Undisciplined Nittany Lion Squad Dismantles Trojans Of Troy

#61 Troy – 0
#4 Penn State – 34

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- It was not classic Joe Paterno football, but that doesn't mean it was any less impressive. Penn State swarmed/blitzed/sacked/danced their way to an easy opening round victory over the Trojans (no, not those Trojans).

While it might be tough to take anything away from this "test" against a clearly overmatched/out-talented Troy squad, one thing is for sure: Linebacker U is well and thriving in Happy Valley. Star linebackers Sean Lee and Navorro Bowman led a defense that, described as anything less than utterly dominant, would be insulting. Penn State held Troy to negative total yardage (-12 yards), including 14 rushes for -38 yards. The defense gave up 1 pass completion over 9 attempts for 26 yards, for one of only three Trojan first downs. The Nittany Lions forced four sacks and five turnovers, including two fumbles that were housed for second half touchdowns.

The Nittany Lions rolled, but failed to do so without incident. After jumping out to a 13-0 first half lead, when PSU really hit the accelerator in the second half, it did so with swagger. "Kids these days..." said Joe Paterno, "hootin' n' hollerin' , bumpin' and boppin' their chests together...why back in my first season...[insert some incomprehensible babble about 1965 that caused everyone in the post game press conference to black out from boredom]." As a recent recipient of a new set of eyes, Paterno was disappointed in what he saw as a "lack of discipline" in his team that many thought to be the most curious #1 seed of the tournament. Although the Nittany Lions had much to celebrate, and did – after each and every big hit on Trojan quarterback Levi Brown, PSU had three turnovers of its own, committed two personal foul penalties (including one for excessive celebration), and had a field goal attempt blocked.

"I can assure you," Paterno continued, "we will clean up our act. It takes more than a little, eh eh eh, what you guys call it? Swagger? Swagga? It takes a little more than 'swagga' to go deep into this tournament."

Joe Paterno and the Nittany Lions will take on the winner of an evenly-matched Big East contest of South Florida vs. Rutgers in the second round.

Stats:
Penn State
QB Daryll Clark – 7/11, 138 yds, INT
RB Evan Royster – 11 rushes for 43 yards, 2 TD; 2 catches for 34 yards
WR Brett Brackett – 1 catch for 47 yards
LB Navorro Bowman – 3 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 FF
LB Sean Lee – PD, FF, FR, TD
CB AJ Wallace – 2 tackles, INT