Columns
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Hook: How PA Stacks Up Nationally in High School Sports
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The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) is the organization in our country that writes the playing rules for most high school sports. It consists of 51 state associations, one for every state plus the District of Columbia, and almost 20,000 high schools. It also conducts and publishes research on high school sports,…
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Penn State’s Road Ahead: From Michigan to a Brutal Home Schedule in 2028
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Penn State football will get better. Nittany Lion head coach Matt Campbell said so on Saturday night, after he lost his third Big Ten game in 15 days as Penn State fans witnessed their fifth conference loss in Penn State’s last six games in Beaver Stadium. “We can’t give them the result that they deserve,”…
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Penn State Football’s Identity? Déjà Poo All Over Again
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Penn State football’s identity? We found it on Saturday, though it never went away: It’s an incredible fan base that turned out. Once again. After being punched in the stomach. Again and again. Only to be punched again. Amazing fans, mid program…in disarray. The Nittany Lions are now 10-10 in their last 20 games, beginning…
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Column: It’s a Long Way Down for Penn State Football
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Have you ever been scammed before? Merriam-Webster defines a scam as a fraudulent or deceptive act or operation. Joel Haas defines it as Penn State football in the first half of 2026. We were promised one thing, but we’ve gotten a second, much less enjoyable thing instead. I like to think I’m good at avoiding…
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Paterno: Keep the Faith and Stand Your Ground, Penn State Fans
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One of the great leadership lessons from Lincoln was the lesson of the letter. When he was angry, he would write a letter to the person who’d angered him. He’d put the letter in a desk drawer overnight and then re-read what he’d written the next morning. Most of the time he’d tear up the…
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For Starters, the Nittany Lions’ Identity? 42% Penn State, 40% Iowa State
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Matt Campbell uttered the same three words again and again and again on Tuesday in his press conference in Beaver Stadium — where he and his Nittany Lions return on Saturday night for a White Out contest against No. 19 USC. The Campbell Word Counter, from his detailed review and final rehash of the Nittany…
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100 Years for State High’s Band: Time Flies When You’re Having Fun
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Since its inauguration in October of 1937 as the State College High School football field, Memorial Field has produced some remarkable memories. It has showcased the shining talents of six Little Lions who later played in the NFL: Ron Dickerson, Larry Johnson, Jonathan Stupar, Nathan Stupar, Jordan Norwood and the recently-deceased Matt Suhey. And the…
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Gibbs’ Rule No. 39: There Is No Such Thing as a Coincidence
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Since I was young, I always looked forward to the fall, and growing up in western Pennsylvania, fall meant football. Yeah, I know, I’m a hockey guy, but I was a football guy first and I’ve been a fan for a long time. With new head coaches leading my three favorite football programs—the Pittsburgh Steelers,…
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Everything I Experienced Covering a Game at the New Ryan Field
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This past Friday, I had the honor of covering Penn State in the first game played in Northwestern’s new Ryan Field, and it’s an experience I won’t soon forget. The journey began with a morning flight to Chicago, which featured a healthy contingent of Big Ten influence. In addition to two Penn State fans and…
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Here’s How Penn State QB Rocco Becht Thinks He Can Do Better
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EVANSTON, Ill. — Rocco Becht is a smart guy. He’s a wise old head in college football terms. This is his fifth season playing and mostly starting Power 4 football. He’ll turn 23 in a month. He’s started 44 games as a college QB1. And won 29 and lost 15 — the losses, while some…