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Rugby Amlin Challenge Cup: London Wasps v Leinster

April 5, 2013 By Admin

1bfdc12a8e32e5f4cff9df521d2af714 Rugby Amlin Challenge Cup: London Wasps v Leinster

(PhatzRadio / BBC Sports) — Wasps have named second row Marco Wentzel as captain for Friday’s Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final with Leinster at Adams Park.

Ashley Johnson starts at number eight and Nick Robinson is moved to fly-half.

Leinster have named Fergus McFadden at centre in place of the injured Brendan Macken, while Gordon D’Arcy has recovered from illness to partner him.

Leo Cullen replaces Quinn Roux in the second row and flanker Sean O’Brien is named ahead of Shane Jennings.

O’Brien was rested for last week’s Pro12 defeat by Ulster while Roux has been ruled out for six weeks after fracturing a hand in the Irish interprovincial derby.

Jonathan Sexton remains sidelined with a foot injury, which ruled him out of most of Ireland’s Six Nations game against Italy, but McFadden has been deemed fit to return to action.

Brian O’Driscoll misses out after being handed a three-week ban for a stamping offence during the Italy match and Cullen is named as captain after being restored to the starting XV.

D’Arcy, a late withdrawal from the team to play Ulster, comes in for Andrew Goodman, who is named on the replacements’ bench.

The reigning European champions will be making their first appearance in the Amlin Challenge Cup.
LINE-UPS

Wasps: Daly; Wade, Masi, Bell, Varndell; Robinson, Simpson; Taulafo, Thomas, Swainston; Palmer, Wentzel (capt); Launchbury, Jones, Johnson.

Replacements: Lindsay, Payne, Taylor, Poff, Vunipola, Davies, Jones, Southwell.

Leinster: R Kearney; D Kearney, McFadden, D’Arcy, Nacewa; Madigan, Boss; Healy, Strauss, Ross; Cullen (capt), Toner; McLaughlin, O’Brien, Heaslip.

Replacements: Cronin, McGrath, Hagan, Roux, Jennings, Cooney, Goodman, Conway.

April 2013

Fri 5 Super Rugby Blues v Highlanders, Auckland
19:35 local, 06:35 GMT, 02:35 EDT, 01:35 CDT, 23:35 PDT -1d

Fri 5 Super Rugby Brumbies v Southern Kings, Canberra
19:40 local, 08:40 GMT, 04:40 EDT, 03:40 CDT, 01:40 PDT

Fri 5 Super Rugby Sharks v Crusaders, Durban
19:10 local, 17:10 GMT, 13:10 EDT, 12:10 CDT, 10:10 PDT

Fri 5 Amlin Challenge Cup London Wasps v Leinster, Wycombe
20:00 local, 19:00 GMT, 15:00 EDT, 14:00 CDT, 12:00 PDT

Fri 5 Amlin Challenge Cup Perpignan v Toulouse, Perpignan
21:00 local, 19:00 GMT, 15:00 EDT, 14:00 CDT, 12:00 PDT

Sat 6 Super Rugby Hurricanes v Waratahs, Wellington
19:35 local, 06:35 GMT, 02:35 EDT, 01:35 CDT, 23:35 PDT -1d

Sat 6 Super Rugby Force v Melbourne Rebels, Perth
16:40 local, 08:40 GMT, 04:40 EDT, 03:40 CDT, 01:40 PDT

Sat 6 2015 Rugby World Cup Qualifier / FIRA Championship D2 Israel v Latvia
14:00 local, 11:00 GMT, 07:00 EDT, 06:00 CDT, 04:00 PDT

Sat 6 2015 Rugby World Cup Qualifier / FIRA Championship D2 Bulgaria v Slovenia, Sofia

Sat 6 Amlin Challenge Cup Bath Rugby v Stade Français, Bath
13:00 local, 12:00 GMT, 08:00 EDT, 07:00 CDT, 05:00 PDT

Sat 6 2015 Rugby World Cup Qualifier / FIRA Championship D2 Malta v Switzerland

Sat 6 2015 Rugby World Cup Qualifier / FIRA Championship D1 Germany v Sweden, Hamburg

Sat 6 2015 Rugby World Cup Qualifier / FIRA Championship D2 Austria v Hungary
16:00 local, 14:00 GMT, 10:00 EDT, 09:00 CDT, 07:00 PDT

Sat 6 National Competition of Excellence Calvisano v Petrarca Padova
16:00 local, 14:00 GMT, 10:00 EDT, 09:00 CDT, 07:00 PDT

Sat 6 National Competition of Excellence Crociati Rugby v Mogliano
16:00 local, 14:00 GMT, 10:00 EDT, 09:00 CDT, 07:00 PDT

Sat 6 National Competition of Excellence Infinito L’Aquila v Rugby Reggio
16:00 local, 14:00 GMT, 10:00 EDT, 09:00 CDT, 07:00 PDT

Sat 6 National Competition of Excellence Lazio v Cavalieri Prato
16:00 local, 14:00 GMT, 10:00 EDT, 09:00 CDT, 07:00 PDT

Sat 6 National Competition of Excellence Rovigo v Arix Viadana
16:00 local, 14:00 GMT, 10:00 EDT, 09:00 CDT, 07:00 PDT

Sat 6 National Competition of Excellence Rugby San Dona v Fiamme Oro Roma
16:00 local, 14:00 GMT, 10:00 EDT, 09:00 CDT, 07:00 PDT

Sat 6 Heineken Cup Quarter final: Clermont Auvergne v Montpellier, Clermont-Ferrand
16:40 local, 14:40 GMT, 10:40 EDT, 09:40 CDT, 07:40 PDT

Sat 6 Super Rugby Cheetahs v Stormers, Bloemfontein
17:05 local, 15:05 GMT, 11:05 EDT, 10:05 CDT, 08:05 PDT

Sat 6 Heineken Cup Quarter final: Saracens v Ulster, Twickenham
18:30 local, 17:30 GMT, 13:30 EDT, 12:30 CDT, 10:30 PDT

Sun 7 2015 Rugby World Cup Qualifier / FIRA Championship D1 Ukraine v Moldova, Odessa
16:00 local, 13:00 GMT, 09:00 EDT, 08:00 CDT, 06:00 PDT

Sun 7 Heineken Cup Quarter final: Harlequins v Munster, The Stoop
14:00 local, 13:00 GMT, 09:00 EDT, 08:00 CDT, 06:00 PDT

Sun 7 Heineken Cup Quarter final: Toulon v Leicester Tigers, Toulon
17:30 local, 15:30 GMT, 11:30 EDT, 10:30 CDT, 08:30 PDT

Sun 7 NACRA Rugby Barbados v Curacao

Rugby Amlin Challenge Cup: London Wasps v Leinster is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

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Horse Racing Recap: Orb moves to No. 1 in AP’s Top 10 Derby list

April 2, 2013 By Admin

f0cc39c94c1de6655611a673cd21953a Horse Racing Recap: Orb moves to No. 1 in AP’s Top 10 Derby list

(PhatzRadio / AP) — Orb’s on top.

