VOLUME 76 ISSUE 5 Penn State vs. October 7, 2013

The Letter The first time is always the best. Follow us on Twenty-one years was a long time for Twitter and Indiana to wait to get its first victory over Check out the new Penn State, after the Nittany Lions joined Football Letter Blog the in 1993. But when it happened Saturday afternoon, PSU 0 7 10 7 24 it tasted so much sweeter. IU 7 6 8 23 44 The taste of a 44–24 conquest of their nemesis in front of a Big Ten television CONTENTS audience, as well as the Memorial Stadium faithful, lingered all weekend in the mouths of the football players at this school. The Letter

Notes from the Cuff Sixteen times in those 21 years the gridders tasted defeat, and six of

Other Sports those losses were by seven or fewer points. And five of those six close losses

News of Note came at home. And those particularly stuck in the ’ craw.

Game Photos Saturday the taste changed, as Indiana finally pulled off the upset—and did it in

Statistics

front of the home fans. The same fans that saw Indiana score enough points in 1994 to knock unbeaten Penn State out of the No. 1 spot in the nation and doom it to an eventual No. 2 finish behind Nebraska, but yet lose, 35–29. The same PAST ISSUES fans that watched drive the Lions nuts in 2000, but still come up on the short end of a 27–24 tally. The same fans that watched State’s View past issues defense stop the Hoosiers four times in a 2004 goal line stand to protect a 22–18 victory that ended their fourth losing season in five years and launch a 15-game streak that was marred only by an extra three seconds on the clock and included a No. 3 national ranking in 2005. The same fans that saw Coach Kevin Wilson’s first team in 2011 scare the daylights out of Penn State before falling, 16–10.

It’s only too bad that more of those fans were not present to witness the historic 2013 victory and savor the result. The reported attendance was 42,125 in this 53,000-seat stadium. But that had to be tickets sold, because the wide open spaces, especially in the student sections, attested to the fact that there were a lot fewer fannies in the seats. FAN ZONE Some fair-weather fans may have been scared off by the threat of rain, which turned out to be light and stopped in the first half.

Football Schedule

Team Roster In all likelihood there were more students among the 12,000 hoops fans at

GoPSUSports.com Friday night’s Hoosier Hysteria in nearby Assembly Hall, watching the basketball

Radio/TV Listings team put on slam-dunk exhibitions and scrimmage drills than there were in Memorial Stadium appreciating the spectacular play of their football team Big Ten Football TV Schedule Saturday afternoon. Big Ten Standings

Big Ten Schedule and Results Penn Staters in the Pros

Despite the preference of their fans for basketball and the lack of respect in the football world for this squad that led the Big Ten in passing offense and total offense, the 2013 Hoosiers proved they are a team to be reckoned with by blasting the Lions in the Big Ten opener for both teams.

Both teams had a bye last Saturday, while most of their conference cousins started Big Ten play. The Hoosiers obviously made better use of the time off and refused to be denied Saturday, despite Penn State having numerous chances to take control of the game. In the two weeks since the Lions’ convincing shutout of Kent State, Penn State fans got some very good news. Their University was ranked as the 49th best in the world by the Times Higher Education World University rankings based on 13 separate performance indicators. And U.S. News and World Report ranked Penn State No. 8 among all public national universities in the . And the NCAA restored some of the scholarships that it had stripped from Penn State in the draconian sanctions handed down last year. But Saturday, Lion fans got some bad news. For the first time since the opening game of the Bill O’Brien era, their team totally collapsed in the fourth quarter and may have doomed its chances of equaling last year’s stellar 8–4 record. Penn State now has the same 3–2 slate that it did at this time last year; however, the remaining schedule appears a lot more ominous. Oddsmakers expected the Lions to enter next week’s Homecoming encounter with unbeaten Michigan at 5–0. Those oddsmakers may still favor Penn State against , and Purdue. But to duplicate last year’s comeback to an 8–4 mark, the 2013 Lions will have to upset at least two of the four ranked teams remaining on the schedule—Michigan, State, Nebraska and Wisconsin. Just to salvage a winning season, State is going to have to pull at least one upset of the Big Ten leaders.

