Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/916653
coaches' booth during the past two sea- sons as tight ends coach, serving as Moorhead's eyes in the sky on game day, or side by side on the practice field, Rahne values the time he spent with Moorhead after Franklin hired the for- mer Fordham head coach in December 2015. "I think Joe Moorhead is the best of- fensive coordinator in the country," Rahne said earlier this season. "I would say that to anybody – and I've worked with some great men and I played for some great men. I just think the world of Joe and what he brings to the table." It wasn't just the spread, no-huddle, check-with-me scheme – a creative of- fensive identity that is rooted in West Coast passing concepts – that Rahne gleaned from Moorhead. It goes beyond that. While Rahne will certainly take away methods with which to call a game when he begins as play caller in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 30, he's also observed a unique style of encouragement and per- suasion to use with his players in order for them to maximize their perform- ance. "The one thing that's underestimated with Joe is his ability to get the players to play hard for him and believe in him and believe in our system," Rahne said. "Ob- viously he calls a lot of great plays. We as a staff do a great job of assigning plays and making adjustments, but none of that matters if the kids don't believe. He does a great job of motivat- ing our team. I've learned that from him. I'm able to take the great motivation skills that Coach Franklin has and combine them with Coach Moorhead's, and I think it's made me a better football coach." That's good news for the Nittany Lions. But it doesn't mean he'll be a car- bon copy of what they had. He brings more of an edge and youthful charisma, maybe even a bit of tempestu- ousness. He sat in the booth during games to not only help Moorhead diag- nose opposing defenses, but because sometimes his competitive instincts can get the best of him. "I'm a pretty pas- sionate person," he said. "So me being on the field isn't always great." Even when he's upstairs, he makes sure the windows in front of him are shut, no matter how hot it gets in there. That's not necessarily to barricade himself from the audience, even though he wears a dou- ble-eared headset to help drown out their noise. No, it's the other way around. He's found those who sit directly in front of him to be "great people," he said, and sometimes he would prefer them to not hear the words that might slip out of his mouth in the heat of the moment. "We learned that in the first year," Rahne laughed. "I'd like to think I have a lot of things that are right about me, but sometimes my vocabulary can get into some areas that I wish it didn't." But that's who he is, and he's going to stick with what's gotten him this far. Hopefully Moorhead does the same. Or else that might not be a long-term fit. Rahne, on the other hand... ■ NO ORDINARY JOE Penn State's of- fense was vastly improved under Moorhead, and Rahne was a part of that success in his role as tight ends coach. Photo by Mark Selders/ Penn State Athletics 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