Oct 27, 2012; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Mike Hull (43) sacks Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Braxton Miller (5) during the second quarter at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Hull

Yeah, this one is a given. Mike is arguably Penn State’s best player, and he certainly plays at the thinnest position on the depth chart. With Mauti and Hodges gone to graduation, he has taken on much more of a leadership role with the defense as well. Perhaps most importantly from a football standpoint, however, is his ability to play against both the run and the pass. Ted Roof’s decision to begin inserting Hull on a situational basis last season, prior to Mauti’s knee injury, is perhaps the biggest reason PSU’s defense took off last season after some early struggles, especially on 3rd down.

• Penn State (-4) vs. Syracuse – In short: STAY. AWAY. I like PSU’s chances in this one, but with both teams breaking in new quarterbacks, and the Orange featuring a new head coach as well, there are just too many unknowns for me, especially over 100 days before the game.
• Florida State (-6.5) at Pitt – If you follow me on Twitter (and you really should), you already know my thoughts on this one:
  

  //bets mortgage on Florida State -6.5 over Pitt

  — Matt d (@PSUMatt2005) May 20, 2013

  In short, I don’t see any possible way Pitt keeps this close. Florida State just has more talent at every conceivable spot.

• UMass at Wisconson (-45) – I think I like the Minutemen in this one.  Sure, Wisconsin is a vastly superior team, but 45 points is a lot, and the Badgers don’t exactly have a dynamic offense, even if new coach Gary Andersen is a miracle worker on the offensive side of the ball.
• Alabama (-15.5) vs. Virginia Tech – Can anyone give me a reason to think VT has any chance of covering the 15.5 points here?  An Alabama team with many of the same parts, especially at key spots, systematically picked apart Notre Dame, who is much better than the Hokies, with weeks to prepare.  What is Saban going to do with an entire summer, and presumably some slight weakness to harp on to his team for all that time?
• Georgia vs. Clemson (-1) – Give me just a minute to stop drooling over this one…..OK.  Seriously, how great of a match up is this, and in week 1, no less.  Add in the Death Valley (the Clemson one) crowd under the lights, and you’ve got the recipe for a fantastic college football game.  As for who I like? I have no idea.  Clemson has the home crowd, but using Vegas’ 3 points for home field, they think Georgia is 2 points better.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State and suspect betting advice.

• Jabrill Peppers, arguably the top player in the country, may or may not have been on campus Saturday.  He told Darren Cooper of NorthJersey.com that he would be heading to State College after a morning track meet, but there were conflicting reports whether he made it or not.  In that same article, he explained he loved his first visit to PSU in February, and wants to take a closer look.  Michigan is widely considered a strong favorite, which Peppers alluded to, but he wants to be as sure as he can before his announcement on Sunday evening, which will air on ESPNU.
• While a commitment from Peppers would be a huge coup for Bill O’Brien, he has several talented options already holding offers should the expected happen.  The biggest name would be Dravon Henry out of Aliquippa.  PSU has held a spot in his top 4 all spring, probably trailing only Pitt.  However, he still has no time frame, and there has been some talk that his friend, and fellow Aliquippa native Rushel Shell formerly of Pitt, and now of UCLA, has been in his ear about the Bruins, who recently offered.  PSU has been pursuing Henry hard for awhile, but it’s hard to say where they really stand.
• The other DB name might actually be a little better known amongst football fans.  That would be Maryland native Troy Vincent, Jr.  He is the son of THAT Troy Vincent, of course.  It’s widely assumed he is a heavy Penn State lean, and could commit at any moment.
• Another name that may be nearing a conclusion is Noah Beh, who despite predicions to the contrary, appears to be leaning heavily towards the Lions, over Boston College.  PSU doesn’t plan on taking many offensive linemen this class, perhaps just 1, and Beh is very high on the list.  Beh has long planned on a decision sometime in June after he graduates from high school, and it looks promising for Penn State.
• Not a traditional recruit, but Texas Tech DT, and McKeesport, PA native Delvon Simmons appears to be transferring out of Lubbock.  Simmons briefly signed with UNC out of high school, but never enrolled, and ended up with the Red Raiders.  After sitting out the 2013 season, he would have 2 years of eligibility remaining.  He apparently is visiting USC this weekend, but is also considering Pitt, Miami, and the Nittany Lions.  He was a concensus top 10 DT prospect out of high school, and arguably the top player out of Pennsylvania in 2011.  An interesting story to keep your eyes on.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

