Columns
-
100 Years for State High’s Band: Time Flies When You’re Having Fun
—
by
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…
-
Gibbs’ Rule No. 39: There Is No Such Thing as a Coincidence
in Columns—
by
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,…
-
Everything I Experienced Covering a Game at the New Ryan Field
—
by
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…
-
Here’s How Penn State QB Rocco Becht Thinks He Can Do Better
—
by
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…
-
Worse Than Bad. Chip Kelly, Jerry Neuheisel and Northwestern Pile On Penn State. Again
—
by
EVANSTON, Ill. — Important dates in Big Ten Conference offensive coordinator hiring history, good to know especially now, in the aftermath of Penn State’s total collapse over the past six quarters (51-16) and two losses in the past six days: Dec. 11, 2025: New Penn State head coach Matt Campbell hires his former OC at…
-
Matt Campbell Tries to Talk Penn State Fans Off the Ledge
—
by
What would coach Matt Campbell say to the Penn State fans who were upset — and angry, disappointed, devastated, flabbergasted — after the Nittany Lions blew a 17-0 lead to Wisconsin, then lost to the Badgers in the final seconds on Saturday night in Beaver Stadium. On Wednesday, I gave the first-year Penn State head coach…
-
Subu Vedam: It’s Now One Year in ICE Custody
—
by
What is there to say about the case of Subramanyam Vedam at this point? Only this: Subu was released because, after 43 years in prison, a Centre County judge agreed with what he had been saying all along: that he had been wrongfully convicted of murder in 1983 and 1988. He was detained because he…
-
Penn State’s Matt Campbell Says Decisions vs. Wisconsin Have Gone Through His Head ‘A Million Times’
—
by
So, you think you’ve been second-guessing some of the decisions Matt Campbell made on Saturday night in Beaver Stadium? Join the crowd — it’s a big one. And it includes Campbell himself. The first-year Penn State head coach said on Tuesday that the Nittany Lions’ Homecoming collapse against Wisconsin has turned into a come-to-Jesus moment for…
-
Hook: The Protect College Sports Act Is a ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ Card for NCAA and Its Members
—
by
President Ronald Reagan was fond of saying that the nine most terrifying words in the English language are: “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.” Which is a line of thinking that I’ve found I agree with over the years. Government does acceptably well with most of the big things they’ve taken on…
-
The 2 Kinds of Penn State Football Adversity: In-Game and Post-Game
—
by
Penn State coach Matt Campbell talks a lot about handling Adversity. A lot. It’s going to come, he says. It’s how you handle it. Adversity came to Beaver Stadium on Saturday night. And the guy on the other sidelines, Luke Fickell — his team playing poorly in a hostile environment and his seat already very warm…