Outback Bowl 2010: 10 Things You Need To Know About The Penn State Nittany Lions
The Penn State Nittany Lions had a so-so 2010 campaign. One would think that a season like this had to push Joe Paterno closer to the brink, but Joe Pa has already stated that he will return in 2011. The name "Paterno" is synonymous with Penn State football now and forever.
To say that they didn't see this coming would be a lie. In starting a freshman QB (Rob Bolden) the Nittany Lions accepted this as a re-building year and one that they'd be content with regardless. While 7-5 is not at all Paterno-like, it's nothing to hold in high regard as the future is bright in Happy Valley.
The Nittany Lions saw what they had in their future and were not disappointed. With Bolden and Matt McGloin, their quarterback situation will work itself out in time, Bolden though is the future. Their offense is still relatively young and will shine through as a cohesive unit in the next few seasons. Freshman Silas Redd could erupt next season and will prove to be the future feature back.
Injuries ultimately plagued them all season long. Though this can't be used as an excuse, Penn St. was injured as much as anyone this season. When all seemed to be on track for the moment (which wasn't often in Happy Valley) an injury or two would again harm them.
That being said, let's visit Happy Valley and look at the ten things that you ought to know about the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Rob Bolden Is The
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In starting true Freshman Rob Bolden, JoePa took a huge gamble. To a certain extent, the move paid off as it was gutsy, but something that needed to be done. They wanted to see what they had in Bolden and when they did they weren't disappointed. It only makes the next few seasons better in the long run. This was the first time that JoePa had ever started a true freshman in the season opener.
Then, after Bolden went down with an injury, Matt McGloin stepped up and filled in the void. What the Nittany Lions didn't know was what they had in McGloin. Collectively, these two quarterbacks helped keep Penn State afloat this season despite injuries and inconsistent play.
McGloin threw just two passes last season, yet was able to fill in adequately for Bolden and keep the Nittany Lions competitive this season. So much for Kevin Newsome being the starter huh? Newsome was supposed to be the starter this season, a lot changed from that point.
The Injury Bug Has Hit Them Hard
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The Nittany Lions have been banged up a whole lot. Their injuries have been to key players as well. Sophomore linebacker Michael Mauti, a key part of the defense, has had a number of injuries already during his short career in Happy Valley. Much of the Lions' 7-5 record can be attributed to some key injuries that derailed them throughout.
Nick Sukay, also a major contributor on defense, has had his share of injuries too. This was a big injury for them to overcome as Sukay had solidified his spot at safety.
Both of these big injuries to the defense, combined with several others, haven't helped Penn State's cause in 2010. Even Anthony Fera, their punter was placed on the IR with appendicitis. Ouch!
Starting Right Tackle Lou Eliades' injury was a major blow to an offensive line that needed to protect young quarterbacks all season long. This left a gaping hole on that side for defenses to enter.
Defensive Woes Plagued Them
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Penn State's defenses are usually nasty and hold opponents. That wasn't the case this season. As aforementioned, the injury bug bit them badly, regardless, no one stepped up in their place. Tom Bradley's defensive unit gave up 272 points this season. This averages out to about 23 points per game.
Considering their young offense, this didn't bode well for them. They'd come to know stingy defenses in the past. Over the previous few seasons, their defenses were consistently among the best in the nation.
This phase of the game has been a key contributor to their OK season. For a school that knows hard-nosed, defensive football, this year was a disappointment.
Their defense will have to step up if they are to defeat the Florida Gators.
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To Their Credit, They Aren't That Bad Against The SEC
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Believe it or not, Penn State has a decent record against the SEC historically. It's at least better than most of the other Big Ten teams. The SEC remains the class of NCAA Football. Penn State is a pedestrian 17-17 against SEC teams throughout their history. That isn't all that bad considering how dominant the SEC typically is against opposing conferences.
