The Letter When Penn State’S 2015 Football Follow Us on Schedule Was Announced, a Lot of Twitter and Fans Groaned About the Five Games Check out the in a Row at Home

VOLUME 78 ISSUE 5 Penn State vs. Army October 5, 2015

The Letter When Penn State’s 2015 football Follow us on schedule was announced, a lot of Twitter and fans groaned about the five games Check out the in a row at home. But at least the new Football games would be played from early Letter Blog September to early October, when we have the best weather that produces such beautiful football PSU 7 3 10 0 - 20 Saturdays in Happy Valley. NOT. ARMY00 77- 14 For the third time in the first four games of that homestand, rain marred the experience of the leal and loyal CONTENTS fans, while thousands of the less hardy stayed home and left their seats empty in Beaver Stadium. The Letter Notes from the Cuff It was a particular shame Saturday, because Army was making its first trip Other Sports to Penn State since 1979, and various special activities and ceremonies News of Note were planned for Military Appreciation Day. Game Photos There has always been something special about the pomp and Statistics circumstance of games with the military academies and the great sportsmanship and traditions that they engender. Sixty-six times the Nittany Lions have met teams from the Army, Navy or Air Force on the gridiron, and each time it has been more than just a competition to win or lose. It has also been an opportunity to salute those who have bravely defended our country and the youth who are preparing PAST ISSUES to do so in the future. Roughly 10,000 members of the military and their families were treated to View past issues a Military Appreciation tailgate with food, entertainment and prizes in the Bryce Jordan Center before Saturday’s contest in Beaver Stadium. FAN ZONE Wounded Warriors and other members of Penn State Ability Athletics were

Football Schedule to be honored on the field. Team Roster Military-themed video board messages included a shoutout from a group of GoPSUSports.com Penn State alumni serving aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft Radio/TV Listings carrier currently deployed in the Persian Gulf. The only university to have Big Ten Football TV more alumni than Penn State aboard the largest aircraft carrier in the U.S. Schedule Navy is the Naval Academy. The commanding officer Capt. Craig Big Ten Standings Clapperton and Capt. Fred Pyle, commander of Destroyer Squadron Two, Big Ten Schedule and Results are Penn Staters. Penn Staters in the Pros The Army West Point Glee Club and the Penn State Glee Club joined to sing For advertising info, “God Bless America” after the conclusion of the special Blue Band halftime contact: Angelo Scialfa show, which featured music and formations saluting the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force, winding up with a full-field “USA.” 609-259-1910 And the current Army team that had lost three close games by just two to [email protected] five points entered Beaver Stadium as a 26-point underdog to the 3–1 Nittany Lions. But before leaving, that “Brave Old Army Team” had scared the daylights out of Penn State fans, rebounding from a 10–0 halftime deficit, outrushing the Lions 261 yards to 108, compiling a 17–12 advantage in first downs, converting five of nine third downs to State’s five of 15 and marching relentlessly toward a game-winning score in the waning minutes. The upset was not thwarted until Lion linebacker Jason Cabinda crashed through to sack Army quarterback A.J. Schurr on a fourth-and-five with less than a minute and a half remaining. That same gallant second-string quarterback, filling in for his injured comrade, was the leading ground- gainer of the day, and just eight minutes earlier in the fourth quarter had dashed 56 yards through the entire Penn State defense for a touchdown that cut the home team’s lead to 20–14. The day’s second sack by State’s sophomore middle backer and the day’s leading tackler with 14, preserved that count for the Lions’ fourth win in five games this season. After the final whistle, both teams gathered in front of the Army band in the north stands for the playing of their alma mater. Following that, both teams ran to the south end of the stadium to sing the Penn State alma mater in front of the Blue Band and students. Now that’s a tradition worthy of the hard play and sportsmanship on the field. Army is one of only three Division I teams that still run the triple option offense, which emphasizes rushing and requires defenses to commit to stopping the dive play, the quarterback cut and the pitch to the tailback, while incorporating imaginative counter plays, spins and reverses—all run behind a tough and disciplined offensive line. It was a tough test for the Lion defense. The visitors threw only one pass all afternoon—but it was a 32-yard completion from Schurr to end Edgar A. Poe and the longest gain in Army’s 76-yard march to its first touchdown in the third quarter. On the ground, the hard-charging Cadets amassed 316 yards, although they also lost 55 on three quarterback sacks and seven fumbles. Three of those fumbles were recovered by the Lions and converted into 10 points, which proved to be the difference in the outcome. The cold rain caused a slippery, sloppy field, and Schurr fumbled the wet football on Army’s first play from scrimmage. State defensive end Garrett Sickels pounced on the ball on the visitors’ 42-yard line. Filling in for injured tailbacks Akeel Lynch and Saquon Barkley, redshirt freshman Nick Scott ran for 23 yards on four carries, and quarterback Christian Hackenberg completed passes for seven yards to tight end Brent Wilkerson and 12 yards to wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton. Scott broke a couple of tackles on an 11-yard blast up the middle for the game’s first touchdown and the first of Scott’s collegiate career.

