2003 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
Encyclopedia
The 2003 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University
in the 2003 college football season
. The team's head coach was Joe Paterno
. It played its home games at Beaver Stadium
in University Park, Pennsylvania
.
, who was on pace for a record-shattering season before injuring his left throwing arm, and with the emergence of Larry Johnson, the Nittany Lions practically stopped throwing the ball. But in addition to losing Johnson, who won the Maxwell Award
, the Doak Walker Award
, the Walter Camp Award
, and finished third in the Heisman Trophy
balloting, the offensive unit also loses its leading receiver Bryant Johnson
and four starters on the offensive line. Top candidates to replace Johnson include junior Mike Gasparato and true freshmen Austin Scott and Tony Hunt
. Defensive tackle Levi Brown was moved to left tackle to help shore up the offensive line.
Penn State started the season ranked #25 in the Coaches
college football preseason poll and was unranked in the AP
college football preseason poll.
this year.
‡ The game was not televised but was webcast on ESPN.com.
23–10. Zack Mills
was 7 of 16 for 79 yards and a touchdown. Backup quarterback Michael Robinson
, who started at tailback, led the team with 84 yards rushing. True freshman Austin Scott was next with 69 yards on a team-high 12 carries. Fifth-year senior Ricky Upton had 19 yards on four carries, and true freshman Tony Hunt
had 12 yards on three carries. This would be the only game of 2003 in which Penn State never once trailed.
jumped out to an early lead against a flat Penn State team, as the Eagles won 27–14. The Eagles went up 21–0 with 7:50 left in the first quarter, amassing 206 of its 383 total yards by the end of the first quarter. Zack Mills
was 15 of 28 for 144 yards but was benched in favor of Michael Robinson
in the third quarter. Robinson led the Lions to a touchdown but going only 4 of 11 for 41 yards. Penn State was inside the Boston College 30 five times and came away with only 14 points.
running game dominated Penn State, as the Huskers won 18–10. Nebraska rushed for 337 yards on 72 carries and held the ball twice as long as Penn State, who managed only 44 yards on 21 carries.
32–10. Scott rushed for 100 yards on 21 carries with three touchdowns. Fullback Sean McHugh
added 49 yards on nine carries and a touchdown. Redshirt freshman cornerback Maurice Humphrey made his first appearance at receiver and produced three receptions for 37 yards. Michael Robinson
was used strictly as a quarterback, finishing 2 of 9 for 29 yards, alternating with Zack Mills
who finished 10 of 20 for 99 yards.
got his first significant playing time under center, in relief of an injured Zack Mills
whose left knee was sprained in the second quarter and did not return, but it wasn't enough to beat the Golden Gophers
as the Lions lost 20–14. Robinson finished 16 of 27 for 178 yards but with two interceptions. He also had 42 yards rushing on 12 carries and a touchdown.
won 30–23. The Lions special teams allowed a punt returned for a touchdown, fumbled a punt that led to another touchdown, had two missed field goals and a missed extra point. The defense couldn't stop Wisconsin's running game, allowing 234 yards on the ground, 119 from Wisconsin's third-stringer Booker Stanley. Overshadowed was Michael Robinson
's superb performance in his first start at quarterback. Robinson finished 22 of 43 for 379 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. His 379 passing yards ranks second on Penn State's all-time list.
defense held the Penn State offense to only 204 total yards as Purdue won 28–14. Michael Robinson
, starting at quarterback for the second straight week, was held to only 98 yards passing on 10 of 32 attempts. Purdue, known mostly as a passing team, rushed for 234 yards, compared to Penn State's 125 yards rushing. Tony Hunt
led the team with 47 yards on nine carries.
defense dominated the Penn State offense as Iowa goes on to win 26–14. The Lions led after the first quarter when safety Yaacov Yisrael returned an interception 83 yards for a touchdown. Penn State and starting quarterback Michael Robinson
started their first three possessions in Iowa territory but couldn't move the ball and had a fumble returned that set up Iowa's first touchdown. Robinson was replaced by Zack Mills
, who went 14 of 25 for 138 yards and a touchdown in the final three quarters, but the team failed to mount a serious comeback.
