UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - GoPSUsports.com sat down with defensive coordinator Ted Roof in the latest installment of a series of introductory video interviews with Coach O'Brien's staff.  Roof comes to Penn State after spending three seasons as defensive coordinator at Auburn from 2009-'11.

Roof started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Alabama in 1987.  Roof and Coach O'Brien worked together at both Georgia Tech and Duke.  Take a look at an exclusive interview with Coach Roof with discussions on his first few weeks on the job and some of his defensive philosophies.

VIDEO: Interview with Assistant Head Coach/Receivers Coach Stan Hixon

VIDEO: Interview with Tight Ends Coach John Strollo

VIDEO: Interview with Secondary Coach John Butler

VIDEO: Interview with Running Backs Coach Charles London

Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson tells his squad of more than 30 student-athletes two of the same things week in and week out.

Wrestle hard for seven minutes, and go have fun.

In just his third season with the Nittany Lions, the standout wrestler himself seems to be teaching his young team the right ideas at all of the right times. The Lions shined through as an entire team on Sunday afternoon to defeat the fifth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, 34-9, in their 10th dual of the season.

In front of another sold-out crowd in Rec Hall, Penn State took eight of the 10 bouts on the day to cruise to a resounding victory and reiterate its presence as not only a consistent unit but also a dominant one.

The Nittany Lions scored three decisions, two major decisions, one technical fall and two pins to keep the crowd on its feet and their head coach smiling as he sat mat-side.

"I think they went after it and they looked good," said Sanderson. "Conditioning looked good and technique's improving every weekend. We saw a lot of attitude out there which is what it takes to be the best and to win the big matches as we get into the postseason here."

Freshman and No. 8 Nico Megaludis notched the first three Penn State points of the match at 125 in a bout that ended in a 5-2 decision over Ohio State's No. 15 Johnni Dejulius, but the Buckeyes fired right back. Ohio State's pair of brothers ran away with the following two bouts as No. 3 Logan Stieber pinned sophomore Frank Martellotti and No. 6 Hunter Stieber won by a 9-5 decision over Bryan Pearsall.

The nine dual points would be the only points that the Buckeyes would score on Sunday.

"The dual meet had potential to be a very close dual meet but when you get in those big matches and you start getting the tech falls and falls... you can kind of open it up there and that's what they did," said Sanderson."

The Buckeyes started eight wrestlers with freshmen eligibility and two sophomores, and eight of the 10 on the starting roster were ranked in the top 20 at their respected weights. But Nittany Lion sophomore David Taylor said that against any team, ranked or not, he and his teammates share the same approach no matter what.

"Regardless of who it is, our job, what we want to do, is we're going to go out to beat the guy up," said Taylor. "We share the same mentality no matter who we're wrestling."

Taylor was one of the five Penn State wrestlers who scored bonus points in the Big Ten dual win over Ohio State, along with seniors Frank Molinaro and Cameron Wade, junior Quentin Wright and sophomore Ed Ruth.

Looking on from the Nittany Lions' corner of the mat, Coach Sanderson was caught grinning a bit more than usual on Sunday as he too recognized the spark that his veterans provided.

"I mean you get a tech or a pin and the whole place goes crazy and that's enough motivation for the whole team to want to be doing that," said Sanderson." You can't really get that feeling that you get when everyone jumps up and goes crazy really any other way and it's pretty neat."

And the Lions had more than one opportunity to see the crowd do just that as Rec Hall erupted in standing ovations five times in the afternoon.

Sunday's dual match marked the second week in a row that the facility had been sold out for a Penn State match. Wright said that the packed house is something that always seems to help him push himself that extra mile.

"It's definitely the best atmosphere in the country," said Wright. "To have back-to-back weeks like that, it makes it so much fun for us as wrestler to go out there and we get excited for that."

The conference victory gives Penn State a 9-1 mark overall this season and a Big Ten record of 5-1. The Nittany Lions will head on the road to Lincoln, Neb., and face their next conference opponent as they take on the Cornhuskers on Friday at 8 p.m.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Watch sophomore Ed Ruth tally a pin in front of sold out Rec Hall.  Also, head into the media room for post-match comments from head coach Cael Sanderson, sophomore David Taylor and junior Quentin Wright after Sunday's 34-9 victory over No. 5 Ohio State.

Greetings from Route 71 North!

We are heading out of Columbus for home after defeating the University of Pacific Tigers tonight 23-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-17. We wrap up January with a 4-1 record.  When I scheduled this last May I knew it would be quite the challenge for our team. Five top ten teams, on the road would show us where we were at the beginning of the season. Five top ten teams later I think we are on the right track. We survived the travel for the most part and, especially this weekend, settled into a relatively consistent level of volleyball.

We saw UOP take on OSU last evening after our Stanford match and saw a team that could play good-to-great volleyball in streaks. They could block well and had some physical outside hitters and quick middles which their setter did a good job in finding. We felt we needed to keep a consistent level of effort and execution. We needed to weather the stretches of their good-to-great play and try to get our separation when they were in their valleys. We knew we could have our hands full.

Game one was a fun one! After a Russell brothers' stuff block gave PSU a 4-2 lead there was never a lead of more than one point until a UOP kill made it 22-24. After a PSU sideout, UOP put a ball away down the line on the leftside for game point: 23-25. Game one leaders for the Nittany Lions were Goodell (Kills - 8), the Brothers Russell (Blocks - 2) and Curry (Digs - 3). PSU hit .371 but the Tigers hit .382.

Game two saw PSU down 2-3 but then consecutive kills from Goas, Goodell, Aaron Russell, Peter Russell, Goodell, and Peter Russell got us the separation early at 8-3. We kept the lead and at 24-17 a Goodell/Turko block evened the match with a 25-17 win. Game two leaders were Peter Russell (Kills - 5), Turko (Blocks - 2), Sunder (Aces - 1) and Goodell (Aces - 1; Digs 4). PSU hit .438 while the Tigers hit .300.

Game three was much like game one as neither team let the other run away even though there were a few mini-runs by each team. With the score at 21-21 a Peter Russell kill was followed by a UOP hitting error and PSU had the 23-21 lead. The last of the traded sideouts was a Sunder kill for a 25-23 win.  Leaders for the Nittany Lions were Sunder (Kills - 5; Aces - 1), Turko (Kills - 5; Blocks - 2), Goodell (Aces - 1) and Curry (Digs - 4). PSU hit .483 with UOP hitting .419.

Game four was tied at 4 when a Goodell kill was followed by a Goodell/Sunder/A. Russell triple block then a Goodell/A. Russell stuff.  After a UOP timeout, Peter Russell served an ace for an 8-4 lead. Again, we got separation early and moved it to 15-9. We had a chance to take a 16-9 lead on an overpass but didn't convert as UOP made a great effort to stuff it so it was 15-10 but UOP then closed to 16-14. But that was close as they were going to get as our block and defense kick-started our transition offense and the next thing we knew is that Sunder was serving match point which resulted in a Goodell kill for a 25-17 win. Game four leaders were Goodell (Kills - 4; Blocks - 3; Aces - 1), Peter Russell (Kills - 4; Aces - 1;     Digs - 3) and Goas and Sunder (Digs - 3). PSU hit .281 but held UOP to .121.

What the staff liked the best is that we did stay at a steady level of volleyball. Certainly not our best but we did weather the stretches that UOP threw at us and we never really dropped off during the match. UOP played better than we saw them play last night as they passed well in stretches and served better than we anticipated, but our guys just played through it all. The Nittany Lion on-court demeanor didn't play to the scoreboard. Had you walked into the gym without seeing the scoreboard you wouldn't have been able to tell which team was winning or losing by looking at our team.  It was a terrifically workmanlike effort! One that belied the travel of the past three weekends.  Match leaders were Goodell (Kills - 17; Blocks - 5; Aces - 3; Points - 22.5), Turko (Blocks - 5) and Curry (Digs - 9). PSU out-hit UOP .391 to .305; out-blocked them 9.5 to 5.5; out-aced them 7 to 4 and out-dug them 41 to 39.

We would like to thank the Ohio State staff of Pete Hanson, Tim Embaugh and Sean Byron for inviting us to the Ken and Dave Dunlap Tournament. Shane Burgess did everything great events people do for the visiting teams and we thank him for the Buckeye hospitality! Anytime you get the chance to compete against the Stanford Cardinal and UOP Tigers you come away a better team because of them.  The Nittany Lions wish both teams the very best of luck as they return to their MPSF schedules!

We now...FINALLY...get to compete at home! Next Friday we are the second of two matches. At 5 PM the Ohio State Buckeyes take on Cal Baptist Lancers followed by our match against Mt. Olive. Saturday will see OSU battle Mt. Olive followed by us and Cal Baptist. We can't wait for you to see us at home. We would love nothing more to hear Rec Hall roaring as our 2012 home schedule gets underway!

I'll close for now so I can enjoy the bus ride back to State College...note the 51-year-old travel sarcasm! Enjoy the rest of your weekend and I'll be back to you next week!

All the best,

Pav, Colin, Jay & the guys

Greetings from Room 420 at the University Plaza Hotel in Columbus!

The Nittany Lions defeated the Stanford Cardinal tonight 26-24, 16-25, 25-17, 25-17 in the first match of the Ken and Dave Dunlap Invitational here at Ohio State.

My apologies for no update from last weekend's trip to Illinois. I had some computer issues on the road and failed miserably this week to recap it during this week. No doubt you have read Susan's releases regarding the weekend where we went 1-1: defeating Loyola in three and losing to Lewis in four. We managed to survive a bus not starting, weather woes while travelling...twice and getting back into State College at 8:30 Sunday morning!

We also experienced one of the most emotional weeks in my history of Penn State as Coach Paterno passed away. There is such a profound feeling of loss and sadness but in the celebration of his life all Penn Staters were reminded of why we are the community that we are. Joe showed us that it was OK to climb toward an ideal, to embrace a way of life which is so very hard to attain because it is in the journey where the biggest impact can be made! Our deepest sympathies go out to the entire Paterno family. Thanks for sharing Joe with all of us!

We left State College on Thursday after practice and arrived in Columbus about 11:30 PM. It was the best type of trip: uneventful! Practiced and met the other three teams in a small social gathering to honor Ken and Dave Dunlap. Ken started the Ohio State varsity volleyball program in 1968 and along with son Dave began the business of Sports Imports which supplies Senoh poles and nets to all of the United States. The Dunlaps quite literally have been a fundamental force in growing the game throughout the entire nation. It was a nice posthumous honor for the two Dunlaps and Ken's wife was in attendance along with her son.

We headed over to St. John Arena and prepared for the match. Stanford was 4-1 with wins against Pacific, Juniata, Loyola and UCSB. Their only loss was at the hands of UCLA on the road! Stanford All-Americas outside hitter Brad Lawson and Libero Erik Shoji were leading their team this season. If we let Shoji make a ton of first contacts Lawson no doubt would be making a bunch of third contacts...really HARD third contacts. We knew we had to minimize both of those, but that is easier said than done.

Game one had Stanford jump out to an early 3-7 lead. We managed to tie at 12 had the lead at 21-19  but the Cardinal gained a 22-23 advantage. We sided out at game point to tie at 24 with a Sunder kill. Sunder came through again in transition with a kill then a Comfort/Turko stuff ended game one 26-24.

Game two had Stanford run away from us. It seemed any opportunity they had they converted on and we were just trying to hang on. The were up 3-7 which later stretched to 9-19. It was at that point which we started to settle out. Nick Goodell and Peter Russell had entered the game a bit earlier and helped us start to find a rhythm. For game two it was too little too late but you could sense a determined calm from the group even though we gave up game two 16-25.

Game three was our turn to go up early at 7-2 with some effective Joe Sunder serving. The closest the Cardinal could get was 12-10 but another Sunder kill and back-to-back PSU stuffs preceeded yet another Sunder kill for a 16-10 lead. Peter Russell put away game point with a swing from the leftside and game three went to the Nittany Lions 25-17.

Game four was tight early and tied at 12. After a Cardinal serving error Goodell and Aaron Russell teamed up for a stuff block then Peter Russell served an ace. A Cardinal hitting error gave PSU a 16-12 lead. That was the separation we were looking for. Our sideout game was on a roll and we weren't giving Stanford opportunities to turn points. After a Peter Russell kill gave the serve to Goas with a 23-17 lead the Cardinal committed two hitting errors to close out the match 25-17.

It was a good win for us. Stanford is a pretty physical team and we battled with them at the net toe-to-toe! They also serve very well and our passers performed admirably as they kept us in-system for most of the match. Match leaders for the Nittany Lions were Sunder (Kills - 17; Aces - 2; Digs - 7), Aaron Russell (Blocks - 6) and Turko (Aces - 2), PSU hit .361 to the Cardinal's .309. We out-blocked them 9 to 7.5 and out-aced them 5 to 2. They out-dug us 27 to 24.

Now we get ready to take on the University of the Pacific Tigers tomorrow. UOP was defeated by OSU after our match 19-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-21. They are a team that can be streaky with their blocking and hitting. We need to maintain a consistent level of execution against them and ride out some of their hot streaks. It'll be a good match tomorrow.

We did get some great news this week! Former PSU MVB assistant coach and current PSU WVB assistant Dennis Hohenshelt was named head coach of the University of Virginia women's volleyball program. Check out the UVA release: http://www.virginiasports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17800&ATCLID=205369254. All of you who know Dennis know that he is ready for this. I have no doubt that he will do well with his team and he and Tara and the kids will be a great addition to the UVA community. It'll be tough for me to see him leave. He was the first hire I had made as a head coach and for ten years he was everything one could want as an assistant coach. My wish for him is that he finds the assistant for him that is as good as he was as the assistant with me! Go get 'em D! The ACC will never be the same!

I'll be back to you from the bus as we roll out of Columbus tomorrow evening. In the meantime have a great Saturday!

All the best,

Pav, Colin, Jay and the team  

By Laura Finley, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Be aggressive. Be assertive.

These are two things that sophomore forward Ariel Edwards knows she must focus on in each game to be successful. This finally culminated last week when Edwards posted her first career double-double, with 17 points and 11 rebounds against Iowa.

"When [Ariel] is aggressive or assertive on either end of the floor, she's dynamic," said head coach Coquese Washington. "I think her confidence level is growing and she feels like she can go out there and play her game."

Now, in her second year playing with the Lady Lions, the six-foot-two sophomore has seen herself improving, stressing the importance of having one year of experience under her belt.

"I worked a lot on game first and getting to the basket during offseason," said Edwards. "Just from my first year to my second year I have more experience. I think that's what really makes the difference."

This dedication to the game began early for Edwards who grew up shooting baskets with her older brother in front of their house in Elmont, N.Y., Edwards used to play basketball with him and his friends. Her brother, now a player at Radford University, gave her guidance in the sport and helped her to develop her passion.

After finding success in high school and winning several statewide accolades for her performance senior year, Edwards chose Penn State to begin her collegiate career with the Lady Lions.

"I really like what the school is about both academically and athletically," said Edwards. "I really enjoy the atmosphere of the campus."

During her freshman year, Edwards got her first taste of success on the court. She played in all but two games and averaged 11 minutes of playing time. Although still a first year player, Edwards worked on gaining confidence and establish her presence on the court.

The experience she acquired carried over to the 2011-2012 Lady Lions season. Edwards has proven to be a strong offensive and defensive force as the forward is averaging seven points and five rebounds per game.

"Ariel has taken on the role of doing whatever she can for us to win," said sophomore guard Maggie Lucas. "She gets rebounds, she scores and she's tough. She's great to have on the team."

The Lady Lions need Edwards now more than ever as junior forward Mia Nickson has battled injuries for most of the season. With Nickson out, Edwards stepped up to fill the void, starting for her team and asserting her presence on both ends of the court.

Even with the change in the lineup, however, Edwards continues to keep herself grounded, focusing on her own capabilities and contributions to the team.

"I go into every game with the same mindset," said Edwards. "Coach always puts the same pressure on me, whether I'm starting or not. That won't change. It's always the same mindset. I go out and try to do the best I can in whatever situation it may be."

This mindset has helped Edwards to stay patient on the court, allowing her to make big plays when needed whether it be through her jump shots or rebounds. Coach Washington has taken notice, noting Edwards's consistent determination this season.

"I'd like to see her continue to be aggressive and assertive," said Coach Washington. "And if in the end it's a double-double, great. If it's not, I know that if she's aggressive and assertive she's going to have an impact on the game on both ends of the court."

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - As the Nittany Lions prepare to host Ohio State for their second straight dual meet on the mat inside Rec Hall, take a look at a few significant numbers that describe just how talented the two conference teams have been this season.

2: Penn State holds the No. 2 spot in the nation according to the National Wrestling Coaches Association's poll. The Lions sit behind top-ranked and undefeated Oklahoma State.

3: Senior Frank Molinaro and sophomores David Taylor and Ed Ruth remain unbeaten heading into this weekend's competition. The trio has won 58 bouts combined this season.

4: The Lions have wrestled in nine dual meets so far this season and only three of those have been on their home mat. This weekend will mark just the fourth match that has been held in Rec Hall this season.

5: Ohio State sits at the fifth spot on the NWCA's national team ranking with a record 9-2 overall and 3-2 in the Big Ten.

7: Last weekend the Nittany Lions defeated Iowa 22-12 to hand the Hawkeyes their second straight dual meet loss. Penn State shut out the Hawkeyes in the final seven bouts of the match to earn all 22 of its dual points.

7: With five true freshmen and two redshirt freshmen, the Buckeyes come to Rec Hall with seven athletes in their starting lineup that are wrestling in their first competitive season.

8: Penn State has taken eight dual meet victories so far this season, including wins over Bloomsburg, Lehigh, West Virginia, Lock Haven, Michigan State, Northwestern, Wisconsin and Iowa.

25: The Nittany Lions and the Buckeyes have competed against one another 25 times in the history of each of their individual programs. Penn State holds a slim 14-11 nod over the Buckeyes all-time.

72: Under the direction of head coach Cael Sanderson and his staff, the Penn State squad is known for its fast-paced matches and quick throws. As a team, the Lions have dealt a combined 72 pins this season. Taylor and junior Quentin Wright lead the group with nine pins each while senior heavyweight Cameron Wade has notched seven of his own.

141: Ohio State's true freshman Hunter Stieber is ranked No. 6 at 141 and will most likely face Penn State's junior Bryan Pearsall. Stieber holds an 18-3 overall record this season and Pearsall has notched a 10-7 mark, but the match should be a particular one to watch as Pearsall is no stranger to facing ranked opponents.

300: The Lions have managed to more than quadruple the dual meets scores of their opponents so far this season, scoring 300 total dual points and allowing just 65 to be scored against them. In five different instances, Penn State has given up less than six dual points to the competition.

6,846: Sunday's match against the Buckeyes marks the third meet this season that will be wrestled in front of a sold out crowd in Rec Hall. The facility holds 6,846 people at capacity, and each and every one of those spaces will surely be filled.


Last year, Penn State handed it to the Buckeyes with a 42-3 victory inside Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions and Ohio State will clash at 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon for the sixth conference match of each team's season.

