Nov. 23, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Saturday marked the final Beaver Stadium chapter for a group that has been paramount to Penn State football's storied history during some of its toughest times.
Nineteen senior student-athletes were honored prior to Saturday's kick during the Senior Day ceremony, giving the 107,000 fans inside the stadium an opportunity to say thank you for all they have done. The seniors have two more opportunities to suit up in the Blue and White, and the group will embrace its chance to remain together as a family for the next few weeks.
Alongside its predecessors in 2012, 2013 and 2014, the 2015 football senior class will go down as a group of individuals who deserve a special place in Penn State's illustrious history.
It's fitting that the group is a smaller in numbers. Under the circumstances, the size of the class enabled the seniors to forge a tight-knit connection with one another through some of the program's most challenging days. The 2015 seniors have seemingly been through everything, but their commitment never once wavered, and the special bond they have with one another will never be broken.
For the past three, and in some cases four years, this group's actions have spoken louder than any words. These seniors played for one another. They played for their families. They played for the players who wore the blue and white before them. They played for Penn State.
"I came here to get a college degree from one of the best schools in America," said defensive tackle Anthony Zettel. "I'm going to accomplish that. And I've always just wanted to give everything I had for this football program, not just on the football field but in the community. This opportunity is something no one will ever take away from us. It's something I will never forget. And I am forever grateful."
Where do you even begin to start when you think about what it must have been like to walk in the shoes of guys like Kyle Carter, Angelo Mangiro, Carl Nassib or Anthony Zettel. Despite the odds of competing in major college football with a roster of limited scholarships, the group's mindset never changed.
"It would have been easy to let things get to you, but that's not who we are. We had a job to do, and we did it because we love being a part of this family," Zettel said.
This group's college experience has been unique to say the least, which is why the group deserves the utmost respect from any supporter of the program or intercollegiate athletics. They worked hard for one another in the toughest of circumstances because that is the only thing they knew how to do.
The Lions will meet the Spartans at 3:30 p.m. (ESPN) on Saturday in Spartan Stadium in the final game of the regular season.
Full feature story on the senior class will be posted on GoPSUsports.com later this week.
Lions Lend a Hand to Begin Thanksgiving Week
The Nittany Lion football student-athletes have a lot to be thankful for as the calendar approaches the Thanksgiving holiday.
An opportunity to attend a world-renowned institution like Penn State and compete on the gridiron at the highest level is something the group takes very seriously. As figures in the community, the student-athletes understand the importance of giving back to the loyal supporters whenever the schedule permits.
With the academic calendar on Thanksgiving break for the week, Monday's off day was a terrific opportunity for the Nittany Lions to serve the community. Two buses filled with approximately 45 players traveled to The Village State College during the middle part of Monday to serve food, take photos, eat lunch and visit with the elderly.
"I just think it's a great opportunity for us to be with people who support us," said cornerback Grant Haley. "It's amazing to me. Some of these people are telling me that they have been coming to games since 1960. They are like, 'Your parents weren't even born.' I laughed. I think it just shows the support system we have. It's great to be here to give back to them."
The team will resume football game week duties on Tuesday.
Nassib Remains Nation's Leader in Three Categories
Despite very limited action against Michigan, senior defensive end Carl Nassib remains atop the NCAA rankings in three categories. Nassib will head into the final week of the regular season as the national leader in sacks (15.5), tackles for loss (19.5) and forced fumbles (6).
The Penn State season record holder in sacks, Nassib has averaged 1.41 sacks per game. He has at least one sack in 10 of the 11 games this season. Additionally, Nassib has averaged 2.0 tackles for loss per game.
Nassib is 2.0 sacks clear of Maryland junior defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, who is second in the nation in sacks at 13.5 on the season. Clemson defensive lineman Shaq Lawson is second nationally in tackles for loss with 19.0.
Early Look at Michigan State
Led by head coach Mark Dantonio, Michigan State (10-1, 6-1 Big Ten) is the sixth-ranked team in the Associated Press Top 25 this week. The Spartans turned in a masterful defensive performance in a road victory over No. 3 Ohio State on Saturday. Kicker Michael Geiger nailed a 41-yard field goal as time expired to knock off the Buckeyes, 17-14. The Spartan defense limited Ohio State to five first downs and 132 yards of total offense in the win.
With the victory in Columbus, Saturday's game will be a high stakes contest for the Spartans. A win this week would send Michigan State to the Big Ten Championship as the East Division champion against Iowa. Additionally, the Spartans are firmly in the mix for a berth in the College Football Playoff.
Offensively, senior quarterback Connor Cook headlines the group. Cook is averaging 282.2 passing yards per game and is tied for the Big Ten lead with 21 passing touchdowns this season. Those numbers come despite missing last week's game in Columbus with a shoulder injury. Cook has thrown for 2,482 yards this season. Wide out Aaron Burbridge is the Big Ten's top receiver with 69 receptions for 1,083 yards and six touchdowns this season.
Defensively, Michigan State is ranked No. 26 in the nation in total defense. Linebacker Riley Bullough and defensive end Shilique Calhoun lead the defense. Bullough has made 83 tackles in 2015, while Calhoun is 18th in sacks with 8.5 on the season. The Spartans are No. 15 in rushing defense (117.8 ypg). The Spartans are No. 5 in turnover margin (plus-1.00) and No. 5 in fewest turnovers lost (10 on the season).
Penn State and Michigan will meet for the 30th time on Saturday. The Nittany Lions are 14-14-1 all-time against the Spartans and 5-8 in games at Michigan State. Saturday marks Penn State's first visit to Spartan Stadium since a 42-14 victory in 2009.