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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - While the first day of official practice is still
74 days away, the Nittany Lion basketball team has been busy in the practice
gym and weight room during July.
The coaching staff is permitted to work with team two hours per week. All 14 of
the Nittany Lions are on campus taking classes and working out, including
newcomers Devin Foster, Shep Garner and Isaiah Washington.
Senior guard D.J. Newbill's offseason has been a busy one. The Philly native
spent time at the Kevin Durant Skills Academy (Washington, D.C.) in June.
Newbill was also invited to the LeBron James Skills Academy (Las Vegas) in
early July, where he played against the four-time NBA MVP in some pick-up
games.
"It was cool," Newbill said.
"We actually played on the same team, me and LeBron, so it was kind of like
give him the ball and stayed out of the way kind of. But it was cool just
chatting with him for a little bit. He's a real down to earth guy, real
humble."
Newbill was pleased with how things transpired at the two camps over the
summer. Now, his focus is solely on helping the Nittany Lions get ready for the
season.
"As soon as I got back, it was right back to work," Newbill said. "...It's time
to get the guys ready. We have a great season ahead of us, and we have to be
ready for it."
Junior Brandon Taylor is looking build on a strong sophomore campaign in
2014-'15. Taylor lost 10 pounds during the first half of the offseason to
improve his speed and quickness as he transitions into a wing position.
"I've been in the gym constantly, working on my
ball handling and guard work," Taylor said. "I've been working on staying low,
working on my footwork, and the little things that go with being on the wing to
help get my game to where it needs to be.
Catch
up with the Nittany Lions during the summer workout period.
Follow
GoPSUsports.com's Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony
VIDEO: Lift for Life Player Interviews | Photo Gallery: 2014 Lift for Life
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Saturday's 12th annual Lift For Life was a
resounding success with the offense topping the defense by a score of 30-24 in
a six-event, head-to-head strength and conditioning competition to benefit the
Kidney Cancer Association through Penn State's chapter of Uplifting Athletes.
For the fourth-straight year, the funds raised at Lift For Life were on pace to
reach record heights. With donation figures still to be finalized, the 2014
Uplifting Athletes fundraising efforts have the 12-year total nearing the $1
million mark. Fans can still make a Lift For Life
donation by visiting the Penn State Uplifting Athletes donation page HERE.
Sunny skies and a crowd of approximately 2,500 fans greeted the Nittany Lions
at the Penn State Lacrosse Field on Saturday. The upperclassmen participated in
the head-to-head competition pitting the offense against the defense. Simultaneously,
the true freshmen ran in a mini Lift for Life kids clinic with more than 100
participants on the turf at the lacrosse field.
 The Nittany Lions put on a show for the fans in attendance with an exhibition
in six strenuous events. The competition featured five rotations of one-on-one
battles in the "dominator" shuttle run, deadlift, sled push, tire flip, tug run
(water-filled plastic tug device) and 225-pound max bench press.
The final tally (30-24, Offense) was based on head-to-head victories in each
individual rep. Some of the notable performances of the day on the bench press
included senior linebacker Mike Hull's 30-rep effort at 225 pounds. Sophomore
Brian Gaia and junior Tarow Barney each finished with 29 reps on the bench.
Tight end Jesse James turned in a pair of outstanding performances on Saturday,
including 27 reps of 225 pounds on the bench and 12 reps at 500 pounds on the
deadlift.
"Our tight end crew could be a special group," Director of Performance
Enhancement Dwight Galt said. "Jesse is a freak (athlete). He's putting up
national elite numbers.
When the six-event rotation wrapped up, the Nittany Lions moved the center of
the field for the tug of war finale. The offense claimed the first tug of war battle,
but the defense notched three-straight victories to grab the upper hand in the
final battle of strength.
Despite the 3-1 edge in tug of war, the offense will take some friendly
bragging rights into the rest of the summer as the overall winners at the 2014
Lift for Life.
Following the workout, the Nittany Lions met with the loyal Nittany Lion fans
and signed autographs.
