UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - No team in Big Ten baseball had a bigger turnaround than Penn State did during the second half of the regular season.

Through 17 games, the Nittany Lions found themselves in a 3-14 hole before coming home on March 21.  Since April 1, Penn State has been on a tear, winning six consecutive Big Ten series en route to a 22-7 record down the stretch.

Aside from Big Ten regular season champion Purdue (41-12), Penn State enters this week's Big Ten Baseball Tournament as the hottest team in the conference.

The Nittany Lions (29-25, 15-9) open play in Columbus on Wednesday afternoon (3:35 p.m. on BTN) as the No. 3 seed against sixth-seeded Ohio State (31-25, 11-13).  Penn State took two out of three games against the Buckeyes at Medlar Field in April.  The Lions' two victories were both dramatic one-run decisions.

Senior slugger Jordan Steranka leads the Lions into the Big Ten Tournament with a red-hot bat.  The Pittsburgh native finished the regular season batting .362 with 11 homeruns and 39 RBI with a slugging percentage of .615.  He and fellow senior Sean Deegan finished tied for second in the Big Ten homerun race.  Steranka led the Big Ten in total bases (134), finished second in doubles (18), third in hits (79) and fifth in batting average (.362).

On the mound, sophomore left-handed starter Joe Kurrasch enters the postseason following a superb conference season.  The California product finished second in the conference in ERA (1.98).  Kurrasch made 15 appearances (10 starts) and finished with a 4-2 record.  For the season, Kurrasch's opponents hit just .219 against the lefty.  In Big Ten play, his numbers were even better.  Kurrasch went 3-1 with a 1.71 ERA in eight conference starts.  His Big Ten opponents managed just a .213 average against him.

The Big Ten Tournament is double elimination.  Should the Nittany Lions move past Ohio State on Wednesday, they would play second-seeded Indiana.  Indiana defeated Penn State in two of the three games during the regular season series in March at Medlar Field.  If the Lions drop their opening game, they would meet the loser of the first round matchup between Michigan State and Nebraska.  Penn State defeated Michigan State in two out of three meetings over the weekend.  The Lions did not play Nebraska this season.

Penn State has the potential to be a very dangerous team in the postseason with its power in the lineup.  Deegan, Steranka and fellow senior Joey DeBernardis have accounted for 30 of Penn State's 37 homeruns in 2012.  Keep an eye on the veteran trio in Columbus this week.

On the mound, Kurrasch and junior Steven Hill will start Penn State's first two games.  Kurrasch's numbers speak for themselves.  Hill, who tossed a no-hitter at Iowa on April 21, enters the postseason with a 3.54 ERA and a 5-3 record.

The Nittany Lions have the tools to make a run in the Big Ten Tournament, but anything can happen on a baseball diamond in the postseason.  Follow the action beginning Wednesday when the Lions open competition with the Buckeyes.


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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Fullington Trailways driving ace Gottfried Fodor pulled up to the curb outside of the Mezzanine Entrance at the Bryce Jordan Center shortly after 1 a.m. on Thursday morning, ending a nine-day, 1,968-mile tour through seven states and 18 stops.

Life on the modified Penn State Coaches Caravan bus was an incredible experience to be a part of.  All of the coaches enjoyed conversing, sharing stories and getting to know one another for three weeks.  There were eight individuals, and Fodor, on the bus for every stop during all nine days on the road.  Several other coaches, staff members and a few media members joined the Caravan for stints along the way, and all three weeks were filled with fun on the bus.

Take a look at a video feature of what life was like on the bus with Coach O'Brien during the first caravan event of its kind in Penn State Athletics history.

By Scott Traweek, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - After a three-game sweep of Illinois last weekend, the Penn State baseball team (27-24, 13-8 Big Ten) made a statement in the Big Ten standings and have all but clinched a birth in the 2012 conference tournament.

The wins against the Illini featured some of the best baseball the Nittany Lions have played all season including strong pitching from both the starters as well as the relievers along with clutch hitting throughout the batting order.  It was Penn State's fifth straight conference series win, an accomplishment never before achieved in the program's history.

All three games were decided by two runs or less.  When the offense struggled, the defense held the opposing team at bay and when pitching gave up runs, the batters were there to respond.  Consistent, aggressive play from the seniors also was crucial in the sweep as senior first baseman Jordan Steranka led the way, going 6-11 with two homeruns and three RBIs over the weekend.  The performance earned Steranka Big Ten player of the week.

