Welcome to our daily Nittany Notebook. This post will be updated frequently throughout the day with news, notes and sometimes entertaining info. So be sure to check back often to stay on top of everything that’s going on with Penn State football and athletics, plus other sports of interest in central PA.
Update: 12:45 p.m.
**Some choices here for under-the-radar players this season.
#PennState football has several players flying under the radar who could contribute for the Nittany Lions in a big way in 2020: https://t.co/tkjdZODtgd
— Victory Bell Rings (@VictoryBellRing) October 13, 2020
**And don’t forget about social distancing, no matter where you watch games this season.
ICYMI: President Barron is urging the Penn State community to continue social distancing on football weekends. https://t.co/3W5MAs2le7
— Onward State (@OnwardState) October 13, 2020
Update: 9:35 a.m.
**The NCAA is on the verge of adopting groundbreaking new legislation concerning student-athletes transferring, according to Sports Illustrated.
The new rule, which will go into effect in August of 2021, will allow college athletes an opportunity to transfer one time during their career without the penalty of having to sit out of sports for a year.
For decades, the NCAA has mandated that athletes who transfer within the same division would have to sit out a year, thereby serving as a deterrent for players to switch schools.
But without that deterrent going forward, we likely will start seeing a huge number of athletes — particularly in football and basketball — transfer each year if they are unhappy with their role on a team.
Here’s the Sports Illustrated story:
Athletes will be granted a penalty-free, 1-time transfer starting in 2021, per proposal sent to DI Council & obtained by @SINow. It’s expected to pass in January.
FB/BSK players must notify school of transfer by May 1 each year.
From @ByPatForde & me – https://t.co/cDj6ADiTCY
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) October 13, 2020
Update: 9 a.m.
**This is just cool. Former Pirates reliever Mark Melancon casually catching a home run ball while warming up in the bullpen.
Mark Melancon casually caught Ozzie Albie’s home run ball and then came in to close out the game.
We’ll never do anything this cool.
🎥: @Jomboy_ pic.twitter.com/wn4utcObQM
— The Athletic MLB (@TheAthleticMLB) October 13, 2020
**Some good reads to start off your morning:
Sean Clifford will need to be Penn State’s driving force this year; here is how he’s approaching the 2020 season https://t.co/J16z5Bj5wV
— Greg Pickel (@GregPickel) October 13, 2020
Penn State’s offense, installed via Zoom during the extended offseason, still has the chops to be a championship contender this season.
Here’s why, as the countdown to Oct. 24 continues:https://t.co/uGLbTXMMUa
— Mark Wogenrich (@MarkWogenrich) October 13, 2020