SB Nation Pittsburgh: All Posts by Evan Dunlaphttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48827/pitt-fv.png2012-01-27T13:56:57-05:00https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/authors/evan-dunlap/rss2012-01-27T13:56:57-05:002012-01-27T13:56:57-05:002012 Senior Bowl: Game Preview And History
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<p>The 2012 Senior Bowl kicks off Saturday, Jan. 28 at 3:00 PM, which affords SB Nation Pittsburgh an opportunity to look at the game's history, as well as highlight some key stories. Three <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/penn-st-nittany-lions">Penn St. Nittany Lions</a> players are set to take the field Saturday, so there's plenty of incentive to pay attention.</p>
<p>The first Senior Bowl took place in 1950, with the goal of allowing the nation's top seniors strut their stuff prior to the NFL Draft. For all but three seasons, teams have been split along geographical lines: North and South. An early-1990s experiment for naming teams after the NFL's divisions was abandoned after three tries.</p>
<p>In 2012, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a> will coach the North squad, with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/washington-redskins">Washington Redskins</a> set to coach the South. That means former Penn State players <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/51506/jack-crawford">Jack Crawford</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/51487/d-anton-lynn">D'Anton Lynn</a>, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/7355/johnnie-troutman">Johnnie Troutman</a> will work with the Vikings' coaching staff, including head coach Leslie Frazier.</p>
<p>Penn State players have fared better than most throughout the Senior Bowl's history, having won three MVP awards, all in the last 21 years. Blair Thomas was the first back in 1990. More recently, <span>Larry Johnson</span> took home MVP honors in 2003, while <span>Tony Hunt</span> earned the award in 2007.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-steelers/2012/1/27/2752812/senior-bowl-2012-preview-historyEvan Dunlap2012-01-26T15:46:15-05:002012-01-26T15:46:15-05:00Phil Knight Rips Penn State At Joe Paterno Memorial Service
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<p>Speaking at a memorial service for Joe Paterno on Thursday, Nike chairman and co-founder Phil Knight earned thunderous applause and a standing ovation from the assembled crowd for remarks he made about the recently departed <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/penn-st-nittany-lions">Penn State</a> coach and about the university itself.</p>
<p>"If there is a villain in this tragedy," Knight said regarding Penn State's in-season firing of Paterno in the wake of sexual assault allegations against longtime Penn State assistant Jerry Sandusky, "it lies in that investigation. Not in Joe Paterno's response." Knight said Paterno did the right thing by informing his superiors of allegations against Sandusky, though some people have argued Paterno ought to have informed the police as well.</p>
<p>Knight paused for applause, and then said, "Who is the real trustee at Penn State University?"</p>
<p><em>For more on the Nittany Lions, please visit <a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/" target="blank">Black Shoe Diaries</a>, SB Nation's blog for Penn State sports. For more coverage of Paterno's passing, please visit <a href="http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2011/12/11/2628278/joe-paterno-has-treatable-form-of-lung-cancer">this StoryStream</a> on SB Nation Pittsburgh. For more coverage of college pigskin, please visit SB Nation's <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football" target="blank">NCAA football hub</a>.</em></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2012/1/26/2741936/phil-knight-joe-paterno-memorial-service-penn-state-speechEvan Dunlap2012-01-26T14:13:44-05:002012-01-26T14:13:44-05:00Watch Joe Paterno Memorial Service Live
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<p>Joe Paterno, who served on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/penn-st-nittany-lions">Penn State Nittany Lions</a> coaching staff for 62 years, passed away Sunday at age 85 due to lung cancer. Thursday, Penn State hosts a memorial service for its legendary coach, which one can watch live streaming below:</p>
