Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/83944
Michael Mauti is on top of his game, and loving it TIME OF HIS LIFE NATE BAUER | N B A U E R@B L U EWH I T E O N L I N E . c O M On the losing end of his first two games this season, senior linebacker Michael Mauti lamented that the Nit- tany Lions should have won both. The team's fiercest competitor, Mauti expressed extreme frustration after those games. But following the Nittany Lions' 24-13 victory against Temple Saturday afternoon – the team's second win in as many games – he said he's never enjoyed football as much as he does right now. "Honestly, I've never had more fun, have been more excited, been more into what we've been doing," Mauti said. "Really, it's just about the people next to us and our coaches. "I've never had as much fun as we've been having now, even sitting at 2-2. We could easily be at 4-0 right now." Though Mauti emerged as the team's spokesman in the aftermath of the NCAA sanctions in July, he was coming off his second anterior cruci- ate ligament surgery in three years, and few knew what to expect from the All-Big Ten linebacker on the field. Through four games, Mauti has an- swered the call, racking up a team- high 42 tackles and recording no fewer than nine tackles each game. On Saturday he finished with another nine tackles, a pass breakup and a forced fumble, his second of the sea- son. He's consistently been the subject of admiration for his poise and strength in the face of adversity, and now that Mauti is playing the best football of his career, there is even more praise to go around. Said defensive coordinator Ted Roof, "He has tremendous enthusiasm to compete. He's a heckuva competitor, and that's his best characteristic. "He's got really good physical attrib- utes as well, but the heart and the en- thusiasm for competing – the tougher it gets the better he likes it. That's the kind of guys you want to play with on STARGAZING Mauti has recorded at least nine tackles in each of PSU's four games this season. Steve Manuel GAME GRADES QUARTERBACKSMatt McGloin was under more duress than usual, thanks to Temple's blitz, but threw for a career- high 318 yards. The interception he threw in the second quarter wasn't his fault, as the ball skipped off Bran- don Moseby-Felder. GRADE A RUNNING BACKS You can't run any harder than Michael Zordich ran in gaining 75 yards against Temple. He got pretty good hang time for a 236- pound fullback when he tried to hur- dle a Temple defender on the sideline. GRADEB+ RECEIVERS Allen Robinson's 41-yard touchdown catch was another high- light for the budding star. The Lions also spread the ball around, as nine receivers caught at least one pass. GRADEB+ OFFENSIVE LINEDonovan Smith's absence hurt, and the Lions were also without a couple of backups. But they still ran for 173 yards. GRADEB+ DEFENSIVE LINE Though shorthanded – starting end Sean Stanley was out with a back injury – Penn State held firm. Kyle Baublitz had a huge sack on fourth-and-6 with Temple driving in the fourth quarter. GRADEB+ Saturday. I think that rubs off on the rest of our football team, too." Five days after telling reporters how much Mauti means to him personally, head coach Bill O'Brien spoke again about what his star linebacker brings to the defensive unit, including his energy and enthusiasm for the game. Mauti, meanwhile, credited Penn State's coaching staff for the passion he exhibits each and every play. "It really just comes down to the framework of our defense that gives us the ability to play with excitement, play with a lot of energy, and it comes down to the coaches supporting that and really emphasizing that," he said. "I think you get what you emphasize and that's what the coaches have been doing. They want that kind of energy. They want guys patting each other on the back, going crazy when you make a play. "That's what a lot of defense is: mo- mentum and energy and excitement. That's why we're having a lot of fun doing it." S E P T E M B E R 2 2 , 2 0 1 2 7 LINEBACKERSAnother impressive day for these guys, and not just the starters. Mike Hull had a clutch sack in the sec- ond quarter to keep Temple out of the end zone on its best drive of the half. GRADE A DEFENSIVE BACKS Temple doesn't have a great downfield passing game. Conse- quently, the defensive backs didn't get much of a test. GRADEB SPECIAL TEAMS Looks like the Lions may have resolved at least one of their special teams problems, as Jesse Della Valle did a nice job fielding punts. GRADEB COACHES Bill O'Brien may still be fum- ing over the offensive pass interfer- ence call that negated a big gain in the first half and the personal foul on a seemingly clean (and spectacular) sideline stop by Della Valle on a third- quarter kick return. GRADEB+ CROWD Lots of empty seats for Penn State's final nonconference game. At- tendance was listed at a season-low 93,680, though it was heartening to see so many fans dressed in obser- vance of the Blue Out. GRADEC B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . c O M