The colt moved to the head of the 3-year-old class in the AP’s latest Run to the Roses’ Top 10 list of Kentucky Derby contenders with a convincing win in the Florida Derby over the weekend.

Orb was No. 4 last week, but has a four-race winning streak and even has the usually reserved Shug McGaughey excited about the Derby on May 4.

“I’m kind of surprised how well he bounced out of his race, to tell you the truth,” McGaughey said the day after Orb beat Itsmyluckyday by 2 3/4 lengths at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

Orb replaces Verrazano at No. 1, but trainer Todd Pletcher’s colt has a chance to reclaim the top spot with a strong effort in the Wood Memorial on Saturday.

Both horses are ridden by John Velazquez, who faces a tough decision on who to ride in the Derby should Verrazano win the Wood.

Revolutionary moved into third place with a narrow win over Mylute in the Louisiana Derby on Saturday. Also trained by Pletcher, Revolutionary heads to Louisville with a three-race winning streak.

Shanghai Bobby, yet another Pletcher-trainee, finished fifth in the Florida Derby and dropped off the list. Owner Starlight Racing said Monday that the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champion will be given a rest and will miss the Derby.

Vyjack is fourth and Itsmyluckyday fifth despite the defeat.

Lines of Battle did not make the top 10, but is Derby bound for trainer Aidan O’Brien after winning the UAE Derby in Dubai on Saturday.

McGaughey is looking at his second Derby starter in 24 years. And with the Derby distance at 1 1/4 miles – an eighth-mile longer than the Florida Derby – he seems to like his chances.

“I think he’s the kind of horse that’s probably better the farther they get,” he said.

The Derby field will be determined by qualifying points this year; the 20 horses with the most points gain a spot in the starting gate. Orb leads with 150 points; Revolutionary is second with 110; Lines of Battle third with 100; and Verrazano ninth with 50.

Two big preps are on tap Saturday, the Wood at Aqueduct and the Santa Anita Derby in Arcadia, Calif.

The 1 1/8-mile Wood not only features Verrazano and Vyjack, but Derby hopefuls Normandy Invasion, Mr Palmer and Einaawi.

The 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita also has a strong field, with San Felipe winner Hear the Ghost, Goldencents, and three horses trained by Bob Baffert: expected favorite Flashback, Power Broker and Super Ninety Nine.

Here’s our Top 10:

1. Orb (Shug McGaughey, trainer; John Velazquez, jockey): Florida Derby win indicates colt may get better as races get longer. … Has won four in a row … Could be jockey issue with Johnny V also riding Verrazano. … Next start: Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, May 4. … Derby future wager odds: 12-1.

2. Verrazano (Todd Pletcher, Velazquez): Worked 5 furlongs in 1:01.17 Sunday at Palm Meadows with Velazquez aboard. … Tampa Bay Derby winner is 3-for-3 by combined margin of 27 lengths. … Next start: Wood Memorial, Saturday. … Odds: 7-1.

3. Revolutionary (Pletcher, Javier Castellano): Won Louisiana Derby by a neck for third straight victory. … Not much separating the top 3. … Next start: Kentucky Derby. … Odds: 12-1.

4. Vyjack (Rudy Rodriguez, Joel Rosario): Unbeaten gelding worked 6 furlongs in 1:12.63 Saturday at Aqueduct. … Gotham winner 4 for 4, all at Big A. … Next start: Wood Memorial. … Odds: 10-1.

5. Itsmyluckyday (Eddie Plesa Jr., Elvis Trujillo): Did nothing to diminish his status as a top contender despite runner-up finish in Florida Derby. … Next start: Kentucky Derby. … Odds: 10-1.

6. Will Take Charge (D. Wayne Lukas, Jon Court): One more prep to go for Smarty Jones and Rebel winner. … Lukas looking for Derby win No. 5. … Next start: Blue Grass, Keeneland, April 13. … Odds: 19-1.

7. Oxbow (Lukas, Mike Smith): Edged by stablemate Will Take Charge in Rebel, but may be better of the two. … Next start: Arkansas Derby, Oaklawn Park, April 13. … Odds: 21-1.

8. Hear the Ghost (Jerry Hollendorfer, Corey Nakatani): Worked 5 furlongs in 1:02.00 Saturday at Hollywood Park. … San Felipe winner facing tough field this weekend. … Next start: Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita, April 6. … Odds: 15-1.

9. Flashback (Bob Baffert, Garrett Gomez): Worked 4 furlongs in 48.00 Monday at Santa Anita. … San Felipe runner-up one of three Baffert horses set for Santa Anita Derby (Power Broker and Super Ninety Nine are the others). … Next start: Santa Anita Derby. … Odds: 15-1.

10. Normandy Invasion (Chad Brown, Castellano): Worked 4 furlongs in 48.47.95 Sunday at Palm Meadows. … Needs big effort to land spot in Derby. … Next start: Wood Memorial. … Odds: 18-1.

Keep an eye on: Black Onyx, Goldencents, Govenor Charlie, Mylute, War Academy.

—

Follow Richard Rosenblatt on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/rosenblattap

Horse Racing Recap: Orb moves to No. 1 in AP’s Top 10 Derby list is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

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NFL Playoffs: Behind Ridley, Pats might have rediscovered missing Super piece

January 11, 2013 By Admin

e8dbd6c4a678f20ef8152042eb5eb446 NFL Playoffs: Behind Ridley, Pats might have rediscovered missing Super piece
Stevan Ridley #22 of the New England Patriots runs with the ball against the Miami Dolphins during the game at Gillette Stadium on December 30, 2012 in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
(December 29, 2012 – Source: Jared Wickerham/Getty Images North America)

(PhatzRadio / SI Feature) — Bill Belichick is not overly concerned with building a consensus among his rank-and-file, as far as his team’s offensive tactics. “I like keeping things balanced, absolutely,” says his second-year left tackle, Nate Solder. “But the other thing I do is, they tell me the play, and I run it. It really doesn’t matter if my opinion was, ‘Run the ball less,’ or ‘Run the ball more.’ I just do what they tell me.” This is one reason why Solder will likely be the Patriots’ left tackle for a very long time.