Balance between hitting and pitching will be key for the Nittany Lions moving forward as the weekend sweep of Illinois clinched a birth for Penn State in the Big Ten tournament thanks to Nebraska's three-game sweep of Minnesota.

With Minnesota in seventh place at 10-11, even if the Nittany Lions were swept by Michigan State in their last conference series and the Golden Gophers were able to win all of their games against Illinois, Penn State would take the tiebreaker after it took two out of three games from Minnesota earlier in the year.

Currently, the Nittany Lions have their sights on a different goal as the top two teams in the Big Ten have a first-round by in the tournament.  They are tied for second with Indiana in the standings with three teams just two games or less behind them.

Penn State will play a three-game series at Michigan State to end the season.  Though they are guaranteed a spot in the tournament, the players are hungry for more.

Penn State Big Ten Series Schedule:

Penn State Big Ten Series Schedule:

ERIE and BUFFALO - After traversing through seven states and the District of Columbia during nine days, the Penn State Coaches Caravan made its final two stops on Wednesday on the Penn State Erie campus and in Buffalo.

Nearly 150 enthusiastic Nittany Lion fans and alums greeted Bill O'Brien, Guy Gadowsky and Mark Pavlik at Dobbins Gazebo at Penn State Behrend for lunch on Wednesday.  Following a 100-mile drive on I-90, the Fullington Trailways motorcoach pulled into stop No. 18 outside of Buffalo, N.Y.

Take a look through the final two stops of the Coaches Caravan.

Stop XVII - Erie
The first event of the final day was held in a superb location on Penn State's Erie campus, The Behrend College.  Outlined with windows on both arching side walls, the luncheon was held inside a beautiful enclosed gazebo.  The trio of coaches addressed an attentive crowd that asked some of the best questions during the past three weeks.

Coach O'Brien has been asked several questions by fans during the Caravan stops about working under Bill Belichick.  A fan in Erie asked him Tuesday about the three best things he learned from the leader of the New England Patriots.

Coach O'Brien's answer:
1. Coach Belichick's ability to enable the assistant coaches the freedom to coach under him.  Coach O'Brien said there were obviously parameters, but the assistant coaches had independence.

2. Coach O'Brien said he learned how to build and evaluate a team under Coach Belichick.

3. The third item he mentioned was Coach Belichick's ability to get a team ready for a game, which included a great deal of situational football.

Coach O'Brien often says that nothing really surprises him.  But one thing has really stood out to he and the other coaches on the Caravan. 

"Having never done this before, all I can tell you is how impressed I have been with the turnouts," Coach O'Brien said.

Coach Gadowsky added the following.

"I am extremely proud to be a part of you."

VIDEO: Highlights from the Stop in Erie

Stop XVIII: Buffalo
The first traveling Caravan of its kind in Penn State Athletics history began on April 30 in downtown Philadelphia, and it ended on Wednesday night outside of Buffalo.  From start to finish, Coach O'Brien and the entire roster of participating coaches contributed to make the nine-day stint on the road a resounding success.

When he took the job in January, Coach O'Brien wanted to get out on the road and meet as many Penn State fans as possible.  The Caravan provided that opportunity in 18 different locations across seven states and the District of Columbia.

It is impossible to count the number of fans the new leader of Penn State football met and shook hands with during the three-week journey, but the reception was tremendous at every stop.  The fans were engaged and enthusiastic day after day.  And Coach O'Brien went 18-for-18 delivering speeches.

On Wednesday night in Buffalo, Coaches Brandwene and Gadowsky spent time with Terry Pegula, whose $102 million donation enabled Penn State to begin Division I men's and women's hockey in the fall and build the state-of-the-art Pegula Ice Arena.  Pegula, who also owns the Buffalo Sabres, spent time with both hockey coaches and Coach O'Brien in Buffalo.

The third week was highlighted by the humor from Coach Pavlik.  During all six of his speeches, the men's volleyball leader had a clever analogy for the other coaches on stage.  Wednesday night's centered on the other three coaches being rock stars, including "The Boss", Bill O'Brien.

Like The Boss often does on the road during the last stop on his tours, Coach O'Brien told the crowd in Buffalo that he will be back on the road again next year.

"I look forward to doing something like this every year," Coach O'Brien said.  "Maybe it won't be 18 stops in 17 days, but we will figure it out.  I'm sure every year we will get out and see everybody."

After 1,968 miles of travel, 18 events on nine days and six nights in hotels, the Caravan pulled back into the Bryce Jordan Center parking lot after 1 a.m. on Thursday morning to cap off a great journey.