By Paul Marboe, GoPSUsports.com Student Writer

Paul Marboe is a freshman student who interns with the Penn State Athletic Communications office.  He has lived in State College throughout his life, and offers a local view of Coach Paterno.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Joe Paterno will be remembered by many people for 409 wins, five undefeated seasons, and two National Championships.  For those that have lived in State College or attended Penn State, that is just the start.  Joe Paterno was about more than football.  He was about integrity, loyalty, character, and humility.  Paterno was about education, charity, and community.  He was about being a good family man.  Joe Paterno was a man that everyone in the community knew and loved.

In talking to a friend of mine in the days after Joe Paterno passed away, we decided that losing Joe was like losing a grandfather, even to those of us who never met him.  Growing up in State College, Paterno was a model for us of how to do things the right way and with great passion.  We grew up learning about Paterno's values of integrity, loyalty, character, and humility, epitomized by the phrase, "Success with Honor".   Those were core values for everyone in our community and ones that everyone wanted to live by.  Joe Paterno was a hero to us and someone that we looked up to as how to live our lives the right way.

The events of this week have been a very nice tribute to the man that Joe Paterno was.  The candlelight vigil, organized by students, showed what he meant to Penn State.  Students came together to mourn, but also to say thanks to the man who had given so much to our university.  After the vigil on the Old Main lawn, we all proceeded to walk to the Paterno Statue.  On our walk, we approached Beaver Stadium, with the magnificent glow that surrounded it. The scene was amazing with how it lit up the sky and the town.  On the video board was the single picture of Joe smiling with his arms crossed, and under were the words "Joseph Vincent Paterno 1926-2012".  The walk ended at the statue, where many paid their respects, including a "We Are...Penn State" chant.

The simplicity of the viewing made it very special. We all heard about how Joe was just a simple, normal guy.  By sticking to his values, he created a life that many admired. A former and current player, representing the generations of people that Coach Paterno had influenced, flanked the closed casket.

On Wednesday, thousands of people lined the streets to "Guide Joe Home".  This showed the closeness and togetherness of the Penn State community.  This represented one of Joe's best traits, his ability to bring people together.  Throughout his coaching career, Paterno brought together players from many different races and backgrounds with the goal of creating a team - a team where no one was bigger than the team and every player would proudly represent Penn State.

The public memorial left many speechless.  It was a very moving event filled with great speakers.  Through all of the stories and the speeches, everything that I had heard about Joe Paterno, when I was a kid, was reinforced.  Though it is impossible to put a number on how many lives Paterno had touched, it was clear that Joe had touched each of these speakers in his own unique way.  No two speakers shared the same story or the same reason for why Joe was so special.

Joe Paterno's influence is spread across generations of the State College community.  Growing up, I learned about the true character of Joe Paterno.  Everyone in State College has a "Joe" story, my family included.  In the 1960's, my grandparents lived in an apartment building on East McCormick Avenue.  Joe, then an assistant coach, and his wife, Sue, lived in a townhouse on Old Boalsburg Road.  On Sundays, a few men in the neighborhood, including my grandfather and Joe Paterno, would gather in a vacant lot on Pugh Street and play football.  To me, this represents the simple man that Paterno wanted to be known as. An assistant at a good football program and on Sundays, he just wanted to play football with the other men.  My parents grew up in State College, attending games in the 1960s and 1970s as kids and seeing the values and successes that Paterno brought to Penn State.  My parents and I have attended almost every home game since I was about 4 years old, because we admire the example that Joe Paterno set for Penn State, college football, and college athletics.

Growing up, I always heard about Joe Paterno, the community man.  The guy who lived in a simple home, drove a simple car, and walked to work every day.  I heard about the family man that he was. That he always had great love for his children and his wife.  I heard about how he would routinely be seen walking around State College and Penn State and took an interest in many people.  In over 60 years, he met a lot of people and touched a lot of lives.  The difference with Joe Paterno was that no matter how big his accomplishments were he never made himself bigger than anyone else in the community.  It seemed like any spotlight even made him a little uncomfortable.  Everyone in our town admired his humility.  State College is a small town with a close community and Joe was part of that community.

As Paterno's legend grew, so did his charity works.  My aunt has Down's syndrome.  When she was younger, she participated in the Pennsylvania Special Olympics, an organization that Joe and Sue Paterno have dedicated much of their lives to.  The organization gives disabled youth and adults an opportunity to compete and enjoy themselves and have fun.  This was a cause that Joe and Sue strongly supported.  My aunt does not watch football. When the news broke that Joe was diagnosed with lung cancer, she was very upset.  She prayed for Joe every day that he would get better and recover.  This was not because of Joe Paterno, the football coach, but because Joe and Sue had given so much to an organization that she enjoyed being a part of.

Joe Paterno's contribution to Penn State is immeasurable.  His belief in education and bettering oneself allowed him to push for the growth of the university and State College.  Along with the growth, came the academic reputation and educational experience that the university offers today.  A lot of national interest that Penn State receives is due to the success of Joe Paterno's Grand Experiment and the values that he brought to this school.

While coaching football is not all that Joe Paterno will be known for in the State College community, it is a huge part of his legend.  Winning the right way, "Success with Honor", and with the right people, was what made Paterno a special coach.  Joe Paterno's Grand Experiment revolutionized what it meant to be a student-athlete.  All Penn State athletic programs follow the standard that Paterno set.  Everyone in the community admires the quality people that Paterno produced through his program. We admired how much Paterno cared about the person that each player was.  Joe changed many lives with his encouragement and values.  Paterno's loyalty and passion for his school and his players will never be matched in college athletics.  The Penn State football tradition, led by Coach Paterno, was made unique by how success was achieved.

This week, the State College and Penn State community lost a very important person in Joe Paterno.  We lost a man that touched everyone in our community.  We lost a man that provided everyone with their own story and memory.  I never met Coach Paterno, but always looked up to him as a role model and hero.  He set an example for all of us in how to live our lives with values and passion.  Though Joe Paterno has passed away, it is important to carry on the values that he lived by and taught us.

By Scott Traweek, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - If there was one word to describe the 2012 Nittany Lion baseball team, it would be experienced.

Penn State capped off a grueling 2011 season with a birth in the Big Ten tournament and a number of team accomplishments including 16 road wins, 18th most in Division I baseball, and a 5-3 record against teams that eventually played in the NCAA tournament.  Now, as the offseason comes to a close, head coach Robbie Wine and his players are eager to return to the baseball field and build off the momentum from the previous year.

"I think we're all excited even to start team practice," said Coach Wine.  "The work ethic's there.  They can't wait for the season to start."

Though Penn State lost a talented senior class starring slugger Mario Eramo and speed demon Blake Lynd, it returns a solid foundation of experienced starters.  Leading the charge is premier third baseman Jordan Steranka, who was drafted by the Astros, but turned them down in favor of finishing his senior season in Happy Valley.  With Steranka, complimented by the ever-consistent Joey DeBernardis at first base and perennial power hitter Sean Deegan in the outfield, Coach Wine believes his team can achieve great things this season.

"We got a chance to do some special things with all the hitters coming back, with the experience," said Coach Wine.

Despite the apparent offensive firepower, Penn State's true strength lies in its fortified pitching staff, which was formidable in 2011, but has since added two relievers to its bullpen in the forms of Joe Kurrasch and Cody Lewis.  Both were transfer students out of the University of California and the University of Arizona, respectively, and were required to miss the previous season.  As if the added depth behind junior ace Steven Hill wasn't enough, starter Dave Walkling is expected to return from Tommy John surgery.  Walkling went 5-0 with a 1.71 ERA in his first six starts before suffering the injury to his elbow.  Coach Wine has no doubt about the potential of such a stout pitching staff.

"We should go out there and with our starting pitching lined up, we should have a chance to win every game," said Coach Wine.

"We got a good squad this year," Wine later added. "We've got some depth."

Even with the potent group of veterans, Coach Wine suspects some of the newcomers will make their own runs at starting positions.

"The freshman group that's coming in, there's some guys that are ready," remarked Coach Wine.  "There's going to be a couple guys that might step up and win jobs this year."

The freshmen are going to have their work cut out for them, but that motivation will serve them well in the future.  They will learn from players like Steranka, DeBernardis, and Deegan, who have been there before and have overcome many of the obstacles these newer players will face in the coming years.  Coach Wine was quick to point out how important it was for the veterans to convey a belief in the team as a whole.

"These guys have been through all that," said Coach Wine of his current seniors.  "They've been around and played some good competition and they know with our pitching staff, they're seeing it.  I think that's the big thing is just getting over the hump to believing that you belong."

Penn State opens the season Feb. 17 in St. Petersburg, Fla. against Seton Hall for the Big Ten vs. Big East Challenge.  The Nittany Lions face a tumultuous schedule ahead including 10 games against teams that competed in the 2011 NCAA Tournament.  In spite of the impending challenge, Coach Wine's message to the team was simple:  Work hard and take it one day at a time.

"Just keep working every day," Wine advised.  "Get better every day.  You start looking ahead, that's where it gets you."

Photo Gallery

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - A single trumpet player, clad in the iconic Blue Band uniform, stood before more than 10,000 members of the Penn State family, a family Joe Paterno had his hand in creating, and delivered an emotional rendition of "The Nittany Lion" to cap off a memorial for a legendary coach, leader and humanitarian in the Bryce Jordan Center on Thursday afternoon.

"A Memorial For Joe" honored the life and legacy of a man who gave 62 years to the betterment of State College, Penn State University and Penn State Football.

The thousands inside the Bryce Jordan Center stood in unison, clapping and cheering as Joe's wife, Sue, made her way down the line of the Paterno family, hugging each and every member in the front row of the floor seating next to the stage before taking a seat between her daughter, Mary Kay, and son, David.

Following an invocation, All-America wide receiver Kenny Jackson kicked off a list of 12 speakers, which included a player from every decade Coach Paterno directed the Penn State football program.

All-America tailback Charlie Pittman, who was part of Coach Paterno's first recruiting class in 1966, represented the 1960s with a moving speech about the man he looked up to for decades.  Pittman said that Coach Paterno was the type of person that made him feel special from his teens to adulthood.

Pittman described Coach Paterno with honesty, effort, academics, sportsmanship and citizenship.  When his son, Tony Pittman, turned down offers from Harvard, Yale and Princeton to play at Penn State, the Pittmans became the first father-and-son pair to suit up for Coach Paterno.

The Pittman duo accounted for three of Coach Paterno's five undefeated seasons (1968, '69, '94).  Pittman said that when he and his son started games for Coach Paterno, Penn State went 45-0-1.  Additionally, they were both Academic All-Americans.  Pittman ended his speech with one simple sentence.

"Rest in Peace, Coach.  We'll take it from here," Pittman said as he received a well-deserved standing ovation.

Jimmy Cefalo played under Coach Paterno from 1974-'77 and was selected to speak on behalf of the 1970s.  Currently the radio voice of the NFL's Miami Dolphins, Cefalo graduated from Penn State with a degree in journalism.

Cefalo's speech story centered on a recruiting visit, saying that Coach Paterno did not recruit athletes he recruited their moms.  He proceeded to describe Coach Paterno's visit to the Cefalo household where Joe remarked that Cefalo's mom made better pasta than the Cappelletti house did during the recruiting visit to Penn State's Heisman Trophy winner.

The Pittston, Pa., native ended his speech with a reference to Coach Paterno's "Grand Experiment" where athletes wouldn't just be athletes, they would be student athletes.

"We can say now, 46 years later, that the 'Grand Experiment' was a great success," Cefalo said.

Quarterback on the 1982 national championship team, Todd Blackledge, representing the 1980s, said that Joe Paterno "was the most extraordinary person I have ever known."  Blackledge, who currently is a college football analyst for ESPN, characterized Coach Paterno with TLC - Team, Loyalty and Competition.  He also called Coach Paterno the fiercest competitor that he had ever seen.

Chris Marrone, whose playing career was cut short by injuries, represented the 1990s.  Marrone was an offensive lineman on the 12-0 Big Ten title team in 1994 and a 1997 graduate.  He said Coach Paterno molded him into a man with the strength to overcome any challenge and any adversity.

"You have a greater purpose than football and I'm going to help you achieve it," Marrone said about Coach Paterno.

Seattle Seahawks fullback Michael Robinson realized a dream this season when he earned a spot in the NFL's Pro Bowl, which is this weekend in Honolulu.  After practicing earlier in the week in Hawaii, Robinson flew nearly halfway around the world to be with his Penn State family and speak on behalf of the 2000s.  Robinson stepped off the plane just three hours prior to the memorial.

"I wouldn't be any other place in the world right now," Robinson said.

Robinson went on to say that his fondest memory with Coach Paterno was standing on the stage after winning a dramatic 2006 Orange Bowl with Coach by his side.

"Joe is the reason I am on this level," Robinson said.

Current Nittany Lion linebacker Michael Mauti had the honor of representing the current team and decade.  Without question, it was the largest crowd the junior had ever spoken in front of, and Mauti did a tremendous job honoring Coach and thanking the fans for their support.

Mauti shared a comical story of his recruiting visit to Penn State.  Prior to the visit, Mauti told his mother that he was not going to commit to anything during his trip to Penn State; rather the family would weigh their options before deciding.  However, while sitting in his corner office at the Lasch Building, Coach Paterno delivered his recruiting pitch and ultimately said, "What's it going to be, kid?" 

Mauti, with his parents by his side, immediately said, "I'm here."  His dad, Rich, who also played for Coach Paterno, tried to chime in, but Coach Paterno interrupted and told him to be quiet.  The rest is history, and Mauti is a Nittany Lion.

Current Penn State senior, Lauren Perrotti, a Paterno Fellow Scholar; Jeff Bast, founder of Paternoville in 2005; Susan Welch, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, also addressed the crowd with personal stories of their connection with Coach Paterno.  Dean Welch remarked that, "Joe and Sue have been steadfast supporters of the academic mission of Penn State."

Chairman of Nike, Phil Knight, first met Coach Paterno 33 years ago on the annual trip with college football coaches.  Knight spoke about Coach Paterno singing "Wild Thing" in the talent contest portion of the trip with the college coaches during each of the past 15 years.

Finally, Jay Paterno delivered a moving speech on behalf of his dad.  Jay said that he was proud to have his driver's license read Joseph Vincent Paterno, Jr.  He spoke at great length about the final days he spent with his father and what it meant for Coach Paterno to spend his life at Penn State.  Jay ended his speech with the audience hand-in-hand delivering the Lord's Prayer in unison, just as Coach Paterno did after every locker room speech following every game that he coached in at Penn State.

Jay's speech also included a story about Coach Paterno making anonymous monthly payments to a former player to help with his son's brain cancer.

That was the type of man Joe Paterno was, on and off the field. 

It was a fitting tribute to a man who meant more to Penn State than any other man in its illustrious history.

All 12 speakers delivered countless stories about personal encounters or recruiting visits with Coach Paterno, but Perrotti, the current senior and Paterno Fellow Scholar, summed up the immeasurable impact Joe Paterno had on Penn State University best.

"The Paterno Way has become The Penn State Way...Success With Honor has become the standard."


Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

By Jeff Sattora, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - When you play big-time college basketball in a conference like the Big Ten there often will be times when tough challenges and matchups lie ahead.  There are times when you play a team looking for revenge, and just as many when you play a group looking to prove they are better once again.

The Penn State Lady Lions will be playing teams with both of those motives on their upcoming road trip, a swing through the state of Michigan.

First up on the schedule will be a match-up with the Michigan Wolverines, who are tied with Penn State at 5-2 in the Big Ten, and looking to avenge a 78-63 loss in Happy Valley earlier in the year.

Following that the team will be traveling to East Lansing, where it will be looking for revenge of its own after a tough 75-65 loss to the Michigan State Spartans.

For head coach Coquese Washington playing these teams a second time does not seem to pose too many different challenges from the first time, at least strategy wise.

"I don't think there are any different challenges besides what the match-ups are," Washington said.  "I like when you play the teams fairly quickly because I think the game and the game plan are still fresh in the kids' minds."

"Everyone in the Big Ten knows each other so well," added guard Maggie Lucas.  "They don't change so much from year to year; it's just a battle of who's going to be smarter usually."

Although the game plans will be similar to the first contests with each team, that doesn't mean the environment for the Lady Lions anywhere near the same.

"I think both of the teams play much better at home than on the road," Washington said of the two Michigan schools.  Also adding that both schools get great crowds, which is something her team will have to overcome.

While both games and environments will be different, there are similar focus points that this Lady Lions team will need to do to be successful in both contests.

Washington talked about how the team had great ball movement and was very unselfish against the Wolverines, which led to the Lions shooting a very strong 55 percent from the field, both are things they need to do again.

"If we continue to work to get the ball inside and play inside-out, "Washington said on what it will take to shoot that well again.  "In addition we have to be aggressive defensively and get going in transition, that's a plus for us."

That aggressive defensive mindset is once again something the players mentioned they focus on.

"Defense is the most important going into these games," Lucas said.

"We have to buckle down and get stops," added guard Alex Bentley.

A final focus point for this Lions team will be something that it needs to do right from the opening tip, which is start the game strong.

The team has struggled at times this season with lapses or starting the game slow and that is something the players and coaches are looking to end on the road trip.

"The first half is going to be really important for us to get out and get it going," Bentley said.

"It's staying together, keeping calm," Lucas added.  "Teams go on runs; it's just part of basketball."

If things go as planned for Penn State they will be the only ones making runs anytime soon, and two rematches will equal two wins.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - More than 700 Penn State football lettermen returned to State College on Tuesday to pay tribute to legendary head coach Joe Paterno.

After paying their respects at Pasquerilla Spirtual Center, the lettermen congregated at Beaver Stadium for a luncheon.  Head coach Bill O'Brien addressed the group for several minutes.  The lettermen exchanged stories and honored the man that meant so much to them.

Watch video remarks and a few Coach Paterno stories from former Penn State greats, Kyle Brady, Deon Butler, Kerry Collins and Daryll Clark.

By Jackson Thibodeau, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- As the opening faceoff inches closer for the Penn State men's lacrosse team, coaches and captains stress the importance of focus and detail to the team.

Less than one year ago, the Nittany Lions were ousted from the playoffs in an overtime loss to UMass in the Colonial Athletic Association semifinals. With the heartbreaking loss still fresh in their minds, coaches and players look to learn from last year's mistakes.

"The game last year against UMass is something that gets us motivated," said senior captain Ryan McGarvey (Lower Gwynedd, Pa.). "We are going to bring a lot of focus to every single play and detail this year, which could have helped us avoid that loss last season."

The goal that abruptly ended the Nittany Lions' season came just 1:37 into the overtime period, effectively ending Jeff Tambroni's inaugural season as head coach of Penn State (7-7, 4-2 CAA).

This season, the coaching staff has expectations of the team to exceed last year's win total.

"Everyone being a year older is going to help us out this season," said Peter Toner, entering his second season as assistant coach. "We played a tough schedule, got a playoff opportunity against UMass, and hopefully it lights a little fire in their belly with the way it ended last year."

The Nittany Lions have only four seniors on the roster entering this new season. The team may not consist of many veterans, but they insist that leadership and success are found in other forms.

"We come together very closely as a group," McGarvey said. "The leadership on our team comes from the whole collective group, not just a few seniors...it is a collective effort."