Between 2005 and 2011, the tactics of Belichick and of his offensive coordinators — first Josh McDaniels, then Bill O’Brien and then, starting with last season’s playoffs, McDaniels again — worked exceedingly well. The Patriots every year finished in the league’s top 10 in points scored, and in its top 11 in total yards. They did so, largely, on the strength of the arm of Tom Brady, and of the hands and legs of his collection of talented receivers.

Even though New England devoted a disproportionate number of plays between ’05 and ’11 to running out the clock against overmatched opponents — the team won 86 regular season games during those seven seasons, nine more than anyone else — it ranked in the NFL’s top five in rushing attempts just once, in 2008, when a torn ACL ended Brady’s season in Week 1. It ranked in the top five in passing attempts three separate times.

Such a relative imbalance was by and large not a problem for Belichick’s Patriots. Until, almost every year, it suddenly became a major one. Despite its regular season successes, New England has not won a Super Bowl since 2004, and the one-dimensional nature of its attack — even though that dimension was very, and in some cases historically, productive — time and again proved a central reason why.

The team’s six playoff losses in the past seven seasons (Matt Cassel, Brady’s replacement in ’08, could not quite lead them to the postseason that year) have all come to elite teams who had it in them, to varying degrees, to slow New England’s aerial attack. The Patriots found themselves bereft of a running game to which to turn, or at least with which they might mix things up. In those six defeats, to the Broncos, Colts, Giants (twice, in the Super Bowl in `07 and `11), Ravens and Jets, the Patriots, who between ’05 and ’11 averaged a league-high 28.8 points per regular season game, scored an average of 18.7. They rushed, as a team, for an average of just 79.7 yards, surpassing the 100-yard mark only once.

The issue was partly one of personnel. In those seven seasons, Belichick and his coordinators did not have at their disposal the type of running back who can take over a crucial playoff game, cycling through solid if underwhelming options like Laurence Maroney, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk. Much of the blame can be placed on the head coach, the franchise’s architect. But the issue was also one of philosophy. The Patriots lived and died on their passing. In each season, they died.

The 2012 Patriots — who are at this moment preparing for yet another playoff run, which will begin in Foxboro against the Texans this Sunday afternoon — are substantially different from any of their seven preceding iterations. In fact, in construction and tactics, the team looks more like those 2004 champions than any that have come since. That ’04 team, behind Corey Dillon’s 1,635 yards, ranked seventh in the league in rushing yards, and fifth in attempts, with 524.

This year’s Patriots ran the ball 523 times, more than they had in any season since ’04 and more than any other team in the league save the Seahawks, and they again ranked seventh in rushing offense. They did so thanks to a collection of young backs that includes Brandon Bolden (an undrafted rookie out of Mississippi), Shane Vereen (a second-rounder, from Cal, in 2011) and Danny Woodhead. But they did it, more than anything, thanks to Stevan Ridley.

Ridley, the 23-year-old 2011 third-rounder from LSU, has had some trouble holding onto the football during his relatively brief pro career. He fumbled during last season’s playoff opener, against the Broncos, and was thereafter benched for the postseason’s remainder in favor of the historically sure-handed Green-Ellis, who is now a Bengal. His four fumbles in the 2012 regular season were exceeded by only two other running backs, Willis McGahee and Jamaal Charles. When the ball remains firmly in his hands, however, Ridley in 2012 established himself as the first Patriots tailback of anything approaching star caliber since Dillon.

Ridley’s 1,263 rushing yards were seventh in the NFL, fourth-most in franchise history and the most, by 255, by a New England back since Dillon’s ’04 team record. The Patriots gained 6,846 total yards during the regular season, the fifth-most by any team ever. That output was two yards fewer than the offense accumulated last season, but the difference was in its balance: led by Ridley, it outrushed last year’s by 420 yards, an increase of nearly 24 percent.

This year’s offense, in other words, is more dynamic than 2011′s, and than any since 2004′s, and far less likely to falter when it matters most, if Brady finds himself frustrated. Ridley is aware of his importance. “Our offense is more potent when it’s balanced — that’s what the coaching staff knows, and that’s why they put me in position to make the plays,” he says. “Teams are looking at Brady first, the best quarterback to ever play the game, but at the same time they’re overlooking the running game.”

The production of Ridley, and of his fellow backs, allowed the Patriots to weather injuries this season to the matchup nightmares that are tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, who played just four games on the field together. Now, though, both are fully healthy, and Ridley is not alone in his belief that the fifth-best offense of all-time is about to get even better. “Like any other team in the league, we’ve been battling injuries, but we have two of the best tight ends in the game right now,” he says. “To have those two guys back, it seems to me that our team is coming together at the right time. We just have to play Patriot football, and we can only do that if we have all our players in.”

Gronkowski, who suffered a fractured forearm in mid-November, missed the Patriots’ regular season game against then 11-1 Houston, a 42-14 romp in which the offense fired on all cylinders, even while missing the star. They torched the Texans for 419 total yards, and they did so in their newly balanced way. Brady threw for 296 yards, and the Patriots rushed for 130 — 72 of which, on 18 carries, came from Ridley.

It is very difficult to imagine much changing this weekend, with Gronkowski joining not only Hernandez but top wideouts Brandon Lloyd and Wes Welker, and with all of them now credibly supported by Ridley. Ridley’s main task, in fact, will be to ensure that the ball is not punched out of his grip. “It’s one thing the New England Patriots have never put up with, never accepted,” Ridley says, of fumbling. “You gotta keep it high and tight, over your heart. You’ve got to have two hands on the ball.

“I’ve got to be dependable,” he adds, “so that they can call my number, and have full confidence in the playoffs.” If the Patriots can do that, then it is likely that their run of seven straight ultimately unsuccessful seasons will not extend to eight.

