Blue White Illustrated

NOBLE FROM PREVIOUS PAGE loved it. I love this game. I love being on the field, and this is as close [to playing] as I'll ever get again, so this is what I love to do." He remained at West Chester through 2008, and after leaving in 2009 he re- turned in 2010. But in 2011, he got his first taste of coaching in the pro- fessional ranks as the defensive line coach for Omaha of the United Football League. And while he wouldn't trade that experience for anything, working in the UFL had its downside. "The UFL was an interesting experi- ence. The quality of player, it's on par with NFL Europe. It's guys who are scrapping to get back into the NFL. It's guys who are looking for opportu- nities. The unfortunate part of it is that they just can't get the business side of it right," Noble said. "They didn't pay people. Bottom line, if you're not paying people, it isn't going to work. It was frustrating, but it was a great experience because it let me work with guys. It opened up my coaching network. I got to work with pro football players. I enjoyed it im- mensely." Once the UFL gig ended, he started looking for his next opportunity. This past January, he was hired as Coastal Carolina's defensive line coach. At press time, the Chanticleers were 6-4 and in second place in the Big South Confer- ence standings. Coaching at the Divi- sion I level for the first time has been an adjustment, but it's one he's been willing to make. "It's been good. We inherited a team that was 7-4, and you don't often get that. But we felt like we needed to change the culture. We needed to be a little tougher, get a little more disci- plined. I obviously have a background [in that] after playing for Coach Paterno at Penn State, and the kids have bought in," he said. "The kids really accepted the change. Once we introduced our- selves, they were receptive. It's my first real D-I experience and it's been a lot of fun." Noble relished his time in Happy Val- ley and appreciated the opportunity to play for Joe Paterno. He now finds CORNER FROM PAGE 13 At linebacker, redshirt sopho- more Mike Hull is expected to re- place Hodges. Hull has had an im- pressive season, ranking eighth on the team in tackles with 35 solo stops, three sacks, an interception and a 74-yard fumble return for a touchdown. Redshirt freshmen Ben Kline and Nyeem Wartman should battle for Mauti's outside linebacker spot. Junior Glenn Carson, who is the Nittany Lions' third-leading tackler behind Hodges and Mauti, returns at middle linebacker. Wartman could also play that position. In the secondary, the only starter STUDENT OF THE GAME Noble is looking to instill in his players the same sense of discipline he learned from Paterno. Photo courtesy of Coastal Carolina himself passing on many of those same lessons he learned from the Nittany Lions' former coach to his current play- ers. "He did a great job turning boys into men. [He showed his players that] you've got to be disciplined, motivated. You've got to be mentally tough. They gave you all the tools you needed to be successful, but it was just a matter of applying them," he said. "I used what they taught me, not just football stuff, but general life skill stuff as I played in the NFL and now as a coach. I try to pass the same thing along to the guys who play for me." Since he's been coaching for the past six years, some might wonder if he has any aspirations of one day becom- ing a head coach. Well, not exactly. "There are days where I think I'd like to be a defensive coordinator, and then there are days I'm happy just to be coaching the d-line," Noble said. "I have no interest in ever being a head coach. I like getting my hands dirty. I like being with the guys. That's part of the reason I do this. I'm very comfort- able in my little world of defensive line play. I know what I'm talking about. I know what's going on. It's very black and white for me." lost is Morris. His projected replace- ment is freshman Da'Quan Davis. Sophomore Adrian Amos, who I be- lieve has NFL potential, is the most physical cornerback I've seen at Penn State in more than a decade. At 6-0, 205 pounds, he will proba- bly play at the free safety position when he gets to the pros, but he's likely to remain at cornerback for the Nittany Lions next season. Redshirt juniors Stephen Obeng- Agyapong and Malcolm Willis re- turn at strong safety and free safe- ty, respectively. In my opinion, Obeng-Agyapong was one of the most improved players on Penn State's defense this past season. Despite playing the entire season with a rotator cuff problem – he in- jured his right shoulder in spring practice – Obeng-Agyapong was the Lions' 10th-leading tackler through nine games with 26 stops. Look for redshirt freshman Jake Kiley and classmate Jordan Lucas to supply depth in the secondary, along with redshirt sophomore Jesse Della Valle at cornerback and classmate Ryan Keiser at safety. Can Penn State's 2013 season be more successful than the season that just concluded? I believe it can. The talent is there, but the of- fense will have to lead the way. And for that to happen, a quality replacement must be found for Mc- Gloin.

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