SB Nation Pittsburgh - Penn State falls to Nebraska despite 20-6 halftime leadhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48827/pitt-fv.png2012-11-11T10:01:04-05:00http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/rss/stream/33870132012-11-11T10:01:04-05:002012-11-11T10:01:04-05:00Do refs have a bias against Penn State?
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<figcaption>Eric Francis</figcaption>
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<p>A controversial call was a big reason Penn State lost to Nebraska on Saturday, and the SB Nation blog Black Shoe Diaries is trying to figure out how the call was made. </p> <p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/penn-st-nittany-lions" class="sbn-auto-link">Penn St. Nittany Lions</a> lost to the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/nebraska-cornhuskers" class="sbn-auto-link">Nebraska Cornhuskers</a>, 32-23, Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The loss was highlighted by a controversial fumble call that went against Penn State midway through the fourth quarter.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/11/10/3628900/penn-state-nebraska-fumble-touchdown">The play</a>, or apparent non-touchdown, cost the Nittany Lions a possible 30-27 lead, and has been the focus of the SB Nation blog <a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2012/11/10/3628862/screwed-nebraska-32-penn-state-23">Black Shoe Diaries</a>.</p>
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<p>The reason the NCAA has instituted replay reviews, and why the NFL has joined them in that regard, is to ensure that horrendously bad calls like that don't prevent teams from winning, so that the balance of the game doesn't rest in the whims of the referees. I won't blame the officials on the field for getting the call on <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/159742/matt-lehman" class="sbn-auto-link">Matt Lehman's</a> touchdown catch wrong. It was a bang-bang play, one that easily could've gone either way, and live on TV, it looked like a fumble, too.</p>
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<p>The Cornhuskers cemented their victory with a safety on Penn State quartberack <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/51488/matthew-mcgloin" class="sbn-auto-link">Matthew McGloin</a>, who was called for a penalty in his own end zone on the next possession, and a 32-yard field goal with 23 second remaining, which capped the scoring.</p>
<p>However, the last few scores of the game didn't matter. After the fumble call, the Nittany Lions fan base was already scorned and ready to point fingers.</p>
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<p>The only possible explanation, then, is that the replay official was clouded by bias. Maybe he grew up a Nebraska fan. Maybe Tom Osborne slipped him a couple hundred bucks before the game. Maybe, like so many indignant reporters around this time a year ago, he wanted to show the world just how much he hates child abuse, and decided to take it out on Penn State.</p>
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<p>(<a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2012/11/10/3628862/screwed-nebraska-32-penn-state-23">Read the full reaction here</a>.)</p>
<p>Next week, Penn State hosts the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/indiana-hoosiers" class="sbn-auto-link">Indiana Hoosiers</a> at Beaver Stadium (Noon ET on Big Ten Network).</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2012/11/11/3630550/nebraska-penn-state-2012-blog-reactionJared E. Smith2012-11-10T19:34:47-05:002012-11-10T19:34:47-05:00Penn State blows lead in 32-23 loss to Nebraska
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<figcaption>Eric Francis</figcaption>
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<p>Penn State couldn't hold a 20-6 halftime lead as Nebraska scored 26 second-half points</p> <p>The Cornhusker rushing attack proved too much for Penn State in the second half, as Nebraska completes a second-half comeback to defeat the Nittany Lions, 32-23.</p>
<p>After a fourth-quarter touchdown put the Cornhuskers in front, a sack of PSU quarterback <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/51488/matthew-mcgloin" class="sbn-auto-link">Matthew McGloin</a> in the end zone for a safety sealed the deal for the No. 16 team in the country.</p>
<p>The Cornhuskers carved up Penn State's top-rated defense for 267 rushing yards and two <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/159941/imani-cross" class="sbn-auto-link">Imani Cross</a> touchdowns. Taylor Martinez added the fourth-quarter TD to <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/115231/jamal-turner" class="sbn-auto-link">Jamal Turner</a> that gave his team the lead for the first time.</p>