Thank you to all of the fans and alums who attended the Coaches Caravan at every stop.  The 18-stop trip was taxing for the crew on the bus who attended every event during all three weeks, but results exceeded expectations for everyone involved, largely because of the outstanding fan base supporting Penn State Athletics.

VIDEO: Football and Hockey Talk in Buffalo
Coach O'Brien and Coach Gadowsky talk football and hockey in Buffalo during the final stop of the Penn State Coaches Caravan in Buffalo on Wednesday.

Photo Gallery: Youngstown Stop

Photo Gallery: Cleveland Stop

YOUNGSTOWN and CLEVELAND - Following two stops in Pennsylvania, the Penn State Coaches Caravan moved into Ohio for a pair of events on Tuesday.

Nearly 100 fans and alums greeted Bill O'Brien, Coquese Washington, Guy Gadowsky and Mark Pavlik for lunch in Youngstown.  The Penn State-themed coach bus took a short drive across the Ohio Turnpike and north on Interstate 77 to Cleveland for the second stop on day eight of the nine-day caravan.

Take a look through highlights of the two Ohio stops on the final week of the Coaches Caravan.

Stop XV - Youngstown
With some audio difficulties during the introduction to stop 15, Coach O'Brien took things into his own hands with a rousing We Are...Penn State chant in the Grand Ballroom at the Holiday Inn located just south of Youngstown, kicking off a very good stop in Northeast Ohio.  Coaches Pavlik, Gadowsky and Washington, respectively, delivered candid messages to say thank you to the Penn State fans and alums in the room.

Although we keep stating it, the reception and interaction from the fans at every stop has been tremendous.  The fans have made the traveling caravan a resounding success.  The coaches repeat themselves time and time again on the importance of receiving support from the attendees in the room.  The alums and fans across the nation are a big part of the success Penn State Athletics is able to achieve on a yearly basis.  In many ways, the coaches have used the Caravan as an opportunity to remind the fans and alums of their role in the department's success and a way to say thanks for everything they do.

Coach O'Brien talks about recruiting at every stop.  One of the points he really drove home to the Youngstown crowd on the recruiting front is the importance of finding the right guys who fit into the football program.  Sure he is looking for talented athletes, but Coach O'Brien wants high integrity individuals who will work hard every day on the field and in the classroom.

Stop XVI: Cleveland
The Caravan bus rolled into downtown Cleveland shortly before 3 p.m. on a warm afternoon along Lake Erie.  Tuesday evening's event was held at the City Club of Cleveland in front of nearly 200 people.  The same cast of coaches - Bill O'Brien, Coquese Washington, Guy Gadowsky and Mark Pavlik - spoke at the evening festivities.  Tuesday's program was among the best evening events with energetic, entertaining and humorous speeches from all four individuals.

As you hear each coach speak more and more on the Caravan, it has become extremely apparent just how much the opportunity to coach at Penn State means to each of them.  Coach Pavlik, like a number of veteran coaches on the University Park campus, is a tremendous ambassador for the entire athletic department.  And while they have not been in Happy Valley quite as long as Coach Pavlik, Coaches Gadowsky and Washington are cut from the same mold.

"There are a lot of special things about Penn State and the athletic department that you don't see at other places," Coach Gadowsky said.

"It is truly an honor for us to be a part of this special community," Coach Washington said.

Coach O'Brien is exactly the same way.  His passion for Penn State oozes from every speech on the Caravan.  When he is finished with the evening PowerPoint presentation you are ready to put pads on and start playing for the University everyone in the presentation room loves.

The evening in Cleveland was another great representation of Penn State's contingent of great coaches, and it was a superb stop to cap off a day in Ohio.

Before shifting into coverage of the day nine stops in Erie and Buffalo, Coach O'Brien filled the media in Cleveland in on a number of football topics pertaining to the roster, depth chart and schedule, among other things.  Coach O'Brien was asked what he is looking forward to most about his first gameday in Beaver Stadium.

Boarding the blue buses and riding from the Lasch Football Building to Beaver Stadium and running onto the field out of the tunnel for the first time topped his list.  The countdown is on for the season-opener against Ohio on Sept. 1.  Take a look at the video below for more football talk in Cleveland.

VIDEO: Coach O'Brien Talks Football In Cleveland
Coach O'Brien talks about the team, depth chart and more during his meeting with the media in Cleveland on Tuesday.

For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and purchasing season tickets, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can call 1-800-648-8269 (1-800-NITTANY) weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or visit the Bryce Jordan Ticket Center.


