Offensively Good

Vol. 119, No. 9 Sept. 17-19, 2018 Photos by Caitlin Lee, John Stinely and Eric Firestine/Collegian Penn State football’s offense is off to a historic OFFENSIVELYstart — but the teamGOOD still thinks it can improve By Tyler King that wiped away two long touch- a quarterback in program history. throw the ball around and make “I think we’ve been THE DAILY COLLEGIAN downs. The defense also had two Even though Penn State was some plays,” McSorley said. “We accepted offsides penalties and able to get plenty of young guys were able to do that and get [the able to come in and For the first time since the another that was canceled out by involved, the offense was still led receivers] going a little bit.” get better each undefeated 1994 season, the Nit- Kent State’s lone touchdown. by the three key players who have The offense has had three very tany Lions are averaging over “There’s other times where dominated the first three weeks. different performances this sea- week, and that’s a 50 points in their first three we’re really hurting ourselves, McSorley finished with just a 50 son, despite putting up 45 points big plus.” games. On Satur- and the opponent percent completion rate, but he or more each week. Against Ap- day against Kent “There’s times we had nothing to do passed for over 220 yards and ran palachian State, the offense dis- Trace McSorley State, the offense look like a Super with it,” Franklin for over 50. appeared at times during the Quarterback put the pedal to said. “We can’t do Miles Sanders continued to im- second and third quarter. Against the floor for four Bowl team, flashes that.” press, averaging over six yards Pitt, the offense didn’t get going straight quarters of really good “That’s some- per carry on 14 attempts and fin- until the final drive of the first This team hasn’t reached its and found the end thing that’s kind ishing with over 100 all-purpose half. But against Kent State, it felt peak and there’s still plenty of life zone nine times. things.” of plagued us the yards. like the offense had things going left to get there — the Big Ten But this offense last two weeks is The electric KJ Hamler also for almost all 60 minutes. schedule is just beginning. James Franklin still isn’t at its penalties taking finished with 100-plus all-purpose “I think we’ve been able to “We’re still kind of learning best. Head coach away big plays,” yards. come in and get better each week, [how good we can be],” McSor- “Areas for im- quarterback But there was a concentrated and that’s a big plus,” McSorley ley said. “Obviously there’s times provement: it’s Trace McSorley effort to get the struggling vet- said. where we’re showing flashes what everybody in the country is added. eran wide receivers involved, It was expected that this team of a top team in the country but fighting for-consistency,” coach McSorley himself had two big specifically DeAndre Thompkins. would take time to return to the there’s other times where we’re James Franklin said Saturday. touchdown passes wiped away by And it worked. Thompkins had high level it’s been at the last two not executing right, giving up “There’s times we look like a Su- penalties, but he still had himself his best game in quite some time, seasons. Saquon Barkley, Dae- penalties or being undisciplined.” per Bowl team, flashes of really a day. He accounted for five total finishing with over 100 yards re- Sean Hamilton, Mike Gesicki and But if they do figure out how good things.” touchdowns, three of which came ceiving and a touchdown. He also Joe Moorhead are all gone. But good they can be, the rest of the Penalties certainly continue to on the ground and the other two had three solid punt returns and this offense has been better than conference will start to worry. be an issue. The Nittany Lions in the air. Those three rushing led the team in all-purpose yards expected to start the season and committed nine penalties on Sat- touchdowns put McSorley atop “We felt like we had really good is scoring at a rate Moorhead’s of- To email reporter: [email protected]. urday, including two holding calls the list of rushing touchdowns by matchups on the outside and fenses didn’t. Follow him on Twitter at @King_TylerB. Afrique Fusion team brings New student-run cafe culture, dance to campus serves unique purpose By Cissy Ming Yan and his team of 50 employ- By Lilly Forsyth THE DAILY COLLEGIAN ees share responsibility for pro- THE DAILY COLLEGIAN moting the Saxbys brand on cam- Like many Penn State pus, generating profit and keeping Dance is found in nearly every students, Jiahao “Ben” Yan has a the