Bleacher Report - Articles by Paul Salman

Daryll Clark For Heisman Petition

Paul Salman — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:30:09 -0400

Comp % Passing Yards Passing TDS Ints Rtg Rush Yrds Rush TD Total TD
65.20%... 2050.... 16.... 2.... 161.1.... -48.... 1.... 17
63.60%.. 1159..... 8..... 4.... 151.3.... 466.... 6.... 14
62.10%.. 1884.... 17.... 7.... 148.4.... 132.... 4.... 21
71.70%.. 1804.... 14.... 8.... 143.3.... 104.... 1.... 15

When you see those stats, do any of them stick out? Would you be able to rank the three men on this list who are considered the front-runners at the quarterback position to win the Heisman?

If you ask me, none of these stand out that much, however one of these is not even being mentioned as a contender. His name is Daryll Clark.

The Heisman Trophy has become an award no one can define. It is not about the best stats, it is not about the MVP. It's not even about the best player on the best team since Notre Dame is not even ranked.

I don't think anyone can really explain the criteria for this award. In some ways it even seems to be a career achievement award, should Tim Tebow win, since his stats are not nearly good enough to be considered Heisman worthy.

People will say that Clark padded his stats against easy competition. Well, Jimmy Clausen did not face a passing defense ranked better than 60th until he faced USC. Tebow has padded his stats, with more than half of his touchdowns coming against Charleston Southern and Troy. Since then, during SEC play, he and the Gators have been ineffective in the red zone and have struggled offensively.

Colt McCoy, who has padded his stats against some cupcakes as well, has remained pretty consistent for the most part and has stats that could make him the leader of these four mentioned above. Unfortunately, he is currently listed third.

I think it is time to give Daryll Clark his due. He has stats that are on par with the other three; he has proven that he is a leader; he has won a big road game this year, (that many expected him to lose) and as far as career achievement, he came into this season with three new wide receivers and has barely missed a beat from his 2008 Big Ten Championship season.

He is the first quarterback in Penn State history to never lose at Michigan or at Ohio State, and on Nov. 7, he has the chance to be the first Penn State quarterback to be undefeated against those two teams.

Of course, there are a few weeks left in the season and things still have to play out. Clark still has a game against Ohio State and should he have a big game there, against a top-ranked defense like the Buckeyes, Clark needs to be mentioned with the other three above.

Click Here To VOTE which set of stats is most Heisman Worthy

Are the Miami Hurricanes Back?

Paul Salman — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:47:00 -0400

From Necessary Roughness

In 2001 Miami was flying high. They were national champs and were ready for a repeat season. That 2001 roster included NFL players such as Andre Johnson, Jeremy Shockey, Clinton Portis, Willis McGahee, Vince Wilfork, Jonathan Vilma, Ed Reed and Sean Taylor.

With this type of roster, it would seem Miami will be on top for a long time.

Heading into the 2002 season, they were the No. 1 ranked team and the heavy favorites for a repeat National Championship. They did reach the National Title game again but were upset by the Ohio State Buckeyes. Since then, things have gradually gone south for Miami.

2006 and 2007 were the two rock bottom years:

2006: The Canes finished with six losses and Larry Coker was fired.

2007: The Canes had seven losses and was the worst season for the program in modern history.

This down period can be directly attributed to one main reason—recruiting.

Recruiting is all about stockpiling talent. If you have a couple down years of recruiting, the effects won’t be seen on the field immediately, but will have a lasting effect on the program. It takes some time to restock the talent pool.

Several factors affected the erosion in talent that Miami was recruiting.

Following the graduation of Ken Dorsey, Miami could not find a replacement quarterback which resulted in a few less successful years in comparison to their 2000-2003 seasons. This then lead to the 2006 season which featured an on-field brawl with Florida International, a shooting death of their defensive tackle, and a late season four game losing streak. Following the season, Larry Coker was fired.

On top of this, The University of Florida hired Urban Meyer before the 2005 season, and Alabama hired Nick Saban in 2007. These are two of the college football world’s best coaches and recruiters.

These negative on and off field issues, coupled with these hirings by programs who are recruiting athletes that may have gone to Miami just a few years earlier lead to Miami seeing some down years from 2005—2008.

The erosion of the program over the last several years is evident through the correlation between their final rankings and their rivals recruiting ranking. You can see that 2006 and 2007 were the two worst years and now 2008 seems to be back on the upswing.

Year	Final Rank	Recruiting Rank
2002	2	8
2003	5	5
2004	11	4
2005	17	7
2006	NA	14
2007	NA	19
2008	NA	5

Now that Randy Shannon has established himself as the head coach, and we are a few years removed from these off field issues, Miami seems to be returning to where they once were. During the 2006 and 2007 recruiting seasons, Miami only landed one five-star player as ranked by Rivals. This lack of talent being recruited was evident by their on-field results.

In 2008, they recruited 33 players, 15 of whom were four-stars and two of whom were five-stars—one of them was current quarterback Jacory Harris.

Harris showed that he can play under pressure, on the road, and follow up mistakes and bad plays with a game winning performance. Harris was 21 of 34 for 386 yards with two passing TDs, two interceptions and one rushing TD. Even after his pick, he looked calm and confident against the aggressive blitzing defense of Florida State.

Of the 90 names listed on the Miami roster, 53 are either freshmen or sophomores. They only start five seniors on offense and just two on defense. There is a lot of young talented players around Harris.

The future for the Canes looks bright.

Miami started this 2009 season unranked, but following their impressive road win versus No. 18 (at the time) Florida State, they enter Week Two ranked 20th in the AP Poll.

Miami has a murderer’s row schedule to start this 2009 season which started with their successful road trip to Florida State. In the next three weeks, following their September 12th bye week, they have to play three more ranked teams in a row:

Sept 17 vs. No. 15 Georgia Tech

Sept 26 @ No. 14 Virginia Tech

Oct. 3 vs. No. 13 Oklahoma

If Miami can win two of these next three games and start this season 3-1, I believe they will show that they are back to being a top ten team. If they can make it through this year with one loss, they will have a legitimate argument to go to Pasadena and play for the National Title.

By getting their recruiting back on track, The Miami Hurricanes look to be getting their program back on track and back to being a nationally relevant football program.

The Rise and Fall....and Potential Rise Of Mitch Mustain

Paul Salman — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:33:20 -0400

From Necessary Roughness

What does Mitch Mustain need to do to get back to where he was in 2006? Where did he go wrong on his path to an NFL career? Where can he look now for inspiration?

Not too long ago he was known as the most decorated quarterback in high school history and a must for any college football program in the nation. Not too long ago he was the quarterback of the Arkansas Razorbacks and had an 8-0 record in the SEC.

Not too long ago it was only a matter of time before he decides to make the jump to the NFL—Today, the story is much different.

The story took a turn on November, 4 2006 when Coach Houston Nutt abruptly benched Mustain in favor of sophomore Casey Dick. Nutt cited experience as the primary reason, however this is obviously not true since Mustain had been 8-0 to that point.

Behind this great start to his career was what seems to be an underlying battle between player and coach.

During the recruiting process, Mitch Mustain questioned the offense of Arkansas and its “sophistication.” He was also quoted as saying, Arkansas "would have a better chance of getting me" if Nutt were fired.

Arkansas eventually hired Gus Malzahn, who coached Mustain at Springdale High School in Arkansas, as their offensive coordinator. This eventually helped The Razorbacks land Mustain who figured Malzahn would run the offense, thus bringing his spread scheme which Mustain was familiar with and would allow him to really excel.

This did not happen and Houston Nutt stuck with his run first offense which featured Felix Jones and Darren McFadden.

In December 2006, Mustain, along with Freshman tight end Ben Cleveland, and wide receiver (and Mustain’s high school teammate) Damian Williams, all met with Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles about Malzahn not having enough control of the offensive play calling.

This lead to Williams transferring to USC, Malzahn not getting an extension and leaving for Tulsa, which was followed by Mustain opting to transfer as well, too which Nutt did not object.

Nutt said he only wants players who want to be at Arkansas. "I've told all the players, if they want their release, we'll grant their release," Nutt said. (This disarray along, along with more off the field controversy lead to Nutt resigning following the 2007 season and taking over as the Ole Miss Head Coach.)