Saturday the Lions controlled the ball for 10 minutes more than the home team, posting a 35:11 to 24:49 margin in time of possession and ran 93 plays out of its NASCAR offense, while the Hoosiers got only 80 out of their even faster no- huddle offense. Penn State gained 340 yards passing to Indiana’s 336. The Lions’ phenomenal freshman Christian Hackenberg threw three passes to Indiana’s super sophomore QB ’s two. But the home team outgained the visitors 150 yards to 70 on the ground and got three rushing TDs to Penn State’s none. Hackenberg had career highs with 30 completions for 340 yards and the three scores, while attempting a school record 55 passes with no . caught a career-high 12 passes for a career-high 173 yards and two TDs and could have had a third. But he was knocked out-of-bounds while leaping high in the end zone and corralling another Hackenberg aerial. Kyle Carter hauled in six passes for 79 yards, and Eugene Lewis caught six for 35.

Sudfeld passed for 321 yards by completing 23 of 38 attempts to seven different receivers with one . Cody Lattimer led all Hoosier receivers with nine receptions for 140 yards. While Indiana’s fast-paced offense had exploited its four non-conference foes with 1,394 yards passing and 795 yards rushing to top the Big Ten charts in passing and total offense, its defense ranked near the bottom nationally in stopping the run. But while Penn State’s defense held Indiana’s rushing attack to 49 yards below its average, the Hoosier defense (which had surrendered 444 rushing yards to Navy and 280 to Missouri) held Penn State to just 70 yards on the ground—127 below its average. Granted, State’s rushing stat included a 31-yard loss on an errant snap on a field goal try and Hackenberg’s loss of 19 yards, including 12 on an intentional grounding call. Nonetheless, the Lions could not muster a consistent rushing attack, scored no rushing after averaging three per game, and virtually abandoned any running attack in the second half. Actually, the visitors moved quickly from a run-it-down-your-throat mode to a reliance on the pass on the very first possession of the game. After the first three rushes gained 23 yards, quarterback Christian Hackenberg passed on seven of the next nine plays, including an incompletion on 4th & 5 to halt the drive at the IN-26. State blew a second scoring opportunity on its next possession, when a bad snap on a field goal attempt not only cost them a likely three points but a loss of field position from the IN-14 to the IN-45. Meanwhile, Penn State squelched Indiana’s first possession, when backup defensive end Anthony Zettel sacked Sudfeld, and their second, when Stephen Obeng-Agyapong and Deion Barnes stopped Stephen Houston for no gain on a 4th & 3 at the PS-20. But, on their final possession of the quarter, Sudfield crisply raced his team downfield on four straight pass completions of 11, 33, 12 and five yards to the game’s first touchdown. In the middle of the second quarter, Penn State finally answered with consecutive Hackenberg pass completions to Allen Robinson. The second was about a 10-yard toss along the left sideline that ARob promptly turned into a 46-yard touchdown by juking three tacklers on his way to the end zone. Indiana’s Mitch Ewald kicked field goals of 24 and 27 yards to give the home team a 13–7 lead at halftime. State set Sam Ficken up for a 42-yard attempt after driving to a 4th & 2 at the IN-25 on the drive in between Ewald’s successive three-pointers. The Lions had eschewed a 43-yard field goal try on a 4th & 5 in the first frame, opting instead for a Hackenberg pass that fell incomplete. When each team called a timeout before the 42-yard attempt on 4th & 2, fans thought Coach Bill O’Brien might change his mind and try to run for a first down. But not so, and Ficken’s kick was blocked by 6’ 5” Ralphael Green who leaped high and got a big paw on it. On its first possession of the second half, Penn State deftly moved 80 yards on 13 