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Penn State ranked No. 2 for worst non-conference football schedule
Who likes cupcakes the most?

Among BCS conference football teams, it's Mississippi State, according to the Sporting News.

No. 2? Mighty Penn State, with fellow Big Ten member Indiana fifth among the Web site's rankings of the 10 worst non-conference schedules in 2009.
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Paterno heading for a big haul
If Paterno can land Fortt as well as a few of the other highly regarded out-of-state prospects he has a shot at landing, then finish strong in-state by landing defensive end Dakota Royer (Manheim, Pa./Central), defensive lineman Sharrif Floyd (Philadelphia, Pa./George Washington) and wide receiver Alex Kenney (State College, Pa.), it will be a spectacular recruiting season for the Blue and White.
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Penn State Facilities
Penn State’s top-notch academic and sports facilities aren’t restricted to students and faculty.
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OT: Can You Get Fit in Six Minutes a Week?

A recent post on the New York Times Well blog asked the intriguing question Can You Get Fit in Six Minutes a Week?.

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A few years ago, researchers at the National Institute of Health and Nutrition in Japan put rats through a series of swim tests with surprising results. They had one group of rodents paddle in a small pool for six hours, this long workout broken into two sessions of three hours each. A second group of rats were made to stroke furiously through short, intense bouts of swimming, while carrying ballast to increase their workload. After 20 seconds, the weighted rats were scooped out of the water and allowed to rest for 10 seconds, before being placed back in the pool for another 20 seconds of exertion. The scientists had the rats repeat these brief, strenuous swims 14 times, for a total of about four-and-a-half minutes of swimming. Afterward, the researchers tested each rat’s muscle fibers and found that, as expected, the rats that had gone for the six-hour swim showed preliminary molecular changes that would increase endurance. But the second rodent group, which exercised for less than five minutes also showed the same molecular changes.

This research dovetails with an article on Clarence Bass's site titled High Intensity Aerobics Amazingly Effective...

Izumi Tabata and his colleagues at the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Tokyo, Japan, compared the effects of moderate-intensity endurance and high-intensity intermittent training on V02max and anaerobic capacity. (Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise (1996) 28, 1327-1330). Interestingly, the high-intensity protocol had been used by major members of the Japanese Speed Skating team for several years; it's a real-world training plan. As you will see, however, the protocol is unique among aerobic training programs for its intensity and brevity.

Here are the details (stay with me on this): In the moderate-intensity group, seven active young male physical education majors exercised on stationary bicycles 5 days per week for 6 weeks at 70% of V02max, 60 minutes each session. V02max was measured before and after the training and every week during the 6 week period. As each subject's V02max improved, exercise intensity was increased to keep them pedaling at 70% of their actual V02max. Maximal accumulated oxygen deficit was also measured, before, at 4 weeks and after the training.

A second group followed a high-intensity interval program. Seven students, also young and physically active, exercised five days per week using a training program similar to the Japanese speed skaters. After a 10-minute warm-up, the subjects did seven to eight sets of 20 seconds at 170% of V02max, with a 10 second rest between each bout. Pedaling speed was 90-rpm and sets were terminated when rpms dropped below 85. When subjects could complete more than 9 sets, exercise intensity was increased by 11 watts. The training protocol was altered one day per week. On that day, the students exercised for 30 minutes at 70% of V02max before doing 4 sets of 20 second intervals at 170% of V02max. This latter session was not continued to exhaustion. Again, V02max and anaerobic capacity was determined before, during and after the training.

In some respects the results were no surprise, but in others they may be ground breaking. The moderate-intensity endurance training program produced a significant increase in V02max (about 10%), but had no effect on anaerobic capacity. The high-intensity intermittent protocol improved V02max by about 14%; anaerobic capacity increased by a whopping 28%.

Dr. Tabata and his colleagues believe this is the first study to demonstrate an increase in both aerobic and anaerobic power. What's more, in an e-mail response to Dick Winett, Dr. Tabata said, "The fact is that the rate of increase in V02max [14% for the high-intensity protocol--in only 6 weeks] is one of the highest ever reported in exercise science." (Note, the students participating in this study were members of varsity table tennis, baseball, basketball, soccer, and swimming teams and already had relatively high aerobic capacities.)

The results, of course, confirm the well-known fact that the results of training are specific. The intensity in the first protocol (70% of V02max) did not stress anaerobic components (lactate production and oxygen debt) and, therefore, it was predictable that anaerobic capacity would be unchanged. On the other hand, the subjects in the high-intensity group exercised to exhaustion, and peak blood lactate levels indicated that anaerobic metabolism was being taxed to the max. So, it was probably also no big surprise that anaerobic capacity increased quite significantly.

What probably was a surprise, however, is that a 4 minute training program of very-hard 20 second repeats, in the words of the researchers, "may be optimal with respect to improving both the aerobic and the anaerobic energy release systems." That's something to write home about!

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Playing for Penn State's Joe Paterno is "like playing basketball with Michael Jordan"

Evan Hailes gave a verbal commitment to Penn State on Friday.

There were some good quotes from Hailes in his hometown newspaper...

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Hailes, 6-foot-1 and 303 pounds, finished with 81 tackles last season, including 20 for a loss. He also had 11 sacks and three deflections in helping to lead the Tigers to the Group AAA Division 6 state championship last season.

Hailes, a two-time all-state and two-time All-Tidewater selection, said he chose the Nittany Lions over such schools as Tennessee, LSU and Virginia Tech because he liked what Penn State had to offer.

"The thing I liked most about them is that they emphasized academics more than football," said Hailes as he drove from State College on his way back to Chesapeake following his visit to the school.

What also helped was his relationship with defensive line coach Larry Johnson. This is his 14th season on the staff and ninth year coaching the defensive line. In that span, he has been instrumental in the development of five first-team All-Americans, including three first-round NFL draft choices.

"He's a real good guy and everything he says is backed up by the players," Hailes said. "He sealed the deal for me."