Mitch Mustain transferred to USC, joining high school teammate Damian Williams, where he sat out the 2007 season and was third on the depth chart in 2008.

He is now third on the depth chart behind top recruited freshman Matt Barkley and 2007 4^th ranked Quarterback Aaron Corp. Mustain seems to have lost this battle and remains third again for the 2009 season.

So what went wrong for Mitch Mustain? Did Houston Nutt and the Arkansas offense set him back? Was he in the wrong to complain about his coach and set himself up for disaster?

USC is a great place for a quarterback to develop and to be seen. For a non-starter with NFL aspirations, USC is the best place to be in today’s college football world based on the amount of national attention the program gets. In that sense Mustain picked the best place to go.

On the other hand, USC has its disadvantages for someone in his position. His competition is greater here; being older puts him at a disadvantage, along with not being a USC recruit which results in less focus from the coaches. USC is in a position where they are expected to win every year so it’s important to groom the right guy.

Coach Carroll is obviously less focused on the development of Mustain as opposed to the development of Matt Barkley and Aaron Corp.

After an August practice when asked about Mustain, Carroll said, "Right now, it's so important to develop Barkley. Because of what he's shown us, we have to give him every opportunity in the event Aaron doesn't make it back."

Barkley is their prized possession that will be there for 2-3 years and needs to be groomed. Even Aaron Corp who is younger then Mustain and is also a USC recruit is also valued more by Carroll and his staff.

Mustain says all the right things. In a September, 2 2009 LA Times article he said “I’ll enjoy it here and just hope that I get that one opportunity and that I’m able to take it from there. It may be a long shot, but that’s what I have to believe. And if not, I’m prepared to go to the next level.”

Hope is one of the only things Mustain has at this point. He will also have to ride on his High School accolades and keep up the hard work at USC practices in order to show NFL scouts that although he is not the starter there, it is not for lack of talent or effort.

Mustain should look to guys who did not have it easy in college, and/or went to schools that were not considered Football Factories, who then went on to succeed.

Guys like Tom Brady who was not highly recruited, did end up at a football factory school, warmed the bench for 2 years and then had to compete for his job in against highly recruited Drew Henson, went on to be a sixth round draft pick and we know the rest.

Tom Brady made it due to his college experience of battling for his job and having a great work ethic.

Guys like Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan and Ben Roethlisberger who played at schools that are not known for being football factories and yet ended up successful NFL starters based on their hard work and attention to detail.

These are guys who had to battle for attention based on the fact that their schools did not get national attention.

Mustain can also look to guys who did have great success in college like Matt Leinart and Vince Young and see that college success does not always translate to NFL success. Sometimes those who have it easiest in college have much more talent around them and their success could be deceiving.

Of course there is also the obvious example of Matt Cassel who was in the exact same position, at the exact same school, behind Matt Leinart. We all know who has had more success in the NFL thus far.

These are the places to which Mitch Mustain should look to for inspiration in order to get back to where he was just 3 short years ago.

He may have not gone wrong anywhere but could just be a product of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Now, he has positioned himself to be at the right place, but at the wrong time. However, Mitch Mustain does have the talent, hopefully he can keep a positive attitude and maintain a strong work ethic that will translate to success in the eyes of NFL scouts.

Shaquille O'Neal vs. Kobe Bryant: Who Has Done More with Less?

Paul Salman — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:11:00 -0400

Why is it that Kobe is treated like a player who has no rings, just because he never won one without Shaq?

Before getting into it, I hope this article turns out null and void in a couple weeks when/if the Lakers win the Finals.

However, right now, after a Game Two loss, people are discussing why Kobe can't win alone and reminding you that he never won without Shaq on his team.

Lets take a closer look at Shaq's career.

He has been to the Finals with three teams, and each time he has had an All-Star guard. In his time on the Magic with Penny Hardaway, Shaq was too young. He had to match up against two Hall-of-Fame centers (Ewing and Hakeem) during their prime years and was unable to win. His team took advantage of a year without Michael Jordan and won the East.

Once Shaq reached his stride and became what we know him as, he was playing on a team with a top-tier player in Kobe Bryant, and was matching up against Ewing and Hakeem well past their prime, Duncan—who was too young at that point—and that is pretty much it.

In those years, LA had great match ups vs. the Kings but Shaq was being guarded by Chris Webber! These were years when there were no real big men in the league, so Shaq was able to dominate, along with having the privilege of playing with Kobe Bryant.

In the mid 2000s the West began to get much more competitive then the East, and there were big men who were able to actually compete. Tim Duncan became a real foe to Shaq, Yao Ming came into the league, and while Dirk may not have been a big man who can match up with Shaq the Mavs became a competitor with his addition.

Kevin Garnett even had his T-Wolves in the Conference Finals in 2003-2004. Conveniently, this is when the Kobe vs. Shaq feud peaked and Shaq was moved to the weaker Eastern Conference and the Miami Heat.

Moving to the East allowed a less-dominant Shaq to be in a conference which was very weak at the time and had no big men even close to Shaq's size or skill set. He was again able to dominate—and was able to team up with a new top-tier guard in Dwayne Wade.

Shaq got his fourth ring, and the media was quick to point out that he won without Kobe, while Kobe and his young, depleted team team were unable to get out of the first round. The fact that D. Wade was the 2006 Finals MVP was overshadowed by the fact that Shaq left LA and won again. Almost as if he had done it alone.

Kobe has never won with out Shaq, that is true, but Shaq has never won without a top tier player and while having to match up against any top tier opponents at his position.

Kobe is always matched up against the opponent's best player—Shaq is not.

In his four championships, he faced an over-the-hill Rik Smits, Dikembe Mutombo, Jason Collins and DeSagana Diop.

In his two losses in the the NBA Finals, Shaq went against Hakeem Olajuwon and a defensively-dominant but smaller Ben Wallace.

In the year the Lakers were going for a four-peat in 2003, they were knocked out by Tim Duncan and the Spurs.

Do you see a correlation here between the caliber of Shaq's opponent and his win-loss record?

To give Shaq a pass but treat Kobe, a man with three rings, as if he has none is unfair.

If Kobe is able to win this year or next, in a conference and league that is much more competitive then in 2000-2004, before Bynum becomes an All Star, with Lamar Odom—who is known to not be a finisher—without a legit point guard, and with a bunch of soft European players, he deserves more credit then Shaq for his winnings.

Lebron/Kobe vs. Lebron/Melo—What do YOU want to see?

Paul Salman — Thu, 14 May 2009 17:06:00 -0400

With the conference finals about to be set, most of the sports world is assuming a clash between Kobe and the Lakers vs. LeBron and the Cavs in the NBA finals. This seems to be the epic match-up between the two best players in the league. No one can debate the fact that his would be a great finals match up. Kobe going for his first ring without Shaq, and LeBron going for—well—his first ring.

Kobe is going to be 31 this year and has 12 years under his belt. His prime may last 2-3 more years at most at which point LeBron will be reaching HIS prime. The dream match up of Kobe vs. LeBron is more of a short term rivalry while LeBron is going to need a rival for the rest of his career which may be upwards of 10 more years.

I would definitely enjoy the Kobe vs. LeBron match up, however no one is really paying attention to another possible match up, which may be more likely then some think.

Melo vs. LeBron. Matching up the two highest profile players from the 2003 draft, and possibly setting up a career long rivalry.

Denver has been playing great basketball during the playoffs and seem to be the perfect team to challenge the Lakers with their solid front line and great point guard play by Chauncey Billups.

Chauncey who was the third overall pick out of Colorado in the 1997 draft seems to have new life playing in his home town again. His stats for this year have remained consistent to his career stats, if not even better.

If he can keep this up for a few more years, we can see Melo vs. LeBron match up multiple times and can have our modern day Magic vs. Bird match up.

Are Penn State Suspensions a Blessing In Disguise?

Paul Salman — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:08:00 -0400

Usually, I am very critical of my Nittany Lions. I watch each game on edge and think they can always do more.

Last week, I was disappointed with the one touchdown they gave up because I saw it as the linebackers being out of position and getting beaten against a far inferior team. Yes they won 66-10, but I thought 66-3 would be much better.

However, for some reason, with the current news coming out of State College, I went from extremely nervous to thinking this could turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

On Tuesday night, University police were summoned to the Nittany Apartment Complex, which is where all the football players live. A complaint about a loud party at Apt. 5204, as well as the smell of burning marijuana, is what the police report said.

