subject: Ncaa Football Tickets - What To Expect From Penn State Next Season [print this page] A legendary football legacy fell apart with a sex scandal that tarred its image. Penn State not only lost its lofty perch as one of the nation's most admired football programs, but had to deal with the firing and untimely death of longtime coach Joe Paterno. New coach Bill O'Brien is determined to maintain the status Paterno's teams achieved during the 46 years he ran Penn State football, but O'Brien's task won't be easy. The team begins the season with just a handful of experienced players. Fans holding NCAA football tickets from http://www.stubhub.com/college-football-tickets/ can watch up-close as Penn State takes on a schedule that includes some of the nation's best, though they have a lot to prove before they can return to prominence.
One sad event has cost Penn State wide receiver Devon Smith. The senior, expected to play a key role for the offense, has been dismissed from the team. There is speculation as to why Smith has been dropped, though firm details haven't yet been available. Penn State recruiters have worked hard in recent months to find players who can possibly have an immediate impact. That kind of search can turn up some good prospects, but will the incoming players be able to quickly absorb how much is expected of them? Will the mental aspects overwhelm their thinking processes? And are they physically able to compete at such a high level? Answers start coming on Sept. 1, when Beaver Stadium hosts Ohio in a matchup that will kick-start their season. For Nittany Lions fans and players, that game can't arrive too soon.
Penn State also has just one returning offensive lineman from last year's squad. Any critical football fan knows the importance of having a strong offensive line. The school's recruiters have gone far and wide to try and ease that problem. Brendan Mahon, a very physical 6'5", 300 pound offensive guard, has signed with Penn State, which should give them a boost. Scouts say Mahon has the strength to match up with more experienced players. Offensive line coach Mac McWhorter loves the recruit's enthusiasm, which football fans all know is a talent that can never be taught.
Another lineman set to attend Penn State is four-star recruit Dorian Johnson. He wants to be part of the Nittany Lion experience, and chose Penn State over Ohio State and Pittsburgh. Johnson is 6'6" and plays his position with a certain nasty attitude. How he adapts to the college game could have a positive impact on Penn State's football future.
Christian Hackenberg is another touted high school player committed to Penn State, beginning the 2013 season. A quarterback, Hackenberg has been impressive during his trips to various football camps and has made a name for himself in football circles. Even an NFL pro, quarterback Trent Dilfer, sees Hackenberg as a player capable of leading his team to success. At 6'3" and 205 pounds, Hackenberg has the arm strength needed to put the ball anywhere a receiver might find a hole.
But no matter who the Lions have playing on their team in the next few years, they will have a lot to prove to the rest of the country before they're considered an elite football program. It may be all uphill from here, but a strong program like Penn State shouldn't be held down long no matter the challenges ahead.
