I
t was a cold winter day at Penn State. If Bob
Shoop had been hired away, it only would've
grown colder.
The Nittany Lions' top-rated defense was al-
ready saying goodbye to on-field leader Mike
Hull, several experienced defensive ends and
two safeties with extensive starting experience,
but for a few days this past off-season, it ap-
peared as though the defense's mastermind
would also be leaving.
Shoop's name had been mentioned in con-
nection with several defensive coordinator
openings around the country – a seasonal
compliment that only the nation's top assis-
tant coaches receive – and in early January it
appeared that LSU was poised to woo him
away. However, on Jan. 8, Shoop squelched the
reports, announcing via Twitter that he was
staying put. He said he was "excited" to be
part of the Penn State family and "committed
LOSS LEADER
Under Bob Shoop, Lions poised to build on their success
2 0 1 5 P E N N S T A T E F O O T B A L L P R E V I E W
T H E D E F E N S E
HIT PARADE
Austin Johnson
drags down
Boston College
running back
John Hilliman
in the Pinstripe
Bowl. Johnson
helped Penn
State's de-
fense rank
third nationally
against the run
(100.5 yards
per game) dur-
ing the 2014
season. Photo
by Steve
Manuel