Leading a team that consists mainly of freshmen and sophomores presents a very important role for the team captains.

"We need to bring the young guys on board and make them realize how important every season is," said senior captain Matt Mackrides (Newtown Square, Pa.). "We want to get as far as possible. Our goal is always that National Championship, but we are just going to move one day at a time."

Surrounding the lacrosse program is the hype of the newly constructed lacrosse field near the Bryce Jordan Center. The new field, constructed of a synthetic FieldTurf, lays lower in the ground for better sight lines and improved visibility of the ball.

The major construction finished recently, allowing for the men and women's teams to begin using the field for practice and games if the weather permits.

"The new field is very exciting for us as players," said senior captain Ryan Link (Englewood, Co.). "We will be the first to get out there and cement our legacy on that field. Penn State lacrosse is starting to generate a lot of excitement across campus."

The field is intended for lacrosse only activities, and provides a home to the lacrosse program after years of playing on numerous fields around campus. Not only does it benefit the current program, but also has meaning for recruiting.

"Our recruits will get to see the level of commitment that the athletic department has in Penn State lacrosse," Toner said. "Now it is up to the team to work hard every day to make sure that we are taking this program in the right direction."

The Nittany Lions hope to host their first game on the new field on March 10 against Denver.

Before the season officially gets under way, Penn State will play in two exhibition games. The Nittany Lions will host their first exhibition game on Sat., Jan. 28 at 1 p.m. against Army in Holuba Hall. The next exhibition game will be played on Sat., Feb. 4 vs. Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Md.

"While we love scrimmaging against each other, it is great to get another opponent out there on the field," Mackrides said. "It motivates us in practice to know that Army is coming in just a few days or that Johns Hopkins, one of the best teams in the country, is just in a couple of weeks."

The Nittany Lions will open the regular season on the road on Sat., Feb. 11 against North Carolina in Kennesaw, Ga.

By Alexa Hetzel

Not being from the state of Pennsylvania, one thing I've always noticed on the highways was the fact that there are no street lights.  So as I was driving along Route 220 Sunday night and the sky was bright in one spot there was only one real explanation.

After four years of playing the game Joe intended to go to Boston University Law School but changed his mind and followed Rip Engle to Penn State. Little did anyone know Joe would never leave.  A quote I came across explains it the best, "His mother wanted a doctor.  His dad would have been happy with an engineer.  Little did they know that we were getting a legend." 

The repercussions of the decisions we make in life aren't always visible at the time.  When I chose Penn State I had no idea the impact the people I have meet here would have on my life, or the effect one man had.  I never had the honor to meet Joe, that was something I had always wanted to do.  But even having not met him personally his actions and his decisions made me a different person.

 I was asked what my favorite memory of Joe was and when I thought about it a few came to mind.  Watching him being hoisted on the shoulders of his players after his 400^th win, listening to him talk at Football Eve, watching him argue with his assistant coaches because he wanted to do a specific play.  But those all weren't good enough, and then I had it.  My freshman year the Nittany Lions were outstanding.  They were undefeated when we were supposed to play Illinois at our first night game.  At the pep rally the Friday night before the game Joe came with the team to talk to the 6,000 people that squished together to get in.  There had been reports saying that Illinois was going to beat us so bad they were going to grind us like meat, and Joe's simple response to end the night after motivating everyone to join in the White Out and cheer was "I'll bring the meatballs."  Needless to say we won that game, and that year we won the Big Ten Championship and went to the Rose Bowl.

So as I drove towards Beaver Stadium the bright light became brighter and brighter.  I hurried the rest of the way to make it for the vigil to honor the man that made me laugh, scream, cry and happy and when I got there Old Main was packed.  The words of Shane McGregor were echoing off the cement columns and out towards the crowd touching each Penn Stater one by one.  When it was all over and I looked to my left and right and saw people joining together getting ready to sing our Alma Mater, it made me smile.  It isn't quite something you can explain but the feeling I had I won't ever forget.  I have always been proud to be a Penn Stater but at that moment I was joined to the thousands of people who felt the same way. 

To the man who made "Success With Honor" a way of life instead of just a saying, who made more that 23 million people bleed blue and white, who had the highest graduation rate in the country, and who is now with his number one fan with his favorite colors all around him, you were more than just a football coach.  You were more than 400 wins, you changed the lives of millions of people and we will always be forever grateful.  You will always be remembered.

We Are...and always will be....Penn State

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lion basketball team heads to No. 3 Ohio State Wednesday night looking for 40 minutes of consistent basketball.

Head coach Patrick Chambers told the media earlier in the week that the mindset of the team is to just continue getting better every day. 

Penn State (10-11, 2-6) took a 29-27 lead into the halftime break on Sunday at Indiana, but the Hoosiers used an 18-6 run out of the locker room to score a 73-54 victory.

Coach Chambers said that the Lions played hard for the vast majority of the contest at Indiana.  However, he is seeking a complete 40-minute effort on the road.  The Nittany Lions are built on defensive intensity and rebounding, but the team wants to build more confidence on the offensive end of the floor when it is away from home.

"At some point, we have to make shots," Coach Chambers said.

Junior point guard Tim Frazier will be the central piece of Penn State's offensive attack when it takes on the third-ranked Buckeyes at Value City Arena.  Frazier now leads the Big Ten in scoring at 19.4 points per game.  He also leads the conference in assists (5.3) and steals (2.5).  He is the only player in the nation to lead his conference in those three categories.

Led by sophomore big man Jared Sullinger, the Buckeyes (17-3, 5-2) are one of the most talented teams in America.  Sullinger leads Ohio State statistically with 17.1 points and 9.1 rebounds.  Senior guard William Buford (15.2 ppg) and sophomore forward Deshaun Thomas (15.0 ppg) also scoring threats for the Buckeyes.  Ohio State is beating its opponents by an average of 22.0 points.  Additionally, Thad Matta's squad is 14-0 inside Value City Arena. 

GoPSUsports.com caught up with Frazier before practice this week for his thoughts leading up to Wednesday's clash with the Buckeyes.

A lot has happened this past week at Penn State. The team trained hard all week for the big meet this weekend against defending national champs, Alabama, along with Michigan State and Cornell. It was one of the most exciting meets I have ever experienced here, and the team did absolutely amazing. Every single person hit, there were no falls, and we got on a roll on the last three events, hitting one routine after another. Rec Hall was filled with Penn State fans, the most packed I've ever seen it, and you could tell that everyone was really getting into it. We ended up coming in second to Alabama by only three fourths of a tenth, which is unbelievable! I am so proud of our team and how far we have already come in the third meet. And to top it all off, it was our "flip for a cure" pink meet in support of breast cancer. It was awesome to be able to acknowledge breast cancer survivors and send out a powerful message to all.

On another note, a tragic event struck Penn State just today. We learned this morning that head football coach of 46 years, Joe Paterno, died of lung cancer. There was an emotional candlelight vigil in honor of him tonight. Thousands of people were there, all whose lives Joe has touched.  JoePa is Penn State, and this University has evolved to be one of the greatest universities because of him. He was more than just a football coach; he was an amazing person, a legend, an icon. He did more for this university than any one man has ever done. He made history - 409 wins, he changed lives, and he will never be forgotten. Rolled up khaki pants, high white socks, glasses and all, we love you JoePa.

Lindsay Musgrove

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Tears fell, horns honked and prayers were spoken as several community members, students and onlookers gathered around the Joe Paterno statue outside of Beaver Stadium during the early hours of Monday evening.

As local and national news trucks and their individual tents line the side of Porter Road that looks across at the second-largest stadium in the nation, the scene just past Gate A remains constant.

Groups of all ages and sizes have been congregating around the iconic sculpture since late Sunday morning, when the passing of the 85-year-old man, who has been called a "legend" among college football coaches, was announced.

And in the past 48 hours, the statue's original look has been altered quite a bit.

The Paterno figurine has been adorned with a blue and white knit scarf, a white Paternoville sweatshirt and a Bear Bryant style hat too. Below the feet of the statue, a pool of candles, flowers, hats, pom-poms, shirts, notes, posters and other memorabilia continues to grow.

A California license plate that reads 'Joe Pa' sits directly under the coach's statue among Rose Bowl hats, picture frames and t-shirts that have been signed by former football players. There seems to be just about one of everything that has been given in memory of Coach Paterno.

Penn State junior Dan Jenkins was observing the scene and paying his respects and said the he was really surprised when he saw a few items from some familiar Penn State football rivals.

"I saw a Michigan hat and I saw a WVU sign," said Jenkins. "Seeing all of that and the Bear Bryant hat, it just shows the impact he really had across not only Penn State but across the country and it's really something special to see."

Jenkins had not seen the mementos and posters laid around the statue before Monday evening, but he said that he had seen pictures of the scene in images on social media sites earlier in the day.

"This is the first time I've been up here," said Jenkins. "Just seeing it actually in person, just seeing the notes from all the students and all of the alumni and people that liked him - just seeing the personal notes that people wrote to him and all of the personal things, it touched you a bit."

Jenkins' roommate, junior Kevin Byrne, was as equally impressed with the attention the statue was getting as he was with the bright lights that have been shining out of Beaver Stadium the past two evenings. After Coach Paterno passed, the university decided to keep all of the lights in the stadium lit and a picture of the man himself on each jumbotron screen until "A Memorial for Joe" commences on Thursday afternoon.

"We live on East Beaver Avenue so we can see it from our apartment right outside our window - it was just like this glow," said Byrne. "I like it; I think it's kind of a good tribute to [Paterno]."

The growing circle of objects surrounding the statue composed familiarity with a sense of a unique quality. Gameday pom-poms upon shakers encircled recognizable white out shirts from years past, blue and white hats that are commonly worn on the heads of grandfathers, fathers and sons alike and even a colorful pile of football tickets from previous seasons.

As a fan-base, a community and a university, it looks as though many people plan to continue paying their respects to Coach Paterno - and for good reason.

"I know he had an impact just on me personally," said Jenkins. "I've never met him but you feel like he's part of your family - you feel like you've known him just because he is Penn State."

By Cassie Speno, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- The Penn State women's lacrosse team practiced outside yesterday for the first time on the newly-built Penn State Lacrosse Field. The Nittany Lions are excited to have a new site to call home and are looking forward to the success it will bring the program.

"Having your own home is important," said head coach Missy Doherty. "Last year we played eight home games in three different sites on campus. It will be nice once we are done playing inside to have a place to call home and establish our own identity."

The game site is currently still in the works, but has the platform set with the field, lights and scoreboard all completed. Located directly next to the Ashenfelter Multi-Sport facility, this new field is on prominent display when driving down University Drive.

"When the plans for the new ice hockey rink moved to Bigler Field, our turf was taken away," said Doherty. "So, thankfully the University provided the resources to be able to move us to a new location. In order to continue to build the stadium and put all of the amenities we would like to have in place, the fundraising will be coming from alumni and other donors. We want to build the prominence of our program and hopefully excite a lot of people to contribute to our sport."

The fundraising from alumni and other donors will supply permanent stadium seating, bathrooms and a press box.

"Down the line with more efforts in fundraising we hope to provide the players with new locker rooms that could house a special training facility for the players," said Doherty.

While the team will split time between Holuba Hall and their new facility pending day-to-day weather changes in Happy Valley, Doherty prefers the game day atmosphere outside.

"If the weather allows us, I would prefer to be outdoors for the majority of the season," said Doherty. "Holuba Hall is great because it allows us to train at 100 percent in a world-class facility.  We are never compromised because of the weather. However, in an overall game environment I would much rather be outside."

Penn State women's lacrosse will look to use the newly built facility at the home opener against Maryland on Feb. 19. 

By Jeff Sattora, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Sadness filled the air in Happy Valley Sunday afternoon as Penn State fans and supporters everywhere mourned the loss of the school's legendary former football coach, Joe Paterno. 

Following a moment of silence for the man who fought so hard in everything he did, the Penn State Lady Lions basketball team fought hard in their own way, giving Penn State fans something to smile about in a 68-52 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes.

For the coaches and players, who wore black patches on their jerseys, the win was a small way to show their support for the Paterno's, and honor the late coach.

"It is good that we got the win in honor of him," said Lady Lions head coach Coquese Washington.  "We just wanted to play our best on this day and give our best effort in respect of a man who gave his best to Penn State."

Giving that best effort is exactly what this group did as a late 20-2 run helped turn what was once a back and forth game into a rout.

Junior guard Alex Bentley once again led the charge for the home team with a big-time effort on both ends of the floor, finishing the day with 21 points, seven rebounds, and six steals.

Bentley was able to react to the Iowa defense and make plays all day long.

"They were really up on our posts and they were really up on Zha Zha (Zhaque Gray) and Maggie (Lucas) the whole game." Bentley said postgame.   "That opened up driving lanes in the middle for me."

The Lady Lions would need those driving lanes, especially early, as Iowa came out firing from three-point range behind the sharp-shooting of Kamille Wahlin, who finished the game with 21 points (five three's), including 18 in the first half.

Until the game's late run the battle went back and forth all afternoon long with the Lady Lions getting strong performances from more than just their usual cast of top players.

Outside of Bentley's big day Marissa Wolfe was able to add eight points and six boards off the bench to balance the load.  But the big story was the first career double-double for Ariel Edwards, a huge performance on a day her team needed one.

"I thought she was much more active. When she is active with her athleticism, length and speed, she can create havoc," said head coach Coquese Washington on Edwards' 17 points and 11 rebounds.  "I just liked her energy level. She gave us a lot of extra possessions because of her energy level."

"It's a level to keep repeating," Edwards added.  "It's something that I want to do consistently and reach more than once because it is my first."

Those offensive rebounds by Edwards were just a few of the many Penn State was able to grab as they dominated that statistic all game long.

The 11 rebounds by Edwards, along with 13 from Nikki Greene, helped to give the home team a 53-34 edge on the glass, with a 20-5 edge on offensive boards.

"It gave us a few more shots and a few more opportunities. Our team is good enough offensively that if we keep going and keep shooting, the ball will go in," said Washington on how all the rebounds helped the team, especially in the first half when they were down.

Going forward, this is the fourth straight win for the Lady Lions as they have been able to fight back to get to 5-2 in conference play, in a current tie for third place in the standings.

The team is clearly starting to get on a roll, and ready to keep that streak going.

Joe Paterno once said, "Believe deep down in your heart that you're destined to do great things."

With that belief, hard work, and dedication this Lady Lions team is looking to make that quote a reality.

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - As the final bout of Sunday's match came to a close in Rec Hall, Cael Sanderson stood mat-side with his hands on his hips and a larger-than-usual grin on his face. For the first time since 2007, the Penn State head coach led the No. 3 Nittany Lions to a Big Ten dual win over No. 2 Iowa by a count of 22-12.

It had been an anticipated competition three months ago when tickets sold out, and it was just as anticipated more than an hour before the match when thousands of spectators had already filed into their seats.

But as the lights dimmed and only the center spotlight shined, it was the Hawkeyes who struck early - and often.

Iowa powered through the first three bouts of the dual behind strong performances of three of its highly-ranked starters, including defending national champion and No. 2 Matt McDonough at 125, No. 2 Tony Ramos at 133 and No. 2 Montell Marion at 141.

McDonough matched up with Nittany Lion freshman and No. 8 Nico Megaludis to begin the conference dual, and the two put on quite a show right off the bat. Neither of the two lightweights scored a takedown during the three regulation periods and, tied at 1-1, the two headed into overtime to decide the bout. McDonough was able to outlast Megaludis and score Iowa's first three points, winning by a decision of 3-1.

Despite the opening loss, coach Sanderson said that he was very happy with the way that his freshman wrestled with passion on the mat.

"[Nico] hustled and battled and there were a lot of tough situations and he's got a big heart," said Sanderson. "To go out there and do what he did and give himself a chance to win in a big match in a big dual against a national champion, you've got to take some positives out of that."

Iowa's Ramos then followed with a pin of Penn State's Frank Martellotti at 133 for six dual points and Marion notched a 7-3 decision over Nittany Lion Bryan Pearsall for three more. Heading into the 149-pound bout, the Hawkeyes owned the only 12 points of the dual.

But those were the only points that Iowa would earn for the rest of the afternoon.

Senior and No. 1 Frank Molinaro was greeted by a standing ovation from the 6,796 fans that filled Rec Hall, and after his 10-5 decision over freshman Hawkeye Mike Kelly he left the mats with the same round of applause. Molinaro seemed to have lit the fire for the Nittany Lions, as Penn State would go on to win the next and final six bouts of the dual.

Dylan Alton, David Taylor, Quentin Wright, Morgan McIntosh and Cameron Wade each won by decision at their individual weights and Ed Ruth earned a major in his bout at 174 to score a total of 19 more team points to add to Molinaro's three.

"That was awesome," freshman McIntosh said of the big win on his home mats. "That was the coolest feeling ever. Just the noise and the atmosphere and everybody cheering loud - I won't forget that for a long time."

McIntosh won a clutch bout over Iowa's junior Grant Gambrall, who defeated Nittany Lion teammate Wright in last season's conference match by a decision of 8-3. The freshman 197 pounder hung with the veteran Hawkeye through three periods of tie wrestling, and forced the matter into the second overtime bout of the match. Looking fatigued after three hard-fought periods, the two rolled it down to the wire - but McIntosh was able to shoot first and scored the winning takedown to win by a decision of 5-3.

And the crowd went wild.

"Coach Cael always tells us that we just have to wrestle the whole match and that's what I was trying to do," said McIntosh. "I saw my opportunities and I just wrestled as hard as I could to get the corner and get that last takedown for the win."

Coach Sanderson said that he was happy that his freshman listens to what he has been teaching him, but even happier with the way that he proved himself on the mat.

"Morgan McIntosh is a tough dude," said Sanderson. "For Morgan to do what he did here today, I mean he's just a competitor. He's never going to give anything up. He's going to fight tooth and nail 'til the last second and that's what it takes to be a great one."

The dual win over Iowa puts the Nittany Lions at 8-1 overall this season with a Big Ten mark of 4-1. Next week, Penn State will be back in action on its home turf once again as it welcomes Ohio State to Rec Hall on Sunday, Jan. 29.

By Laura Finley, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Women's gymnastics associate head coach Rachelle Thompson knows this. It is why she began the Flip for the Cure program last year and brought it back Saturday night during Penn State's first home meet of the season.

"If every year we do this and make seven or eight people aware of breast cancer then that's great," said Coach Thompson. "We've got a group of girls who could develop breast cancer and by me just making this part of our community service and putting our all into raising awareness, I'm helping my girls take care of themselves in the future."

Thompson started Flip for the Cure in conjunction with the Lady Lion Pink Zone to support breast cancer awareness. With some success, the event returned for another year and fans gathered in Rec Hall wearing pink shirts while gymnasts from each school sported their own pink leotards.

"It's a great cause having the pink zone and wearing our pink leos," said junior Sharaya Musser. "It's all for the cause."

With fans watching in a sea of pink, Penn State opened the night on vault, as Alabama, Michigan State, and Cornell took their respective spots to compete in each of the other events. The Nittany Lions had a rough start, struggling to pull in strong scores and earning 48.775 during the rotation. Musser led the Nittany Lions with a score of 9.875, putting her in third place overall on vault.