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<p>Paterno's tenure at State College includes 409 victories--the most ever for an FBS coach--and two national championships. His passing comes two months after his dismissal in the wake of the sexual assault scandal involving longtime assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.</p>
<p>Paterno's family laid him to rest Wednesday in a private ceremony. Thursday's memorial service is the last public event to honor Paterno.</p>
<p><em>For more on the Nittany Lions, please visit <a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/" target="blank">Black Shoe Diaries</a>, SB Nation's blog for Penn State sports. For more coverage of Paterno's passing, please visit <a href="http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2011/12/11/2628278/joe-paterno-has-treatable-form-of-lung-cancer">this StoryStream</a> on SB Nation Pittsburgh. For more coverage of college pigskin, please visit SB Nation's <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football" target="blank">NCAA football hub</a>.</em></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2012/1/26/2739671/watch-joe-paterno-memorial-service-funeral-liveEvan Dunlap2012-01-25T14:06:15-05:002012-01-25T14:06:15-05:00Community Support Following Joe Paterno's Death Has 'Really Helped Sustain Us,' Says Jay Paterno
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<p>The support the Paterno family has received since the passing of patriarch and legendary <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/penn-st-nittany-lions" class="sbn-auto-link">Penn St. Nittany Lions</a> coach Joe Paterno on Sunday evening "has been beyond what any of us even imagined," Paterno's son Jay told Tom Rinaldi of ESPN in a SportsCenter interview. "The students, the people in town, the letters and cards, the phone calls from all kinds of people, it's just been... it's really helped sustain us." The full video is below:</p>
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<p><b>More: <a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2012/1/25/2731671/black-shoe-diaries-podcast-joe-paterno-funeral?utm_source=article&utm_medium=position2&utm_campaign=relatedlinks"><i>Goodbye Joe</i></a></b></p>
<p>Paterno passed away at 85 after battling lung cancer. He holds the FBS record for career victories, with 409, and won national championships in 1982 and 1986. He served on Penn State's coaching staff fpr 62 years, beginning in 1950, and took over as head coach in 1966.</p>
<p>The Paterno family laid Joe to rest in a private ceremony Wednesday. A public memorial service will be held Thursday at 2:00 PM at Bryce Jordan Center.</p>
<p><em>For more on the Nittany Lions, please visit <a target="blank" href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/">Black Shoe Diaries</a>, SB Nation's Penn State blog.</em></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2012/1/25/2732778/joe-paterno-death-penn-state-support-jay-paternoEvan Dunlap2012-01-23T16:12:01-05:002012-01-23T16:12:01-05:00Senior Bowl 2012 Rosters: Three Penn State Players On North Roster
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<p>Bronko Nagurski finalist Devon Still won't play in the Senior Bowl, but three of his Penn State teammates will.</p> <p>Even though defensive tackle <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37478/devon-still">Devon Still</a> won't play in the 2012 Senior Bowl, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/penn-st-nittany-lions">Penn St. Nittany Lions</a> will have plenty of representation on the North team: the 2012 Senior Bowl North roster includes Nittany Lions defensive lineman <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/51506/jack-crawford">Jack Crawford</a>, defensive back <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/51487/d-anton-lynn">D'Anton Lynn</a>, and offensive lineman <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/7355/johnnie-troutman">Johnnie Troutman</a>. </p>
<p>Click here for the full <a href="http://www.seniorbowl.com/northroster.asp" target="blank">2012 Senior Bowl North roster</a>, and here for the <a href="http://www.seniorbowl.com/southroster.asp" target="blank">2012 Senior Bowl South roster</a>.</p>
<p>Crawford made 40 tackles (18 solo) for PSU in 2011, as well as 7.5 for loss. Lynn started 11 of his 12 games, finishing with 49 tackles (17 solo) and one for loss.</p>
