Penn State head coach Bill O’Brien addresses the media after Saturday’s 24-21 overtime win against Wisconsin.
A first-year head coach, O’Brien talked about what he was thinking before Wisconsin attempted a game-tying field goal to force a second overtime and more.
Penn State celebrated its 24-21 overtime win against Wisconsin with its fans at Beaver Stadium. Erie Times-News sport reporter Duane Rankin got right in the heart of the celebratory scene Saturday night.
Check out how Penn State senior right tackle Mike Farrell, senior linebacker Gerald Hodges and senior defensive tackle Jordan Hill each reacted to the win.
Erie Times-News sports reporter Duane Rankin captured Penn State entering Beaver Stadium for the final time in this 2012 season.
The players wore No. 42 on their helmets for senior captain Michael Mauti, who is out with a knee injury. The Nittany Lions beat Wisconsin in overtime, 24-21, in their season finale.
Let’s recap Week 8, shall we?
Game of the week: No. 9 South Carolina at No. 3 Florida
Final score: Gators 44, Gamecocks 11
Pregame rant: Despite losing to LSU, South Carolina can still find itself in the SEC title game, but must beat the Gators to do so. To see Steve Spurrier go back to the place he starred as a player and as a coach and knock off Florida would be one his biggest wins ever.
However, South Carolina better shore up that run defense if it plans to upend the Gators. The Gamecocks allowed LSU to bang ‘em for 258 yards on the ground.
Florida is averaging 233.33 yards rushing and will be content to win a low-scoring affair, as it did against LSU, rather than play score for score.
Post-game commentary: The Gamecocks fumbled away this one.
Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel threw three of his four touchdowns off South Carolina turnovers as the Gators put South Carolina’s championship dreams on arctic freeze.
The Gamecocks had four total turnovers with three being fumbles. When the going got tough for them, they got ran out of stadium.
As for the Gators, a win this week against Georgia in Jacksonville all but seals up a spot in the SEC title game. Their final conference game is Nov. 3 at home against Missouri, which is 0-4 in SEC play.
Here are three college football games worth watching in Week 8.
Game of the week: No. 9 South Carolina Gamecocks (6-1, 4-1 SEC) at No. 3 Florida Gators, (6-0, 5-0 SEC), Saturday, 3:30 p.m., WSEE (CBS)
Pregame rant: Despite losing to LSU, South Carolina can still find itself in the SEC title game, but must beat the Gators to do so. To see Steve Spurrier go back to the place he starred as a player and as a coach and knock off Florida would be one his biggest wins ever.
However, South Carolina better shore up that run defense if it plans to upend the Gators. The Gamecocks allowed LSU to bang ‘em for 258 yards on the ground.
Florida is averaging 233.33 yards rushing and will be content to win a low-scoring affair, as it did against LSU, rather than play score for score.
Let’s us recap Week 5, shall we?
Game of the week: No. 14 Ohio State at No. 20 Michigan State
Final score: Buckeyes 17, Spartans 16
Pregame rant: First road of the season won’t be an easy one for the Buckeyes in their Big Ten opener. How well sophomore quarterback Braxton Miller handles this will determine if Ohio State remains unbeaten.
Miller has seven rushing TDs, seven passing TDs, but more importantly, he’s completing 61.2 percent of his passes. Last season, he only completed 54.1 percent of his passes.
He may find it much tougher to execute against the Spartans, who have only given up two passing touchdowns. Ranked sixth in the nation in total defense, Michigan State is giving up just 3.94 yards a play.
Post-game commentary: Michigan State intercepted Miller once, forced two more turnovers, but didn’t corral the Ohio State quarterback when it mattered.
Miller rushed for a game-high 136 yards, threw a 63-yard touchdown pass to give Ohio State a 17-13 lead late in third, but more importantly, picked up a big first down to help the Buckeyes close out the game.
Let us recap Week 1, shall we?
Game of the week: No. 24 Boise State Broncos at No. 13 Michigan State Spartans
Final score: Spartans 17, Broncos 13.
Pregame rant: Since stunning Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, the Broncos have been giant killers. They’ve recently had signature victories against Texas Christian (2010 Fiesta Bowl), Virginia Tech (2010 opener) and Georgia (2011 opener).
What do all four of those wins have in common? They were on a neutral field. With quarterback Kellen Moore now gone, can’t wait to see how Boise State does in East Lansing against the Spartans, who were 7-0 at home last season.
Post-game commentary: This game shows just how important a quarterback is to a mid-major. Last season, Moore wins that game for the Broncos. Junior Joe Southwick was just 15-of-31 for 169 yards, no touchdowns and an interception.
Penn State senior quarterback Matt McGloin answered questions from the media following a 24-14 loss to Ohio in the 2012 season opener for the Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium.
First-year head coach Bill O’Brien fielded questions from the media after the Nittany Lions lost their 2012 season opener, 24-14, to Ohio at Beaver Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Replacing the late Joe Paterno, O’Brien constantly blamed himself for not doing a good enough job.
Erie Times-News sports reporter Duane Rankin takes you right up to the moment Penn State entered Beaver Stadium with its first-year coach Bill O’Brien for the 2012 season opener.
Check out ESPN reporter Mark Schwartz filming it. Penn State wound up losing to Ohio, 24-14, Saturday afternoon.