As you should have heard, it got pretty testy on the teleconference this week.  Ben Jones of StateCcollege.com has linked it and it’s pure gold from start to finish.   Needless to say, Evil Bill is simply fuming.  Since January 2012, the Head Football Coach has been nothing but great for Penn State.  After last July, that role expanded into a Public Relations role and was also handled with fire, grace and class.  The season came and ended with what everyone assumed was an F Bomb.  That has since been clarified that the wind caused the sound to go awry like a bad kick (I know, most kicks are bad).  There has been a debate on the “fighters” comment and what was said, so in saying that, this in-“fighting” is absurd.

Penn State has just finished the 1^st year of the sanctions and the program is doing well all things considered.  The foundation was there and graduation rates remained strong despite the toxic culture the NCAA portrayed.  Recruiting is going well and while there will could possibly be bumpy roads ahead (probably not), the football program is in very capable hands.  VBR has already taken aim at this very subject, but now it’s my turn.  The undermining of the football program and the Athletics Department is ridiculous, but allow me address some of the names that keep showing up in this pissing match:

Bill O’Brien – Head Football Coach:  Generally referred to as the greatest coach in college football (by me and anyone with a brain).  The head football coach who also moonlights as the public relations department by always being available and honest has been the face of Penn State since last January.  There is also a general respect for the chain of command, a sense of accountability and honesty which is a rarity in these times.  Not part of the pissing match, but a responder to it.

Dave Joyner:  While I understand that there is animosity towards the former Board of Trustees (BOT) member, he’s not here for long so the attempt to take him down has only made PSU look worse, which is a common theme. If the medical change by him was a personal grudge then that’s a bad look.  I have to give him some credit, as small as it may be, on the football coach hire.  Did he deserve the job?  No, but he got it and I am not sure who else was even a candidate.

Rod Erickson:  I would someday wish to be in a high stakes poker game with Erickson because I would get that guy to fold just by staring at him.  That is all I have to say about him.  He’ll be gone soon enough.

Jay Paterno:  Even mentioning a Paterno is risky.  They’re the 1st family of State College and beloved by many.  Jay consistently carries himself with class and is a great ambassador for the University.  Jay constantly tweets about all PSU sports but never tweets about football and that’s part of my beef.  The CBS article came off as quite dismissive and petty.  Jay seemed to cite that the B1G had a down year and that was bush league.  It was a bush league question from Dodd and Jay mentioned he doesn’t think its right to critique the coach, but he still got in a shot and mentioned how good Urban Meyer was, which made no sense.  Maybe I am forgetting that the 2011 Temple team that was the 1985 Bears D, but 14 points?  Spare me the “down year” stuff.  I am not sure McGloin just signed a 3 year deal thanks to a down league.  Jay also realized that message boards had accused him of being the source of the Sports Illustrated story and quickly dismissed those rumors.  There is no reason not to believe him so Godspeed Jay on whatever you plan on doing.

Anthony Lubrano:  It seems to me Lubrano is a on the BOT for all the wrong reasons.  He claims his best interest is Penn State but publicly questioning medical practices proves that to be untrue.  I understand Joe was his pal, but as a member of the board, I ask what his biggest contribution is so far other than being the most quoted BOT member in history?  To publicly comment and basically support that bogus Sports Illustrated article makes me wonder what the end goal of Lubrano is?  Remember, Lubrano was also upset that the football coach was consulted about the NCAA’s sanctions before they were handed down.  As we can all agree, the sanctions suck, but again, he’s out of line.  His role on the BOT seems more like an overzealous parent on a high school board than it does for the best interest of Penn State.  I am not naïve to not know what he wants, but slowly we’re getting to the point of cutting off the nose to spite the face. 