(Let me just say that loud music and some burning marijuana at 8 p.m. should not attract four police cars. Student housing has Resident Assistants for these types of matters. There does seem to be a chip on the shoulder of the State College Police against Joe Paterno and the football team.)

No charges have been filed yet, police said. Players Abe Koroma, Andrew Quarless, AJ Wallace and Maurice Evans were named as the apartment's residents.

All but Cornerback AJ Wallace will sit out this weekend’s game against the Oregon State Beavers. Word is that Wallace was not involved with the incident, however, there are reports that both Koroma and Evans were not present at the time the Police came either.

Again, details are still being investigated, and no charges have been pressed against any of these players. The suspension is a punishment by Joe Paterno to send a strong message to his team.

"It's unfortunate. We preach, preach, preach and they stepped out of line. They deserve what they're going to get. Whatever that's going to be, I don't know” Joe Paterno said during his weekly radio show yesterday.

“My feeling on all of this is they have a responsibility to the program, they have a responsibility to themselves, to their family. They have responsibility to their teammates. And if they do something as dumb as it appears they did, and I'm not saying if they did or they didn't yet, but even being close to that kind of thing, I'm not going to play any one of those three kids this weekend."

As evidence comes out, the fate of the other three will be determined. Already, rumors are swirling that all three passed their urine tests and that early next week we should get some good news.

These are all just rumors right, but of course Nittany Nation is anxiously waiting and hoping for good news as Koroma and Evans are a major part of the Defensive Line. Losing them would be a major blow to any hopes of a Big Ten title that the Nittany Lions have.

With that being said, you may ask why I think this can be a positive situation. Well, assuming (and we all know what happens when you assume, but let's hope) nothing major happens to these other three players, and they are back in time (at the latest) for the Big Ten schedule starting on Sept. 27 against Illinois.

Penn State will have three weeks to develop some of these second-team guys who do have experience and have proven themselves but now have a chance to really step up.

Word is Jerome Hayes, Jared Odrick, Ollie Ogbu and Josh Gaines will be this week's starters. Hayes and Odrick both saw significant time last season until both had season-ending injuries in mid-season. Ogbu and Gaines are this year's starters, and both have past experience.

Of course the major issue will be depth. There are really only three or four players behind this weekend's starting four, with maybe the addition of some freshmen who would be redshirted had this not happened.

With all this being said, I think, and expect that, we have enough talent on both the offensive and the defensive side of the ball to beat Oregon State (knock on wood) who is traveling across the country to play in front of 110,000 fans and just lost to a weak Stanford team.

If these kids have to sit out more than just this game, we travel to Syracuse the following week, and have Temple at home on Sept. 20, both of which should be easier then Oregon State this weekend.

The problem arises if they are forced to sit out any games starting Sept. 27 and on which is when we start the Big Ten schedule.

So as you can see, I think this will help develop our depth even more, force first-year starting Quarterback Daryll Clark to step up even more and be a solid leader, as well as force all the senior captains, including Derrick Williams to assume a much greater leadership role. All of this should help our future.

Don’t get me wrong, losing these guys for even one game is not “Good News,” but I am just trying to keep things in perspective and take the positive from the situation.

My point of view may change if we get bad news next week and these players need to sit out more than just one to three games, but we will cross that bridge when we get there.

Penn State Football: Week 1 Recap/My Prediction Grade

Paul Salman — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:45:00 -0400

On 8.25.08, below is what I predicted for the 8.30.08 game vs. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. Below that you will find out how I grade myself on my week 1 predictions.
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This should be a nice opening game for Penn State to finally apply this new offense to a meaningful game. This will also be a great way to start for Daryl Clark and/or Pat Devlin against a team that uses a mix of 4-3 and 3-4 defensive looks.

Coastal Carolina does return 21 starters, so this is a team with experience. The Chanticleers are picked to finish second in the Big South but should be extremely overmatched when they visit Happy Valley.

I predict a very fast start for this Penn State offense, as Joe Paterno likes to open up early in these early non-conference matchups (see Akron 2004, 2007, etc.). I think both Clark and Devlin should see significant playing time in this game with the fans getting to see how each can/will be used.

Penn State will score touchdowns in all sorts of ways in this game: Daryl Clark running and throwing, Stephon Green returning a kick, Evan Royster running the ball, and let’s throw in an interception and a big start for what should be a big season for Anthony Scirrotto.
In the end, Penn State will win this game, 49-3.
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First of all, the game ended in a 66-10 rout, but lets take a look at how on/off my predictions where in other facets of the game.

This game was an easy opener to fine tune some of the things the players learned in the off-season against an actual opponent rather then their own defense in practice. Although we do hear that only a snippet of the offensive playbook was exposed, it’s still nice to practice against a team who does not know the playbook you are using.

The Chanticleers (which I learned are The Roosters from some of their fans over the weekend) were definitely overwhelmed to be playing in front of such a huge crowd. Penn State scored on two of its first three drives. After Penn State was forced to punt on its third drive, the Chanticleers found a weakness in the middle of the Lions defense and scored their only touchdown on a 33 yard play by Trent Usher, their senior wide-receiver.

You could say that given the way the rest of the game went after this Coastal Carolina TD, I was correct on the “slow start” prediction. The Nittany Lions defense was not caught sleeping after that.

Following the Derrick Williams return on the kickoff after the Chanticleers touchdown, the Penn State defense locked up.

The Penn State offense also took off scoring on each of its next 8 possessions, all which were touchdowns except for one Kevin Kelly field goal at the end of the first half.

As for scoring, I did predict touchdowns in every which way a they can be scored. I was correct on all but one. Penn State did get an interception, but did not get a pick six as I predicted.

Daryll Clark threw for 146 yards and a TD, (he did not get a rushing TD) Stephon Green ran for 89 yards and 2 TDs, Evan Royster ran for 64 yards and 3 TDS, Brent Carter ran for 67 yards, no TDs, and both Chaz Powell and Brandon Beachum got significant play time for freshmen and both scored a rushing touchdown.

Finally, I predicted that Stephon Green would return a kick for a touchdown. Well half of that was correct. There was a kick returned for a TD, but it was Derrick Williams rather then Stephon Green.

I am sure Green will get his at some point this year. That guy amazing speed around the edge!

Overall I would give myself a B. I underestimated our offense, and overestimated our defense in this case. I did not think they would let up a touchdown, especially against the first team defense.

This is something that the team needs to work on in order to keep winning this season. It looked like the pass coverage was not very tight at times, and the Chantincleers were able to pass for 198 yards.

I was also correct, for the most part, on scoring in every which way, minus the pick six, but did not predict each player correctly.

Bottom line is a B for me, and most importantly a W for Penn State

Michigan Lands QB Tate Forcier

Paul Salman — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 23:55:00 -0400

Although he said he would not rush to a decision, Tate Forcier did commit to Michigan during his visit this weekend.

After meeting with Coach Rich Rodriguez yesterday morning, Forcier said he '"got that feeling" and did not want to second-guess himself. He walked into Rodriguez's office and gave him the verbal commitment face-to-face.

After watching this weekend's game, it is safe to say Forcier can see himself competing for and winning the starting job as a freshman. Not to say either QB played that poorly, however neither Sheridan nor Threet displayed the true ability to lead this Michigan team and be able to run the new offense during their home loss to Utah.

Forcier has not commented on canceling any future visits he has planned like Penn State next week. Hopefully, the Penn State coaches will not give up and will continue to recruit him.

As we saw with Kevin Newsome, who de-committed from Michigan last month, these kids do have changes of heart, and it is important not to end the recruitment process until signing day in February.

Penn State Lions Try for Tate Forcier

Paul Salman — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:47:00 -0400

San Diego stand out high school QB has made his plans final on his visit to Happy Valley. Forcier was said to be changing his official visit to September 6th for the Oregon State game, however that has not worked out and Forcier will be coming to Penn State on September 27th for the night game against Illinois.

I think this is great for Penn State and their chances to land this kid. There should be a full stadium "White Out" for the game, and the crowd should be in full effect given the 8pm kick off. (See Notre Dame Game 2007 below)

In addition, Forcier's official visit to Michigan will be this weekend for the game against Utah. Many think Utah can pull off this upset as App. State did last year. Week One should be tough for Michigan to come together as an offense and hopefully Utah can take advantage of this.

Hopefully the former "Big House" will become the "Quiet House" and Forcier can then see what a real crowd is like when he comes to the new "Biggest House" in Happy Valley.

Here are some specs on Tate Forcier:

Dual-threat quarterback

Position Ranking: 6 (4 Stars)

San Diego (CA) Scripps Ranch
Ht: 6'1"

Wt: 184 lbs

Forty: 4.55 secs

Vertical: 35 inches
Shuttle: 4.41 secs

GPA: 3.3

Class: 2009 (HS - December Grad)

Joe Paterno names Daryll Clark as Penn State Starter for Week 1

Paul Salman — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:05:00 -0400

Not a huge surprise here, but Clark will start this Saturday against Coastal Carolina. Paterno does claim that Pat Devlin will get some time as well, but the coach stressed that he does not want Clark to look over his shoulder.

It is in Penn State's interest to make sure Devlin does see time this year in order to make sure there is a Quarterback for the future. He was a top recruit and because Clark has two more years of eligibility, there are rumors that Devlin would transfer if he does not get to play. I would not fault him for that as all these kids ultimate goal is to make the NFL.

Behind Devlin, Penn State does not have any top QB recruits so it is very important to develop him now, and to recruit a top QB this year.

With Kevin Newsome decommiting from Michigan, and Tate Forcier planning his official visit to Penn State for week two's matchup against Oregon State, Penn State coaches need to make sure one of these kids chooses the Nittany Lions.

ESPN Got it Wrong: Penn State Never WAS Perfect

Paul Salman — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:38:00 -0400

Watch the video, then read the article below refuting what ESPN is presenting.
Penn State is not the first or the last to have these problems.

However, Penn State is fighting its own perfect image, which is causing all the added attention to this problem.

ESPN OTL Penn State Segment

David Jones Article refuting ESPN "Outside The Lines"

Penn State Looks to Make Push for Rose Bowl Bid in 2008

Paul Salman — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 09:28:00 -0400

With the Penn State football season just days away, it's time for my game-by-game analysis and predictions for how this football season will turn out.

Going into this, I have had some mixed feelings. I feel that this is a team that should win at least 10 games, but with the questions about the coaching staff and how conservative they get in big road games—of which we have a couple this year—I fear for a possible eight-win season.

This would be a huge disappointment given that we have so much experience returning on both sides of the ball, including the top receiving corps in the Big Ten, and the entire offensive line.

This is an offense that many were down on last year because of our performance in big games. However, Penn State did score 394 total points last year (Ohio State scored 408), proving that they can be explosive at times.

The problem was our two lowest-scoring games were against the ‘The Big Two’ of the Big Ten, Ohio State and Michigan, including just a nine-point outing at "The (former) Big House."

With the return of the spread offense this year, I think things will be more like 2005, when Penn State won the Big Ten.

With that said, let’s begin.

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

This should be a nice opening game for Penn State to finally apply this new offense to a meaningful game. This will also be a great way to start for Daryl Clark and/or Pat Devlin against a team that uses a mix of 4-3 and 3-4 defensive looks.

I predict a very fast start for this Penn State offense, as Joe Paterno likes to open up early in these early non-conference matchups (see Akron 2004, 2007, etc.). I think both Clark and Devlin should see significant playing time in this game with the fans getting to see how each can/will be used.

In the end, Penn State will win this game, 49-3.

Oregon State Beavers

Week Two brings the Oregon State Beavers of the Pac-10 into Beaver Stadium. This is a team that finished 9-4 last year and was in the middle of the pack in the Pac-10. However, only three starters from last year’s team return for the 2008 campaign. OSU will be relying on junior college transfers on defense who do have some college experience.

Lyle Moevao has proven to be a reliable starter at QB for the Beavers after stepping in late in the season in 2007 and going 4-0. The main concern on the offensive side of the ball is replacing running back Yvenson Bernard. Depth at the offensive line should help the Beavers' running back by committee strategy early in the season.

However, losing so much experience on the defensive side of the ball will prove to be too much for this team. Penn State will not have to deal with a front seven that recorded 44 sacks last year (only two returning on the front seven) and should be able to run the ball effectively on this young Beavers defense.

I expect a big game for Evan Royster, with Brent Carter and Stephon Green handling the ball as well. I believe this is the game we really see what Stephon Green can do with his electrifying speed. Penn State should win this game, 38-10.

@ Syracuse Orange

This is a team that has experienced the worst three-year stretch in their history. Based on their lack of experience and schedule, year four does not appear to be any better. This could be the last year for Greg Robinson if his Orange does not improve.

Their offensive line has been their main problem for the past few years, and it should be a problem again when the Nittany Lions come to town with one of the top defensive lines in the nation. Expect there to be lots of blue and white at the Carrier Dome on Sep. 13, and expect another big win for the Nittany Lions.

With many issues in the secondary for the Orange, expect Daryl Clark to show off what he can do in the passing game, with Pat Devlin also receiving time. Penn State wins this game, 41-7.

Temple Owls

Al Golden has done a great job improving Temple over the years, and many say he will be the one to succeed Joe Paterno at Penn State. However, Temple is still a team that will be overmatched on this day. Temple's strength is its defense, which was one of the best in the MAC in 2007 and was tops in Red Zone defense.

The Owls struggled on offense and don't appear to be much improved in 2008. Averaging just 16 points a game last year ranked them 116th nationally on offense, and facing an experienced Penn State defense with one of the best defensive lines in the nation won't help Temple.

Expect both teams to struggle to score points early. Penn State will have some issues dealing with the Owls', front seven but eventually the talent level will prevail. Penn State wins this matchup, 42-3.

Illinois Fighting Illini

Now we begin the Big Ten Schedule with a nationally televised night game against the Illinois Fighting Illini. This is a team that surprised many last year and beat both Penn State and Ohio State on its way to a Rose Bowl bid.

Ron Zook has obviously done a great job recruiting and has put Illinois back on the map as a formidable team in the Big Ten. Returning 13 total starters (seven on offense and five on defense, plus one kicker) gives this team a chance to be a top team in the Big Ten again. Their opening game at Missouri will provide a litmus test on how good this team really can be.

Juice Williams has shown inconsistency in the passing game but has found a way to win games with his legs. Running back Rashard Mendenhall's departure will be very tough to replace and will put more pressure on Juice to make big plays with his legs.

I expect the combination of the experienced Penn State front line, along with the full stadium "White Out," to be too much for Illinois offense to handle. I see Penn State containing Juice and forcing him to throw, which will prove to be a problem as well against Penn State’s experience in the defensive backfield.

The key to this game will be Penn State's defense against Juice Williams. If the Nittany Lions can contain him—which I believe they will with the help of a rowdy crowd—Penn State should win this game, 24-17.

@ Purdue Boilermakers

This matchup could prove to be a trap game for the Nittany Lions. Several factors make me nervous: This game follows an emotional night game vs. Illinois, it's right before a tough stretch of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio State, and it's a road game against a team that always has a strong offense and will be extra motivated for coach Joe Tiller's last year as head football coach.

That being said, I fear that Penn State comes out flat and Purdue takes advantage with their experience on offense. Curtis Painter is a quarterback that has NFL potential and throws the ball all over the field.

In the end, using last year’s 26-19 victory as a starting point, I think Penn State should find a way to regroup in the second half and slow the Purdue offense down. Penn State will have to rely on its passing game and experience at the wide receiver position to win, as Purdue's secondary is the weakest link of their defense.

Again, I see Daryl Clark running the offense on this day, with Devlin seeing limited action throughout the game. I predict a 27-23 win for Penn State.

@ Wisconsin Badgers

Being that this is a road game, and Camp Randall is a tough place to play, I understand why many think this should be a loss for Penn State. However, when you look at it more closely, I think this game should be easier than Purdue.

Wisconsin is a team that is very similar to Penn State in that both return most of their starters. Both also need to replace their quarterbacks, and both should be solid at the RB position.

That said, Penn State played its best game of the 2007 season against Wisconsin, winning that game 38-7. Granted, that was at Beaver Stadium, and we all know how much better Penn State plays at home. Penn State also has not won in Camp Randall since 2002.

However, I think that this team will be able to disrupt the Badgers' first-year starter at quarterback with its solid defensive line play. Wisconsin's inexperience at the wide receiver position will also make it easier for the Penn State defense to get to the quarterback.

I also believe that the spread offense will cause Wisconsin lots of problems on defense, as it did in 2005, and as it did last year for them vs. Illinois.

Wisconsin will try to pound the ball with P.J. Hill, but the experience and depth of the Penn State's front seven should be able to keep them in the game and slow Hill down.

I think only the Penn State coaching staff and its historic conservative style of play on the road can hold this team back. If that does not happen, which many say won't this year, Penn State should win this game, 31-21.

Michigan Wolverines

Ahhh...a team that Penn State has not beat in over 10 years. Well, this HAS to be the year, right? New coach, new system, home game—everything is in Penn State’s favor.

At this point in the season we should know what to expect from this Michigan offense. Right now it is hard to say, but I don't expect this to be the high-powered offense Rich Rodriguez ran in West Virginia, at least not yet.

Steven Threet will be the starting quarterback and is a transfer from Georgia Tech who is seen more as a "pass first" QB with some mobility. Pass first is not really a Rodriguez style of offense.

The strong point of this team will be the seven returning starters on defense and a strong front seven. Michigan will rely on their defense this year to stay in games, as I don't see their offense providing much cushion at this point.

In the end, the streak should end and Penn State should find a way to win. If they can beat the spread vs. Illinois, Penn State should be able to handle the first year spread at Michigan. Given the magnitude of this game, what with a chance to finally get over the hump and beat Michigan, the crowd will be a big help in this 4:30 pm ET start game.

Again I see Daryl Clark leading this offense to a win, with a lot of help from the running game attacking the inexperienced Michigan linebacking corps. Penn State wins this game, 20-14.

@ Ohio State Buckeyes

Since joining the Big Ten in 1993, Penn State has not won in Columbus, and unfortunately all signs point to the same ol' story again. Ohio State returns one of its best teams in years. There seem to be no weaknesses on either side of the ball with 18 returning starters.

For Ohio State, the key game is @ USC on Sep. 6. It's hard to admit this, but I really want Ohio State to win that game for the sake of the Big Ten. On the off chance the Nittany Lions can pull off this upset, it will look that much better.

However, I also don't think this will be that easy of a game for Ohio State. These two teams play each other very tough, regardless of how good or bad a season each is having.

Penn State, as I have mentioned, does return a lot of starters and does have a great defensive and offensive line. This should keep Penn State in the game.

I think Ohio State will use Terrelle Pryor very effectively throughout the season, causing opposing defenses many problems by switching the style of play when he comes in, similar to what Florida did with Tebow in 2006.

In the end, I think Penn State's conservative coaching style on the road will come out in this game. I think Clark/Devlin will have some problems with this very experienced and strong Ohio State defense.

I don't think Ohio State can just check this game off as a win like many think, and I see this as a low-scoring defensive battle, as most PSU-OSU games are. Ohio State wins this one, 21-17.

@ Iowa Hawkeyes

This is a team that has underperformed the last few years. Expectations are usually pretty high, but the team cannot live up to them.

Last year, injuries to their top receiving threats left quarterback Jake Christensen without much to work with. He ended with just a 53.5 percent completion rate. Luckily for him and the running game, the offensive line is intact, and both of his favorite targets—WR Andy Brodell and TE Tony Moeaki—are healthy this year.

On the defensive side there has been much turnover, but the returners are some of the best in the Big Ten, including both tackles on the defensive line. Also, most of the new starters, including both defensive ends and both cornerbacks, did play significant time last year and were impressive.

This is a strong Iowa team that as always has the potential to be solid. However, potential and what actually happens are very different things.

Penn State’s defense should be able to contain the Iowa offense and disrupt Christensen as it did last year. If the coaching staff does not hold this team back in another important road game, the Penn State offense, which I expect to have a tough time at first, should eventually be able to pass on the first year starting cornerbacks of Iowa and use the experience at the WR position to take advantage of the secondary.

This should be another game where Clark, and a little bit of Devlin, should be able to pass and run the spread in order to soften up the front seven and let Royster, Carter, and Green close the game out in the fourth quarter. Penn State wins this one, 27-10.

Indiana Hoosiers

After a tough stretch of games against the top tier of the Big Ten, as well as being on the road for two weeks, the Nittany Lions return home and face the Hoosiers of Indiana.

Kellen Lewis is a very solid dual-threat QB and caused Penn State problems last year. However, his top target James Hardy, who abused Justin King, is now in the NFL on the Buffalo Bills. Penn State's secondary should be able to contain the Hoosiers' WRs and will need to focus on Lewis and his legs. He is another quarterback that PSU will see that can win by running around.

The Hoosiers also return depth at the RB position. However, losing three starters on the offensive line will not help Lewis and his running backs against the strong Penn State defensive front.

The Hoosiers do return seven starters on a defense that made a lot of big plays in 2007, forcing 31 turnovers and registering 42 sacks. However, they also gave up a lot of yards (403.4 yards per game) and a lot of points (28.5 per game). This should continue again this year, and Penn State should be able to run its offense effectively in this matchup.

Penn State scored 36 points on Indiana last year, and I see a similar outcome this year. Penn State wins this game, 38-21.

Michigan State Spartans

Here is a team that is always hard to predict: always has talent, always starts strong, but seems to find a way to underperform at the end of the season. Michigan State beat Penn State last year when Penn State blew a huge halftime lead. Penn State will look to avenge that loss, and it will help being at home this year.

Several key pieces of the MSU offense have left for the NFL: running back Jehuu Caulcrick, who ran for 872 yards and 21 scores last season; WR Devin Thomas, who accounted for 2,590 all-purpose yards and was drafted in the second round of this year's NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins; and TE Kellen Davis, who had 32 catches for 513 yards and six touchdowns as a senior and was drafted in the fifth round by the Chicago Bears.

This is a lot to replace, but luckily QB Brian Hoyer does return and has a full year of experience under his belt. There are many new names that have impressed the staff during the offseason. If someone can step up on offense, Hoyer should be successful again, as he proved to be a formidable college quarterback.

On the defensive side, MSU is another team that made big plays on defense last year but still gave up 26.6 ppg. They lose several key playmakers this year, leading me to believe that things won't get much better. Penn State lost 35-31 last year, and until the fourth quarter was scoring a lot at will.

With key losses on both sides of the ball, as well as this game being at Penn State this year, I don't see Michigan State pulling off the upset. Penn State remembers what happened last year and avenges that loss with a solid 45-20 victory.

With this analysis, I have predicted Penn State to go 11-1. I also predict a total of 399 points without the bowl game included. Last year they scored 394 points with the bowl game included, so I do expect this offense to be more effective than last year.

I do worry about the Purdue game the most because of the letdown factor. Of course Wisconsin could be a problem as well, being that it is a road game at a site where Penn State does struggle, but the trap game vs. Purdue is my greatest concern. If Penn State does lose more than the one game to Ohio State, I would say these are the two teams I would expect the losses to come from.

9-3 is the worst I see this team going and is the lowest number of victories that I would be "OK" with, although I think this is at the very least a 10-win team.

Of course there is always a chance that somehow the upset in Columbus is pulled off, in which case I will be very happy to be wrong.

There is also the chance of injuries or other crazy things that can throw this all off. Let's hope that does not happen.

With Ohio State being undefeated, the media will be forced to put them in the BCS Championship game again, although very reluctantly after the last two years. I see Ohio State facing a team from the Big 12, probably Big Game Bob and his Sooners.

Oklahoma will be on a mission this year to make up for the last two disappointing ends to their seasons and return a solid team and experience at the quarterback position, which is key in college.

This leaves Penn State at 11-1 and second in the Big Ten, and they will get a Rose Bowl bid to face the Trojans of Southern California. This would match up two of the best defensive lines in the nation and feature two teams with a first year starter on offense.

It is hard to pick against Pete Carroll in bowl games, especially in their own backyard. I would begrudgingly say that the USC defense will lead them to victory over Penn State, although Joe Paterno is a great bowl game coach when he has six weeks to prepare and does have the most bowl wins in history.

I get the sense that this game would be closer than most think right now, but I do not want to show too much bias and say Penn State will win the Rose bowl.

