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The Lions' Pride

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The Lions' Pride

Black shoes, basic blues. No names, all game

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Who is your favorite all time PSU player & why?

  • You guys are all way too young! Nobody has even mentioned any of the heroes from Joe's early teams. I'm going with Dennis Onkotz. Where else are you going to find a linebacker who returned interceptions and punts--yes, punts---with such flair? And where else are you going to find a guy who majored in something like nuclear engineering--who would take an exam on a Saturday morning and then show up at Beaver Stadium to hammer the opposition? I remember being a little kid in the bleachers behind the South end zone and holding my breath every time Onkotz touched the ball. He was legendary....and so was Mike Reid, Jim Kates, Steve Smear and the rest of that defense!

    littlelionbill

  • PSUjosh11 said...

    I'll go with a player from my lifetime rather than digging through the archives from before I was born.

    Paul Posluszny - I was a freshman in 2005 and it was a great season for many reasons. PSU football was put back on the map and he was one of the lynchpins of our defense that year that helped PSU "back". I loved his attitude and ability to make plays. He was a true blue collar LB for PSU and fits the mold to perfection.

    I have to agree Josh and one of the best ever at State College if not the best.

    Poz personified what PSU football is all about. Blue collar, no frills, blood & guts team player and is great recent example of what Linebacker U represents.

    2 time Chuck Bedarnik Defensive Player of the Year, 2 time AP All-American, 2 time PSU Captain, Butkus Award Winner 2005, career leader in tackles when he graduated, etc.

    PSUBrister ●

  • On a personal basis, LaVar. KC is one of my favorites, but I've only got to meet him a few times. Still as a player alone, he was great. Still remember being at the Rose Bowl in 94 when I was still in high school, and seeing him take the first handoff we had on offense and go 78 yards to the house; this after a couple first downs, and a decent opening drive by the Ducks. He ran right into the left corner of the end zone where we were sitting. You could see the hole open up, and just saw a blur.

    "A bowl game ain't nothing but a vacation." - Gerald Hodges

    PSUHomer

  • Brandon Ware....practice All American.

    signature image

    I guess I should warn you, if I turn out to be particularly clear, you've probably misunderstood what I've said.

    psu2013 ●

  • Its a tough call for me....The guys I loved watching and/or rooted for the most were:

    James Boyd
    Kijana Carter
    Larry Johnson
    Derek Williams
    Navaro Bowman

    NevadaNittany ●

  • Curtis Enis. I was 12 at the time and was a big kid for an RB. My Dad bought me an embroidered Enis jersey for Christmas and I still wear it on gameday. Dude was an absolute beast.

    TXPSU4417

  • Shane Conlan. Defined LBU for me in HS.

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    PSUfaninOnt ●

  • Derrick Williams and Justin King. They committed when I really started following recruiting and just what they meant to the program.

    PSUfan28 ●

  • From my time at PSU: LaVar - he was a stud. Any time he was on the field, you just had to key on him and he'd take you to the ball.

    All time - MRob - he was an absolute warrior in '05 and brought us back from the dark ages through his sheer will. He almost had us in a title game. An all time great!

    Sentimental fave - Keith Olsommer - Brady's backup on the '94 team and he went to my high school. Caught a TD pass against Michigan in the Big House too!

    rck127 ●

  • Cant do just one. Curt Warner, Kenny Jackson and MRob.

    NittanyNick ●

  • Tamba Hali. Know him. Great guy.

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    A drinking town with a football problem.

    Animal ●

  • Andre Collins. Met him in a ballet class our freshman year. Couldn't be nicer. I didn't know who he was when I first met him and while I wasn't surprised he was on the team, I wasn't completely sure. He was still a DB at the time and hadn't yet grown into a LB. Funny thing is I now have a friend who played in the NFL and whose career ended after a hit by Andre.

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    “We need to keep this (expletive) together,” Mauti and Zordich to Hill

    psujmc1992 ●

  • 1. Lavar. Amazing player. Great man. Got to rub elbows with him while he at PSU and while he was a Giant/Skin.
    2. Poz. What heart.
    3. MRob. What heart.
    4. Tamba. What heart. 17-10 Oh what a night...
    5. Kyle Brady. Great man.
    6. Ethan Kilmer. Hard worker, Team player. Forgotten key to Orange Bowl win. Great kid.

    jcarlisle14

  • Mike Reid would be my choice, maybe the most dominant player we ever had at any position. Just imagine, three safeties in one game.

