Black Shoe Diaries - Penn State (4-3) vs Maryland (5-3)DOMINATE THE STATEhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47529/blackshoediaries_fave.png2014-11-03T16:53:06-05:00http://www.blackshoediaries.com/rss/stream/68527142014-11-03T16:53:06-05:002014-11-03T16:53:06-05:00Big Ten Suspends Diggs, Reprimands Edsall For Penn State Pre-Game Actions<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/110314aad.html">Big Ten Suspends Stefon Diggs, Reprimands Randy Edsall For Penn State Pre-Game&nbsp;Actions</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>The Big Ten suspended Maryland WR Stefon Diggs for one game, reprimanded head coach Randy Edsall and fined the University of Maryland $10,000 for the unsportsmanlike actions before their game with Penn State this past weekend. Stefon Diggs struck an official in the face during a pre-game scuffle (to which Maryland was hit with a 15-yard penalty) and the Terrapins' captains failed to shake hands at midfield before the game's coin toss. It's an unfortunate situation for the Big Ten's newest members and hopefully it's something that won't be pulled again in hopes of creating a rivalry.</p></p></div>
https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2014/11/3/7151975/big-ten-suspends-stefon-diggs-reprimands-randy-edsall-for-penn-stateDan Vecellio2014-11-03T11:14:21-05:002014-11-03T11:14:21-05:00Ficken Earns Special Teams B1G Honors
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<figcaption>Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>It's the fourth time he's won the award during his career.</p> <p><span>Sam Ficken</span>, arguably Penn State's biggest scoring threat this year, once again earned his stripes on Saturday against Maryland, nailing 4-of-4 field goal attempts along with a PAT, a performance good enough to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/110314aaa.html">earn him Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honors</a> for the second time this season and for the fourth time in his career.</p>
<p>Three of Ficken's four field goals, which matched his career-high from against Central Florida in this year's season-opener, were accurate from 45+ yards out (46, 47, and 48 to be exact), a feat not accomplished by a Penn State kicker since 1982. Ficken is third in field goals per game in the NCAA (2.13) and is hitting at a 89.5% clip. After Saturday's performance, he is now sixth all-time on the Penn State scoring list with 239 points.</p>
<p>In addition to the Big Ten honor, Ficken was named a Lou Groza Star of the Week for the second time this season. You can vote him to be the week's best kicker <a target="_blank" href="http://www.lougrozaaward.com/14SOTW10">here</a>.</p>
<p>Congratulations once again, Sam!</p>
<p><b>OTHER AWARD WINNERS: </b></p>
<p><i>Offense: <span>Corey Clement</span>, RB, Wisconsin</i></p>
<p><i>Defense: <span>Louis Trinca-Pasat</span>, DT Iowa and <span>Jake Ryan</span>, LB, Michigan</i></p>
<p><i>Freshman: <span>Akrum Wadley</span>, RB, Iowa</i></p>
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https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2014/11/3/7150005/sam-ficken-big-ten-award-penn-state-maryland-clement-ryanDan Vecellio2014-11-02T22:17:06-05:002014-11-02T22:17:06-05:00Hey Wha Happen? Maryland 20, Penn State 19
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<figcaption>Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>This was an incredibly frustrating weekend</p> <p>It's 8:48 p.m., and I finally feel as though I can sit down and write this piece. Yesterday afternoon, I requested to write this piece. Amidst the bitter cold and the swearing students filing out of Gate A, I elected to write this piece. Mostly out of frustration.</p>
<p>Writing after winning can be fun, but there's something about writing after losing that is often more satisfying. The loss, of course, is not satisfying. Reliving the failed plays and the dropped passes and the blown assignments in your head isn't satisfying. It is, however, often cathartic. All of the words swirling inside your head placed on paper, and then from paper out into the internet morass. And that catharsis is what makes writing after losing particularly satisfying.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I've had no such satisfaction today.</p>
<p>It would be easy to sit here and write tropes on an offensive line that looks repeatedly overmatched, or about an offensive coordinator who we are convinced is this year's John Butler. There are plenty of people who will wax poetic about those two subjects for thousands of words, but we've been doing that for weeks. There's very little new to be gleaned from that commentary at this point in the season. It's become far too easy to point fingers at a young offensive line and beg for the return of Miles Dieffenbach. It's far too easy to talk in condescending tones about the Wildcat. Frankly, I'm bored with the whole conversation. It's too easy, and not entirely accurate.</p>