NFL Playoffs: Behind Ridley, Pats might have rediscovered missing Super piece is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

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College Football: Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly wins AP coach of the year

December 20, 2012 By Admin

86f581b0976df0d9dcab135d1435c249 College Football: Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly wins AP coach of the year

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — After two seasons as Notre Dame coach, Brian Kelly decided he wasn’t spending enough time doing the best part of his job: coaching players.

Kelly changed that in 2012, and he shuffled his staff. Then, with Kelly more in tune to his team and the assistants in sync with the head coach, Notre Dame went from unranked to top-ranked.

For leading the Fighting Irish to the BCS championship for the first time, Kelly was voted Associated Press college football coach of the year.

“When you’re talking about the coach of the year, there’s so many things that go into it,” Kelly said. “I know it’s an individual award and it goes to one guy, but the feelings that I get from it is you’re building the right staff, that you’ve got the right players and to me that is a validation of the program. That you put together the right business plan.”

Kelly received 25 votes from the AP college football poll panel. Penn State’s Bill O’Brien was second with 14 votes. Stanford’s David Shaw (four), Texas A&M’s Kevin Sumlin (three), Kansas State’s Bill Snyder (two) and Alabama’s Nick Saban (one) also received votes.

Kelly is the first Notre Dame coach to win the AP award, which started in 1998.

Of course, the Irish haven’t played for a national championship since 1988 and spent much of the past two decades trying to find a coach who could restore a program that was becoming a relic of its proud past.

It turns out Kelly was the answer.

He arrived in 2010 after two decades spent climbing the coaching ladder and winning big everywhere he worked. But in the world of college football, Notre Dame is a long way from Grand Valley State – where Kelly won Division II national titles – and Cincinnati, his previous stop, for that matter.

“I think the job tends to distract you,” Kelly said earlier this week. “There are a lot of things that pull you away from the primary reason why you want to be head coach of Notre Dame, and that is graduate your players and play for a national championship.

“Now, to do that you have to have the pulse of your football team and you’ve got to have relationships with your players. If you’re already going around the country doing other things other than working with your football team, it’s hard to have the pulse of your team.”

Kelly said he made a point of spending more time with the team this year.

“That’s why I got into this. I want to develop 18 to 21 year olds. My development as the head coach at Notre Dame this year has been about getting back to why you would want to coach college players. You want to learn about them; you want to know their strengths and weaknesses; you want to help them with leadership skills; you want to help them when they’re not feeling confident in their ability.

“For me, that is why it’s been the most enjoyable year as the head coach at Notre Dame, is that I got a chance to spend more time with my team.”

The first step, though, toward a successful 2012 season for Notre Dame can be traced to Feb. 10. On that day Kelly announced his coaching staff. The most notable change was moving Chuck Martin from defensive backs coach to offensive coordinator to fill the hole left when Charley Molnar became the coach of Massachusetts.

Martin was defensive coordinator for Kelly at Grand Valley State, then replaced his boss as head coach of the Division II power when Kelly was hired by Central Michigan after the 2003 season.

The move might have seemed odd to some, but Kelly, who built his reputation on offensive acumen, wanted a right-hand man who understood exactly what he wanted.

To replace Martin on the defensive side, Bob Elliot was hired from Iowa State to coach safeties. Harry Hiestand was hired away from Tennessee to replace offensive line coach Ed Warinner, and co-defensive coordinator Bob Diaco, who had been with Kelly at Central Michigan and Cincinnati, was promoted to assistant head coach.

“The voice of your coordinators has got to be in lock step with the head coach,” Kelly said. “Now both of these guys have been with me a long time.

“Chuck Martin on offense, I wanted a voice that went back with me to Grand Valley State. And with Bob Diaco someone that goes back to Central Michigan with me. So yeah, it was important to get that voice right.”

The last change Kelly needed to make involved Xs and Os. Kelly wanted to win now, but with a first-year starter and redshirt freshmen at quarterback. He had to adjust his style.

Out went the push-the-pace offense that had helped him reach two BCS games at Cincinnati. In came a more deliberate approach.

“We conduct the game differently,” Martin said. “We set out how we thought this team could win with the personnel we had and with the young quarterback. Most people say `OK, you’re going to play the young guy, you’re playing for the future.’ We just went 12-0 with the young guy and he got yanked four times.

“The rest of the world wants 12-0 with no warts. We have plenty of warts. Somehow we’re 12-0. Just goes to show the job (Kelly) did that we made it work week in and week out with what we have.”

Kelly’s ability and willingness to adapt have been his greatest strengths.

“He made some of his biggest changes ever in the last year. Going away from some things that really were his bread and butter, and 12-0 later, the guy did it again,” Martin said.

“He saw what Notre Dame football needed in 2012 and he got to know this university.”

College Football: Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly wins AP coach of the year is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

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College Football: A&M’s Johnny Football is AP’s Player of the Year

December 19, 2012 By Admin

dfe960f67b94847f0d4ea37283eebf83 College Football: A&M’s Johnny Football is AP’s Player of the Year

(AP) — Johnny Manziel ran for almost 1,700 yards and 30 touchdowns as a dual-threat quarterback his senior year of high school at Kerrville Tivy.

Who would have thought he’d be even more impressive at Texas A&M when pitted against the defenses of the Southeastern Conference?

On Tuesday, Manziel picked up another major award for his spectacular debut season. He was voted The Associated Press Player of the Year. As with the Heisman Trophy and Davey O’Brien Award that Manziel already won, the QB nicknamed Johnny Football is the first freshman to collect the AP award.

Manziel’s 31 votes were more than twice that of second place finisher Manti Te’o, Notre Dame’s start linebacker. He is the third straight Heisman-winning quarterback to receive the honor, following Robert Griffin III and Cam Newton.

Manziel erased initial doubts about his ability when he ran for 60 yards and a score in his first game against Florida.

“I knew I could run the ball, I did it a lot in high school,” Manziel said in an interview with the AP. “It is just something that you don’t get a chance to see in the spring. Quarterbacks aren’t live in the spring. You don’t get to tackle. You don’t get to evade some of the sacks that you would in normal game situations. So I feel like when I was able to avoid getting tackled, it opened some people’s eyes a little bit more.”

The 6-foot-1 Manziel threw for 3,419 yards and 24 touchdowns and ran for 1,181 yards and 19 more scores to help the Aggies win 10 games for the first time since 1998 – and in their inaugural SEC year, too.