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Photo Gallery - Altoona Caravan Stop

Photo Gallery - Pittsburgh Caravan Stop

ALTOONA and PITTSBURGH - The final leg of the 18-stop Penn State Coaches Caravan kicked off on Monday with events in Altoona and downtown Pittsburgh.

More than 190 Penn State fans and alums filled the gymnasium on the Penn State Altoona campus at 7:30 a.m. for breakfast.  From there, the Fullington coach bus moved west to Pittsburgh for a stop in Allegheny County at the Omni William Penn Hotel.

Take a look through highlights of the first two stops on the final week of the Coaches Caravan.

Stop XIII - Altoona
For the third-straight week, the Penn State Coaches Caravan pulled out of the Bryce Jordan Center at 6:30 a.m. Monday to begin a six-stop tour with head coach Bill O'Brien.  This week, men's hockey coach Guy Gadowsky and men's volleyball coach Mark Pavlik boarded the bus to join Coach O'Brien for three days on the road.

Penn State's Altoona campus played host to the 13th stop on the caravan with a morning breakfast inside the Adler Athletic Complex.  Upon arrival, Coach O'Brien made the rounds from table to table throughout the gymnasium shaking hands and signing autographs with Penn State fans in the room.

He approached a table with three young boys and their fathers and asked them why they weren't in school today.  As it turned out, Monday's breakfast with the Penn State coaches was just a stop on the way to elementary school.

One of the comical moments during Monday's breakfast came with Coach O'Brien during the Q&A portion of the program.  An enthusiastic fan stepped up and said, "What percentage of the total (offensive) package will be in for the Ohio game and the season moving forward?"

Coach O'Brien's response before the room erupted into laughter, "A very big percentage."

The leader of Penn State football said that meeting with the other traveling coaches on the bus is one of the best parts about the caravan travel.  He added that working with so many head coaches is one thing he loves about working in college athletics compared to working with just one team in the NFL.

Coaches Gadowsky and Pavlik also addressed the Altoona crowd.  Coach Pavlik hails from just down the road in Derry, Pa., a small town off of U.S. 22 between Altoona and Pittsburgh.

Coach Gadowsky informed the crowd of the men's hockey program's progress as it transitions into varsity status for the 2012-'13 season.  One year later, Penn State will be a part of the six-team Big Ten men's hockey conference, and Coach Gadowsky cannot wait.

"When you come to see (Big Ten) hockey at Penn State, you're going to see the best college hockey in the country," Coach Gadowsky said.

The bus loaded up after breakfast for a short drive west to the center of Pittsburgh for the evening session on Monday.

VIDEO: Coaches Press Conference in Altoona
Head coaches Bill O'Brien Guy Gadowsky and Mark Pavlik talk about the Coaches Caravan with the media in Altoona on Monday morning.

There are nearly 27,000 Penn State alums in Allegheny County, and Monday night's crowd was terrific inside the Grand Ballroom on the 17th floor in the Omni William Penn Hotel.  More than 400 enthusiastic fans and alums greeted four Penn State coaches.  The list included women's hockey coach Josh Brandwene, who joined the caravan for the first time.  Coach Brandwene, a Penn State alum himself, delivered a passionate speech to the Nittany Lion faithful.

Fellow hockey leader, Coach Gadowsky received a rousing cheer as he kicked off his speech by showing the room renderings of what Pegula Ice Arena will look like when it opens in the fall of 2013.

Coach O'Brien's initial reception was not quite the same.

He told the crowd the last time he was in Pittsburgh was during the fall when he coached against the Steelers as the offensive coordinator of the Patriots.  Jokingly, the Steeler Nation booed Coach O'Brien on stage.

Nevertheless, Coach O'Brien again did a superb job explaining his vision for the football program through an informative PowerPoint presentation.  One piece of football news Nittany Lion fans will be interested to hear about came out during Coach O'Brien's speech.  He said on Monday that the depth chart, including the quarterback position, will be out "soon".

Collectively, all four coaches on stage kept the great crowd engaged and entertained throughout the night.  Coaches Brandwene, Gadowsky, O'Brien and Pavlik are great ambassadors for Penn State Athletics.

By Jeff Sattora, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Earlier this year "struggling" would have been a very accurate word to help describe the Penn State baseball season.  Lately however, they have been anything but. 

Following a 3-14 start to the season things were looking bleak in Happy Valley.  But, fortunately for Nittany Lion fans no one told the team, and especially the seniors, that they were supposed to go down that way. 

Since that 3-14 start the team has been rolling, going 24-10 to bring its overall record to 27-24, good for a tie for second place in the conference. 

The latest victim for the Nittany Lions was the Illinois Fighting Illini, who Penn State took down in a huge three game series this past weekend, winning all three games at home. 

Not only was the three game sweep special for the Nittany Lions in the standings, it had even more meaning for the seniors, as it was their final home series, including Senior Day Sunday afternoon.

For head coach Robbie Wine the struggles early on helped the team get to where they are now.

"When you struggle early in the year you have to re-evaluate things," Wine said.  "The credit goes to the guys for making the adjustments and committing to the plan and sticking with it."

Making adjustments were huge all weekend for the Lions vs. Illinois as they fell behind first in two of the three home games. 

While Friday the Lions kept a lead or tie the whole game, resulting in a 3-2 win, the rest of the weekend was not as easy. 

Saturday turned into a slugfest, with the Penn State seniors, particularly in the top of the lineup, shining through. 

After falling behind 3-0 in the first the Lions used four home runs by three seniors (two from Sean Deegan, one from Jordan Steranka, and one from Joey DeBernardis) to win a back and forth 8-6 ball game.  With all eight runs coming from those homers and that senior class. 

Sunday the senior moments continued on Senior Day as Steranka went 3-4 (and broke the Penn State total bases record) with Deegan and DeBernardis each banging in a hit and RBI.

For those seniors this weekend was truly a special one.

"It's been huge, it's kind of surreal right now, hasn't really set in yet," said Steranka on the senior weekend.  "These last three games Sean (Deegan) has played two great games, DeBo (DeBernardis) stepped up big-time, overall this team got behind us, supported us and we got the sweep."

"To go out sweeping a team my last home series, it's amazing," said DeBernardis.  Who also added just how much an honor this whole weekend experience, and playing for this program the last four years has been for him. 

For Coach Wine this senior group has been a special one in many ways. 

"This senior class has been awesome on and off the field," Wine said.  "It's something where I don't have to worry about these guys, they take care of their business in the classroom, they come to practice, and they work hard."

That hard work will have to continue for the Lions to make a run in the rest of the season and the Big Ten tournament, but it is something they are confident they will be able to do.

The team has won five straight Big Ten series, and they are not looking to stop now.

"Right now we think we can beat anybody," said Deegan following the sweep.  "And that's exactly how you want to feel."

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State football coach Bill O'Brien and the Coaches Caravan will hit the road on Monday to kick off week three of the 18-stop tour through seven states.

The first two weeks of the Coaches Caravan were a resounding success.  This week, Coach O'Brien will headline stops in Altoona (breakfast) and Pittsburgh (evening) on Monday, Youngstown (lunch) and Cleveland (evening) on Tuesday and Erie (lunch) and Buffalo (evening) on Wednesday.

In addition to Coach O'Brien, men's hockey coach Guy Gadowsky (six stops), men's volleyball coach Mark Pavlik (six stops), Lady Lion head coach Coquese Washington (two stops) and women's ice hockey coach Josh Brandwene (two stops) will join the Coaches Caravan for week three.

By Scott Traweek, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Seniors are the heart and soul of any collegiate athletic team and Penn State baseball is graduating six seniors this year who have been instrumental throughout their time as Nittany Lions.

These seniors have been around the game of college baseball for four years.  They know what it takes to win.  Their experience acts as a guide to younger players as they are embraced into the Penn State tradition.  Their contributions have come in many forms, both on and off the field.  This year's senior class is lead by senior first baseman Jordan Steranka.

Steranka was drafted by the Astros at the end of his junior year and elected to return to Happy Valley for his senior season.  He has fueled the fire on offense and is leading the team in batting average (.354), hits (68), RBIs (33) and is tied for the lead in homeruns (8) with his fellow senior Sean Deegan.

Playing baseball at the collegiate level taught Steranka a valuable lesson to go along with all of his accolades.  He has learned that to be successful in life, as in baseball, people need to put in the effort required to accomplish their goals.

"That experience of every game has just really made me learn about the game and more about life in general," said Steranka.  "You got to show up and give a hundred percent effort in anything you do."

In his four years as a Nittany Lion, Steranka has seen a number of different opponents, numerous dramatic victories and a rare no-hitter by junior Steven Hill at Iowa.  What means the most to him, through all of it, are the bonds he has formed with his fellow teammates and the adventures they've had together.

