URL:http://www.alumni.psu.edu/fbl Username: psualum Password: weare Oct. 1, 2012 * Vol. 75, No. 5

he Nittany Lions’ second road trip to an TOrange and Blue school on a similarly sensa- tional sunny Saturday was more successful than their first. Memories of the disappointing 17-16 loss in the hills of three weeks ago have been replaced by a super 35-7 win on the prairie of Illinois that launched Penn State into its 2012 schedule. With all of its tailbacks healthy for the first time this fall and the offensive line blowing back the vaunted Illini defensive front, Coach Bill O’Brien’s team unleashed a punishing running game that methodically pounded Il- linois into submission in beautifully renovated Memorial Stadium in Champaign. Taking turns at awakening the echoes of the Galloping Ghost, whose bronze statue stands outside the venerable stadium, four Penn State runners charged up and down the field where the legendary Red Grange once roamed. ZACH ZWINAK runs over tacklers on his way to Lions’ first 100-yard rushing game this year in State's 35-7 win at Illinois First Bill Belton returned from an ankle injury suffered in the season opener. Then four of their five six-pointers on the ground “We left a lot of points off the board,” he said. Derek Day played for the first time since the at Illinois. One drive ended when the Lions were Virginia game. Then Zach Zwinak and Curtis Zwinak was the Alpha and the Omega of stopped on fourth down at the IL-36. Another Dukes hammered away at the Orange and Blue Penn State scoring with 1-yard plunges into ended at the IL-16, when McGloin was sacked defense. Suddenly a squad that had to count on the end zone to climax the Lions’ first and last for a 13-yard loss. One more ended at the IL-13, running fullbacks from the tailback position a punishing drives with his first career touch- when Dukes was stopped a yard short on fourth week earlier had a full stable of thoroughbreds downs, while McGloin got the other two on down. And Sam Ficken missed two field goals. cutting, dancing and accelerating through holes, 1-yard sneaks. He added, “Defensively we played, for the and workhorses who ran right over defenders. Penn State’s 173 rushing yards were supple- most part, an excellent football game. We created In his first action in four games, Belton mented by the continuing success of the passing turnovers again. Michael Mauti had two intercep- sliced and diced for 65 yards on 16 carries. attack, as McGloin completed 18 of 30 passes tions and we rushed the passer. Our special teams Day, after missing the last two games, gained to five different receivers for 211 yards and a played better than they did against Temple.” 14 yards on just four carries. Dukes ran over 21-yard TD to Matt Lehman. One unit the new coach cited for especially Illini for 21 yards on five chances. And Zwinak The rangy tight end put a punctuation mark good play was the offensive line. He said the big became the first Lion to reach the century mark on the Lions’ longest drive of 72 yards by hang- guys up front are “getting better every week. in a game this year, smashing his way to an even ing on to the ball in the end zone, despite being There’s a great chemistry between them. They 100 on 19 lugs of the pigskin. flattened and knocked woozy by a helmet-to- get along really well and care about their team- It was a career-high for the redshirt sopho- helmet smash that resulted in the ejection from mates. They’re physical.” more, who missed a year after tearing an ACL the game of Illinois safety Earnest Thomas. Junior offensive guard John Urschel told re- as a freshman and saw his first significant “It’s a really big win for us to get off on the porters, “We certainly gained some confidence action against Temple last week. Zwinak ran right foot in the Big Ten,” said a smiling Coach to be able to put up yards on them, considering through the Owls for 75 yards