regained the starting position, but it wasn't enough as the Buckeyes
defeated the Lions 21–20. Mills was 27 of 43 for 253 yards, becoming the school's all-time leader in completions with 406, passing Tony Sacca
. He also moved past Todd Blackledge
into fourth place in passing yards with 4,973. Mills also moved into second place in total offense with 5,482 yards. Converted cornerback Maurice Humphrey had seven receptions for 64 yards, and little-used Terrance Phillips had his first career reception and finished with two catches for 47 yards. On defense, Alan Zemaitis
returned an interception 78 yards for a touchdown. Kickoff specialist David Kimball
made the first field goal of his career, replacing Robbie Gould
in all kicking roles.
as the Wildcats scored 17 points in the final seven minutes to win 17–7. Zack Mills
finished 22 of 36 for 230 yards passing and an interception but also rushed for Penn State's lone score. Maurice Humphrey led Penn State with eight receptions for 97 yards but dropped two passes including one that would have been a touchdown. Michael Robinson
started at tailback and finished with 15 rushes for 47 yards, five receptions for 55 yards, and was 1 for 1 for 11 yards passing. Fullback Sean McHugh
led the team in rushing with 79 yards on 10 carries.
The defense forced three Wildcat turnovers. Paul Posluszny
made eight tackles, including one for a loss and a crucial stop on fourth-and-1. Yaacov Yisrael led the Lions with 15 tackles forced a fumble.
52–7. After the Hoosiers jumped to a 7–0 lead, Penn State piled on 52 unanswered points. Zack Mills
was 12 of 19 for 173 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Michael Robinson
started at tailback and rushed for 85 yards and a touchdown. Robinson was also 2 of 3 passing for 87 yards and a touchdown. Senior Tony Johnson had three receptions, all for touchdowns, totaling 47 yards.
On special teams, Robbie Gould
kicked a 37-yard field goal. Yaacov Yisrael also blocked a punt, that Andrew Guman recovered and returned seven yards for a touchdown. Linebacker Paul Posluszny
also returned an interception 15 yards for a touchdown.
gave the Lions a 3–0 lead, but it was all Michigan State Spartans
after that en route to a 41–10 victory over the Nittany Lions. The Lions defense could not stop the Spartans, as Michigan State quarterback Jeff Smoker
completed 29 of 50 for 357 yards and four touchdowns. Zack Mills
finished 11 of 24 for 114 yards, becoming Penn State's career leader in total offense and also moved into second place on the school's passing yardage list.
Despite the losing record, Penn State claimed second place in football attendance for the third consecutive season, averaging 105,629 through seven home games, ranking in the top four for the 13th consecutive year. The Ohio State game drew Penn State's largest home crowd of 108,276, the seventh largest crowd ever in Beaver Stadium.
The team's second-leading receiver Maurice Humphrey, after a promising season at wide receiver was expelled from school and convicted of three counts of simple assault. Humphrey would not play another down for Penn State.
.
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
in the 2003 college football season
2003 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with an abundance of controversy, resulting in a split national championship. This was the first split title since the inception of the BCS, something the BCS intended to eliminate....
. The team's head coach was Joe Paterno
Joe Paterno
Joseph Vincent "Joe" Paterno is a former college football coach who was the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions for 46 years from 1966 through 2011. Paterno, nicknamed "JoePa," holds the record for the most victories by an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision football coach with...
. It played its home games at Beaver Stadium
Beaver Stadium
Beaver Stadium is an outdoor college football stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania, United States, on the campus of The Pennsylvania State University. It is home to the Penn State Nittany Lions of the Big Ten Conference. The stadium is named for James A...
in University Park, Pennsylvania
University Park, Pennsylvania
University Park, Pennsylvania is an unincorporated community in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States, and is the location of the flagship campus of the Pennsylvania State University....
.
Preseason
The offense returns five starters, including quarterback Zack MillsZack Mills
Zachary Eric Mills is a former American football quarterback. He was an All-Big Ten selection and four-year starter at Penn State University...
, who was on pace for a record-shattering season before injuring his left throwing arm, and with the emergence of Larry Johnson, the Nittany Lions practically stopped throwing the ball. But in addition to losing Johnson, who won the Maxwell Award
Maxwell Award
The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the collegiate American football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best football player in the United States. The...
, the Doak Walker Award
Doak Walker Award
The Doak Walker Award, first awarded in 1990, honors the United States's top college football running back. It is named after the Southern Methodist and Detroit Lions football player Doak Walker...
, the Walter Camp Award
Walter Camp Award
The Walter Camp Player of the Year Award is given annually to the collegiate American football Player of the Year, as decided by a group of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I-A head coaches and sports information directors under the auspices of the Walter Camp Football Foundation;...
, and finished third in the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
balloting, the offensive unit also loses its leading receiver Bryant Johnson
Bryant Johnson
Bryant Andrew Johnson is an American football wide receiver for the Houston Texans of the National Football League He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals 17th overall in the 2003 NFL Draft...
and four starters on the offensive line. Top candidates to replace Johnson include junior Mike Gasparato and true freshmen Austin Scott and Tony Hunt
Tony Hunt
Antonio Christopher Hunt is an American football running back for the Raiffeisen Vikings Vienna of the Austrian Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Penn State.-Early years:A standout player at T. C...
. Defensive tackle Levi Brown was moved to left tackle to help shore up the offensive line.
Penn State started the season ranked #25 in the Coaches
Coaches Poll
The USA Today Coaches' Poll is the current name for a weekly ranking of the top 25 NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football and Division I college basketball teams....
college football preseason poll and was unranked in the AP
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
college football preseason poll.
Recruiting class
Schedule
Penn State does not play Big Ten teams and Michigan2003 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 2003 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 2003 college football season. The team's head coach was Lloyd Carr. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium. The team won the first of its back to back Big Ten Championships...
this year.
‡ The game was not televised but was webcast on ESPN.com.
Temple
Penn State played four tailbacks to beat the OwlsTemple Owls football
The Temple Owls football team participates in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference...
23–10. Zack Mills
Zack Mills
Zachary Eric Mills is a former American football quarterback. He was an All-Big Ten selection and four-year starter at Penn State University...
was 7 of 16 for 79 yards and a touchdown. Backup quarterback Michael Robinson
Michael Robinson (American football)
Burton Michael Robinson is an American football running back for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted in the 4th round by the 49ers in the 2006 NFL Draft...
, who started at tailback, led the team with 84 yards rushing. True freshman Austin Scott was next with 69 yards on a team-high 12 carries. Fifth-year senior Ricky Upton had 19 yards on four carries, and true freshman Tony Hunt
Tony Hunt
Antonio Christopher Hunt is an American football running back for the Raiffeisen Vikings Vienna of the Austrian Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Penn State.-Early years:A standout player at T. C...
had 12 yards on three carries. This would be the only game of 2003 in which Penn State never once trailed.
Boston College
The Boston College EaglesBoston College Eagles
The Boston College Eagles are the athletic teams representing Boston College. They compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The men's and women's ice hockey teams compete in Hockey East. The women's crew team competes in the Eastern Association of Women's Rowing...
jumped out to an early lead against a flat Penn State team, as the Eagles won 27–14. The Eagles went up 21–0 with 7:50 left in the first quarter, amassing 206 of its 383 total yards by the end of the first quarter. Zack Mills
Zack Mills
Zachary Eric Mills is a former American football quarterback. He was an All-Big Ten selection and four-year starter at Penn State University...
was 15 of 28 for 144 yards but was benched in favor of Michael Robinson
Michael Robinson (American football)
Burton Michael Robinson is an American football running back for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted in the 4th round by the 49ers in the 2006 NFL Draft...
in the third quarter. Robinson led the Lions to a touchdown but going only 4 of 11 for 41 yards. Penn State was inside the Boston College 30 five times and came away with only 14 points.
Nebraska
The CornhuskersNebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
running game dominated Penn State, as the Huskers won 18–10. Nebraska rushed for 337 yards on 72 carries and held the ball twice as long as Penn State, who managed only 44 yards on 21 carries.
Kent State
Austin Scott made his first career start as Penn State erased a 10-point deficit to beat the Golden FlashesKent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
32–10. Scott rushed for 100 yards on 21 carries with three touchdowns. Fullback Sean McHugh
Sean McHugh
Sean McHugh is an American football tight end/fullback who is currently a free agent. He most recently played for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League.-Early years:...
added 49 yards on nine carries and a touchdown. Redshirt freshman cornerback Maurice Humphrey made his first appearance at receiver and produced three receptions for 37 yards. Michael Robinson
Michael Robinson (American football)
Burton Michael Robinson is an American football running back for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted in the 4th round by the 49ers in the 2006 NFL Draft...
was used strictly as a quarterback, finishing 2 of 9 for 29 yards, alternating with Zack Mills
Zack Mills
Zachary Eric Mills is a former American football quarterback. He was an All-Big Ten selection and four-year starter at Penn State University...
who finished 10 of 20 for 99 yards.