"I think most of all the relationships you form with the teammates and the older guys that have already graduated," said Steranka on what he will remember in his years as a Nittany Lion.  "There's been some big wins, some fun trips."

One player who has been a part of Steranka's journey from the very beginning is Sean Deegan.  Deegan has been a force to be reckoned with both in the outfield as well as at the plate.  Many of his eight homeruns have come when the team needed them most.  Whether Penn State needed a spark on offense or a game-winning three-run blast with two outs in the bottom of the tenth against Ohio State, Deegan has been more than happy to oblige.

Naturally, the homerun versus the Buckeyes is a moment the senior will never forget.  A picture taken by Deegan's friend of him throwing his helmet in the air as he approached home plate with his teammates ready to celebrate shows just how special the series-clenching hit was.

"Not only was it a huge moment for me personally, but everyone on the team looks ecstatic and just so happy in that one picture," said Deegan.  "It just shows what a team really is in one little moment."

The best piece of advice Deegan has for his teammates is to stay positive, even when you're in a slump, because every pitch represents a new opportunity.

"One thing that I would tell [the players] is that baseball is a game where you can never really get down on yourself," said Deegan.  "You can always get better and as bad as you think things are, you can always turn it around on the next pitch."

Sitting between Steranka and junior Steven Snyder at the top of the Nittany Lion batting order is senior Joey DeBernardis. With a team-high 14 doubles, accompanied by five homeruns, DeBernardis is another power hitter for opposing pitchers to fear.  To go along with his hitting prowess, DeBerdardis's fielding capabilities solidified the left side of the infield after he moved from first to third at the start of the year.

For DeBernardis, Penn State will always hold a place in his heart.  He has enjoyed his four years in college and is proud to be a Nittany Lion.

"Penn State's going to be in my life forever," said DeBernardis.  "I'm always going to quote on quote 'bleed blue.'  It's just been amazing and I wouldn't change one thing about my four years in college.

Representing the senior class on the mound is pitcher Mike Franklin.  Franklin has been Penn State's premier midweek starter this year and his performance in the home opener against Pittsburgh helped pull Penn State out of a 3-14 start to the season.  His weeknight performances set the tone for the Nittany Lions heading into the weekend series' versus Big Ten opponents.

"Franklin's been huge during midweek," said Steranka.  "He's one of those guys that you know he is going to go out there and pitch a great game and give you a chance to win."

Two unsung heroes in this year's graduating class are senior transfer Sean Parvin and former closer Ryan Ignas.  Parvin has been a key utility player for Penn State and his humorous personality defines the team's relaxed, optimistic culture on the field and in the locker room.

"Sean, he's a fun guy and keeps everything light-hearted in the locker room and Ignas helps out with the coaches during practices and everything," said Steranka.  "Those two guys especially have really helped a lot."

Ignas was Penn State's ace closer last year before suffering a season-ending injury that also kept him from the mound during 2012.  Losing him was devastating to a bullpen that needed a solid pitcher for the ninth inning.  Nevertheless, Ignas found his home as a coach-like figure for younger pitchers.  Despite his injury, he was there for his teammates every step of the way.

"(Ignas) is huge," said DeBernardis.  "He's been here for four years too, so those young pitchers they can go to him because he's been in those situations."

With the final home series against Illinois this weekend, the seniors prepare to bid farewell to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.  They hope to make a lasting impression on a school that has taught them well and fans that have supported them through all four years.

HARTFORD, Conn. and SCRANTON, Pa. - The second leg of the three-week Penn State Coaches Caravan ended with a great stop in northeastern Pennsylvania on Thursday.

A capacity crowd of more than 930 enthusiastic fans gave the Coaches Caravan a warm reception in Genetti Manor to cap off a superb week on the road for Bill O'Brien and the traveling Penn State coaches.  The modified Fullington bus made six stops in four states and drove more than 700 miles during three days.

Take a look through highlights of the final day on week two of the Coaches Caravan.

Stop XI - Hartford
As he has done at each stop on the Coaches Caravan, Coach O'Brien sat in a small conference room inside the Farmington Marriott Hotel for a media session.  At the time he was answering questions from a local reporter and CBSSports.com national college football writer Dennis Dodd when a man appeared through the back door of the room.

Coach O'Brien stopped mid-sentence and said, "That is my uncle, John Murphy."

Murphy, a lawyer from Jamestown, R.I., surprised his nephew with a visit to the caravan stop on Thursday morning.  Clad in a blue "We Billieve" T-shirt, Murphy told the room how proud the family was of Penn State football's new leader.  Coach O'Brien attended Brown University with Murphy's daughter, Emily, and joked during his presentation that Emily had all the good stories about him from his college days.