business running smoothly. culture of the world — and with busy semester ahead. By the end of the semester, the Africa’s 54 countries, there are Instead of writing essays or Saxbys Coffee location on cam- plenty distinct dance styles to reading textbook pages, he will pus plans to hire an additional 50 embrace on the continent. instead receive class credit and people, for a team of 100. Afrique Fusion brings just a a salary for overseeing the new From baristas to managers, taste of the variety to Univer- Saxbys cafe on the first floor of the entire workforce at Saxby’s sity Park — not only through its Business Building — a job he ELP cafes consists of students, moves, but through its costumes said requires working over 60 with everyone except Yan also at- and energy. hours a week. tending classes full time. Students Branching from the African Despite the steep learning control their own hours and have Student Association, the dancers curve and loss of free time over the same chances for advance- strive to increase and diversify his six-month term, Yan (sopho- ment from customer service to the amount of cultural represen- more-marketing) considered the management as regular Saxbys tation on campus. leadership opportunity to be “too employees. Found at ASA events such as good to pass up.” Saxbys Coffee CEO Nick Bayer Touch of Africa and the Miss Af- “Nobody else would give you said the ELP cafes foster entre- rica PSU pageant, Afrique Fu- the keys to a cafe and say, ‘This preneurship in a college setting, sion provides an outlet for danc- Courtesy of Teni Idowu is yours,’” Yan said. “I enjoy what and added that his company has ers who find inspiration in their Members of Afrique Fusion, a dance team inspired by tradional I do. I would do it even without received repeated requests to movements. payment.” bring the program to Penn State. Dancer Teni Idowu explained African dances, pose for a photo. As the student cafe executive “When I was in college, the cul- that this team is not traditional in officer, he joins students at five ture didn’t promote entrepreneur- association was providing. wanted it to be a general dance the sense that one can count the other Pennsylvania universi- ship,” Bayer said. “It’s not just knowing history dance steps. One must instead team non-Africans could also be ties who operate the Philadel- “We thought hands-on experi- or information,” team captain Ni- “listen to the music and really a part of.” phia-based chain’s Experiential ence is the best teacher there cole Osafo-Dedey said. “There’s feel the beat.” Because the founding mem- Learning Program cafes. At is.” food. There’s music. There’s “When people know they are bers of the group all originated Penn State, the ELP cafe is the Shawn Mitchell Clark — an dance. So we are just a subgroup killing it or doing a great job, it’s from Western Africa, the dance product of a collaboration be- entrepreneurship professor and [of ASA] bringing culture to Penn written on their face,” Idowu tween the Smeal College of Busi- director of the Farrell Center State.” team is heavily influenced by (junior-microbiology) said. “You’ll West African dance styles from ness and Saxbys Coffee. for Corporate Innovation and see the confidence and the pride.” For Osafo-Dedey (sophomore- He said Saxbys summer train- Entrepreneurship — heads the security risk countries such The pride she described in- “It was more like a as Nigeria and ing in Philadelphia taught him academic side of the university’s cludes more than just being able analysis), Afrique the skills to make his business partnership with Saxbys. Ghana. to follow the routine. Fusion was im- sisterhood. The fun successful — such as tracking Clark and other Smeal pro- “It’s different when other peo- portant to her in- of dancing and With the ad- product sales, engaging with fessors advise the student cafe ple are watching. It’s like you tegration into the dition of a stu- community organizations and team on problems they may en- don’t want to just represent for Penn State com- having friends who dent with roots even biking to another cafe to counter. yourself, but for your country,” munity. also enjoyed the in Eastern Af- resupply on coffee during a mid- Idowu, who is of Nigerian back- “I’m from rica this year, day rush. See CAFE, Page 2. ground, said. Maryland and things you do was Osafo-Dedey where I grew This year, seven new members the icing on the said she hopes up, it was really will join the four returning danc- to diversify rou- diverse,” Osafo- cake.” ers of Afrique Fusion.

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