on 15 carries, O’Brien of the first conference victory for one that might be the best defensive line in the Big while backing up fullback-turned-tailback of the league’s newest headmasters. Ten, excluding ours.” Michael Zordich, who gained 94 yards on 18 Tim Beckman, who is one of the Big Ten’s O’Brien said the defense plays well as a unit carries before coming out with a leg injury in other two new head coaches, said he was disap- and communicates well. the second half. pointed in his team’s play, but added, “Penn “They well for the most part. They’re Zordich was not fully recovered Saturday State did a great job of playing physical football.” making plays on the ball a little better than early and played sparingly, blocking and carrying the Illinois’ outstanding junior in the year.” ball only once – when the Lions needed him to Nathan Scheelhasse, said Penn State just beat State’s defense forced a in addition bull his way from the shadow of the goalposts, the home team soundly. to the two in the first three quar- where the Illinois punter had pinned the visi- O’Brien was not effusive in the praise of his ters and raised to 11 the number of turnovers tors on their 1-yard line. gridders, explaining, “Overall it was a good team it has gotten this year compared to the three The Nittany Lions, who had scored their effort, but we’re gonna have to play a lot better” the Lions have given away. Twice the defense first nine this season on passes – to have continued success in the conference. stopped the Illini on fourth down inside the before Matt McGloin scored on a quarterback PS-30, and it shut out the home team on its first sneak for State’s final TD last week – tallied PENN STATE 14 7 7 7 35 nine third down conversion attempts. ILLINOIS 0 0 7 0 7 Photos by Steve Manuel ’84, ‘92g R E C A P 1st Quarter PS: Zwinak 1-yd run caps 8-pl 26-yd drive in 2:56 set up by Fuhrman rec. of fum. frcd. by Mauti & keyed by McGloin 3-yd run on 3rd & 1 & Ill. ruff. kicker pen. (Ficken kick) 10:41 PS: McGloin 1-yd run caps 8-pl 60-yd drive in 2:28 sparked by McGloin passes 10 yds to Moseby-Felder, 19 yds to Carter on 3rd & 4 & 15 yds to Robinson. (Ficken kick) 6:29 2nd Quarter PS: Lehman 21-yd pass from McGloin caps 8-pl 72-yd drive in 2:52 set up by Hodges & Hill stop of Scheelhaase on 4th & 1 @ PS-28 & keyed by McGloin 10-yd pass to Carter on 3rd & 2 & Zwinak runs of 12, 9 & 10 yds. (Ficken kick) 3:11 3rd Quarter ILL: Harris 22-yd pass from Ferguson caps 3-pl 42-yd drive 1 2 in 1:15 keyed by Scheelhasse 22-yd pass to Ferguson. (Zaleski kick) 10:22 PS: McGloin 1-yd run caps 8-pl 57-yd drive in 2:31 keyed by McGloin passes 18 yds to Moseby-Felder & 16 yds to Carter. (Ficken kick) 3:15 4th Quarter PS: Zwinak 1-yd run caps 7-pl 50-yd drive in 2:03 set up by Mauti intcpt. & 6-yd ret. & sparked by McGloin 16-yd pass to Lehman & Zwinak 14-yd run. (Ficken kick) 14:03 Attendance: 46,734 It wasn’t until late in the third quarter that Illinois made its first conversion, and three of its total of four in 15 attempts came in the last possession of the game against Penn State’s reserves long after the game’s outcome had been determined. Eighty-seven of Illinois’ 366 yards of total 9 10 offense came on that possession, as did 10 of Scheelhasse’s 28 completions for 98 of his 270 1: Brandon Moseby-Felder catches pass from passing yards. McGloin and turns upfield for big gain.2: BILL BELTON, following One player who really stood out in the strong block of John Urschel (64), saw first action at tailback since defensive effort was Michael Mauti, who earned season opener and gained 65 yards on 16 carries. 3: BIG TEN’S the Walter Camp national Defensive Player of leading9 receiver makes catch and races toward the Week award. The senior stuffed end zone trying unsuccessfully to reach ball across goal line. runners and receivers and stopped two Illinois 4: C.J. OLANIYAN breaks up Illinois pass. 5: TIGHT END MATT drives by intercepting Scheelhasse. Another LEHMAN is leveled but held onto pass from McGloin for 21-yard time he teamed up with defensive end Deion . 