Columns
-
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…
-
Penn State Lost to Wisconsin: How Bad Was it?
—
by
How bad was it? Ahead 17-0 just 18 minutes into the game and lost bad. Ahead 20-10 until Wisconsin scored with just 211 seconds left in the game and lost bad. Ahead 20-17 until there were only 75 seconds left when Wisconsin scored on a 72-yard touchdown from quarterback Colton Joseph to tight end Jacob…
-
Penn State Football: Tonight, the Haters Were Right
—
by
On Dec. 11, 2023, Twitter user @drewjanda put out a since-deleted post that now lives in sports meme infamy. It read as follows: “The haters said I couldn’t do it. And they were correct. Honestly great call from the haters.” It perfectly encapsulates the Nittany Lions’ Saturday night meltdown at the hands of Wisconsin. The…