Ryan Tannehill, Manziel’s predecessor now with the Dolphins after being drafted eighth overall this season, saw promise from the young quarterback last year when he was redshirted. But even he is surprised at how quickly things came together for Manziel.

“It’s pretty wild. I always thought he had that playmaking ability, that something special where if somebody came free, he can make something exciting happen,” Tannehill said. “I wasn’t really sure if, I don’t think anyone was sure if he was going to be able to carry that throughout an SEC season, and he’s shocked the world and he did it.”

After Manziel sat out as a redshirt in 2011, Texas A&M’s scheduled season-opener against Louisiana Tech this year was postponed because of Hurricane Isaac. That left him to get his first taste of live defense in almost two years against Florida.

He responded well, helping the Aggies race to a 17-7 lead early using both his arm and his feet. The Gators shut down Manziel and A&M’s offense in the second half and Texas A&M lost 20-17.

But Manziel’s performance was enough for Texas A&M’s coaching staff to realize that his scrambling ability was going to be a big part of what the Aggies could do this season.

“The first half really showed that I was a little bit more mobile than we had seen throughout the spring,” Manziel said. “Me and (then-offensive coordinator) Kliff Kingsbury sat down and really said: `Hey we can do some things with my feet as well as throwing the ball.’ And it added a little bit of a new dimension.”

Manziel knew that the biggest adjustment from playing in high school to college would be the speed of the game. Exactly how quick players in the SEC were was still a jolt to the quarterback.

“The whole first drive I was just seeing how fast they really flew to the ball and I felt like they just moved a whole lot faster,” he said of the Florida game. “It was different than what I was used to, different than what I was used to in high school. So it was just having to learn quick and adjust on the fly.”

He did just that and started piling up highlight reel material by deftly avoiding would-be tacklers to help the Aggies run off five consecutive wins after that.

His storybook ride hit a roadblock when he threw a season-high three interceptions in a 24-19 loss to LSU. But Manziel used it as a learning experience, taking to heart some advice he received from Kingsbury.

“He just told me to have a plan every time, before every snap,” Manziel said. “Make sure you have a plan on what you want to do and where you want to go with the ball.”

“I feel like as the year went on, I just learned the offense more and knew exactly where I wanted to go, instead of maybe evading the blitz and just taking off running for the first down instead of hitting a hot route or throwing it underneath to an open guy and doing things a lot simpler and cleaner.”

The Aggies and Manziel rebounded from the loss to LSU by winning their last five games, highlighted by their stunning 29-24 upset of top-ranked Alabama on Nov. 10.

By the time Manziel wrapped up a 253-yard passing and 92-yard rushing performance to lead Texas A&M to the victory in Tuscaloosa, you could hardly call him a freshman anymore.

“You keep growing and growing every week,” he said. “By the time I played Alabama I had a much better grasp of the game than I did in the first one.”

The 4,600 yards of total offense Manziel gained in 12 games broke the SEC record for total yards in a season. The record was previously held by 2010 Heisman winner Newton, who needed 14 games to pile up 4,327 yards. The output also made him the first freshman, first player in the SEC and fifth player overall to throw for 3,000 yards and run for 1,000 in a season.

Manziel, who turned 20 two days before taking home the Heisman, has been so busy he hasn’t had a second to step back and digest the historical significance of his accomplishments this season.

He’s far more concerned with helping the Aggies extend their winning streak to six games with a win over Oklahoma on Jan. 4 in the Cotton Bowl.

“I think it will happen after the bowl game and after the season is completely over,” he said. “I’m just ready for it to die down a little bit and get back into a practice routine where we get better and hopefully do what we want to do in the bowl game.”

He’ll have to do it without his mentor Kingsbury, who left A&M last week to become coach at Texas Tech, where he starred at quarterback not that long ago. Manziel said is happy Kingsbury got to return to his alma matter, but is still adjusting to the idea of playing without him.

“I’m the happiest guy on the face of the earth for him,” Manziel said, speaking from California where he appeared on the “Tonight Show” Monday evening. “I think he deserves it with how hard he’s worked this year to get us where we were. It’s bittersweet though, because I’d like him to be here for the entire time that I’m here.”

Manziel is eager to get back on the field for the Cotton Bowl and is focused on helping the offense pick up where it left off in the regular-season finale.

“Even though Kliff Kingsbury’s not here anymore, we just need to continue to get better and do what we do,” Manziel said. “Push tempo, go fast and be the high-flying offense that we have been all year.”

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College Football: Penn State to honor 2012 team alongside program’s best

November 24, 2012 By Admin

e60039682f82fa3c8bddfb4ff6512894 College Football: Penn State to honor 2012 team alongside program’s best

(PhatzRadio / USA Today) — The façade below the luxury suites inside Penn State’s Beaver Stadium honors only teams that have gone undefeated, won national championships or won conference championships.

Until today.

On Saturday afternoon, Penn State will make an exception. Before the Nittany Lions’ season-ending date with Wisconsin, the university will honor the 2012 team by putting its name – “2012,” to be precise – alongside 1982, 1986, 1994 and other memorable seasons in the program’s illustrious football history.

In so honoring this year’s Nittany Lions, PSU ensures that Bill O’Brien’s first team, one that has succeeded despite some fairly overwhelming odds, will never be forgotten. In particular, tomorrow’s unveiling honors Penn State’s 31 seniors.

“There have been some great teams in this program’s history — the 1982 and 1986 National Championship teams, the 1994 undefeated team — on the field,” said O’Brien. “But no team has gone through more than this team. That’s why this senior class will go down as one of the greatest in Penn State history.”

As Onward State writes:

“As the sun sets tomorrow afternoon, the 2012 Penn State Football season will conclude, but for years to come, coaches, fans, players, and everyone associated with Penn State Football will be able to look towards the southeast corner of Beaver Stadium and remember this group of resilient players who showed their love and loyalty when times were tough.”

What a wonderful gesture to the players who stayed, the seniors who led and the coaches who lifted PSU to an absolutely unforgettable 2012 season.

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College Football: Penn State to honor 2012 team alongside program’s best

November 24, 2012 By Admin

e60039682f82fa3c8bddfb4ff6512894 College Football: Penn State to honor 2012 team alongside program’s best

Until today.