Minnesota
Michael RobinsonMichael Robinson (American football)
Burton Michael Robinson is an American football running back for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted in the 4th round by the 49ers in the 2006 NFL Draft...
got his first significant playing time under center, in relief of an injured Zack Mills
Zack Mills
Zachary Eric Mills is a former American football quarterback. He was an All-Big Ten selection and four-year starter at Penn State University...
whose left knee was sprained in the second quarter and did not return, but it wasn't enough to beat the Golden Gophers
Minnesota Golden Gophers football
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as...
as the Lions lost 20–14. Robinson finished 16 of 27 for 178 yards but with two interceptions. He also had 42 yards rushing on 12 carries and a touchdown.
Wisconsin
Penn State's special teams broke down as the BadgersWisconsin Badgers football
The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
won 30–23. The Lions special teams allowed a punt returned for a touchdown, fumbled a punt that led to another touchdown, had two missed field goals and a missed extra point. The defense couldn't stop Wisconsin's running game, allowing 234 yards on the ground, 119 from Wisconsin's third-stringer Booker Stanley. Overshadowed was Michael Robinson
Michael Robinson (American football)
Burton Michael Robinson is an American football running back for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted in the 4th round by the 49ers in the 2006 NFL Draft...
's superb performance in his first start at quarterback. Robinson finished 22 of 43 for 379 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. His 379 passing yards ranks second on Penn State's all-time list.
Purdue
The BoilermakersPurdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
defense held the Penn State offense to only 204 total yards as Purdue won 28–14. Michael Robinson
Michael Robinson (American football)
Burton Michael Robinson is an American football running back for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted in the 4th round by the 49ers in the 2006 NFL Draft...
, starting at quarterback for the second straight week, was held to only 98 yards passing on 10 of 32 attempts. Purdue, known mostly as a passing team, rushed for 234 yards, compared to Penn State's 125 yards rushing. Tony Hunt
Tony Hunt
Antonio Christopher Hunt is an American football running back for the Raiffeisen Vikings Vienna of the Austrian Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Penn State.-Early years:A standout player at T. C...
led the team with 47 yards on nine carries.
Iowa
The HawkeyesIowa Hawkeyes football
The Iowa Hawkeyes football team is the interscholastic football team at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have competed in the Big Ten Conference since 1900, and are currently a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
defense dominated the Penn State offense as Iowa goes on to win 26–14. The Lions led after the first quarter when safety Yaacov Yisrael returned an interception 83 yards for a touchdown. Penn State and starting quarterback Michael Robinson
Michael Robinson (American football)
Burton Michael Robinson is an American football running back for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted in the 4th round by the 49ers in the 2006 NFL Draft...
started their first three possessions in Iowa territory but couldn't move the ball and had a fumble returned that set up Iowa's first touchdown. Robinson was replaced by Zack Mills
Zack Mills
Zachary Eric Mills is a former American football quarterback. He was an All-Big Ten selection and four-year starter at Penn State University...
, who went 14 of 25 for 138 yards and a touchdown in the final three quarters, but the team failed to mount a serious comeback.
Ohio State
Zack MillsZack Mills
Zachary Eric Mills is a former American football quarterback. He was an All-Big Ten selection and four-year starter at Penn State University...
regained the starting position, but it wasn't enough as the Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
defeated the Lions 21–20. Mills was 27 of 43 for 253 yards, becoming the school's all-time leader in completions with 406, passing Tony Sacca
Tony Sacca
Anthony John Sacca is a former quarterback who played for the Penn State Nittany Lions football team from 1988–91 and who played briefly in the NFL for the Phoenix Cardinals in 1992....
. He also moved past Todd Blackledge
Todd Blackledge
Todd Alan Blackledge was an American football quarterback in both the NCAA and National Football League. In college, he led the Penn State Nittany Lions to a national championship; and, as a pro, he played for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers...
into fourth place in passing yards with 4,973. Mills also moved into second place in total offense with 5,482 yards. Converted cornerback Maurice Humphrey had seven receptions for 64 yards, and little-used Terrance Phillips had his first career reception and finished with two catches for 47 yards. On defense, Alan Zemaitis
Alan Zemaitis
Alan Zemaitis is a professional American football cornerback. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 4th round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
returned an interception 78 yards for a touchdown. Kickoff specialist David Kimball
David Kimball
David Wayne Kimball is a former professional American football placekicker, most notably with the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe. He was allocated to NFL Europe by the Oakland Raiders in 2006. He attended State College Area High School and was a Parade All-American selection there in 1999...
made the first field goal of his career, replacing Robbie Gould
Robbie Gould
Robert Paul "Robbie" Gould III is an American football placekicker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at Penn State...
in all kicking roles.