A chance to play for Penn State coach Joe Paterno was icing on the cake.

"It's like playing basketball with Michael Jordan," he said. "You're with a legend. A lot of people wish they could play for him but I'm going to get a chance to do it."

Hailes becomes the first player under Richard Morgan to commit to Penn State. He also is the second Oscar Smith player from the Class of 2010 to commit early. Quarterback Phillip Sims committed to Alabama in April.

"I think it's great for them because it takes all the pressure off of them," Morgan said. "It's easy now."

Morgan said Hailes picking Penn State was "a no-brainer."

"He got up there and was blown away by the visit," he said. "And he loved Larry Johnson. That was the biggest thing. His parents also fell in love with the place and they thought it was the best place for him."

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Penn State's Joe Paterno on the Classics

Forbes magazine asked more than a dozen contemporary leaders what they learned from studying the classics. Here is their Q&A with Joe Paterno...

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Q: Tell us about a time when lessons learned from the ancients contributed to your success.

A: I've always admired the way Aeneas stood tall in the face of adversity knowing he had a destiny. I have tried to let that help guide me.

Q: If you could invite one classical figure to dinner, who would it be and why?

A: Alexander the Great. When he conquered a city he didn't impose his culture and philosophy on the citizens. He even integrated some of the conquered leaders into the new government, which ensured stability and development. I would like to hear his thoughts on how his philosophy is still applicable today.

Q: Who is the most powerful person in your life?

A: My father; he put himself through school and worked two jobs to ensure that his children received a good education. Also Father Bermingham, my high school classics teacher, who introduced me to Homer.

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Holes in "Wannstedt's Fence" as Penn State wins recruiting wars

Dave Wannstedt may be 57, but he is still trying to catch 82-year-old Joe Paterno.

When Wannstedt was hired by Pitt, his alma mater, before the 2005 season, one of his first promises was that the Panthers would erect a figurative fence around Western Pennsylvania and dissuade the area’s top high school recruits from going elsewhere.

He philosophy was that Paterno and Penn State could go into Ohio or Michigan, New York or New Jersey, but Pitt’s backyard belonged to the Panthers...

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For a few years, Pitt was the dominant program not only in Western Pennsylvania, but also on some of Penn State’s prime recruiting turf. The Panthers’ best recruit, running back LeSean McCoy, came out of Harrisburg, the center of Penn State territory.

That is changing, however, and Penn State’s renewed dominance is forcing Wannstedt to increasingly leave the state to land his prime recruits--and to explain why players who seemed likely to attend Pitt are going elsewhere.

Already this summer, the Panthers have lost two recruits--the linemen Miles Dieffenbach, the son of Pitt’s tennis coach, and Tom Ricketts to Penn State. Ricketts’s father, also named Tom, was one of the top linemen in Pitt history and was a first-round draft pick of the Steelers 20 years ago.

Wanny's fence has issues

There is more. Of the first eight western Pennsylvania players offered scholarships by Pitt, only one committed to the Panthers. Five committed to Penn State, which is coming off an 11-2 season and has won 40 games the last four seasons.

Pitt went 9-4 for its first winning record in Wannstedt’s four seasons, only to lose to Oregon State, 3-0, in a poorly played Sun Bowl that took some of the sparkle off a season highlighted by a second consecutive victory over West Virginia.

Despite Wannstedt’s determination to run a disciplined program that graduates its players and sends a lot of them to the NFL, at least three Panthers have been involved in off-field incidents.

Wide receiver T.J. Porter was thrown off the team after his second arrest for drunken driving, wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin was charged with the assault of a female student, and linebacker Adam Gunn--an honors student and a team leader--was accused of disorderly conduct and other offenses after an altercation in a nightclub. Gunn was reinstated after the charges were dropped.

Also, defensive lineman Tommie Duhart was thrown off the team for disciplinary reasons.

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OT Video: 60 Minutes exposes cheating in online poker

Last November Gilbert M. Gaul of The Washington Post ran an article on cheating in online poker. Steve Kroft did a 60 Minutes piece from Gaul's story...

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DaQuan Jones to Penn State!

Penn State's big recruiting weekend continues to bear fruit. On Friday Evan Hailes put on a Penn State ball cap. Yesterday DaQuan Jones, a 4-star lineman from Johnson City, N.Y., gave a verbal commitment to play football for the Nittany Lions...

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Here is Jones' Scouts, Inc. evaluation...

Jones plays on both sides of the line. Flashes upper body explosion and good hand shiver; able to defeat the one on one block but lacks agility in space; displays sure tackling ability.

We feel he is a better prospect at offensive guard where he can use his size and playing strength as a run blocker. Displays a little lower body stiffness in space but comes off the ball with quickness and explosion. Plays with a flat back and good leg drive; gets movement in single blocking situations, can move to the 2nd level and play on his feet vs. linebackers.

Can pull and trap; good out of his stance, turns up field and finds defenders in the open field with power and explosion at the point of attack. This is an aggressive tough run blocker who looks for 2nd defenders downfield and finishes blocks with authority.

Have yet to see him in pass protection; will need work but displays enough balance, agility and flexibility to make us feel he can succeed in this area.

Jones is a solid strong football player who will not be an immediate starter or impact player. Time and a red shirt year will give him the opportunity to develop both his athletic and physical skills. Eventually he should become a solid starter at the BCS level of competition.

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Alex Kenney to Penn State?

State College wide receiver Alex Kenney is in State College today at Penn State's camp. Rumors are running hot and heavy that he has given a verbal commitment to the Nittany Lions. The predictions of a big recruiting weekend for Penn State are apparently coming true.

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4-star defensive tackle Evan Hailes to Penn State!

Evan Hailes, rated at four stars and ranked in the mid-teens nationally among defensive tackles by both Scout and Rivals, gave a verbal commitment to Penn State today. Hailes (6-1, 305) told VirginiaPreps.com...

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"They got a lot of history. It isn't like they are a brand new school just doing this and doing that, they go way back with the same head coach and it's not like they are all just put together, they're a family and I like that a lot.

