Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/165129
P R E G A M E R E P O R T P E N N S TAT E v s . E A S T E R N M I C H I G A N N O O N , S E P T. 7 B T N EMU FACTS COACH Ron English (California, '90) COACH'S RECORD 11-38 in five seasons as Eastern Michigan head coach 2013 RECORD 1-0 (0-0 MAC) RECORD VS. PENN STATE The Nittany Lions lead the series, 2-0. In their first meeting – the 1992 season-opener – Penn State topped the Eagles 52-7. PREVIOUS MEETING Matt McGloin led the way with 220 yards and three touchdown passes during a 34-6 Penn State rout in Beaver Stadium on Sept. 24, 2011. THE GOOD BENZ ZONE Junior quarterback Tyler Benz has thrown a touchdown pass in nine of his 10 career starts, including two in the 34-24 victory over Howard in week one. THE BAD SITTING TARGET EMU safety Donald Coleman was impacted by the NCAA's new targeting rule when he was flagged for roughing the passer in the second half vs. Howard. The penalty resulted in an immediate ejection, and Coleman will miss the first half vs. the Nittany Lions, too. THE UGLY RUNNING FREE Eastern Michigan had the worst rush defense in the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2012, and in '13 its prospects aren't much better. The defense returns just three starters, and last week it allowed 202 rushing yards for an average of 5.8 yards per carry. DID YOU KNOW? Eastern Michigan's freshman WR Austin Stone was one of Christian Hackenberg's favorite receiving targets in high school. In fact, Hackenberg chucked a 53-yard TD pass to Stone that helped propel Fork Union Military Academy into the Virginia state final in 2012. Photo courtesy of EMU Athletic Media Relations EAGLE EYE Benz threw for 210 yards and two TDs with a 73.1 completion percentage last week against Howard. Bird's-eye view Heavily favored PSU welcomes Eastern Michigan into Beaver Stadium TIM OWEN | OW E N. T I M . B W I @ G M A I L . C O M From afar, Eastern Michigan head coach Ron English has monitored Bill O'Brien's tenure at Penn State. He watched O'Brien take over a program in the midst of scandal. He saw the NCAA hit the Nittany Lions with crippling sanctions and saw them respond by going 8-4, a performance that earned O'Brien national coach-of-the-year honors. And the fifth-year head coach, who spent S E P T E M B E R 4 , 2 0 1 3 1 two seasons as Lloyd Carr's defensive coordinator at Michigan, is impressed with what O'Brien has been able to achieve. Said English, "I don't know if anybody can do a better job than what he's done. " English will get to see O'Brien's handiwork firsthand on Saturday when his Eagles fly into Beaver Stadium for a noon kickoff. Eastern Michigan is coming off a 2-10 season, and if the oddsmakers are correct – B L UE WHI T E ON L I N E . COM