<p>The truth is that Penn State's offensive issues are far more comprehensive than simply blaming the offensive line. Our receivers get little separation and occasionally drop passes. Our running backs can't pass protect either, and struggle to hit the few holes that they are given. But if we're being honest with ourselves, if we're assessing "blame" (insomuch as blame is assessed by fans on a team of college players) then we should at least assess it properly.</p>
<p><span>Christian Hackenberg</span>, please stand up.</p>
<p>Christian Hackenberg had a very impressive freshman season under an NFL coach. He capped that season with a near perfect effort against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.buckys5thquarter.com/">Wisconsin Badgers</a>. And somewhere between that game and this one, Christian Hackenberg was crowned as the King of Penn State. Between the news clippings and fan hype and the talk of Heisman odds and the number one overall pick, criticizing Christian Hackenberg became the third rail of Penn State football review. And so we point fingers in all other directions because if only the rest of the team and the coaches did not fail Christian Hackenberg, then he would rightfully be the star that everyone has made him out to be.</p>
<p>That's all well and good, and I'm certainly rooting for him. But the offensive line didn't cause him to underthrow an open receiver in the end zone at the close of the first half, or to miss wide open receivers in the middle of the field. John Donovan did not fumble twice, or take sacks when he actually had time in the pocket. No, that's on Hack. Screaming at his teammates and coaches did nothing except make him look like a petulant child.</p>
<p>This is not advocating for a Hackenberg transfer or a quarterback competition. It is, however, time to look at our offensive issues realistically. The offensive line and the coaching deserve their fair share of blame. So does the quarterback. He's not untouchable, and he still had plenty to learn. The sooner he learns those lessons, the sooner we stop losing to teams like Maryland.</p>
<h3 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0.75em; margin-bottom: 0.75em;"><span>Three Random, Probably Completely Useless Thoughts</span></h3>
<p><b>One. </b>This isn't to say the coaching staff should be excused from all responsibility. The playcalling cost Penn State this game late in the 4th quarter. Playing hyper conservative with 3 minutes left and punting to midfield while only winning by 2 points essentially handed Maryland a victory. One big play by Maryland put the Terps in field goal territory immediately. Come on, John Donovan. You have to do better than that.</p>
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<b>Two.</b> Special teams are a mess. <span>Sam Ficken</span> is fantastic (so proud of him). The rest? Punting is a complete disaster, and hurts this team disproportionately because the offense is so weak that it relies on the kicking game for field position. A <span>Grant Haley</span> fumble on the kickoff was yet another example of failures in all aspects of the game.</div>
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<b>Three. </b>The non-handshake handshakes. Simply disgraceful.</div>
https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2014/11/2/7148267/hey-wha-happen-maryland-Terps-penn-state-Nittany-lions-Hackenberg-Franklin-handshake-special-teamsAdam Collyer2014-11-02T11:06:01-05:002014-11-02T11:06:01-05:00Penn State-Maryland Post Game Link Dump
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<figcaption>Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The best post game stories from around the World Wide Interwebs</p> <p>For the first time since the awfulness of the 2004 season, Penn State has lost four (4) intercollegiate football competitions in a row. Because we are all gluttons for punishment, here are the best stories from yesterday's 20-19 loss from around cyberspace (does anyone still call it that?).</p>
<p>The always entertaining, and sometimes informative <a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2014/11/1/7143289/penn-state-football-maryland-franklin-hackenberg-diggs-edsall">BSD post game story</a> is full of comments, if nothing else.</p>
<p>Barry over at my former blog outpost Victory Bell Rings has a <a href="http://victorybellrings.com/2014/11/01/penn-state-football-nittany-lions-give-score-late-fall-maryland/">good recap of the action</a> as well.</p>
<p>Maryland coach Randy Edsall, and Terp AD Kevin Anderson <a href="http://www.csnbaltimore.com/ncaa-maryland-terps/maryland-releases-statement-regarding-handshake-snub-vs-penn-state">went on the defensive immediately after the game</a> for the pregame hand shake antics. I'll reserve judgement on the genuineness of said response.</p>
<p>Over at PennLive, Greg Pickel takes a look at a<a href="http://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/index.ssf/2014/11/penn_state_football_outside_of.html"> special teams unit that promised big things before the season</a>, but short of Mr. Automatic, $am Ficken, has struggled to deliver results.</p>
<p>Quarterback Christian Hackenberg struggled for much of the day, but on the plus side, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2014/11/1/7142709/penn-state-qb-topples-maryland-staffer-with-errant-pass">he hit this dude in the head</a>. #doink</p>