Coach O'Brien polled the audience in Hartford to see how many New England Patriots fans were in the room on Thursday morning.  More than half of the 140 attendees raised their hand.

"As we get further north, I feel more comfortable," joked Coach O'Brien.

The first stop of the day ended shortly after 1 p.m., and the bus loaded up for a drive through mountains, across the Hudson River and Delaware River en route to Scranton for stop No. 12 on the caravan.


VIDEO: Coach O'Brien Talks About His First Four Months
While meeting with a local reporter in Connecticut, Coach O'Brien shared insight on what his first four months on the job have been like.

Hartford Photos:

Stop XII: Scranton
After talking with Scranton Area Alumni Association President Jim Elliott at the Hazleton stop earlier this week, expectations were high for a big turnout during Thursday evening's dinner at Genetti's in Dickson City.  Without question, Elliott and his staff played host to the largest event on the caravan.

More than 930 Penn State fans seated at 94 tables crammed into the ballroom at Genetti's to welcome a great group from the Penn State Athletics family.  The list of attendees included Scranton native and Penn State team physician Wayne Sebastianelli, Acting Director of Athletics Dave Joyner, the voice of the Nittany Lions Steve Jones, current Nittany Lions and Scranton-area products Matt McGloin and J.R. Refice.

Prior to dinner, Coach O'Brien signed autographs for a throng of fans that lined up more than 90 minutes prior to the program beginning.  Among the hundreds of fans in a line that snaked throughout the building was a large contingent of the McGloin family.  In all, 27 members of the senior quarterbacks family attended the event, many of which posed for a family photo with Coach O'Brien during the autograph period.

Fan after fan walked up to Coach O'Brien for an opportunity to shake hands, take photos and obtain an autograph fore more than an hour.  Some offered advice.  Some told stories. Some even gave him gifts.

Women's volleyball head coach Russ Rose, who joined the caravan for the second-straight night, received a standing ovation when he was introduced to the crowd.  Coach O'Brien received two rousing ovations, one when he was introduced and a second when he finished his presentation.

Simply put, the Scranton crowd was tremendous.

"I've got chills up my spine.  I'm ready to go play right now!" Coach O'Brien said during the middle of his speech.

"Every single day, I thank the people who hired me," Coach O'Brien said during his closing remarks.

Thursday evening's dinner was a terrific way to move into week three of the Coaches Caravan.  Coach O'Brien will hit the road on Monday morning with men's hockey head coach Guy Gadowsky and men's volleyball coach Mark Pavlik for a breakfast stop in Altoona.

The final week of the caravan will also feature stops in Pittsburgh (Monday evening), Youngstown (Tuesday evening), Cleveland (Tuesday evening), Erie (Wednesday lunch) and Buffalo (Wednesday evening).  A big thank you goes out to all of the fans in attendance at the six stops on week two.  We look forward to seeing you on the road next week.


VIDEO: Coach O'Brien and Coach Rose Meet the Media In Scranton
Coaches O'Brien and Rose talk to the media in Scranton.  Coach Rose shared a story about interviewing Coach O'Brien before he was hired in January.

Scranton Photos:

For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and purchasing season tickets, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can call 1-800-648-8269 (1-800-NITTANY) weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or visit the Bryce Jordan Ticket Center.


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

By Scott Traweek, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State won its fourth straight conference series last weekend as they took two crucial games out of three from Minnesota, moving into a three-way tie for third place in the Big Ten.

Both starting pitching and the art of manufacturing runs have been huge for the Nittany Lions throughout conference play and the series against the Golden Gophers was no different.  All three weekend starters had strong outings and in the two victories the offense was able to come up with big hits when it mattered most.  Penn State moved to 10-8 in the Big Ten after beginning the year 2-4.

The season thus far has been defined by highs and lows as the Nittany Lions began their journey with a harsh 17-game away stretch where they went 3-14 followed by an opening 2-1 conference series loss to Indiana and a 2-1 series loss to Purdue the following weekend.  Since then Penn State has won four-straight Big Ten series and is 17-5 in its last 22 games.

The Lions have been sharp of late as the mid-season turnaround has seen everything from dramatic walk-off hits to a number of pitching gems including a no-hitter by junior Steven Hill at Iowa.  With the middle of the conference standings jumbled, Penn State has to play at a consistently high level to make the post season.