6: DEION BARNES (18) and Sean Stanley (90) sack Barnes to sack Scheelhasse for a 7-yard loss. Scheelhasse. 7: TIGHT END Matt Lehman makes one of his five His most spectacular theft ended a 74-yard catches for 70 yards to lead all Lion receivers. 8: LINEBACKER Illini drive at the goal line in the final seconds of Michael Mauti grabbed two interceptions at Illinois. 9: SEAN the first half, when he made the pick and emu- STANLEY makes diving tackle of Scheelhasse. 10: CURTIS lated Bill Belton, cutting and weaving behind his DUKES was fourth Penn State rusher to pound the Illini defense. teammates for 99 yards, but losing his first oppor- tunity to score a touchdown, after being tripped up by a shoestring tackle at the 1-yard line. To add to the insult, a replay review showed there was one second left on the clock when 8 his knee touched the ground, so Penn State quickly lined up for a field goal attempt, but it was blocked. Mauti’s return was the longest in Memorial Stadium history and set a Penn State record – exceeding Wayne Berfield’s 98-yard effort at Boston University in 1958. Asked about it after the game, Mauti said, “99 yards without a TD – that one’s going to hurt, es- pecially because we didn’t get any points out of it.” The Butkus and Bednarik Award candidate leads Penn State with 48 tackles, including 2.5 for minus 29 yards, plus two forced , a fumble recovery and two pass break-ups. He leads the Big Ten with the 105 7 return yards he compiled Saturday. 6 Mauti seemed to have some extra incentive the Wizard of Oz performance they played in playing against Illinois. Back in July at the Big Beaver Stadium during the Temple game. . .The Ten Media Days, he expressed his displeasure 46,734 in attendance was Illinois’ largest home at Illinois sending a half dozen coaches to State crowd this season…Since he plays against him in College to try to talk with Penn State players, practice, offensive guard John Urschel was asked after the NCAA declared that any of them could to describe linebacker Mike Mauti. Urschel said transfer and play immediately at any other school. “He’s a physical player, but I’d say the biggest thing Both O’Brien and Mauti tried to downplay is just his energy. He’s running all over making the situation in their comments to the media plays, and he’s jumping around everywhere for Saturday, but Mauti did admit, “We haven’t for- four quarters.”…Mauti’s comment: “We only have gotten what happened this summer. We had that a fixed number of games, so we’re going to be just in the back of our minds, and that kept us going.” as rowdy and just as jacked up for every game… Only one Penn State player – redshirt That’s how our team feels every game, given what freshman lineman Ryan Nowicki from Ari- we have gone through.”…Illinois’ leading receiver zona – chose to transfer to Illinois before the with 23 catches for 347 yards -- including 7 for 104 season began. against Penn State -- is Ryan Lankford, son of Paul After losing in the second half to the still Lankford, who was a wide receiver and track star undefeated Ohio Bobcats (5-0) in their opener, for the Nittany Lions in the early 80s and played 2 the Lions seem to have gotten better each week, pro football with the …Quarter- not allowing a touchdown in any first half and back Matt McGloin passed to outscoring their last four opponents, 109-44. move into seventh place on Penn State’s career Heading into Penn State’s 93rd Homecom- list for touchdown passes with 32. ing this weekend, the Lions are on a three-game stands in sixth place with 37. The senior from winning streak and might just be the best 3-2 West Scranton leads the Big Ten in passing yard- team in the conference. But they face the biggest age (243.4 per