<p>The Senior Bowl affords its players a final chance to show their stuff prior to the 2012 NFL Draft. Kickoff for the exhibition of North vs. South is set for Saturday at 3 p.m. The Minnesota Vikings' coaches will lead the North, while the Washington Redskins' will take over the South. The North boasts a trio of talented quartersbacks, with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15358/kellen-moore">Kellen Moore</a> of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/boise-st-broncos">Boise St. Broncos</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/5341/russell-wilson">Russell Wilson</a> of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/wisconsin-badgers">Wisconsin Badgers</a>, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/6903/kirk-cousins">Kirk Cousins</a> of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/michigan-st-spartans">Michigan St. Spartans</a> set to play.</p>
<p><em>For more on Penn State, please visit <a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/" target="blank">Black Shoe Diaries</a>, SB Nation's Penn State blog.</em></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2012/1/23/2728192/senior-bowl-2012-rosters-penn-state-college-footballEvan Dunlap2012-01-23T14:23:54-05:002012-01-23T14:23:54-05:00Joe Paterno Funeral To Take Place Wednesday; Three Public Memorials Planned
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<p>The family of Joe Paterno has scheduled three public memorial events for the legendary <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/penn-st-nittany-lions">Penn St. Nittany Lions</a> coach and will lay him to rest in a private funeral service Wednesday at 2:00 PM, <a href="http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/01/joe_paternos_family_announces.html" target="blank">according</a> to the Associated Press. After a battle with lung cancer, Paterno passed away Sunday at age 85 as the winningest coach in FBS history, with 409 victories.</p>
<p>Penn State's Pasquerilla Spiritual Center will be open from 1:00-10:00 PM on Tuesday for the first public viewing of Paterno. The family has scheduled the next viewing for Wednesday from 8 AM-noon Eastern, also at Pasquerilla Spritual Center.</p>
<p>The final public event for Paterno is a memorial service scheduled for Thursday at 2:00 PM at Bryce Jordan Center, also on the Penn State campus.</p>
<p>In a Sunday conversation with former Penn State linebacker LaVar Arrington, SB Nation contributor Bomani Jones grappled with questions about <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2012/1/22/2726064/joe-paterno-dies-legacy-penn-state-lavar-arrington" target="blank">Joe Paterno's legacy</a>.</p>
<p><i>For more on Penn State, please visit <a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/" target="blank">Black Shoe Diaries</a>, SB Nation's Penn State blog.</i></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2012/1/23/2727920/joe-paterno-funeral-scheduleEvan Dunlap2012-01-19T14:57:07-05:002012-01-19T14:57:07-05:00Penn State Scandal: Jerry Sandusky Investigated By Three Other Grand Juries Prior To Indictment, According To Report
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<p>The grand jury investigation that led to charges being filed against former <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/penn-st-nittany-lions">Penn St. Nittany Lions</a> assistant coach Jerry Sandusky wasn't the first one, <a href="http://www.centredaily.com/2012/01/19/3058390/psu-trustees-sandusky-investigated.html" target="blank">according</a> to the Centre Daily Times. Indeed, three other grand juries investigated Sandusky for child sex crimes, trustee Mark Dambly told the times. He said university counsel Cythia Baldwin informed the trustees of that information "during a quick briefing" in May 2011.</p>
<p>The most recent grant jury investigation led to Sandusky's being indicted on 40 counts of child sex crimes, including some committed on Penn State grounds. The scandal and the alleged cover-up led to the dismissal of president Graham Spanier and legendary football coach Joe Paterno. Though Paterno didn't commit any crimes, the University may have fired him for failing to meet his "moral obligation" to contact the police upon hearing of allegations against Sandusky.</p>
<p><em>For more on the Nittany Lions, please visit <a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/" target="blank">Black Shoe Diaries</a>, SB Nation's Penn State blog.</em></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2012/1/19/2719179/penn-state-scandal-jerry-sandusky-investigation-grand-juriesEvan Dunlap2012-01-19T12:58:39-05:002012-01-19T12:58:39-05:00Penguins Vs. Rangers: Pittsburgh's Kris Letang To Return, Arron Asham Has Concussion, According To Report