The only other points in the first half came on Joe Julius’ 37-yard field goal, set up by another Schurr fumble recovered late in the second quarter by true freshman linebacker Manny Bowen on the Army 41—virtually the same position as Sickels’ recovery early in the first period. The key play in the Lions’ scoring drive was a 19-yard scramble by Hackenberg on a third- and-15. Julius’ field goal sailed between the uprights just 25 seconds before halftime. The only points in the first half came off Army turnovers. So, State had a 10–0 lead and a 125-to-77-yard advantage in total offense after 30 minutes of play. But the never say die Army team came out and dominated the second half, leaving the Lions hanging on until Cabinda’s big play. A 25-yard punt return by redshirt freshman DeAndre Thompkins allowed the Lions to start their first second-half possession at the Army-29. Another redshirt freshman, Mark Allen, skirted left end for 12 yards on State’s first play from scrimmage. But three plays later, the home team had to settle for another Julius’ field goal—this time from 27 yards.

Penn State’s 13–0 lead was soon cut by seven, when Schurr plunged three yards for a touchdown that capped a 76-yard drive. The Lions scored their last points on a lightning one-minute-and-thirteen- second drive that took only three passes from Hackenberg to cover 91 yards to paydirt. The first was a 9-yard strike to tight end Kyle Carter, and the second was the highlight play of the day—a 49-yard bomb to WR Chris Godwin. The Lion’s leading receiver stretched out to wrap his fingers around the ball and held on to it, even though an Army defender came down right on top of him, as they crashed to the soggy turf. On the third play, Hackenberg looked right then turned and passed to tight end Mike Gesicki, who danced down the left sideline 33 yards to the end zone, while the final second of the third quarter ticked away. That returned the Lion lead to 13 points, until the Army offense in the fourth quarter rolled up 116 yards—all on the ground, of course—and another seven points, while State’s offense went AWOL, netting only 26 yards and no points in the final frame. Undaunted by his three first-half fumbles, the resilient and gutsy Schurr ran over several Lions on his 56-yard blast up the middle and cut to the sideline for a touchdown, which would become the game’s final tally. State’s 264 yards of total offense was the fewest allowed by 1–4 Army this year. Five Lion runners averaged 3.2 yards on 34 carries. Hackenberg completed 10 of 19 pass attempts for 156 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions. Ninety-one of those yards came on three successive completions on the third-quarter touchdown drive. The other seven completions averaged 9.3 yards. The touchdown toss was the 37th of Hackenberg’s career to tie him with Chuck Fusina for seventh place on Penn State’s career chart. His 567 completions are second only to Zack Mills’ 606. Cabinda’s 14 tackles were his career-high and a season-high for the team. Two of his tackles were quarterback sacks, which resulted in 33 lost yards for Army. He also forced a fumble. Carl Nassib recorded his nation-leading eighth sack of the season. Coach James Franklin told the media, “We have a long ways to go, and I am not happy with where we’re at.” The Lions are 4–0 at home for the first time since 2008 and have seven games remaining against Big Ten foes. Next Saturday’s Homecoming opponent is Indiana, which will come into Beaver Stadium with a similar 4–1 record, after scaring No. 1 Ohio State before losing by seven points in its last game. The contest will kick off at noon and be televised on ESPN2. For the Glory,