game) and is second in TD passes challenge yet in the Big Ten leader, undefeated (11) and completions (101). He is tied with Fusina, and No. 22-ranked Northwestern. The high-oc- and Morelli for fourth in Penn State tane Wildcats bring an unblemished 5-0 record annals with 11 200-yard passing games…Tight into the noon kickoff in Beaver Stadium that end Matt Lehman, who walked on at Penn State will televised by ESPN – the Lions’ sixth straight after starting his college career at Shippensburg, contest carried by ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC. had a career day with five catches for 70 yards. Alex Kenney had a career-high four catches. Bill For the Glory, Belton had career highs with 16 carries and 65 rushing yards and turned in State’s longest run of the year for 19 yards. Evan Lewis had a nifty 26-yard punt return…Michael Yancich, a linebacker and special teams stalwart posted a career-high seven tackles and senior kick snapper Michael Fuhrman was excited to get his first fumble recovery, after snapping the ball to punter Alex Butterworth then NOTES FROM THE CUFF dashing downfield to pounce on the fumble by the enn State’s 28-point margin of victory Saturday Illini receiver at the IL-26 to set up Penn State’s 3 Pwas its largest of the season, as the offense put first touchdown…State has outscored its five op- up a season-high 35 and the defense held Illinois ponents 49-0 in the first quarter and 76-9 in the nearly 20 below its 26.5-point average entering first half…Penn State has recently been ranked as the contest…It was the fourth straight game that the 49th and 64th best university out of the 17,000 State’s defense has recorded at least three quar- in the world by two different international ranking terback sacks to raise its total to 14 in five games. agencies – far above the vast majority of universities Illinois had scored 10 touchdowns and one field playing Division I football. goal in 14 trips into the Red Zone in its first four games, but went 0 for 3 against the Lions, who NITTANY LIONS IN NFL held five of 14 Illini drives to zero or negative total of 26 Penn State football alumni were yardage. Illinois’ only touchdown came on a bit Apopulating the rosters of 19 NFL teams, as of of “trickeration.” Running back Josh Ferguson Sept. 19. The Nittany Lions annually are in the flared out to the right to receive a lateral pass from top 15 nationally among schools in producing quarterback Nathan Scheelhasse and then sailed current NFL players. 4 a 22-yarder over the heads of the fooled Penn - Levi Brown (2003–06), OT; Rich State secondary to a wide-open Spencer Harris Ohrnberger (2006–08), OL in the end zone…Penn State’s game captains - Bryan Scott (1999–2002), LB were seniors Shane McGregor, Jake Fagnano Chicago Bears - Robbie Gould (2001–04), K and James Terry…Television dictated the 11 Cincinnati Bengals - Devon Still (2009–11), DT a.m. kickoff, which is hard to get used to when - Jordan Norwood (2005–08), WR you don’t live in the Central Time Zone…Blue Dallas Cowboys - Dan Connor (2004–07), LB; Sean Band members seemed to thoroughly enjoy their Lee (2005–07, 2009), LB road trip this year and there was great inter-play - Andrew Quarless (2006–09), TE Indianapolis Colts - Justin King (2005–07), CB between the two bands – first outside the Penn - Brett Brackett (2007–10), TE; State pep rally tent and later in Memorial Stadium. Paul Posluszny (2003–06), LB Third-year Drum Major Ian Kenney directed a - Tamba Hali (2002–05), LB Blue Band contingent that played at the pep rally Miami Dolphins - Jared Odrick (2006–09), DE; Cam- and delighted the crowd with comments about eron Wake (2000, 2002–04), DE his experience in the role. The band got lots of - (2007–09), OT; Aaron practice playing the touchdown version of “Fight Maybin (2007–08), LB 5 On State,” and entertained the Illinois folks with Oakland Raiders - Jack Crawford (2008–11), DE; Nate Stupar (2008–11), LB, Stefan Wisniewski (2007–10), OL Photos by Steve Manuel ’84, ‘92g P E R I O D I C A L U. S. Postage Paid