"It's a big time stadium and it's gets your adrenaline pumping when you think about it. There's going to be a lot of 'We are...Penn State' going from side to side."

Evan Hailes

Scouts, Inc. offers this evaluation...

For the most part he is a space eater that can plant himself in a gap and gobble up action that comes his way, but you can't be too fast to judge this big boy. He is not consistent, but flashes good quickness off the ball and will shock you how quickly he can get moving at times.

When he can get to the shoulder of a blocker he can plow his way into the backfield. He does a good job of being able to get into gap and stay square. He moves well laterally between the tackles and can be disruptive player. When he brings his hands he can deliver a pop and knock a blocker on his heels.

Hustles around, but this kid is built to just do damage between the tackles. Can provide pressure as a pass rusher. He can bull rush and collapse pocket. Hailes is a big kid who at the root of it all is a two-gap run stuffer, but there is some more to his game and if he watches his weight he can give you solid reps with some disruption and big plays peppered in.

Hailes, who was recruited by Larry Johnson and Bill Kenney, was also offered by Boston College, Cal, Clemson, LSU, Michigan, Minnesota, N.C. State, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia.

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Number One RB Marcus Lattimore will NOT visit Penn State this weekend

The nation's top-rated running back, Marcus Lattimore, planned to visit Penn State this weekend. It turns out Lattimore won't be traveling to State College this weekend, so now where does Penn State fit into his plans?

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“We had something to do (this weekend), so I’m going to go up there July 25,” Lattimore said. “I’ll probably be up there for a couple days.”

Lattimore said he plans to visit Penn State with both of his parents as well as his teammate, wide receiver/athlete Nick Jones. The Nittany Lions are also interested in Jones, though they have not offered him a scholarship.

Lattimore has narrowed his list of approximately 30 scholarship offers to Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Maryland, North Carolina, Penn State, and South Carolina.

Lattimore plans to trim that list to five schools by the end of the summer, but wants to visit Penn State before doing so.

“I talk to Penn State every two or three days,” Lattimore said. “I talk to Coach (Bill) Kenney and Coach (Larry) Johnson. I talk to all of them.”

After narrowing his list down to five schools, Lattimore says he plans to begin scheduling official visits.

“I’ll probably take all five official visits,” he said. “I don’t have any favorites right now.”

The 6-foot and 215-pound Lattimore rushed for 2,320 yards during his junior season. He averaged 7.6 yards per carry and had 30 touchdowns.

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Exclusive photos: Oregon's new Nike football uniforms

Now that Joe Boisture has committed to Michigan State, it appears that 4-star quarterback Robert Bolden has narrowed his list to two schools, Penn State and Oregon. It may come down to fashion, as there couldn't be a more stark contrast between the two programs with regards to their choice of attire.

Penn State is known for no names, black shoes, and basic blues while Oregon's look is a bit more...flamboyant. Penn State Clips has obtained exclusive photos of Nike's latest renditions of Oregon's football uniforms....

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Oregon's new home uniforms

Oregon's new road uniforms

You think this is an exaggeration? If so, it's not by much...

We shudder to think what Phil Knight & Company would do to Penn State's classic stark look if given a chance to "improve" it.

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Can Penn State football reduce arrests?

Chris Harry of the Orlando Sentinel posted a terrific interview with Florida coach Urban Meyer. Given the multitude of arrests of Penn State football players over the years we wonder if Joe Paterno should visit Boston and talk to the head coach of the Patriots...

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Chris Harry: Give me an example of something Bill Belichick could share with you.

Urban Meyer: Where do I start? I am amazed at the how he handles elite athletes. You never hear about issues with off-the-field stuff. I am amazed to the point that I got on a plane and I went up and watched over three days and saw how he handled these elite guys. For some reason, the Patriots do this, but you hear about the Cowboys and these other teams just falling apart because of chemistry issues. And then there's Bill Belichick. Our whole program is based on what we learned from him; the core of the team has to be strong.

[Hats off to Chris Brown of Smart Football for alerting us to this interview!]

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Minnesota says "No beer for you!"

In the tradition of Seinfeld's Soup Nazi episode, the University of Minnesota Board of Regents voted 10 to 2 to make all athletic events on campus alcohol-free...

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That brings the Gophers in compliance with a recently passed state law that requires alcohol sales be available to all fans at university events--or none. It also ends the long-standing practice of the Athletic Department serving, but not selling, alcohol in private suites leased to fans at Mariucci and Williams arenas. Starting this fall, the suites will be as dry as the cheap seats.

That concerns some U officials and boosters, who fear the school could lose millions of dollars when disgruntled fans cancel their contracts for private suites and premium seats.

At the new football stadium, for instance, fees on suites and exclusive seats are expected to account for about 50 percent of ticket revenue. The university had sold 32 of its 37 suites, each priced at $45,000 and all but 50 of the 250 indoor premium seats, which can go for hundreds of dollars per game.

Athletic Director Joel Maturi said that selling alcohol to the students isn't allowed at any Big Ten sporting events held on university campuses. Minnesota has been an anomaly in recent years, allowing all fans to buy booze at football games since the team moved off-campus to the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in 1982.

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Penn State a finalist for Number One RB Marcus Lattimore

Marcus Lattimore, who is rated by Scout as the top running back for the Class of 2010 has named his final eight school. Lattimore (5-11, 200) breaks down his finalists...

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Alabama: "They run the football. I like Coach Burns. He and my offensive coordinator are good friends. He has told me how good of a person and coach he is. Nick Saban says enough."

Auburn: "The fans really are the main reason I like Auburn. All the traditions they have there is great. They stress family. I come from a similar offense, and it would be an easy transition."

Clemson: "It's right here, not too far away. I like the coaches. I like their running game. Some of my teammates are up there now. It would be good to play with them again."

Florida State: "Coach Carter is my man. He is my favorite coach. I have a really good relationship with him and coach Fisher. I like what coach Fisher did at LSU. I like the coaching staff really. I like the offense they run. It's appealing to me."

