Blue White Illustrated

Anthony Zettel was going to play. There was never any doubt about that. Only a day earlier, his father, Terry, had died at age 46 aAer an 18-month battle with cancer. Zettel's coaches at Penn State had leA it up to him whether to suit up for the Nittany Lions' game against San Diego State on Sept. 26, just as they had throughout the season as he traveled back and forth between State College and the family's home in West Branch, Mich. But to the senior defensive tackle, there was no decision to make. He was going to honor his father's memory the best way he knew how, and that was to play. "When I would come home and he was going through chemo sessions, he would be yelling at me: Get back to college and go do your thing because sitting here with me, you're not doing anything you want to do and bettering yourself," Zettel said. "I think me not playing that game was not even a question, you know. I'm playing that game no matter what – for him and for my career, too. That's what he would want me to do." Zettel didn't just play; he played bril- liantly, finishing with a career-high seven tackles including 2.5 tackles for loss and an assisted sack. He also broke up a pass and recovered a fumble to set up a touchdown, as Penn State outlasted the Aztecs, 37-21. It was his best game of the season, and aAer watching it from the sideline, coach James Franklin said he was "just really proud of him and the whole team. This team is going to be here to support him every step of the way." Linebacker Ben Kline, a fellow member of the Class of 2011, marvels at how Zettel has persevered. "He's been stronger than I would ever expect anyone to be in a similar circumstance," Kline said. "[It] makes me proud to be his friend and makes me really proud to be his teammate. I couldn't be more proud of the guy." It's helped that Zettel's support system has extended well beyond his team, reach- ing out into the massive community of fans that cheer on the Nittany Lions every week. "I've gotten thousands of letters and everything from people," Zettel said. "It really shows you the support that Penn State has toward their student-athletes." On Tuesday, Zettel talked to reporters for the first time since his father's death and shared some of his favorite memo- ries. He talked about watching his father walk his sister Jenna down the aisle at her wedding in August. He talked about the hole-in-one that he hit a few months ago, which his father was on hand to help celebrate. "He had just come off a round of chemo and could barely walk, and he's out there golfing," Zettel said. "[That] was something special." Through it all, an ordeal that he de- scribed simply as "emotional," Zettel has been a force for the Nittany Lion defense. He's tied for fiAh on the team with 23 tackles and tied for second with six tack- les for loss. AAer emerging as a star last season fol- lowing a move from defensive end to de- fensive tackle, Zettel quickly developed a reputation as a fun-loving tough guy, lighthearted off the field but all-business on it, the kind of guy who was just as apt to appear on YouTube or Instagram as on "SportsCenter." But having endeared himself to Penn State fans with his miraculous pick-six vs. Ohio State last year, having gone viral with his tree- tackling video over the summer, he's getting ready to end his Penn State career and has been in a reflective mood as he prepares for what's next. "I've been here for five years and it's amazing to think that I've been here that long and I've played in this stadium for that many times," he said. "Looking into these next couple of games, I want to do this for the Penn State football family, this town, this community, my team- mates, my coaches, my family back home. I have a lot to play for, and it really makes playing hard every game a lot eas- ier, so I have a lot of passion for this school and this university." Inspired by his father's memory, Zettel said he felt more focused than ever in Penn State's victory over San Diego State. "I felt like he was with me there every step of the way so it just felt differ- ent," he said, "and I know every game I play from now on out or whatever I do in life, he's going to be with me." M A T T   H E R B | M A T T @ B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M O C T O B E R 7 , 2 0 1 5 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 13 STAYING STRONG Anthony Zettel draws inspiration from his father's memory WRAPPING UP Zettel tackles San Diego State run- ning back Donnel Pumphrey in Penn State's 37-21 vic- tory over the Aztecs last month. Dedicating the game to his father, who passed away a day earlier, Zettel finished with a ca- reer-high seven tackles and recov- ered a fumble to set up a Penn State touchdown. Photo by Steve Manuel

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