Ohio 24 Penn State 14 Virginia 17 Penn State 16 Penn State 34 Navy 7 Penn State 24 Temple 13 Penn State 35 Illinois 7 Oct. 6 Northwestern (Hcmg) (ESPN) Noon Oct. 20 @ Iowa (BTN-TV) 8 p.m. ET Oct. 27 Ohio State (ESPN/2) 6 p.m. Nov. 3 @ Purdue TBA Nov. 10 @ Nebraska TBA Nov. 17 Indiana TBA Nov. 24 Wisconsin TBA St. Louis Rams - (2006–09), LB 12 seconds into overtime for a 5-4 victory over S T A T I S T I C S San Diego Chargers - Johnnie Troutman (2009–11), OG the Lions, whose record slipped to 10-3. Laura - Navorro Bowman (2007–09), LB Gebhart, Ashtin Klingler, Brittany Grzywacz and PSU ILL - Michael Robinson (2002–05), FB Hannah Allison got the Lion goals. - Tim Shaw (2002, 2004–06), LB Total Plays – Yards 82-384 69-366 For more information and details on all Nittany Washington Redskins - Evan Royster (2007–10) Rushes – Net Yards 52-173 22-74 Lion varsity sports go to www.GoPSUsports.com. Passing Yards 211 292 OTHER SPORTS HOMECOMING TAILGATE COMPETITION Passes (Att-Cmpl-Int) 30-18-0 47-29-2 he women’s volleyball team moved up to No. Avg. Gain Per Play 4.7 5.3 1 in the national rankings last week and swept nter your tailgate in the Homecoming Tailgate T First Downs 23 17 two more opponents, while the No. 8 women’s ECompetition, which will take place before the soccer team picked up two Big Ten wins, the game against Northwestern on Oct. 6. Student Yards Lost Rushing 39 24 men’s team lost to 10th-ranked Indiana in double judges will visit all registered tailgates to select Intcptn Returns – Yards 2-105 0-0 overtime and the No. 6 field hockey team fell to winners in the categories of Best Food, Best Pride Kickoffs – Average 6-60.5 2-65 No. 10 Northwestern in overtime. & Spirit and Best Penn State Tailgate. Register Kickoff Returns – Avg. 0-0 2-11 Coach Russ Rose would not hear of it, but your tailgate for the competition by the morning Punt Returns – Avg. 2-15 3-2.3 of the event by clicking here [link to: http:// his women’s volleyball team moved to the top Punts – Average 3-43.3 6-38.7 homecoming.psu.edu/alumni_tailgate.php]. of the rankings again and proceeded to shut Fumbles – Lost 2-0 1-1 out Wisconsin and Minnesota on a Midwestern Winners will be announced at the Alumni Zone Homecoming Tailgate in the Ashenfelter Indoor Penalties – Yards 2-17 8-69 road trip over the weekend. Sacks by – Yards 3-22 3-34 Junior All-American Deja McClendon Multi-Sports Facility following the football game. 3rd Dn Conversions 6 of 15 4 of 15 passed the 1,000 kill milestone Friday, as the Nittany Lions beat Wisconsin, 25-19, 25-21, 25-7. ALUMNI ZONE HOMECOMING TAILGATE 4th Dn Conversions 1 of 4 1 of 3 McClendon led all players with 14 kills, followed ave fun at a great tailgate without all of the Red Zone Scores – Chances 4-7 0-3 by Ariel Scott with 12 and Nia Grant with 11. Hwork of putting it together. The Alumni Zone Time of Possession 32:55 27:05 Micha Hancock had 48 assists and three aces, Homecoming Tailgate, beginning immediately after the Northwestern game until 6:30 p.m. Attempts/Yards (Longest) while Dominique Gonzalez tied McClendon Rushing: Zwinak 19/100 (14); Belton 16/65 (19); Dukes 5/21 (9); Day with 16 digs, one more than Megan Courtney. in the Ashenfelter Indoor Multi-Sports Facility (south of the BJC), is a feast of food and bever- 4/14 (5); Zordich 1/2; McGloin 7 (-29) (3). Katie slay led the blockers with four, as State Passing No. Com. Int. Yds. TD Lg Sk outhit the Badgers .370 to .135, posting 54 kills ages, games and entertainment by the Phyrst Phamily, the Alumni Blue Band, the Alumni McGloin 30 18 0 211 1 23 3/34 to 28, five aces to none and 56 digs to 37. Receiving: Lehman 5/70 (23); Kenney 4/24 (13); Carter 3/45 (19); The next night the Lions raised their Majorettes and the Alumni Lionettes. Alumni celebs joining the Alumni Zone this year include Moseby-Felder 3/37 (18); Robinson 3/35 (15). record to 14-1 by topping No. 10 Minnesota, All Purpose Yards: pop artist BEX and Olympian Dominique Blake. Mauti 105; Zwinak 100; Lehman 70; Belton 65. 