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Times. "Gene would have guys come to the gym for the first few days, and he wouldn't want to see gymnastics; he would want to see how they walked, their posture." In addition to his coaching accomplishments, Wettstone will be remembered for his prominent role in promoting the sport. He was known as "Mr. Gymnastics," and an event in 1960 drew 8,114 spectators to Rec Hall. During his tenure as coach, Penn State played host to three NCAA championship events and four Olympic trials. The West Hoboken, N.J., native also had a hand in reviving the Nittany Lion mascot. In 1939, he brought the mascot back to the forefront after a 12-year absence, and he even wore the costume for certain events before passing the suit on to a student the following year. Wettstone's example will continue to inspire Penn State gymnasts. Since 1976, the Lions have been presenting the Gene Wettstone Award annually to their most outstanding gymnast. In addition, there is a sculpture of Wettstone by internationally acclaimed artist Richard MacDonald on permanent display at the Penn State AllSports Museum. Houck. It was all part of an effort by Wettstone and his boss, dean Carl Schott, to convince high school students to the enroll in the school's physical education program. Wettstone wanted to add a lion to the act, and that led him to perhaps his most memorable achievement. He convinced Schott that someone dressed in a lion costume would not only be good for the circus but could also appear on the field at football games. So Wettstone went to New York and brought back a custommade lion costume. Since it fit Wettstone, Schott told him to wear it at football games, and that's how the young gymnastics coach became the third person to be the official Nittany Lion mascot. Gene Wettstone was truly one of a kind. THE MONTH IN... BLOGS OPINIONS The three teams not named Eastern Michigan on Penn State's nonconference schedule combined for 29 wins last year, so all of them could be challenging. Watch out for UCF in particular. Unlike Syracuse and Kent State, the Knights did not go through an offseason coaching change. BRIAN BENNETT ESPN.COM O'Brien, in a sense, came stunningly prepared for what he ended up with at Penn State. Most college head coaches would consider the loss of five scholarships a year devastating – never mind losing 20 like the Lions. And yet O'Brien comes from the NFL with its own restricted rosters. He already knows how to practice and improve a team while desperately trying to avoid injuries and keep legs fresh. FRANK BODANI THE (YORK) DAILY RECORD You know, they play the games for a reason. And they'll continue to play the games for as long as Penn State fields a team, whether or not the team is any good, or led by Bill O'Brien, or stymied at every turn by crippling penalties and scholarship reductions. If last season proved anything, however, it's that the Nittany Lions' perceived nightmare existence – the inevitable decline of PSU football – can be fought off with coaching, schemes and player development. The latter takes center PAUL MYERBERG USA TODAY stage in 2013. O'Brien is smart enough to know that quarterbacks don't get good unless they play. Ferguson can be a pretty good quarterback. He has that skill set. Hackenberg has the skills to be a truly great quarterback. Maybe not now, but certainly down the road. And isn't that where O'Brien has to be looking right now, with the toughest teams on Penn State's schedule not coming to town until October? Truth is, O'Brien will probably play Ferguson if he has to. But certainly, he'd love to play Hackenberg, and he's a guy who usually gets what he wants. It all depends on how much knowledge a seasoned coach can impart on an impressionable and talented, yet wholly inexperienced young quarterback. There doesn't seem to be any concern in that area. DONNIE COLLINS THE (SCRANTON) TIMES-TRIBUNE QUOTES I've seen a smart, composed guy who throws the ball accurately, makes good decisions, goes the right place for the ball, he understands protections. DENNIS ALLEN, OAKLAND RAIDERS COACH, ON MATT MCGLOIN

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