SPIRTS 8 I TUESDAY, SEPT. 9, 2008 --LINEUP QUICK HITS NCAA FOOTBALL Wide receivers open up running attacks While Penn State's offensive line has been open ing holes big enough to drive a truck through during the first two games, another group of Nittany Lions is doing its part to make sure opposing Williams defenses aren't getting close to Penn State's run ning backs. When they're not hauling in passes from quarterback Daryll Clark, the Lion wide receivers are busy creating space. Find out how they're able to keep opponents from getting a hand on the team's running backs. For more coverage I Page 10. Vi . 1::: NI ti::: , ."•...i .'-......,,. .'.;.•-, ':,i -,, C f.'.! ',...... R. Jeffrey Field is more than just home turf To the Penn State women's soc cer team, home field advantage has an added meaning. For the Nittany Lions, playing on Jeffrey Field is an honor. The Lions have not lost more than one game at home since the Jeffrey Field expansion in 2003. With Penn State's 4-1 loss to Flori da State in this year's home open er, the Lions will have to win the rest of their home games this year to protect the winning tradition. Named the 2006 collegiate soc cer field of the year by the Sports Turf Managers Association, the field is also one of the finest in the country. ► For more coverage Page 12 NCAA WRESTLING Wrestling will host toughest opponents Last year, the Penn State wrestling team had most of its toughest matches come on the road. This year, most of the Nit tany Lions' toughest oppo nents will come to Rec Hall. Penn State announced its Sunderland schedule for the 2008-09 wrestling season and for Lions' fans it's a good one. The Lions will host defending national champion lowa, Minneso ta, Lehigh, Wisconsin and Ohio State at Rec Hall this year before hosting the Big Ten champi onships in March. Brady injury injects excitement to NFL Some Patriots fans may be offended at this, but we think Tom Brady's injury shows us every thing that's great about sports. While we extend our sympa thies to Mr. Brady, think about the injury for a second. In one play, the greatest quarterback of our generation went down for the year, and the Patriots' offensive juggernaut is certainly no longer the feared entity it was a year ago. The injury shows the fleeting nature of sports, and allows us to step back and appreciate what Brady has accomplished. Most importantly it opens the door for an underdog to step up in the AFC East. Will it be the Bills or the Jets, or will new starter Matt Cassel step up the way Brady did when Drew Bledsoe went down back in 2001? No matter what, it will be fasci nating to watch. TRIVIA NCAA FOOTBALL Q: Who was the first African- American to win the Heisman Trophy? Yesterday's Answer: Evan Royster is the first player under Joe Paterno to rush for six touch downs in the season's first two games. D-Line exploring options By Andrew Wible COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER I ajwsoso@psu.edu When asked how Jerome Hayes' injury would affect his defensive line, Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Bradley just shook his head: What had been considered a strength of the defense coming into the season morphed into a giant question mark in as much time as it took to cover a punt. With the loss of Hayes, the Nittany Lions lose their newly anointed starter at defensive end and one of the team's best pass rushers. Coupled with the dismissals of defensive tackles Chris Baker and Phil Taylor, the suspensions of tackle Abe Koroma and end Maurice Evans, and the season-ending injury to tack le Devon Still, it's getting tough to find a healthy defensive lineman walking around the Lasch football building. Penn State started the summer with 16 eligible scholarship linemen. Now, the Lions only have 10 available, including five freshmen. "We're fortunate we have some young kids," head coach Joe Paterno said. "We're short a guy now, but there's some possibilities to make ourselves a little stronger inside and See OPTIONS, Page 11. More coverage on the football team I SPORTS, Page 10. confusion puts Boone on run By Josh Langenbacher COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER I jjlso3l@psu.edu Forgive Jeremy Boone and the punt coverage unit for not having nuances perfected. Who can blame him after he has punted four times in two games? Penn State led, 45-14, and faced a fourth-and-six in the fourth quarter when Boone took off on a miscommu nication. The Oregon State player Knowl edge Timmons was responsible for pinched closer to the down linemen, and Timmons stayed at his position instead of coming in. Boone, seeing Oregon State would have a clear shot at blocking the punt, initially pump-faked, intending to throw to Timmons. After Timmons didn't look toward Boone, the punter ran to his left and picked up enough yardage for a first down. But Penn State was flagged for an illegal procedure. "It wasn't a designed fake or any thing," Boone said. "It was just, we should have called a timeout and regrouped as a punt team, but we did n't. We just went with ,it, and that's Goalkeeper Jen Beaumont stretches with her teammates during practice Beaumont works to help new players transition into college life. Beaumont guides young teammates By Stephen Hennessey COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER I sihso37@psu.edu Anytime Jen Beaumont can make somebody's time at Happy Valley better, she will go out of