25-23, 25-8, 25-20. McClendon, Scott and Slay Kickoff Returns: 0; Kickoffs: Ficken 6/60.5 Admission is $30 for Alumni Association mem- led the spikers to a 45-29 advantage in kills, as Punt Returns: Lewis 1/26; Della Valle 1/4.; Punts: Butterworth 3/43.3 (47) bers, $40 for non-members and $15 for children State overpowered the home team .404 to .098 Fumbles Forced: Mauti 1. (free for children under 5). Register at www. in hitting percentage, while posting a 7-4 edge Fumbles Recovered: Fuhrman 1. alumni.psu.edu/events. in aces, an 8-5 margin in blocks and a 38 – 32 Interceptions: Mauti 2/105 difference in digs. Passes Broken Up: HUDDLE WITH THE FACULTY Carson, Hull, Davis 1. Coach Erica Walsh’s women’s soccer squad Sacks: Stanley 0.5/5; Morris, Barnes 0.5/4; lumni and friends can catch a quick breakfast shut out Ohio State, 3-0, in Columbus Thursday Mauti, Amos, Jones 0.5/3. and some food for thought at “Huddle with then came home to nip Minnesota, 4-3, Sunday. A Tackles for Loss: Morris 1.5/12; Stanley 1.5/6; Carson 1/2; B arnes the Faculty,” the popular free lecture series each Tani Costa, Maya Hayes and Christine 0.5/4; Mauti, Amos, Jones 0.5/3. home football Saturday at The Nittany Lion Nairn scored for the Lions at Ohio State, while Tackles: Carson, Hodges 9; Yancich 7; Mauti 6; Morris 4; Kline, Hull, Inn. The next presentations in the 20th annual freshman goalie Britt Eckerstrom earned her Stanley, Willis, Amos, Hill 3. Huddle series are: first career shutout. Hayes and Whitney Church Players: C:Stankiewitch, Howle. G:Urschel, Dieffenbach, Shrive, got two goals apiece in the win over Minnesota. Oct. 6 (Northwestern—Homecoming): “Will, Mangiro, Alosi. T: Farrell, Gress, Smith, Cadogan. TE: Carter, Gilliam, Church’s scores both came on headers of corner Kate, and the Royals: Celebrity Obsessions,” Gary Lehman , James, Irvin. WR: Robinson, Kenney, Moseby-Felder, Williams, kicks by Raquel Rodriguez, while Costa assisted Cross, distinguished professor of modern history Zanellato, Kuntz. QB: McGloin. FB: Zordich. TB: Belton, Day, Zwinak, on one of Hayes' goals. Why did the 2011 wedding of England’s Dukes. DT: Hill, Jones, Terry, Baublitz. DE: Stanley, Barnes, Olaniyan, Indiana slipped in a goal in the 106th min- Prince William and Kate Middleton draw so Zettel, Bars. ILB: Carson, Hull, Yancich. OLB: Hodges, Mauti, Hull, Kline. ute against the 20th-ranked men’s soccer team much American interest? This well-illustrated CB: Morris, Amos, Davis, Della Valle. Saf: Willis, Obeng-Agyapong, on Jeffrey Field Saturday, and the Lions’ record talk will answer this question by exploring the Fagnano, Amos, Keiser. P: Butterworth. K: Ficken. KS: Howle, Fuhrman. dropped to 6-3-1. rituals of royal weddings back to Victoria and KH: Keiser. KT: Davis, Obeng-Agyapong, Zordich, Willis, Morris, Lucas, The field hockey team had its seven- match Albert and will explore how Americans have Kenney, Keiser, Dukes, Fagnano, Zwinak, Bars, Yancich, Zerbe, Lewis, winning streak broken at Northwestern Friday, created our own “royals” with celebrities of our Kline, Della Valle, Carson, Mauti, Hull, Fuhrman, Gress, Urschel, when the Wildcats netted the game-winner motion picture industry. Dieffenbach, Mangiro, Cadogan, Shrive, Carter, Gilliam, Terry.

The Football Letter (USPS 763-880) Published weekly following a football game during the University’s football season by The State University, Hintz Family Alumni Center, University Park, PA 16802. Periodicals postage paid at State College, PA 16801. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Football Letter, Department B, Hintz Family Alumni Center, University Park, PA 16802-2096. U.Ed. ALU 13-16