    They're all good choices though, one can make a case for so many.

    "We want the warriors"

    jimh74

  • Trey Bauer! Named my oldest son after him! He was the heart and soul of the 86 team!

    signature image signature image signature image

    Colorado Lion ●

  • It is so hard to stop at one, so honorable mention to LaVar, Dan Connor, Poz, OJ McDuffie, Aaron Harris, Kijanna.
    Winner is Blair Thomas. I watched him run all over the Irish for 200+ yards.
    Not sure how many people remember the Alabama game where Benfatti either intercepted the ball or got the fumble. We were down with only a few minutes left and we just kept giving the rock to Blair. He was an absolute BEAST!!!!!! We got all the way down to the 1 and I would have ran it one more time with Blair for the win. They had not stopped him the whole drive 8+ yards a pop at least. Instead we attempt a FG and it was blocked. I think if he had scored via Blair's run, it would have put him as a Heisman front runner.

    pennstpete

  • Dating myself here .... Chuck Fusina (Heisman runner-up). He was also my favorite USFL player. He led the Phila. Stars to a championship.

    BerneseMtDog

  • Justin kurpeikis....bossss

    Dimebag

  • 1. Curt Warner
    2. Blair Thomas
    3. Blackledge
    4. Shane Conlan

    PennStateFan33 ●

  • Mark Robinson - hit like a truck and was from the DC area
    Shane Conlan - as someone mentioned earlier - personified LBU for me as a teenager

    FarmDog12 ●

  • Timpsu28 said...

    MRob forever has my heart after bringing da ruckus on that Minnesota safety

    yea totally Tim i got to go w/ mrob and poz 2005 was my senior year and they freaking made it a memorable one thats for sure. in addition to mrob running down the minny safety we cant forget poz jumping over the line and keeping maroney(not sure name but the minny rb) behind the LOS. sick just sick!!

    rich0504 ●

  • pennstpete said...

    It is so hard to stop at one, so honorable mention to LaVar, Dan Connor, Poz, OJ McDuffie, Aaron Harris, Kijanna. Winner is Blair Thomas. I watched him run all over the Irish for 200+ yards. Not sure how many people remember the Alabama game where Benfatti either intercepted the ball or got the fumble. We were down with only a few minutes left and we just kept giving the rock to Blair. He was an absolute BEAST!!!!!! We got all the way down to the 1 and I would have ran it one more time with Blair for the win. They had not stopped him the whole drive 8+ yards a pop at least. Instead we attempt a FG and it was blocked. I think if he had scored via Blair's run, it would have put him as a Heisman front runner.

    Ugh. I was at that game. I still remember the kick in the stomach feeling from that block and the eerie silence except for the Alabama-red landing-strip stripe in the corner.

    Blair was a monster in that game.

    1. I gotta go with Curt Warner as my favorite. He made me fall in love with PSU as a kid. Watching the old highlight films, he ran with incredible power. Those blocky shoulder pads and fantastic pad level were tough to bring down. He ran like he was leaning into and looking for a hit, then elusive stutter step into the hole exploding into a full stride.

    2. OJ McDuffie was another from back in my day. I remember watching his diminutive frame on the basketball court dunking on much bigger dudes. He also had the challenge of making John Sacca look good. Best hands and athleticism I've seen from a PSU wideout. He graciously granted an autograph after getting drafted by the Dolphins at the Lions Den when he was taking a recruit out to lunch. The kid was a bit impressed and he leaned over to OJ and asked "Does that happen a lot?" OJ smiled and nodded, he said something like "When you come to Penn State."

    3. Kerry Collins - 1994 was my last season at PSU. In 1993, I had a brief interaction with Collins and most of the offensive line, also at the Den Ironically. Nice guy, a bit aloof at all the attention he was receiving from this incredibly hot chick who clearly wanted more than an autograph.

    4. Poz - Best of the most recent classes. Nostalgia plays heavily on my picks but Poz was a tackling machine. Perfect technique and football IQ, great demeanor.

    PSGrue

  • Bobby Engram. He was an awesome competitor and had a great college and pro career despite being small and not very fast. The Michigan State goalline play in '95 epitomizes his heart.
    So, as you can imagine, Bobby being the WR coach at Pitt is very painful.
    Honorable mentions: Ki-Jana, McDuffy, Herring.

    Chumley

  • Omar Easy.. awesome blocker, no speed, but punished people... I liked watching his hard nose style

    jhouck610

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