Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1524108
3 2 A U G U S T 2 0 2 4 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M / / / / / / / 2 0 2 4 F O O T B A L L P R E V I E W / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / A ndy Kotelnicki remembers the in- cident from nearly two decades ago with clarity. At the time, he was offensive coordinator at Wisconsin- River Falls, his alma mater. The Falcons were celebrating their senior day at the conclusion of an underwhelming season when a parent approached him prior to kickoff. "We weren't very good that year," Ko- telnicki recalled. "The parents are out there shaking hands. I'm out there, and a dad, in front of the whole stadium, grabs my hand to shake it. He said, 'Call a good game today, Kotelnicki!'" Contorting his face to mimic the par- ent's earnestness, and offering a firm, intimidating handshake to match it, Ko- telnicki understood the message. People were counting on him. The results mat- tered, and those people were comfort- able letting him know about it. Ahead of his first season calling the of- fense for a Penn State football team that faces its own heightened expectations and the intense scrutiny that comes with them, the lessons are applicable today. "That's part of what comes with it," he said. "I don't know that I feel it. I recog- nize that [the pressure] is there, but I've always had it. We have to go out there and perform." For Penn State's offense ahead of the 2024 season, the point is particularly true. Widely acknowledged as the inhibitor PENN STATE'S POINT MAN PENN STATE'S POINT MAN Andy Kotelnicki looks to elevate a Nittany Lion offense that was up and down in 2023 NAT E BAU E R | N AT E . B A U E R @ O N 3 . C O M Kotelnicki (right) arrived at Penn State in December after three seasons at Kansas. During his tenure in Lawrence, the Jayhawks scored 40 points or more in nine games and reached the 50-point plateau five times. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL