Surprise: The Fourth Linebacker, Mark Rubin
by Run Up The Score on Dec 23, 2008 1:00 PM EST
in Football
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PrintThe 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.
Agreed.
This guy got way tougher for his senior year. What is he, 200lb all muscle? The guy turned into a run stuffing machine.
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
Graham Zug can beat both of them
by simply leaping across the entire pool.
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
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.
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!
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.
Ok
Last comment on that fumble. Musberger saw pretty quickly that Bowman came up with the ball. Good for him, good for him.
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
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
Kerry Collins
should be there, my mother loves her some KC.
The only other guy I can think of is Zug….for obvious reasons
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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
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!!!!
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?”
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”
Roger Jackson
Intercepting Marino in the endzone to keep the score 14-0 Pitt. We all know what happened to the #1 Panthers after that.
“Look out belooooooow……..”
48-14. Sweet.
'People are about as happy as they decide they want to be'
by Pete the Streak on Dec 23, 2008 7:41 PM EST reply actions
I'd add Zack Mills
Maybe not the most celebrated QB in PSU history and didn’t win a whole lot of games but he did win number 324 for JoePa to get the record (against tOSU for that matter too). Plus he basically gave his arm for PSU.
Off Topic
Did anyone catch JoePa’s interview on SportsCenter? He looked radiant and dare I say b-yoo-tee-full under the California sun. Hope he moves out here after he retires.
Retirement
I think in another 25 years or so, Joe should be ready to retire!
by Tailgate Shogun on Dec 24, 2008 8:30 AM EST up reply actions
How bout these two?
Pete Giftopoulos for that last interception against Miami & John Bruno for Didn’t the Japanese lose Pearl Harbor?
They definately get drinks.
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