"It's really fun to be able to work out in front of the fans to show them all
of the hard work he have been putting in for the last eight or nine weeks,"
tight end Brent Wilkerson said. "They support us so much, so it's fun to be
able to show them all of the progress we have made since they last saw us."
Galt and his staff had a blast at their first Lift for Life event. He applauded
the player-run Uplifting Athletes organization for its countless hours of prep
work to put on another successful event.
"This was a great event to be a part of," Galt said. "We thoroughly enjoyed it,
and we are thrilled to have been able to work out in front of the fans.
The 12th Lift For Life was again a tremendous success and fundraiser for kidney
cancer, largely thanks to countless hours of preparation from the Uplifting Athletes
group led by junior Ben Kline.
Penn State begins preseason practice on Aug. 4.
Much
more to follow, including video highlights from the 12th Annual Lift For Life
Follow GoPSUsports.com's Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Several Nittany Lions talk with the media at the 2014 Uplifting Athletes Lift for Life on Saturday at the Penn State Lacrosse Field.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - For the past 11 years, Uplifting Athletes, a Penn
State Football player-run group, has worked together to lead the fight against
kidney cancer.
To date, the group has raised more than $825,000 for the Kidney Cancer
Association since the first Lift For Life in 2003. A staple on the summer
calendar, Uplifting Athletes hosts Lift For Life, a grueling test of physical
and mental strength, to benefit of kidney cancer. This year, Uplifting Athletes
has its eye set on eclipsing the $1 million plateau.
Founded by Penn State Football teammates Scott Shirley, Dave
Costlow and Damone Jones in 2003, Uplifting Athletes is currently led by linebacker
Ben Kline.
This year's event will take place on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the
Penn State Lacrosse Field (located next to the Multisport Building). Uplifting
Athletes placed an emphasis on fan interaction for 2014. Penn State fans will
have an opportunity to meet the Nittany Lions on the field from 1-2 p.m. during
a meet and greet autograph session. Additionally, members of the football team
will host a kids clinic on the field as the Lift for Life event takes place.
"We love our fans, and it's important to us to give them as good of an
experience at Lift for Life as possible," Kline said. "They have done a great
job helping us raise nearly a $1 million during the last 12 years for kidney
cancer. We couldn't have done it without them. This should be a day to show
appreciation for the fans while we fight against kidney cancer. We are really
excited about it."
In the heart of the summer workout season, the team enjoys the opportunity to
participate at Lift for Life in front of the Penn State fans. It is the only
workout all year where the team competes in front of its loyal supporters.
Saturday's workout, led by Director of Performance Enhancement Dwight Galt and
his staff, will consist of six stations before a tug of war at the center of
the field.
The list of events includes:
- 225-pound Bench Max Out
- Dead Lift
- Tire Flip
- Sled Push
- Shuttle
- Tug Run (Plastic tug device filled with water)
To donate to Uplifting Athletes Lift for Life, click the link listed below:
Donation Link
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GoPSUsports.com's Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State Uplifting Athletes officers are in
the final stages of preparation for the 12th Annual "Lift for Life".
This year's event takes place on Saturday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Penn State
Lacrosse Field. Entirely player-run, the 2014 Lift for Life will feature more
fan interaction than in previous years. In addition to a six-event workout,
kids will be able to take part in a Lift for Life clinic on the turf with
Nittany Lion players during the event. Additionally, fans will be able to participate
in a meet and greet with the team from 1-2 p.m. after the workout is complete.
Go PSUsports.com caught up with Penn State Uplifting Athletes president Ben
Kline for an update on the preparations and excitement around the 2014 Lift for
Life.
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GoPSUsports.com's Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - As the calendar begins to shift towards the start
of the 2014-'15 athletic season, GoPSUsports.com wanted to take a look back at
a tremendous campaign for Penn State Athletics.
Fueled by national championships from women's volleyball, wrestling and fencing,
Penn State accumulated a record point total in the Learfield Sports Directors'
Cup in 2013-'14.
