SB Nation User Blog: Run Up The Score

Come To Penn State, Basketball Edition: 2011 C Peter Alexis

Run Up The Score — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:09:55 -0000

Give me a super tall dude from Wilkes-Barre and a wooooo!

As dutifully noted in Fanposts, Ed DeChellis finally reeled in what we can all safely consider a big guy. Peter Alexis, a 6'11" center from Holy Redeemer*, has a rating of 91 from Scouts Inc. Other than that, not a hell of a lot in the way of additional information. He's certainly the most recruited player out of the Wyoming Valley Conference in decades. Short video clip here.

* - Or, The School Formerly Known As Bishop Hoban.

Celebrating 60 Years Of Paterno

Run Up The Score — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:42:28 -0000

Celebrating 60 Years Of Paterno

The Patriot-News goes beyond all-out in Sunday's edition.

David Jones Gets Crazy, Makes Total Sense

Run Up The Score — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 04:15:52 -0000

David Jones Gets Crazy, Makes Total Sense

Really, a fascinating pick. Hard to argue with the numbers.

Rodgers rushed for 1,377 yards, exactly 52 fewer than Mark Ingram until the Alabama back got his extra (13th) game. He scored 20 rushing touchdowns, more than anyone among the 66 BCS schools except Stanford's Toby Gerhart. Then, he added 74 catches, most in the country among running backs, for another 509 yards and another touchdown.

So, just to review: Quizz Rodgers scored more touchdowns than anyone in the game other than Gerhart and Navy's Ricky Dobbs. He was hit more than any ball carrier in college football, playing nine games in Pac-10 competition and a tenth against undefeated Cincinnati. He's 5-7 and 190 pounds. He did not fumble a single time. And I'd guess most college football fans in this country don't know who he is.

Point Of Parliamentary Procedure!

Run Up The Score — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:02:11 -0000

Just wondering. What do you think about this Heisman thing, anyway?

Poll

The Heisman Trophy winner should be...

Colt McCoy

53 votes

Ndamukong Suh

336 votes

C.J. Spiller

61 votes

Tim Tebow

15 votes

Mark Ingram

135 votes

Toby Gerhart

359 votes

959 votes | Poll has closed

Sloppy Joe, Attentive Wingman

Run Up The Score — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:38:33 -0000

Penn State and LSU don't have much in the way of a common history. Their last meeting was the '74 Orange Bowl, won 16-9 by the Nittany Lions. Naturally, Joe Paterno was there. (Our records indicate it was his 38th year as PSU's head coach). He provides us with his recollection of the game:

"In case some of you younger guys don't remember, because you are all a bunch of babies compared to what I am, but we did play LSU in a bowl game down in Florida years and years ago," 82-year-old Penn State coach Joe Paterno said this week. "And it was one hell of a football game, and we had a great time."

Hell yeah, we had a great time. Beautiful city, beautiful ladies. You know this. Paterno also has fond memories of former LSU coach Charles McClendon, and athletic director Paul Dietzel:

Paterno said he was friends with McClendon, who died in 2001, and remains friends with former coach and athletic director Paul Dietzel, who is two years older than Paterno.

"Paul and I were both assistant coaches at the same time (in the early 1950s), and when we would go to conventions I used to hang around with him because he was such a good-looking guy," Paterno said laughing. "I was such an ugly guy, and I used to get his leftovers."

Wait, what? No, no. I've seen "Jersey Shore". Smooth-talking Italians are known lady-killers. Come on, Joe! You're almost 83 years old, you're allowed to show a little swagger. But hey, women are complicated. Perhaps he just needs a little encouragement. If only we knew someone who was an expert on the subject...

What would the J.O.E.P.A. system look like?

Jeff Brooks Gets Gus Johnson Hot; Receives #1 Spot In Sportscenter Top Ten

Run Up The Score — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:36:26 -0000

Jeff Brooks Gets Gus Johnson Hot; Receives #1 Spot In Sportscenter Top Ten

Ha-HA!

Daryll Clark Splits Silver Football Award

Run Up The Score — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:26:15 -0000

Daryll Clark Splits Silver Football Award

He shares the prestigious award with DE Brandon Graham from Michigan. He's Penn State's third winner of the award, along with Kerry Collins and Michael Robinson.

The Silver Football has never been split before. Both Clark and Graham received three first place votes and one second place vote. Wisconsin's John Clay earned two firsts and one second, Mike Kafka received two firsts, and Jared Odrick got one first and one second place vote.

Norwood Released By Eagles

Run Up The Score — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:26:16 -0000

Norwood Released By Eagles

"The Penn State product can now be claimed by any team in the league, and he is also eligible to join any of the NFL's practice squads. Norwood's release gives the Eagles an opening on the 53-man active roster, which they can fill by making cornerback Joselio Hanson eligible now that he has completed his four-game suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy."

Come On, Get Hatty: A Quick Look At LSU

Run Up The Score — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:14:56 -0000

It was a day of swirling rumors with visions of Arizona and Miami, but Sunday ended with Penn State dropping from the pack of BCS-eligible teams to where they belong -- the Capital One (Citrus) Bowl against LSU. The 2009 season was a bit of a dud for the Nittany Lions, considering they lost at home to their only two strong opponents, but the CapOne matchup against a traditional SEC power gives Penn State a chance to end the season with an exclamation point. So we're at the kids' table, so what? At least Les Miles is here to keep things interesting.

via bustersports.com

What do we really know about LSU? Read on.

Their offense is teh suxors. Ranked 84th nationally in rushing and 99th in passing, which combines to make them 108th in total offense. Other, familiar teams in this neighborhood include Akron (#111), Minnesota (#113), Syracuse (#94), and Iowa (#93). These offensive numbers put LSU at 11th in the SEC. Not good. Complicating the issue is Iowa's Angry Running Back Hating God taking time to punish the Bayou Bengals -- LSU's top three running backs are all out with season-ending injuries.

Their special teams are dangerous and weird. #1 in punt returns (18.64 ypr), #110 in kickoff returns (18.66 ypr). I don't think I've ever seen those stats be so similar. And it's really strange, because Trindon Holliday returns both punts and kickoffs and SWEET JESUS DO NOT KICK THE BALL TO TRINDON HOLLIDAY EVER EVER EVER.

Their coaches are...suspect. LSU's got problems. Most notable is an assistant coach allegedly paying a defensive linemen to transfer to LSU, but also, they recently lost their running backs coach (Larry Porter, who took the head coaching job at Memphis). Oh, and Les Miles roams the sidelines, which is always good for Louisiana cardiologists. You can count on Miles to do something brilliantly stupid at some point in a close game. Results may vary.

Their quarterback is, perhaps, not as sucky as we'd like. Jordan Jefferson's numbers aren't that terrible for a guy piloting the second worst offense in the SEC. He's completed 62% of his passes with 16 TD's and 6 INT's. He can scramble a bit, although Penn State's defense should have many chances for negative plays (the Tigers are 107th nationally in sacks allowed). LSU's receivers are rather good, so they'll have a chance to move the ball through the air. The key will be making them one-dimensional, then forcing Jefferson to make bad decisions with the ball.

If they were a Big Ten team, they'd be... Iowa, but with Trindon Holliday and a much worse defensive line. Lots of injuries at RB, meh quarterback, a few playmakers at wide receiver, and a stout pass defense.

Maybe we can be awesome? Maybe. Pretty even matchup, and I suspect Vegas will confirm that shortly. Should be a very fun game.

Dominique Easley looking around?

Run Up The Score — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:45:02 -0000

Dominique Easley looking around?

He took an official visit to Oregon this week.