Wayne Sebastianelli:  A major subject in the Sports Illustrated article has been oddly quiet since the story ran.  While you cannot deny the good he has done, most notably with Adam Taliaferro, he’s still an employee of PSU.  It also is a good time to remind people that jobs in Centre County don’t last forever.  If football loses 9 games a year for 3 straight years (not on this watch) then I am pretty sure the office would be ordered to clean out.

John Ziegler:  A lightning rod for controversy it seems within the Penn State twitterverse .  There is no detail of the last 18 months or so he is not aware of, but his abrasive style has done nothing to improve the image of Penn State.  His followers attack anyone who seems to disagree with him.  He also did about the dumbest thing you could ever do, take some jabs at the football genius tweeting ESPN helped him get his job by  some bizarre logic and complaining ESPN gave a free pass after the “fighters” comment.   Regardless, this latest annoyance wasn’t his doing, but I wanted to address those cheap shots.

Other PSU coaches:  Currently, Penn State may have their best set of coaches at any time in the history of the school.  Wrestling is better than ever, Women’s Basketball is doing great, Men’s and Women’s Volleyball are always good, Hockey looks promising and I believe Chambers is up for the task of changing the perception of the Men’s Basketball program.  They don’t need this crap either.

Since that SI article has ran, Garret Learner has spoken, Taliaferro tweeted that he supports this program, but for some unknown reason, other people within are trying to sabotage this.  All that has happened is now people realize that Sports Illustrated tried to create a controversy over something that has been rebutted with statistics and additional facts.  The other thing that has happened is people are realizing that people within Penn State are screwing with the football team and it’s that perception is the reality.  People will blame the media for creating a new story, but it’s pretty plain to see this is no stretch.  I have my theories and you can probably guess based on what I have written on who the source is to Sports Illustrated.  I hope I’m wrong, but that is rarely the case.

Todd Blackledge said on twitter we can’t fully move forward until we know the truth and that is a common thought of many.  If that’s your mindset, fine go right ahead, but let’s not undermine the program in doing that.  Just understand that there is the reality of this that the truth they are seeking may never be known and also people with much more authority and legal backgrounds are working that out.  Undercutting the football program to settle a score seems like an off track way of finding this truth.    There is enough in our way and we surely don’t need this garbage.

The head football coach is a man who doesn’t suffer fools and sadly, he has plenty of fools to suffer.

Evil Bill O’Brien is not affiliated with The Pennsylvania State University or head coach Bill O’Brien

Nov 17, 2012; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Bill O

Look no further than what happened at Michigan when Lloyd Carr retired and Rich Rodriguez took over.  Yes, there were other underlying circumstances, and RichRod didn’t win, at all, but the chasm that divided the program went public, and crippled a program every bit as rich in history and tradition of Penn State.  Remember “unnamed sources” tipping the media off to the now infamous practice habits.  You do not have to work too hard to see some of the similarities.

Now, there are differences, of course.  From all indications, there is no undercover revolt against O’Brien or his staff.  No, it has instead focused on his bosses, notably AD David Joyner.  I am no fan of Joyner, nor is much of the Penn State fan base.  But, what exactly is gained by calling the man out, in a national publication, in what appears to be a glorified pissing match?  Not only that, but Coach O’Brien was dragged into this mess, somewhat indirectly, by questioning the changes he suggested to the medical care within the football program.  Changes that, as PSU has pointed out emphatically, are very much in line with what is done at other major college football programs.

