Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1157192
T H E M O N T H I N . . . Penn State will need its defense to be particularly reliable while it breaks in a new quarterback, likely Sean Clifford, and negotiates a challenging road schedule that includes trips to Columbus, Iowa City, East Lansing and Minneapolis, not to mention being the Big Ten home opener for Maryland. "With or without the off- fense, we need to control the game," [linebacker Cam] Brown said. "I think we've learned the mentality that you have to keep the same attitude all four quarters. Though the Lions must replace six defensive starters, there's plenty of optimism that the unit has grown from its past wounds and has stockpiled some talent – led by Micah Parsons – eager to bust out. NEIL RUDEL ALTOONA MIRROR The Nittany Lions lose quarterback Trace McSorley and running back Miles Sanders, but they've been recruiting at a high level and should have a fierce defense. A soft early schedule should allow the offense to find its footing be- fore playing at Iowa, hosting Michigan and traveling to Michigan State. There's a universe in which Penn State has one loss heading into the Nov. 23 showdown at Ohio State, which means the Nittany Lions are worth keeping an eye on. J. BRADY McCOLLOUGH LOS ANGELES TIMES Penn State football has a good problem in its running back room. On the one hand there is a lot of talent. Ricky Slade and Journey Brown bring experience to the table, while freshmen Devyn Ford and Noah Cain join the Nittany Lions as highly coveted prospects. While all four have work left to do when it comes to proving their hype matches their production, it's hard to argue with the po- tential as it stands on paper. The issue, how exactly do you make the most of that? BEN JONES STATECOLLEGE.COM O P I N I O N S N O T E B O O K OKOLI JOINS COMMISSION Former Nit- tany Lion o7ensive lineman Chima Okoli has been named Penn State's new repre- sentative on the Big Ten Advisory Com- mission. A 2011 graduate, Okoli is the associate director of admissions for Penn State Law. He replaces Curtis Johnson on the committee. The Big Ten Advisory Commission is com- prised of one former African-American stu- dent-athlete from each member institution. The commission was formed in 1972 to ex- amine and identify ac- ademic achievement and quality of student life issues that face African-American student-ath- letes. It is the only conference-based commission in the NCAA dedicated to addressing diversity and the needs of African-American student-athletes. Okoli earned Penn State degrees in media studies and advertising/public relations, with a minor in labor employ- ment relations, in 2011. He earned his J.D. from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law in May 2017. FUNDRAISER TOPS $50,000 The 17th edition of Li8 for Life raised more than $50,000 in July to bene5t Upli8ing Ath- letes and its commitment to life skills de- velopment, patient-focused programs and rare disease research. The 17-year total for Penn State Upli8ing Athletes is now nearly $1.45 million. Li8 for Life featured more than 100 members of the Nittany Lion football team and was held at Holuba Hall, with approximately 1,000 fans in attendance. The exhibition featured rotations of one-on-one battles in the tire 6ip, sled pull, bench press and farmer's hold, fol- lowed by tug-of-war competitions. Founded by Penn State football team- mates Scott Shirley, Dave Costlow and Damone Jones in 2003, Li8 for Life has bene5tted cancer research and the rare disease community. ■ OKOLI PSUtixman@gmail.com www.PSUtixman.com Get your PSU Football Tickets at go t ti cke t s? k c i t t t e k man@g .PSUtixm www. at ootba Get yo k c i t t o gm .PSUtixman.com all ur s t s e k