By James Grap
Sports Columnist
jpgso26@psu.edu
There has been a storm
brewing in Happy Valley these
past four years. It finally hit
landfall this year in the form
of the Penn State offense. A
combination of thunder and
lightning, this year's offense
has been giving opponents
headaches.
Led by Michael Robinson, the
Penn State offense took on a
totally new look this year. Joe
Paterno spread the offense
out using four wide receivers
often. He and Galen Hall have
mixed the play calling to a near
perfect mix of run and pass. It
has worked to the tune of an
average of almost 37 points per
game, up nearly 20 points from
last season.
Opponents can no longer sit
on the run with eight men in the
box or they will get burned on
the outside. Four freshmen wide
receivers are to thank for that.
Highly touted recruits Derrick
Williams and Justin King both
run sub 4.4 forties. However, it
has been the emergence of the
other wide receivers that has
really opened things up. Jordan
Norwood and Deon Butler 4yEr
been the big surprise , this year. . 0
Both of them run in the 4.4
range; Butler leads the team with
32 receptions for 632 yards. A
former walk-on defensive back,
Paterno switched him to wide
receiver and has never looked
back.
So, double team Williams or
King and Butler or Norwood will
burn you. Single cover all of
them and you will be burned by
all of them. The only question
is then, whom does Robinson
want to throw to? Add to that the
improved vision and accuracy
of Robinson and every play is a
potential touchdown.
If you think you can load up
the secondary and sit back
on the pass you will be run
over by powerful running back
Tony Hunt. Hunt is on the cusp
of 1,000 yards this season.
Hunt is a downhill runner with
serious power. You will not
tackle him with one man. You
will not tackle him with two.
If you have three big strong
men, then you have a shot at
bringing him down, but don't
count on it. Every time a so
called "Heisman" running back
has come into Happy Valley,
they have been embarrassed
by the performance of Hunt.
This includes Brian Calhoun,
Wisconsin running back that was
held to 38 yards as opposed to
the 151 Hunt ran for.
Now theoretically if you could
slow the wide receivers, which
you can't, and contain Tony
Hunt, which you can't, then
Robinson will run wild all over
the opposing defense like he
did against Wisconsin for 125
yards. Just when you think you
have the offense figured out,
Robinson comes busting out
of the pocket with speed and
power. He will put a juke on you
that will break your ankles or, if
you want to try to tackle him, he
will break your collarbone (true
story). It is this rare combination
of speed and power that makes
this offense so potent.
This is one thunderstorm that
will make even the mightiest
hurricane look like a spring
shower.
Lions
By RALPH D. RUSSO
AP Sports Writer
EAST LANSING, Mich. As the
Penn State players bounced
around the field, exchanging
hugs and saluting the thousands
of fans who came to see the
Nittany Lions become champions
again, Joe Paterno ducked and
ran for cover.
After 40 seasons and 353 wins,
the 78-year-old coach has been
part of more celebrations than he
can count.
But for his players, it's been a
long hard road to the program's
first appearance in the Bowl
Championship Series.
JoePa and the fifth-ranked
Nittany Lions locked up their
first Big Ten title in 11 years and
the BCS bid that goes with it by
defeating Michigan State 31-22
Saturday.
Michael Robinson ran for 90 yards
and a touchdown and passed for
another score, and Alan Zemaitis
had three interceptions for Penn
State (10-1, 6-1).
Coming off a 4-7 season, its
fourth losing year in the last
five, Penn State tied Ohio State
for the Big Ten lead but will get
the league's automatic BCS
bid because the Lions beat the
Buckeyes in October.
"I've been around a lot of good
190411,tms 1 ,aqg u rye,,pearj in a
lot of docker rooms where we've
felt pretty good about what we
had done," Paterno said. "The
kids are the ones that are all fired
up and they should be, because
they went though all that junk
_the
losing years, everyone doubting
them and they got together and
went to work. They're the guys
that should be happy."
Michigan State (5-6, 2-6), which
began the season 4-0, finished it
with six losses in seven games to
post consecutive losing seasons
for the first time since 1992.
