Ode to LaVar Arrington

But seriously, my favorite PSU player is Paul Posluszny because he was the greatest linebacker in the history of the greatest linebacking school ever.

Also, the Nestea girls are back! Yeah! You miss me girls? I know you did!

I will NEVER forget that hit on minnesota safety Brandon Owens. To see a quarterback dish out punishment like that and just walk away like nothing happened was simply ridiculous.

I also really respected MRob for the amount of work he put in and the fact that it always seemed like he knew the team was bigger than him.

To overcome the things that he did and to transform himself from amazing talent to amazing leader and amazing college quarterback is something that i’m always going to remember.

without a doubt.

I always like a guy who’s a leader and stands out from the crowd with exceptional play. He made everyone around him better.

Had a nose for the ball and knew how to time routes. I think he still has the season record with 9 interceptions.

I think, LaVar! Then, that brings me to Poz who brings me to Lee…who brings me to Clark, who brings me to MRob who brings me to Kerry Collins (first “celebrity” crush when I was 13) to Blackledge (because I think he’s the best Penn State TB commentator in that business right now) which brings me to Ham, because he is an awesome radio commentator…it’s a never ending cycle and now my entire day is shot.

Is there any other BOLD choice?

Obviously, this is purely based on off-field shenanigans. Though I suppose we might as well go with Chisley if we’re talking “bold” off field incidents…

is a bit like picking which is my favorite currency denomination…..I love ’em all. They all are special in their own way. However, Curt Warner (especially how he compared to Hershel Walker in the Sugar Bowl), and the Bahr brothers….always felt they were going to get it through the uprights no matter what.

LaVar was sick athlete but for ever great play he would be out of position and free lanced too much

Not the best, but definitely one of my favorites. The guy could’ve started at about 5 different positions. It’s scary to think about what he could’ve done with an offensive line.

for nothing other than the FU he put on Tennessee’s face

First great PSU playmaker that I remember. I remember thinking his name was really cool.

For a school not known for slinging the ball around the field, PSU has had some really great Wideouts.

I loved DJ Dozier and Keith Goganious because they were hometown heroes. I loved Kerry Collins and Kyle Brady from the 94 team. I loved Courtney Brown and LaVar, even if 1999 ended disappointingly. Jimmy Kennedy will always hold a special place in my heart for his transformation between freshman and sophomore years (why couldn’t BWare do that?). MRob for being the perfect Penn State player, willing to do anything that he could to help the team; DC17 for his heart; Poz, Connor, Lee, Shaw, for their ferocity, Norwood for his fearlessness (dude could take a hit and hold on to the ball). There are just too many to count.

Man, I miss football season!!

In my opinion, the most talented PSU RB in my lifetime… well, except maybe for Curt Warner, now that I think about it.

Walk-on superhero!

Favorite player ever.

I could write 1000 words on why, but I’ll sum it up with one of his best games: 2006 at Minnesota. He put the team on his shoulders, rushed for over 144 yards, and eventually won the game in overtime on a 2 yard run in which he bulldozed some happless Gopher. While Morelli ran around fist pumping and high fiving, Hunt just tossed the ball to the ref and trotted off the field as if nothing happened. Tony Hunt is Penn State football.

Just for that 1912 drubbing of Ohio State.

Sometimes because they’re the best on the team, and sometimes because I just really like the way they play/handle themselves off the field.

Mike Archie
Kyle Brady
Bobby Engram
Kim Herring
Aaron Harris
Joe Nastasi
James Boyd
Joe Jurevicius
Lavar
Deryk Toles
Adam Taliaferro
Larry Johnson
Jimmy Kennedy
Alan Zemaitis
Michael Robinson
Tamba Hali
Poz
D Will
Dan Connor
Sean Lee
Quarless
Aaron Maybin
Derek Moye
Jared Odrick

As a kid, I remember Tim Manoa breaking a long run against Pitt – was a night game at the old Pitt Stadium. Plus he wore #44 – the quintessential FB number. And Sam Gash because he wore a killer kneck roll.

Shame.

was great but he played before many posters here were even born.

1. Lavar “scaring” Drew Brees into a fumble in the 1999 MIchigan game.
2. The hit on Anthony Thomas in 1999 when he almost knocked himself out, then two plays later, breaking coverage on Sammy Knight and damn near killing Tom Brady. Say what you want about him, Lavar had heart. (I know this is two plays, but it’s more about the sequence.)
3. sadly, Lavar rubbing the nose of the Pitt punter into the stadium turf.

When I think of Lavar, I always think of those plays before I think of the “leap.”

Also, the blocked field goal against Purdue was incredible, and his the block he threw to free Bwohoh (I don’t remember how to spell his name, but I’m pretty sure that isn’t right) Jue on his interception return against Michigan in 1999.

I am glad to see that quite a few bloggers named Curt Warner. He was always my hero growing up. He was a big game back that always out-dueled the other teams big back (Marcus Allen – 81 Fiesta Bowl and of course H. Walker in the 82 Sugar Bowl). When sitting here an actually thinking about all the great PSU players…….I surprisingly would put the duo of DWheels and Justin King at a close second. Not so much for their performances (though they both had great PSU careers) but more because of the fact that they took a chance on Penn State and lead us (w/MRob and Poz) out of the dark years.