Surprise: The Fourth Linebacker, Mark Rubin

by Run Up The Score on Dec 23, 2008 1:00 PM EST in Football Comment 51 comments

The first of many looks back at the pleasant (and unpleasant) surprises of Penn State's 2008 season. Today, Mark Rubin. Tomorrow, your mom!

"They are who we thought they were!" Words from one of the top five coaching meltdowns in history? Yes, but it's also how many described the early play of Mark Rubin and Josh Hull, two players who in August were pegged as the biggest potential liabilities on the Nittany Lion defense. As noted (repeatedly, yes) in my post-game defensive grades, Hull had his ups and downs throughout the year. Let's give Hull credit for a few things -- he's a walk-on who was pressed into action when Sean Lee went down in the spring, he's an Academic All-American, and he's an absolute credit to the program as a whole. All of that is completely true. On the field, when he was good, he was very good. When he was bad, he was very not good.

Mark Rubin also struggled to start the year, mainly in pass coverage. As the year progressed, however, Rubin truly grew into the position and made it his own. When the Lions rolled into Columbus, many analysts focused on Rubin as the soft spot in the Penn State defense. Then, this:

Penn State at Ohio State - Fumble recovery (via ddhawk5364)

And Mark Rubin will never have to pay for a drink in State College again. He finished the season in strong fashion, quickly evolving into a sure tackler -- even in the open field. The skinny wide receiver who attempted to save the Nittany Lion passing [sic] offense [sic] in 2004 turned in the biggest defensive play in Penn State's 2008 Rose Bowl run. The guy who beat Michael Phelps in the pool as a kid let loose with one last freestyle stroke against Terrelle Pryor, catapulting the Lions into the BCS.

Well played, sir. Well played.

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Totally Agree

Great assessment of Rubin. He really came on and turned into a very good safety. He also is a 2008 Academic All-American. He is a prime example of PSU football.

by Rockin on Dec 23, 2008 1:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

This guy got way tougher for his senior year. What is he, 200lb all muscle? The guy turned into a run stuffing machine.

by Artiefufkin10 on Dec 23, 2008 1:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

220lb rather?

by Artiefufkin10 on Dec 23, 2008 1:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Saw him up close a few weeks ago...

…when I was on the field for pre-game MSU stuff, and the dude is rather large.

by Run Up The Score on Dec 23, 2008 1:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I always think of Rick Rubin when I hear Mark Rubin

therefore I am going to call him Mark “99 Problems But Tackling Ain’t One” Rubin for the Rose Bowl.

by HookMania on Dec 23, 2008 1:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well, you may as well call him Mark 'I produce the Big Biter hissself' Rubin

99 Problems was a great song, with great lyrics, when done by Ice-T and 2Live’s Brother Marquis, back in ’93. (before Marquis sued Ice-T that is).

Much better to cite, if playing on Rick Rubin’s name, any of, oh, say, Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, Run DMC. Hell, you’d even be much better off with the Chili Peppers, Danzig or Slayer even, than jayz.

IMHO, of course.

pax et amor

by jtothep on Dec 23, 2008 4:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

jtothep dropping some hip-hop knowledge

I was unaware of the biting of 99 problems and I agree about the Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, Run DMC stuff being better. Myself, I’m a fan of the Johnny Cash revival Rick Rubin.

On that note, I’m gonna go with Mark “No Sleep Til Pasadena” Rubin

by HookMania on Dec 23, 2008 7:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Mark 'No Sleep til Pasadena' Rubin

I love it! Nice re-work!

pax et amor

by jtothep on Dec 23, 2008 9:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Rubin could punch a plate of cookies out of your moms arms just like that ball.

MMMMMM cookies.

We just needed a couple players, a couple people to buy in to the fact and we were able to do it. --A.Q. Shipley

by psu on Dec 23, 2008 1:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Mmmm.......cookies.......

And your Mom sounds hot!

'People are about as happy as they decide they want to be'

by Pete the Streak on Dec 23, 2008 7:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey

Did you guys know Mark Rubin beat Michael Phelps in swimming in high school? It’s true. I read that somewhere.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Dec 23, 2008 1:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

You are clearly confused

Mark Rubin’s dad was the professional wrestler in the spikey shoulder pads. Your reading comprehension skills are clearly lacking.

by Run Up The Score on Dec 23, 2008 1:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Graham Zug can beat both of them

by simply leaping across the entire pool.

by PSU Mudder on Dec 23, 2008 2:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually

Zug just runs on top of the water.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Dec 23, 2008 2:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually

In respect of Zug, the water moves out of his way.

Throw it to Zug!

by ReadingRambler on Dec 23, 2008 3:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I will never forget that play for as long as I live

Mark Rubin…THANK YOU!

I bleed Blue and White.

by Horse N Buggy on Dec 23, 2008 2:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I love that play

I feel like the Iowa loss took a lot of luster from that Ohio State game That was such a huge win and such a huge play. It’s weird because I don’t feel like the Michigan loss in 2005 took away from the Ohio State game, which was only a week earlier.

by speedomike on Dec 23, 2008 2:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

When I think of Rubin

I won’t think of any catches he had in ‘04, I won’t think of any bad plays he made, I’ll think “We’ll always have Columbus.”

