Right: Penn State head coach Joe Paterno after realizing that the game was taking longer than expected and he’ll miss out on the senior dinner discount at the local Denny’s restaurant.
AP Photo
This is the seventh in a series of previews on the 11 teams in the Big Ten in the order I predict them to finish.
PENN STATE
Predicted finish in Big Ten: 4th (tied), 5-3
Did you know that Penn State’s Joe Paterno is entering his 59th year patrolling the sidelines and practice fields in some capacity for the Nittany Lions, and his 43rd as head coach?
Back in 1966, when the average price of a gallon of gas was 32 cents, Paterno took over the head coaching duties from Hall of Famer, Rip Engle. That’s how long Paterno has been in charge. Heck, I wasn’t even born yet. And yes, I said 32 cents. That’s not a typo. At that price, you would have to pry me out of my pimped-out Escalade.
Also back in 1966, the average price for a home was $14,200, the average worker made $6,900 per year, and some guy named Cassius Clay defeated some guy named Henry Cooper in two heavyweight title fights in London.
Joe Pa went just 5-5 that year in his first season as head coach, but went 8-2-1 the next year before rattling off back-to-back undefeated seasons in both 1968 and ‘69, posting records of 11-0 each year, though the Nittany Lions did not finish No. 1 in any poll.
With that, a legend was born.
Following the ‘69 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers made an offer to Paterno, but he turned them down, and they eventually hired some guy by the name of Chuck Noll.
Michigan also beckoned, but Joe Pa turned them down as well, and the Wolverines went on to hire some guy named Bo Schembechler.
And he’s been there ever since, even when the New England Patriots made him an offer to not only be the head coach, but tossed in a minority stake in the team back in 1972.
In those 43 years, Joe Pa as won 372 games and two national titles, his first in 1982 and the other coming in 1986.
Since Penn State joined the Big Ten in 1993, the Nittany Lions only have a record of 73-47, which is a winning percentage of .609. In 15 seasons as a member of the conference, Penn State has won just two Big Ten titles and one outright championship.
If you do the math, 73 wins in the Big Ten over 15 seasons averages out to almost five per season, and I’m predicting another 5-3 finish for the Nittany Lions again this year.
In Penn State’s 15 seasons in the Big Ten, they have finished 5-3 five times, while eclipsing that mark on five occasions (6-2 in ‘93, ‘96 & ‘97; 7-1 in 2005, and 8-0 in ‘94). Of course, the Lions have finished .500 or less in the five other years, too.
It appears that the Blue & White will have another mediocre season, which will probably mean the end of the Paterno era, who’s contract runs out after this year.
One big question is, who will be Joe Pa’s starting quarterback? Junior Darryl Clark and sophomore Pat Devlin are both vying for the nod. And even though it appears that Clark has the edge, both will seeing a fair amount of playing time. Clark is more mobile, similar to former QB Michael Robinson, while Devlin is more of a drop-back passer with a better arm.
Clark, Anthony Morelli’s backup, appeared in six games last season, throwing nine passes and completing six for 31 yards. Devlin played in one game and chucked one forward pass, which fell incomplete.
The Nittany Lions will have a capable back toting the rock with sophomore Evan Royster, who rushed for 513 yards on 82 carries in limited duty as a freshman. What’s impressive is that he had an average of 6.3 yards per rushing attempt last year to go along with five touchdowns.
Penn State has several speedy receivers, just as long as one of the QB’s can get them the ball.
The top three pass-catchers all return with seniors Derrick Williams, Deon Butler, and Jordan Norwood.
Last season, Williams led the team in receptions with 55, Butler had the most receiving yards on the squad with 633, and Norwood topped everyone with five touchdown catches.
What will help the new quarterback out tremendously is that all five starting offensive linemen from last year’s team return, and four are seniors.
Bigger questions remain on defense, even though nine starters return, as the self-proclaimed Linebacker U. will be without any proven players after the top returning tackler form last season, Sean Lee, tore the ACL in his right knee during spring practice and is out of the year.
The strength of the defense will be the front four where every starter returns including junior defensive end Maurice Evans, who had 12.5 sacks last season.
Three starters return in the secondary, but then again they were routinely beaten like a drum, especially against teams like Ohio State in the second half.
Penn State’s non-conference schedule to begin the season is as soft as cream cheese, so the Nittany Lions will start the Big Ten potion 4-0, but it gets a lot more difficult from there.
Big Ten Schedule
Sept. 27 vs. Illinois, Win
Oct. 4 at Purdue, Loss
Oct. 11 at Wisconsin, Loss
Oct. 18 vs. Michigan, Win
Oct. 25 at Ohio State, Loss
Nov. 8 at Iowa, Win
Nov. 15 vs. Indiana, Win
Nov. 22 vs. Michigan State, Win
Tags: Football by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
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