The top six teams in the Big Ten will compete in the conference tournament and with two games separating seven teams from second place, every win is vital.  Barring a late breakdown, Purdue has virtually secured first place, which means those seven teams (Indiana, Michigan State, Minnesota, Penn State, Ohio State, Nebraska and Illinois) are battling for the five remaining spots with Iowa, Michigan, and Northwestern barely hanging on at the bottom of the list.

The Nittany Lions have two more Big Ten series' left against Illinois and Michigan State, both of which are in the heat of the race.  As has been the case all year, pitching will be key.  Penn State's offense has been hot and cold, but the starting pitching has played consistently well for most of the season.  Each weekend starter has a sub-5.00 era, despite the rough start, and sophomore ace Joe Kurrasch boasts a dominant 2.06 era and a team-high 63 strikeouts.

Penn State looks to keep up the momentum this weekend as the team prepares for another important Big Ten series at home against the Illini.   It will be the last home stand for the Lions as the seniors say an emotional farewell to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. 

Big Ten Standings Update:

***Note records do not include all mid-week games***

Penn State Big Ten Series Schedule:

Photo Gallery - Woodbridge

Photo Gallery - New York City

Coaches Caravan Registration

NEW YORK - The Penn State Coaches Caravan rolled into New York City on Wednesday afternoon following a lunch stop in Woodbridge, N.J., which marked the ninth event on the 18-stop trek over three weeks.

Head football coach Bill O'Brien, Lady Lions coach Coquese Washington and men's golf coach Greg Nye spoke at again spoke at both events on Wednesday.  Take a look through highlights of the Coaches Caravan stops in the Woodbridge Hilton and the Sheraton New York.

Stop IX - Woodbridge
More than 140 Penn State fans and alums filled third-floor ballroom inside the Woodbridge Hilton for the midway point of the Coaches Caravan.  With the room being smaller than some of the stops, the lunch presentation had an intimate feel for the fans to be able to get up close and personal with all three coaches.

A few new topics came up in the Woodbridge presentation and media meeting with some of the New York Metro media.  Coach O'Brien told the media that his first trip to Beaver Stadium with Herb Combs, the supervisor of the athletic fields, came long after he accepted the head coaching job.  Combs turned on the Beaver Stadium at 5:30 a.m. for Coach O'Brien to visit.  He labeled the visit as one of the "wow" moments in his first four months on the job.

Coach Washington urged the crowd to grill the "rookie", Coach O'Brien, during the Q&A portion of the program in Woodbridge.  He was put on the spot by a fan asking which flavor was his favorite at the Penn State Creamery.  Coach O'Brien's answer, "Peachy Paterno."

VIDEO: Coach O'Brien Talks Recruiting in New Jersey

Photo Gallery - Hazleton Stop

Coaches Caravan Registration

HAZLETON and BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Week two of the Coaches Caravan kicked off on Tuesday morning when the Penn State-themed Fullington Trailways coach bus rolled out of the Bryce Jordan Center parking lot with football head coach Bill O'Brien, Lady Lions head coach Coquese Washington and men's golf coach Greg Nye aboard en route to Hazleton.

Day four included a lunch stop on the Penn State Hazleton campus and an evening program in the Lehigh Valley.  The nine-day event co-hosted by the Nittany Lion Club and the Penn State Alumni Association will continue on Wednesday and Thursday this week.  Take a look through highlights from the first day of week two on the caravan.

Stop VII - Hazleton
More than 200 Penn State fans and alums greeted the head coaches inside the gymnasium at the 1,300-student Hazleton Campus on Tuesday morning.  Coaches Nye and Washington each spoke for the first during the caravan.  Coach Nye addressed the crowd about the history of successes the men's golf program has endured during his tenure as head coach.

Coach Washington highlighted the Lady Lions' journey to a Big Ten title this spring.  She also spoke at great length about the exciting season ahead for Penn State across the athletic department.

 "It's poised to be a season for the ages for Penn State Athletics," Coach Washington said.

Coach O'Brien gave his colleague a great deal of praise during the opening portion of his speech.

"There is no better women's basketball coach in the country than Coquese Washington," Coach O'Brien said.

In addition to explaining his vision for the football program, Coach O'Brien told the crowd in Hazleton that he has spent time recently working on the future schedules for Penn State Football.  With the schedules set for the next three seasons, Coach O'Brien said that he eventually wants to add a marquee game at the beginning of each season.  Among the teams he mentioned were - Alabama, Stanford and Southern California - and possibly at neutral sites.

Take a look through some photos during the lunch in Hazleton.