My prediction is 11-2 and a loss in the Rose Bowl to USC, a prediction that forecasts a successful season but also leaves some room for me being wrong in a positive direction, although not that much room indeed.

The next question is, what will Joe do following this 2008 campaign when his contract runs out?

Penn State Lands Commit No. 15 on the 4th of July

Paul Salman — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 11:05:00 -0400

Wide Receiver

Camp Hill (PA) Trinity

Ht: 6'4"

Wt: 195 lbs

Forty: 4.5 secs

Class: 2009 (High School)

The good news continues for Penn State early in July. Starting with Adam Gress on the first of the month and continuing with Curtis Dukes on the second, wide receiver Christian Kuntz from Camp Hill, Pennsylvania has now decided to be a Nittany Lion.

Kuntz will make his commitment official today, July 5th, as he did not want to bother the coaches over the holiday. I'm sure good news would not be bothersome, but it's a nice move by Kuntz to get on their good side already.

He already has a good relationship with Coach Larry Johnson, who we as fans must all continue to thank for his amazing recruiting job over the last few years.

Kuntz claims that the location of the campus, and the fact that Penn State is graduating its three starting wide receivers after 2008, helped him make his decision. He is excited at the idea of having a shot to play as a freshman.

Being the son of a Terrapin Alum, and having a family of Notre Dame fans, he was not a Penn State fan growing up. His family now claims they will be fans for the next four to five years.

Kuntz chose Penn State over the likes of Notre Dame, Rutgers, UConn, and Maryland.

For more on Penn State Recruiting and other sports banter, SEE ME BLOG!

Penn State Football: Adam Gress Is Commit No. 13 for 2009 Class

Paul Salman — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:06:00 -0400

Adam Gress: Offensive tackle

West Mifflin (PA) West Mifflin

Ht: 6'7"

Wt: 294 pounds

Forty: 5.22 secs

GPA: 2.63

SAT: 910

Class: 2009 (High School)

Adam Gress has just committed to Penn State. He is a three-star offensive tackle from West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. He is ranked the 59th overall OT in the nation and is a self-proclaimed lifelong Penn State fan. He says, "I am living the dream." Gress selected PSU over schools like Michigan, WVU, Rutgers, and Pitt, just to name a few.

Gress is the fifth lineman to commit to PSU this year. He is also the first player to commit since Curtis Drake committed on June 12. Penn State had a busy couple weeks in May and June, and hopefully Gress will kick off another busy month.

With the addition of Gress, Penn State finally lands a massive offensive lineman and is continuing to get top tier recruits despite all the questions surrounding Joe Paterno's future. At 6'7", 294 pounds, Gress will be a great addition to the offensive line.

To read more about Penn State Recruiting, SEE ME BLOG!

Former Penn State QB Michael Robinson Dreams of Becoming a Sportscaster

Paul Salman — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:58:00 -0400

Michael Robinson is one of the greatest football players to wear the Blue and White. He is my favorite Penn State player of all time, both for his heroics on the field and his great character and charisma off the field.

Robinson's bouyant personality and endless energy have given him the opportunity to hosts a show on the 49ers website called The Robinson Report, and he apparently loves being a sports broadcaster.

He got a chance to work on-air for ESPNU on April 2, helping out during the Baylor-Texas Women's Softball game. Michael prepared for this as he would for a game, doing research and making sure he did a great job.

Click here to see some clips, and read Robinson's article on how he prepared and how it all went down.

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Penn State Recruiting: 2009 Commitment No. 12—Curtis Drake

Paul Salman — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:27:00 -0400

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, 6'0", 175-pound quarterback Curtis Drake, from West Catholic High School in Philadelphia, has committed to Penn State.

Dual-threat quarterback

Philadelphia (PA) West Catholic
Ht: 6'0"
Wt: 175 lbs
Forty: 4.49 secs
Bench max: 235 pounds
Class: 2009 (High School)

Drake had an offer from Northwestern and was getting interest from Georgia Tech, Maryland, and Wisconsin, to name a few. He had largely made up his mind prior to yesterday's visit and says he feels most comfortable at Penn State.

Drake has quarterbacked the Burrs to two straight Catholic League Blue Division championships.

Due to his size, quarterback at the college level may be tough, in my opinion.

However, Penn State coaches have assured him that he would have a shot at playing quarterback. He is also being considered at wide receiver or even cornerback. With all the corners that Penn State already has for the 2009 class, it seems some will have to switch to the offensive side of the ball.

"I'd rather be a quarterback," Drake said. "But if I have the opportunity to get on the field faster as a wide receiver, I'm fine with that."

Too see pictures of Curtis Drake and to read more on Penn State recruiting, SEE ME BLOG!

Penn State Football: Weekly Discussion for 6/9/08; Who is our Quarterback?

Paul Salman — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 07:05:29 -0400

Good Afternoon all!

As the new head of the Penn State page, I would like to introduce myself as a huge Penn State Football and Penn State everything fan. I am a 2004 alum and now work in NYC in advertising.

Now let's get to the fun stuff.

Every week, I will post an article on the page with that week's topic for articles to be written. My thinking is for the next few weeks leading up to the season, we can analyze position by position and discuss who should play, who should sit, strengths, weaknesses, etc...

I'll try to read them all and at the end of the week I will post what I think is the best article to MY BLOG. I will credit the writer on my blog, don't worry. If you object to being posted on my blog, let me know and I won't do it.

I just think it's a great way to get exposure for all of us PSU fans who want to write our opinions and for my blog as well. I can add you as a contributor to my blog if you'd like.

So let's get started. For the week of June 9, let's discuss the quarterback position.

Who should start, Clark, Devlin, or even Cianciolo if you can give valid reasons for him. Maybe you think we need a dual-headed attack like UF in 2006.

When you write, let's give pros and cons for each candidate and discuss how they would fit the team best given the wide receivers, offensive line and running game, and any other factors you are considering.

Let's give this a try and hope week one goes well.

Please headline your articles with Penn State Football 2008: 6/9/08 Discussion - Quarterbacks.

Penn State Football: Recruiting off to a Great Start

Paul Salman — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 10:21:00 -0400

I know many, including myself, have complained about Joe Paterno not giving us a succession plan, saying that it would affect the program's future.

Surprisingly, the start to the 2009 recruiting season has been great for Penn State. I have reported several huge acquisitions the Nittany Lions have made, and now it seems the mainstream media is taking notice.

Joe and his staff, especially Larry Johnson, Sr., have done a great job in recruiting for need (defensive backfield, OL, and now WR) and getting these kids to believe in the Nittany Lions' future.

Penn State is not known for playing freshmen right away, but many of these kids are saying that part of their reasons for committing to PSU was the promise of being able to start right away due to a wave of graduation after the 2008 season.

Hopefully this success continues, and these "verbals" turn into officials when they sign their letters of intent next February.

Speaking of signing day, see what Joe Paterno thinks about moving signing day up to November. Joe has always emphasized what is best for the player/student future. He understands that allowing kids to go through their senior seasons and observe what happens at all the schools that are recruiting them, before making their decisions, is best for their futures.

At 81, Joe Paterno is sticking to his beliefs—put the kids' futures first and football second.

For more on Penn State recruiting, SEE ME BLOG!

Penn State Football: Will Rutgers' Greg Schiano Succeed Joe Paterno?

Paul Salman — Fri, 30 May 2008 12:57:00 -0400

There has been lots of talk on various websites and blogs such as Zombie Nation and the Phanatic Magazine, just to name a few, about Greg Schiano and a possible plan being ironed out for him to succeed Joe Paterno in 2009.

Of course, these sites are not all very credible. However, there are some credible sources within the Penn State community that have mentioned Schiano's name as a viable option to succeed Paterno.

This brings me to the debate that I have had myself, read about, and heard others discuss, about whether or not Schiano a good choice for Penn State. Here are five reasons why he is a great choice.

Greg Schiano is a Penn State man. In 1990, he joined the Penn State staff as graduate assistant, and later served as the defensive backfield coach there from 1991-95. It has been said that Schiano views Paterno as a mentor and idolizes him and the Penn State football program.