When it was over, the Nittany
Lions partied in Spartan Stadium
but Paterno bolted to the tunnel
with his head down, looking up
Hey,
By Matt Miller
Sports Columnist
mgmsooo@psu.edu
So you want a new car? Maybe
a Mercedes or a BMW. No,
how about a Porsche, yeah, a
new Porsche is just what you
need. What's wrong? Don't
think it's going to happen? Well,
the chances of you getting a
new Porsche are slightly better
than PSU making the National
Championship; but it could
happen. Penn State is currently
ranked fourth on the BCS
rankings list, below USC, Texas,
and Miami.
In order for PSU to make the
National Championship, it will take
a lot. In major, the two L's; losing
and luck. With only one game
remaining this season, Penn
State can do nothing to improve
its own ranking after their game
verses Michigan State. Therefore,
they will have to depend mainly
on the performance of other
teams; specifically USC, Texas,
Miami, and LSU.
Let us start from the top; number
one ranked USC has two games
remaining this season. One
verses #l6 Fresno State, and the
\OCRY\Gm A° BALD
smack Spartans 31-22
just long enough to give the Penn
State section a wave on the way
out.
"He deserves it," said Robinson,
had a 33-yard TD run in the
second quarter. "He really does.
He's worked so hard. He stayed
with us. People told him to retire.
Now look at him. Nobody's saying
N
..,.. ,
'
itr.
: •
~.:. , ,..,,,,.,,,,, , .: . 0,:i7.:, ,, ,, , ;t, , .
4 -.
From left, Matt Rice and Michael Robinson celebrate
their last regular season victory. Penn State won 31-22.
it could happen......
other verses #l2 UCLA. Besides the season, but in order for Penn
Notre Dame, these two games State to have a shot at the Rose
could be USC's most difficult of Bowl, USC or Texas must lose.
the season. Fresno State has Now let's move onto Texas,
huge upset potential, but overall who is almost a lock for a Rose
PSU takes a knee before a half. PSU will need a prayer for a BSC.
it depends on which USC team
shows up, the one who has
some weaknesses or the one
who absolutely embarrasses
opponents. On the whole it
appears as if USC should
remain undefeated the rest of
to retire and no more Joe must
go Web sites. None of that. I'm
just so happy for him."
Paterno wasn't too happy with
his team earlier in the week, so
he booted the whole bunch from
practice on Tuesday.
"They took it," Paterno said.
"Nobody pouted. The captains
STA
Photo courtesy Joe Hermitt/Patriot-News
Bowl bid. Their toughest game
remains to be played in the Big
12 championship, which will
most likely be against Colorado.
Despite them playing in the
additional championship game
the Longhorns should stampede
Photo courtesy of Google Images
The Capital Times, November 28, 2005 7
got them together and all's well
that ends well."
Zemaitis' second pick came in
third quarter, and he returned it
17 yards to the Michigan State 4.
Robinson threw a 3-yard TD pass
to Deon Butler moments later for
a 24-7 lead.
Paterno, pant-cuffs rolled and
kept warm on a cold, windy night
by a long, dark winter coat, barely
reacted to the score, turning away
to resume pacing the sideline as
his players and coaches jumped
for joy.
The last time Penn State was Big
Ten champs, Kerry Collins and
Ki-Jana Carter were piling up big
numbers during the Nittany Lions'
second season in the league.
Who would have believed then
that Paterno's program would
eventually drop to the Big Ten's
second division?
That Penn State completed
its return to the top against
Michigan State provided a bit of
symmetry to the revival. Penn
State completed last season with
a 37-13 victory over the Spartans
in Happy Valley that injected
some optimism into the program
heading into 2005.
With a new, dynamic offense,
directed by the versatile senior
Robinson, and the best defense
Penn State has had since LaVar
Arrington was a Nittany Lion,
Paterno has been vindicated.
He said throughout the 2004
season that he felt the team was
close to being a winner again _
and he was right.
"I feel wonderful," Zemaitis said.