"We did not do what we should have done on vault," said Coach Thompson. "When the meet started our team was kind of tight with it being the first home meet and wanting to do great for our fans. We were a little tight. But after we settled down and relaxed we did an awesome job."

Following vault, Penn State found its rhythm on uneven bars, scoring a 48.975, which allowed the team to hold on to its lead. Musser continued to put in a strong showing, taking first overall on bars with a 9.9.

Carrying this momentum, Penn State moved on to beam and beat defending national champion Alabama with a 49.250. This was their strongest showing of the night with five gymnasts scoring a 9.8 or better. Musser and senior co-captain Whitney Bencsko placed first with a 9.9.

Even with the strong scores on beam, however, Penn State could not hang on to the lead as Alabama took over the top spot by one-tenth of a point. The Nittany Lions kept their heads high going into their final rotation on floor, concentrating on their routines as fans waited in anticipation of the final outcome.

Bencsko scored a career-high of 9.9 on her floor routine, but it was not enough to solidify Penn State's score in the final rotation as it came down to a mere .075 that separated the Nittany Lions (196.100) from Alabama (196.175), who walked away with the title. Michigan State (192.875) placed third, while Cornell (188.850) finished fourth.

"We have nothing to be disappointed with," said Bencsko. "We went out there and we fought. You fall a little short sometimes, but it makes us work that much harder. We went out there tonight and we had fun and gave the crowd a show."

Even with a second place finish, Penn State was still victorious as Musser took home her third all-around title of the season, while Bencsko and junior Madison Merriam tied for third.

Coach Thompson was confident Saturday night's outcome will make her team stronger in the long run as she reiterated their persistence and will to win.

"We're going to get better," said Coach Thompson. "This will make the team go 'Okay, we're good.' We're going to get back to practice and fix the little things and make sure that we never do this again."

Musser agreed with her coach, saying that Penn State will continue to fight and come back strong in next week's meet. She also acknowledged that her team is not the only one fighting back as she reflected on her own experiences over this past week after visiting Mount Nittany Medical Center and talking with breast cancer survivors.

"I've never really talked to anybody about having to deal with breast cancer," said Musser. "Just hearing some of their stories put things in perspective. This is just gymnastics and there's more to life. We all just need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture and the future."

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Watch freshman Morgan McIntosh clinch Penn State's 22-12 victory over No. 2 Iowa and hear from McIntosh, Ed Ruth and Cael Sanderson in the media room following the match.

Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Take a look back at Penn State's 22-12 victory over No. 2 Iowa on Sunday afternoon inside Rec Hall.

Welcome to Rec Hall for a Big Ten showdown between the third-ranked Nittany Lions and second-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes.

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Outside of a few changes in the lineup for the No. 3 Nittany Lions, this season has started off much similar to the last.

Like last year, the Lions are ranked as one of the top three teams in the nation and maintain eight top-ranked wrestlers in their starting lineup of just 10.

Like last year, Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson and his coaching staff still preach the same go-getter mentality: wrestle hard for seven minutes and have fun.

Like last year, No. 2 Iowa will be heading to State College for its Big Ten matchup against the Nittany Lions in front of a sold-out crowd in Rec Hall.

But on Sunday, the Lions are hoping that there will be one particular difference to their season from the last. They want to beat the Hawkeyes.

At 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, the Lions will be back under the lights in Rec Hall for the first time in over a month for their fourth Big Ten dual of the season. Penn State currently holds a 2-1 conference record and a 7-1 mark overall.

With the addition of two strong freshmen in Nico Megaludis and Morgan McIntosh to the mix of four All-Americans and a heavyweight senior, the Penn State squad looks more solidified and has seen more individual success throughout the starting lineup.

What Makes This Dual Different?
"It's not just another dual," said senior 149-pounder Frank Molinaro. "This one means a lot to us."

Less than a year ago on Jan. 30, 2011, then-No. 8 Iowa marched into Rec Hall for its conference dual and upset then-No. 1 Penn State by a score of 22-13. The Lions had been on a perfect 13-0 dual meet run at the time, and the Hawkeyes would end up being the only team to win a dual over what would become the 2011 national championship squad.

Similarly to the way that Iowa dealt Penn State its first dual loss last season, the Nittany Lions went on to become the first team to take the Big Ten title away from the Hawkeyes in three consecutive years. Iowa finished the tournament with 138.0 team points. Penn State finished with 139.0.

Some call the matchup between the Lions and Iowa a grudge match - others call it a healthy rivalry.

"Not to add any more pressure on it but last year we were young, we had a lot of young guys in the lineup and we maybe took [the dual] too lightly," said Molinaro. "I know we can take this one serious. We're going to warm-up hard and we're going to be prepared for this match and this is a match we definitely want to win. It matters a lot to everyone - the fans, wrestlers, family and coaches."

The Rec Hall Advantage
Just as the friendly rivalry between the two squads has grown over the past few years, the amount of interest and pure excitement to attend a dual between Penn State and Iowa has increased as well.

This weekend's match between the two conference opponents has been sold out since mid October. In other words, more than 6,000 tickets were sold and distributed more than two months before the match.

As excited as the fans are to pack the stands of Rec Hall, the Nittany Lions said that they too are itching to get back onto their home mats after a lot of action on the road.

"It's just awesome to be back home with our fans," said Molinaro. "We've been doing a lot of traveling. It's just going to be a great, fresh feeling to be able to warm-up here and to be able to warm up in front of our fans."

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Illinois scoring ace Brandon Paul stepped into a 3-pointer with 39.1 seconds on the clock to tie Thursday night's clash inside the Bryce Jordan Center at 52-52.

Nittany Lion junior point guard Tim Frazier raced across the halfcourt line before calling a full timeout.  The Lions then used 18 seconds on the clock before head coach Patrick Chambers signaled for a second timeout to set up one final play.

The clock read 16 seconds, and everyone in the arena on a snowy night in Happy Valley expected the ball to be in Frazier's hands.

Frazier received the in bounds pass from Matt Glover in the backcourt and dribbled in the center circle patiently waiting as the clock ticked down under 10 seconds.  Redshirt freshman forward Jon Graham made the first move to the top of the key.  Graham set a screen on Paul, freeing Frazier to run along the right side of the lane.

The Houston native raced past the foul line, stopped 12 feet shy of the basket before elevating for a floating jumper that ultimately handed the Nittany Lions their first ranked win of the season.

"We had a high screen and roll and I was trying to make my read whether they came up high, I was just going to kick it out to the corner, but he stayed in the paint and I was able to get deep enough to get the shot," Frazier said.

Coach Chambers drew up a play during each of the final two timeouts.

"Really, they were both plays for Tim [Frazier]," Coach Chambers said.  "He has earned the right to make those and take those shots. He's done a great job with leadership. He's been just incredible, his effort in his play throughout the whole season. We knew they were going to deny him out to half-court, which they did. He was supposed to back-up and he cut it off. He didn't trust it. Fine, I just called timeout and said, 'let's simplify'. Let's get a good screen."

When Frazier sank the clutch basket there were still 8.3 seconds remaining on the clock, and he knew the game was not over.

"Once I hit the floater, the first thing I think about is not letting Brandon Paul get the ball, and I tried to deny him as much as possible, and they ended up calling a time out, so it was great," Frazier said.

Out of the timeout, Illinois guard Sam Maniscalco drove into the lane before Jermaine Marshall blocked the final attempt as the horn sounded.

"[Tim] has earned the right to make that shot," Coach Chambers said.  "What I mean by that is that he has worked so hard. Even when we don't have practice, he comes in, he's doing extra things, extra shooting, working on his game. He earned the right to make that shot. He earned the right to take it."

Penn State desperately needed a victory after three-straight setbacks.  The Lions worked tirelessly on the practice floor on Tuesday and Wednesday to prepare for a battle against Illinois.  Coach Chambers opened Wednesday's practice to the public to allow the players to change the routine and practice in game-like conditions with a true clock and media timeouts.

At the end of the day, though, Thursday's win came down to effort.  The Nittany Lions played Coach Chambers' trademark gritty, hard-nosed basketball for two halves en route to a much-needed triumph.

"It's confidence, there's no question," Coach Chambers said.  "They see now that they could be a good team. They can believe and have faith in what Penn State basketball is all about: it's defending, rebounding and competing for 40 minutes. If they do that, we are going to be in the game, in a possession game."

Coach Chambers joked in the postgame press conference that he wanted the media to let him enjoy Thursday's win for about an hour before he shifted into preparations for Sunday's trip to No. 13 Indiana.  The Big Ten is the only BCS basketball conference where every team has at least 10 wins.  Every game is a challenge.  The Lions and Illini played their sixth game in the last nine outings that was decided by one or two points.  Now, it is on to Assembly Hall.

"This conference is unbelievable," said Coach Chambers.  "It is the best conference, great coaches, great players. It is a flat out battle every time you step on the floor. You can't take anything for granted. You can't let up. That's what I try to tell our guys. You cannot let up. They didn't. They did a great job. It was a great win. Indiana happens to be the next game on the schedule and it happens to be on the road. I expect another battle."


Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - GoPSUsports.com sat down with running backs coach and recruiting coordinator Charles London in the fourth installment of a series of introductory video interviews with Coach O'Brien's staff.  London comes to Penn State after spending the past five seasons in the NFL with the Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans.

London started his coaching career at Duke where he served as a graduate assistant.  He picked Coach O'Brien up at the airport when he visited for an interview.  London and Coach O'Brien went on to spend two seasons together on the Duke staff in 2005 and '06.  Take a look at an exclusive interview with Coach London.

VIDEO: Interview with Assistant Head Coach/Receivers Coach Stan Hixon

VIDEO: Interview with Tight Ends Coach John Strollo

VIDEO: Interview with Secondary Coach John Butler

7:47 - Illinois 17, Penn State 15
Penn State is playing the type of defense necessary to win tonight, but it needs to find more consistency on offense.  Cam Woodyard has come out red-hot, scoring 10 points in the first 12:13.  He flushed home a dunk before a deep 3-pointer on the left wing to draw the Lions within two on the scoreboard.  Illinois is shooting just 36 percent from the field.

3:44 - Illinois 23, Penn State 22
The Nittany Lions erased a nine-point deficit with an 11-2 scoring spurt, which was fueled by a pair of 3-pointers from Woodyard and Jermaine Marshall.  Illinois answered with two-straight baskets from sophomore Meyers Leonard.  The 7-1 center for the Illini is a very tough matchup in the paint.  Nonetheless, the Lions are shooting 36 percent from the field and trail Illinois by just one.

0:00 - Penn State 25, Illinois 23
The Nittany Lions held the Illini scoreless in the final 4:14 of the first half en route to a two-point lead at the break.  Penn State did not play its best half of basketball shooting just 35 percent from the field and being out-rebounded 19-15.  Nonetheless, the defense at the other end of the floor was the story in the first 20 minutes.  Illinois managed a meager 33 percent clip from the floor and 25 percent from beyond the arc (3-12).  Penn State did a superb job mixing its looks on defense with some zone, three-quarters court trap and man-to-man.  Woodyard topped the scoring sheet with 10 in the first half.  Frazier added eight points and four assists.  Anytime you shoot 35 percent from the field against the 22nd-ranked team in the nation in a half and lead by two, you have to feel good at the break.

Second Half:

0:00 - Penn State 54, Illinois 52
Woodyard ran off a screen for a clutch jumper at the top of the key to put the Lions up 50-47 with 3:10 to play.  One possession later, the senior forward battled for a loose ball offensive rebound. Woodyard was fouled on the play.  He stepped to the line and sank two big free throws to put the Lions up by five.  But the Illini were not done.  Bertrand tallied a bucket before a Paul 3-pointer tied things up at 52-52 with 39.1 seconds to play.  Penn State used two timeouts to set up one final offensive opportunity.  Graham provided a high ball screen for Frazier at the top of the key.  From there, Frazier drove just to the right of the lane for an eight-foot floater with 8.3 seconds on the clock.  One final opportunity for Illinois ended with a Marshall block to seal Penn State's fourth win over Illinois in five games.  Woodyard led the way with 17 points, while Frazier added 12 points and nine assists, including the game-winner in the final 10 seconds.

Final Thoughts:

By Alexa Hetzel

Hello Penn State Fans!!

Happy New Year to everyone!  I hope the holidays brought everyone happiness and lots of family time!  For the swim team the new year means the beginning of a new phase as we come closer and closer to Big Tens.

Training Trip ended on a high note, Secret Santas were found out and final gifts really reflected how well we all know each other and get along.  As for the bake off the team of Gabi Shishkoff, Erin Thomas and Amy Lewis took the win with "The John Hargis" cookie.  It was such a great idea and a good winner, but all the teams did well, including the group from West Philadelphia, giving us a rap Will Smith style.  With fatigue and lactic acid at it's peak at the end of the trip everyone swam well to the end.  We left Florida behind with a great senior girls 200 freestyle relay and all the hard work behind us.

Getting back to State College brought on a lot of excitement for all members of the team and coaches.  This part of the season is where all the hard, long hours of practices and lifting come into handy and now the power, speed phase has come into play.  Power towers are getting used more and parachutes are helping us dig into our strokes more.  To think that Big Tens is 4 weeks away for the women's team is mind blowing to me.  Where all the time went I can't answer but I know I have enjoyed it and am excited for one last Big Tens.

Before we get to Big Tens we have a few more duel meets left to practice racing a few more times.  This past weekend the girls defeated Navy and ranked Arkansas, which was a big win.  We had some great swims and it just makes everything more exciting seeing people start to really swim fast before taper really kicks in.

In addition to swimming fast we started the 2012 Spring semester last week.  Having left the last semester on such a high note, the ladies team earned a combined GPA of a 3.44.  That is one of our best GPAs that we have received and are really proud that we were able to get things done in and out of the pool.  That is what we are here for.

With things winding down the season is going to start blowing right by so stay tuned to see what's going to pop up with 30 wonderful ladies!

Till next time!!

                         WEstillARE!

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - GoPSUsports.com sat down with secondary coach John Butler in the third installment of a series of introductory video interviews with Coach O'Brien's staff.  Butler comes to Penn State after helping lead South Carolina to the greatest season in its football history. 

Butler spent four seasons coaching at Minnesota, including two games against Penn State.  He worked with defensive coordinator Ted Roof while at Minnesota in 2008.  The Pennsylvania native, who went to high school with All-Big Ten offensive tackle Keith Conlin, calls his position at Penn State a dream job.  Take a look at an exclusive interview with Coach Butler.

VIDEO: Interview with Assistant Head Coach/Receivers Coach Stan Hixon

VIDEO: Interview with Assistant Tight Ends Coach John Strollo

By Jeff Sattora, GoPSUsports.com Student Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The team executed the game plan the best it had all year. 

That's what Penn State Lady Lions coach Coquese Washington said about the team's 93-73 win over Nebraska over the weekend, and when a coach says that it means one thing.

Good things are happening in Happy Valley. 

Despite a slow start against the Cornhuskers and a six-point halftime deficit, the Lions bounced back to out-score Nebraska 55-29 in the second half and pull away to get the win. 

A balanced effort was big for Penn State, who avenged an earlier season 71-63 home loss to Nebraska with the big win. 

Maggie Lucas led the way once again with 24 points and junior point guard Alex Bentley added 23 as all five starters scored in double figures. 

This was the second straight win for the Lady Lions in Big Ten play as they look to gain momentum going forward to a road matchup against Illinois. 

While the Lions are happy with the win against Nebraska, they know that going forward they will need to come out ready to go from the tip, and can't always count on that huge second half run.

"You can't wait a whole half and let 20 minutes go by and try and fix everything at halftime," said sophomore guard Maggie Lucas.  "We've got to change that."

The first step in changing that will come against the 6-12 Illinois squad, who despite being tied for last in the conference, is not being overlooked by this Penn State group. 

"Illinois is a dangerous team. They are better than their record," Coach Washington said.   "They are a good defensive team and they play well at home."

With Illinois' defense being a point of emphasis for the Lions it's looking like a defensive game could be in store as once again both coaches and players for Penn State are focused on their effort at that end of the floor.

"I like our effort on defense and like our improvement from last year."  Washington said.  "We work harder on the defensive end and it shows."

The stats between last season and this year's squad clearly bare that out.

While last year's squad gave up an average of 67.6 points per game and allowed opponents to shoot 40 percent from the field and 34 percent from three, this year's team is a different story. 

Through 17 games so far this year the team is only giving up an average of 60.2 points per game (sixth in the Big Ten), and allowing opponents to only shoot 33 percent from the field and 27 percent from three (both first in the Big Ten).

While the defense has been important, having that balanced offensive attack like in the Nebraska game will be one of the most important factors for this squad to make a March tournament run.    

"It's so important, especially in a conference like the Big Ten," Lucas said.  "If you have one good player you can shut that down, if you have five it's hard to guard."

"We can run any play and everybody will get a touch, get a look at the basket," added Alex Bentley. 

Despite being early in the Big Ten season the two straight conference wins have gotten this Penn State group ready to roll and keep that momentum going.

By Cassie Speno, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Colleen Shea is not just a great athlete; she is also a tremendous student. In high school Shea attended Seton Keough where she earned valedictorian honors in her senior year. She was also named a National Merit Commended Scholar, a Maryland Distinguished Scholar semifinalist, two-time US Lacrosse Academic All-American, an Archdiocesan Distinctive Scholar and Seton Keough Scholar Athlete of the Year.

Shea, now a Penn State Schreyer Honors College student, Big Ten Distinguished Honor Scholar, ALC Academic Honor Roll and Academic All-Big Ten nominee will take her fifth year of eligibility next year to complete her double major in math and security and risk analysis.

In her fourth year as a Nittany Lion, Shea wants to make her last year with the class she started with a memorable experience.

"I really want to make the NCAA tournament," said Shea. "It would be really special to do it with the class I came in with as we have been on this journey together. It would be a great ending to our four years."

Shea, prior to attending Penn State, was no stranger to what it truly meant to bleed blue and white. Both of Colleen's sisters, Linsey Shea (2004-2008) and Kerry Shea (2005-2009) played for the Nittany Lions.

"I had a lot of exposure to Penn State before coming here," said Shea. "Both my sisters played here and my uncle is a professor here. I remember coming to a football game when I was a freshman in high school and was amazed by the support all of the fans and students showed for this school. I just knew I really wanted to be a part of something special."

Shea says growing up she enjoyed watching her sisters play and learning from them. Both Linsey and Kerry continue to be some of her biggest supporters both on and off the lacrosse field.

"My sisters have been my biggest inspiration," said Shea. "They are three and four years older than me, so while they are really competitive with each other they have always been my biggest cheerleaders. Whenever I ask for help they have always been there to give me advice."

In a weeks time Shea will have to submit her thesis topic to Schreyer Honors College.

"Right now I am finishing my math major," said Shea. "So in my fifth year I will be working on completing all of my requirements toward my security and risk analysis major and will also be working on my thesis. I would like to write about something pertaining to terrorism studies."

Head coach Missy Doherty says Shea is a model student athlete and excels as a leader both on and off the field.

