The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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penn state • oct. 12 6 NCAA Sanctions Are Not Stopping Nittany Lions W By Ryan Tice hen the NCAA hammered Penn State with what it called "unprecedented" sanctions — including a $60 million fine, fouryear postseason ban, scholarship reductions, five years of probation, vacating all wins since 1998 and allowing immediate transfers without penalty — expectations were not high for head coach Bill O'Brien's first year in Happy Valley. After the Nittany Lions opened with nonconference losses to Ohio at home and Virginia on the road — by a combined 11 points — they went 8-2 the rest of the way and lost only to then-No. 9 Ohio State by 12 points and thenNo. 18 Nebraska by nine on the road. It was an amazingly resilient season for PSU, and although a rebuild is needed on defense, eight starters return on offense. The major loss on that side of the ball is under center, where the Lions don't return any college experience, but O'Brien is a noted offensive guru. O'Brien helped the Nittany Lions increase their scoring output by nearly 10 points per game last year despite the loss of the squad's top returning running back (Silas Redd) and wideout (Justin Brown), who both transferred due to the sanctions, and the fact that quarterback Matt McGloin entered the season with just five career starts under his belt. O'Brien will need to work his magic with the PSU quarterback once again, but whoever wins the fall battle — five-star recruit Christian Hackenberg might be the favorite as soon as he steps on campus in June — will have plenty of help around him. Three offensive lineman who started last year return, including first-team All-Big Ten guard John Urschel; 1,000 yardrusher Zach Zwinak, a 234-pound redshirt junior, is back; and junior Allen Robinson, the Players To Watch OFFENSE: Zach Zwinak, R-Jr., RB — After tearing his ACL in 2010 and playing sparingly the next year, he ran with his opportunity last fall after injuries decimated the tailback position … Zwinak finished the campaign with 1,000 yards and six touchdowns on 203 carries, and he also hauled in 20 passes for 177 yards and a score … He tallied 1,171 yards from scrimmage in the final nine games and 589 yards over the final four contests, which worked out to averages of 147.25 yards per game and 5.5 yards per tote. DEFENSE: Deion Barnes, R-So., DE — He redshirted in 2011 and then became a star rushing off the edge despite some veteran linemen on the roster last season … He finished the campaign with just 26 tackles, but paced the squad with 10 stops behind the line of scrimmage and six sacks … He also tied for the team lead with three forced fumbles. reigning Big Ten Receiver of the Year, will be of redshirt junior Mike Hull, who has been a in the lineup. special teams standout, will be huge. Robinson caught 77 passes Reigning Big Ten Freshman for 1,013 yards and 11 touchof the Year Deion Barnes, now downs last year, and leads a a redshirt sophomore defensive corps that returns the top seven end, will lead the way up front pass catchers — who comafter he paced the team with 10 bined for 220 catches for 2,824 tackles for loss and six sacks yards and 23 scores — in 2012. last season. Three returning On defense, "Linebacker U." starters in the secondary are must replace last year's standback, and junior cornerback out duo — Gerald Hodges and Adrian Amos led all Nittany Michael Mauti — but middle Lions with two picks in 2012. linebacker Glenn Carson is Fifth-year senior safeties Steback for his third year as the Junior Allen Robinson was the phen Obeng-Agyapong and starter. Carson is the only one Big Ten Receiver of the Year Malcolm Willis also return. of last year's top five tacklers to last season after catching 77 If O'Brien can find the anreturn, and the departed quartet passes for 1,013 yards. swer under center, the Nittany photo courtesy penn state Lions might be even better than combined for 328 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, six interceptions, last year. However, there are some big ques14 passes broken up, five forced fumbles and tion marks, and they could also go in the other three fumble recoveries last fall. The presence direction. Notes Quick Facts All-Time Series: U-M leads 10-6 First Meeting: U-M 21, PSU 13 (Oct. 16, 1993, at Happy Valley) Last Meeting: PSU 41, U-M 31 (Oct. 30, 2010, at Happy Valley) Head Coach: Bill O'Brien, 8-4 at Penn State and overall (2nd year) Off./Def. Systems: Multiple/Multiple 2012 in Review: 8-4, 6-2 Big Ten (2nd Leaders) Final 2012 Ranking: Received votes in Associated Press Returning Starters: 16 (8 offense, 6 defense, 2 specialists) Last Bowl Appearance: 2011 (TicketCity vs. Houston, L 30-14) Big Ten Conference Championships (last): 3 (2008*) * Big Ten Championships from 2005 and 2008 were vacated, school still has 1994 title Returning Leaders Passing: None Rushing: Zach Zwinak (1,000 yards, 6 TD) Receiving: Andre Robinson (1,013 yards, 11 TD) Tackles: Glenn Carson (85) Sacks: Deion Barnes (6) Interceptions: Adrian Amos (2) Penn State might have the deepest stable of tight ends in the country — redshirt sophomore Kyle Carter ranked second on the team with 36 receptions for 453 yards last year, and is supplemented by senior Matt Lehman (24 catches for 296 yards and three scores) and sophomore Jesse James (15 catches went for 276 yards and five scores) … PSU has beaten Michigan three straight times, although they are just 3-9 against the Wolverines since 1997. ❏ 2013 Schedule DateOpponent 2012 Result Aug. 31 vs. Syracuse* — Sept. 7 Eastern Michigan — Sept. 14 UCF — Sept. 21 Kent State — Oct. 5 at Indiana W, 45-22 Oct. 12 Michigan — Oct. 26 at Ohio State L, 35-23 Nov. 2 Illinois W, 35-7 Nov. 9 at Minnesota — Nov. 16 Purdue W, 34-9 Nov. 23 Nebraska L, 32-23 Nov. 30 at Wisconsin W, 24-21 (OT) * at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. the wolverine staff Prediction Why Michigan Could Win: Rocked by scandal and NCAA sanctions prior to the 2012 season, Penn State still has a solid core of veterans to work with, but PSU lost its best players defensively and will not reload instantly. An opponent needs a stout defense to beat U-M this year, and the Nittany Lions don't have it. Why Michigan Could Lose: PSU will host Michigan in a quasi-night game — kickoff is set for 5 p.m. — and the Beaver Stadium crowd is considered one of the nation's most hostile, often keeping Penn State in games it should be losing. The Blue and White also boast some of the conference's top playmakers offensively, those capable of making the big plays that can often trump an overall mismatch. Prediction: After enjoying a ninegame winning streak over Penn State, Michigan has dropped its last three to the Nittany Lions, 46-17 in 2008, 35-10 in 2009 and 41-31 in 2010, and is eager to end the suffering. PSU has one last gasp at competing for a Big Ten title before the sanctions cripple the program so it will be up for this one. However, the Blue and White have a major hole at quarterback and must replace the gut of their defense. Still, don't expect it to be an easy win for U-M. Michigan 24, Penn State 16. The Wolverine 2013 Football Preview ■ 181