Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/89714
PREGAME REPORT O H I O S T A T E @ P E N N S T A T E 5 : 3 0 P . M . , O C T . 2 7 E S P N OHIO STATE FACTS COACH Urban Meyer (Cincinnati, '86) COACH'S RECORD 112-23 in 11 seasons as a head coach. This is his first season at Ohio State. TEAM'S RECORD 8-0 (4-0 Big Ten) RECORD VS. PENN STATE The Buckeyes lead the series, 14-8. (Five Penn State vic- tories have been vacated.) PREVIOUS MEETING Under the guidance of interim head coach Tom Bradley, Penn State held Ohio State scoreless in the second half and claimed a 20-14 victory. It was the Lions' first win after Joe Pa- terno's firing. THE GOOD PICK SIX In their past 10 games against Penn State, the Buckeyes have returned seven interceptions for touchdowns. THE BAD TAKE A PASS Ohio State's defense allows more than 271 passing yards per game, an average that ranks 11th in the Big Ten. But the Buckeyes have also intercepted a league-high 11 passes. THE UGLY POWER PLAY The Buckeyes have totaled 60 penalties through eight games, which is nearly twice as many as Penn State's 32, and they give up more than 65 penalty yards per game. DID YOU KNOW? Meyer attended a couple Penn State practices in October 2011 amid rumors that he would become the Nittany Lions' 15th head football coach. In actuality, though, he was visiting campus on assign- ment for ESPN/ABC, where he spent a year as a college football analsyt. Newcomer Urban Meyer raises expectations for the Buckeyes UNDER PRESSURE TIM OWEN | OWE N . T I M . B WI@G M A I L . C O M In the opening statement of his news con- ference Monday, Urban Meyer highlighted the progress he has seen from Matt Mc- Gloin, a player he recalled from his final game at Florida. "I coached against him in the Out- back Bowl a couple years ago," said Meyer, who is in his first season at Ohio State. "He's much im- proved." Meyer attributed McGloin's growth to his supporting cast on offense, as well as O C T O B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 2 1 coach Bill O'Brien's innovative schemes. He even praised the Penn State defense for doing its part to put the offense in good situations. But before switching top- ics, he added, "[McGloin] has always been a very accurate passer." In his 11-year career as a head coach, Meyer has de- veloped a reputation for hyping up opposing players the week of a game. Maybe he genuinely ad- mires the opposing talent, or maybe it's a B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M ON THE GROUND Miller ranks 15th nationally with 119.8 rushing yards per game and averages 6.8 yards per carry. Steve Manuel