"Colleen has done a great job," said Doherty.  "She is a leader in a lot of different aspects. Fitness wise she is always one of the most fit players on our team and defensively last year she was able to keep out some of the nations top scorers. She really brings a lot of things to the team not only just lacrosse wise, but also as a student. Colleen really puts all aspects of being a student athlete together, which is great to have as a role model on your team."

Even with her rigorous academic and athletic schedule she continues to maintain a positive attitude and embodies the term "Success with Honor".

"You're going to have ups and downs, but you have to approach everything with a positive mind set," said Shea. "In the end everything will all work out. You have your team around you as well as your coaches for support. You just have to roll with the punches and keep fighting no matter what."

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lion basketball team (9-10, 1-5) will look to get back on track Thursday night when it takes on No. 22 Illinois (15-3, 4-1) inside the Bryce Jordan Center.

Penn State will be seeking to snap a three-game slide before heading on the road to Indiana and Ohio State.  The Nittany Lions had Monday off before spirited practices on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Coach Chambers made it clear after Sunday's setback to Minnesota that he wants to see more effort for the duration of future ballgames.

Illinois enters Thursday's game after nine days of rest following a 79-74 victory over Ohio State.  Illini guard Brandon Paul exploded for 43 points in the upset victory over the Buckeyes.  Paul (13.8), D.J. Richardson (13.0) and sophomore center Meyers Leonard (13.0) all average 13 points or more.  The Illini are currently first in the ultra competitive Big Ten standings.

The Nittany Lions are 3-1 in their last four meetings against Illinois teams that are ranked.  Five of the last eight meetings between Penn State and Illinois have been decided by two points or less.  Expect another close contest in the Bryce Jordan Center.

Penn State will wear all gray alternate uniforms for the first time on Thursday night against Illinois.  GoPSUsports.com talked with assistant coach Keith Urgo leading up to Thursday's clash with Illinois. Take a look.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - GoPSUsports.com sat down with tight ends coach John Strollo in the second installment of a series of introductory video interviews with Coach O'Brien's staff.  Strollo comes to Penn State after spending one season as the offensive line coach at Ball State.  Strollo is a 31-year veteran in the coaching world.  He worked with Coach O'Brien for two seasons at Duke in 2005 and '06.  Take a look at an exclusive interview with Coach Strollo.

VIDEO: Interview with Assistant Head Coach/Receivers Coach Stan Hixon

Welcome!

The 2012 Penn State Men's Volleyball season in underway!  This past weekend we were able to defeat the Ohio State Buckeyes in front of their home crowd in three sets.  Although we did not play the cleanest match in Penn State history, we were able to pass and serve the ball well enough to secure the win.  The post-match consensus was that if we continue to pass and serve the ball the way we did against Ohio State, our offense will gradually develop and we will be a tough team to face in May.  The coaching staff compared our team to an old Ford pickup truck, not a pretty, shiny, and perfectly put together Ferrarri.  Nonetheless, our truck is going to run through anything, and will not fall apart if a couple screws come loose.    

Although we had no class on MLK day yesterday, we had an 8:30 a.m. lift and practice at noon.  The coaches have designed some condensed practices for the week, focusing on our team's offense and transition game as we approach our trip to Illinois this weekend.  As we nurse some hurt ankles and shoulders throughout the week, we hope to be close to 100 percent healthy going into the weekend.  Meanwhile, our classes will become more demanding as these next few weeks wear on and the semester progresses. 

Of course, the team is looking forward to the quick 11 hour bus ride to Chicago.   The movie choices on last week's trip were lackluster, to say the least, as we watched two of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, along with Finding Nemo.  Luckily, the team has been hooked on this iPhone game called Temple Run, which consumed the majority of our 12 hours spent on the bus.  Joe Sunder played for four hours straight, just saying... 

Cheers,

Connor Curry #3 

Greetings from the home office...

Well, actually from the home dining room where the computer is situated between Teddy the Turtle's tank and the cage of our newest addition: Miss Piggy. She is the Pavlik Guinea Pig. I digress (somehow after getting in from Columbus at 3:30 AM and getting about 6 hours of sleep I find I have been digressing a lot today).

The Nittany Lions defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus last evening 25-22, 25-23, 25-17. It wasn't a bad way to start the 2012 season. The Buckeyes had four matches under their belt as they had participated in UCSB's Elephant Bar Tournament last weekend against UCSB, UCLA, and Long Beach. They had hosted Lees-McRae the night before we played so they had their season firmly underway.

We left Rec Hall on Friday evening after practice around 5:30 PM and Cole Bus Lines driver Kurt Breon decided to take the "southern" route to Columbus. We would forego the Route 80 trek for the Route 22/Route 70 drive to Columbus. It was a great decision as we received word that northwestern PA had received 7-9 inches of snow that evening. We encountered a little bit of snow on Cresson Mountain (for those familiar with route 22 that is not surprising since it snows there through June!) but nothing the rest of the way to Columbus. Great bus drivers are so underrated! Kurt is one of the best!

Saturday after a team dinner we headed over to the gym and started to prepare for the match. We knew it would be a special night for the Buckeyes. They were going to unveil the NCAA Championship banner in St. Johns. They would like nothing more to get a win in our "Big Ten Series". We needed to just maintain our poise through the early stages and do what we had been doing through the fall. I was worried about the Buckeye's serving. From the video we saw of their matches out in Santa Barbara we saw they were serving pretty well. Even though they lost a talented group of seniors from last year's team, they still had Shawn Sangrey, Grayson Overman and Mik Berzins all of whom had been major contributors to their NCAA run last year. If we didn't respect them it would cost us.

After a very nice banner presentation the 2012 Nittany Lion season was underway. We began it by promptly hitting two balls out of bounds! Happy New Year! There was a PSU stuff block in there and an ace so we were finding ways to score points as well. Our offense really never found it way out of first gear but our passing, serving and blocking were keeping the Buckeyes from taking advantage of the hitting errors and running away from us. The game was tied at 22 when a Sunder kill was followed by a Turko/Comfort stuff. After the guys took the floor following an OSU timeout, I looked at Jay Hosack, nodded toward freshmen Aaron Russell who was getting ready to serve game point and said, "This would be a nice time for his first collegiate ace." Aaron responded with his first collegiate ace! A ball, which he later said, he almost whiffed on. Still it found the right back corner of the Buckeye court and ended game one. PSU leaders in that game were Comfort (Kills - 4); Turko (Blocks - 3); Olsen (Digs - 4) and Aaron Russell and Goas (Aces - 1). We hit only .129 while the Buckeyes hit .241.

Game two had us get out to a three point lead but we couldn't extend that lead and get rid of the Buckeyes. They kept it close and finally tied it at 23. After our timeout, we made a hustle play that kept the ball off the court. A whistle was blown but after a conference with a line judge the call was overturned and a "play over" was called. Needless to say, the home fans did not see the play unfold the way Colin, Jay and I thought we saw the play unfold. Olsen got us a sideout with a kill and Aaron Russell ended the game with his first collegiate solo block...alas, I did not call that one but Colin had been talking with Aaron about his blocking so I'll say that Colin called that one! PSU was led by Olsen (Kills - 3), A. Russell (Blocks - 2), Curry (Digs - 3) and Sunder and Turko (Aces - 2).  We didn't hit much better that game: .138 but the Buckeyes hit .115.

Game three was at 11-11 when an Olsen kill, Buckeye hitting error, Olsen/A. Russell stuff, Goas ace and a Comfort/A. Russell stuff made the lead 15-11. I wish I could say it was the coaching that enabled us to get some separation but the real reason was much simpler than that. Frank "Skids" Agnew was in the house and was playing Old Black Water on the slide reed two rows behind our bench! No doubt, with the addition of the Doobie Brothers anthem and the PSU MVB Alums present, the mojo seriously shifted to the Blue and White! We never looked back and an Olsen kill ended the match at 25-17. Game three leaders were Comfort (Kills - 6), A. Russell (Blocks - 2), Sunder and Olsen (Digs - 4) and Goas (Aces  - 1). We hit a healthy .448 while holding OSU to .083.

We will take a win on the road against Ohio State even though our offense sputtered through the first two games. I am really happy with our serving, passing and blocking and more importantly with our competitive poise. We just kept grinding when were weren't at our best. The guys never let their errors affect their next contact or responsibility. It was a mature win. Match leaders for the Lions were Sunder (Kills - 11; Aces - 2; Points 14.5), Turko (Blocks - 5; Aces - 2), Goas (Aces - 2) and Olsen (Digs 10). The Lions out-hit the Buckeyes .236 to .152; out-blocked them 9.5 to 8.5; out-aced them 7 to 1 and out-dug them 32-26.

Many of you know that I am Pittsburgh sports fan through-and-through. I have been raised on the Pirates, Steelers and Penguins. Last night PSU MVB entered a realm I had only heard about and witnessed as a fan. Some of you are old enough to remember Bob Prince and the Green Wienie of the 1960's. Prince followed that up in the '70's with "Babushka Power" as he would wave a white scarf (and any self-respecting Slovak knows what a babushka is). The Steelers have had, thanks to Myron Cope, the Terrible Towel. It has been said that the power which emanates from those can turn the tide for the team. Well, from what I witnessed on Saturday evening there is no question that the power of the Skids Slide Reed playing Old Black Water is just as potent as anything around these parts in quite a while. I urge you all to use it appropriately as to not wear it out so that in times of need it will do its part for PSU MVB!

So as the 2012 season gets underway I thank Skids for the Slide Reed...and am very thankful it wasn't a tuba! I'll be back to you as we head west on Thursday for our matches at Loyola and Lewis next weekend! Keep that paddle wheel thumping!

All the best,

Pav, Colin, Jay and the guy

Happy New Year Penn State Volleyball Fans!

I hope the New Year brought in great fortune and also an excitement for the 2012 Nittany Lion Volleyball season to begin. This week was an exciting week for the program, with the highly anticipated Alumni game and banquet. The varsity team had worked hard all Fall and was excited to take on the skilled alumni squad. With the nerves finally set aside, our varsity team was able to defeat the Alumni team, whichwas put together with some former stars such as Luke Murray, Nate Meerstein, Kevin Hodge and Gary Vogel.  After the Alumni game, the Geezer game commenced with the Geezers defeating the Old Guys.  After that, the most anticipated portion of the afternoon, the ball pull, was a face-off between freshman 6-10 middle Matt Seifert, and All-American Nate Meerstein, with Meers being the victor.  Seifert has vowed to never lose a ball pull ever again. The Alumni banquet was an amazing night with the introduction of four new freshman faces: setter Taylor Hammond of Southern California,m Aaron Russell of Maryland, middle Matt Seifert of Pennsylvania and transfer middle from Pepperdine, but hailing from Pennsylvania, Kyle Gregan. The evening brought great food and company together and yet again another Alumni 'Old Black Water' song recitation victory. I personally feel the applause competition meter is rigged.  But another new year has begun and our first match against Ohio State is upon us and the road to the National Championship is in full effect.  Tune in next week to hear from libero Connor Curry.

Take Care,

Tor Covello # 2

Greetings from Rec Hall!

Happy Friday the 13^th...or Unhappy Friday the 13^th for you Triskadekaphobians out there...or anybody who wears plain goalie masks named Jason. Yes, the 2012 season is upon us. We are loading the bus after practice at 5:30 PM today to head over to Columbus for our match tomorrow against the Buckeyes.

Before we get into the Buckeye match, I need to thank everyone for a simply wonderful PSU MVB Alumni weekend! Thanks to Guad and Yak for their usual bang-up job in organizing the banquet and the festivities. Additional thanks go to every one of you who did show up. We had a record turnout of alums for the match itself and also for the banquet.

The morning started around 10 AM as many of the experienced alums gathered in South Gym to dust off the rust and play. At one point, I think it was around 11:15 AM, I had counted 32 alums playing on three courts! The earlier 2000's group was well represented by Kevin Hodge, Zach Slenker, Norm Keil, Nate Meerstein, Josh Mowry,  Alex Weaver and Jason Hawkins. Jason brought along his father, Bob...or was it the other way around?? Anyway, if you check out Bob's Facebook page you'll get some photos of the boys. We missed Jose and Aird...that would have set State College back to be sure!

The playing turnout enabled the Alums to put three quality line-ups together for the three games against the Varsity in Main Gym. It didn't take long for retribution to be given for last year's Alumni match. Those in attendance may recall Ken Steadman letting loose a shot which caught Tom Comfort in the nose and drew blood. This year, in one of the first five swings of the first game, Tom hit a ball (after Ken pulled down his block) off of Ken's noggin! Steadman left the match due to concussion-like symptoms! Comfort avenged his blood from last year!

I was very happy with the level of play of the Varsity and the effort which they sustained through the three games. Even with Edgardo Goas being held out after a minor ankle sprain, Tor and Taylor kept their teams playing hard. We blocked well and dug the balls we should have dug. More importantly to me, was the way the Varsity competed. There have been past matches that seemed the Varsity just wanted "to get through it"; however, this group went hard and did it in the manner that an Alumni-Varsity event should be taken.  Also, another impressive element of this was the effort and play by the Alums. Now, they always play hard but it didn't matter who was on the court the Alumni were hustling to the ball and throwing themselves all over the court. It was just like a few years ago when they were the Varsity, except in many cases they took a little longer to get up off the floor than in those years!

After the three games, all won by the Varsity, the Geezer Game ensued. It was tough to consider it a Geezer Game when middle blocking for one side was Luke Murray still under the 30-year old line; however, far be it from me to comment on any of the rules of that game. Besides, referee Kurt Fulmer did the commenting by red carding Mike Gordon. I have it on good authority that had been a lifetime dream of Kurt's. As usual, Mike was quite non-plussed giving Kurt that vacant, blank "Who? Me?" expression that we all know and love from Mike!

After that scintillating exhibition of past talent, which, no doubt, left the Varsity in awe...their squad was split on both benches...came competition #2: The Ball Pull!

The Alumni turned to experience and forwarded Nate Meerstein as their champion. The Varsity eschewed experience and went for raw power and big hands and threw freshman Matt Seifert out to face Meers in the best-of-three event. The first pull, after BPR (that'd be Ball Pull Referee) Guadagnino, had to card Seifert for various infractions (one of which may have been not addressing the BPR with enough respect...I'm not sure of that one) was an easy win for Meers. It made one wonder if the Varsity really threw the big freshman in as a sacrificial lamb to Meers. But, Seifert settled down. He now understood the game and won the second pull forcing a deciding third pull. Third pulls generally come down to experience and even though Seifert did study enough tape on Meers from previous Alumni matches he wasn't prepared as Meers pulled him around the court and eventually wrested the ball from the young freshman giving the Alums the win and tying the weekend's competition at one win apiece. One note here: as the crowd was dissipating, no doubt trying to gather their collective breath after witnessing such a competition, Matt Seifert vowed to "...train with tennis balls and let Kirk Adams know I WILL NEVER LOSE another Ball Pull in my career!" The young man is angered...just a word to the wise for next year!

We then gathered at the Atherton Hotel for the social hour prior to the banquet. The Varsity mingled to welcome the Alums back to campus and try to introduce the frosh to their history. The Atherton's food was delicious and even though the rumors of steak and lobster proved to be false, the dinner was excellent. With the annual presentation of the stools to the freshmen and the photographic documentation by Dave Dicker occurring the banquet was moving. As I watched this, a question popped to mind. Has anyone ever, and I mean ever, viewed ANY of these pictures which Dicker has taken over the last ten years or so of this presentation? I don't think I have seen any. Maybe Hartranft has them somewhere on the PSU MVB Alumni webpage (http://psuvolleyball.com/). Let me know.

Competition #3 is the annual Old Black Water sing-off. The Doobie Brothers hit has been the major feature of the banquet for years and, in all honesty, this Varsity group hasn't been all that impressive with renditions. One may have to go back to the 2008 team with Murray, Max Holt and Joe Sunder all on guitars to get close to any respectable rendition the Varsity has performed. Once again, it was not close! The Alumni, with Frank "Skids" Agnew on the slide reed and outstanding musical direction from Jim "Yak" Wittler (who by my standard is an honorary Doobie) the Alums walked away with the sing-off and winning the weekend 2-1! After witnessing the Varsity effort, alum (and Hills Brother) Ed Josefoski is willing to offer is consulting services to the team so next year's performance by them "doesn't suck!" If Ed can get Matt Seifert on his side it could be an interesting 2013 Alumni Weekend.

As I sit here and reflect on the weekend, I am overwhelmed by the turnout and the overriding homecoming feeling generated by all those present. It was a very welcome feeling which accompanied everything. The realization and appreciation for what PSU and PSU MVB represent was very clear from all present. As I tell our Varsity when they take the court, it is not JUST them; they have the best group of Alumni right behind them. You guys did not disappoint this weekend! Thank you so very much!

Now we have to face our first Varsity opponent in the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday. They will be raising their NCAA Championship banner before our match. We are honored to be the opponent when they do this. Our Big Ten brethren had an outstanding 2011 and will be playing with the knowledge of what it takes to win an NCAA championship. That makes them dangerous no matter how many guys graduated from last year's team. I expect a tough, tough match. It will be a great way to start the 2012 Varsity schedule but in no way will it compare to this past weekend's Alumni start! I'll be back with the update as we are heading back east Saturday evening. Have a great weekend everyone!

All the best!

Pav, Colin, Jay and the 2012 Nittany Lions 

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - GoPSUsports.com sat down with Penn State senior and No. 1-ranked Frank Molinaro for the latest installment of This Week In Penn State Wrestling.  Molinaro talks about last week's performances at Northwestern and Wisconsin, in addition to previewing Sunday's dual against Iowa.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Head coach Bill O'Brien named eight of his assistant coaches last week.  All eight will be busy leading up to national signing day on Feb. 1.

GoPSUsports.com sat down with assistant head coach and wide receivers coach Stan Hixon to kick off a series of introductory video interviews with Coach O'Brien's staff.  Hixon comes to Penn State after spending the past two seasons as the wide receivers coach for the Buffalo Bills.  The Florida native brings 32 years of coaching experience to the Penn State staff, including a stint with Coach O'Brien at Georgia Tech from 1995-'99.  Take a look at an exclusive interview with Coach Hixon.



Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

By Chardonnai Johnson, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - It all started on a lazy summer day two years ago. Senior and Nittany Nation Vice President Paul Hook was spending his summer at Penn State instead of in his hometown of Knoxville, Tenn. He was enrolled in a class, working a part time job, and spending his down time doing some pretty intense thinking about student sections and Nittany Nation.

"I was trying to come up with a way to have some sort of competition between the student sections," said Hook, who would jot down new ideas for Nittany Nation in a notebook stuffed under his bed.

His brainstorming eventually led him to free throws, the basis of what would become the Home Court Challenge.

"I thought of the only place where it's truly fans versus the other team," said Hook. "Everything else is the team. The free throw line is where the student section can really have an effect."

Once the idea came to him, Hook didn't just take it and run. He did a lot of investigating before presenting the idea to his fellow Nittany Nation-ers.

"I ended up doing a bunch of research and making excel graphs," said Hook laughing in remembrance. "I wanted to see how we'd compare and if it was even possible."

Hook compared a few Big Ten schools in his research resulting in a pretty good percentage that he said would make for a good competition.