<p>Our friend Jeff Rice over at Lions247 has a good column on <a href="http://pennstate.247sports.com/Article/Christian-Hackenberg-getting-rare-dose-of-failure-this-season-32572120">Hack's struggles, and the frustrations that came out on the sideline yesterday with any coach that would listen</a>.</p>
<p>Onward State has <a href="http://onwardstate.com/2014/11/01/takeaways-penn-state-falls-to-maryland-20-19/">thoughts on many things</a>, most/all of which are about Penn State football.</p>
<p>The Testudo Times guys have a good <a href="http://www.testudotimes.com/2014/11/1/7143173/detailed-game-recap-maryland-vs-penn-state-football">recap from the other side</a>, and <a href="http://www.testudotimes.com/2014/11/2/7144985/marylands-penn-state-reaction-analysis">thoughts about rivalries</a>.</p>
https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2014/11/2/7146017/penn-state-football-maryland-post-game-links-hackenberg-franklin-edsall-diggsMatt de Bear2014-11-01T16:02:02-04:002014-11-01T16:02:02-04:00Letdown: Maryland 20, Penn State 19
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<figcaption>Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>For the first time since 1961, and only the second time ever, Maryland beats Penn State</p> <p>A week after an emotional and raucous double overtime loss to Urban Meyer and the 13th ranked <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.landgrantholyland.com/">Ohio State Buckeyes</a>, Penn State welcomed in a Maryland squad coming off a drubbing in Madison.</p>
<p>It was a rather forgettable affair for much of the first half, with Penn State leading 9-7 at halftime on the strength of Sam Ficken's right foot, and a dominant Nittany Lions defense. The lead expanded to 16-7 following a fumble forced by <span>Anthony Zettel</span>, and recovered by <span>C.J. Olaniyan</span>. (#mitten). For the first, and probably only time all day, the offense and <span>Christian Hackenberg</span> showed a pulse, driving down the field for a touchdown drive capped by a <span>Jesse James</span> reception.</p>
<p>From there, the Lions did everything they could to let Maryland hang around. Following another short punt by <span>Daniel Pasquariello</span>, the Terps drove to the PSU 1, before fumbling an option pitch, and settling for a field goal. On the ensuing kickoff, freshman returner <span>Grant Haley</span> fumbled the ball back to Maryalnd, who drove just 24 yards to take the lead.</p>
<p>After Ficken's 4th field goal of the game, a 48 yarder to take the lead, the PSU defense would again force a Maryland punt with just 3:30 remaining, and a chance to run out the clock. Instead runs of 4 yards, 0 yards, and 3 yards by <span>Akeel Lynch</span> lead to another short punt, and Will LIkely's only significant return of the day to set up the Terps at the PSU 42. The 13 yard completion on first down to <span>Wes Brown</span> was all Maryland would need to set up <span>Brad Craddock</span> from 42 yards out for the winning kick.</p>
<p>Penn State did get the ball back with 52 seconds, but only managed 9 yards on 2nd down, before fumbling the snap on 4th and 1, ending any hopes of another Hackenberg lead comeback.</p>
<p>So, another game, another dominating performance by a Penn State defense that held Maryland to just 192 yards, and a PSU offense that can't get out of it's own way. The running game managed a measly 66 yards on 30 carries on designed runs. Hackenberg alternated between running for his life, and not finding open receivers, and occasionally, yelling at any teammate or coach that would listen. Frustration has clearly set in among the sophomore captain, and with just 4 games remaining, and no more off weeks, time is running out to find 2 more wins, and send a deserving senior class out with a bowl game.</p>
https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2014/11/1/7143289/penn-state-football-maryland-franklin-hackenberg-diggs-edsallMatt de Bear2014-11-01T13:49:02-04:002014-11-01T13:49:02-04:00Penn State-Maryland Third Quarter Open Thread
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<figcaption>Justin K. Aller</figcaption>
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<p>One half down, one to go. Let's make November much more memorable than October.</p>
<p>WE ARE...</p>
https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2014/11/1/7134651/penn-state-maryland-third-quarter-open-threadJared Slanina2014-11-01T12:50:02-04:002014-11-01T12:50:02-04:00Penn State-Maryland Second Quarter Open Thread
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<figcaption>Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>LET'S GO STATE!!</p>
https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2014/11/1/7134529/penn-state-maryland-second-quarter-open-threadJared Slanina2014-11-01T12:00:03-04:002014-11-01T12:00:03-04:00Penn State-Maryland First Quarter Open Thread
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<figcaption>Justin K. Aller</figcaption>
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<p>What time is it?? GAMETIME!!</p>
<p>WE ARE...</p>
https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2014/11/1/7134447/penn-state-maryland-first-quarter-open-threadJared Slanina