plays to its second touchdown and its first lead of the day at 14-13. Hackenberg completed two passes to Robinson and Zach Zwinak, the teams’ leading rusher with 72 yards on 17 carries during the contest, gained 22 before Hack connected on a beautiful 26-yarder to Robinson in the end zone. Just when it looked like the momentum might swing to Penn State, the Hoosiers immediately retaliated with a five-play 75-yard drive initiated by Sudfeld’s 10- yard pass to Latimer and 18-yard toss to tight end Ted Bolser and climaxed by Tevin Coleman’s 44-yard burst through the middle of the Lion defense to paydirt. Backup QB entered the game in the wildcat formation and ran for a two-point conversion to give the home team a 21–14 lead. The visitors got their chance to tie when linebacker Glenn Carson tipped a Sudfeld pass and safety Adrian Amos intercepted it at the PS-46. Hackenberg completions to Lewis, Carter, Robinson and freshman Richy Anderson moved the pigskin to the IN-7. But Hack was sacked for the only time in the game for a five-yard loss on 3rd & 6, so State settled for Ficken’s 30-yard field goal. But that’s when the wheels came off the bus. Indiana extended its lead to 28–17 at the start of the fourth quarter by pounding the Lions for another 75-yard march, which ended with Roberson’s two-yard touchdown run. With 11:24 left in the game, O’Brien ordered Hackenberg to pass on a 4th & 2 at the PS-33, but the attempt fell incomplete. The home team took over on downs and on its second play Sudfeld scrambled out of the pocket and spotted Kofi Hughes streaking down the right sideline. He lofted a perfect 36-yard strike, which Hughes cradled in the end zone for a 35– 17 margin that put the game on ice. Redshirt freshman kick returner Eugene Lewis fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Indiana recovered at the PS-9. On the first play, Roberson lined up in the wildcat position again and sliced through right side for the Hoosiers’ third TD in the final frame, as the Indiana fans erupted in their long-awaited victory celebration throughout the stadium. Hackenberg passed the Lions 75 yards in 2:46, ending with a 14-yard touchdown to Bill Belton in the back right corner of the end zone for State’s final points. But Indiana’s next possession ended when Erich Toth’s punt was downed at the PS-5. In an example of Murphy’s Law descending upon the now hapless Lions, defensive end Nick Mangieri nailed Hackenberg in the end zone forcing a fumble, which was recovered by State’s Donovan Smith, resulting in a safety that set the final score at 44–24. “We didn’t play well, didn’t coach well and we have a long way to go,” said Coach O’Brien in his post-mortem. “But we’ll get back to work on Monday.” Monday begins Homecoming Week with a multitude of activities for students and returning alums. Wednesday, the women’s volleyball team entertains Minnesota in Rec Hall at 7:30 p.m. On Friday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., the Alumni Ice Cream Social takes place at the Hintz Family Alumni Center; at 3:00 p.m. the field hockey squad plays Ohio State; at 6:00 p.m. the nation’s largest Homecoming parade steps off, winding its way through campus and along College Ave.; at 8:00 p.m. the men’s soccer team meets Michigan on Jeffrey Field; and the men’s hockey team plays the inaugural match in the magnificent new Pegula Ice Arena against Army. On Saturday, the Huddle with the Faculty program begins at 9:00 a.m. in The Nittany Lion Inn; the Alumni Zone Homecoming Tailgate in the Indoor Multi- Sport Complex runs from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; the Blue Band Tailgreat Show in the Bryce Jordan Center runs from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; and the football game with Michigan kicks off at 5:00 p.m. Finally, on Sunday the women’s soccer team plays Michigan on Jeffrey Field at 1:00 p.m. If you are not worn out by then, you have not enjoyed your Homecoming Week. For the Glory,