I know this will come as a shock to many of you, but Joe Paterno’s way is not the only way to do things, even at Penn State.  I do not think I can state emphatically enough that PSU football was in need of a fresh set of eyes, and fresh ideas, in practically every aspect of the program, not just in offensive strategy.  And if a man like Bill O’Brien, who has worked with some of the most respected men in coaching, thinks it’s worth making a change, I’m sure as hell going to listen.

Now you have a trustee, who I imagine is more than capable of picking up the phone and getting a hold of the football coach, publicly questioning that coach.  What exactly does that accomplish, other than pissing off that coach (and giving us some of the best audio ever)?  While that is just one part of this, it feels entirely symptomatic of this political struggle going on at PSU.  And it is not good for anyone.

Remember back in December and January when Bill O’Brien was very much under consideration for a number of NFL coaching jobs?  This is a man that clearly has options, and is clearly not happy with what is going on.  He’s also a man that has done more than anyone else to bring some semblance of hope and unity to Penn State.  I doubt he expected that was what he was signing up for back in January of 2012, but it is what he got, and he has surpassed what any of us hoped for, and maybe what some of us deserve.

My plea is a simple one.  Shut up.  If you have a problem with something, bring it up with that person, behind closed doors, and away from a media all too eager to pile on.  I have no doubts the support for O’Brien, his staff, and his team is unbelievably high.  You would obviously be foolish to not feel that way.  But this public politicking amongst his bosses and decision makers needs to stop. Now.  Otherwise, we risk losing perhaps the best thing Penn State has going for it.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

• Penn State will open conference play at Rutgers on September 13th.  This will be the first ever Big 10 game for the Scarlet Knights.  The 9/13 date is actually the date originally scheduled for the PSU-Rutgers non-conference match.  Rather than starting from scratch, the game was just converted to a Big 10 date.  PSU will return to non-conference play the following week vs. UMass at home.
• The Lions get their first look at old eastern rival/new divisional rival Maryland in Beaver Stadium on November 1st.  This will be the first time the two schools have met since 1993, when PSU hammered the Terps in College Park 70-7.
• Ohio State returns to Beaver Stadium on October 25th.  I’ll just get this out of the way now: It will be a night game, and you will be wearing white.
• PSU returns to Michigan Stadium for the first time since 2009 on October 11th.  The Lions and Wolverines meet for the first time since 2010 this coming fall in Happy Valley.
• THE LAND GRANT TROPHY IS BACK! PSU and Michigan State will renew the battle for this in the regular season finale in Beaver Stadium on November 29th.
• The Lions will also face Northwestern at home, along with trips to Indiana and Illinois.
• Expect the 2015 schedule to include these same teams, with home field flipped.  The conference is still working out specific dates for games.  The 2015 season will be the final Big 10 season with only 8 games, as the schedule expands to 9 in 2016.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

Marshall’s leadership, experience and shooting ability will definitely be missed. His 25-point performance in Penn State’s huge upset over Michigan was one of the best individual games in recent Penn State basketball history. He was expected to team up with Tim Frazier and D.J. Newbill to form one of the most formidable starting backcourts in the conference.

While Marshall’s departure is a huge blow to a team with pretty high expectations for this upcoming season, it does open up opportunities for other players. Geno Thorpe and Graham Woodward, who are two incoming freshmen guards, will certainly see increased roles on the team. Whether it’s actual playing time or contributing in other ways, these two will need to step up to help fill the void left from Marshall’s departure.

I’ve been high on Thorpe for a long time. I’ve been able to watch him play in-person twice and plan on watching him again on June 2 in a high school All-Star event that will feature some of the top high school players in the country. His on-ball defensive skills and his ability to drive and get in the paint are what make him a great player and a candidate to get significant playing time as a true freshman. He’s also not a bad shooter. It’s probably too much to think that Thorpe will become a starter this season, but who knows.

