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Question: Who's Next to Wear the Stix?

Thorndike2021

Thorndike2021

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The #11 was talked about a LOT during the playoff run. It is possibly the next great PSU/LBU tradition. So, how is it determined who will wear 11?

Does the staff hold that out there to possibly bring in a stud from the portal?

Do you hand that to someone like Rojas and pray he grows into it?

Has the 'process' been explained and I've missed it?
 
Thorndike2021

Thorndike2021

All-Conference
Mar 1, 2012
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I'm not ready to sew an 'S' on junior's chest yet. I've seen his tape and he's not his father. He's also about 40 lbs too light. As of right now junior isn't ready for BiG play let alone being anointed the next chosen one.

Does Bragalone have any remaining eligibility?
 
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LionsAndBears

LionsAndBears

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Dec 7, 2009
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Rojas will be our best LB next year. The kid gets way too much crap for missed tackles while playing with 1 arm all year. Once healthy, he's going to be a stud and future NFL LB. Give him the number if he wants it.
 
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Psumatt85

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Thorndike2021 said:
The #11 was talked about a LOT during the playoff run. It is possibly the next great PSU/LBU tradition. So, how is it determined who will wear 11?

Does the staff hold that out there to possibly bring in a stud from the portal?

Do you hand that to someone like Rojas and pray he grows into it?

Has the 'process' been explained and I've missed it?
Click to expand...
Noah Kahan
 
LionJim

LionJim

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Oct 12, 2021
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Achowalogan said:
11 does not have to be used every year…if there is a legitimate 11, use the number, if not, let potential candidates work for the honor of wearing 11…
Click to expand...
Way back in the day, pre B1G, there was this hs basketball player, whose name is lost in the mists of time, being recruited by both American U and PSU. He picked PSU. The AU coach was flabbergasted and approached the player to ask why he picked PSU after having told the coach that AU was a perfect fit. “PSU is letting me wear #23, and AU couldn’t promise me that.” This is the story I remember.
 
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Bison13

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LionJim said:
Way back in the day, pre B1G, there was this hs basketball player, whose name is lost in the mists of time, being recruited by both American U and PSU. He picked PSU. The AU coach was flabbergasted and approached the player to ask why he picked PSU after having told the coach that AU was a perfect fit. “PSU is letting me wear #23, and AU couldn’t promise me that.” This is the story I remember.
Click to expand...
I don’t think anybody would be surprised to learn that this happens quite a bit these days. Kids absolutely ask on recruiting visits if they are going to be able to wear a specific number.
 
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LionJim

LionJim

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Bison13 said:
I don’t think anybody would be surprised to learn that this happens quite a bit these days. Kids absolutely ask on recruiting visits if they are going to be able to wear a specific number.
Click to expand...
I guess my larger point is that #11 is a hell of a recruiting carrot.
 
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Thorndike2021

Thorndike2021

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Achowalogan said:
11 does not have to be used every year…if there is a legitimate 11, use the number, if not, let potential candidates work for the honor of wearing 11…
Click to expand...
I guess this is the direction that I'm leaning at this point. Maybe you get lucky with some stud ILB from the portal (something we really need!) shows interest this Spring and #11 is the carrot. *shrug*
 
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NittanyBuff

NittanyBuff

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Jan 29, 2007
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Thorndike2021 said:
The #11 was talked about a LOT during the playoff run. It is possibly the next great PSU/LBU tradition. So, how is it determined who will wear 11?

Does the staff hold that out there to possibly bring in a stud from the portal?

Do you hand that to someone like Rojas and pray he grows into it?

Has the 'process' been explained and I've missed it?
Click to expand...
Who is wearing 31, just as important, nice to have 2 great numbers over the course of history.
 
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MacNit

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LionsAndBears said:
Rojas will be our best LB next year. The kid gets way too much crap for missed tackles while playing with 1 arm all year. Once healthy, he's going to be a stud and future NFL LB. Give him the number if he wants it.
Click to expand...
Injury?
 
MtNittany

MtNittany

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I've never looked at the roster history, but I'm sure some non-AA's wore 11 between Lavar and Carter. Seems that it was noticed rather recently - say a decade ago - that Bowman was a stud and he and Lavar both wore 11, and grew from there.

But I don't remember ever discussing it in real time or even thinking about it.
 
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OptionBob

OptionBob

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MtNittany said:
I've never looked at the roster history, but I'm sure some non-AA's wore 11 between Lavar and Carter. Seems that it was noticed rather recently - say a decade ago - that Bowman was a stud and he and Lavar both wore 11, and grew from there.

But I don't remember ever discussing it in real time or even thinking about it.
Click to expand...
Agree. I'm guessing that the whole "double sticks" thing is viewed as a recruiting tool, capitalizing on the NFL success of Arrignton and Parsons (and should include Bowman, as you say as well).

I've never really liked the idea of "retiring" numbers for college football, since rosters are so large and the number availability limited. I'm sure almost all Penn State fans admire and love John Cappelletti; however, his #22 should be available to future players, even if limited to only RBs.

I've mentioned before that #31 is certainly as good as or perhaps even historically better than #11 for linebackers. Andre Collins, Shane Conlan, and Paul Posluszny can stand toe to toe with Arrington, Bowman, and Parsons, especially when one considers only their respective careers at Penn State, not in the NFL.
 
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Midnighter

Midnighter

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Jan 22, 2021
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Catch1lion said:
In a slight surprise, as a Freshman , from
The get go . ….
Click to expand...


French Reaction GIF
 
wbcbus

wbcbus

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I don't get the surprise here. The past #11s all got that number from the get-go, I don't understand this belief that they had to do something else on the field first, then they got it. Not the case. LaVar Jr. is our top LB recruit in this class, and it's fitting he gets it.

LaVar II is the #259 player nationally and #29 LB. Abdul Carter was #222 and LB #22, and there was no debate about whether he should be allowed to wear it. Whether LaVar Jr meets the st1x standard or not is irrelevant to whether he deserves to wear it, and he does.
 
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OptionBob

OptionBob

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wbcbus said:
I don't get the surprise here. The past #11s all got that number from the get-go, I don't understand this belief that they had to do something else on the field first, then they got it. Not the case. LaVar Jr. is our top LB recruit in this class, and it's fitting he gets it.

LaVar II is the #259 player nationally and #29 LB. Abdul Carter was #222 and LB #22, and there was no debate about whether he should be allowed to wear it. Whether LaVar Jr meets the st1x standard or not is irrelevant to whether he deserves to wear it, and he does.
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Well, Navarro Bowman began his career with #18.

Brandon Bell began with #26.

Both changed to #11 after success on the field.
 
wbcbus

wbcbus

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OptionBob said:
Well, Navarro Bowman began his career with #18.

Brandon Bell began with #26.

Both changed to #11 after success on the field.
Click to expand...

I was incorrect to say "all" then. But it has not been an always thing, including the most recent who was similarly rated as Arrington coming out of HS.
 
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