VOLUME 76 ISSUE 5 Penn State vs. Indiana October 7, 2013

Notes from the Cuff In its 16 wins over Indiana since 1993, Penn Follow us on Twitter State outscored the Hoosiers 601 to 333 with and the most lopsided margin being 52–7 in 2003, Check out the new when the Lions won three and lost nine to post Football Letter Blog their worst record since 1931 … The Lions are now 6-1 in games played at IU’s Memorial Stadium, which was expanded in 2009 PSU 0 7 10 7 24 with the completion of a North End Zone IU 7 6 8 23 44 Student-Athlete Development Center enhanced by two beautiful Gothic Towers, which remind one of the magnificent Student Union Building on central campus … CONTENTS Saturday’s Homecoming football game against Michigan will be televised at ESPN at The Letter 5:00 p.m. …

Notes from the Cuff The Nittany Lions are 9–12 in Big Ten opening games with a 6–7 slate in openers on

Other Sports the road. State is now 4–3 in road games under Coach Bill O’Brien …

News of Note

Game Photos Penn State converted 11 of 22 third downs Saturday equaling its total number of third-down conversions in its first four games when the Lions were successful on 11 Statistics of 52 attempts …

For the first time this year, State did not score on one of its incursions into the Red PAST ISSUES Zone. With two of three at Indiana, the Lions have scored on 17 of 18 trips inside the opponent’s 20-yard line (13 touchdowns and four field goals) … View past issues State’s 93 plays Saturday broke the season record of 89 against Kent State in the previous game … Nittany Lion defenders posted seven tackles for loss in the second straight game … Allen Robinson continues to lead the Big Ten in receptions (7.6 per game), and receiving yards (124.2 per game) and stands seventh in the nation. His 12 catches in a single game are second in school history to Freddie Scott, who had 13 for 110 yards against Wisconsin in 1995. Robinson’s 118 career catches moved him from 12th to seventh on State’s career list behind O.J. McDuffie who had 125 (1989–92). ARob’s six career 100-yard games tie him with Derek Moye, Deon Butler and Kenny Jackson for fifth on State’s all-time list. His 16 touchdown receptions tie him with O.J. McDuffie for fifth at Penn State … FAN ZONE Christian Hackenberg and Robinson have connected on six passes this year that went

Football Schedule for more than 40 yards. Three of those were touchdowns …

Team Roster Hackenberg leads the Big Ten with 109 completions and is second in passing yards GoPSUSports.com (273.4 per game). His 340 yards at Indiana broke the freshman record of 311 that he Radio/TV Listings set against Eastern Michigan … Big Ten Football TV

Schedule

Big Ten Standings Big Ten Schedule and Tight end Kyle Carter tied his career-high with six catches for 79 yards—the second

Results highest of his two-year career. Redshirt freshman Geno Lewis’ six receptions were a

Penn Staters in the Pros season and career high …

Cornerback had a career-high nine tackles, while linebacker Glenn Carson posted his second 10-tackle game of the season and sixth of his career and linebacker Mike Hull had his second career double-digit tackle game, even though he is only about 90 percent recovered from the leg injury that has sidelined him for much of the season. Safety Ryan Keiser did not play because of a wrist injury, and linebacker Nyeem Wartman is nursing a shoulder injury … Junior safety Adrian Amos’ interception was his first of the season and fourth of his career … Same Ficken is second in Big Ten kick scoring (8.6 per game) and got touchbacks on four of his five kickoffs … True freshman Zach Ladonis snapped for all four of Alex Butterworth’s punts, after making the team during run-on tryouts Sept. 17. He is the 10th true freshman to play this fall. Fourteen true freshmen and 14 redshirt freshman made the traveling squad to Indiana … Guard John Urshel is a semi-finalist for the prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes the top football scholar-athlete in the nation. The 2012 first team Academic All-American is also a candidate to become Penn State’s 17th National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete and the first since in 2010 … Indiana had not won a Big Ten opener since 2000 and their quarterback/wide receivers’ coach called the Hoosiers win over Penn State “a big, big step for the program.” Senior kicker Mitch Ewald passed Antwaan Randle El to move into second on Indiana’s all-time scoring chart with 273 points. The Hoosiers’ rushing defense had been the worst in the Big Ten for the last two seasons … Penn State’s All-Sports Museum in the southwest corner of Beaver Stadium will open a new Exhibit on Friday. The exhibit traces the history of ice hockey at Penn State from its start in the early 1900s and the first varsity period in the 1940s to the sport’s rebirth with the Icers and Lady Icers club teams and finally the return to varsity status in 2012. The exhibit also shows the rise of the Icers from the early 1970s to their years as a power within the American Collegiate Hockey Association, winning numerous national club championships … Other events during the Museum’s overall celebration of Homecoming Weekend include the Lion Cub Zone on Saturday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. It features fun and games for the whole family with a wrestling theme and will feature current Lion wrestlers. Another exhibit, which will run until Dec. 1, is titled “From the Vault: Highlights from the Museum’s Collection” and includes items such as the Nittany Lion mascot suit worn during the 1987 Fiesta Bowl, football cleats from the 1910s and historic Penn State footballs … Homecoming Weekend hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday; 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday; and 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday. For information call 814-865- 0044 or visit gopsusports.com/museum .

