SPORTS The Daily Collegian Lions hoping to start strong By Ryan Loy COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER The opposition's thoughts of winning are crushed instantly. That 's just what junior outside hitter Katie Kabbes wants to ~ happen when WOMEN’S opponents step VOLLEYBALL onto the court with the No. 1 Penn State HHHHHHjj women's volley- However, that feat may be tough to accom plish Friday, * when the i 1 Nittany Lions Rose (fi-0) face their first true test of the season at No. 4 Florida (5-0) in the Nike Volleyball Big Four Classic in Gainesville. Fla. Additionally, the Lions will face either No. 2 Stanford or No. 5 Texas on Saturday, depending on Friday's results. Kabbes said it s important to set the tone of the match early. ‘We don't want to give any team a glimpse of hope that they can seize the victory against us," Kabbes said. “Every point mat ters. whether it's the first or the last. But in the beginning, we have to make a point that this is our match." Though they have won the first set of each match they've played, the Lions haven't played their sharpest volleyball at the beginning of matches. „ In Penn State's season opener against North Carolina, the Tar Heels took a 14-12 lead in the first set before the Lions pulled away to take the set, 25-19, and eventually sweep the match. Coach Russ Rose expects the atmosphere Friday to be similar to what his team faced in Chapel Hill. N.C., where more than 4,000 fans packed the arena to cheer for UNC. Rose said Florida has terrific talent and will be aided by the home crowd, which could “get a little bit crazy" because it's a home football weekend as well. Senior defensive specialist Cathy Quilico said it's important to get off to a good staid against any opponent, but it may be even more so on Friday "It's very important to start off good to establish how the game is going to be, especially with the crowd that Florida is going to have." Quilico said. “We have to start off playing well, as in right off the bat" Rose doesn't believe the Lions have played great at the start of matches and said a good start against Florida would be helpful for his players’ psyche. The See VOLLEYBALL. Page 14. Halus being rewarded for hard work By Joe Mclntyre COLLEGIAN STAFF .WRITER For most people family vaca tions are a time for fun and relax ation, rest and recuperation. But not for Ayla Halus. Throughout offseason, Penn State goal- It’s the second straight week keeper Ayla the conference has recognized Halus worked at improving her individual achievements of the game. No matter what it took, she Penn State field hockey team. PORTS ON TV New Orleans vs. Minnesota 8:30 p.m., NBC TRIVIA Q: What was the final score to Brett Havre’s first ever season-opening start against the Pittsburgh Steeiers in 1392? Wednesday’s Answer: Marcus Allen was the last USC tailback to win the Heisman trophy before Reggie Bush. Penn State football coach Joe Paterno (left) and Paul “Bear” Bryant shake hands in an undated photo Joe Pa, Bear have history Joe Paterno has won more games than any major college football coach, and his achieve ments have shadowed most FOOTBALL of their feats. But thi Jut iere was always one who stood above Paterno. Paul ‘Bear" Bryant. Alabama's coach from 1958-82, won the four meetings against Paterno, but both became their school's icons, not to mention legends, on a national scale. Matt Suhey (32) tries to score during the 1979 Sugar Bowl wanted to become a better goalie and be quicker. Monday after noon, she finally got recognized by the Big Ten conference for all her hard work and tremendous play. Halus was named the Big Ten defensive player of the week for FIELD HOCKEY her 12-save effort against No. 5 Connecticut last weekend. By Brendan Monahan COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER QUICK HITS Wozniacki into Open semi’s Top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki stretched her winning streak to 13 matches by beating 45th-ranked Dominika Cibulkova 6-2,7-5 in the U.S. Open quarter finals Wednesday night. Wozniacki, the 2009 runner-up at Flushing Meadows, will face No. 7 Vera Zvonareva in Friday's semifinals. Playing her usual steady game, retriev ing balls and forcing her opponent to hit shot after shot, Wozniacki handled the wind that was gusting at more than 30 mph. She compared it to "playing in a hurricane or something.” Wozniacki made only 18 unforced errors Cibulkova made 43. This weekend, 28 years since the coaches last met head to head, the Nittany Lions face the Crimson Tide again, but the mystique of the rivalry between the two still carries on Perhaps fitting, Saturday’s game falls on what would have been Bryant's 97th birthday. The effects can be seen in cur rent players understanding the rivalry', the hype surrounding the game and the effect Bryant has had on Paterno. "We didn't get the best of them most of the time," Penn State defensive tackle Ollie Ogbu said. See PATERNO, Page 14. Collegian File Photo Last week, Kelsey Amy won the Big Ten offensive player of the week award after scoring two goals against Old Dominion. Halus, a redshirt sophomore, recorded her third straight game of more than 10 saves and was only one shy of her career high in saves of 13, which