As Onward State writes:

What a wonderful gesture to the players who stayed, the seniors who led and the coaches who lifted PSU to an absolutely unforgettable 2012 season.

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AP Top 25 College Football: Oklahoma St scores 84 points vs. Savannah St.

September 2, 2012 By Admin

18a3aa2e8f270d3dc8a3e8dda3fd7049 AP Top 25 College Football: Oklahoma St scores 84 points vs. Savannah St.

(PhatzRadio / AP) — Braxton Miller helped make Urban Meyer’s first game as Ohio State coach a record-breaking romp for the Buckeyes.

Meanwhile, the new era at Penn State got off to a disappointing start thanks to another team from the state of Ohio.

In Columbus, Miller rushed for 161 yards, a record for an Ohio State quarterback, and threw for two scores and 207 yards as the 18th-ranked Buckeyes beat Miami (Ohio) 56-10.

Meyer, who won two national titles at Florida, is unbeaten in 11 openers. He had worked as a TV analyst a year ago after stepping down from the Gators job due to health and family considerations.

He was hired last November to revive the beleaguered Buckeyes.

Bill O’Brien was hired by Penn State to lead the Nittany Lions in a new direction and replace the late Joe Paterno.

Penn State had an 11-point lead at the half, but Ohio quarterback Tyler Tettleton accounted for three second-half touchdowns to hand O’Brien a 24-14 loss at State College, Pa.

Matt McGloin threw for 260 yards and two touchdowns guiding Penn State’s new-look offense.

There were some other changes, too: players’ names on the backs of the uniforms, and blue ribbons on the back of the helmets to show support for victims of child sexual abuse.

No. 1 USC 39, HAWAII 10

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Marqise Lee caught a 75-yard touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage and returned a kickoff 100 yards for a score, and No. 1 Southern California rolled.

Matt Barkley kicked off his Heisman Trophy campaign with 377 yards passing and four touchdowns, and Lee caught 10 passes for 197 yards for the Trojans (1-0), whose offensive stars were every bit as impressive as expected in their first game since their two-year NCAA bowl ban ended.

Silas Redd rushed for 57 yards and a touchdown on a team-leading nine carries in the Penn State transfer’s debut at USC, which led 35-0 at halftime and coasted to its 15th consecutive season-opening victory.

Robert Woods caught six passes for 42 yards and two TDs, and tight end Xavier Grimble caught Barkley’s final scoring throw in the fourth quarter.

No. 3 LSU 41, North Texas 14

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Kenny Hilliard rushed for 141 yards and two touchdowns, and LSU opened its season with an easy victory.

While the heavily favored Tigers were never threatened, their performance did not always thrill a Death Valley crowd that eagerly anticipated the debut of Zach Mettenberger as starting quarterback.

Mettenberger, who was briefly sidelined by a vicious sack, was 19 of 26 for 192 yards, an interception and a touchdown. But LSU didn’t really need to throw in a game decided by its overwhelming defense and a running game that accounted for 316 yards, including 123 by Alfred Blue.

Derek Thompson completed only 8 of 21 passes, but two passes were scoring strikes of 80 and 15 yards to Brelan Chancellor.

No. 6 GEORGIA 45, BUFFALO 23

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Freshman Todd Gurley ran for three touchdowns, Aaron Murray threw three scoring passes and Georgia overcame a sloppy first half.

Gurley didn’t start but may have emerged as the Bulldogs’ future at tailback with his eight carries for 100 yards, including scoring runs of 10 and 55 yards. He added a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the first quarter.

Georgia, favored by 37½ points, led only 24-16 at halftime before pulling away in the season opener for both teams.

Branden Oliver, coming off his school-record 1,395 yards rushing in 2011, had 30 carries for 111 yards and a 2-yard touchdown run for the Bulls.

No. 7 FLORIDA STATE 69, Murray State 3

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Lonnie Pryor, James Wilder Jr., and Debrale Smiley combined for seven rushing touchdowns to lead Florida State.

Pryor ran for three TDs, and Smiley and Wilder added two apiece. Wilder finished with 106 yards rushing.

Florida State scored on their first touch of the new season on Rashad Greene’s 47-yard punt return just 89 seconds into the game.

EJ Manuel passed for 188 yards and a touchdown before retiring midway in the third quarter.

Murray State’s Casey Brockman passed for 117 yards, but was intercepted once and sacked six times, including four by Bjoern Werner.

The Seminoles totaled 606 yards while holding Murray State, a Football Championship Subdivision school, to 156 yards

No. 10 ARKANSAS 49, JACKSONVILLE STATE 24

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Tyler Wilson set the school record for yards passing in a season opener, finishing 19 of 27 passing for 367 yards and three touchdowns for Arkansas.

Two of Wilson’s touchdowns went to tight end Chris Gragg, who finished with seven catches for 110 yards as the No. 10 Razorbacks (1-0) won their first game under coach John L. Smith.

Brandon Mitchell, the former backup quarterback turned starting receiver, joined in the fun with four catches for 122 yards and Javontee Herndon caught four passes for 96 yards.

The Gamecocks (0-1), coached by former Razorbacks coach Jack Crowe, led 14-7 in the first half. Marques Ivory had a pair of touchdown passes, while Alan Bonner had eight catches for 107 yards.

No. 11 WEST VIRGINIA 69, MARSHALL 34

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Geno Smith threw for 323 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Mountaineers past Marshall.

In the final scheduled game between the state’s only Bowl Subdivision teams, it marked West Virginia’s highest-scoring season opener in school history.

Smith kept the momentum going from his six-TD performance from the Orange Bowl.

The senior completed 32 of 36 passes and set a school record for career completions before sitting out most of the fourth quarter

The Mountaineers compiled 655 total yards, more than any game last year, and got the balance they’ve sought from their running game. Shawne Alston ran for 123 yards and two scores.

No. 12 WISCONSIN 26, NORTHERN ILLINOIS 21

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Montee Ball rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown, and Wisconsin needed a big defensive play to survive a fourth-quarter scare.

Wisconsin’s defense didn’t allow Northern Iowa past the 50-yard line until the 4:27 mark in the third quarter — but then the Badgers nearly melted down.