VOLUME 76 ISSUE 5 Penn State vs. Indiana October 7, 2013

News of Note HOMECOMING EVENTS Follow us on Twitter On the Friday night before the big game against the Michigan Wolverines, alumni can and take part in Homecoming happenings at University Park. Then, on game day, check Check out the new out “Huddle with the Faculty” and the Alumni Zone Homecoming Tailgate (information Football Letter Blog below). Student-Alumni Ice Cream Social Hintz Family Alumni Center PSU 0 7 10 7 24 Friday, Oct. 11 IU 7 6 8 23 44 1:00–4:00 p.m. All current Penn State students, alumni and friends are welcome to come enjoy a CONTENTS taste of Berkey Creamery ice cream.

The Letter Homecoming Parade

Notes from the Cuff Friday, Oct. 11

Other Sports Perhaps the largest-ever among universities, Penn State’s spectacular Friday night

News of Note parade begins near the Penn State Creamery on Curtin Road, wends its way through

Game Photos campus before heading west on College Avenue, then ends on Burrowes Road. Parade

Statistics steps off at 6:00 p.m.

ALUMNI ZONE HOMECOMING TAILGATE PAST ISSUES There’s still time to register for the best tailgate in town Oct. 12—the Alumni Zone, sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association. Bring the whole family to meet Penn State celebrities and enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet before the big Homecoming View past issues game against Michigan. The Alumni Zone pre-game tailgate takes place from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Multi-Sport Facility & Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track, just south of the Bryce Jordan Center. Hang out with: • Former Penn State quarterback and NFL veteran Michael Robinson ’04; • Former Lady Lion standout Kelly Mazzante ’04; • Star quarterback ’96, ’03g; • Penn State and NBA basketball star John Amaechi ’94 (this year’s Homecoming grand marshal); and • Head coaches Guy Gadowsky (men’s hockey), Russ Rose (women’s volleyball), Mark Pavlik (men’s volleyball), Char Morett (field hockey), and Patrick Chambers FAN ZONE (men’s basketball). The buffet includes tailgate fare plus old favorites like grilled stickies and Berkey Football Schedule Creamery ice cream, along with cold beer, wine and soft drinks. Get a free T-shirt, Team Roster play games, win prizes and revel in entertainment by the Alumni Blue Band, alumni GoPSUSports.com majorettes and alumni Lionettes. Then, head over to TailGreat at the BJC until game

Radio/TV Listings time. Big Ten Football TV

Schedule Costs are: $37 Alumni Association members, $50 non-members and $15 children (5

Big Ten Standings and under free). Register here. Big Ten Schedule and HUDDLE WITH THE FACULTY

Results Alumni and friends can catch a quick breakfast and some food for thought at “Huddle

