Long time, no see everyone! I'm sorry that it's been around a month since my last post, but that's what you get in the "silly season." Obviously, there's not a lot going on in the world of college football right now, but I'm here to catch you up on the few things that have been happening with Penn State as we inch ever closer to the start of the 2014 season!
First up, James Franklin got more SEC-related press in late May as the new Penn State head coach than he probably ever did while actually coaching in the SEC. Turns out the "best conference in college football" gets a little whiny when you play by the rules and still spank them in recruiting. Hey SEC coaches, you mad bro? Thankfully, Adam Rittenberg of the Big Ten Blog on ESPN came to Franklin's defense in hilarious fashion.
Unfortunately, the downside of being a great recruiter reared its ugly head as a small exodus occurred in the last few days. I can only assume that either these players, the coaching staff, or both, saw more potential in the crop of heralded recruits coming into the program and started to make adjustments accordingly. Alosi was dismissed from the team back in April after an alleged assault that resulted in charges being filed. Otherwise, with Christian Hackenberg firmly in control of the QB position, and an embarrassment of riches at WR making its way to Happy Valley, it's really no surprise to see a QB and 2 WRs searching for greener pastures. We wish these players luck in their future endeavors.
In recruiting news, 4-star LB Josh Barajas has decommitted from the Nittany Lions in favor of Notre Dame. Although this is disappointing, Barajas is from Indiana and was originally a Notre Dame lean, so it's not surprising. Thankfully, after picking up 3-star DB Myles Hartsfield, Penn State remains at 16 commits and currently has the #3 ranked class in the country. You can see a full list of the current class here.
Checking up on facilities, Beaver Stadium is going to look a little different this season. As I mentioned in an earlier post, 2 new gigantic video scoreboards are currently being installed above both endzones. Additionally, 2 massive LED Nittany Lion logos have been hung from the back of each scoreboard so they can shine over the valley. Check out the logos being lifted for instillation here.
Finally, I bring you very sad news as long time equipment manager Brad "Spider" Caldwell has decided to leave Penn State after 31 years of exceptional service. He was one of the few remaining reminders of the Paterno era and one of the most popular people in the football building. It's not often that a simple equipment manager manages to make an impact on so many people, but it's clear in this thank you video that Spider's infectious personality will not soon be forgotten at Penn State. Last summer, ESPN spent a week on campus following the team around. One of the most memorable segments was this one done about Spider, which perfectly sums up why he will be missed so much. As referenced in the thank you video, Spider and his wife are moving to Vermont where he will help manage a high school football team.
That will do it for now. I'll do my best throughout the offseason to find all the best stories about Penn State football, so keep it here all summer long. Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @PSUOptimus, and as always, go State!