Maryland: "I talk to the offensive coordinator [James Franklin] and running backs coach [John Donovon]. I also talk to the head coach [Ralph Friedgen] and Coach Seamonson. They run a Pro-style offense, and they need backs. That’s one thing that appeals to me about them. They have a lot of big alums."

North Carolina: "I like Coach Butch Davis, Coach Blake and the running backs coach [Ken Browning]. Coach Davis has had the most first rounders out of all the coaches I named. They run a Pro-style offense, not that far from home. It would be good to say you started the running back thing at UNC."

Penn State: "I haven't visited, but I know they run the football. I have heard about the fans. I was talking to Khairi Fortt. He talked about the fans and tradition. They have Joe Paterno. It would be great to play for him."

South Carolina: "I like coach Graham. I am anxious to see how their running game is going to look this year. They were one of my favorites at one time. I still like them, but want to see how they do this year. They have a lot of tradition."

The fact that Khairi Fortt is talking up Penn State is interesting, considering he hasn't yet verballed. And we know that Silas Redd is "working on him every day."

Besides Fortt, PSU assistant Bill Kenney is recruiting Lattomore.

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OT: Bad Week for Pop Icons

Wow, it certainly has been a bad week for pop icons.

First it was the death of Johnny Carson's sidekick on The Tonight Show, Ed McMahon. (We once got a letter from McMahon saying we may have already won a million dollars from Publisher's Clearing House! Unfortunately, Ed's enthusiasm was premature, as someone else was awarded the prize.)

Today it was a double blow. This morning we heard that Farrah Fawcett had lost her battle with cancer. For men of a certain age the Charlie's Angels star was was our first fantasy. For a look at an older but still beautiful Fawcett, check out Robert Duvall's under-rated The Apostle.

This afternoon Michael Jackson passed away in Los Angeles. The King of Pop changed the face of music with Thriller.

They will be missed.

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Cincinnati extends Brian Kelly's contract through 2013

We believe Cincinnati's Brian Kelly should be on the short list when it's time to select a replacement for Joe Paterno. On Monday, UC athletic director Mike Thomas announced a contract extension for Kelly that stretches through 2013, pending the approval of the University Board of Trustees. The deal guarantees a salary of $1.475 million over the next five years for Kelly and also includes performance based incentives. It also increases the pay of Kelly’s assistant coaches.

Why do we think Brian Kelly might be a good fit for Penn State? We're glad you asked...

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You're probably aware of Kelly's exploits at Cincinnnati--the Bearcats' first Big East Championship, the best two-year stretch in school history (21 victories) and the first time the school has won a double-digit number of games in back-to-back seasons. He's been named Big East Coach of the Year two years running.

Prior to Cincinnati, Kelly turned around a moribund program at Central Michigan. CMU went 12-34 from 2000-2003. Kelly took over in 2004. In 2006 they won ten games, the MAC Championship, and the Motor City Bowl.

Kelly began his head coaching career at Grand Valley State, accumulating a record of 118-35-2 with the Lakers. He finished with a bang, going 41-2 during his final three seasons with two Division II National Championships.

Kelly is an offensive genius and his teams have set numerous yardage and scoring records. He has done an amazing job developing quarterbacks. Last year exemplified this, as he used five different quarterbacks in winning the Big East title.

Maybe Tom Bradley or Larry Johnson deserve the Penn State job, but we sure hope they'll at least talk to Brian Kelly when the time comes.

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Michigan State verbal clears way for Robert Bolden to Penn State

4-star quarterback Robert Bolden will be visting Penn State this weekend. It appears he is down to PSU and Michigan State. Bolden's decision might have gotten a lot easier today...

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The Michigan State Spartans continued their recent recruiting roll by landing instate quarterback Joe Boisture, who was committed to Boston College, but switched over to his homestate squad today.

Boisture is rated as a 4-star prospect by both Rivals and Scout.

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Big recruiting weekend for Penn State football

The Penn State football coaching staff will host an outstanding group of prospects for the Nittany Lions' Senior Camp on Friday and Saturday, including...

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ESPNU 150 Watch List wide receiver Alex Kenney (State College, Pa), ESPNU 150 Watch List defensive lineman Evan Hailes (Chesapeake,Va./Oscar Smith), defensive lineman Daquan Jones (Johnson City, N.Y), and ESPNU 150 Watch List quarterback Robert Bolden (Orchard Lake, Mich./St. Mary's).

Kenney won't have far to go to attend the camp. The 6-foot, 190-pounder, whose father is a professor at Penn State, has over a dozen scholarship offers including Boston College, Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina State, Northwestern, Penn State, Pitt, Purdue, Temple, and Virginia.

Hailes plans to select a college at the end of this week or beginning of next week, so Paterno gets the last shot. The 6-1, 310 pounder has narrowed his list down to LSU, North Carolina State, Penn State, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech.

Jones is one of the top prospects in the Empire State and the 6-4, 300-pounder has 10 scholarship offers including Boston College, UConn, Illinois, Maryland, Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, and Syracuse.

Bolden will be in State College, but will arrive later than the other prospects.

"I leave on Saturday for Penn State's camp," Bolden said. "I'm not sure if I'll work out Saturday or not. But I'll be working out. I'll be there until Wednesday."

Sunday through Wednesday is Penn State's Offense and Defense Camp, and Bolden will work out at that camp.

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New York City to get first three Penn State football games on Big Ten Network

The Big Ten Network announced that it will carry Penn State's first three football games of 2009. The Nittany Lions will be hosting Akron, Syracuse, and Temple as a tune-up for their Big Ten opener at Illinois on September 26th.

Fortunately, Penn State fans in the New York City metro area will be able to watch these games on Cablevision...

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The Big Ten Network has landed in Cablevision country.

