No. 19 Penn State's focus turns to top-ranked Tide
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP)
The game Penn State fans have circled on their calendars for years is almost here.
After manhandling FCS school Youngstown State, the level of competition increases dramatically in Week 2 for the 19th-ranked Nittany Lions with a visit to No. 1 Alabama.
''It's awesome. It gets to show the world what you have,'' linebacker Nate Stupar said about the marquee matchup. ''You've got to show people what your team can do and show people who you are.''
Penn State (1-0) goes from an overwhelming favorite in its 44-14 season-opening rout Saturday of the Penguins to a decided underdog for its trip to Tuscaloosa. The defending national champions beat San Jose State 48-3 without Heisman Award winner Mark Ingram (knee) or suspended defensive end Marcell Dareus.
With or without them, Alabama will pose a stiff challenge to Penn State's true freshman quarterback Rob Bolden - if he gets the starting nod. Bolden showed poise, a strong arm and nice touch in throwing for 239 yards and two touchdowns, the best passing performance by a true freshman at the school.
But the Crimson Tide are no Penguins.
And coach Joe Paterno is loath to heap any added pressure on a first-year player who turned 18 in February. Bolden beat out returning sophomores Kevin Newsome and Matt McGloin in a tight race for the starting job.
Maybe that's why the 83-year-old Hall of Famer was noncommittal about Bolden after Saturday's impressive debut.
''The competition that might work best for us to be at least competitive with a team that is as sound as Alabama, and as well coached as Alabama (may be) a whole different combination of people (than) what we used today,'' Paterno said. ''I don't know. I will need to spend more time looking at Alabama.''
Quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno - the head coach's son - said Bolden would likely enter practice this week as the starter, though there would still be competition.
While the offensive line protected Bolden fairly well, the running game mostly sputtered early with star tailback Evan Royster gaining just 40 yards on 11 carries. The Nittany Lions were a little unsure of what kinds of blitzes or schemes Youngstown State would use because of the school's new coaching staff.
Penn State did adjust, and the insertion of Johnnie Troutman at left guard helped give the line and Royster a boost in the second quarter.
''We may have been a little better than I think we were on the offensive line, but we certainly did not dominate them in the run game,'' Paterno said. ''They made us run the football and thank goodness (Bolden) did a pretty good job.''
Defensively, Penn State got just one sack against a Penguins offense that often resorted to screens, quick passes or a no-huddle scheme. Redshirt freshman Kurt Hess was 21 of 25 for 189 yards in his debut, including a middle screen to Dominique Barnes that turned into an 80-yard touchdown.
Some missed tackles hampered Penn State early, but the defense settled down, with Stupar (one sack) and Chris Colasanti (13 tackles) leading the way for the new-look linebacking corps.
Lost in the attention on Bolden was the notable improvement for the Nittany Lions' special teams - a season-long concern in 2009. Collin Wagner kicked three field goals of over 40 yards; new punter and kickoff specialist Anthony Fera performed well; Chaz Powell had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown; and Penn State was solid on kick coverage.
''We have been waiting for this time so we can strictly focus on'' Alabama, linebacker Michael Mauti said. ''We did not want to look past Youngstown State. ... Now we can 100 percent focus on Alabama.''
Related Stories
Trending Now
-
Sergio sorry for 'fried chicken' line
Sergio Garcia apologized to Tiger Woods for saying he would have ''fried chicken'' at... -
Long history of Tiger-Sergio squabble
The nearly 15-year squabble between Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia has reached a new l... -
Woodson heading back to Oakland
Woodson will join a secondary that is being overhauled for the second straight season... -
WWE looking to recruit cut NFL-ers
WWE looking to recruit wrestlers from NFL scrap heap. -
Ex-Bears LB Brian Urlacher retires
Star linebacker Brian Urlacher says he's retiring after spending 13 seasons with the ...
NCAA FB Videos
Penn State coach and 2012 National Coach of the Year shares the challenges in tu...
Rick Horrow has the latest college football business news.