John Johnson will also help ease the loss of Marshall once he’s eligible to play. Obviously we haven’t gotten a very good look at what Johnson is capable of, but word is that he’s a great shooter and scorer. Hopefully that’s true and hopefully Johnson can become an offensive threat once he’s able to take the court. No more Marshall also frees up another scholarship. Maybe Chambers will be able to pick up a JUCO player in the super late signing period.

Once the news broke that Penn State will be without Marshall this season, my initial reaction was not a positive one by any means. But Penn State will get a huge boost with Frazier’s return (even if he’s not fully in 2011-2012 form) and Newbill will have more scoring chances without having to handle the ball all the time. Penn State basketball is familiar with the phrase “next man up” and Thorpe, Johnson and the other newcomers will have to do just that.

Follow VBR Staff Writer Eric Sion on Twitter

Jermaine and I have had several discussions recently regarding his plans for the future and he feels strongly that graduating and entering the professional world at the conclusion of the summer is in the best interest of his son and his family. We thank Jermaine for his contributions to our program and wish him the best of luck.

As Chambers alluded, Jermaine has a young son, and surely the opportunity to pursue a professional career and provide for his family has played a significant part in his decision. Our good friend Ben Jones reiterated as much during a conference call with Chambers, Marshall, and the media.

As for where this leaves Penn State, a team that was expecting to feature arguably the top backcourt in the Big 10 with Marshall and D.J. Newbill joining All Big 10 point guard Tim Frazier, is suddenly left with a gaping hole, and 16+ points a night to fill.  This likely will mean incoming freshman Geno Thorpe, along with classmates Graham Woodward and Peyton Banks, will take on a larger role than anticipated.  For a team with a lot of internal optimism and tournament dreams, this is obviously a huge blow. The return of Frazier will help alleviate some concerns, but what appeared to dynamic backcourt is now short one.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

Last month, we gave away a $300 worth of Sports Memorabilia…This month, FanSided and Victory Bell Rings have teamed up with Deals2Buy.com to give away a LG Electronics 42-Inch LED TV!!!

This LG Electronics 42-Inch LED TV is provided by Deals2Buy, a leading website for deals, discounts and close-out inventory offers. Focused on delivering best-of-web pricing, Deals2Buy is known among tech-savvy consumers as the one stop shop for deals on items like laptops, cameras, televisions and other technology products – as well as apparel, accessories, travel, and even credit card offers. Sign up for the Deals2Buy Hot Deal Alerts newsletter and follow them on Twitter and Facebook to stay in the know about the hottest deals every day!

To enter, simply like us on Facebook and sign up for our daily email newsletter, FanSided Daily. It is completely free and customizable to your unique rooting interest. Then earn additional entries by sharing the contest with friends!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C., 18 years and older, who are the owners of the property depicted in the photo. Begins: 9:00 a.m. C.T. on 5/15/13. Ends: 11:59 p.m. C.T. on 6/15/13. Subject to Official Rules at www.fansided.com. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: FanSided. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with, Facebook.

I will refrain on commenting on the actual story until we can get our eyes on the content.  What really baffles me is this continued infatuation with Penn State, and flip-flopping that would impress a politician.  After “it” blew up in November of 2011, Joe Paterno appeared below the headline “The Failure and Shame of Penn State”.  Following the EmmertBomb (trademark pending), they got really clever with “We Were Penn State”.  This is where it starts to get really fun, though.  Just three and a half months later, roughly on the anniversary of “it”, miraculously “We Are Still Penn State”.  Quite the turnaround, eh?  And now, we may be a cult again, from what I gather.

I get that Penn State sells.  It’s still a polarizing topic that draws in everyone from the die hard college sports fan, to the person that can’t tell you who won last season’s national championship.  Nittany Lions fans are also numerous, passionate, and dare I say, going to buy, click and read this story in huge numbers.  It makes cents (Haha. I’m so clever).