The hybrid service kicks off today with the predominant cable operator in the New York DMA in both standard-definition format as part of the iO TV Sports Pak on channel 413, as well as in high-definition on channel 720. The Sports Pak retails for $5.95 per month. Cablevision, which has surpassed the 100 HD-channel threshold, makes its high-definition channels available free to its digital-cable customers who subscribe to the attendant level of video service.

Deal terms were not disclosed. Big Ten, which has scored expanded-basic placement within the conference's eight-state footprint and assumed sports tier positioning elsewhere, will televise at least 35 football games this fall, the vast majority of which will be shot in HD.

Cablevision said the service's rollout begun to in the New York City borough of Brooklyn and The Bronx, and will launch in Westchester County and Connecticut on June 24, on its home base of Long Island on June 25 and in New Jersey the following day.

"We're thrilled that Cablevision will offer the Big Ten Network to their customers," Big Ten Network president Mark Silverman said in a statement. "There are thousands and thousands of Big Ten fans and alumni within Cablevision's footprint, particularly in the New York metropolitan area, that will now receive unparalleled coverage of Big Ten sports."

Noted Cablevision senior vice president of video product management Gary Schanman:

"Cablevision is pleased to add the Big Ten Network to the iO TV Sports Pak in standard- and high-definition as we bring its comprehensive sports coverage to sports fans throughout the New York metro area. Offering the best in college, professional and extreme sports, the iO Sports Pak delivers more of the games and events fans want to see, at a tremendous value."

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Legacy QB Taylor Graham verbals to Ohio State

Tim Tebow at Florida. Terrelle Pryor at Ohio State. Daryll Clark at Penn State. Tate Forcier at Michigan. With the exception of USC and Tennessee (coached by former USC coach Lane Kiffen) it seems that everyone is moving to some type of spread offense. So there's no longer a need to recruit classic drop-back, pro-style quarterbacks, right?

Maybe someone needs to tell Ohio State's Jim Tressel, who just got a verbal from a Taylor Graham, a big, tall pocket passer...

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The option-heavy Terrelle Pryor experience may be a three-year aberration (we expect Pryor to declare for the 2011 NFL Draft) as Graham "is not a great athlete and only has decent foot speed."

Graham is rated at three stars by Scout and is considered only the 75th-best quarterback for the Class of 2010. We believe Graham's ranking is artificially low because he "broke his left ankle in the fifth game of his junior season. He had surgery following the injury and had three screws placed in his ankle. After missing the beginning of his school’s basketball season rehabbing the ankle, Graham says he’s now 100-percent."

Taylor's father, Kent Graham, played quarterback at Ohio State in the early '90's and spent considerable time in the NFL. Graham was also offered by Arkansas, Colorado, Duke, Iowa, Michigan State, UCLA, and Wisconsin.

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Illinois has nation's 5th-best D-line???

Yesterday we posted the Big Ten teams in Phil Steele's individual unit rankings. Steele's top Big Ten defensive line is Ohio State at #5.

Illinois wasn't ranked in Steele's Top 33, so we have to question the sanity of Matthew Hayes of The Sporting News for ranking the Illini as the nation's 5th-best D-line. Sorry, Matt, we just don't get it.

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Penn State goalie Drew Adams selected in Major League Lacrosse draft

Penn State press release...

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.--Penn State Nittany Lion lacrosse player Drew Adams (Springfield, Pa.) was taken in the third round of the Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft, held recently by the six-team professional league. Adams was the third selection in the third round, the 19th pick overall, and the third goalie taken.

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Adams ended the 2009 season with a 7.96 goals against average and 212 saves. Over the course of four years, Adams collected 694 saves, by far the most in school history. He also kept his goals against average below 8.00 goals per game having started all 54 games over the four years of his Penn State career. The Springfield native played in over 3,000 minutes in those 54 games.

His Penn State accolades were many, including three honorable mention All-America nods in 2006, 2008, and 2009. Adams was a three-time ECAC Goalie of the Year and three-time first team All-ECAC selection as well. He was voted Penn State's Most Valuable Player four straight years.

Penn State closed out the 2009 season with a 9-5 mark, including a 4-3 record in its final year in the ECAC Lacrosse League (good enough for third place). The Nittany Lions of head coach Glenn Thiel won six straight games to finish the campaign with the most wins since going 9-6 in 2005. Penn State was ranked No. 16 nationally in the final USILA Coaches Poll as well.

Long Island is currently 4-2 overall and just one game behind first place Denver. The Lizards play their home games at Hofstra's Shuart Stadium, the largest outdoor sports complex on Long Island.

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ESPN: The evolution of Penn State's Navorro Bowman

ESPN's Big Ten blogger, Adam Rittenberg, did a nice job with his article The evolution of Penn State's Navorro Bowman. Some comments made by Bowman indicate that he has matured. Hopefully these words will be reflected in his actions this season...

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"I took my time to learn how to walk. I crawled. Now I'm standing up and willing to help another teammate out. We all have got to wait our turn.

"The things that came into my life in the past year or two, who knew that they would? I just thank God for keeping his hand on me and guiding me through this.

"Losing my father and then losing my coach, it was two big boulders that landed on me. I'm not really relieved from everything. It's still a struggle every day, trying to do what I'm here to do. Football has been the way out for me, and I'm blessed to have the gift that I have."

What does the 2009 season look like in Bowman's mind's eye?

"I have an imagination of how it's going to be. It's going to be fundamentally sound, a lot of unmissed tackles, things like that. It's going to be Linebacker U, really what we're known for."

Linebacker U? We like the sound of that!
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Penn State football recruiting: Silas Redd still working on Khairi Fortt

The NCAA has banned reporters from school camps, but they are still allowed to talk to potential recruits...at least for the time being.

Dave Ruden of the Stamford (Conn.) Advocate did a nice job of interviewing Penn State target Khairi Fortt...

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Fortt, who is two months away from beginning his senior year at Stamford High School, is one of the top prospects in the country, a linebacker whose stock has been skyrocketing. At a recent Nike Camp at State College, Pa., the 6-foot-3, 225-pound Fortt drew some of the biggest raves.