Penn Staters in the Pros with the Faculty,” the popular free lecture series each home football Saturday at The Nittany Lion Inn. The next presentations in the 21st annual Huddle series are: Oct. 12 (Michigan/Homecoming): “Forever Young: The Aging Athlete,” featuring Matthew Silvis ’02, associate professor in family and community medicine and orthopedics and rehabilitation at the Penn State College of Medicine and medical director for primary care sports medicine at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Exercise is often not emphasized in conversations between aging patients and their health care providers. However, there are numerous benefits to exercise for persons of all ages. This talk focuses on the benefits of exercise throughout life and provides common exercise recommendations for older adults. Nov. 2 (Illinois): “Educating Global Citizens: A Penn State Model,” featuring Verónica Montecinos, professor of sociology at Penn State Greater Allegheny Experimenting with various models of global education is crucial to satisfy the high demand generated in recent decades. This talk will focus on a successful model of curriculum internationalization, which was developed at Penn State Greater Allegheny and has the potential for being adopted at other educational institutions. All “Huddle with the Faculty” programs start promptly at 9:00 a.m. and include free parking at the Nittany Parking Deck. The Huddle series, presented by the Penn State Alumni Association, is sponsored by The Village at Penn State and supported by the The Nittany Lion Inn and Penn State Press. 2013 HOMECOMING COOKBOOK For the first time in several years, the Homecoming Committee—comprised of Penn State students—is reviving an old tradition by creating a 2013 Homecoming Cookbook filled with 60 Penn Staters’ favorite tailgate and fall-themed recipes. The cookbook makes its debut at the Homecoming sale in the HUB-Robeson Center Monday, Oct. 7, from 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Copies will be sold at several other University Park campus locations throughout Homecoming week, including during the Student-Alumni Ice Cream Social at the Hintz Family Alumni Center Friday, Oct. 11, from 1:00–4:00 p.m. For details, check out the homecoming cookbook site here. And after Homecoming, the cookbook can be ordered online at the Homecoming online store. RALLY AWAY AT OHIO Penn State fans can get revved up for the game against the Buckeyes at the Alumni Association’s Pep Rally, featuring the Penn State cheerleaders, the Nittany Lion, the Penn State Pep Band, free refreshments and more. Alumni and friends can also gather together the evening before at the Friday night mixer, which is co-sponsored by the Alumni Association and its local chapter. Friday Night Mixer: Meet Friday, Oct. 25, at 6:30 p.m. at Quaker Steak & Lube, 8500 Lyra Drive, in Columbus. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Central Ohio Chapter’s local scholarship fund and another local charity. Cost: $20 for adults if registering in advance by Oct. 18; $25 for adults at the door; $15 for kids ages 5–12; and free for children under five. The event features the Nittany Lion and the Penn State cheerleaders, a two-hour buffet, a cash bar, door prizes and a silent auction. For more information and to register, visit the Central Ohio Chapter website. Game-day Pep Rally: Meet Penn Staters inside The Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Road, in Columbus. Kickoff is at 8:00 p.m. The pep rally location opens at 5:00 p.m. and the program begins at 6:00 p.m. Click here for an Ohio State map and more info. TAILGREAT 2013 Penn State fans looking for a break from traditional tailgating can head to the Bryce Jordan Center for The Blue Band TailGreat Show, which offers free fun for families and fans of all ages. Get pumped up for football with a pre-game performance by the Blue Band, cheerleaders, Lionettes dance team, Nittany Lion and more. Activities throughout the season will be available on the BJC concourse, including free airbrush tattoos, spirit hairstyles, football player cards, photos with cheerleaders and games with prizes. The BJC opens three hours before kickoff, and the Blue Band performance starts two hours before kick and lasts about one hour. FOOTBALL SHOW WITH COACH O’BRIEN ON THURSDAYS “The Penn State Football Show,” a one-hour call-in program that takes place at Damon’s Grill in State College every Thursday throughout football season, is being carried on nearly 40 radio stations in five states and live on gopsusports.com. The program begins at 6:05 p.m. and features football Coach Bill O'Brien, assistant coaches and members of the football team answering questions from fans live at Damon's. Fans can watch in person, participate online or call in at 800-52-LIONS (525-4667) to ask questions. Or submit ahead of time at www.GoPSUsports.com/askthecoach.