Northwestern
The Nittany Lions, in control most of the game, couldn't hold off the WildcatsNorthwestern Wildcats football
The Northwestern Wildcats football team, representing Northwestern University, is a NCAA Division I team and member of the Big Ten Conference, with evidence of organization in 1876...
as the Wildcats scored 17 points in the final seven minutes to win 17–7. Zack Mills
Zack Mills
Zachary Eric Mills is a former American football quarterback. He was an All-Big Ten selection and four-year starter at Penn State University...
finished 22 of 36 for 230 yards passing and an interception but also rushed for Penn State's lone score. Maurice Humphrey led Penn State with eight receptions for 97 yards but dropped two passes including one that would have been a touchdown. Michael Robinson
Michael Robinson (American football)
Burton Michael Robinson is an American football running back for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted in the 4th round by the 49ers in the 2006 NFL Draft...
started at tailback and finished with 15 rushes for 47 yards, five receptions for 55 yards, and was 1 for 1 for 11 yards passing. Fullback Sean McHugh
Sean McHugh
Sean McHugh is an American football tight end/fullback who is currently a free agent. He most recently played for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League.-Early years:...
led the team in rushing with 79 yards on 10 carries.
The defense forced three Wildcat turnovers. Paul Posluszny
Paul Posluszny
Paul Michael Posluszny , commonly known as "Poz", is an American football linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
made eight tackles, including one for a loss and a crucial stop on fourth-and-1. Yaacov Yisrael led the Lions with 15 tackles forced a fumble.
Indiana
On senior day Penn State scored on offense, defense, and special teams, as they rolled over the HoosiersIndiana Hoosiers football
The Indiana Hoosiers football program represents Indiana University Bloomington in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football and in the Big Ten Conference.-Bowl games:...
52–7. After the Hoosiers jumped to a 7–0 lead, Penn State piled on 52 unanswered points. Zack Mills
Zack Mills
Zachary Eric Mills is a former American football quarterback. He was an All-Big Ten selection and four-year starter at Penn State University...
was 12 of 19 for 173 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Michael Robinson
Michael Robinson (American football)
Burton Michael Robinson is an American football running back for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted in the 4th round by the 49ers in the 2006 NFL Draft...
started at tailback and rushed for 85 yards and a touchdown. Robinson was also 2 of 3 passing for 87 yards and a touchdown. Senior Tony Johnson had three receptions, all for touchdowns, totaling 47 yards.
On special teams, Robbie Gould
Robbie Gould
Robert Paul "Robbie" Gould III is an American football placekicker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at Penn State...
kicked a 37-yard field goal. Yaacov Yisrael also blocked a punt, that Andrew Guman recovered and returned seven yards for a touchdown. Linebacker Paul Posluszny
Paul Posluszny
Paul Michael Posluszny , commonly known as "Poz", is an American football linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
also returned an interception 15 yards for a touchdown.
Michigan State
Robbie GouldRobbie Gould
Robert Paul "Robbie" Gould III is an American football placekicker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at Penn State...
gave the Lions a 3–0 lead, but it was all Michigan State Spartans
2003 Michigan State Spartans football team
The 2003 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 2003-2004 college football season.The Spartans play their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. This was the first year for head coach John L...
after that en route to a 41–10 victory over the Nittany Lions. The Lions defense could not stop the Spartans, as Michigan State quarterback Jeff Smoker
Jeff Smoker
Jeff Smoker is an American football quarterback who played for the National Football League's St. Louis Rams from 2004 to 2005. He was also the starting quarterback for the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League.-Michigan State:Jeff Smoker attended Michigan State University...
completed 29 of 50 for 357 yards and four touchdowns. Zack Mills
Zack Mills
Zachary Eric Mills is a former American football quarterback. He was an All-Big Ten selection and four-year starter at Penn State University...
finished 11 of 24 for 114 yards, becoming Penn State's career leader in total offense and also moved into second place on the school's passing yardage list.
Watchlists
- Gino Capone
-
- Dick Butkus AwardDick Butkus AwardThe Butkus Award, instituted in 1985, is given annually to the top linebackers at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of football...
watchlist
- Dick Butkus Award
- Robbie GouldRobbie GouldRobert Paul "Robbie" Gould III is an American football placekicker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at Penn State...