This is the type of journalism that has made following so many writers and outlets borderline impossible.  It’s lazy, and quite frankly, one of the reasons the narrative surrounding “it” has taken the path it has.  Regardless of what substance is in the story (or isn’t), our 140 character at a time society is gong to grasp onto this headline of sports taking on too much importance at PSU, just 18 months after they were told Penn State fans are really just a bunch of zombies that put the legend and reputation of a man and program above literally everything. While in between, both publicly proclaiming the end of Penn State as we know it, and then heralding it’s comeback some 100 days later.

I may have egg on my face once the substance of the story comes out, however early indications from Bob Flounders after speaking to Jeff Nelson are that PSU is aware of the story, and (shockingly!) prepared to comment on it.  Let’s hope that is the case, and that the public and media is prepared to listen to what they have to say.  It would be a welcome change.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

The 2014 class already consists of three 4-star prospects, and six 3-stars.  It includes the top 2 players out of Delaware, a top 5 player in Maryland, several players in the top 25 of their positions nationally.  The Lions are also very much in the picture for some of the top high school players in the country, including Jabrill Peppers, the top DB, and arguably top overall prospect in the land.  Not bad for a program that may not even exist in a year or two because of transfers and a lack of recruiting.

It would seem to reason that the closer PSU gets to the end of the sanctions, which begin to expire following the 2015 season, more top players will give the Lions a more serious look.  If the few months of recruiting prior to the sanctions is any indication, O’Brien will not have much of a problem closing with a few of them.  And if I had to guess, there’s an office in Indianapolis that won’t be too happy about that.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

Michael O’Connor from the IMG Academy in Florida has held an offer from PSU since early April, and was told at that point he was Penn State’s choice at quarterback.  He is expected to make a decision in the next month or two, with the Lions very much in the picture, along with Michigan State and Vanderbilt.  So is this recent offer to Cosentino a sign O’Connor may in fact be looking elsewhere?  Or is it, as Ryan Snyder of BWI theorized on Twitter over the weekend, a move to put pressure on O’Connor to make a decision.

Under Joe Paterno, PSU would almost notoriously put all their eggs in one basket at QB (remember that Chad Henne guy?).  That worked out great if you got your target.  But if you didn’t, then you were left scrambling.  When Jake Waters opted for Kansas State last December, which was apparently a mild surprise to the PSU staff, they already had their backup plan in place, with Tyler Ferguson coming on board almost within hours, it seemed.

As connected as Ryan is in the recruiting world, I wouldn’t bet against this Cosentino offer being a strategical decision related to O’Connor, but it’s also not a bad “Plan B” if needed.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

BREAKING: Warren, Mich. LB Jared Wangler has committed to #PennState rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/…

— Ryan Snyder (@BWISnyder) May 10, 2013

Jared picked up his offer from Penn State during a visit to campus back in early April, and was back in Happy Valley today when he gave Bill O’Brien his verbal commitment. At the time, PSU was the first major conference program to offer among a number of MAC schools. However, Michigan State offered the (somewhat) local prospect last week.

247 gives Wangler 3 stars, and the 14th best player in the state of Michigan. They also have him ranked as a safety, but PSU projects the 6’1″, 218 lb. Wangler as a linebacker.

Jared joins Delaware’s Troy Reeder as the 2nd linebacker in the class. Barring an unforeseen change, those two will complete the 2014 linebacker class. After the recent run on skill, it’s good to see PSU address the depth at linebacker, especially in light of the uncertainty around 2013 recruit Zayd Issah following his legal issues.

Here’s Jared’s film:

Welcome to Penn State, Jared!

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

BREAKING: Upper Marlboro, Md. safety Marcus Allen has committed to #PennState

— Ryan Snyder (@BWISnyder) May 10, 2013

Marcus becomes the 2nd Maryland commitment in the Class of 2014, joining, believe it or not, Mark Allen from Hyattsville.