Penn State's three NCAA Championships are its most since winning three in
1999-2000. Penn State student-athletes, who have an 88 percent graduation rate,
won a school record-tying and conference-best eight Big Ten titles in 2013-'14
and 16 over the past two years, easily topping second place Michigan (9) in
combined titles the last two years.
Take a look back at some of the top events from a stellar Penn State sports
season.
Men's Hockey: Oct.
11, 2013 - Penn State 4, Army 1 (First Game in Pegula)
 It was a night fans in Hockey Valley had been dreaming of
for years. The Nittany Lion men's hockey team christened the state-of-the-art
Pegula Ice Arena with a dominant performance before a boisterous sold out crowd
on opening night for the 2013-'14 season.
At 8:14 p.m., the puck dropped in the first game inside Penn State's sparkling
new home for hockey.
Nate Jenson owns the honor of tallying the first goal for the Nittany Lions in
Pegula. He took a feed from Taylor Holstrom early in the first period and beat
Army goalie Rob Tadazak to the high corner, glove side. Just as Jensen scored,
the crowd of 6,370 exploded and Zombie Nation blared through the speakers.
An early third-period two-on-one shorthanded goal from Curtis Loik and a
breakaway goal from David Goodwin would spark the same reaction. Leading 3-1,
Eric Scheid notched a last-second empty net goal to seal the first win in their
inaugural game in Pegula.
Hockey Valley could
not have any been prouder of its team following the 4-1 victory, and the
student section made that very clear. The Roar Zone was full song from the
moment it walked into the building 90 minutes before faceoff.
The Nittany Lions went on to win four games inside Pegula Ice Arena during
their first Big Ten season. The list of victories included a thrilling 4-0 win
over Michigan and a 4-2 triumph over Ohio State during conference play.
Football: Oct. 12,
2013 - Penn State 43, Michigan 40 (Beaver Stadium)
 Down by 34-27 at its own 20-yard line with 50 seconds on the clock and no
timeouts, Penn State found itself in a difficult situation in sold out Beaver
Stadium against rival Michigan.
The stakes were simple. Drive down the field and score a touchdown or the game
was over.
True freshman and 18-year old signal-caller Christian Hackenberg jogged onto
the field to lead the offense during the 2-minute drill with the game on the
line.
On first down at the 20, Hackenberg connected with Robinson, who dragged his
toe just inside the sideline paint in front of the Penn State bench for a
14-yard gain.
One play later, it was Brandon Felder's turn.
Hackenberg's toss to Felder in front of the Michigan bench covered 29 yards and
set up another first down at the Michigan 37-yard line.
Two plays later, Robinson returned to the spotlight with the play of the game.
Hackenberg fielded Ty Howle's snap and looked to Robinson, who was lined up
wide on the left side of the formation. Robinson stuttered in the first 10
yards of his route, attempting to freeze the Michigan defensive back. As he
regained full speed, Hackenberg's pass was in the air.
Robinson skied over the Michigan defender and plucked the ball at the highest
point in his jump before falling to a rest at the 1-yard line.
Hackenberg finished the drive off with a plunge into the end zone, capping off
a five-play, 80-yard game-tying touchdown drive that covered just 23 seconds on
the clock.
The teams exchanged blows in the overtime frames before Bill Belton became the
hero. Belton trotted into the north end zone of Beaver Stadium for a game-winning
touchdown in the fourth OT, capping off an epic comeback and a victory that
will live in Penn State history for decades.
Women's Volleyball: Dec.
21, 2013 - Penn State 3, Wisconsin 1 (Championship Match)
 Penn State's road to the national semifinals in Seattle was not an easy one
in 2013. After knocking off LIU Brooklyn and Utah inside Rec Hall to open the
NCAA Tournament, the Nittany Lions traveled to Kentucky for the regional round
of the 64-team tournament.
Penn State rallied from 1-0 down to defeat Michigan State in the regional
semifinals, which set up a showdown against seventh-seeded Stanford for a trip
to the national semifinals.
The Lions and Cardinal battled to a fifth set in what evolved into an epic
clash among two of volleyball's heavyweights. Penn State trailed Stanford 9-6
in the fifth before head coach Russ Rose used a timeout. Out of the break, the
Lions were not going to be denied.
