Breneman "getting on with his life's work"....
- Thread starter Judge Smails
- Start date
Hope nothing but the best for the young man. Such a promising career. You just never know.
Happy for him. Made the most of his educational opportunity. But sorry that he wasn't able to play more because of injury.
A shame we didn't get so see him more, still cant believe he outran Wisconsin for that TD. Best of luck to him but I'm sure he won't need it
Fine young man, while he didn't have any luck at all during his playing career, I'm sure he'll make the most of life- and that's what really matters.
Best wishes to Adam. He, along with others, was a key element in preventing PSU football from falling into the abyss as a result of the unprecedented and unjustified sanctions visited on it both from within and without. For that, all PSU fans owe him undying gratitude.
Seems to be one of the really, really good guys.
If you have a kid who's a "student-athlete", the example you would want him to aspire to.
Certainly, his loss will be felt on the field......but best of luck to him as he moves forward.
Adam and Hack both deserve a ton of credit for sticking by Penn State during a very difficult time.
Think he tore the ACL twice, once in HS, once at PSU. Just couldn't go on it.
This is a surprise to me, but the injuries must be serious and lingering for him to have missed as much time as he did.
We may be heading towards a full 25 recruit class for 2016 at openings keep being announced..... But this could be a sign that Wilkerson will return in 2016, as we will be pretty young at TE behind him....
We may be heading towards a full 25 recruit class for 2016 at openings keep being announced..... But this could be a sign that Wilkerson will return in 2016, as we will be pretty young at TE behind him....
Last edited:
Love the kid...best of luck...he'll be a superstar.
This is why you choose PSU over a lot of the football factories. Coming out of high school, kid was a lock to get to the next level. But planning wisely and utilizing his time correctly at PSU, he's got a promising future outside of the NFL.
Too bad it didn't turn out the way he wanted but its a GREAT story.
This is why you choose PSU over a lot of the football factories. Coming out of high school, kid was a lock to get to the next level. But planning wisely and utilizing his time correctly at PSU, he's got a promising future outside of the NFL.
Too bad it didn't turn out the way he wanted but its a GREAT story.
This stinks. Glad he was able to graduate and is in a good place moving forward, and certainly glad he chose PSU, but this stinks.
I hate it when players we know will be great on-the-field players and great PSU-type leaders for the team in general get derailed by injuries. You can imagine what he would have been able to do.
I hate it when players we know will be great on-the-field players and great PSU-type leaders for the team in general get derailed by injuries. You can imagine what he would have been able to do.
I always considered Adam one of our best representatives of The Pennsylvania State University, off and on the field. Life is not always fair
.How the heck is this a surprise?
Franklin has said repeatedly that Adam was struggling to get healthy, Adam hardly played, and has been in a brace/crutches for the better part of 2 years.
AN OPEN LETTER TO PENN STATE
By Adam Breneman
Dear Penn State,
What an exciting few years it has been. It seems like just yesterday that I was standing in the Cedar Cliff High School gym announcing my commitment to Penn State University. Prior to writing this letter, I spent time reflecting on the past three years, and I wanted to share some of my thoughts with all of you. There have been many memories along the way. The amazing support I have received from the fan base at Penn State has had an everlasting impact on me and my family. The journey has been amazing and unforgettable.
I will never forget the "rush" I felt when I committed to Coach O'Brien. I will never forget the tears I cried when the sanctions were announced on that summer day in 2012. I will never forget the look of pride in my parents' eyes when I told them I would stay committed to Penn State through thick and thin. I will never forget playing against Michigan in 2013 and winning one of the most exciting games in history. I will never forget the feeling I experienced when looking into the crowd after my first touchdown against Purdue. I will never forget scoring the 68-yard touchdown which led to our upset win against Wisconsin. I will never forget the way my heart sank when I received that last call from Coach O'Brien on New Year's Eve. I will never forget our first team meeting with Coach Franklin, or the trying times during this past season. These are just a few of the amazing memories I will forever cherish.
I have given everything I have to this great university and to you faithful fans. For some time I feared that the time would soon come when I would have to write this letter, and now it has become a reality. After very long and hard discussions with my doctors, coaches, trainers, family, and friends, we have come to the realization that now is the time for me to move on. Although I had successfully overcome multiple surgeries since 2010, the injury I sustained to my left knee in 2014 has been much more complicated.
I know many of you will be disappointed, which I understand, but I ask that none of you feel sorry for me. I have truly lived a dream at Penn State that so few people ever get to experience. I have played in huge games and scored touchdowns in front of the best fans in the country. I have played for some of the best coaches in the game.
Of course, I wish I could have contributed more on the field to this great school and to my teammates. I want nothing more than to make my teammates, my coaches, my family, and the amazing Penn State fans proud. I am not sure what the next chapter of my life will entail, but I promise no matter where I am or what I am doing, I will never ever stop fighting for Penn State.
I want to say thank you to everyone who has ever supported me during my career. Thank you to Coach Joe Paterno for first offering me a scholarship. Thank you to Coach Bill O'Brien for believing in me and constantly wanting the best for me. Thank you to Coach Franklin for supporting me and being there during the difficult times. And of course, none of this would ever be possible without the hard work and vision of my high school coach, Jim Cantafio.
Additionally, thank you to Tim Bream, Wes Sohns, Travis Baughman, Dr. Scott Lynch, Dr. Pete Seidenberg, Dr. Wayne Sebastianelli, Dr. Brian Bixler, and Dr. Brian Ulmer. The medical care I received throughout my career has been first-class. The people I named have supported me in so many ways and have fought for me when many have doubted. I will always be thankful for their hard work.
I have always said that what makes Penn State such a special place is the people. And the people that surrounded me during my time here are really what made my experience so special.
I will love Penn State and I will love the people of Penn State for as long as I live. A day will not go by that I do not wake up and thank God for sending me to this great school. I always knew since a young age this was the place I belonged. It did not always go the way I planned, but I trust this was the plan for me. I would rather go through the challenging times at Penn State than have any other experience anywhere else.
Thank you, Penn State. I will bleed blue and white forever and ever. I love you, Dear Old State, and I will forever be indebted to you.
For the glory,
Adam
By Adam Breneman
Dear Penn State,
What an exciting few years it has been. It seems like just yesterday that I was standing in the Cedar Cliff High School gym announcing my commitment to Penn State University. Prior to writing this letter, I spent time reflecting on the past three years, and I wanted to share some of my thoughts with all of you. There have been many memories along the way. The amazing support I have received from the fan base at Penn State has had an everlasting impact on me and my family. The journey has been amazing and unforgettable.
I will never forget the "rush" I felt when I committed to Coach O'Brien. I will never forget the tears I cried when the sanctions were announced on that summer day in 2012. I will never forget the look of pride in my parents' eyes when I told them I would stay committed to Penn State through thick and thin. I will never forget playing against Michigan in 2013 and winning one of the most exciting games in history. I will never forget the feeling I experienced when looking into the crowd after my first touchdown against Purdue. I will never forget scoring the 68-yard touchdown which led to our upset win against Wisconsin. I will never forget the way my heart sank when I received that last call from Coach O'Brien on New Year's Eve. I will never forget our first team meeting with Coach Franklin, or the trying times during this past season. These are just a few of the amazing memories I will forever cherish.
I have given everything I have to this great university and to you faithful fans. For some time I feared that the time would soon come when I would have to write this letter, and now it has become a reality. After very long and hard discussions with my doctors, coaches, trainers, family, and friends, we have come to the realization that now is the time for me to move on. Although I had successfully overcome multiple surgeries since 2010, the injury I sustained to my left knee in 2014 has been much more complicated.
I know many of you will be disappointed, which I understand, but I ask that none of you feel sorry for me. I have truly lived a dream at Penn State that so few people ever get to experience. I have played in huge games and scored touchdowns in front of the best fans in the country. I have played for some of the best coaches in the game.
Of course, I wish I could have contributed more on the field to this great school and to my teammates. I want nothing more than to make my teammates, my coaches, my family, and the amazing Penn State fans proud. I am not sure what the next chapter of my life will entail, but I promise no matter where I am or what I am doing, I will never ever stop fighting for Penn State.
I want to say thank you to everyone who has ever supported me during my career. Thank you to Coach Joe Paterno for first offering me a scholarship. Thank you to Coach Bill O'Brien for believing in me and constantly wanting the best for me. Thank you to Coach Franklin for supporting me and being there during the difficult times. And of course, none of this would ever be possible without the hard work and vision of my high school coach, Jim Cantafio.
Additionally, thank you to Tim Bream, Wes Sohns, Travis Baughman, Dr. Scott Lynch, Dr. Pete Seidenberg, Dr. Wayne Sebastianelli, Dr. Brian Bixler, and Dr. Brian Ulmer. The medical care I received throughout my career has been first-class. The people I named have supported me in so many ways and have fought for me when many have doubted. I will always be thankful for their hard work.
I have always said that what makes Penn State such a special place is the people. And the people that surrounded me during my time here are really what made my experience so special.
I will love Penn State and I will love the people of Penn State for as long as I live. A day will not go by that I do not wake up and thank God for sending me to this great school. I always knew since a young age this was the place I belonged. It did not always go the way I planned, but I trust this was the plan for me. I would rather go through the challenging times at Penn State than have any other experience anywhere else.
Thank you, Penn State. I will bleed blue and white forever and ever. I love you, Dear Old State, and I will forever be indebted to you.
For the glory,
Adam
I talked to a kid in Smeal over XMAS break to see if he ever saw him. He said it seems Adam has
been on crutches whenever he sees him. Time to quit if will affect your future health.
I know I'm in the minority, but I'd rather save some ships for 2017 and bring the 5th year guys back. I'd really like to get; Ferns, Hamlin and Nixon. Not concerned about rest.
Wasn't there a coach somewhere who said that he wouldn't know which team was his best until he knew what they were doing 20 years or so after their football careers were over? Said it depended on how many were successful in their life's work.
Adam Breneman seems like the type man that would make that old coach - wish I could remember his name - proud.
Adam Breneman seems like the type man that would make that old coach - wish I could remember his name - proud.
No Adam, we're not disappointed in your announcement. If anything, we share your disappointment that injuries prevented you from doing what you strived for, but there's no shame in your decision. We're still with you and rooting for you, just not on the football field. Best of luck and thanks for the classy announcement.
What a terrific letter by such a classy young man. Adam stood by PSU when PSU needed him most and that is a real testament to the character of the young man. As a PSU alum and fan , I will always feel indebted to Adam (along with Hack, Mauti, Zordich, O'brien and many others who remained firm in time of crisis) and will continue to be a fan of his and root for him as he moves on to the next phase in his life. It's because of people like Adam that we can all be Penn State Proud.
We lost a looooot of character guys this year in Breneman, Hack, Zettle, Johnson and Nassib. I hope the next wave of leaders, NWW/Cabinda/MdSorley(?) are ready.
For the Glory of Old State Adam, for the glory.... Thank you.
If you ever needed a reminder of what Penn State Football aspires to be about, and often is, and what college athletics should be about, read Adam Breneman's letter.
Adam will probably make far more important contributions to society off the field than he ever could have made on the field, even if he had never been hurt.
Adam will probably make far more important contributions to society off the field than he ever could have made on the field, even if he had never been hurt.