"I found that most of it was around 60 to 65 percent which is fairly close," said Hook. "It was pretty much even so I said alright let me start getting this together."

With Nittany Nation then president, Hook wrote a proposal for the challenge and passed it on to the athletic department.

"Our vision was to send it on to the Big Ten Network," said Hook. "I wanted to get sponsorship from them and go on from there."

Now, two years later, the Home Court Challenge is making its big debut.

Presented by the Big Ten Network, the challenge evaluates the effect of Big Ten Schools' student sections on free throw percentages.

Each team's student section partners with a charity sponsored by the BTN and must distract the opponents during free throws. Nittany Nation's chosen charity was the Four Diamonds Fund.

"When we originally thought of it being for charity, we wanted to do them," said Hook. "It just happened to work out that the Four Diamonds was one of the BTN's charities."

Combining school spirit with charity work, the challenge says that the team with the lowest total opponent free throw percentage will win a hefty donation for their partnered charity and be declared the winner.

"It's all just straight up for charity," said Hook. "They get $5,000 and there's going to be a traveling trophy for the student sections."

The 'traveling trophy' will have a nameplate updated each year for the winners.

The trophy and the donation will be awarded to the student section officers and charity representatives at the Big Ten Tournament in March.

With Hook's idea making headlines, he's still adjusting to the attention he's been receiving lately. One thing he found particularly awesome was the "brainchild thing".

"I've come up with a lot of crazy ideas and a lot of them haven't happened," said Hook. "So seeing brainchild was pretty cool. I feel like it [the Home Court Challenge] is one of my really good ideas."

When Hook shared the news with his parents, he wasn't expecting such a powerful reaction. He was proud, but to him it was not that big of a deal he said.

"I showed my Mom and Dad because we were still at home," said Hook. "My mom started crying and saying 'Oh, you're doing such great things'."

Hook's vision is now a reality, but he still has some more high hopes for the challenge.

"I hope that it grows in popularity a little a bit," said Hook. "My hope is that it becomes a school-wide thing, a tradition at all the schools."

Jan. 15, 2012

Enjoy the newest in a series of entries from the women's gymnastics team's freshmen with this entry from Alex Witt!

Hello fans, friends, and family! I hope you all had a great holiday season with your family and friends. I know it was really nice to escape the cold weather and go to Florida to see my family. But, our break did end a little sooner than most because we had to come back and train for season which was quickly approaching. It was nice coming back though, we had a good two weeks in State College with almost no students or anyone else here. And, with having no classes, it made our main focus gymnastics which was needed with our first meet only a few weeks away.

In our first meet at West Virginia, we had the highest team score in Penn State history for an opening meet. I know this gave us all a little bit of confidence and drive to get back into the gym and improve so that score can keep building from meet to meet. It seemed to help too because in our second meet at New Hampshire, we got a 196.125 which was a few tents higher than our first meets score. We will still be making adjustments and fine-tuning our skills in the gym in order to take on the rest of the season!

As for me though, I competed vault in both the West Virginia and New Hampshire meets; making a slight improvement from one meet to the other. In the New Hampshire, I had the opportunity to exhibition bars! It was so much fun just to get out there and have that feeling of competing while gaining a little bit of experience at the same time.

That is all for now, We Are...

Alex Witt

By Cassie Speno, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- The Nittany Lion women's lacrosse team has returned to Happy Valley and is set to begin pre-season practice this week. Along with the leadership of co-captains Dana Cahill and Theresa Zichelli, four other seniors, Aly Adams, Brittaney Chamberlain, Kelsey Hughes and Elaine Welch, help lead this talented squad.

These six seniors are ready to build off of last season's 10-8 record and hope to make their first NCAA appearance. These long time teammates and friends reflected on why they chose Penn State, their favorite memories as student athletes and their goals for this season.

Senior, Aly Adams a native of Springfield Pa. is coming off of her best season as a Nittany Lion. As a junior she set career highs in all six major statistical categories while starting in all 18 games. Scoring 14 goals, with a team-high six off free position opportunities. Adams finished fifth on the team in ground balls with 22 and collected 16 total draw controls.

Adams says ever since she was a little girl her dream was to attend Penn State.

"I am so happy and honored to be a Nittany Lion," said Adams. "In my last three years I have had so many great memories and most of them surround this team and lacrosse. So I hope to make this last year and season even more memorable."

Goalie and captain Dana Cahill has established herself as one of the nation's top goalkeepers. Earning First Team All-West/Midwest Region and All-ALC honors in addition to being named ALC Goalkeeper of the Year. Cahill finished the 2011 season with a 9.95 goals against average, a .466 save percentage, 150 saves, and a team-high 47 ground balls. 

Cahill's goal this season is to bring the team chemistry the squad developed during the fall into the season this spring.

"Our team is ready to surprise some people and beat some of the top teams in the country," said Cahill. "We have pushed each other hard in practice everyday and when the season comes that is when it is going to show. Ever since I came to Penn State one of my goals has been to make it to the NCAA Tournament and I think we have the ability to do that this season."

Brittaney Chamberlain, a defender from Finksburg, Md., made appearances in 11 games in the 2011 season and set career highs in caused turnovers and ground balls. A natural leader, Chamberlain says she hopes to really make an impact this season both in her play and leadership.

"I hope to be very vocal to help make the defense a tight unit," said Chamberlain. "Not only to make myself better, but also those around me."

Kelsey Hughes a Severna Park, Md. native is looking forward to making an impact on the field this season, working with Chamberlain to provide a solid effort in the defensive end. Hughes transferred from The University of Denver to Penn State her sophomore year. She enjoys attending a university that has so much spirit and pride.

"When I visited, the idea of Success with Honor really stuck with me," said Hughes. "Playing for your school and teammates over just playing for yourself. Penn State takes a lot of pride in their athletic teams and I just really wanted to be a part of a program that would not only make me a better athlete, but also a better person."

Elaine Welch a New Jersey native saw action in 17 contests, earning four starts. Welch had her best offensive season as a Nittany Lion, posting career high in goals (9) and assists (3). Welch like many Penn Staters recounted the first time she laid eyes on Beaver Stadium.  

"My very first visit to Penn State I was driving with my Dad and we could see Beaver Stadium in the distance," said Welch. "As soon as I saw it I knew this is where I wanted to be. The combination of academics, athletics and tradition this university offers is amazing."

Welch's favorite Penn State lacrosse tradition is riding over to Jeffrey field on a bus the team calls the "Blue Banana".  "We chant, listen to music and get pumped up for the game as we ride over," said Welch.

Theresa Zichelli, a three-year starter in the midfield and captain brings a tremendous amount of experience and versatility. Last season, she took on more of a defensive role, but still totaled 11 goals and a career-high 6 assists. She ended the year ranked second in the team in draw controls (27) and caused turnovers (18) and third in ground balls (34), all single season personal bests.  

Zichelli's personal goal this season is to be a larger threat on offense.

"I am ready to make a big impact on the attacking side," said Zichelli. "As a team I know our largest goal is to make it to the finals of our conference tournament and then onto the NCAA tournament. We know that it is not going to be an easy task but we have really pushed ourselves to make these goals possible. Making the NCAA tournament would be a great way to take our lacrosse program to the next level. "

The seniors are excited about the journey ahead and have high expectations for the team and their success this season. Follow the squad as they begin action on the road with an exhibition game against Cornell on Feb. 12.

Second Half:

Final Thoughts:

By Laura Finley, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Play fast without rushing.

This is what Coach Coquese Washington has been preaching to her Lady Lions this season, and it all finally came to head as Penn State beat Michigan 78-63 on Thursday night. The Lady Lions kept up a fast-paced tempo going throughout the game, rebounding missed shots on both ends of the court, which allowed them to collectively shoot 55 percent from the field.

"[The team] knew we were going to have to make some shots from the outside, and hopefully loosen things up," said Coach Washington. "They did a great job of attacking the glass and getting some offensive rebounds."

Sophomore guard Maggie Lucas continued to lead the Penn State offense, posting 22 points and shooting 3-6 outside the arc. Senior guard Zhaque Gray found her rhythm late in the game, also contributing to the offensive effort and scoring 15 points. The two players attributed their success to staying aggressive on the floor and shooting open shots.

"We were taking good shots," said Lucas. "We know we can make great shots, but when we force it, we miss."

The Wolverines opened the night with a three-pointer, jumping ahead to their only lead of the game 5-2. Within the next three minutes, Penn State took the lead, going on a 14-0 run fueled by Maggie Lucas who contributed seven points.

Defense was critical for the Lady Lions who stretched their lead in the first half to 17 points. Junior forward Mia Nickson and junior guard Alex Bentley led the team in rebounds, putting pressure on the Wolverine offense and creating open shots for the Lady Lions.

"We were pressuring the ball," said Lucas. "We were denying the first pass and sticking to our defensive roles, and it gave us a great start."

By halftime, Penn State had limited the Wolverines to 34 percent shooting from the field, allowing the Lady Lions to head into the locker room with a convincing 41-29 lead.

"During halftime we were able to talk, fix things, communicate with our teammates and let them know if we needed more help," said Lucas. "It's all about communication and we did that better in the second half."

Penn State continued to set a quick pace in the second half as Zhaque Gray came alive, tallying 11 points and allowing the team opportunities on offense. Her play did not go unnoticed, as Coach Washington saw in her a newfound confidence.

"One thing I thought [Zhaque] did tonight was she was more aggressive," said Coach Washington. "She can sometimes be a little passive in looking for our offense, but I thought she was very aggressive. She didn't just settle for the three, but she attacked the basket. I thought her aggression tonight helped her make some big shots."

The Wolverines tried to battle back from a 22-point deficit with 13:41 left in the game, but to no avail, as the Penn State offense continued to impress. The Lady Lions closed the night 78-63, winning their first conference game at home this season and improving their Big Ten record 2-2.

"Tonight we were like 'we can't [lose] again in our home court," said Lucas. "We've got to protect our home and that's what we did."

The Lady Lions will hit the road again this weekend as they travel to Lincoln, Neb., where they will face the No. 15/23 Huskers on Sunday. After their win against Michigan, Penn State's confidence is back, but Coach Washington continues to stress the importance of communication and opening up opportunities on defense.

"They're a very confident bunch," said Coach Washington. "As long as we are focused on ourselves and on what we need to do to get better, we're a very good team."

Jan. 8, 2012

Enjoy the newest in a series of entries from the women's gymnastics team's upperclassmen with this entry from Kassidy Stauder!

Hey!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday Season, I know I did! Spending time with all my friends and family during our short little break was amazing and much needed. It was super exciting to come back and get ready for the season! We came back the day after Christmas and started practices back up on the 27^th! It was awesome to finally start "season" practices. We have been having a lot of Intrasquads to get mentally and physically ready for the season. The team looks GREAT!! We are all striving to be the best we can be every day in the gym while having a high morale, which means smiling faces and lots of cheering. We all support each other in and out of the gym and are super excited to begin the journey of the 2012 season! This year's team is full of talent and we are ready to show off what we have been working so hard for. The freshmen have really stepped up, they are looking great and it will be super exciting to see them out on the floor wearing the PSU leo!!! We are heading off to West Virginia for our first meet of the season; it is a tri-meet against Maryland. We will be wearing Royal Blue ribbon in our hair all year in support of Child abuse. Right after the meet we are jumping on the bus and heading home to get ready for classes that start on Monday. I know we all enjoyed the break from school but are anxious to start back up and reach our GPA goals. We hope to see our friends, family, alumni and fans at as many meets as possible this year and appreciate the continued support from everyone so much! WE ARE... Penn State!!! WE ARE... READY TO BRING IT BACK!!!!

    Love, Kassidy

Dec. 23, 2011

Enjoy the newest in a series of entries from the women's gymnastics team's upperclassmen with this entry from Natalie Ettl and Alex Stine!

Hello again!

The end of the year is slowly approaching, but the Penn State Women's Gymnastics team is ready to bring it back!

This past couples of weeks has been going by really quickly.  Since we returned from Thanksgiving, we wrapped up school with final exams. During final exam week, we have an "open gym" policy.  This means that we came into practice at our convenience with our exam schedule.  Also during this time, the coaching staff is not allowed to give us assignments, just provide us with suggestions. 

Saturday, December 17^th, we all gathered at Jeff and Rachelle's house for a holiday breakfast.  Yes, we just said breakfast.  We all arrived to the house dressed in our pajamas.  We enjoyed a buffet style of eggs, pancakes, waffles, sausage, and fruit.  After we finished eating, we picked our Secret Santa with whom we would exchange with after the break.  We can't wait to see who has who this year! 

After we all rocked our finals and our holiday gathering, we had two practices before our Holiday Intrasquad.  We used these two practices to get us back into a routine following "open gym" week.  On Monday, December 19^th, we walked into the intrasquad, marking the beginning of our competition season.   The intrasquad turned out to be a huge success.  All the girls came in with competition day hair and make-up, in order to create a meet-like atmosphere.  We hit 28 for 29 routines!  This proved to the whole team, that we are ready to go for season!  

That's all for now,

Your Lion Bar Swingers

Enjoy the newest in a series of entries from the women's gymnastics team's freshmen with this entry from Krystal Welsh!

Hey everyone, we are the freshmen this year on the gymnastics team. We have come a long way and overcame many challenges to get to where we are at, at this point in our season. We finally are starting to adjust to the demands of school, gymnastics, and managing our free time. This past Friday we had our first experience being on the floor in Rec Hall at our Blue and White Showcase. We were combined with the men's team and divided into the blue and white groups. We showed off our skills and were judged by our celebrity judges. Although the competition was tight, the white team ultimately prevailed over the blue team. After the showcase we signed some posters and got to meet some of our younger fans. It's amazing to see how much those little girls look up to and idolize us. The showcase was just a small taste of what our season has in store for us. We can't wait to actually compete in Rec Hall, represent our school, and show what a strong team we have this year.

 As Christmas break approaches we have a few more things planned for the team. Right now Finals are beginning and everyone is hard at work studying in effort to finish our first semester in a strong manner. Before we go home for the holidays we will celebrate with a team Christmas dinner. Our team is like a family and it is important for us to make time to share the joyous season together. Our last thing planned before traveling home is our December intra squad. It is our final opportunity to put our self in a meet like situation before our first college competition at West Virginia. Until next time, WE ARE PENN STATE freshmen

Love, Lexi, Krystal, Alex

Hey everyone,

I can't believe it is already December and the first semester is almost over. It has been a long road with many different valuable experiences. I have learned so much in the past semester that I know will help me with the rest of my year. Pre-season is pretty much over and our season starts right after Christmas break and I can't wait. The upperclassmen have told me that in our competitive season, it is a lot of fun with all the traveling and competing. They especially have said that with all the traveling we do, the team becomes even more closer than before and I am very excited for that to happen.

This past weekend we had our Blue and White Showcase at Rec Hall, where both the Women's and Men's Gymnastics Team showed off their routines to the audience. We split into two teams with three girls and four guys on one team that competed on each event. This was my first time competing in Rec Hall and it was an amazing feeling. I competed all-around and had tons of fun. I can't wait for the first real home meet in Rec Hall. I hope everyone comes out and supports both the Women's and Men's Gymnastics Team at all our home meets!

We Are....Penn State!

~Krystal

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lion basketball team (9-9, 1-4) returns home Sunday to take on Minnesota (13-5, 1-4) inside the Bryce Jordan Center.

The Gophers enter the game following an upset victory (77-74) over No. 7 Indiana inside Assembly Hall, while the Lions will be looking to rebound after a 70-58 road setback to Nebraska.  The Gophers and Nittany Lions have played a series of close games inside the BJC during the last 12 meetings in Happy Valley.

Since 1998 (12-straight meetings), no game between Minnesota and Penn State in the BJC has been decided by more than 11 points.  The last four meetings at Penn State have been decided by five points or less, with the Lions going 2-3 in those contests.

The Nittany Lions have played well on their home floor throughout the 2011-'12 season.  Penn State is 7-3 in the BJC.  The three home losses were decided by a combined 12 points, and the Lions were in a position to win all three games.

The story has not been nearly as kind on the road, as the Lions are 1-5 in true road games this season.  Penn State has been a significantly different team when playing under the lights inside its home gym.  The statistics listed below tell the story.  As a team, the Lions are averaging 15.3 more points per game in home contests.  Additionally, Penn State is shooting a full eight percentage points higher at home than on the road.

Individually, Tim Frazer and Ross Travis are the only two Lions out of the 10 players who have appeared in at least 12 games who are averaging more points on the road than inside the BJC.  Frazier, who is scoring 0.9 ppg more on the road, has been tremendous everywhere in 2011-'12.  Travis' scoring average is 0.1 ppg higher on the road.


Season Scoring Averages - Home vs. Away (Minimum of 12 games played):

Season Team Scoring Averages:

Season Team Shooting Percentages:

***Note*** Stats only include Penn State's true road games. The Lions played two neutral site games in November.


Learning how to win on the road is the next step for the young Nittany Lions, and it will come with time.  Scoring only tells half of the story, though.  Penn State's success largely hinges on its defensive effort and rebounding.  The Lions must excel in both of those areas to put themselves in a position to win ballgames.

Leading up to the Minnesota contest, keeping the athletic Gophers off of the offensive glass will be crucial.  Minnesota had 16 offensive rebounds, including several down the stretch, in the victory at Indiana.  Junior forward Rodney Williams, who averages 10.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, pulled down four offensive boards himself on Thursday night.

While defense and rebounding will be the focal points for Penn State on Sunday against Minnesota, a return to the confines of the BJC is always a welcome sight for the Nittany Lions.


Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

0:00 - Penn State 78, Michigan 63
Penn State capped off a dominant night with a strong finish to a much-needed home victory.  The Lions finished with a 55 percent shooting night from the field and a 42 percent outing from beyond the mark.  Additionally, Michigan shot just 34 percent.  Lucas led the way offensively with 22 points on 8-for-15 shooting.  Gray finished with 15 points, and Alex Bentley had 12.  Nikki Greene turned in a strong outing, finishing with nine points and nine rebounds on 4-for-5 shooting.  Penn State dominated the glass, 42-32. 

By Kelsey Detweiler, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Before practice began on Tuesday afternoon, Ed Ruth sat alone atop one of the few stationary bikes in the back of the Lorenzo Wrestling Room and slowly started to peddle.

As his 34 other teammates filed into the practice room to sign posters, get stretched out and check in with their coaches, Ruth recognized a certain commonality about the Penn State squad.

"It's always the same thing," said Ruth.

The defending national champion and No. 3 Penn State wrestling team is almost halfway through the 2012 regular season with five dual meet wins and one loss under its belt. But heading into the thick of the season with eight dual meets left, the returning All-American 174 pounder said that not much changes as the year progresses.

"As soon as you get on the mat you drill hard, wrestle hard and then come off of the mat," said Ruth. "Consistency is key."

Several of the Nittany Lions recognize head coach Cael Sanderson and his coaching staff for continually setting the bar higher and higher and never accepting anything less than seven minutes of battling on the mat.

Freshman 125 pounder Nico Megaludis used himself as a fresh example of the product that such a coaching strategy is able to produce.

"The season's a bit longer and you've got to be so mentally ready for each match," said Megaludis. "Like Coach Cody [Sanderson] says, it's all about adversity and that's the season adversity, so you've just got to always take that into account."