Penn State scored the next six points in the decisive set on the way to
punching a ticket to the national semifinals in Seattle.
Playing in the NCAA semis for the 11th time in program history, Penn State
rolled over Washington (3-0), which was playing just four miles from its
campus, with a truly dominant performance.
The national title match, the Lions' ninth all-time appearance, was next.
Facing off against Wisconsin in the first all Big Ten national final, Penn
State jumped out to a hard-fought 2-0 lead before the Badgers rallied to make
it 2-1.
Wisconsin took a 23-20 lead in the fourth and was just two points from forcing
a fifth set, but the Lions were not done. A service error from the Badgers made
it 23-21. With ice water in her veins, ESPY nominee Micha Hancock stepped to
the service line. The junior delivered four potent jump serves, two of which
dropped for aces, before senior Deja McClendon's kill clinched the program's
sixth national title and fifth in the last seven years.
In six NCAA Tournament matches this season, the Nittany Lions dropped just four
total sets.
Men's Basketball: Jan.
29, 2014 - Penn State 71, Ohio State 70 (Value City Arena)
 The Nittany Lion basketball team trailed Ohio State, 59-48, with 7:58 to play
in Columbus after Buckeyes capped off a 10-2 scoring run.
Penn State never panicked, largely thanks to a dominant performance from D.J.
Newbill down the stretch.
A pair of buckets from Jordan Dickerson and two free throws from Newbill set
the score at 62-59, Buckeyes, with 2:20 to play.
Newbill then fielded a long pass moving right to left across the floor from
Frazier before burying a corner three, which tied the game at 62-62 with 1:08 to
go. Ohio State scored the next three points to make it 65-62.
Newbill answered in the form of a second clutch 3-pointer with 11.0 seconds to
play.
After Ohio State's final possession in regulation came up empty, the game
headed into overtime.
The Buckeyes took a 70-67 lead on a pair of Lenzelle Smith Jr. free throws in
the extra frame, but Newbill was not done.
The Philly product snaked through the Ohio State defense for a lay-in with 45
seconds to play, pulling the Lions to within one (70-69). The Buckeyes turned
the ball over on the next possession, setting up an inbounds play with 13.2
seconds.
Tim Frazier inbounded to Jordan Dickerson, who handed the ball off to
D.J. Newbill in front of the scorer's table. Down one with 11 seconds to play
in overtime as he crossed halfcourt, Newbill raced to the right side of the
floor.
The Philly native wanted the ball in his dominant hand. With one of the Big
Ten's top defenders an arm's length away, Newbill began his move with 5.4
seconds on the clock.
After one power dribble to his right, he sent the ball to his left hand under
Aaron Craft's extended right arm. Newbill took one more power dribble with his
left hand before elevating at the right elbow with 3.5 seconds on the clock.
The ball never touched the rim as it sailed through the cylinder to give the
Lions a 71-70 victory. Penn State's win at Ohio State was its first since 2001.
Women's Basketball: March
1, 2014 - Penn State 77, Michigan 62 (Bryce Jordan Center)
 To put it simply, Senior Day couldn't have gone any better for Penn State's
four seniors in 2014.
Maggie Lucas, Talia East, Dara Taylor and Ariel Edwards all
were double figure scorers on a day where they were honored with friends and
family in attendance as the team claimed its third consecutive Big Ten title
with a 77-62 over Michigan.
Edwards led the Lady Lions with 21 points on 8-for-12
shooting from the field while Lucas, East and Taylor added 17, 16 and 11 points
respectively.
Penn State had control of the game from start to finish as
they shot 54 percent from the field, missed just one free throw on 19 attempts
and collected seven blocks and 11 steals.
The group of seniors combined for 65 of the team's 77
points; epitomizing their leadership during their time at Penn State in their
last regular season home game.
That was expected from a group of four leaders who ensured a
team of seven freshmen didn't miss a beat coming off of two-straight conference
titles heading into the season.