It was fitting that the camp was held at Penn State, because that is where many feel Fortt is headed, especially after his close friend, King's Silas Redd, committed there last month.

And while Fortt admitted that the school known as Linebacker U is high on his list, the fact is Fortt has already received 30 scholarship offers, from places such as Notre Dame, Ohio State, Miami, Tennessee, and Virginia.

"It's pretty cool," Fortt said. "It's nice. You meet a lot of people."

Fortt's cellphone vibrates often. Some of the people on the other end of the line have included the Giants' Justin Tuck and Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.

It is hard to tell what is most impressive about Fortt, his talent or his humility.

A lot of the credit for that humility goes to his father, Guy, whose resume is as diverse as his son's talents. Guy is a firefighter, an actor--his credits include the film The Devil Wears Prada and the Broadway production of The Color Purple--and recently has added the job of northeast regional recruiting scout for Elite Scouting Services, a college football recruiting provider.

"There are a lot of good players in the area and we want to let the world know there are some great ballplayers in Connecticut, a lot of hidden gems," Guy said.

It didn't hurt that one of the best lives under his roof.

Fortt went to his first camp at Penn State in the eighth grade, a product of Stamford Youth Football. Soon he attended his first combine, in New Jersey, and has been on the circuit ever since.

"I'll probably take official visits and see what happens," said Fortt, who conceded the choice is too important to rush. "After you say you commit everything stops, the calls, everything."

Fortt is enjoying being courted, but he is doing it on his terms. Academics are being stressed, not just getting a token mention. The right fit is important.

"We're looking at a whole bunch of different things," Guy said. "From the football side, the strength and conditioning, and the position coaches are important. But it is not just football. You have to say to yourself, would you enjoy a school even if you weren't playing football? Do you like the students? There are many things to consider."

Fortt is busy taking care of the football side of things right now. He works out with Redd three days a week at BlueStreak Sports, and at a gym two other days. There are sets of 200-300 pushups on off-days.

Fortt admitted Redd has been making subtle pitches.

"He tries to whisper in my ear," Fortt said.

"There's a lot going on," Fortt said. "I'm getting ready for this season and trying to work on making a decision. It's kind of a little mind-boggling. There's not one school that stands out right now. They are all great schools with great academics. We'll see what happens."

"They are all great schools with great academics"? Hopefully young Mr. Fortt will look a little more closely at the numbers before making his decision. Ohio State's graduation rate among African-American football players is just 41%. Disgraceful.

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RB Jaamal Berry enrolls at Ohio State summer school despite felony charges

We're surprised that Jaamal Berry showed up for summer school at Ohio State. It will be interesting to see how this plays out...

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Running back Jaamal Berry reported on Sunday along with most of the other members of Ohio State's freshmen who intend to being summer school on Tuesday, several sources said.

Of course, Berry's appearance is a slight surprise, considering the felony charge of marijuana possession he faces back in his hometown of Miami, Fla. But it also might indicate that OSU coaches and officials believe the situation can be rectified to their satisfaction before start of preseason camp. Berry faces a preliminary hearing on July 2.

Berry, a blue-chip recruit from Palmetto High School, was arrested around midnight on June 11 after Miami-Dade Police first pulled him over for running a stop sign. He was found to have 28 grams of marijuana in his car; anything above 20 is considered a felony possession amount in Florida.

According to the police report, he admitted to purchasing the marijuana and, further, he intended to share it with friends a little later.

[Hats off to Adam Rittenberg of ESPN for alerting us to this story!]
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Penn State well represented in Phil Steele's individual unit rankings

Our favorite pre-season rag, by far, is Phil Steele's College Football Preview. Our favorite section is the individual unit rankings. Here are the ranked Big Ten units as well as the rankings for Florida. Now you know why the Gators are the (unanimous?) #1 choice of the experts.

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Quarterbacks
1) Florida
9) Illinois
10) Ohio State
15) Penn State
24) Minnesota

Running Backs
6) Penn State
8) Florida
18) Wisconsin
24) Michigan

Receivers
2) Illinois
10) Florida
18) Wisconsin
21) Minnesota
30) Iowa
33) Michigan State

Offensive Line
2) Florida
6) Iowa
16) Ohio State
17) Michigan
24) Wisconsin
25) Minnesota
33) Indiana

Defensive Line
2) Florida
5) Ohio State
23) Penn State
24) Michigan

Linebackers
1) Penn State
2) Florida
5) Iowa
7) Michigan State
19) Ohio State

Defensive Backs
2) Florida
9) Ohio State
11) Iowa
17) Michigan
22) Northwestern
23) Michigan State
26) Minnesota

Special Teams
2) Florida
5) Ohio State
14) Wisconsin
20) Michigan
28) Iowa
32) Penn State

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Video: 2009 Big 33 Highlights

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Ohio wins Big 33; Penn State's Curtis Drake involved in big plays

Our fears that the Big 33 might be an Ohio romp were unfounded, as the players from the Buckeye state broke 31-31 tie with a late touchdown. Penn State-bound quarterback Curtis Drake was involved in some big plays--most good, one awful--in front of a "generously estimated crowd of 11,623." (We would note that this is roughly double the announced crowd at Pitt's spring scrimmage.)

Drake is tremendously athletic, slashing and dashing for 103 yards on the ground and throwing for another 139. He accumulated a Big 33 record 284 total yards. Then there was the one awful play...

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After completing a 27-yard pass to Malik Generett on a fourth-and-16 from the Ohio 28, Drake had Pennsylvania in prime scoring position with a first-and-goal at the 1 in a 17-17 game. But after initially lining up in shotgun, Drake went under center, took the snap, and tried a quarterback sneak when he lost a fumble.

"On that play, we tried a silent count and it was on the center whenever he went," Drake said. "It was just a little miscommunication."