Megaludis is among one of the five members of his team who have earned four or more dual meet victories so far this season. The freshman's only loss came in the second dual of Penn State's 2011-'12 schedule against conference foe Minnesota.

"You've just got to focus on each match," said Megaludis. "We go out there to score points and to do that it's basically all about your attitude. We focus on having a lot of will power for the whole season, and we're getting better every day."

The newcomer stood in the middle of the practice room and pointed to a few neon signs that the coaching staff recently put up that read 'I CHOOSE' in bold letters. Megaludis said that the small signs are a constant reminder to him and his teammates that their destiny is theirs and only theirs to make.

So far this season, the Lions have chosen to continue pushing for every second that they are training, practicing and competing. Penn State has almost quadrupled their dual meet opponents' scores already this year, outscoring their competition 197-50 in just six duals.

The Penn State squad will head on the road at the end of this week for a tough weekend against Big Ten competition Northwestern and Wisconsin. And the following week, the Nittany Lions will host one of their most anticipated matches of the season as they welcome the Iowa Hawkeyes to Rec Hall.

Nittany Lion sophomore Frank Martellotti, who is expected to be stepping in at the 133 spot in the next few duals, said that he is excited to be back in the action surrounded by what he calls a uniquely talented group of athletes.

Martellotti said that outside of consistency and repetition of hard work, he also notices one other important key in the Penn State strategy: Execution.

"We're just more focused because it's closer to match time but we really have the same mentality," said Martellotti. "It's nothing really physically I think just mentally is the main change there - just getting focus on what we have to do and just going out there and doing it."

What a season it has been!

From beginning of our travels in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania all the way to Dallas, Texas I have had the opportunity to meet die-hard Penn State fans from all over, sample food from famous restaurants and visit some of the greatest cities in the nation.

Each road trip was a new adventure with unique experiences and challenges. No road trip was the same. In Philadelphia we watched Penn State triumph over Temple in an NFL stadium. In Indiana we stood on the sideline next to the players all game and in Chicago we had the chance to visit the Big Ten Network headquarters. At Ohio State we learned the secrets of the campus by visiting the "Whispering Wall" designed by an engineer years ago and in Wisconsin we all tasted our first cheese curds as a team. No matter the outcome of the games the road warriors were the liveliest fans at tailgates.

Traveling to the TicketCity Bowl game in Dallas with the road warriors was an adventure I will always remember, as I had never been to a bowl game before. It is exciting to travel and visit new cities but visiting them with friends and teammates makes the experience surpass all expectations. Thank you Penn State Athletics and Chevrolet for making my last Penn State football season unforgettable.

Drive on and drive safe,

Kayla

Dallas, Dallas, Dallas...

After months of advocating my friends and family to 'like' the Lethal Lions page on Facebook, I was delighted to hear that my partner and I won the contest! I've never been to Dallas before so I knew this was going to be the opportunity of a lifetime. After five hours of travelling, seeing PSU Alumni and football players flood in the lobby of the Hyatt in Dallas I realized that Texas was where my heart belonged. These people exhibited the pride I've had from the moment I stepped foot on this campus.

I was excited to see what Dallas had to offer. After checking in and getting settled, the road warriors and myself set out to find the best eateries in town, including Chuy's a Mexican Bar and Grill. The food was amazing! Our dessert, a Mexican delicacy called, 'tres  leche' was to die for! We spent the rest of the night exploring the different sights of Dallas. The next morning, we started the day with a hearty breakfast (compliments of the Hyatt) and set off for football game. With the road warriors and myself decked out in PSU gear, we approached the Cotton Bowl stadium bubbling with excitement. I couldn't' believe how many Penn Staters I saw! Our "We Are..." chant was louder than I've ever heard it. It was a gorgeous winter morning in Dallas, with the temperature in the mid-50s. Although we did not win the game, it was amazing to see the support of not just our Alumni but from the Houston Cougars as well.

After the game, the road warriors and I visited Billy Bob's, the world's largest Honky Tonk. We checked out an arena which had live bull riding as well as a wall of famous country artists' hand impressions from before I was born! Dallas is a really urban, clean and gorgeous city. I look forward to visiting it again in the future. I would like to thank Chevrolet for putting together The Sonic Road Warriors Challenge, and the PSU Alumni association for planning all the prideful events that we got to take part in. It was an absolute delight to explore Dallas! 

Drive on and drive safe,

Tracey

By Jeff Sattora, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Non-conference play in sports is one thing; conference play is a whole other world.

The Penn State Lady Lions are starting to really get into the thick of it in that second world and ready to make a statement Thursday night.

The squad is looking to come back strong at home against the Michigan Wolverines following a tough 75-65 loss against Michigan State this past weekend.

This will be the same Michigan team that is coming off over a win against the previously unbeaten and eighth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes in their last game.

Defense is going to be key for the Lady Lions, as they get ready to get back on the right track.

"Michigan is playing good basketball right now," said head coach Coquese Washington.  "They play that five-out motion and everybody can shoot the three."

"We've got out work cut out for us defensively to keep people in front of us and not give up wide open shots," Washington added. 

Not giving up open shoots really hurt the Lady Lions over the weekend as they gave up 11 three-pointers in the loss to a Spartans team that shot just over 38 percent from the field.

Both coaches and players know that it is going to take a stronger effort than that if they want to get their second Big Ten win of the season and come back up to 2-2 in conference play.

"They are pretty much a guard-oriented team where everyone is kind of interchangeable," said Penn State forward Nikki Greene.  "It's going to be key for us to defend whatever they throw at us."

"If we communicate I feel like our defense will be effective," guard Zhaque Gray added.

While defense seems to be number one on the minds of the staff and players right now, the offensive end is going to be important as well for the home team, specifically not turning the ball over or falling in a hole early in the game, two things that they did against the Michigan State on Saturday.

"We need to focus on our execution, what Coquese wants to be done," Greene said.  "Focus on the small details and don't rush anything."

Making sure the team doesn't rush and plays under control is a factor that Gray mentioned as well looking ahead.

"We need to play fast without rushing," Gray said.

That will be extra important against a team like Michigan that Washington pointed out really likes to run up and down the floor and play at a quicker pace.

Despite a 1-2 Big Ten record for the predicted preseason conference champion Lady Lions confidence has stayed high moving forward.

"Our confidence is still high," Greene said.

"We feel that 1-12 everybody (the teams in the conference) are good, but anybody can be beaten." Gray added.  "It's going to be a battle every night."

"Our conference is really competitive," said Coach Washington.  "We need to play the way we're capable of playing to be successful."

That team will take their first step back towards that Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Bryce Jordan Center.  Penn State will be looking to gain some momentum back and get on the right track with a win before a two game Big Ten road trip starts over the weekend. 

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State fans have asked about head coach Bill O'Brien's thoughts and viewpoints on a number of topics pertaining to his coaching style, the football program, recruiting, the uniforms and more.  Below is a collection of quotes from Coach O'Brien on several topics.

Coaching Style
"I'm fair.  I am definitely intense, especially in the football environment, on the practice field and during games.  I want to give the players a chance to definitely prove themselves to our staff.  We are going to do a good job teaching them the type of systems we want to run.  We are going to be a very competitive team amongst ourselves and then out on the field."

Offensive Philosophy
"It is a gameplan offense.  People ask me all the time what that means.  What we are going to do is evaluate our team when we get in here as soon as we can.  It probably won't happen until after recruiting.  We will start a little bit of that in the next phase, but really we are going to start grinding that out after recruiting.  It is a gameplan offense where we take our players and look at what the defense is doing.  We put our players in the best position to make plays against that defense.  It is multiple formation, multiple personnel using a lot of different players in a lot of different places.  It takes a smart instinctive player to play in this system at every position, but we are going to do a good job of teaching it to our guys and getting them going on it." 

Defensive Philosophy
"We are going to try and continue the long tradition of defensive success.  We have already heard that we have a really good front seven coming back.  We are going to be a multiple look defense.  The best defenses that I have ever gone against are the ones that change it up on every snap, keep you guessing and keep you on your heels.  That is what we are going to do.  We are going to play a little bit of man coverage.  We are going to play zone coverage.  We are going to blitz zone.  We are going to blitz man.  We are going to change the front often.  We are going to go from an odd front to a four down front to what we call a bear front.  We are going to be an attacking style defense.  I can't wait to show our guys what we are going to do there."

On Challenges of Becoming a Head Coach
"There is going to be a certain amount of learning on the job.  There is no question about that.  But we are going to have a very strong staff.  I believe that in a situation like this that the more you can surround yourself with strong people that have either been head coaches or been in prominent positions in organizations or football programs, I think that you can't go wrong doing it that way.  I am a fast learner and I have some really good ideas of how we want to do things, but again, I will have a lot of really good people around me to help me, too."

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - GoPSUsports.com sat down with Penn State associate head coach Cody Sanderson for the latest installment of This Week In Penn State Wrestling.  Coach Sanderson talks about the Southern Scuffle, the Michigan State dual and previews this week's action at Northwestern and Wisconsin.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Nittany Lion basketball coach Patrick Chambers is pleased with his team's effort during a two-game homestand that included a 20-point victory over Purdue and a narrow six-point setback to No. 12 Indiana, but he wants to see more on defense.

Penn State (9-8, 1-3) played with the intensity and effort level Coach Chambers is looking for every time it steps on the floor, but the leader of Penn State men's hoops does not believe in moral victories.

At his weekly press conference on Monday afternoon, Coach Chambers said that giving up 88 points to the Hoosiers is a number that will be the focal point of preparations leading up to Penn State's third all-time trip to Nebraska (first Big Ten) on Wednesday night.

Since joining the Big Ten in 1992-'93, the Nittany Lions have scored more than 80 points and lost just seven times.  The last time it happened was in 2001 against Ohio State (93-87).  Penn State is 22-7 in Big Ten games when it scores more than 80 points.

"For us to score in the 80s, we should win," Coach Chambers said.

The Nittany Lions spent time at Monday's practice working on the third and fourth rotations at the defensive end of the floor.  Indiana's offense found success beyond the arc on the aforementioned rotations.

"We've got to be a team that defends and rebounds," Coach Chambers said.  "We can't out-score teams. That's not our identity. Our identity is scrappy and gritty for 40 minutes. We didn't do that. So, we will go back to work and try and get back to our identity."

Moving forward, Coach Chambers and the Nittany Lion players know that defense and rebounding will be the staples for Penn State's success.  Sophomore guard Matt Glover said before practice on Monday that regardless of what happens on the offensive end of the floor, if the Lions play with great effort on defense and on the glass, they will be in a position to win basketball games.

While Sunday's result was not what Coach Chambers and the players wanted, the team is headed in the right direction.  The next step is learning how to carry the effort and intensity from the past two games onto the road.

Wednesday's clash in Lincoln will be a very good barometer for the young Nittany Lions.  Coach Chambers said on Monday that the team is still learning how to win games on the road.

Nebraska is seeking its first conference win of the season after a tight loss at Illinois on Saturday.  The Cornhuskers have three players averaging double figures - Bo Spencer 14.6, Jorge Brian Diaz 10.7, Toney McCray 10.5.  The Huskers defend well and like to slow down the tempo.

GoPSUsports.com talked with sophomore guard Matt Glover and redshirt freshman forward Jon Graham about the team's effort, playing defense, their roles on the team and looking ahead to Nebraska prior to practice on Monday.  Take a look.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State head coach Bill O'Brien is back in Foxboro preparing for the Patriots' NFL Divisional Playoff matchup against the Denver Broncos.

Prior to leaving town after a whirlwind introductory weekend in Happy Valley, GoPSUsports.com sat down with Coach O'Brien for a second conversation on camera.  Among the topics discussed included football coaching style, his philosophies on offense and defense, his plan of evaluating the returning players, recruiting and more.

Take a look at a lengthy conversation with the new leader of Penn State football.

VIDEO: Nittany Lion Offensive Players Talk About Coach O'Brien

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - After meeting with new head coach Bill O'Brien for the first time on Sunday night, defensive tackle Jordan Hill and linebacker Michael Mauti talked about their initial impressions of their new leader.

VIDEO: Nittany Lion Defensive Players Talk About Coach O'Brien

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Head coach Bill O'Brien talked to the returning players on the Nittany Lion roster at 5 p.m. on Sunday night at the Lasch Building.

Shortly after meeting Coach O'Brien for the first time, several players addressed the media with great excitement to kick off a new era Penn State football.  Quarterback Matt McGloin said that he got chills during the squad meeting listening to Coach O'Brien talk about some of the things he would like to do on offense at Penn State.

Take a look at comments from McGloin, running back Silas Redd and wide receiver Justin Brown.  Stay tuned tomorrow for reaction from defensive tackle Jordan Hill and linebacker Michael Mauti.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Sunday was another busy day for head coach Bill O'Brien in Happy Valley.  The new leader of Penn State football met with staff members and the returning players on the squad, in addition to attending the Penn State-Indiana men's basketball game at the Bryce Jordan Center.

Take a look at the reception Coach O'Brien received after being introduced at the men's hoops game.  Additionally, listen to him talk about his first 24 hours on the job.

By Jeff Sattora, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. Coming off a double-digit Big Ten win on the road and with a national CBS audience and big crowd watching everything seemed in line for the Penn State Lady Lions to have a strong showing Saturday and get the win against Michigan State team at home in the Bryce Jordan Center.

Unfortunately for the Lady Lions no one told the Spartans of their plans, as Michigan State roared out to a 46-24 halftime lead and held on to beat the Lady Lions 75-65 in Big Ten play.

The Spartans came out hot behind the sharpshooting of Taylor Alton, who was 6-for-9 from three-point range with 20 points, and put the Lions in a hole early on in the game.

The Lions struggled all night long never seeming to get into a real rhythm on the offensive end, with 25 turnovers on the game, including 14 in the first half alone.

"That was a factor in the game," said head coach Coquese Washington.  "We had too many turnovers and we gave them scores in transition."

"In particular in the second half when we were making our comeback, there were a couple instances where we cut it to six, where we would turn the ball over or they would get a rebound and score in transition," Washington added, on how the team was unable to get over the hump in the second 20 minutes of play.

Despite the turnovers the defensive effort really seemed to be what the team focused on after the tough loss.

"The biggest thing defensively was we weren't communicating," said Coach Washington.  "We were very silent on the defensive end. With team defense, you have to talk about what's happening on the floor."

While Michigan State came out firing in the first half and was able to build a big lead the second half became the Maggie Lucas show as Lucas was a bright spot for the Lions scoring a career high 33 points, with 28 of those coming in the second half.

"That's a team that can score in bunches and in a hurry, especially when Maggie Lucas is hitting fade away, falling down shots," said Michigan State head coach Suzy Merchant.  "I don't think she was wide open. I thought some of those were contested to the point where we were fouling her. She's a heck of a player."

Lucas helped to energize a strong crowd in the BJC as the Lions were able to cut the game to four with fewer than two minutes to go before a layup by Michigan State stretched it to six and the Spartans pulled away.

"We wanted to get the win, we were fired up. We just rallied together but it was a little too late," a dejected Lucas said post game.

Going forward the preseason Big Ten favorite Penn State squad has fallen to 1-2 in Big Ten action.  Despite the record they are not feeling like they are in any trouble moving forward.

"You don't want to think of it as a hole because then you are going to start pressuring yourself," Lucas said.  "You just have to take it one game at a time and stick to what our coaches lay out for us."

"It's not a hole. It's three games," Coach Washington added.   "There are 13 games left, which isn't a big hole. We don't worry about that."

The Lions will take on the first of those 13 games left as they take on the Michigan Wolverines Thursday at 6 p.m. at home in the Bryce Jordan Center.

First Half:

15:57 - Penn State 6, Indiana 6
Things have been very even in the first few minutes of action.  The game has the feel of a defensive battle early with good pressure defense by both teams.  Matt Glover put the Lions on the board first before Jon Graham provided a jump-hook in the lane.  Jermaine Marshall knocked down a pair of free throws.  The Nittany Lions will be working for their points with superb on-ball defensive pressure from the Hoosiers.

7:36 - Indiana 30, Penn State 22
Indiana came into the game shooting better than 50 percent from the field as a team in Big Ten play.  That theme has carried into Happy Valley with a superb display of long distance shooting in the first half.  After missing their first two 3-pointers, IU has made seven-straight triples en route to a eight-point lead.  Jordan Hulls is 4-for-4 from beyond the arc for 12 points.  Indiana is shooting nearly 80 percent from 3-point.  Penn State must do a better job defending the arc, but the Lions need to find some consistency on the offensive end of the floor.  Shooting 38 percent from the field and 2-for-8 from behind the line makes things very difficult against a superb Indiana team.

1:59 - Indiana 37, Penn State 32
Indiana rattled off a 15-4 thanks to its red-hot perimeter shooting.  Hulls drained his fifth 3-pointer of the half before a pair of Hoosier baskets in the paint.  The end result was an 11-point lead (37-26) for the crimson and cream.  Penn State needed to answer, and it did in the form of a one-handed flush from Ross Travis.  Travis' dunk triggered a 6-0 scoring burst to trim the lead down to five.  Penn State has put itself in a position to compete.  The Lions need a solid 1:59 on the defensive end of the floor to head into the break with some confidence.

0:00 - Indiana 42, Penn State 37
Penn State weathered a big surge from the Hoosiers to keep things within striking distance heading into the locker room.  The Lions did a superb job getting into the paint around the basket to manufacture a 9-0 scoring run.  Penn State showed great poise in the first half to hang tough when the Hoosiers were knocking down seven-straight 3-pointers.  Nonetheless, the Nittany Lions need to play more consistently on the offensive end of the floor in the second half.  Frazier led the way with 12 points, while Marshall tallied nine.  Graham eclipsed his career-high in the first half already with nine points on 3-for-3 shooting in the paint.  The coaching staff expected a dogfight heading into Sunday's game, and it appears we have one shaping up for the final 20 minutes of play.

Second Half:

Final Thoughts:

VIDEO: One-on-One with Coach O'Brien

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - New head football coach Bill O'Brien arrived in Happy Valley with his wife, Colleen, and youngest son, Michael, on Friday night to kick off a whirlwind introductory weekend.

Coach O'Brien's schedule was booked from 10 a.m. on Saturday through the evening hours with meetings, his introductory press conference, media interviews, a speech with high school football coaches, an appearance at the Lady Lions game and more meetings.  The day wrapped up with a trip on the field for Colleen and Michael at Beaver Stadium.

GoPSUsports.com followed Coach O'Brien and his family on Saturday to provide a behind the scenes look at the first day on the job as the leader of Penn State football.

Sunday's schedule includes an appearance at the Nittany Lion basketball game against Indiana and a meeting with the current players on the roster at 5 p.m.


Stay tuned for much more on the hiring of coach Bill O'Brien in the coming days.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State football head coach Bill O'Brien was officially introduced on Saturday morning shortly after 11:30 a.m. at the Nittany Lion Inn.