Edwards, Lucas and East left Penn State as one of the winningest classes ever.
They finished with 101 wins, good for second in program history. Taylor was at
Penn State for 75 of the 101 wins after transferring from Maryland.
With all of the championships, accolades and wins, it was a
perfect way for Lucas, East and Taylor to complete their Penn State careers.
Penn State's third-straight Big Ten title put the Lady Lions in elite company
with Iowa and Ohio State as the only programs in the conference to win three or
more consecutive conference crowns. The title also fueled the Lady Lions'
second run to the Sweet 16 in past three years.
Wrestling: March 22,
2013 - Nittany Lions Clinch Fourth-Straight NCAA Title
 Penn State's reign over the college wrestling world continued in March
when the Nittany Lions captured their unprecedented fourth-straight NCAA team
title in Oklahoma City.
Fueled by NCAA individual crowns from seniors Ed Ruth at 184 pounds and David
Taylor at 165 pounds, the Lions celebrated on the sport's grandest stage inside
Chesapeake Energy Arena as the 2014 national champions.
By no means was the fourth title an easy one for the Nittany Lions, who edged
Minnesota by 5.5 points in the final team standings. Following a victory from
Ruth at 184 pounds, the Lions pulled ahead of the Gophers by 1.5 points after
two championship bouts.
Minnesota suffered setbacks in its two national title bouts, with the second
coming in the ninth match of the evening. As the 157-pound bout ticked to zero
on the clock, the white-clad Penn State fans rose to their feet to celebrate
the program's fifth national championship.
But the work was not quite done for the Nittany Lions, as Taylor was on deck in
the final championship match of night against Oklahoma State's Chris Perry.
You could not have scripted a better way for Taylor's career to end in a Penn
State singlet than the way it did on Saturday night. The epitome of a team
player, Taylor's imprint on the program goes far beyond his stellar accolades. He
didn't miss a match at the national tournament because he wanted to support his
fellow teammates. On Saturday morning, he did not need to be at the arena, but
he was the first to greet fellow senior James English as he came off the mat
after his critical win in the seventh-place match at 149 pounds.
Thanks to another dominant performance, Taylor finished off his collegiate
career with a victory in the final match of the national tournament, an individual
national title and a team title.
Taylor and Ruth played a paramount role in Penn State's fourth-straight title,
but the Nittany Lions will remain atop the NCAA wrestling mountain because of a
hard-fought team effort in the 2014 NCAA Championships.
Fencing: March 23,
2014 - Nittany Lions Clinch 13th NCAA Title
 No program in Penn State's illustrious sports history has won more national
titles than the fencing team. Under the direction of interim head coach Wes
Glon, Penn State mounted a furious charge on the final day of the NCAA
Championships in Columbus to clinch its 13th national championship.
As a team, Penn State finished the competition with 180 bout victories,
toppling Princeton in second-place (159 victories), and St. John's in third
(156 victories).
Individually, sophomore Kaito Streets claimed the 2014 men's
saber NCAA title. Streets became the 13th individual champion for the Nittany
Lions in program history.
In the team race, the Nittany Lions were neck and neck with
Princeton throughout much of the competition. The Lions began pulling away from
the Tigers on day three of the competition. Penn State clinched the program's
third title in the past six seasons on day four.
Streets held the number one spot in the men's saber event
heading into the final competition. He knocked off Ferenc Valkai from St.
John's to become an individual champion.
Glon has been with
the Nittany Lions for 29 seasons, and he has seen all 13 national titles. But
the 2014 crown marked his first as the leader of the program.
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
The Big Ten expanded to 14 institutions on Tuesday when Maryland and Rutgers
became official members of the conference. Additionally, Johns Hopkins became a
sport affiliate member for men's lacrosse.
Three years ago to the
day when Nebraska became the Big Ten's 12th member, the Penn State Blue and
White Golf Courses hosted a ceremonial flag-raising of the Maryland and Rutgers
flags before the Scarlet Terrapin Open golf scramble to commemorate the
conference's historic day.