On the ensuing play, Austin Boucher, a Miami (Ohio) recruit and the Ohio MVP, hit Micah Hyde for a 99-yard touchdown to give Ohio a 24-17 lead with 6:16 remaining in the third quarter. That completion set a record for longest play, longest play for a touchdown and longest passing touchdown in Big 33 history.

Afterwards Drake reflected on the game and his future in football...

"I was just coming here to play a game for Pennsylvania and, if it was all good, to come out of here with a victory. It was close, and it was a real hard-fought game, but Coach Paterno was probably watching the game and probably saw some things he liked and some things I need to work on."

From our vantage point Drake is a fabulous athlete and Penn State will find a way to utilize him the HD Spread, but his future is not as a starting quarterback. We expect to see him at slot receiver and perhaps as a Red Zone option quarterback.
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The Taj Mahal of man necessities

As you prepare for the upcoming football season, considering getting a Man Wall, which HybridSpace LLC describes as the Taj Mahal of man necessities. The impressive list of features includes...

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• 52" Vizio Flat Panel LCD HDTV
• Two 26" Vizio Flat Panel LCD HDTVs
• 1200 watt Panasonic 5.1 Home Theater System
• DVD player with 5-CD changer
• iPod docking station
• Two Wireless surround sound speakers
• Live 7-foot sports ticker with built-in computer
• One year free service for sport's ticker
• Full-size built-in beer refrigerated beer keg with tap
• 1000 watt microwave oven
• Two cigar humidors (holds 25 cigars each), complete with gauges
• 32-bottle wine rack

The Man Wall costs $14,900, plus shipping. If that's a little pricey for you, consider buying a Kindle instead.

The Man Wall

[Hats off to Kim Komando for alerting us to the Man Wall!]

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The NCAA's Amerika: No freedom of the press

We were disappointed to see the NCAA is cracking down on recruiting news. According to the NCAA...

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“An institution has an obligation to preclude the presence of media (including scouting services) at its institutional camps for the purpose of writing stories, filming, and/or taking pictures. As a result, we advise you to notify media outlets they are not permitted to be present at institutional camps.”

Apparently it's only OK to exploit young athletes and make a buck off them if the NCAA gets a piece of the action.

At what point will the NCAA ban camps like those sponsored by Nike, Rivals, and Scout, camps where athletes get valuable exposure?
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Penn State's Joe Paterno meets with TE Ben Koyack

Class of 2011 target Ben Koyack was in State College on Thursday. What did Koyack, a 6-5, 220-pound tight end from Oil City, Pa., think of his visit to Penn State?

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"I went with my mom, my dad and Coach Beers and his wife. We got a tour of the football office and the campus. I had already seen the football facilities.

"I talked to Coach McQueary and JoePa. It went pretty good. They said they want me to go there. They said they are looking forward to me committing sometime in the near future."

Koyack already has offers from Boston College, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina State, Penn State, Pitt, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. His co-favorites are Penn State and Ohio State.

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Video: Interview with Penn State target Sharrif Floyd

We don't know if there is any significance to Sharrif Floyd mentioning Penn State first when asked for his short list, but we're hoping. Also, when Floyd talks about USC, that would be South Carolina, not Southern Cal. (And thank goodness for that, considering our lack of recruiting success against the Trojans in recent years!)

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Penn State's Joe Paterno gives something back

Under an overcast sky Thursday morning the final beam for the Mount Nittany Medical Center East Wing expansion was lifted into place, bearing the signatures of close to 200 people. Among those at the hospital to mark the occasion were Joe & Sue Paterno, on hand to announce a $1 million gift for the Foundation for Mount Nittany Medical Center.

Joe downplayed their gift...

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“Sometimes I don’t think people realize how many great people we have here in this town,” he said, citing other couples such as Lloyd and Dottie Huck, who previously pledged $1.5 million toward the hospital. “We’re in a special environment, a special community.”

JoePa signs the final beam

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Penn State's Christian Kuntz in East-West All-Star Game

Christian Kuntz struggled at times during last night's 9th Annual Pennsylvania Football Coaches Association East-West All-Star game at Mansion Park Stadium in Altoona. He had trouble getting off the line of scrimmage against bump-and-run coverage and fumbled after catching a short pass. But Kuntz also scored twice, which gave him something to celebrate...

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“Scoring two touchdowns in a game with these great all-stars is an accomplishment. Hopefully people are impressed with it and see my numbers. I’ll just take this with me next week.”

Truth be told, we're not sure why people need to be impressed. All that matters now is what Kuntz does in Blue & White.

How did Wilkes-Barre GAR Memorial lockdown corner Ryan Womack limit Kuntz to two catches for 45 yards over three quarters?

“I just came out here, got in his head a little bit, and slowed him up. I’ve been playing football my whole life. This is what I do. I came out with my head on and talked a little junk in his face but he played good, though. He played real good.”

Womack plans to walk on at IUP.

Kuntz vs. Womack was the feature match-up
of Friday's East-West All-Star Game

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Depression in Michigan? Not in UM's Athletic Department

Michigan is #1...in unemployment. The latest figures show a state unemployment rate of 14.1%, though as Bob DeMarco of All American Investor has pointed out, Michigan's real unemployment rate is much higher, probably in the neighborhood of 20%.

But you wouldn't know Michigan's about economic challenges by looking at the books of the University of Michigan's athletic department. UM athletic director Bill Martin projects a surplus of nearly $9 million for his department...

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"We are pleased to project another operating surplus for FY 2010, the ninth straight year of operating surpluses. To achieve competitive excellence requires a significant financial commitment. We are proud to be able to field an outstanding, well-rounded athletic program, build new facilities and fund all our sports to the full NCAA scholarship limit.

"We have made remarkable progress in the last few years. The Ross Academic Center, Junge Champions Center, Hartwig building renovation, and the Wilpon baseball/softball complex renovations have been completed. The Michigan Stadium renovation project, new wrestling practice facility, and indoor fieldhouse are on schedule for completion within the next several months. We have identified funding for our new soccer stadium and basketball practice facility. We will focus on Crisler Arena next."