The folks at 247 give Marcus 4 stars, and rank him as the 5th prospect in Maryland this year, and the 23rd best safety nationally.  Maryland and Pitt were seen as his favorites, along with Penn State.  All told, he held over 20 offers, including from Clemson, Michigan State, Nebraska, Rutgers, Stanford, and Wisconsin.

He becomes PSU’s 2nd straight secondary commit, joining Daquan Worley, who committed last week to Penn State.  They are joined by Delaware LB Troy Reeder as the 3 defensive prospects in this class.  It seems pretty clear that despite taking 4 defensive backs in last year’s class, O’Brien and the staff remain focused on the defensive secondary.

As for the type of player PSU is getting, we will let you judge for yourself in his junior year highlights:

Welcome to Penn State, Marcus!

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

Jabrill visited Penn State back in February with two teammates from Paramus Catholic. At the time, he indicated that he would definitely be returning to PSU, but he had also not said much about the Nittany Lions since that visit a few months back.  Now that he has cut his list down to a top 4, expect him to be on campus in the coming weeks, as he is hoping to make his decision early this summer in an effort to focus on his senior season.

It goes without saying that adding one of the top players in the class of 2014 would be quite the coup for PSU.  It’s hard to get much of a read on just where the Lions fall on his top 4, but it has been widely speculated that Brady Hoke and Michigan are the school to beat.  But, getting a player of his talent and reputation onto campus should not be overlooked, nor should we be sleeping on O’Brien and a staff that has continued to surprise on the recruiting trail post-sanctions.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

Here are some highlights:

• Penn State will play their first Big 10 games in the new Pegula Ice Arena on January 12 and 13 of 2014 against Minnesota.  The Golden Gophers are coming off a season that saw them earn the 2nd overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, only to fall to the eventual national champion Yale Bulldogs. That will be the first ever meeting between the two programs.
• Traditional power Michigan comes to Happy Valley on February 7th and 8th, in what will be the first ever meetings between the two schools.  The Lions return the favor at one of the great college rinks, Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, two weeks later.
• Ohio State makes their first ever visit to Penn State on March 14-15 (PSU visits Columbus January 31-February 1).  The Lions picked up a huge 5-4 win over the Buckeyes in Pittsburgh’s CONSOL Energy Center at the Three Rivers Holiday Classic consolation game.
• The first ever Big 10 Tournament takes place from March 20-22 in St. Paul, Minnesota at the home of the Minnesota Wild, the Xcel Energy Center.  All 6 programs will take part.

Our friends at ThankYouTerry.com have a ton more info on the schedule as well.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

Why should that be obvious, you ask?  Simple, BOB has seen Ferguson with his own eyes.  He’s coached him, and and watched him in his offense.  As talented as Hackenberg is, and as much as he’s studied the PSU offense, he hasn’t taken a single snap or thrown a single pass under the tutelage of O’Brien or Charlie Fisher.  Of course the known quantity is going to have a slight edge at this point.  What still baffles me is the insistence of some (many?) that Hackenberg has to start.  I have absolute faith that if he does, it’s because he’s the best option, and he’s 100% ready.  But I’m not exactly rushing to throw another true freshman into the fire.  He’s not Rob Bolden, and this is not the old coaching staff.  But I can count on 1 hand the number of quarterbacks in BCS conferences that have started as true freshman, and gone on to big things.

One other area BOB addressed was the transfer of Steven Bench.  He said that over the course of the 15 spring practices, not just the Blue-White Game, Ferguson had pulled slightly ahead of Bench.  It has been speculated, and confirmed by Bench’s father, that O’Brien had told Steven that Ferguson would be splitting time with Hackenberg with the first team upon his arrival, leaving little chance to compete for the starting position.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