<p>Penn State was only able to add a field goal in a second half that saw their offense fall dormant, as the Nittany Lions fall to 4-2 in conference play. The Huskers move to 5-1 in the Big Ten and 8-2 overall</p>
<p><b>Box Score Hero: </b>The Husker rushing attack was a menace, compiling 267 yards. Leading the way was <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/132010/ameer-abdullah" class="sbn-auto-link">Ameer Abdullah</a>, who had 116 yards on 31 carries.</p>
<p><b>Rankings Ramifications: </b>Nebraska should be looking to move up from its No. 16 spot with a win, while Penn State remains on the outside looking in as they are not eligible for postseason play.</p>
<p><b>But Did They Cover? </b>With the comeback victory, the Cornhuskers were able to cover the 8.5-point spread they were laying to Penn State.</p>
<p><b>Next Week's Schedule: </b>Next week, the Nittany Lions take on Indiana, while the Cornhuskers host the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/minnesota-golden-gophers" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Golden Gophers</a></p>
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https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2012/11/10/3629006/penn-state-vs-nebraska-final-score-recapHammerheadT2012-11-10T17:11:07-05:002012-11-10T17:11:07-05:00Nittany Lions up 20-6 over Nebraska at the half
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<p>An early big play and solid red-zone defense from the Nittany Lions has them up on Nebraska at the half, 20-6.</p>
<p>Penn State running back <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114114/zach-zwinak" class="sbn-auto-link">Zach Zwinak</a> broke a 50-yard run in the first quarter to start the scoring. In the second quarter, PSU quarterback <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/51488/matthew-mcgloin" class="sbn-auto-link">Matthew McGloin</a> hit <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/159722/jesse-james" class="sbn-auto-link">Jesse James</a> for a 10-yard score. The Nittany Lions added two filed goals to finish the half. Zwinak has 81 yards on the ground and the aforementioned touchdown.</p>
<p>Nebraska has moved the ball effectively on the ground, but has had two drives stall inside the 20-yard line. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37078/brett-maher" class="sbn-auto-link">Brett Maher</a> kicked field goals of 32 and 27 yards to put the Cornhuskers on the board against one of the best defenses in the Big Ten.</p>
<p>Each team is looking for its fifth win in Big Ten play, and Nebraska looks to improve its national rank. The Huskers are currently ranked 16th and can pad their resume with a home victory over the Nittany Lions.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2012/11/10/3628524/penn-state-vs-nebraska-score-2012HammerheadT2012-11-10T08:00:51-05:002012-11-10T08:00:51-05:00Penn State faces off with Nebraska on Saturday
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<figcaption>Patrick Smith</figcaption>
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<p>The Nittany Lions head into Lincoln Saturday looking to knock off the Nebraska Cornhuskers in a battle of Big Ten foes.</p> <p>The Penn State Nittany <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Lions</a> will head to Lincoln Saturday to face a <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/nebraska-cornhuskers">Nebraska Cornhuskers</a> team currently on a three-game win streak.</p>
<p>Penn State has won six of their last seven games, with the only loss coming against the undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes. Quarterback Matt McGloin has passed for 2,436 yards and 18 touchdowns through nine games this season, with eight scoring passes going to wide receiver <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/142582/allen-robinson">Allen Robinson</a>.</p>
<p>Per wins and losses, the Nittany Lions are second in the Leaders division behind Ohio State. However, Penn State is ineligible for postseason play this season due to NCAA sanctions, so standings are no matter.</p>
<p>Nebraska enters the contest with a 7-2 record, 4-1 in the conference, a mark which puts them at the top of the Legends division in the Big Ten. The Cornhuskers hold a slight lead in the standings over Michigan and Northwestern.</p>
<p><b>Game Time: </b>3:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, Nov. 10</p>
<p><b>Location:</b> Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE</p>
<p><b>TV: </b>ABC/ESPN2</p>
<p><b>Odds: </b>Nebraska by 8.5</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2012/11/10/3608032/nebraska-penn-state-2012-game-time-schedule-oddsJack Cassidy2012-11-09T11:49:17-05:002012-11-09T11:49:17-05:00Nittany Lions prepare for Taylor Martinez