The Big Ten, believe it or not, holds a slight edge against the SEC in bowls since 2002. Their narrow 11-10 lead is impressive. The numbers may not lie, but the fact that the SEC has better talent remains true. Maybe the SEC has camouflaged their victories through their back-to-back BCS Championship wins in 2006 and 2007. Regardless, Penn State hasn't done too bad against the SEC.
Speed kills as we all know. This is mainly why the SEC gets the praise as the "dominant" conference. Their recruiting of talent is superior and is often displayed on the "big stage." Penn State will be looking for a huge win over Florida, which would be their first in school history.
They're No Strangers To Blowouts
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In one of Joe Paterno's most miserable seasons in quite some time, the Nittany Lions were blown out a number of times. They lost four games this season by 20+ points. This ties into just how poorly their defense was throughout much of the season.
Never had Penn St. losses been this ugly this many times in the Paterno Era in Happy Valley. Losses to Alabama, Iowa, Ohio St. and Illinois were all blowout losses. All of these came by 20 or more points.
Many factors contributed to their losing these particular games. Their red zone play on both offense and defense for one. This phase of the game was very poor for them all season. Constant turnovers and miscues in the red zone doomed them in certain situations.
Evan Royster Is a Back For The Ages In Happy Valley
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Penn State's feature back Evan Royster will be sorely missed after this season. He's one of the best backs to wear White and Blue in quite some time. By the end of his career, he will have run for approximately 4,000 yards as a Nittany Lion. This is impressive for a school with a history of stud runners. Royster though goes down as the school's all-time leading rusher.
With just 84 yards in the Outback Bowl, Royster will have three consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons in Happy Valley. In having a long line of history with greats like Franco Harris and John Cappelletti, this puts Royster in the elite.
JoePa's 400th Was Won In Dramatic Fashion
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Joe Paterno's historic 400th win didn't come easy. The Nittany Lions' comeback win over Northwestern was special. After trailing by 21 points, they went on to score 35 unanswered and give JoePa a victory that set him apart from all of the others.
Matt McGloin starred in this game. He orchestrated four of those TD's and led the Nittany Lions to victory. This was the gritty backup's best game of the season and where he truly earned his stripes.
Though "400 The Paterno Way" came difficult, it was a high-water mark for the Nittany Lions in 2010. This win was so emotional and was telling of their season in a lot of ways. They struggled in the early going, but were able to pick themselves up and win one for Joe.
Don't Forget About Silas Redd
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Only a freshman, Silas Redd has already proven his future potential. Redd's star-stock will continue to grow in the coming years at Penn State. Rob Bolden handing the ball off to Redd will become second nature in Happy Valley.
Truth is, Redd adds another dimension to this offense. In particular, he's the perfect complement to star Evan Royster. The two-back system is one of the few things that has worked to their favor this season. Redd's developed nicely and will be the feature back starting next season.
In receiving his share of reps this season, he will be better prepared for the years to come. Next season, Royster will not be wearing White and Blue (at least not at Penn State.)
Brett Brackett Came Out of Nowhere
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Wide Receiver Brett Brackett is the "feel good" story of the year for the Nittany Lions. After scattering just 17 catches over three seasons, he broke out with 37 this year. He more than doubled his total from the previous three seasons with a stellar 2010. Brackett was named team MVP and deservedly so.
Brackett's major turnaround helped their young quarterbacks settle in when they got onto the field. He was even named a team captain. Without Brackett's sudden/late emergence, the offense would have been a lot worse this season.
Not Only Athletic, But Also Academic
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The students at Penn State are among the rowdiest in the nation. They surely love to tailgate. Yet, they also enjoy thriving in the classroom as well. In particular, their student athletes are the talk of the academic environment of the university.
Penn State boasts more Academic All-Americans than any other D-1 school. This speaks volumes of the type of learning institution that Penn State is and how it succeeds not only in sports, but also academics. Equally as impressive is the fact that so many athletes have done well there with their studies.
Stefen Wisniewski is the head of the class, so to speak. He is Penn State's first-ever three-time Academic All-American. This feat is impressive for the Penn State center. It also says a lot about Joe Paterno and his commitment to the university.
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