Blue White Illustrated

111 E. Beaver Ave s State College, PA 16801 www.The-Phyrst.com 814.234.4406 137 Elmwood St. s State College, PA 16801 www.HappyValleyBeer.com Wood-fire Grill 12 Beers on Tap 200 Year Old Barn 821 Cricklewood Dr. s Toftrees, State College www.AmericanAleHouse.net 814.237.9701 s Piano Bar s Sommelier 814.238.1406 814.234.7700 s 1611 Atherton St. s State College 814.941.7788 s Plank Rd. Exit s Altoona www.ChampsSportsGrill.net s Best Game Bar s Large Groups Welcome c lc e W We s p u o r G e g r a L s a e B m a st G e B s S n S h 1 A 1 6 1 0 0 7 7 4. 3 2 4. 1 8 me co r a l l C S r G s rt o p S s p m a h C . www s t i x . E d k R n a l P s 8 8 7 7 1. 4 9 . 4 1 8 S s . t n S o t r e h t 1 A 1 6 1 s 0 0 7 7 4. 3 2 4. 1 8 t e n . l l i r na o o t l A e g e l l o C e at t S 111 E. Beaver Ave s State College, PA 16801 www.The-Phyrst.com 814.234.4406 137 Elmwood St. s State College, PA 16801 www.HappyValleyBeer.com Wood-fire Grill 12 Beers on Tap 200 Year Old Barn 821 Cricklewood Dr. s Toftrees, State College www.AmericanAleHouse.net 814.237.9701 s Piano Bar s Sommelier 814.238.1406 814.234.7700 s 1611 Atherton St. s State College 814.941.7788 s Plank Rd. Exit s Altoona www.ChampsSportsGrill.net s Best Game Bar s Large Groups Welcome c lc e W We s p u o r G e g r a L s a e B m a st G e B s S n S h 1 A 1 6 1 0 0 7 7 4. 3 2 4. 1 8 me co r a l l C S r G s rt o p S s p m a h C . www s t i x . E d k R n a l P s 8 8 7 7 1. 4 9 . 4 1 8 S s . t n S o t r e h t 1 A 1 6 1 s 0 0 7 7 4. 3 2 4. 1 8 t e n . l l i r na o o t l A e g e l l o C e at t S One of the most experienced third- year players on the roster, Bowen has seen action in 26 of his first 27 career games. Last year he finished with 68 tackles, a total that ranks third among all of this season's returning starters, and he led the linebacker group with 8.5 tackles for loss. He accomplished all of that by playing in the first 13 games of his sophomore season, 12 of which he started. But for the 14th game, Bowen, along with Blacknall, watched from the sideline after breaking team rules. Suspending one of the defense's best players and the receiver who led the team in the conference championship game wasn't easy for Franklin. It was just one of those battles that he had to fight. Now they're ready to rebound. "Minor setback for a major come- back," Bowen said. "It happened. I'm here. I have another opportunity and I'm taking advantage of the opportunity that I have. I'm not going to let one mis- take or anything that happens slow me down. I've been through too much in my life to let one thing stop me. I missed a game; it's all right. I'm going to be back, and we have bigger things in store." Franklin senses that Bowen's re- sponse to the suspension might fuel an even stronger junior campaign and be- yond. "I'm a huge fan of Manny Bowen and [understand] the challenges that he's had to overcome in his life and how suc- cessful he's been here at Penn State," he said. "I'm a huge fan. And same thing with Saeed. Huge, huge fan. Huge sup- porter. I love those guys and I believe in those guys, and I'm not just talking about over the next four to five years here at Penn State. I'm talking the next 40 to 50 years." That's why the response to a broken team rule isn't confined to the suspen- sion itself. After missing arguably the biggest game of his life, Bowen is fight- ing to regain his spot in the starting lineup. Whether it was part of an ongo- ing learning process or related to a minor injury, he was running with the second-team linebackers when presea- son camp opened. During the first two weeks of prac- tice, which by no means demonstrate a set-in-stone depth chart, the starting unit consisted of Brandon Smith (Will), Jason Cabinda (Mike) and Koa Farmer (Sam). Bowen said Will is his primary position heading into his junior season, but he's also taking backup reps at Mike in order to become a more well- rounded player now that he's an upper- classman. Last year he predominately played Sam. He's not only working on multiple positions, he said. He is also spending additional time on "film work, just knowing my assignments more and not just my assignments but knowing the whole framework of the defense." It was once thought that Bowen would be the starting Will linebacker in 2017. But that's not how camp opened, with Smith running with the ones. It might only be a coincidence that Smith is a student-athlete with a 4.0 grade- point average, while Bowen was sus- pended for an academic violation, as reported by ESPN during the Rose Bowl. Or maybe it isn't a coincidence at all. Nonetheless, Bowen has great respect for the man who signed him out of Barnegat (N.J.) High School years ago, the same man who suspended him be- fore one of college football's biggest games last season. That sort of leader- ship – combining a willingness to make tough decisions with an ability to stay in the good graces of even the subjects of his discipline – buys even more staying power. "He knows me," Bowen said. "He re- cruited me since my junior year in high school, so this coaching staff, I have a really good relationship with. They know me and they know a lot of stuff I've been through, so these guys defi- nitely understand what it's like. If any- body knows, they know that I know how to deal with adversity." And like his coach, Bowen, too, will keep fighting the good fight. ■

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