Leading 26-7 in the fourth quarter, Wisconsin allowed Northern Iowa quarterback Sawyer Kollmorgen to throw a pair of long touchdowns to David Johnson, cutting the lead to five. With the Panthers facing fourth-and-1 at the Wisconsin 41-yard line, defensive lineman Ethan Hemer tipped the ball at the line of scrimmage to stop the drive.

No. 14 CLEMSON 26, AUBURN 19

ATLANTA (AP) — Andre Ellington rushed for 231 yards, DeAndre Hopkins set a school record with 13 receptions and Clemson opened the season with a victory.

Playing before a 50-50 crowd at the Georgia Dome — basically halfway between the two campuses — Clemson shook off any hangover from last season’s embarrassing 70-33 loss to West Virginia in the Orange Bowl and showed plenty of offense against Auburn even without star receiver Sammy Watkins, who was suspended for the first two games after an offseason drug arrest.

The second half was a battle of field goals before Tajh Boyd lofted a 4-yard touchdown pass to Hopkins, who made a brilliant, twisting catch in the corner of the end zone with 9:17 remaining.

Both teams kicked four field goals. Cody Parkey connected from 37, 46, 27 and 36 yards for Auburn, the last of them putting his team ahead with 12;50 remaining. Chandler Catanzaro was just as accurate for Clemson, booting it through from 24, 40, 37 and 18 yards.

Tre Mason led Auburn in rushing with 107 yards.

No. 15 TEXAS 37, WYOMING 17

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Joe Bergeron and Malcolm Brown both rushed for more than 100 yards and combined for three touchdowns to lead Texas.

Texas quarterback David Ash, who won the starting job over Case McCoy in training camp, was an efficient 20-of-27 passing for 156 yards and a touchdown to Jaxon Shipley.

Bergeron had 110 yards and scored Texas’ first touchdown on a 1-yard run in first quarter. He put the game away with a 17-yard TD in the fourth. Brown ran for 105 yards for Texas (1-0).

Robert Herron had touchdown catches of 82 and 22 yards for Wyoming (0-1). Cowboys quarterback Brett Smith passed for 276 yards but threw two interceptions in the second quarter that set up Texas touchdowns.

No. 17 NEBRASKA 49, SOUTHERN MISS 20

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Taylor Martinez threw for a career-high 354 yards and matched his best with five touchdown passes to lead Nebraska.

The Huskers won their nation-leading 27th straight opener.

Nebraska played the last three quarters without Rex Burkhead. The 1,300-yard rusher last season went out with a sprained ligament in his left knee after opening the scoring with a career-long 57-yard run.

Backup Ameer Abdullah ran 15 times for 81 yards and made an acrobatic catch for an 11-yard TD.

Southern Miss backup quarterback Anthony Alford carried 15 times for 84 yards in his first college game.

No. 18 OHIO STATE 56, MIAMI, OHIO, 10

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Braxton Miller threw for two scores, including Devin Smith’s highlight-reel, one-handed catch, for the Buckeyes.

The slow-starting Miller, who stutter-stepped for a 65-yard score just 17 seconds into the second half, finished 14 of 24 passing for 207 yards. He also hit Corey Brown on a 5-yard TD pass.

After Miller’s long run made it 28-3, Bradley Roby recovered a high Miami punt snap in the end zone and the rout was on.

Travis Howard had two interceptions and Carlos Hyde scored on 4- and 8-yard runs for Ohio State.

No. 19 OKLAHOMA STATE 84, SAVANNAH STATE 0

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Freshman Wes Lunt completed all 11 of his passes in a brief first outing as the new starting quarterback for Oklahoma State.

The defending Big 12 champions drove for touchdowns on their first five possessions to take a 35-0 lead late in the first quarter, and then used the rest of the game as a scrimmage to get playing time for their reserves.

Joseph Randle ran for 107 yards and two TDs on just six carries and Desmond Roland added 104 yards rushing, and Jeremy Smith ran for three scores as the Cowboys opened with an all-too-easy victory after losing stars Justin Blackmon and Brandon Weeden in the first round of the NFL draft.

The lopsided result was hardly a surprise. Savannah State, one of the worst teams from a lower division, had won only four games in against Football Championship Subdivision competition in 10 years and was playing team from the FBS for the first time.

No. 22 KANSAS STATE 51, MISSOURI STATE 9

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Collin Klein threw for 169 yards and two touchdowns, John Hubert ran 95 yards for a fourth-quarter score and Kansas State pulled away late to beat Missouri State.

Hubert finished with 152 yards rushing, Braden Wilson and Daniel Sams added touchdown runs, and Tramaine Thompson returned a punt 89 yards for another score as the Wildcats (1-0) tuned up for next week’s showdown with Miami with an impressive second-half scoring binge.

The game was tied 9-9 early in the third quarter before Kansas State piled up 42 straight points against the team picked to finish last in the Missouri Valley Conference.

No. 23 FLORIDA 27, BOWLING GREEN 14

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Mike Gillislee had a career-high 148 yards rushing and two touchdowns, helping Florida beat Bowling Green.

The performance was far from perfect for the Gators, who struggled part of the game on offense and failed to generate much pressure on defense. Still, it was enough for Florida to win its 23rd consecutive opener. The streak is the second longest in the nation behind Nebraska (27).

The Gators can thank Gillislee, Frankie Hammond and two missed field goals for the latest one.

Gillislee scored on runs of 15 and 38 yards in the second quarter. Hammond turned a short pass into a 50-yard score early in the fourth. Bowling Green could have had a second-half lead, but fifth-year senior Stephen Stein missed field-goal attempts of 31 and 29 yards.

AP Top 25 College Football: Oklahoma St scores 84 points vs. Savannah St. is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

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Penn State Scandal: Penn State adding player names, ribbon to jerseys

August 8, 2012 By Admin

aaa88e7da0b5daed9af7c93d4ad016de Penn State Scandal: Penn State adding player names, ribbon to jerseys

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Players’ names are being added to Penn State’s football jerseys for the coming season, the university announced Tuesday, along with blue ribbons to show support for victims of child abuse.

The team’s generic look – blue-and-white, no names on jerseys – has long been a trademark and was associated with the buttoned-down style of former coach Joe Paterno, who was fired last year after his former assistant Jerry Sandusky was arrested on child molestation charges.

School officials said adding the names was a way to recognize the “resolve and dedication” of the players, as the team faces a four-year bowl ban and loss of scholarships under the severe penalties handed down by the NCAA last month over the school’s handling of the Sandusky scandal.