"It's something when you put
your mind to it, battle all adversity
and nobody giving us respect _
when you get what you wanted
at the end, it makes it that much
better."
Michigan State looked as if it
might be the surprise team in the
Big Ten after beating Notre Dame
in September, but coach John L.
Smith's Spartans lost consecutive
heartbreakers to Michigan and
Ohio State in October and never
recovered.
through this game. Averaging 50
points per game, and a 36 point
margin of victory, it is unlikely
Texas will lose. Regardless,
upsets can happen and will be
necessary for Penn State to
make a run for the title.
Moving east of Texas, the
Miami Hurricanes may be the
hottest team in the nation. After
losing their opener to arch rival
FSU, the Canes have gone a
perfect 9-0; with key wins against
Clemson, Colorado, and Virginia
Tech. It is important that Miami
loses due to the fact they are
the only team between PSU and
the number three spot of the
BCS rankings. Even if Texas or
USC would fall, Miami would get
the bid to play for roses. Of all
the teams in the running for the
Championship, Miami has the
most difficult schedule remaining,
with three key ACC match-ups.
Their most difficult challenge
will come versus Florida State
in the ACC championship game.
Adding to the difficulty is their
long list of injuries, the most
key being sophomore tailback
Tyrone Moss. The combination
of injuries and difficult opponents
could lead to their demise; Miami
stands a great chance of falling
"We're not satisfied with this
season," Spartans defensive end
SirDarean Adams said. 'We want
to come back next year and really
play ball."
The Spartans couldn't be
accused of quitting in this one,
even after trailing 17-0 at half.
Jason Teague had a 25-yard
touchdown run and receiver
Jerramy Scott ran 4 yards for a
score on a direct snap to make it
24-14 after three quarters.
Michigan State was on the
verge of making it even tighter,
driving to the Penn State 11 at
the start of the fourth quarter.
But Drew Stanton was sacked
by Jay Alford for a 13-yard loss
and Michigan State botched the
snap and hold on a 43-yard field
goal attempt, never even getting
a kick off.
Stanton finished 23-for-36 for
233 yards with four interceptions
and a late TD pass.
The Lions took advantage of
the special teams' gaffe as Tony
Hunt capped a nice drive with a
1-yard touchdown run to make it
31-14 with 4:58 left.
Smith dropped to 18-18 in
three seasons in East Lansing,
a mark that probably won't
stop speculation about his job
security, though athletic director
Ron Mason said has given no
indication that he'd fire Smith
halfway through a six-year
contract.
"I don't even worry about
it," Smith said. "That's not my
decision. My job is to go out and
recruit young men."
Michigan State had been 9-1
against top-10 opponents since
1997, including 6-0 at home, but
they couldn't play spoiler against
Penn State.
Robinson was 10-for-20 passing
for 105 yards and Hunt surpassed
1,000 yards rushing on the
season with 89 in the game.
"People picked us to go sixth
in the Big Ten," Robinson said.
"People said we should be happy
with six or seven wins. Now we're
on top of the Big Ten right now."
before seasons end
This brings us to the fourth ranked
Lions who play Michigan State this
weekend. Although PSU is fourth
in the rankings there is one team
prowling beneath them, LSU.
The Tigers are coming off their
biggest win of the season verses
former unbeaten Alabama. LSU
will most likely win their division
of the SEC and face Georgia in
the SEC championship game.
If LSU could win this match-up
they could potentially leap-frog
PSU in the BCS rankings and
effectively eliminate PSU from
the National Championship race.
The only hope is a Georgia win to
keep LSU back from the National
Championship hunt.
So there you have it, like I said
before it will take a lot of losing,
and a lot of luck. Now let us
review...it will take losses from
either USC or Texas, and losses
from Miami and LSU; plus a win
from the Nittany Lions against
MSU. Yes I know it's a lot to ask
for, but hey, weirder things have
happened. And if it does, maybe
you will get that Porsche you
have been wishing for all year...
talk about a Merry Christmas and
a Happy New Year.