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<p>Taylor Martinez and his broken throwing motion have been the subject of ridicule for Big Ten fans since Nebraska entered the conference, but the junior quarterback is one of the most potent offensive weapons in the league entering the Cornhuskers' matchup against the Penn State Nittany Lions Saturday.</p>
<p>Martinez is completing 62.9 percent of his passes for an offense that's averaging 30 points and 444 yards in Big Ten play. Although he still looks like he's skipping rocks, as Wisconsin defensive end <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77767/david-gilbert" class="sbn-auto-link">David Gilbert</a> said, Martinez has been a part of a much improved Nebraska attack seemingly on its way to the Big Ten Championship game.</p>
<p>Bill Connelly at SB Nation has a thoroughly detailed analysis of the differences between Nebraska's attack last year and this year in his <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/11/9/3622088/nebraska-penn-state-game-2012-taylor-martinez">Penn State vs. Nebraska preview</a>. Aalthough he finds the third-year starter's play is roughly the same, the results are different due to changed play-calling.</p>
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<p>Martinez's throwing motion really hasn't improved that much, but it hasn't had to. Play-action and simple passes on short-yardage situations have given Nebraska opportunities to make Martinez's life easier, and it has. Second-year offensive coordinator Tim Beck has also entrusted Martinez to do more on passing downs -- after running 43 percent of the time on passing downs in 2011, the Huskers are doing so just 37 percent of the time in 2012 -- and it hasn't necessarily paid off that much. But thanks to the play-calling, Martinez is dealing with far fewer passing downs than he did a year ago. Beck and line coach Barney Cotton deserve a significant amount of credit for Nebraska's offensive improvement in 2012.</p>
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<p>Connelly finds fault with the oft-repeated slogan among Nebraska followers that Martinez's passing ability greatly improved, as evidenced by last week's 16-for-36, two-touchdown, three-interception performance against Michigan State. But in that same game, the junior still tore apart the Spartan defense with 205 yards on the ground.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2012/11/9/3623022/penn-state-vs-nebraska-taylor-martinezRodger Sherman2012-11-08T10:50:57-05:002012-11-08T10:50:57-05:00PSU-Nebraska recalls dark 2011 matchup
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<figcaption>Justin K. Aller</figcaption>
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<p>Most of the talk surrounding Penn State-Nebraska will - thankfully - surround the game on the field, but one Penn State blogger took a moment to remember last season's difficult game between the two teams overshadowed by the Jerry Sandusky scandal.</p> <p>Penn State will head to Lincoln for the first time since the Nebraska Cornhuskers joined the Big Ten, providing yet another reminder of the strange, terrible journey Nittany Lions football has taken over the past year.</p>
<p>It should be a quality football game - Penn State has won six of its last seven, the only loss coming to Ohio State, while the No. 16 Huskers are in the driver's seat for a berth in the Big Ten Championship game after several dramatic, come-from-behind victories. But Penn State blogger Jared Slanina <a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2012/11/8/3593146/Penn-State-Nebraska-2011-Sandusky-Scandal">took a moment to remember</a> last year's matchup between the two teams at Penn State, the first game after the revelation of the full extent of the Jerry Sandusky scandal, and the first in nearly 50 years that the Nittany Lions played without the now-late Joe Paterno at head coach.</p>
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<p>The things that are forever etched in my mind did not have much to do with the game. I experienced every emotion imaginable emotion in the hour or so in the stands before the game started, to the point I developed a splitting headache by the end of the first quarter. These emotions were capped off by the tears shed during a moment of silence, and the tears that would later come when both teams met at midfield to share a hug and a prayer.</p>
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<p>The Nittany Lions rallied from a deficit to cut the score to 17-14, but a game between the No. 12 and No. 19 teams in the country was an afterthought. The Nittany Lions have recovered, both on the field and off as evidenced by the fact that most of the talk surrounding this week's game is about football, but the specter of what happened will probably always surround Penn State.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2012/11/8/3617934/penn-state-vs-nebraska-football-2012Rodger Sherman