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Penn State target Kevin Haplea makes southern tour

We're big fans of New Jersey tight end Kevin Haplea. The 4-star prospect did a whirlwind southern tour this week. How did it go?

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"I got to Clemson this morning and stayed until around 3 p.m. Coach Napiermet with us and showed us around the whole way. Coach Pearman was gone.

"We saw the academic building first and hung out there for about 40 minutes. We really got to see the whole deal, everything, and their entire academic support system.

"I really like their new facilities. They're really nice. When that's done, it's going to be second to none. We got to see the weight room, we met with the strength staff and then went to a restaurant on Lake Hartwell."

Earlier this week Haplea made unofficial visits to Miami, Florida, and F$U...

"I liked Miami's campus. It was nice. They've got a great tradition there. I did talk with Coach Shannon briefly while I was there. I went up to Florida State, too, but didn't get to see much yesterday. I got to see their practice fields, stadium, and facilities. And I saw The Swamp at Florida. Their facilities are top notch. I met Tim Tebow as well."

Who is on Halpea's short list?

"It's Florida, Florida State, Clemson, Pitt, West Virginia, Penn State, and North Carolina."

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Penn State football traditions: The helmet exchange

We're suckers for college football traditions: Howard's Rock, Play Like A Champion Today, Kernkraft 400...it's all good.

We've just learned about a tradition at Penn State we hadn't known about...

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Penn State equipment manager Brad "Spider" Caldwell exchanges helmets with all of Penn State's opponents. Here's a photo of the PSU collection...

[Click photo to see a bigger version]

We're thinking Spider should skip the helmet exchange for the embarrassing match-up with I-AA Indiana State.

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Penn State's Talor Battle earns spot on Team USA for World University Games

Penn State press release
June 18, 2009

Nittany Lion point-guard Talor Battle (Albany, N.Y.) was among 12 players to earn on a spot on the 2009 USA Basketball Men's World University Games Team following three days of trials at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Col.

"I am just very happy for Talor and for our program," Penn State coach Ed DeChellis said. "I think it really shows how far our program has come to have a player compete against some of the top players in the country and earn a spot to represent the United States in international competition. It's just a tremendous and well-deserved opportunity for Talor and we're very proud of him."

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Battle, a rising junior who was a first-team All-Big Ten, USBWA and NABC All-District selection last season, will depart with the 12-member USA Team for Serbia on June 25. The World University Games will be held July 2-11 in Belgrade, Serbia. University of Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan will lead Team USA with assistant coaches Frank Haith (Miami, Fla.) and Rob Jeter (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee).

Battle is the first Penn State player to make a U.S. team since Tyler Smith was a member of the 2001 World University Games Team led by then Nittany Lion head coach Jerry Dunn. He was one of three Big Ten players to earn a spot on the team joining Evan Turner (Ohio State) and Robbie Hummel (Purdue). Also named to the 2009 USA Men's World University Games Team were: James Anderson (Oklahoma State); Trevor Booker (Clemson); Craig Brackins (Iowa State); Da'Sean Butler (West Virginia); Corey Fisher (Villanova); Lazar Hayward (Marquette); Quincy Pondexter (Washington); Deon Thompson (North Carolina); and Jarvis Varnado (Mississippi State).

"I was nervous going into the room this morning," Battle said. "I'm excited to represent my country, and my family and my university back home. Going out there (Serbia), it's going to take a team effort. I'm not going to be able to score like I do at school. Running the point guard with such great players, I'm going to have to get people involved.

"I don't really think there are going to be any go-to-guys. A lot of guys here can score. The majority of the guys are the leading scorers on their teams. Everyone has to buy in to really playing as a team and sacrifice, maybe taking less shots and doing other things."

The player selections were made by the USA Basketball Men's Junior National Team Committee, chaired by Syracuse University's Jim Boeheim.

"It was one of the most difficult decisions we as a committee have had because the team is so balanced," Boeheim said. "It's probably one of the better groups of wing players we have had and all the guys are great players. It looks to be one of our most competitive teams for the World University Games. We have good shooters and athletic wing guys, which gives this team a good chance to compete."

Battle, posted one of the most outstanding seasons in Penn State basketball history in his sophomore campaign as he helped lead the Nittany Lions to a school record 27 wins and a first-ever national tournament title in claiming the 2009 NIT Championship. He led the Big Ten in scoring (16.7 ppg), ranked second in assists (5.0) and stood in the top 15 in eight conference statistical categories.

Named an honorable mention All-American by FOXSports.com and Collegehoopsnet.com and to the NIT All-Tournament team, Battle posted a Penn State single season record 189 assists. His 635 points rank as the fifth-best total in program history and his 92 three-pointers are the third-best mark in PSU history. Battle was named team co-MVP for the second straight year after leading the Big Ten with 14 20-point games and leading the nation playing 1,422 minutes in 38 games, an average of 37.4 mpg.

"First of all, all 16 players at trials are very good players," Ryan said. "Everybody that competed worked very hard against one another at a very high level. The toughest part was getting down to the 12 players. I don't want to take anything away from the guys who didn't make it, but the 12 who are on the final list are the ones that if you look at the overall picture--offense, defense, rebounding, things like that--this was the 12 that stood out. I thought the selection committee did a very good job of evaluating.

"The next step is to make sure we are all on the same page in everything that we do. We can't have three guys handling screens one way, for example, and two guys doing something different. What we are going to try to do defensively is make sure that we understand our rotations and coverage, and from there, understand offensively what our looks are going to be. We need to learn to play to our strengths and not shy away from weaknesses, and those are all nuances that will play out over the next week before we head to Serbia."

The 2009 USA squad will remain in Colorado Springs for two-a-day practices through Wednesday, June 24. The team departs for Serbia on Thursday.

The World University Games is organized by the International University Sports Federation and held every other year. The 2009 competition includes 24 men's basketball teams competing for a gold medal. Eligible athletes for the USA team must be currently enrolled in a college or university.
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