Big Shoes to Fill: #5 Leading the Charge in Happy Valley
In the upcoming days I will do a series on who has the biggest shoes to fill for the upcoming football season. The criteria I used was that both coaches and players were eligible for this list but once someone from a school was listed, no one else from that school would be eligible. So without further delay here is #5 in the list of biggest shoes to fill for 2006.
With Robinson gone it is Morelli's turn to lead the Lions
In Michael Robinson’s first three years at Penn State he had started games at quarterback, running back, and wide receiver. Coming into his senior year he was appointed the starter at QB and hoped to bring a once proud Nittany Lion program back to prominence. The early part of decade was not a kind one for Penn State fans as they only went to one bowl game and even the legend Joe Paterno was coming under question if he should hang it up or not, but one thing Paterno always did was stuck by Robinson. Robinson didn’t let his coach down as he amassed 3156 yards of total offense and 28 touchdowns in the Nittany Lions’ 11-1 season of 2005. Robinson also finished fifth in the Heisman Voting to go along with the team’s Big Ten title and Orange Bowl victory, but what can’t be measure in statistics is the leadership Robinson possessed.
With Robinson graduated the highly touted player from the QB hot bed of Western Pennsylvania, Anthony Morelli takes over. He style is the opposite of Robinson’s as Morelli is less mobile QB with a rocket arm, but has only attempted 33 passes in his two years. Not only will Morelli have the pressures of one of the most intense fan bases, he will also play two national title contenders in his first four games…away. The Nittany Lions travel South Bend the second week of the year and two weeks later open their Big Ten title defense against Ohio State in Columbus.
Morelli will have the entire receiving core back and Tony Hunt at running back, but does that take the pressure off him enough to ease into the position. Or will his play and the Nittany Lions’ season take a huge step back from 2005 causing the fans to shoulder the blame on him? Only time will tell, but with the early schedule it will tell early and often.
With Robinson gone it is Morelli's turn to lead the Lions
In Michael Robinson’s first three years at Penn State he had started games at quarterback, running back, and wide receiver. Coming into his senior year he was appointed the starter at QB and hoped to bring a once proud Nittany Lion program back to prominence. The early part of decade was not a kind one for Penn State fans as they only went to one bowl game and even the legend Joe Paterno was coming under question if he should hang it up or not, but one thing Paterno always did was stuck by Robinson. Robinson didn’t let his coach down as he amassed 3156 yards of total offense and 28 touchdowns in the Nittany Lions’ 11-1 season of 2005. Robinson also finished fifth in the Heisman Voting to go along with the team’s Big Ten title and Orange Bowl victory, but what can’t be measure in statistics is the leadership Robinson possessed.
With Robinson graduated the highly touted player from the QB hot bed of Western Pennsylvania, Anthony Morelli takes over. He style is the opposite of Robinson’s as Morelli is less mobile QB with a rocket arm, but has only attempted 33 passes in his two years. Not only will Morelli have the pressures of one of the most intense fan bases, he will also play two national title contenders in his first four games…away. The Nittany Lions travel South Bend the second week of the year and two weeks later open their Big Ten title defense against Ohio State in Columbus.
Morelli will have the entire receiving core back and Tony Hunt at running back, but does that take the pressure off him enough to ease into the position. Or will his play and the Nittany Lions’ season take a huge step back from 2005 causing the fans to shoulder the blame on him? Only time will tell, but with the early schedule it will tell early and often.