Part of your Penn State Alumni Association's mission is to strengthen the connection of alumni to the University and to provide valued services to members. The Football Letter is just one of the many benefits of membership provided to support that mission. VOLUME 78 ISSUE 5 Penn State vs. Army October 5, 2015

Notes from the Cuff Penn State leads the series with Army West Follow us on Point, 14–10–2, winning the last 10 meetings. Twitter and As one of a very few persons in the Beaver Check out the Stadium pressbox Saturday who was also in the new Football box when Army last played here 36 years ago, I Letter Blog remember fondly the great tradition of Penn State–Army games. State won the first game in 1899 and tied the next two, but never again won PSU 7 3 10 0 - 20 until 1959. As a freshman sports reporter on The ARMY 0 0 7 7 - 14 Daily Collegian, I was tasked with putting out a special Sunday edition under a 96-pt. headline CONTENTS reading, We Beat Army for First Time in 20th Century … The Letter Notes from the Cuff Penn State is 26–27–4 all-time against Army, Navy and Air Force (the Other Sports three FBS service academies) … News of Note The announced attendance of 107,387 (tickets sold) marked the first Game Photos sellout since the Ohio State game last year and first non-conference sellout Statistics since 2011 against Alabama. Unfortunately, at least 25,000 of those ticket holders were not in their seats on this cold day in the heavy rain (which greatly diminished by the second half) … For the season, Penn State is plus-eight in turnovers, with 11 takeaways and three giveaways … Injuries continue to pile up for the Lions. Center Angelo Mangiro, the most PAST ISSUES experienced player on the offensive line, was injured in the third quarter and replaced by junior Wendy Laurent. Starting offensive tackle Andrew View past issues Nelson is still out, as are tight end Adam Brenneman and tailbacks Akeel Lynch and Saquon Barkley. On the defense, Jordan Lucas returned at one FAN ZONE safety, but the other safety, Marcus Allen, plus linebackers Brandon Bell