Schiano has established recruiting ties in various states. Through his brief stint as defensive coordinator for the Miami Hurricanes in 1999 and 2000, he has links to Florida which is always a great place to have recruiting ties. Now, through his successful tenure at Rutgers, he has established himself in New Jersey as well. Prior to him coaching at Rutgers, Penn State had a virtual stranglehold on New Jersey recruits. If he were to take over for Joe Paterno, that stranglehold on New Jersey would be even stronger then it once was.

Greg Schiano is only 42 years old. When Joe Paterno took over for Rip Engle in 1966, he was 40 years old and was the young, fiery, fresh face in the college football world. The same can be said about Schiano today. As seen across the country with the likes of Pete Carroll and Urban Meyer, younger coaches relate to high school kids better, thus attracting more talent. High school recruits want to play for these guys. Penn State needs to make sure to replace a legend with someone that kids want to play for.

Greg Schiano has had success at a place like Rutgers. It took Schiano a few years to establish himself as the Head Coach of Rutgers and the team performed at very low levels in 2001-2004. However, after a few years and his recruits starting to be the team leaders, Rutgers was 7-5 in 2005. In 2006, Rutgers posted double-digit wins (10-2) and was ranked in the top 25. Both were firsts since 1976. In 2007, due to the graduation of some key pieces leaving, the team dropped to 8-5, but still competed in the Big East. Basically Schiano is getting everything he can get out of a program that has not had much success in their long history, and is not a school talent is easily recruited. If he can do this at Rutgers, I am confident that at a school like Penn State, with its tradition, history of success, and recruiting ties in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland and others in the region, Schiano can continue the Penn State legacy.

Greg Schiano would be a fresh face to the program itself coming from outside the current staff. I fear that if the university hires from within, there will be added pressure to do things Joe's way, especially if he names the successor. Of course this will be an issue regardless, but any way to keep it minimal would help. (Not to mention, the resentment others on the staff may feel if it is not them who is chosen to succeed.) In addition, Schiano is a Paterno guy as mentioned above, and would do things "The Penn State Way." However, being removed from the program for nearly 15 years helps give him a new perspective on the College Football landscape, which I think is imperative when succeeding a legend like Joe Paterno. We do not want a coach with tunnel vision and strictly know how to do things "The Penn State Way."

Lets hope a plan is in the works, and we are filled in soon and Penn State can continue is tradition and keep winning, "The Penn State Way."

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Matt Ryan and Undeserved Rookie Contracts: NFLPA President Agrees with Me!

Paul Salman — Wed, 21 May 2008 17:34:00 -0400

NFL Players Association president, and respected veteran in the NFL, Kevin Mawae agrees with my article about Matt Ryan and rookies contracts posted below.

Mawae was on ESPN Radio show "The Herd", hosted by none other then Colin Cowherd, and expressed his thoughts on rookie contracts.

Here are some of his comments:

"As a guy who has been in the league for 14 now going on 15 years and being around other veteran guys, for a young guy to get paid that kind of money and never steps foot on an NFL football field, it's a little disheartening to think of," Mawae said. "It makes it tough for a guy who's proven himself to say 'I want that kind of money' when the owners, all they're going to say is, 'Well, you weren't a first-round pick.'"

Dolphins Kicker Jay Feely was also on the show with Mawae, and it seems he read my article as well, and had this to say in regards to contracts for rookies compared to some of the leagues best like Tom Brady and Peyton Manning:

"....Veteran players don't believe rookies should be paid more than Tom Brady or be paid more than Peyton Manning on their first contract. "

Feely continued with his thoughts, which again reflect what I stated in my article, and says NFL contracts for rookies should mirror that of the NBA rookie contracts.

"After three or four years if they come in and prove something, then they get that big contract."

Seems that this is an issue that players in the NFLPA do have a problem with, and hopefully it can be resolved during the CBA discussions.

New York Yankees: Alex Rodriguez's Return will Right the Ship

Paul Salman — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:07:00 -0400

The last two weeks have been a disaster for the New York Yankees.

With Alex Rodriguez coming back tomorrow, hopefully things can get back on track from what has been going on the last couple weeks.

Phil Hughes was sent to the DL. Ian Kennedy was sent down to the minors, did well in Scranton, then came back and did not fair so well in the majors again. In his absence, Kei Igawa managed an 11-hit, six-earned-run campaign in just three innings of work. He has once again proved that he is not even close to being a major league pitcher, let alone the Yankees' answer to Dice K.

Those are just the pitching struggles. With Jorge Posada and Alex Rodriguez on the DL, the offense has been very flat. In the last two weeks, the Yankees are averaging just two runs a game, including an 11-2 drubbing by the Mets last night.

Alex Rodriguez's absence is not only expressed in his bat not being there for the numbers he puts up, but also as protection for the rest of the line which has been virtually non-existent, especially with RISP.

Also, is Robinson Cano going to have this "slow" start every year? The kid is barely over the Mendoza line, and we are already half way through May! His bat is needed desperately.

This is an offense that lead the majors in runs last year, and as of today, they are 10th in the AL in runs scored for this season.

Help is needed, and hopefully Alex can spark plug this offense and get the Yankees back on track.

Even with all the doom and gloom discussed above, the Yankees are only 6.5 games out of first in the AL East, and it's the Rays who they are chasing. I think we can all agree the Rays have to fade at some point, right?

SEE MY BLOG

Penn State Rakes at Nike Camp

Paul Salman — Tue, 13 May 2008 10:21:00 -0400

This past weekend at the State College Nike camp, Penn State sured up the future of its defensive backfield, and athleticism for the 2009 class.

With 4 commitments in the last 2 weeks, 3 of them coming over this weekend, and 1 of them being a de-commitment from Ohio State to Penn State, the 2009 class looks great on the defensive side of the ball, as well as the overall speed and athleticism.

Below is a list of the recent commitments and stats, as well as college choices each had which I believe is the best way to grade these players rather then the stars they receive:

Darrell Givens: Cornerback Indian Head (MD) Lackey (4 Star recruit)
Ht: 5-foot-11
Wt: 174 lbs
Forty: 4.46 secs
Squat max: 485 pounds
Vertical: 36 inches
Class: 2009 (High School)
College Choices: Ohio State (de-commited), Florida, Michigan,
Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, Oregon, Tennessee, Miami, etc...

Derrick Thomas: Cornerback from Greenbelt (MD) Eleanor Roosevelt
Ht: 6-foot-0
Wt: 173 lbs
Forty: 4.49 secs
Bench max: 265 pounds
Vertical: 37 inches
GPA: 2.71
Class: 2009 (High School)
College Choices: Virginia Tech, Louisville, Pitt, Rutgers

Stephen Obeng-Agyapong: Safety Bronx (NY) John F. Kennedy
Ht: 5-foot-11
Wt: 185 lbs
Forty: 4.5 secs
Class: 2009 (High School)
College Choices: Iowa, Maryland

Malcolm Willis: Safety Indian Head (MD) Lackey
Ht: 5-foot-11
Wt: 206 lbs
Forty: 4.64 secs
Bench max: 310 pounds
Squat max: 585 pounds
GPA: 3.75
Class: 2009 (High School)
College Choices: Ohio State, Virgina Tech, Georgia Tech, Rutgers, Illinois

Close to commiting:

Stephon Morris: Cornerback from Greenbelt (MD) Eleanor Roosevelt
Ht: 5-foot-8
Wt: 173 lbs
Forty: 4.48 secs
Vertical: 37 inches
Class: 2009 (High School)
College Choices: Tennessee, Virgina Tech, Louisville, Rutgers, Illinois

To see pics of the players click here.

Buffalo Bills Wide Receiver: Character Issues Already?

Paul Salman — Tue, 13 May 2008 09:50:00 -0400

This is not what the Buffalo Bills need right now.

They have a young, up-and-coming team. A wide receiver with character issues will not help team chemistry.

I was sure the Bills management had thoroughly checked into James Hardy's background. Having a gun permit should be a red flag immediately, and something the Bills should have looked further into.

Yes, having a gun is a legal. However, with the recent troubles in the NFL and some of its players owning guns, this type of issue should be examined by every team.

These players are an investment to the team and a team has every right to inquire about everything in a player's life.

Adding a clause into contracts is a great way to make sure that athletes who do own firearms use them in a proper fashion (IE: hunting).

With that said, I would like to know why Hardy even needs a gun.

I hope the Bills don't have their own Chris Henry on their hands now.