The changes will take effect with the Sept. 1 season opener at home against Ohio University.

“We want our fans to know and recognize these young men,” said coach Bill O’Brien, who was hired after last season. “They have stuck together during tough times, and I commend them for the leadership they have shown.”

Fran Fisher, a longtime Penn State radio announcer, said the jersey changes may ruffle some feathers among former players, and the vanilla uniforms will continue to be associated with Paterno.

“I think Coach O’Brien has a right to do whatever he wants to do to have an identity for his team,” Fisher said. “I think that the plainness of the Paterno era will be remembered because he considered it to be a team sport.”

Sandusky, 68, awaits sentencing on 45 criminal counts, probably next month, and is likely to spend the rest of his life in state prison.

Paterno died of lung cancer in January, and a university-commissioned investigation of the Sandusky scandal concluded he and other top Penn State officials concealed allegations against Sandusky going back to 1998.

The NCAA also stripped the school and Paterno of more than 100 wins, dropping him from atop the list of the winningest coaches in major college football history.

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Penn State Scandal: Safety Buckley first Penn State player to transfer

July 31, 2012 By Admin

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Backup Penn State safety Tim Buckley has become the first player to transfer from Penn State in the wake of NCAA sanctions, while the future of a more prominent player, star tailback Silas Redd, remains in question.

Redd, a 1,200-yard rusher who would be a focal point of O’Brien’s reconfigured Penn State offense, visited Southern California over the weekend. Another good season could have the junior with the dazzling open-field spin move headed to the NFL draft a year early next spring.

Still, the majority of coach Bill O’Brien’s core players appear to be sticking with Penn State, determined to weather out what could be a stormy season after the NCAA meted out landmark punishments on the program for the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.

O’Brien said at Big Ten media days last week in Chicago that more than 50 players have re-affirmed their commitment to Penn State, though he did expect some transfers. Two Class of 2013 recruits have de-committed over the last week, but six prospects visited O’Brien over the weekend before standing by their verbal commitments.

“We have a really unique opportunity at Penn State to do something really special,” one of the six recruits, Cedar Cliff High senior Adam Breneman, said in a phone interview. Breneman, of Camp Hill, Pa., is considered one of the top tight end prospects in the country.

“We have a chance to bring a community together. We have a chance to be remembered for a long time and give a community hope.”

Buckley won’t be part of Breneman’s future team. North Carolina State released a statement Monday announcing Buckley, a North Carolina native, would join the Wolfpack for the team’s first practice Tuesday.

The former walk-on redshirted last season at Penn State, so he’ll have four years of eligibility left.

“The opportunity to come here and play at my state university, so close to home, was something that I couldn’t pass up,” Buckley said in the statement that made no mention of the scandal.

Other Nittany Lions appear to be at least looking around, most notably Redd.

He voiced support for former coach Joe Paterno as late as two weeks ago, after former FBI director Louis Freeh released the results of his investigation in the Sandusky scandal for the university. Freeh said Paterno, who died in January, and three other school officials concealed allegations against Sandusky – conclusions vehemently denied by Paterno’s family and the officials.

“It has nothing to do with us,” Redd had said about the findings. Penn State later handed the results of Freeh’s investigation to the NCAA.

Redd had also said his opinion of Paterno, the coach that recruited him to Penn State, hadn’t changed. He said Paterno, in his view, remained “the best college football coach of all time.”

Since then, the NCAA banned Penn State from postseason play for the next four seasons, including the last two years of Redd’s eligibility. College sports’ governing body is allowing Redd and all other Nittany Lions to transfer to another school and get on the field right away.

The only restriction is they cannot practice or play with Penn State this year and still play for another school this season, meaning the Penn State roster should finally be set once training camp starts in a week.

But the process sets up college version of NFL free agency, in which other schools have been busy trying to cherry-pick Nittany Lions.

USC could be a landing spot if Redd decides to leave. With an offense led by quarterback Matt Barkley, the Trojans will be highly ranked and one of the favorites to win the Pac-12 Conference.

A person familiar with Redd’s decision said the running back was returning from California on Monday and could make his decision as early as Tuesday. The person requested anonymity because no one was authorized to speak for Redd.

If Redd is back in State College by early Tuesday, he might find a bevy of fans urging him to stay.

Tim Sweeney, a businessman who hosts an online radio show, said he and his fellow host Keith Conlin, came up with the “Rise and Rally” event that has garnered community support. Sweeney said more than 1,000 people have indicated on Facebook they will attend the rally, which is scheduled to start at 6 a.m., in order to greet Nittany Lions scheduled to arrive at the football building for early-morning workouts.

“What these guys have had to endure and overcome, nobody has ever been faced before in college football,” said Sweeney, who like Conlin is also a former Penn State player. “There aren’t any better representatives of our university than our football team.”

Most downtown businesses are displaying “Proud to Support Penn State Football” signs on windows. Some stores have started selling shirts with the slogan “Billeave,” playing off of the first name of O’Brien, the former New England Patriots offensive coordinator.

Penn State fans and students have also started a Twitter campaign to sway Redd with the hashtag “StaySilas.”

“With Silas Redd, or without Silas Redd, I would not discount Coach O’Brien’s ability to make an offense and put points on the board,” said Sweeney, who also heads the Penn State football Lettermen’s Club, a group of former players.

Members of the football alumni group also plan to speak with players at a team meeting later Tuesday. Sweeney said he hopes hundreds of lettermen attend the meeting that O’Brien asked they attend.

“They’re going to be overwhelmed when they see how many guys are there. These are their Penn State brothers,” Sweeney said. “I’m sure the messages that will be delivered will be strong and impactful.”

Penn State spokesman Jeff Nelson said any plans by players to transfer would come from the players themselves or his new school, not Penn State.

Nelson did confirm that former starting quarterback Rob Bolden has been allowed by O’Brien to speak with other schools. Permission was given before the NCAA had announced its sanctions on July 23, Nelson said.

Bolden began the season as starter the previous two seasons before losing the job at the end of the year to Matt McGloin. Bolden had also pondered transferring last offseason.

This spring, O’Brien tabbed McGloin the outright starter and demoted Bolden to the third team. Bolden was with the team as late a player charity event on July 13, the day after the Freeh report was released.

He was no longer on the team’s online roster as of Monday.

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