Blue White Illustrated

SETTING THE PACE Despite the loss, Allen Robinson claims another Penn State record M AT T   H E R B | matt@bluewhiteonline.com MINNEAPOLIS – Penn State didn't make any players available for interviews after its 24-10 loss to Minnesota on Saturday, so we don't know how Allen Robinson felt about breaking Bobby Engram's school record for most receiving yards in a season. It's likely that he wasn't terribly excited, because he had his least productive afternoon of the season, and also because the Nittany Lions had trouble passing the ball until the fourth quarter of their double-digit loss. This much we do know: Robinson now has 1,106 yards on 73 catches this season, eclipsing the mark that Bobby Engram set when he gained 1,084 yards in 1995. We also know that Bill O'Brien didn't find much consolation in the knowledge that Robinson is having one of the best seasons that any offensive player in Penn State history has ever enjoyed. Said the Nittany Lions' second-year coach, "We couldn't care less about records." The Lions had difficulty getting Robinson involved in the passing game on Saturday, and when they did get him the ball, he wasn't able to turn upfield for additional yardage. He finished with seven receptions for a season-low 63 yards, and his longest catch was a 14-yarder. Robinson's struggles were due partly to the weather, which inhibited Penn State's passing offense until the fourth quarter, and partly to a Minnesota defense that was designed specifically to deny him the ball. Tracy Claeys, the Gophers' acting head coach, felt that the best way to disrupt Christian Hackenberg's rhythm would be to take away his favorite target. "He's a great quarterback, but he's young," Claeys said. "If you put a young quarterback under pressure and force him to make decisions without his first option, then we'll have a good chance of winning." That strategy worked well, even as Robinson was raising his career numbers n o V e m b e R This isn't your father's Penn State team, and it's frustrating to watch the results. Today, the D seemed to play better, and the O made two turnovers that costed us 10 points. Snake bitten? Or simply the sanctions catching up with us? BobE OK, Big Ten teams, enjoy it while it lasts. Beating up on a severely underFROM manned Penn State THE might be big victories WEB online for you. We will very Reaction soon be back. And to PSu'S lateSt Game when we are, look out! On a side note, I like Minnesota. I hope they continue to win this year. klive I don't care how upset you are with this particular loss, but you have to feel good for Jerry Kill. This season, anyway, he has apparently turned around what has been a very sad mediocre team. An unassuming looking fellow, he took a team at its depths and, this year at least, turned it around. The guy is a solid coach and I, for one, feel very good for him. I hope he regains his health so he can come back to gain the recognition he clearly deserves for all his hard work. Lion10 Steve Manuel IN YOUR FACE Robinson's 63 receiving yards were a season low, but gave the junior 1,106 on the season, a new school record. to 153 catches for 2,148 yards. "We played hard, O'Brien said, "but we weren't able " to get him the ball often enough today. It's disappointing, but we have three games left and we have to continue to find ways to get him the ball. " 9 , 2 0 1 3 10 Let's face it. We're not a very good football team right now. If we can beat Purdue, we can finish 6-6, which I'll handle. Next year might be another 6-6 season, but in two years we start coming back. Hang in there. We are hurting now, but it will get better in time. mj1962 It's the defense, the defense, the defense! No wait, it's the sanctions, the sanctions, the sanctions! The offense! The coaching! It's all of it. I'm sad, but I will always bleed blue and white. purplebelt42 b l u e w h i t e o n l i n e . c o m

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