SB Nation User Blog: RBGmug

Penn State OT commit Eric Shrive = All American

RBGmug — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 13:29:22 -0000

Eric was selected as one of 90 players for the U.S. Army All-American bowl yesterday, but apparently he knew for over a year and kept it all quiet. Pretty big deal for the Scranton area, for Eric, his family/friends as well as for Penn State.

http://bwi.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=885863

"I just want to go there and make a name for myself going to Penn State, and I also want to recruit some guys," he said. "I think that our class is underrated this year, and thinks that it's not as good. I just want to make a name for our class and stuff like that."

--------

Donnie Collins who blogs for the Scranton Times-Tribune, has 3 different audio clips on his blog from the events - Blog, Sweat & Tears.

Eric Shrive talking for nearly 2:30 minutes - http://community.thetimes-tribune.com/blogs/pennstate/archive/2008/12/05/shrive-chats-about-being-an-all-american.aspx

Eric Shrive's West Scranton high head coach - (Mike DeAntona - 1:40) - http://community.thetimes-tribune.com/blogs/pennstate/archive/2008/12/05/quot-just-because-eric-is-6-7-that-didn-t-get-him-where-he-s-at-quot.aspx

20 minutes worth of audio from the ceremony/announcement - http://community.thetimes-tribune.com/blogs/pennstate/archive/2008/12/05/audio-the-shrive-ceremony.aspx

25 year old Penn State fan let's a "big guy" repeatedly slap him

RBGmug — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 09:50:13 -0000

http://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/story/679272.html

The second incident was more of a drunken, philosophical debate over which of two colleges that haven't played each other is the better team.

A 25-year-old Penn State fan said he was slapped in the face several times by a "big guy" who claimed Georgia is better.

The two strangers were sharing a taxi on Palmetto Bay Road at 2:45 a.m. Sunday, according to the report.

Poll

Which university has the better football team this year, Penn State or Georgia? Would you allow an opposing fan, given the circumstances (a "big guy", complete stranger, randomly sharing a cab, fanhood at stake) to repeatedly bitch slap you?

Penn State - I would allow it - in fact I am the victim of the repeated bitch slaps that are in question

4 votes

Penn State - I would allow it

3 votes

Penn State - I would not allow it

115 votes

Georgia - I would allow it

0 votes

Georgia - I would not allow it

0 votes

122 votes | Poll has closed

2010 Pennsylvania LB Mike Hull...

RBGmug — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 02:58:27 -0000

Am I going nuts, or has there been no mention of this on here...let's get a siren up for this kid! For those that don't know, this is a huge commitment in advance and has to look good to the other '10 Pennsylvania prospects (ie QB Paul Jones, WR Alex Kenney, WR Andrew Carswell, OL Seth Betancourt, DE/LB Dakota Royer, etc.). Mike is a legit top 5 prospect in Pennsylvania for the '10 class, and surely one of the top LBs in the country. He is a legit big-time wrestler/baseball player with 4.5 speed and great instincts at the LB position. Not only all of the above, but he is also a legacy player and a potential 5*/#1 PA LB, definite 4* prospect.

[Added the siren because I hate to watch you suffer. -- RUTS]

Chris Baker; transfers to Hampton I believe

RBGmug — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 07:27:34 -0000

http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2008/08/07/baker_eligible_for_move.aspx

It appears that he still has love for Larry Johnson:

Baker said Johnson told him this would be "an opportunity to start over ... and get to the next level."

"[Johnson] was like a father figure," Baker said. "He always expected the best of us. He coached very intensely, he wanted the best out of every player so that's how he coached and that's how he treats you. If you ever needed something, he'll be the one that will sit down and talk with you. If you're ever wrong, he'll be the one to tell you that you're wrong."

------------

Seems Chris Baker should realize why he is gone by now...if nothing ever happened OFF the field than this wouldn't even be in question, so he has nobody to blame but himself. Also, after the HUB fight he seemed to indicate he didn't do anything wrong and that another teammate was allowing Chris to be thrown under the bus; he should also be VERY pissed off at that person and not consider them a friend. Other than that and his "not really having a relationship with Joe" I wish him the absolute best, hope he realizes this is all on HIM and I absolutely DO believe that Chris Baker will be playing in the NFL.

THIS IS GOING TO GET UGLY :(

RBGmug — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 08:22:05 -0000

...

Some real gems from the Taylor camp, such as "I think it was something how the interview went on ESPN," he said. "The way they chewed [Paterno] up, I don't know if it was him getting revenge. He's very disrespectful. He don't wanna talk, he don't wanna listen." in this Collegian article:

http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2008/08/01/taylor_to_transfer.aspx

His father, Phil Sr. gleefully mentions that others may be looking to transfer; not sure how true or who it would be (Quarless?) but rest assured that in this context it looks spectacularly bitter.