Joba Chamberlain's Antics: Pitchers Can Celebrate Too

Paul Salman — Sat, 10 May 2008 11:07:00 -0400

There has been a lot of talk this year about pitchers such as Joba Chamberlain celebrating too much on the mound.

We obviously know that things get magnified when they have something to do with the Yankees, but the recent backlash at Joba is uncalled for.

Here is some background.

On Tuesday May 6, David Dellucci hit a three-run home run off of Joba, which resulted in the game's winning runs. Moving on to Thursday May 8, Joba struck out Dellucci on four fastballs and a slider, followed by his usual fist pump and yell.

Here are Dellucci's post game comments.

"If he wants to yell and scream after a strikeout and dance around the mound, that's what gets him going," he said. "My home run was in a much bigger situation, a much more key part of the game, but I didn't dance around and scream. If a hitter did something like that, everybody would say it was bush and that you shouldn't do that," he said. "It's kind of funny how a pitcher can get away with it."

Well first of all, there is not a double standard, because when a batter hits a walk-off hit, there is a whole team waiting for him at the plate. Even if you are the Washington Nationals!

In a walk-off hit, the team has won, and they have every reason to celebrate. For a pitcher, and even more so for a relief pitcher, an inning-ending strike out is a win for him. He did his job and walks off the mound celebrating, which is perfectly fine.

In addition, I am also sure everyone has witnessed some batters standing at the plate with their arms out after a big hit and watching the ball sail out.

I am not saying this is a bad thing. While it is amusing to watch, and we do make comments about it, it is a part of the game. When an athlete performs well, he/she likes to celebrate. Sometimes this celebration is a way to let their energy out and keep them motivated for the next play or next pitch.

Moving on, this backlash against Joba seems unfair because this is not a new fad that he has started. Many pitchers show emotion as they walk off the mound after a big strike out; which is I repeat, is not a bad thing.

Click here for pictures of other pitchers doing the same.

See me blog!

Colin Cowherd Rage in the Cage—Recap

Paul Salman — Fri, 09 May 2008 10:19:00 -0400

The odds were stacked highly against Colin Cowherd. All his studio employees said he could not do it. The world did not believe that he could do it.

ESPN online poll showed that Colin would get 15 pitches and had to put one in play.

Well the great Colin Cowherd only needed two pitches to put one into play. He proved all the ney-sayers wrong.

As host Trey Wingo put it, this is the greatest upset since the Patriots beat the Rams in Superbowl XXXVI! (now that we know they did not cheat)

Colin showed that practice really does pay off and if you set your mind on a goal and work at it, you can do anything. Remember that kids!

Watch out Barry Zito, Colin is coming up to bat!

See how Colin accomplished this magnificent feat, and watch as he limps across home plate he put the second pitch into play.

Roger Clemens in George Steinbrenners Box!

Paul Salman — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:25:00 -0400

This week last year (May 6 2007 to be exact) Roger Clemens announced during the 7th inning stretch that he would be returning to the Yankees for the second half of the 2007 season. He was viewed as a savior and fans believed that he would turn their season around.

What fans didn't know is how huge of an event this was in CBS 880 NY Yankees Color Commentator Suzyn Waldman's life.

Nothing was better then seeing Roger Clemens in George Steinbrenners box. (pun intended)

Seeing 4 world series championships, David Cone's perfect game, Aaron Boones walk off home run in game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, just to name a few classic moments, could not match up to this moment.

Here is the infamous call of this announcement on CBS 880 in New York by Suzyn Waldman.

See Me blog.

LSU Football: Les is more...for today!

Paul Salman — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:38:00 -0400

I may be alone in this camp, but I think it's very impressive that LSU has dismissed quarterback Ryan Perrilloux.

With Matt Flynn being drafted, Ryan Perrilloux; being a top recruit in 2005 and showing his skills on the field in a few key games last year; was set to take over the starting job in 2008.

For a team coming off a national championship, and losing some key pieces of that team to the NFL draft, most schools would find an excuse to allow their next star to stay on the team in order to continue winning.

If LSU can still find a way to compete in the tough SEC, Les will prove to be much much more!

Blogs Are Bad?!?!

Paul Salman — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:37:00 -0400

For someone who is all about being respectful about reporting sports news, Buzz Bissinger came out firing on Costas' Now last night. He showed no respect for Will Leitch, and actually what I see is fear from Buzz about his job security and/or the future of his business. Well, he made his concern for the future pretty clear.

I think a great sports writer will always get readers, regardless of us blogging or not. We get a lot of our info from these sports writer and then write our views on the issues. Most of us obviously don't have the inside access to the news.

Sports writers should learn to adapt to the times rather then fight the times. Take a page from the music industry and the issue of downloading. Learn to make it work for you rather then try to work against it.

With that said, stick to writing Buzz, you do a great job at that, but lets avoid TV appearances.

I think Will did a great job, given the fact that Buzz gave him no chance to respond until Costas has to mediate.

Poor Braylon Edwards, he had to sit through this. Well, on second thought I don't feel that bad for him. I can't feel bad for anyone who went to Michigan. Vomit.

Karl Malone Is a Dead Beat Dad!

Paul Salman — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:43:00 -0400

New Buffalo Bills Offensive Tackle draft pick Demetrius Bell is the offspring of none other then Karl Malone. However, Karl Malone has basically never had any contact with his son. Oh, and on top of that, Demetrius' mother was 13 when she had him, and Karl Malone was a sophomore at Louisiana Tech at the time. Statutory rape anyone?

Between Roger Clemens and Karl Malone, its been a bad week for former athletes and the "young girls" in their lives.

How prophetic was this Man Show TV clip. Maybe Karl should take a word from this clip and take care of his family.

This Is Not Your Grandpa's Notre Dame Anymore!

Paul Salman — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:30:00 -0400

Notre Dame will not be playing Rutgers in a six game series because Rutgers will not agree to play its home games at Giants stadium. Well, that sounds about right to me!

Why should Rutgers play its "home" games at a stadium that will obviously attract every northeastern Notre Dame fan (and there are plenty in the NY area)? Why should Rutgers be asked to move its players to an unfamiliar locker room?

Rutgers expanding its football stadium, and it will hold around 56,000 people. The school needs to promote this stadium and sell seats. What could be a better way for a growing program to increase revenue and exposure than to have Notre Dame play its newly-renovated campus stadium? It would energize the entire RU community, and having the game on national TV wouldn't hurt either.

Rutgers is in New Jersey, which is rich with high school football recruits from schools like Don Bosco, St. Joe's and Ramapo. Schools like Notre Dame and Penn State have been stealing these recruits for years. With their new facilities on display on national TV, Rutgers could begin to keep these kids in state. Notre Dame fears that possibility and doesn't want to allow Rutgers to grow.

The opportunity to show off the new facilities obviously will not happen if this game is played at Giants Stadium. That would ultimately just be a Notre Dame home game.

Notre Dame needs to understand it is not what it once was. The Irish have not won a bowl game since their 24-21 Cotton Bowl victory over Texas A&M on Jan. 1, 1994. They have been obliterated in most of their bowl games since that victory. In 2007, they lost to Navy for the first time in 43 years. Oh, and to top it all off, NBC's ratings for Notre Dame games are down 27% since 2000.

Notre Dame of course is not the only school to have these issues. Many schools in the North are feeling the effects of kids starting to want to play at warm weather schools. It used to be only the northeast schools would be on TV so kids had to go play there in order to make the NFL. Now with cable and satellite TV able to bring every game to every home, these kids can go anywhere and succeed.

Notre Dame is the most followed school nationwide though, so its fall from glory is the most significant. Is it now scared to get embarrassed on national TV by a young up-and-coming program?

Notre Dame agreed to play a series of football games with the Big East. The school has stated that it would prefer to play at Giants Stadium for recruiting and alumni purposes. Well, I say it cannot just make every game beneficial only to them.

This is not the 1930s anymore where schools will do anything to play Notre Dame to gain exposure. Well, maybe some will (i.e. UConn, who agreed to play Notre Dame at Foxboro Stadium), but not all schools feel this way. This is not your Grandpa's Notre Dame.

Maybe Rutgers rebuttal to this unreasonable Notre Dame request should be that the Notre Dame home game be played at Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis. I wonder how Notre Dame would feel about playing without touchdown Jesus looking over them!