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: 6 p.m.
**Penn State extends an offer today to 2022 4-star DE Keahnist Thompson from Lakeland, Florida. Thompson (6’4”, 230) has a big offer list from programs like Florida, Miami, Alabama, Central Florida, Auburn, Florida State, Ole Miss, Pitt, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC and West Virginia.
Blessed to receive an offer from Penn State‼️ @PennStateFball @CoachCBW @CoachPick53 @LHSDreadnaughts pic.twitter.com/FzTm4a6Jeh
— Keahnist Thompson (@keahnist) October 8, 2020
Update: 4 p.m.
OPINION: Our @evan7patrick believes it's the right decision to not allow the general public into @PennStateFball games this season https://t.co/9rj1fEIedr
— Collegian Football (@psufootblog) October 8, 2020
-Which first-year starter makes the biggest impact?
-Is Wk 2 good or bad timing for *that* game?
-The team leader in interceptions is….? Sacks?https://t.co/xkbwiHvz2n— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) October 8, 2020
Update: 2:20 p.m.
Take a look at YGM!! 👀💪
➡️: Yetur Gross-Matos (@__lobo99)#MadeInHappyValley#WeAre pic.twitter.com/gsLlhbOfjl
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) October 8, 2020
A True Inspiration.
Adam Taliaferro (@Tali43) continues his legacy on the latest edition of the Unrivaled Podcast.
A Must-Listen ⬇️
🔊 Apple: https://t.co/58udBj5SAA
🔊 Spotify: https://t.co/T2cirK0aCB#WeAre pic.twitter.com/lZVz8mWdAd— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) October 8, 2020
Update: 12:30 p.m.
**Bill O’Brien was fired by the Houston Texans, and word has come out that he recently got into an argument with J.J. Watt and his own defensive coordinator at practice.
In this interesting piece, O’Brien comes across as somewhat of a tyrant and control freak who wanted everything done his way, and the players weren’t happy about it.
From the story:
“I am so excited just to go to practice tomorrow just to see how everyone’s attitude is,” the player said Tuesday, the players’ day off. “It feels like there wasn’t room for player leadership before, because everyone’s voice was so suppressed. No one wanted to put themselves in the spotlight, because it felt like you would be subject to criticism for doing so. Now it feels like the door is open for guys to be themselves more and to have more fun. … Before, it felt like if you were having too much fun, you weren’t doing your job.”
Update: 10:40 a.m.
**On this date 15 years ago, Penn State picked up one of its most important wins of this century.
Coming off the “dark years” in 2003 and ’04, the Lions rebounded in 2005 with a 5-0 start. But many thought a visit by the No. 6 Buckeyes would bring the Lions back down to earth, and that didn’t happen.
With a student section whiteout and an electric atmosphere at Beaver Stadium, Penn State beat Ohio State, 17-10, on its way to an 11-1 season and No. 3 national ranking.
For many PSU fans of this generation, the 2005 win over Ohio State ranks as their all-time favorite, as I point out in this story.
Does it feel like 1⃣5⃣ years, @TambaHali91?#OTD in 2005, the DE's strip-sack on Troy Smith sealed @PennStateFball's win over No. 6 Ohio State. pic.twitter.com/nK4HS5nReB
— Penn State On BTN (@PennStateOnBTN) October 8, 2020
Update: 9 a.m.
**Cory Giger joined Greg Sharpe on Huskers Sports Nightly to talk Penn State late Wednesday night. He discussed the receivers, running backs, Micah Parsons’ departure, how good the defense will be and having to play Ohio State early on.
Click here to listen to the interview. Cory’s segment begins at the 1:28:30 mark.
**Here’s a fantastic read to help start your day. It’s about how Iowa was nearly kicked out of the Big Ten in 1930.
Throwback Thursday: Iowa was one of many Big Ten teams operating slush funds for athletes in 1930 but it got caught.
On hotel stationery, Big Ten officials wrote the Hawkeyes out of the league. A nasty fight ensued. Here is that story.https://t.co/rIbSoXtVPe
— Scott Dochterman (@ScottDochterman) October 8, 2020
**Ugh. That’s pretty much all Pirates fans can say about this one:
As Charlie Morton is shutting down Yankees in playoffs, this is your annual reminder that Pirates traded Morton for minor league pitcher David Whitehead.
Whitehead went 2-6 with a 7.83 ERA for AA @AltoonaCurve in 2016 and was out of baseball two months later.— Cory Giger (@CoryGiger) October 8, 2020