-------------------------

And more crap about the "text message" sent from the "head coach":

http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2008/08/01/message_dissuaded_cooperation.aspx

"We're not going to respond to anything about the Meridian," D'Elia said. "The Meridian was 16 months ago."

12 Verbal commitments: '09 Penn State Recruiting Class

RBGmug — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:16:43 -0000

Verbal commitments stars/ratings one through twelve on Rivals/Scout, side by side.

I just thought it would be interesting to have the ratings side-by-side for each '09 verbal commitment in the '09 class. I'm thinking that even with 12 commits we may have anywhere from 12 - 16 more available if need be, that is right...I have actually heard numerous times that if we were able, we could potentially sign a class that included nearly 28 recruits if not 28. Excellent start, we've clearly addressed needs on the offensive line and in the secondary already.

UPDATED 6-18-08. Scout rankings.

RIVALS SCOUT

[ATH] Derrick Thomas                               3* (5.7)                  3*

[ATH] Curtis Drake                                        NE                         3*

[WR] Brandon Felder                                 3* (5.7)                  3** (was NE)

[OT] Eric Shrive                                            4* (6.0)                   5*

[OT] Mark Arcidiacono                                3* (5.5)                   4** (was 3*)

[OG] Frank Figueroa                                     NE                        NE

[C] Ty Howle                                                 3* (5.7)                   3** (was NE)

[DE] Sean Stanley                                     4* (5.8)                   4*

[CB] Darrell Givens                                   4* (5.8)                   4*

[CB] Stephon Morris                                   3* (5.5)                   3** (was NE)

[S] Malcolm Willis                                       3* (5.5)                   3*

[S] Stephen Obeng-Agyapong                  3* (5.5)                 3*

Rivals:

3 - FOUR star recruits

7 - THREE star recruits

2 - NE recruits

Scout:

1 - FIVE star recruit

3 - FOUR star recruits

7 - THREE star recruits

1 - NE recruits

I'm really favoring Scout's rankings at this point. Mark Arcidiacono got lowballed by Rivals big-time, Scout shows him some respect as the #26 OT and a 4* recruit.

Poll

Which 3* Penn State verbal commitment for the 2009 class will have a 4th* added on Rivals? If you reach 5.8 on Rivals than you are awarded a 4th*, we have 12 commitments and these are the three that have a 5.7 rating on Rivals and are thus closest.

Maryland ATH Derrick Thomas (6' 175)

24 votes

Maryland WR Brandon Felder (6'2 167)

26 votes

North Carolina C Ty Howle (6'2 290)

8 votes

58 votes | Poll has closed

Commitment # SIX Mike!!!!

RBGmug — Mon, 12 May 2008 06:52:10 -0000

Commitment # SIX Mike!!!!

Maryland CB Derrick Thomas has verbally committed to Penn State.

http://pennstate.scout.com/a.z?s=157&p=8&c=1&nid=3707260 - Scout profile

Derrick attends Eleanor Roosevelt, the same school as Derrick Williams...this is truly great guys...BTW I was previously registered with MugRBG Mike, but I continued to forget the password...could you send it to me? Thanks.

Anyway, Derrick joins S Malcolm Willis & CB Darrell Givens from Maryland. Derrick could probably replace DWill as a freshman for KRs and PRs because he is pretty good at that...he could play WR/CB but I'm assuming he is going to play CB and likely return kicks and maybe even punts. He had offers from Maryland and Illinois as well I believe. He is 6'1-6' 175 pounds and runs the 40 in 4.47.

Another reason this is exciting is because he has two other teammates maybe even three at Eleanor Roosevelt who are Division 1A caliber in OT Danzel Manley, CB Stephon Morris (Penn State offer) and there is another kid who I think plays LB/DE but I can't remember his name.

Stephon Morris already has a Penn State offer, I believe we were the first to offer and he has said that Penn State was his childhood favorite. He isn't the biggest guy, but trust me he is good and could also return kicks and punts. He is probably only 5'10-5'9 but he is physical and is an excellent cornerback. I could see us getting Malcolm Willis & Darrell Givens out of MD from Lackey H.S. for the secondary, and hopefully Derrick Thomas & Stephon Morris out of MD from Eleanor Roosevelt for the secondary....considering we already have verbals from Willis, Givens & Thomas.

I hope we offer Danzel Manley who is a teammate of Stephon and Derrick at Eleanor Roosevelt as an OT. He is 6'5 and close to 300 pounds but runs the 40 in 5.18 which is pretty good for a soon-to-be senior OT in H.S. You have to love our MD recruiting.