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<p><b>More:</b> <a href="http://www.pensburgh.com/2012/1/19/2718664/gameday-new-york-rangers"><b><i>Pens vs. Rangers game day match-up coverage</i></b></a></p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.pensburgh.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> received both good news and bad news Thursday morning in advance of their game against the <a href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Rangers</a>. <span>Kris Letang</span>, who has missed Pittsburgh's last 21 games due to a concussion, will be in the lineup when the Penguins take the ice Thursday evening, <a target="blank" href="https://twitter.com/#!/JoshYohe_Trib/status/160053188655988737">reports</a> Josh Yohe of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. With their top defenseman sidelined, the Pens tallied a 10-11-0 record.</p>
<p>The news concerning winger <span>Arron Asham</span> is far less positive: the "illness" with which he was intitially diagnosed was actually a concussion, <a target="blank" href="https://twitter.com/#!/JoshYohe_Trib/status/160051054308884480">says</a> Yohe. After just five minutes on the ice, Asham left Pittsburgh's win against the <a href="https://www.rawcharge.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> on Sunday.</p>
<p>In other Penguins concussion news, center Sidney Crosby is still in Atlanta, coach Dan Bylsma said Thursday, and there are no updates as to his condition, <a target="blank" href="https://twitter.com/#!/MolinariPG/status/160049280843919360">reports</a> Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Penguins, please visit <a target="blank" href="http://www.pensburgh.com/">PensBurgh</a>, SB Nation's Penguins blog. For the perspective from the other side, please visit <a target="blank" href="http://newyork.sbnation.com/">SB Nation New York</a> and <a target="blank" href="http://www.blueshirtbanter.com/">Blueshirt Banter</a>, SB Nation's Rangers blog.</i></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-penguins/2012/1/19/2718859/rangers-vs-penguins-kris-letang-arron-asham-concussionEvan Dunlap2012-01-19T12:35:40-05:002012-01-19T12:35:40-05:00Penguins Vs. Rangers: Kris Letang Returns And Evgeni Malkin Leads Pittsburgh To 4-1 Win Over New York
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<p>After missing 21 games, Kris Letang returned to lead the Penguins in ice time, but it was another great performance from Evgeni Malkin that sealed a 4-1 win over the league's best team.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-penguins/2012/1/19/2718804/rangers-vs-penguins-2012-game-preview-nhlBrendan PorathEvan DunlapJordan Ruby2012-01-18T15:43:01-05:002012-01-18T15:43:01-05:002012 NFL Mock Draft: Mel Kiper Has Pittsburgh Steelers Selecting Dontari Poe
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> select <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/memphis-tigers">Memphis Tigers</a> defensive tackle <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/75788/dontari-poe">Dontari Poe</a> with the No. 24 pick in Mel Kiper Jr.'s first <a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2012/story/_/id/7467078/mel-kiper-first-mock-draft-year?eleven=twelve" target="blank">2012 NFL mock draft</a>. The ESPN analyst praises the Steelers' defense, but says "they simply have to get younger, particularly up front," if they are serious about maintaining their excellence on that side of the ball.</p>
<p>Poe fits the bill, Kiper says, despite the fact that he is a "zero-technique player." According to Kiper, Poe can develop into "a human boulder" in Pittsburgh's defense, one able to "free up those linebackers" to make plays.</p>
<p>Poe made 33 tackles (18 solo) in his junior season at Memphis, including eight tackles for loss and one sack. In addition, he forced three fumbles and broke up a pass.</p>
<p>The age of Pittsburgh's defenders became a talking point for many NFL observers throughout the regular season, with critics deriding their lack of speed and athleticism. Nonetheless, the Steelers ranked No. 1 in points allowed and in yards allowed.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Steelers, please visit <a href="http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/" target="blank">Behind the Steel Curtain</a>, SB Nation's Steelers blog.</i></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-steelers/2012/1/18/2716778/mel-kiper-mock-draft-nfl-2012-steelers-dontari-poeEvan Dunlap