Following his formal introductory press conference, Coach O'Brien sat down with GoPSUsports.com for a one-on-one interview.  The new leader of Penn State football discussed a wide range of topics, including the process of accepting the job and his thoughts on the traditional uniform look of the Nittany Lions on the field.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Fresh off a 20-point victory over Purdue on Thursday night, the Nittany Lion basketball team (9-7, 1-2) is slated to take on No. 12 Indiana (14-1, 2-1) inside the Bryce Jordan Center on Sunday at noon.

Boosted by a 21-point effort from junior forward Billy Oliver and a superb defensive performance, the Lions stifled the visiting Boilermakers for their first conference win of the season.  Penn State played hard for 40 minutes on Thursday night, and exuded the type of effort Coach Chambers wants to see out his squad every time its steps onto the floor.

Led by five players in double figures, Indiana is a very balanced offensive basketball team that averages 51 percent shooting as a unit.  Junior Christian Watford is averaging 20.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game in conference play.  Standout freshman Cody Zeller leads the team in scoring for the season at 14.5 tallies per contest.

Indiana's lone loss came at the hands of Michigan State, but the Hoosiers have victories over then No. 1 Kentucky and then No. 2 Ohio State.  The Hoosiers are a very good basketball team that can score in a large variety of ways.

GoPSUsports.com talked with assistant coach Keith Urgo leading up to Sunday's clash with Indiana. Take a look.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Bill O'Brien became the 15th leader of Penn State football in its storied 125 seasons on the gridiron following an official announcement on Friday evening.

The current offensive coordinator of the NFL's top seed in the AFC, New England Patriots, brings 19 years of coaching experience to the Nittany Lion football program.  Let's take a closer look at O'Brien's path to Happy Valley.

1990-'92 - Brown (Player)
O'Brien served as a linebacker and defensive end for Brown University.  He was a three-year letterman and graduated in 1992 with a bachelor of arts degree with a double concentration in political science and behavior management.

1993-'94 - Brown (Coach)
He began his coaching career at Brown in 1993 where he coached the tight ends.  In 1994, O'Brien served as the inside linebackers coach for Brown.

1995-2002 - Georgia Tech
O'Brien joined the staff at Georgia Tech where he spent three seasons as an offensive graduate assistant.  He began a three-year stint as the Yellow Jackets' running backs coach in 1998 ('98-2000).  In each of his three seasons leading the running backs, Georgia Tech finished no worse than third in the ACC in rushing.  He also served as the recruiting coordinator in 1999 and 2000.  During his final two seasons at Georgia Tech, O'Brien was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, in addition to being assistant head coach in 2002.  He worked under George O'Leary (1994-2001) and Chan Gailey (2002) while at Georgia Tech.

2003-'04 - Maryland
Following his stint at Georgia Tech, O'Brien spent two seasons as the running backs coach under Ralph Friedgen at Maryland.  The Terrapins finished second in the ACC rushing rankings and defeated West Virginia in the Gator Bowl during the 2003 season.

2005-'06 - Duke
He completed a two-year stint with the Blue Devils where he served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

2007-'11 - New England Patriots
O'Brien's most recent stop during his career was in New England.  He originally joined the Patriots staff in 2007 before one season as the wide receivers coach (2008), two seasons as the quarterbacks coach (2009-'10) and one season as the offensive coordinator (2011).  In 2008, despite losing quarterback Tom Brady in week one of the season, receivers Wes Welker and Randy Moss both finished with 1,000-yard seasons under the leadership of O'Brien.  Brady earned Pro Bowl selections in each of the three seasons under the guidance of O'Brien, including an NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year honor in 2010.  This season, the Patriots offense played an instrumental role in a 13-3 season.  Brady finished second in the NFL in passing yardage with 5,235 yards.  As a team, New England averaged 428.0 yards per game (2nd in NFL), 317.8 passing yards per game (2nd in NFL) and 32.1 points per game (3rd in NFL).  O'Brien has worked with some of the most innovative players and coaches during his time in the NFL.  New England is the No. 1 seed in AFC for upcoming NFL Playoffs.

Personal
Born on Oct. 23, 1969 in Dorchester, Mass., O'Brien was raised in Andover.  He and his wife, Colleen, have two sons, Jack and Michael.

Leading Penn State
The 15th leader of Penn State football inherits a Nittany Lion squad coming off a 9-4 season.  Despite graduating 23 seniors, the Nittany Lions return a great deal of talent on both sides of the ball.  In all, the Lions return significant playing experience to nine different spots on offense, 11 spots on defense and at kicker/ punter from the 2011 squad.  Penn State's offseason officially begins today with a new leader directing the program.  In 239 days, a new chapter of Penn State football will begin at Beaver Stadium when the Nittany Lions charge out of the South Tunnel under the direction of head coach Bill O'Brien during the season-opener against Ohio.


Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

By Scott Marino

Training trip is truly a unique time of the year for the swimming team. While we have to leave our families and friends at home after the holidays, we get to travel to Naples, Florida for some quality time as a team both in and out of the pool. 

We all arrived down here in Florida on the 28^th of December.  Everyone made it safely, with minimal glitches in travel plans.  We hit the ground running from our first afternoon practice and we haven't looked back.  From a training standpoint, this is a great couple of weeks to put in a good amount of work in the pool without the distractions of schoolwork and with the added benefit of being in warmer weather while training in an outdoor facility that can accommodate the whole team at once.  We are also able to train both long course meters in the morning and short course yards in the afternoon.  This allows for a lot of practice variations and different approaches to workouts. 

This whole year, there has been a stress on making the most out of every opportunity that is given to us.  Training trip is a perfect time for the team to take advantage of a huge opportunity.  We are able to workout without the stress or schoolwork and classes.  Instead of having to go to a class period, we are able to use the time in between practices to recover, nap, and relax before our next workout.  From speaking with my fellow teammates who swim in different groups, it is fair to say that the team has been doing some great work thus far and we are looking to finish out the next couple of days with just as great work as we started with.

Training trip is not only a great time to get in quality training, but also a time for the team to mesh together in a different environment than our own campus.  This is equally as important as the training in creating a strong team culture.  With more free time, we get to hang out more often with teammates we may not see as much during the busy school days.  Everyone enjoyed an afternoon trip to the beach on New Years day, where we got a fair amount of sun and had a great time relaxing and hanging out with each other; surely not something we are able to do in Pennsylvania at this time of year. 

While staying in Florida, we also get to room with teammates that we may have never lived with before.  This allows for teammates to interact with the other guys from different classes and training groups.  My fellow roommates, Matt Salig (sophomore) and Kurtis Ratcliff (freshman), are teammates who I get to train with, but don't have the opportunity to live with, so it is fun to hang out with them during our down time.  Looking back upon my own freshmen year, I recall training trip as the time when I became closest with my friends and teammates.  It was a time when I realized how much I truly enjoyed being around my team, even during the many hours of tiring workouts.

While we may be in for some cooler weather in the next coming days, the team has a positive outlook upon the last couple days of the trip.  We know that there is still more tough training to come, yet it is not without fun times with teammates before heading back to Penn State for the start of another semester.

Penn State Proud,

Scott Marino

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Following a dominant road victory against Wisconsin on Monday, the Lady Lions (11-3, 1-1) return to the Bryce Jordan Center on Saturday afternoon (2 p.m.) for a clash on CBS against Michigan State (10-5, 2-0).

Penn State will play on CBS at home for the first time since 2000, and the Lady Lion players are eager to play on national TV against a physical Michigan State squad.  GoPSUsports.com caught up with forward Mia Nickson and guard Maggie Lucas for their thoughts leading up to Saturday's game.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - It was Oct. 19, the sixth day of practice for head coach Patrick Chambers and the Penn State hoops team.

The squad was amidst running fastbreak drills when Coach Chambers blew the whistle hanging around his neck to stop practice.

Junior forward Billy Oliver had just missed a transition 3-pointer on the right wing.  Coach Chambers yelled to a pair of managers to pass him a basketball.  He proceeded to fire pass after pass after pass to Oliver in the exact same spot on the floor for nearly 30 consecutive seconds.

The Chatham, N.J., native drained roughly 70 percent of the shot attempts.  When he was finished, Coach Chambers had a message to Oliver.

"I don't care if you miss 20 in a row; I want you to shoot No. 21," exclaimed Chambers.

That type of positive energy from Coach Chambers in the direction of the players on the roster has been the theme since day one.  Coach Chambers has 100 percent confidence in Oliver making shots every time he touches the basketball.

Oliver played the best game of his Penn State career on Thursday night in the 65-45 rout of Purdue inside the Bryce Jordan Center.  Oliver drained two open 3-pointers in the opening 3:44 and never looked back.  He finished with a career-high 21 points and seven 3-pointers.

"He's got it in him," Chambers said.  "Not to just do it once-in-a-while either; he's got it in him. He's got to play with great confidence. Tim (Frazier) got him wide-open shots and when Billy plays like that it really opens up things for Tim, too. So now, you don't know who to stop, which is a good thing."

The 6-8 forward came to Penn State having scored 1,300 points in high school.  Oliver's jump shot has looked good from the day he stepped on campus, but confidence and injuries played a big role in limiting his success during his first three years on the roster.

But this season has been different.  With Coach Chambers' belief that Oliver can play like he did on Thursday in every game, the Nittany Lion forward illustrated that he can perform at a different level.  There was no hesitation from Oliver on any of his 11 3-point attempts against Purdue.  While he went 7-for-11, every shot looked like it was going in when it left his hand.

"It's about time a couple fell," Oliver said.  "It's a testament to (Tim Frazier) driving the wing.  He's got four guys on him and somehow he still picks out a pass and puts it in the shooting pocket. All the hard work comes from him and the other guys creating my shots."

Oliver would love to top the 20-point mark on a nightly basis, but becoming another scoring option alongside Tim Frazier is what the Nittany Lions need to succeed.

"Every day you have to start form shooting and get back working hard," Oliver said.  "And that's not just me; it's the entire team coming in extra, coming in at night. Some day's you're feeling it and, like I said, it's the other guys who are getting me the shots."

The Nittany Lions will now look to carry Thursday's effort over into a showdown with No. 12 Indiana inside the Bryce Jordan Center on Sunday at noon.


Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Take a look back at Penn State's dominant, 65-45 victory over Purdue inside the Bryce Jordan Center on Thursday night.


Welcome to the GoPSUsports.com in-game blog for the Nittany Lion basketball team.

We will bring you coverage from tonight's matchup between Penn State (8-7, 0-2) and Purdue (12-3, 2-0) inside the Bryce Jordan Center.  The Nittany Lions host the Boilers in the Big Ten home opener.

Pregame Reading

- Second Scorer

Nittany Lion guard Jermaine Marshall has quietly stepped into the role of becoming Penn State's second scorer alongside Tim Frazier.  Marshall has scored in double digits seven times in the last eight games while shooting better than 42 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.  The eight-game span includes two 20-point outings and a 14-point performance against Northwestern on Sunday.  Having a second scorer to complement Frazier's 17.3 scoring average against the Boilers is crucial.

- Defense

Through two conference games, Purdue leads the Big Ten in shooting percentage at 53 percent.  That number is with standout senior forward Robbie Hummel shooting just 35 percent in Big Ten play.  Hummel will not stay at 35 percent for much longer.  The Boilers' leading scorer is due for a good game.  Needless to say, the Nittany Lions must contest shots and force Purdue into difficult scoring chances with good on-ball defense.

- Turnovers

Purdue head coach Matt Painter's teams are always sound on the defensive end of the floor.  Penn State must take care of the basketball for 40 minutes against the Boilers.  On the other end of the floor, Purdue is ranked third in the nation in fewest turnovers (9.7 per game).

Check back throughout the game for updates at every media timeout.

Starting Lineups

Penn State: G - Frazier, G - Glover, G - Marshall, F - Graham, F - Oliver

Purdue: G - Lewis Jackson, G - Ryne Smith, F - Kelsey Barlow, F - Robbie Hummel, F - Jacob Lawson


First Half:

15:57 - Penn State 11, Purdue 6
The high intensity series of practices in the BJC has translated into a very good start for the Nittany Lions.  Penn State has been aggressive on the offensive end of the floor from the word go.  A pair of 3-pointers from Billy Oliver, a triple from Tim Frazier and a lay-in from Jon Graham, who made his first career start tonight, has put the Lions up by five.  Playing with high energy is what the Nittany Lions need.

11:51 - Penn State 17, Purdue 6

Purdue is a team regarded around the Big Ten as a squad that plays extremely hard night in and night out.  Through eight-plus minutes of action, Penn State has played harder than the Boilers.  The Nittany Lions lead by 11, but diving on the floor for loose balls and superb defense on the ball has really separated the two squads.  Penn State is currently on a 9-0 scoring run thanks to a driving layup from Frazier.  The Lions have exerted the type of effort necessary to contend in Big Ten play through the early portions of the first half.

7:52 - Penn State 20, Purdue 12
Penn State's lead grew to 12, but the Boilers have scored the last four points to slice the lead down to eight.  Purdue has done a better job on the defensive end of the floor, but Lions' defense has been superb.  The Boilers came into the game shooting a conference-best 53 percent from the field in the first two conference games are sitting at 30 percent for tonight's game.

0:00 - Penn State 32, Purdue 18
It is hard to assess whether Penn State played a better half on offense or defense against a solid Purdue squad.  Beginning on the offensive end of the floor, a pair of Oliver 3-pointers fueled an 8-1 scoring burst to close out the half.  Oliver led the way with 12 points on four 3-pointers.  Defensively, Penn State limited the Boilers to 27 percent shooting and without a field goal during the final 6:46.  The effort the Nittany Lions exerted on both ends of the floor was superb.  Additionally, Purdue came into the game averaging just 9.7 turnovers per game.  Penn State forced seven in the first half.  The Lions out-rebounded Purdue, 19-12 in the first 20 minutes, as well.  You could not ask for much more from the Lions defensively in a very strong first half.  Nonetheless, 20 minutes of basketball is a lot of time.

Second Half:

15:35 - Penn State 36, Purdue 30
Purdue came out of the locker room with a renewed sense of urgency.  The Boilermakers used a 7-2 run, including five-straight tallies from Hummel to trim the 14-point lead down to 34-25 in the first three minutes of the second half.  Purdue continued its scoring surge with another basket from Hummel and a 3-pointer from D.J. Byrd in the corner.  Penn State must find a way to answer on the offensive end of the floor.

11:54 - Penn State 43, Purdue 33
The Nittany Lions got the offensive surge they needed in the form of a 7-0 spurt to push the lead back up to double digits at the 12:34 mark.  Oliver knocked down his fifth 3-pointer of the ballgame to give the junior a career-high 15 points.  However, Oliver committed his fourth personal foul heading into the timeout.  Penn State is 7-for-16 from 3-point range for the night.

7:57 - Penn State 54, Purdue 38
A big 3-pointer from Nick Colella in front of the Penn State bench handed the Lions their largest lead of the night (52-36).  Purdue answered, but Frazier came right back with a shot off the glass to push the lead back up to 16 points.  The Lions are doing the little things necessary to score a victory, but there is still a lot of basketball to play.  Look for another surge from the Boilermakers.

3:13 - Penn State 62, Purdue 43
The red-hot shooting from Oliver has been a huge factor in Penn State's strong performance.  The New Jersey native drained his sixth long ball of the night to put the Lions up 59-43 with the clock reading 4:58 to play.  Oliver was not done.  On the next Penn State possession, he made it seven 3-pointers on the night for 21 points.  As we mentioned in the first half, Penn State is playing harder than Purdue on both ends of the floor and the scoreboard is a good indicator of that.

0:00 - Penn State 65, Purdue 45
The Nittany Lions closed the game on a 9-2 run to solidify a statement 20-point victory over the Boilermakers on Thursday night.  Oliver was tremendous, sinking seven 3-pointers for a career-high 21 points.  Frazier finished with 15 points and nine assists, while Marshall tallied 10 points.  Matt Glover tallied a career-high 10 assists.  The Nittany Lions dominated the glass, out-rebounding Purdue 38-26.

Final Thoughts:

Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lion basketball team (8-7, 0-2) hosts Purdue (12-3, 2-0) on Thursday night at 8 p.m. (BTN) in the first Big Ten home game during the Chambers Era.

Penn State returns to action following a pair of road setbacks at Michigan and Northwestern, while Purdue travels to State College looking for its second consecutive 3-0 start in Big Ten competition.  The Boilers defeated Iowa (79-76) and Illinois (75-60) to open conference play.

Led by seniors Robbie Hummel, Lewis Jackson and Ryne Smith, Purdue is a veteran squad that takes very good care of the basketball.  Purdue is ranked third nationally in turnovers per game (9.7).  Additionally, the Boilers are first in the conference, through two games, in shooting percentage at 53 percent.

Hummel leads the team in scoring at 16.5 points per contest.  The senior forward is a tremendous shooter from everywhere on the offensive end of the floor.  Additionally, juniors Kelsey Barlow (13.0) and off the bend D.J. Byrd are both averaging better than 11 points per game in conference matchups.

Playing hard for 40 minutes has been the theme of Penn State's long practices this week.  GoPSUsports.com talked with assistant coach Keith Urgo about practice and preparing for the Boilermakers.  Take a look.

By Alexa Hetzel

Hello Penn State Fans,

Happy New Year to you all! I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Years with family a friends.  I'm hopeful each one of you got to see a member of the team over break.

For the last week, we've spent our time training in Florida.  The bus pulled from McCoy Natatorium around 12 noon on December 27^th and drove through the day to get into Naples Florida around 11:30 am, the next morning.  For the 20 of us that were on the bus we spent our time watching movies, listening to music, reading and playing words with friends.  We passed the time together and made it safely.  The rest of the team met us at the hotel.

Since our first day we hit the pavement running.  Our training has taken the usual turn towards the peak of the season and I must say I've never been so impressed with everyone.  Spirits are up and the team is taking "training trip" to a whole new level.  Our determination to suceed continues to get stronger as we get deeper and deeper into the trip and our bodies get more and more sore.  But as we see it, there's no snow here!  Just beautiful sun and fortunetly no one has been singed by the sun too badly.

On New Year's Day we spent our afternoon away from the pool and on the beach.  As we walked past the rest of the beach goers we somewhat glowed from our lighter color skin and of course, traveld as the "blob".  The "Blob" is our nickname when we all walk together in a giant group, usually to breakfast after morning practice or to dinner after afternoon, but the "blob" reformed as we marched our way through the sand to our spot.  The water was cool and refreshing and we spent time on the sand bank not too far of shore.  And to our amazement we saw dolphins for the second year in a row.

And in true Penn State spirit the team spent the day between practices watching the bowl game.  Watching our fellow Penn Staters, student-athletes and best of all friends, play for the win.  Whether they won or not it still reunited all Penn Staters across the country.  It brought the good back to us all and showed that we will stand strong, together till the end.  That is something to be proud of and I am.

As the trip enters its second week more fun awaits the team.  Tonight, January 3^nd, we will spend as a girls team figuring out who Santa is for girl and coach on the team.  It should be an eventful night!  January 4^th we take on UNC in our annual meet and it should be a good, fast meet.  It'll be a good showing of how much stronger this trip has made us.  And our last hoorah together we will spend Thursday, January 5^th, in our annual Bake Off.  Our competitive nature comes out as we strive to be the best bakers we can! 

So stay tuned for who the best "Bettey Crocker" is!

Until next time...WEstill ARE!