Football Schedule and Nyeem Wartman-White and end Evan Schwan are out. Punter Chris Team Roster Gulla got his bell rung in the fourth quarter and did not return. Dan GoPSUSports.com Pasquariello booted the last punt … Radio/TV Listings Troy Apke made his first start at safety and Mark Allen his first start at Big Ten Football TV tailback, bringing the number of first-time starters to 11 this season … Schedule Big Ten Standings Linebacker Ben Kline, one of the team leaders off as well as on the field, Big Ten Schedule and saw his first gridiron action since tearing his Achilles tendon in late 2013 Results and missing the entire 2014 season. Redshirt freshman Johnathan Thomas, Penn Staters in the Pros who was brought up off the scout team because of the thin ranks at For advertising info, tailback, played in his first game and carried the ball seven times for 28 contact: Angelo Scialfa yards … 609-259-1910 The “WE ARE” sculpture erected at the northwest corner of University Drive [email protected] and Curtin Road in July was dedicated in a ceremony Friday afternoon. The 12-foot, 8,000-pound sculpture in mirror-polished solid stainless steel is the gift of Penn State’s Class of 2013 and was created by Jonathan Cramer, a 1994 graduate of the College of Arts and Architecture. The 2013 Class Gift Committee wanted to acknowledge the past but look toward the future, according to committee chair Morgan Delaware, a College of Communications alumna. The class was looking for a sculpture that would embody the unity that “We Are” inspires among Penn Staters and reflect on what the phrase means to them. “When our committee began working on our campaign, it was the fall of 2012,” said Delaware. “We knew that whatever our gift would be, it would need to make a statement … At a time when so many people were eager to tell us who we were, it was important to remind the world of who ‘We Are.’ “We are rooted in tradition and pride; we are built on love and loyalty; we are firm believers in success with honor,” she continued. “We are all this and more, because we are Penn State. And we are Penn State forever.” Cramer, from Brooklyn, N.Y., won the commission in a national competition and Allegheny Technologies donated the steel used in the artwork. Cramer’s goal was to create a design “that meets the exuberance, energy and pride of the school, its alumni and its location.” Accompanying the sculpture is an interpretive sign inscribed with the words of Penn State’s Alma Mater, reproduced in the handwriting style of Professor of American Literature Fred Lewis Pattee, who penned the alma mater in 1901 … HOMECOMING—“A Legacy to Shape the Future” 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9—Student-Alumni Ice Cream Social at Hintz Family Alumni Center. 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9—Homecoming Parade steps off moving westward on Curtin Road from University Drive, turning south on Bigler Road, then west on Pollock Road, then south on Shortlidge Road, then west on College Ave., then north on Burrowes Road. 9 to 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9—Guard the Lion Shrine with music, games, activities and food. 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10—Huddle with the Faculty lecture at the Nittany Lion Inn. Noon Saturday, Oct. 10—Kickoff of football game vs. Indiana. 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10—Alumni Zone Tailgate in Indoor Multi-Sport Facility. Unlimited tailgate buffet plus grilled stickies, Berkey Creamery ice cream, hard pretzels with Herlocher’s Diping Mustard, music, games, T-shirts, prizes, alumni celebrities, Alumni Blue Band and majorettes. Advance Registration required on Alumni Association website at alumni.psu.edu … Activities at Ohio State on Oct. 16-17 include a Friday night mixer sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association and its Central Ohio Chapter. The mixer begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Polaris Quaker Steak and Lube, 8500 Lyra Drive, off Interstate 71 north of Columbus, and includes a two-hour buffet, cash bar, balloon twister for the kids, Nittany Lion, cheerleaders and pep band. Cost for adults is $20 if registered by Oct. 9 on the Central Ohio Chapter website at www.psucolumbus.org. Cost for adults at the door is $25. Proceeds benefit the chapter’s scholarship fund. Pre- game pep rally Saturday will be in a tent on the northeast grass lot behind the Fawcett Event Center on Olentangy River Road. The rally, sponsored by the Alumni Association, will open at 5 p.m., and the program will begin at 6 p.m. Kickoff for the game will be 8 p.m … Redshirt freshman Joey Julius turned down a Division I scholarship offer to walk on as a place-kicker at Penn State. He has been successful on eight of ten field goal attempts this season and 14 of 14 PATs … Penn State was three of three in the Red Zone Saturday and is 16-of-18 (8 TDs and 8 FGs) for the season … Army’s one pass attempt Saturday is the fewest against Penn State since at least 1966 and its one completion is the fewest since Ohio State had just one in 1976. The Black Knights’ 32 passing yards are the fewest against the Lions in the Big Ten era … The 49-yard pass from Christian Hackenberg to Chris Godwin was State’s longest of the year, and Hackenberg’s 19-yard run was a career-long for him. He has now completed 66 of 125 pass attempts for 824 yards and five touchdowns with only two interceptions this season … Nick Scott and Mike Gesicki got their first collegiate touchdowns … State’s defense has not allowed more than seven points in the first half of the last 11 games … The 14 Big Ten teams compiled a 41–13 record (76 percent) in non- conference games this fall … Every Big Ten member ranks among the top 78 universities in the nation, according to the 2014 Academic Ranking of World Universities. The Big Ten leads all conferences with more than 1,600 Academic All-Americans, including 45 honorees in the 2014-15 academic year … The Big Ten leads all conferences with 5.7 million alumni and nearly 580,000 students. Each year more than 11 million attend Big Ten home contests, and the conference leads the nation in attendance for men’s basketball, hockey, volleyball and wrestling.

