Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/79325
Ohio State president Gordon Gee is paid a base salary of $835,000. Those who say athletics play a dispropor- tionate role in campus life may have a point, but big-time football is here to stay. And when it gets its scholar- ships and its bowl eligibility back, Penn State is going to use its many resources to strive for championships the way it always did. There is no shame in that. This has been a tough summer for Penn State, but recent events have had one positive effect in that they have validated the decision to hire Bill O'Brien as head coach. O'Brien has turned out to be an excellent am- bassador for the university. He has balanced the need to build excite- ment for the football program with an understanding that his audience in- cludes more than just alumni and fans. That audience is looking for something more from Penn State's most visible public figures than shots across the NCAA's bow. It wants them to project a sense of sobriety and humility, a recognition that something terrible happened and that no matter how many holes the Freeh report may contain, no matter how much grandstanding the NCAA might have done in handing down its sanc- tions, Penn State has forfeited its claim to the moral high ground. As O'Brien has said repeatedly the past few weeks, "We understand why we're in this position." The challenge ahead will be to get out of that position. The Lions' next bowl game won't be until 2016 at the earliest. The impact of their scholar- ship reductions will linger even longer. In the meantime, however, the football program can do Penn State a lot of good by showcasing the univer- sity at its best – by getting out into the community as O'Brien has prom- ised, by supporting organizations like the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, by calling attention to child abuse prevention efforts and maybe even winning a few games along the way. Maybe more than a few. Team Outlaw? That's an embarrass- ment. Team Outreach? Now that's a cause we can all get behind. WEB SURVEY HOW DO YOU EXPECT THE LIONS TO FARE IN THE UPCOMING SEASON? 8-4. With razor-thin depth at defensive back and linebacker, we will need some good luck to keep all of our players on the field and healthy. Losses are to Ohio State, Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin. Roethlisberge 9-3. I think people underestimate the impact of having a real coaching staff and weight program. wraddidas49 12-0. Every game on this schedule is tough, but every game on this schedule can be won. Remem- ber the drive against Illinois? I don't see this team laying down for one second. I am going to enjoy this season more than any other, and I have been going to games for 45 years. This team is going to punch some people right in the mouth. Enjoy it folks. I think it's a 5-7 season. We will win the three nonconference games at home, but lose to Virginia in a close game on the road. I think it's competi- tive, but we lose at Illinois, Iowa and Purdue and will be significant underdogs to Ohio State, Wiscon- sin and Nebraska. We will win close games against Northwestern and Indiana. Our defense and run- ning game will help keep most games close, but re- ceiver and quarterback will be a problem. I can see us having trouble moving the chains at times when we can't get much room to run, and struggle in the red zone. Add in our kicking concerns and depth issues in the secondary, and we could really strug- gle to put points on the board, especially when playing from behind (which we will likely be doing a lot). At best, 6-6. I think we could come out strong, but injuries and lack of depth and experience will do this squad in. I think opponents will find out early just how poor our defensive backs will be and will exploit them. I am also worried about our re- ceivers. 6-6 is a little hopeful. I say 12-0, and I will love every minute of it. The bashers have no idea we are loaded for bear. De- fense and offense will be very, very good. I'm going to say 7-5. I think we will win against Ohio, Navy, Temple, Illinois, Northwestern and Indi- ana, and I think we will pick up one more from the NYNY 814.238.1406 • www.the-phyrst.com 111 E. Beaver Avenue • State College, PA Monkeibusiness Virginia, Iowa or Purdue games. My main reasoning behind the picks is defense, defense, defense. I think the six teams I listed as certain wins won't be able to score enough points to beat us. There are so many wildcards to deal with this year, but I will give Ted Roof the benefit of the doubt that he will put all the talent he has on defense to good use. psuproud100 tgar www.AmericanAleHouse.net 821 Cricklewood Drive, Toftrees State College eilion