NOTE: This is the latest in a continuing series of offseason essays highlighting Penn State football's history of unique student-athletes. It is in response to Coach Matt Campbell and his staff reconnecting with the Penn State football alumni. These essays are designed to highlight history beyond the current generation and to remember players and stories that delve deeper into a proud legacy of excellence; Here are links to the previous essays: Offensive and Defensive Linemen

For many of the Penn State Football Alumni, there have been numerous encouraging signs from new Coach Matt Campbell.  Many former players were glad to hear him talk about the importance of developing young men and a commitment to academics.   Campbell also stated that he wants his players to understand the history of Penn State. In college football, there is a value in tradition, in wanting to be part of something bigger than yourself. Penn State existed long before this gene

1 st Down: SEC Bias has Company Going Forward: The confetti has fallen, the trophies have just barely made it back to Bloomington and already the talk has turned to the “Way Too Early Top 25” rankings for next year as well as the talk of a 16-team playoff or even a 24-team playoff. ESPN posted a way-too-early Top 25 that is loaded with SEC teams. But they also threw in an equal serving of Big Ten teams. There are no non-Power 4 conference teams in these rankings even thoug

Pre-Game Warm-ups: On Campus Quarterfinals: While the announced attendances for the quarterfinal games would indicate that the crowds were good, the images on TV suggested some softness. That's likely a function of asking fans to travel to three bowl games. Assuming a National title game run, this is how it breaks out in air miles traveled for fans of the four semifinalists. The Ole Miss path winds from New Orleans, to Glendale, AZ and to Miami. That’s 4,828 roundtrip miles.