her way to do so. Whether it is a hug after a loss or a little extra motivation, the senior goalie wants to ensure that nobody has the same difficult transition to college that she had to endure. Five years removed from consid ering quitting the Penn State field hockey team, Beaumont is on her way to concluding a successful colle- Abby Drey Collegiar Josh Gaines (47) pressures Oregon State quarterback Lyle Moevao on Saturday. With suspensions and injuries ravaging the defensive line, Gaines may have to play both defensive end and tackle. Evan Royster exalts after scoring a touchdown against Oregon State on Saturday. Royster scored three touchdowns in the game. why we got the illegal procedure yards onto the field as Boone calls." explained the breakdown. Boone came near the sideline after Boone successfully launched a 44- the penalty to talk with Larry John- yard punt on the second attempt. son Sr., who is responsible for the "I wouldn't have thought we'd fool punt team. Johnson met Boone a few around with a fake punt when we had giate career. The two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week prides herself on her intensity on the field, but her philosophy and main focus has been to provide support for the underclassmen on her team. Beaumont combines her own experiences with her duties as cap tain to see to it that the freshmen progress throughout the year and -have a smooth transition. "I think it's a matter of them find ing themselves and putting it all together because it's a very hard transition," she said. See BEAUMONT, Page 11. Captain's versatility gives team options By Andrew I Cassava!! COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER I ajcs23B@psu.edu When Andy Machi heads to Jef frey Field on game day he knows he's going to play —he just doesn't know where. Machi, a captain of the men's soc cer team is in his fourth and final season as a Nit tany Lion, still hasn't settled into one position. Instead, coach Barry Gorman counts on Machi as a versatile threat that can wherever, whenever he is needed "Andy comes to play every day," Gorman said. "We felt that on Friday night we needed to make a• couple of adjustments, and we put him in the midfield, and he really brings an energy there." This year Machi spent much of the preseason as a defender, but with injuries up front and with right back Justin Lee playing well, Gor man had the luxury of moving Machi to the attack In his four seasons, Machi has spent significant time in four main positions central and wide defense and in both attacking and holding midfield roles. "Andy plays for Penn State," Gor man said. "That's the kind of kid that we like here. He's gonna give every thing he has for Penn State." Sophomore center back Andres Casais has played with Machi for two years and says the captain has had a profound impact . on him, indi vidually and on the team collectively. He pointed to last year when hold- THE DAILY COLLEGIAN the ball game in pretty good control," Joe Paterno said. Boone punted three times against Oregon State and is averaging 46.5 yards per punt through two games. Day to remember Offense: Tough call between Evan Royster and Jordan Norwood, but Royster gets the nod after receiving a share of the Big Ten player of the week award. Fumble at the 1-yard line aside, Royster excelled in rush ing for a career-high 141 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries. Royster became the first Nittany Lion to rush for six touchdowns in the first two games of the season. Defense: No one really stands out on a group that played collectively, but Josh Hull needed a strong per formance better than most. Hull struggled last week against Coastal Carolina but found some redemption against Oregon State with six tackles and an interception. Day to forget Offense: Pat Devlin. He can't be faulted for not shining when he See CONFUSION, Page 11. ing midfielder Ryan Badaracco went down with a knee injury. Machi stepped in and filled the void. "Andy's a guy who can play any position, and he won't give an excuse," Casais said. "He's a great team player one of the best play ers I've played with because whatev er happens, he brings it to a posi tive." With Badaracco back and control ling the defensive part of the mid field, Machi is once again without a set position something he has grown accustomed to in his four years at Penn State. "I'm pretty sure he's played every where except goalkeeper," Casais said. "Nowadays, you don't really see that anymore, but he's so important to us. If we need to fill a spot we just say, 'Oh let's move Machi there,' and we know he'll do a great job." Gorman has even asked Machi to shift gears during the game. On Sun day, with the Lions trailing 1-0, Gor man moved Machi from attack to right back so he could add an attack ing-specific midfielder. Machi acknowledged that the uncertainty could sometimes be dif ficult for a player, but said that he would play anywhere as long as it helped the Lions win. "I like to get involved in as many ways as I can, but to a point I'd like to know where I'm going to play. But I just have to prepare for every thing." Machi said he was frustrated with the team's 1-3-0 performance so far this year, including two home losses this weekend in the Penn State Clas sic. He looks to end the Lions' three game losing streak Wednesday night against St. Francis (Pa.).
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