who would argue that Williams never “lived up to the hype.” Their arguments look something like this.

Is Williams the greatest Penn State football player of all-time?

No. Some many names come to mind: Cappelletti, Moore, Mitchell, Harris, Arrington, Brown, Carter, Collins, Ham, Conlan, Blackledge, Warner, Johnson, Posluszny? The list goes on and on. Is Williams in the discussion? Yes. Is he the best? Probably not.

Is Williams the greatest Penn State wide receiver of all-time?

No. That battle is between current Senior wide receiver Deon Butler, Bobby Engram, O.J. McDuffie, and possibly Bryant Johnson. (Side Note: Bryant Johnson played during the “Dark Ages” of Penn State Football but is still seventh on the all-time receptions list. Who knows what Johnson could have done surrounded by the talent on the 2005 and 2008 teams?) Again, is Williams in the discussion? Yes. Is he the best? Probably not.

So how can a player who is not even the best player to ever play his position “The Most Important Player” to ever wear the Blue & White?

There are many reasons. Just to name a two:

1. He is the most versatile offensive player to every play at Penn State. Williams is a wide receive, running back, quarterback, punt returner, and kick returner.

2. In 2005, during the Michigan game, Williams broke his arm. Penn State went on to lose that game on a last-second play and rebounded to win the conference championship. But the offense, although still effective in Williams’s absence, was never as explosive the rest of the season.

However, the primary reason why Williams is the “Most Important” Penn State Player of all-time relates to the circumstances that surrounded his commitment out of high school.

Derrick Williams committed to Penn State when few other top recruits would even consider Penn State as their future Alma Mater. Williams’s commitment came on the heals of a 4-7 season and a string of four out of five losing seasons. His commitment also came at a time when the Penn State offensive strategy was out-dated and largely unproductive. But his commitment signaled to other recruits that Penn State was on the way “back.” Those top recruits could commit to Penn State knowing that they were not jeopardizing their future NFL careers by choosing Penn State.

For example, following Williams’s commitment, several highly coveted recruits also chose Penn State. Future key players such as Jerome Hayes, Aaron Maybin, Navorro Bowman, Jared Odrick, A.J. Wallace, Maurice Evans, Evan Royster, and Pat Devlin. Williams, along with assistant coach Larry Johnson, Sr., helped pave the in-roads into recruiting the Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. metro area—a connection that is far stronger today than it was in 2004. (Currently, Penn State 2009 recruiting class includes seven high school stand-outs from Maryland with the possible addition of at least two more top-250 players in the near future.)

When asked recently why he chose Penn State in 2004, given the state of program at the time, Williams responded that he wanted to “make a difference” at his future school. When the reporter followed-up asking if Williams felt that he had made a difference at Penn State, Williams did not hesitate. “I definitely made difference,” said Williams, citing relationships with his teammates and “leading by example.”

Yes, Derrick, your certainly did.

Oh yea, and did I mention that amidst multiple suspensions and dismissals involving Penn State Football Players, Williams always conducted himself like a team captain, a champion, and a role model. He has done things "the right way," the "Penn State way."

Would Penn State have been as successful in 2005 and 2008 without Williams? Would Penn State have landed all of the top recruits listed above if Williams had not committed to Penn State? Would Penn State have ever truly bounced back from four out of five losing seasons? Would Joe Paterno even still be the head coach at Penn State, now on the verge of two Big Ten Championships in four years?

The answer to all of those questions must be a resounding: Maybe. We’ll never know. But I do know one thing. With less than three days until Derrick Williams is recognized as a senior co-captain and runs out of the tunnel one last time at Beaver Stadium, I am one fan who will not trivialize, or take for granted, what Derrick Williams has meant to Penn State Football for the last four years.

When a player's worth can not be measured simply by a discussion of their “numbers,” but rather by their intangibles, it is impossible to overstate that player’s importance to their team.

Genesis

This blog is dedicated to all things related to Penn State Football and Men's Basketball. In the coming days, weeks, and years (hopefully), I will be commenting on the good, the bad, and the ugly as it relates to both programs: everything from recruiting, to game performance, and the general direction of each program.

I hope you enjoy the open and honest commentary that this blog provides. Just remember that the opinions expressed within are those of a life-long Penn State fan who must balance realism with his eternal Penn State optimism. BEWARE of the Blue & White shaded sunglasses...