Throw it to Zug!

by ReadingRambler on Dec 23, 2008 3:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

That fumble

I just took a look at the slide show RUTS posted in the fanshots. Comments are closed there, but that is crazy that Robiskie had it for a second there. I don’t think Sales gets enough credit for knocking that ball back. It looked like Wells could have fallen on it. If he did, it’s 4th down and they likely punt, pinning us deep in our territory. Not sure if we could have put together that long of a drive the way OSU’s d was playing that night.

by speedomike on Dec 23, 2008 4:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

agreed

not a small amount of serendipity on that play.

pax et amor

by jtothep on Dec 23, 2008 4:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ok

Last comment on that fumble. Musberger saw pretty quickly that Bowman came up with the ball. Good for him, good for him.

by speedomike on Dec 23, 2008 4:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

the most shocking thing on that play was

that laryngitis got credit for the tackle.

We just needed a couple players, a couple people to buy in to the fact and we were able to do it. --A.Q. Shipley

by psu on Dec 23, 2008 4:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So who makes the "never needs to buy a drink list"?

Off the top of my head:

Rubin
Mike Reid
John Cappelletti
Curt Warner
John Shaffer
Pete Giftopolous
Ki-Jana Carter
Lavar Arrington
Tamba Hali
Michael Robinson
Derrick Williams

by Cairo on Dec 23, 2008 4:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Kerry Collins

should be there, my mother loves her some KC.

The only other guy I can think of is Zug….for obvious reasons

by SweepTheLeg on Dec 23, 2008 4:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You definitely don't want to buy drinks for Kerry Collins

you’ll end up bankrupt!

I bleed Blue and White.

by Horse N Buggy on Dec 23, 2008 7:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ur mother

sounds hot!

by Rockin on Dec 27, 2008 2:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

a few extra

Brandon short
kyle brady
the taste of the town QB
kerry collins
Suepa
jay alford (BRADY GOES DOWN)
shane conlan
jack ham

We just needed a couple players, a couple people to buy in to the fact and we were able to do it. --A.Q. Shipley

by psu on Dec 23, 2008 5:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

missed someone

Adam Taliaferro

by mgr135 on Dec 23, 2008 5:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nice call on AT

I would also empty my wallet for Arron Harris

by SweepTheLeg on Dec 23, 2008 6:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And JoePa

I heard JoePa likes the bong water monkey boys!

I bleed Blue and White.

by Horse N Buggy on Dec 23, 2008 7:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Chafie Fields

Throw it to Zug!

by ReadingRambler on Dec 23, 2008 6:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You're a bit off

More or less anyone who’s recognizable on sight is good to go. Despite the fact that most of these guys have crazy amounts of cash, fans always want to buy a player drinks.

by Tailgate Shogun on Dec 24, 2008 8:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not true

The QB Who Shall Not Be Named would have to buy ME a drink.

by Cairo on Dec 24, 2008 9:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

He’s about the only guy that nobody in State College would buy a drink. I bet even Chris Bell could get drunk without a dollar in his wallet.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Dec 24, 2008 10:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's funny

His major issue is that he didn’t meet expectations. He never badmouthed the program, system, school, or community. As a Chiefs fan, everyone remembers when Steve Bono said the worst restaurant in San Francisco is better than the best restaurant in Kansas City. As a town that’s proud of its food culture, that blend of disrespect and imbecility was worse than any play on the field. That’s never really happened here – the closest is with players who chose NOT to go to Penn State i.e. Kevin Jones and maybe Terrell Pryor.

If I met him at a bar and he was sitting by himself I might buy him a drink.

by Cairo on Dec 24, 2008 11:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

at this point I just feel bad for him

I would buy him a drink.

We just needed a couple players, a couple people to buy in to the fact and we were able to do it. --A.Q. Shipley

by psu on Dec 24, 2008 11:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Duh

Throw it to Zug!

by ReadingRambler on Dec 23, 2008 6:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

MRob

So I just missed out on a chance to buy him a drink at the Cafe at Blue-White this year. I’m not sure if he did pay for it, but he was at the bar alone and got his drink before I could get there. I still went and talked to him for a while. He told me then that Clark was going to be the man.

by speedomike on Dec 23, 2008 7:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

how has Zug not been mentioned yet for a free drink?

or is it just assumed.

and LOL @ not wanting to buy for Collins.

and Chaffie Fields was one of my most memorable plays. I can still say to my friends, “did you see that catch” and they immediately know what I’m talking about.

by The JuggerNitt on Dec 23, 2008 7:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

all drinks come from zug, so to say you would buy him one is senseless, he is kind enough to let us drink from him.

We just needed a couple players, a couple people to buy in to the fact and we were able to do it. --A.Q. Shipley

by psu on Dec 23, 2008 7:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget these guys !!!!

Todd Blackledge
THE 31 of all 31’s SHANE CONLAN
Franco
Kenny Jackson
Brandon Short

Sounds like a great party. Let’s get the strippers and get started!!!!

by 31rulesall on Dec 24, 2008 8:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Todd Blackledge

That could be the new thing for ABC instead of that “campus chow” segment: “How many free shots can Todd Blackledge down at the G-man?”

by Cairo on Dec 24, 2008 9:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

My friends brother told me a story

about how he say Ki-Jana Carter in the bar one night. They were lightly teasing him at first and then said, “Alright Carter, we’re just teasing you. Here, I’ll buy you a Miller Lite,” to which Ki-Jana replied, “Ki-Jana Carter doesn’t drink Miller Lite, Ki-Jana Carter only drinks Coors Light”

by WPIALkid22 on Dec 25, 2008 12:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs