Should Penn State be known as Running Back U or Linebacker U

[francofan]

An excellent pre Rose Bowl interview with Franco on BTN



Franco makes a strong case that Penn State should be referred to as Running Back U as opposed to Linebacker U based on the great running backs in Penn State history. I can't argue with Franco.

I can name more star running backs from Penn State as opposed to star linebackers from PSU.

Some of the best running backs in Nittany Lion history that come to mind include Lenny Moore, Charlie Pittman, Lydell Mitchell, Franco, John Cappelletti, Matt Suhey, Curt Warner, D. J. Dozier, Blair Thomas, Ki-Jana Carter, Curtis Enis, Larry Johnson, Tony Hunt, Evan Royster, and Saquon Barkley.

I believe that Barkley may be the best and will help to cement the reputation of Penn State as Running Back U. I hope that he stays healthy next season and makes a run at the Heisman. While I am hoping, I also hope that Penn State makes a run for the National Championship. It could be a very interesting season for the Lions next year.

 

[AvalonJohn]

Both !

 

[Option Bob]

I'll raise you Dave Robinson, Bill Saul, Bob Mitinger, Denny Onkotz, Jack Ham, Ed O'Neil, Doug Allen, Ton Hull, John Ebersole, Mark D'Onfrio, Chet Parlavecchio, Lavar Arrington, Brandon Short, Rich Milot, John Skorupan, Bruce Bannon, jim Laslavic, Sean Lee, Navarro Bowman, Paul Posluszny, Shane Conlan, Greg Buttle, Derek Wake, and Tampa Hali.

 

[eilion]

Been close to 15 years since Penn State had anything close to a great back. Evan Royster and Tony Hunt were nice college backs but at most had a cup of coffee in the pros.

 

[gslachta]

Running back U? Linebacker U?
Yes!

 

[grinagrin]

Been close to 15 years since Penn State had anything close to a great back. Evan Royster and Tony Hunt were nice college backs but at most had a cup of coffee in the pros.

Just cuz they didn't pan out in the pros, doesn't mean they weren't great backs. The names Ki-Jana and Enis ring a bell?

 

[francofan]

I'll raise you Dave Robinson, Bill Saul, Bob Mitinger, Denny Onkotz, Jack Ham, Ed O'Neil, Doug Allen, Ton Hull, John Ebersole, Mark D'Onfrio, Chet Parlavecchio, Lavar Arrington, Brandon Short, Rich Milot, John Skorupan, Bruce Bannon, jim Laslavic, Sean Lee, Navarro Bowman, Paul Posluszny, Shane Conlan, Greg Buttle, Derek Wake, and Tampa Hali.

Don't get me wrong. Penn State has had a lot of great linebackers as evidenced by your list. I just think that Penn State's repuation for quality running backs deserves at least equal billing. I have heard Penn State referred to as Linebacker U forever. Up until now, I don't remember anybody referring to Penn State as Running Back U.

 

[Ranger Dan]

Its not even close... We've had some great RBs and LBs, but some of our LBs have been all century candidates, and as a whole have earned the title of LBU. When you compare our RB history with that of USC, or Oklahoma, or tOSU... just to name three of the top of my head, I don't think we can make the claim of RBU.

That being said, I think Barkley could be the best overall RB since Adrian Peterson. Of course, it will depend how he does in 2017. I'm hoping that the Big Ten honors for 2016 and the Rose Bowl performance will springboard him into the top of the Heisman race in 2017.

 

[francofan]

Been close to 15 years since Penn State had anything close to a great back. Evan Royster and Tony Hunt were nice college backs but at most had a cup of coffee in the pros.

Penn State has had a number of running backs that had very good college careers but that were busts in the pros including Ki-Jana Carter and Curtis Enis. On the other hand, Franco was the blocking back in college (Lydell Mitchell was the star) and then ended up in the NFL HOF.

 

[Rip_E_2_Joe_PA]

All U.....period!

 

[fairgambit]

All U.....period!

Along those lines, many people have expressed anger toward Erickson, Barron, and the BOT over the past 5 years, so how about "Damn U".

 

[PSU-Knocker]

Just make sure you differentiate us from "The U" or Da U".

 

[Lion78]

Thanks for the link,

LBU/RBU - just stop.

 

[artsandletters]

Been close to 15 years since Penn State had anything close to a great back. Evan Royster and Tony Hunt were nice college backs but at most had a cup of coffee in the pros.

What a college RB does in the NFL is not pertinent to his performance in college. The two are separate.

 

[psuro]

Been close to 15 years since Penn State had anything close to a great back. Evan Royster and Tony Hunt were nice college backs but at most had a cup of coffee in the pros.

Archie Griffen won two Heismabs as a running back at Ohio State. I guess you don't consider him a quality back since he did not have a productive NFL career.

 

[Indian rocks rich]

I'll raise you Dave Robinson, Bill Saul, Bob Mitinger, Denny Onkotz, Jack Ham, Ed O'Neil, Doug Allen, Ton Hull, John Ebersole, Mark D'Onfrio, Chet Parlavecchio, Lavar Arrington, Brandon Short, Rich Milot, John Skorupan, Bruce Bannon, jim Laslavic, Sean Lee, Navarro Bowman, Paul Posluszny, Shane Conlan, Greg Buttle, Derek Wake, and Tampa Hali.

Lance mehl has to be added also dan Connor too

 

[robmontour]

I'll raise you Dave Robinson, Bill Saul, Bob Mitinger, Denny Onkotz, Jack Ham, Ed O'Neil, Doug Allen, Ton Hull, John Ebersole, Mark D'Onfrio, Chet Parlavecchio, Lavar Arrington, Brandon Short, Rich Milot, John Skorupan, Bruce Bannon, jim Laslavic, Sean Lee, Navarro Bowman, Paul Posluszny, Shane Conlan, Greg Buttle, Derek Wake, and Tampa Hali.

Andre Collins

 

[robmontour]

Andre Collins

Crap I forgot Mauti, Stupar, Hull and Shaw. We have had more LBs with productive NFL careers

 

[LaJolla Lion]

I'd rather be known as National Champs again sooner rather than later. PSU is LBU, but they also need to step up the game there now.

 

[NittanyLion15]

An excellent pre Rose Bowl interview with Franco on BTN

View embedded media

Franco makes a strong case that Penn State should be referred to as Running Back U as opposed to Linebacker U based on the great running backs in Penn State history. I can't argue with Franco.

I can name more star running backs from Penn State as opposed to star linebackers from PSU.

Some of the best running backs in Nittany Lion history that come to mind include Lenny Moore, Charlie Pittman, Lydell Mitchell, Franco, John Cappelletti, Matt Suhey, Curt Warner, D. J. Dozier, Blair Thomas, Ki-Jana Carter, Curtis Enis, Larry Johnson, Tony Hunt, Evan Royster, and Saquon Barkley.

I believe that Barkley may be the best and will help to cement the reputation of Penn State as Running Back U. I hope that he stays healthy next season and makes a run at the Heisman. While I am hoping, I also hope that Penn State makes a run for the National Championship. It could be a very interesting season for the Lions next year.

It would make sense to be solid in both if you're solid in one. Who do you think your linebackers see all week in pra

An excellent pre Rose Bowl interview with Franco on BTN

View embedded media

Franco makes a strong case that Penn State should be referred to as Running Back U as opposed to Linebacker U based on the great running backs in Penn State history. I can't argue with Franco.

I can name more star running backs from Penn State as opposed to star linebackers from PSU.

Some of the best running backs in Nittany Lion history that come to mind include Lenny Moore, Charlie Pittman, Lydell Mitchell, Franco, John Cappelletti, Matt Suhey, Curt Warner, D. J. Dozier, Blair Thomas, Ki-Jana Carter, Curtis Enis, Larry Johnson, Tony Hunt, Evan Royster, and Saquon Barkley.

I believe that Barkley may be the best and will help to cement the reputation of Penn State as Running Back U. I hope that he stays healthy next season and makes a run at the Heisman. While I am hoping, I also hope that Penn State makes a run for the National Championship. It could be a very interesting season for the Lions next year.

I think what you're seeing is steady play at Linebacker leading to the development of great backs. If you're good at one, you're bound to be good at the other. They're matched up against each other day in and day out on the practice fields.

 

[Sharkies]

Just make sure you differentiate us from "The U" or Da U".

Da U meaning University of Scranton?

 

[WDLion]

I'll raise you Dave Robinson, Bill Saul, Bob Mitinger, Denny Onkotz, Jack Ham, Ed O'Neil, Doug Allen, Ton Hull, John Ebersole, Mark D'Onfrio, Chet Parlavecchio, Lavar Arrington, Brandon Short, Rich Milot, John Skorupan, Bruce Bannon, jim Laslavic, Sean Lee, Navarro Bowman, Paul Posluszny, Shane Conlan, Greg Buttle, Derek Wake, and Tampa Hali.

Ralph Baker Lance Mehl

 

[PSU-Knocker]

Da U meaning University of Scranton?

With either: the University of Miami.

 

[marisa45]

Penn State has had a number of running backs that had very good college careers but that were busts in the pros including Ki-Jana Carter and Curtis Enis. On the other hand, Franco was the blocking back in college (Lydell Mitchell was the star) and then ended up in the NFL HOF.

KiJana was really not a bust. He tore two ACLs. From what I remember DJ Dozier, Curtis Enis and Blair Thomas were considered disappointments in the NFL. There was some mumblings about a PSU curse with RBs during that period. Kijana had the measurables and would have been a good NFL player had he stayed healthy. The others seemed to benefit from line play and run-heavy offenses. I don't think there is an any doubt that Barkley is the most "talented" back we've had but I don't think we're in that category of consistently turning out great running backs like some other schools. OSU with Carlos Hyde and Ezekiel Elliot comes to mind. They know what they're doing when they turn out running backs. Very few negative plays. But obviously Alabama has been head and shoulders above everyone else the last few years.

The way the term is meant to be used, you can only have one RBU, LBU whatever.....In that scenario, I would say Alabama is RBU but we're still LBU, and those players know it when they come here!

 

[Option Bob]

Well, to all who have added names to my not-so-well-thought-out list (I simply typed names that came to me challenged brain almost instantaneously), I say Thank you!

Additions like Mauti, Collins, Baker, Stupar, Conner, Hull, and Mehl should just about close the case that Penn State has deserved the moniker of "Linebacker U."

And as far as the reference to NFL "busts" (feel free to add a Terri Hatcher " ... and they're spectacular" reference here): any player whose career is curtailed or ended by serious injury should not be considered a "bust." Such a negative term should be applied solely to those athletes who had the hype and the opportunity but failed to work up to their full potential ... just my opinion, of course.

 

[kijana]

Here is what is amazing about Penn State running backs.

If you asked the typical joe schmoe PSU fan who the top 5 PSU running back of all time are, there is a good chance that these 4 guys WOULD NOT make the top 5 list:

PSU's career rushing leader(Royster)
PSU's single season rushing leader(Larry Johnson)
A future NFL HOFer(Franco)
PSU's only Heisman winner(cappaletti)

If these 4 guys don't make a top 5 list, then PSU must have had some hellava great running backs over the years.

 

[Grant Green]

The Cowboys and 49ers defenses are night and day with/without Sean Lee and Bowman.
Pretty sure Poz is still starting. Not sure the status of Hodges and Stupar. Starters? Reserves?

We're still LBU.

 

[WDLion]

Penn State has had a number of running backs that had very good college careers but that were busts in the pros including Ki-Jana Carter and Curtis Enis. On the other hand, Franco was the blocking back in college (Lydell Mitchell was the star) and then ended up in the NFL HOF.

Franco had 380 carries for 2007 Yds. That's 5.28 Ypc, not to shabby. That's three years.

 

[aferrelli]

It should be called WR U.

Since ARob and Chris Godwin we've became a football factory for great wide receivers. Plus there were some great ones in the previous decade too. Deon Butler, Moye, Derrick Williams, and Jordan Norwood.

 

[PSU_Chicago]

there was a time I thought PSU was OL U or DL U or .... Great teams have great players at all the positions. Here is to CJF and staff broadening the ____ U in the upcoming years