News of Note Join Keegan-Michael Key and Ian Rosenberger at Alumni Zone Follow us on Meet Penn State celebrities Keegan-Michael Key and Ian Rosenberger at Twitter and the Alumni Zone after the Homecoming contest against Indiana on Oct. 10. Check out the The annual Homecoming tailgate, sponsored by the Alumni Association, will new Football begin as soon as the game ends and go until 6:30 p.m. For more Letter Blog information and to register, click here. Homecoming Events Scheduled For a run down of events during Homecoming weekend, which takes place PSU 7 3 10 0 - 20 Oct. 9–10, check out our website. Highlights include a student-alumni ice ARMY 0 0 7 7 - 14 cream social at the Hintz Family Alumni Center, the Homecoming parade, and post-game Alumni Zone tailgate. CONTENTS Guard the Lion Shrine The Letter Held immediately after the Homecoming parade, Guard the Lion Shrine is Notes from the Cuff free and open to the public, and features music, games, activities, and Other Sports food. For more information, visit the Alumni Association’s website. News of Note Huddle with the Faculty Game Photos Alumni and friends can catch light refreshments and some food for thought Statistics at “Huddle with the Faculty,” the popular free lecture series hosted by the Penn State Alumni Association each home football Saturday at The Nittany Lion Inn. The next two presentations in the 24th annual Huddle series are: Oct. 10 (Indiana): “What is Graphic Medicine? How Comics are Impacting PAST ISSUES Patients and Physicians,” featuring Susan Merrill Squier, Brill Professor of women’s studies View past issues and English. If we follow Gary Trudeau’s classic comic book FAN ZONE character, the quarterback B.D., from his football Football Schedule playing days to military service and beyond, we Team Roster meet a new kind of comic that offers an exciting GoPSUSports.com new way of dealing with illness, trauma, medical Radio/TV Listings treatment, and disability. Susan Merrill Squier will Big Ten Football TV describe this new field known as “graphic Schedule medicine” and introduce the audience to highlights from recent, powerful Big Ten Standings works in this new genre. Some tips on reading graphic medicine, and some Big Ten Schedule and Results sense of its impact on physicians and patients, will be discussed. Penn Staters in the Pros

For advertising info, contact: Angelo Scialfa 609-259-1910 Oct. 31 (Illinois): “The Five Myths of Online [email protected] Learning,” featuring Craig Weidemann, vice president for Outreach and vice provost for Online Education.

U.S. News and World Report recently recognized the 15-year-old Penn State World Campus as having the No. 1 online bachelor program in the country. The World Campus now has more than 16,000 students worldwide pursuing one of more than 125 online degrees and certificates. While the World Campus shares the same rigor, quality, and admission requirements as our traditional Penn State programs, there remain many questions and myths regarding the quality and future of online programs. Join us as we talk about the myths surrounding online learning, what is next, and where the college learning experiencing is heading. All “Huddle with the Faculty” programs start promptly at 9:00 a.m. and include free parking at the Nittany Parking Deck. Huddle with the Faculty is presented by the Penn State Alumni Association and sponsored by The Village at Penn State with support from The Nittany Lion Inn and Penn State Press. Kline Named Campbell Trophy Semifinalist Penn State senior linebacker Ben Kline is among the 135 scholar-athletes announced as semifinalists for the 2015 William V. Campbell Trophy, presented by Fidelity Investments®, by The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF). The Campbell Trophy, which is housed at the New York Athletic Club, recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation. Kline is vying to become the first Nittany Lion to win the award since John Urschel in 2013. For the full release, visit GoPSUsports.com. Pep Rally Details Available for Ohio State Game Penn State and Ohio State clash in Columbus on Oct. 17, and we have all the details for the pre-game pep rally and Friday night mixer, sponsored by the Alumni Association and its local chapter. To view, including a map of the area, visit the Alumni Association’s website. And for alumni, students and fans on social media, use and share #PSUpeprally for everything trending about the 2015 Penn State pep rallies. Hintz Family Alumni Center Open House Hours A reminder to all visitors that the Hintz Family Alumni Center’s open hours change during football season. On home football game days, the Alumni Center opens at 8:00 a.m., and closes one hour before kickoff. During away football weekends, the Alumni Center is open only on Saturdays from 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. For questions, call the Alumni Association at 814- 865-6516.