Senior Tribute: Mike Yancich

The 2012 Penn State-Ohio State game was expected to take form of something completely unfamiliar in 2012. Yet as the first half progressed, it appeared nothing much had changed from the Paterno/Tressel days. With the game in a complete 0-0 stalemate and Ohio State punting near its own goal line, Mike Hull broke through to block a punt. The ball didn't get a chance to bounce around too much before Mike Yancich pounced on top of it to give Penn State the first points of the game. It was appropriate that Yancich found himself at the right place at the right time, as the senior linebacker and special teams ace had consistently done so during the past four seasons. Yancich's touchdown was the highlight of the evening, that would eventually see Penn State meet its doom thanks to a horrendous third quarter.

Yancich appeared in nearly every game since his redshirt freshman season in 2009 thanks to his nose for the football. The Washington, PA native has also made an impact off the field as well during his time at Penn State. Yancich has served as the secretary of Uplifting Athletes, which has raised more than $100,000 each of the past two years for the Kidney Cancer Association. He also earned his degree in rehabilitation services in August, yet another case of being a true student-athlete. Thank you for the memories and for helping to make Penn State a better place, Michael. Best of luck to you in the future from the entire Black Shoe Diaries community.