• QB Michael O’Connor – Even before Steven Bench announced he was transferring, O’Connor had a PSU offer, and had been told he was the only guy PSU was targeting at QB . The 4 star player on 247 is one of the top pro style signal callers in the nation, and has not been shy about saying PSU is getting serious consideration.  His other favorites are Michigan State and Vanderbilt, but with the Spartans already getting a verbal commitment at QB, this may be a Big 10-SEC battle.
• OL/DL Noah Beh – Noah plays on both lines, and while he’s rated by most services as a defensive end, it is thought PSU views his as an offensive lineman.  Just last week Noah narrowed his list to two favorites, the Lions and Boston College.  While there is no set time table, he did say earlier this year that PSU was not pressuring him for a commitment, but that they did only plan to take one player on the offensive line, and couldn’t promise him anything if someone else committed first.
• DB/LB Jared Wangler – Of all the players on this list, Jared could be the most likely to commit soon.  The Warren, Michigan native has said PSU is his leader, and that he does not intend to drag things on into the summer.  Other than the Lions, Cincinnati is his only other BCS conference offer, but the home state Spartans have started to sniff around.  If I were a betting man (and I am, it’s just an expression), I’d be pretty confident Jared is a Nittany Lion.
• DB Dravon Henry – The Aliquippa native has been one of the hotter names, it seems, picking up 8 offers in just the last 2 or 3 weeks.  PSU remains towards the top of his list, along with Ohio State, Pitt, and West Virginia.  Dravon is one of the best athletes in Pennsylvania (#1 in the 247 composite rankings), and would be a huge commit for O’Brien.  Expect this one to drag on a little longer though.
• DT Thomas Holley – This is another one that will not be settled soon, but Thomas is probably one of the biggest fish left on PSU’s list.  He has visited Happy Valley twice this spring, including last month’s Blue-White Game, and it would seem that the Lions will be a factor throughout.

Follow VR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

One thing that always irked me in previous years was how the football program was really off on its own, content to fund the rest of the department.  I look at some of the most successful athletic programs across the country, and there’s a real connection between the de facto head of those departments, the head football coach, and the men and women that run the other programs on those campuses.

I grew up in Columbus (you may make your own jokes here.  I’ll wait….ok then), and there is a story that sticks with me that proves my point, I think.  The men’s hockey program had a number of prospects in town for a recruiting visit, over a football weekend.  After touring the practice rink, the players came outside, and saw a crowd of thousands lining the streets as the OSU band headed into the stadium, with raucous crowds.  One of the recruits would later say that’s when he made his mind up where he was going to school.  Seeing that much energy surrounding a football game, and the passion of Buckeye fans told him everything he needed to know.  I look at Ohio State now, and see a football coach and basketball coach that find ways to work together for the betterment of the other.  Florida had a similar atmosphere when Meyer was in Gainesville as well. I think Penn State has the beginnings of that with O’Brien and Pat Chambers’ very obvious friendship.

Now, Penn State has always used football weekends to bring in recruits for the other programs, and football recruits are often seen at home basketball games if there is one taking place on their recruiting visit.  But it also feels more genuine now.  I know this whole “One Team” marketing campaign draws more than a few laughs, but I also see these coaches working together to use the best aspects of their programs, and their individual talents, to help their colleagues.  And in the end, that is going to pay huge dividends for ALL of the Nittany Lions teams.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

The Lions and Golden Knights agreed to a 2 game series earlier this year, including a matchup on September 14th in Beaver Stadium this fall.  At the time it was assumed the 2nd meeting would take place in Orlando the following year.  Instead, it seems they are PSU’s choice for the big overseas adventure.  UCF has confrimed the talks are ongoing, but cautioned things are still far from resolved, and there are many logistical issues yet to be addressed.

As far as I’m concerned, the opponent of any game in Ireland is inconsequential.  The trip overseas is the key part, not the other team.  With that said, I hope this does not eliminate a potential game in Orlando . For one, it’s another great trip (DISNEY!), even if it is not part of a bowl game.  But perhaps more crucial to O’Brien and the football program, it’s a great recruiting tool.  We have beaten to death the importance of recruiting Florida, and a “home” game for any potential recruit should not be overlooked.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State