Rick Horrow has the latest college football business news, including a TV deal b...
NCAA FB Headlines
-
Tornado hit close to home for Sooners' Stoops | ASU coach too
-
Did Twitter trash talk about coach's wife cross the line?
-
Nix-teaser: Porn star gets Notre Dame star hot 'n' bothered
-
Manziel on money, even wearing blindfold | Goal: perfect season
-
QB Bridgewater asks Louisville not to mount Heisman campaign
More Than Sports on MSN
Fox Sports Store
| itemName | itemURL | imageSrc | price | itemDescription |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nike Florida Gators Gridiron 2012 Team Issue T-Shirt - Royal Blue | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Florida_Gators/browse/featuredproduct/759777/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_759000/ff_759777_xl.jpg&w=100 | 24.95 | Nike Florida Gators Gridiron 2012 Team Issue T-Shirt - Royal Blue |
| Nike Michigan State Spartans Football 2012 Team Issue T-Shirt - White | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Michigan_State_Spartans/browse/featuredproduct/760171/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_760000/ff_760171_xl.jpg&w=100 | 24.95 | Nike Michigan State Spartans Football 2012 Team Issue T-Shirt - White |
| Nike USC Trojans Fight On My School T-Shirt - Cardinal | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_USC_Trojans/browse/featuredproduct/761373/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_761000/ff_761373_xl.jpg&w=100 | 24.95 | Nike USC Trojans Fight On My School T-Shirt - Cardinal |
| Nike Alabama Crimson Tide Elite Force Coaches Sideline Performance Polo - Crimson | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Alabama_Crimson_Tide/browse/featuredproduct/829709/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_829000/ff_829709_xl.jpg&w=100 | 64.95 | Nike Alabama Crimson Tide Elite Force Coaches Sideline Performance Polo - Crimso.. |
| Nike LSU Tigers Elite Force Coaches Sideline Performance Polo - Purple | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_LSU_Tigers/browse/featuredproduct/829740/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_829000/ff_829740_xl.jpg&w=100 | 49.99 | Nike LSU Tigers Elite Force Coaches Sideline Performance Polo - Purple |
| Nike Oklahoma Sooners Legacy 91 Dri-FIT Adjustable Coaches Cap - Crimson | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Oklahoma_Sooners/browse/featuredproduct/830935/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_830000/ff_830935_xl.jpg&w=100 | 21.95 | Nike Oklahoma Sooners Legacy 91 Dri-FIT Adjustable Coaches Cap - Crimson |
| adidas Notre Dame Fighting Irish Hot Sideline Jacket - Navy Blue | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Notre_Dame_Fighting_Irish/browse/featuredproduct/861243/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_861000/ff_861243_xl.jpg&w=100 | 69.95 | adidas Notre Dame Fighting Irish Hot Sideline Jacket - Navy Blue |
| adidas Nebraska Cornhuskers Sideline Hot Quarter Zip Jacket - Scarlet | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Nebraska_Cornhuskers/browse/featuredproduct/861247/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_861000/ff_861247_xl.jpg&w=100 | 69.95 | adidas Nebraska Cornhuskers Sideline Hot Quarter Zip Jacket - Scarlet |
| Nike Alabama Crimson Tide 2012 BCS National Champions Players Locker Room Snapback Hat - Charcoal/Black | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Alabama_Crimson_Tide/browse/featuredproduct/1087345/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1087000/ff_1087345_xl.jpg&w=100 | 29.95 | Nike Alabama Crimson Tide 2012 BCS National Champions Players Locker Room Snapba.. |
| Nike Alabama Crimson Tide 2012 BCS National Champions Locker Room T-Shirt - Ash | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Alabama_Crimson_Tide/browse/featuredproduct/1093431/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1093000/ff_1093431_xl.jpg&w=100 | 24.95 | Nike Alabama Crimson Tide 2012 BCS National Champions Locker Room T-Shirt - Ash |

Member Comments
Please note by clicking on "Post comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be Polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.