Nittany Lions Earn 22nd Top 10 Ranking Under Paterno – Intercollegiate Athletics
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State has capped its thrilling 2008 season by earning its 22nd Top 10 ranking under Coach Joe Paterno.The Nittany Lions (11-2) were No. 8 in the final Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls, which were released early this morning. Penn State earned its 34th final Top 25 ranking under the Hall of Fame coach.
2008 NCAA Football Rankings – Final (Jan. 8) – ESPN
Only two sportswriters correctly predicted Penn State’s final record this season.
Frank Bodani – YDR
Andy Elder – Blue White Illustrated
The rest of us were off, but none by more than two games. I missed too, giving them one less win than they earned. I was pleasantly surprised. Here are the rest:
Mark Brennan – Fight On State
Matt Herb – Football Annual
Beth Hudson – The Morning Call
Derek Levarse – Football Annual
David Pencek – Football Annual
Chris Morelli – Blue White Illustrated
Neil Rudel – Altoona Mirror
Rich Scarcella – Reading Eagle
Jeff Byers – Fight On State
Neil Geoghegan – Journal Register News Service
Cory Giger – Altoona Mirror
Rob Riva – Fight On State
Mark Wogenrich – The Morning Call
My thoughts USC’s 38-24 win over Penn State:
Penn State, Nittany Lions, Rose Bowl, USC
This is a tough one to predict and I don’t have much of a feeling for it. That being said, I think Penn State and USC match up very well against each other. I was hoping for more “Penn State doesn’t even belong here talk” but I think there may be enough to motivate the Nittany Lions. Keeping that in mind, along with a special, focused senior class, and Joe Paterno’s strong record in bowl games (approx .667 winning percentage) I am picking Penn State to win.
Penn State 23 USC 20
Penn State, Nittany Lions, Rose Bowl, USC
There is a “virtual birthday party” blog to celebrate the birthday of Joe Paterno, born on this day in the borough of Brooklyn, in 1926.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOEPA!
Penn State, Nittany Lions, Joe Paterno
Four Nittany Lions named AP All-Americans – AP/Patriot-News
Sophomore DE Aaron Maybin is on the AP All America Football Team. Sadly, Bob Hope is dead, so there is no Christmas special for him. Nevertheless, he earned it with a great season. Hopefully, he won’t go pro after this and come back next year. Think of how scary this front 7 could get with another year of him and Sean Lee returning. Remember, Maybin became a starter after Maurice Evans was suspended for being at a party that was busted.
C A.Q. Shipley was on the second team. RG Rich Orhnberger and “all-purpose” Derrick Williams were on the third team.
Penn State, Nittany Lions, Aaron Maybin A.Q. Shipley, Rich Orhnberger, Derrick Williams
Penn State Confirms FOS Story – Fight On State
Joe Paterno is apparently going to sign a three-year contract to continue coaching Penn State football. Fight On State broke the story and Intercollegiate Athletics has confirmed it.
Nothing like an 11-1 season to silence a lot of critics; Paterno seems to get a lot out of his football team when he is under fire.
He will be 85 when this contract ends.
Penn State, Nittany Lions, Joe Paterno
Snub in Iowa game said to spur Devlin’s decison to leave Penn State – The Inky
Remember all of those people who said not playing Pat Devlin in the Iowa game was a mistake?
When Clark suffered a concussion in the fourth quarter against Ohio State, Devlin took over and led the trailing Lions to the winning touchdown when he plunged 1 yard into the end zone. Before leaving the game, Clark had struggled a bit, and Devlin felt as if his performance had cracked open the quarterback competition, the source said.The Lions were idle the next week and Clark was cleared to play against the Hawkeyes on Nov. 8. Fearing the mobile junior could suffer another head injury, however, Penn State included the “Wildcat” formation in its game plan to alleviate some of the pressure on the QB.
In the formation, wide receiver Derrick Williams received direct snaps from center, but Clark had his worst game as Penn State suffered its first loss, 24-23, ending its national-title hopes.
A source close to Devlin said he could not understand why he wasn’t inserted as Clark and the offense sputtered in the second half.
I can understand Devlin feeling snubbed, but expecting the quarterback competition to be reopened based on less than a half of play? Give me a break! Devlin brought the Lions back from a 6-3 deficit. Three points. How many programs do you think would bench their incumbent after a 8-0 start based on a three point comeback? That shows Devlin was kind of delusional and frankly makes me question his mental toughness. His departure leaves a hole in the depth chart, but maybe we’re better off in the long run.
Penn State, Nittany Lions, Rose Bowl, Pat Devlin
Shipley grabs Rimington – CDT
A.Q. Shipley has been awarded the Dave Rimmington Trophy as the nation’s best center.
Penn State, Nittany Lions, Rose Bowl, A.Q. Shipley