she set in the season opener against Old Dominion. Halus said winning the award was an honor, but at the same See HALUS. Page 14. Pens’ Crosby homers at PNC If the Pittsburgh Pirates need an answer to their pow°r-hitting problems, maybe they can find it across town in Penguins star Sidney Crosby. The former NHL MVP homered into PNC Park’s right-field seats while taking batting practice Wednesday with eight Penguins teammates. Crosby, who played youth baseball in Canada until he was 13, was the only one of the group to reach the seats. The session was arranged by former first baseman Sean Casey, who recently toured Haiti with Penguins forwards Max Talbot and Mike Rupp. Crosby missed by several feet of homer ing during his first round of batting practice before going deep on the 15th swing of his second round. Thoughts of 79 bowl linger By Andrew i. Cassavell COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Mike Guman wasn’t thinking of the Sports Illustrated covers he’d be signing 31 years later. He wasn’t thinking of the clients at his future job whose first question would be about "the goal line stand,” instead of mutual funds. He wasn’t even thinking about the 76,824 screaming fans packed into the Superdome for the 1979 Sugar Bowl, one of the most historic college football games ever played. When his name was called in the huddle on a pivotal 4th-and goal play, he had one thought on his mind: Reach the endzone, and push Penn State to its first national title. He came inches short. “When you’re 19 or 20 and you look at it, you realize only how much hurt there was at the loss,” said Guman, a Penn State running back from 1976-79. “As time goes on, you realize how fortunate you are to have played in that game.” Guman then paused, sighing See BOWL, Page 14. Halus makes a save at practice. Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010 I 11 PSU, ‘Bam a to rely on linemen By Audrey Snyder COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER After pacing through Alabama’s practice facility all week with a notepad in his hand, Crimson Tide coach Nick Sabancametoa FOOTBALL Fusions. Few concl Despite Penn State rotating Deon ’ t a e Pannell and Johnnie Troutman at left guard and run ning back Evan Royster rushing for just 40 yards in the season opener, Saban saw enough film to conclude this Saturday’s game will still be decided in the trenches. Alabama’s only Heisman Trophy winner, Mark Ingram, is a long shot to play, as Saban said Ingram will likely sit out because of missing practice while recov ering from a left knee injuiy. On the other side of the ball, Saban wants his defense to focus on stopping Royster and Nittany Lions’ running game. “When you play them and you can’t stop the run, you don’t have a very good chance of being suc cessful,” Saban said. “A lot is going to be said about who con trols the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and it’s cer tainly a challenge to stop their running game and it’s going to be important for us to be good up front on defense.” The Tide’s 3-4 defense will be pitted against a Nittany Lion offensive line searching for its identity. With Pannell and Troutman expected to see playing time, how quickly the Lions can settle in and open holes will be impor tant. The Lions’ rushing attack doesn’t try to catch the opposi tion off guard, but the Tide expect to have their hands full controlling Royster. “Their running game is very basic, very traditional,” Alabama linebacker Dont’a Hightower said. “They don’t really tiy to con fuse you as much, at all really. A lot of leads, a lot of powers, a lot of zones, stretches. They pretty much just line up and play smash-mouth football.” But the same offensive line Hightower complimented has come under fire after getting off to a slow start against Youngstown State. Penn State coach Joe Patemo said his offensive line needs to be more aggressive in order to try and control the line of scrim mage against an Alabama defense that will be without starting defensive end Marcell Dareus, who is serving a two game suspension for violating NCAA policy. “Even without Dareus they’re a pretty deep front,” right guard Stefen Wisniewski said. “They probably play eight or nine guys in there, rotate them around, keep them fresh.” “They’re a well-coached bunch, get off well, use their hands well.” The Lions were unable to open many holes for Royster against Youngstown State, but Saban said this group still has the characteristics of a Patemo led offensive line. Emphasizing technique and discipline, coupled with elimi nating mental lapses, are attrib utes Saban said he expects to See LINEMEN, Page 14. OUR THOUGHTS NFL prices inconsiderate As the pro football season begins today, teams across the league are facing a third consecutive season of declining ticket Don’t feel too bad for the NFL though. According to USA Today, 18 teams have raised ticket prices for the 2010 season. Locally, the Pittsburgh Steeiers raised prices 7% according to USA Today. The Jets and Giants raised prices, too, as they move into a new stadium. It should be no surprise that while the NFL apparantiy ignores the strain these tough economic times put on its fans, con sumers are sticking it to the teams at the box office.