 Maryland and Rutgers will begin competition in the Big Ten when the fall season
begins. Johns Hopkins commences its first year of men's lacrosse play in the
spring of 2015.
The Terps and Scarlet
Knights will take part in their first athletic competition as members of the
Big Ten with a pair of women's soccer games on Aug. 22. The two institutions
open conference play on Sept. 12 when they collide in men's and women's soccer.
With the addition of Maryland and Rutgers, the 2014 Big Ten football season
will mark the first of a new division alignment. The newcomers join Indiana,
Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Penn State in the East Division.
Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue and Wisconsin will
play in the West Division. A representative from each division will play in the
Big Ten Football Championship Game on Dec. 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in
Indianapolis.
The inaugural season of Big Ten men's and women's lacrosse will begin in 2015,
with Maryland, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and Rutgers playing both
sports, and Johns Hopkins participating in men's lacrosse and Northwestern
competing in women's lacrosse. The two new schools will host their first Big
Ten Tournaments beginning in April, with the inaugural men's tournament held
from April 30 to May 2 at Maryland and the first women's event hosted by
Rutgers from April 30 to May 3.
Penn State's first game against the new institutions will take place on Sept.
13 under the lights inside High Point Solutions Stadium when the Nittany Lions
and Scarlet Knights collide on the gridiron (8 p.m. on BTN). The game marks the
first Big Ten football game for Rutgers. Penn State hosts Maryland on Nov. 1 in
Beaver Stadium.
The first Penn State contest against Maryland will take place on Oct. 11 when
the Nittany Lion field hockey team travels to College Park to meet the Terps.
One day later, the men's soccer team takes on Maryland in College Park.
Here is the fall
lineup for Penn State clashes with the Maryland and Rutgers:
Sept. 13 - Football - Penn State at Rutgers
Oct. 4 - Men's Soccer - Rutgers at Penn State
Oct. 11 - Women's Soccer - Rutgers at Penn State
Oct. 11 - Field Hockey - Penn State at Maryland
Oct. 12 - Men's Soccer - Penn State at Maryland
Oct. 17 - Field Hockey - Rutgers at Penn State
Oct. 30 - Women's Soccer - Maryland at Penn State
Nov. 1 - Football - Maryland at Penn State
Nov. 7 - Women's Volleyball - Rutgers at Penn State
Nov. 8 - Women's Volleyball - Maryland at Penn State
Nov. 22 - Women's Volleyball - Penn State at Maryland
Follow GoPSUsports.com's Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lion football team is five weeks from
walking onto the practice field for training camp under the direction of head
coach James Franklin.
For now, though, the team is in the heart of its summer workout program with
Director of Performance Enhancement Dwight Galt. Under a new NCAA rule adopted
last fall, student-athletes are allowed to participate in preparations for the
season during an eight-week period each summer. Those eight weeks can include
eight hours per week of required weight training and conditioning. Up to two of
the eight hours can consist of film review.
The new NCAA rule enables GoPSUsports.com to take fans inside summer conditioning
with the Nittany Lions for the first time. Take a look at a lifting session in
the weight room and conditioning on the turf adjacent to the Lasch Football
Building during a warm afternoon.
Follow GoPSUsports.com's Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
It has been a big week for former Nittany Lion wrestling great and two-time
NCAA champion David Taylor. The four-time All-American was named Jesse Owens
Big Ten Male Athlete of the Year on Monday. Taylor then earned an ESPY
nomination for Best Male College Athlete on Wednesday.
GoPSUsports.com caught up with Taylor to talk about his remarkable achievements
and the next steps for his career.
Vote for Taylor in the ESPY Awards here:
http://espn.go.com/espys/2014/
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Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony
Feature: Caldwell's Dedication to Penn State Football Unmatched
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - To honor beloved equipment manager Brad "Spider"
Caldwell on his final day as a Penn State Football employee, the Nittany Lions
wanted to take a few moments to say thank you for all that Caldwell has done
for Penn State. After working with more than 1,000 football student-athletes, Caldwell
will retire from the University after 31 years of service on Friday.
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