-
- Lou Groza AwardLou Groza AwardThe Lou Groza Award is presented annually to the top college football placekicker in the United States by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. The award is named after former Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland Browns player Lou Groza.-Winners:...
watchlist
- Lou Groza Award
- Zack MillsZack MillsZachary Eric Mills is a former American football quarterback. He was an All-Big Ten selection and four-year starter at Penn State University...
-
- Davey O'Brien AwardDavey O'Brien AwardThe Davey O'Brien Award, officially the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, named after Davey O'Brien, is presented annually to the collegiate American football player adjudged by the Davey O'Brien Foundation to be the best of all National Collegiate Athletic Association quarterbacks. The...
watchlist
- Davey O'Brien Award
- Derek Wake
-
- Dick Butkus AwardDick Butkus AwardThe Butkus Award, instituted in 1985, is given annually to the top linebackers at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of football...
watchlist
- Dick Butkus Award
Players
- Dave Costlow
-
- Second-team CoSIDA Academic All-AmericaAll-AmericaAn All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n - First-team CoSIDA Academic All-District
- Second-team CoSIDA Academic All-America
- Gino Capone
-
- First-team CoSIDA Academic All-District
- Michael RobinsonMichael Robinson (American football)Burton Michael Robinson is an American football running back for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted in the 4th round by the 49ers in the 2006 NFL Draft...
-
- Second-team CoSIDA Academic All-District
- Gio Vendemia
-
- Second-team CoSIDA Academic All-District
- Yaacov Yisrael
-
- Second-team All-Big TenBig Ten ConferenceThe Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
(conference coaches selection)
- Second-team All-Big Ten
- Alan ZemaitisAlan ZemaitisAlan Zemaitis is a professional American football cornerback. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 4th round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
-
- Second-team All-Big TenBig Ten ConferenceThe Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
(conference media selection)
- Second-team All-Big Ten
Post season
Penn State finished the season with a 3–9 record, 1–7 in the Big Ten, Paterno's worst ever at Penn State. It was the third losing season in the past four, and only Paterno's fourth losing season since joining the coaching staff in 1950. Nine losses were the most ever for a Penn State team, breaking the record set by the 1931 2–8 team. The season ended without any wins in road games, which hadn't occurred since 1936.Despite the losing record, Penn State claimed second place in football attendance for the third consecutive season, averaging 105,629 through seven home games, ranking in the top four for the 13th consecutive year. The Ohio State game drew Penn State's largest home crowd of 108,276, the seventh largest crowd ever in Beaver Stadium.
The team's second-leading receiver Maurice Humphrey, after a promising season at wide receiver was expelled from school and convicted of three counts of simple assault. Humphrey would not play another down for Penn State.
NFL draft
Four Nittany Lions were drafted in the 2004 NFL Draft2004 NFL Draft
The 2004 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
.
| Round | Pick | Overall | Name | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd | 29 | 92 | Rich Gardner Rich Gardner Richard James Gardner is a professional American football player. He currently plays defensive back for Kiel Baltic Hurricanes of the German Football League... |
Cornerback Cornerback A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position... |
Tennessee Titans Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter... |
| 6th | 29 | 194 | Matt Kranchick Matt Kranchick Matthew Alan Kranchick is an American football tight end who has played in the National Football League.... |
Tight end Tight end The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be... |
Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... |
| 7th | 28 | 229 | David Kimball David Kimball David Wayne Kimball is a former professional American football placekicker, most notably with the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe. He was allocated to NFL Europe by the Oakland Raiders in 2006. He attended State College Area High School and was a Parade All-American selection there in 1999... |
Placekicker Placekicker Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points... |
Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League .... |
| 7th | 40 | 241 | Sean McHugh Sean McHugh Sean McHugh is an American football tight end/fullback who is currently a free agent. He most recently played for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League.-Early years:... |
Tight end Tight end The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be... |
Tennessee Titans |
All-star games
| Game | Date | Site | Players |
|---|---|---|---|
| 65th Blue-Gray Football Classic Blue-Gray Football Classic The Blue–Gray Football Classic was an annual American college football all-star game held in Alabama usually on Christmas Day. It was begun in 1939 and held annually through 2001 at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. The game was not contested in 2002 and was subsequently revived in 2003 in... |
December 25, 2003 | Veterans Stadium, Troy, Alabama Troy, Alabama Troy is a city in Pike County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 18,003. Troy experienced a growth spurt of over 4,000+ people since 2000. The city is the county seat of Pike County.... |
Tony Johnson, Matt Kranchick, Chris McKelvy, Deryck Toles |
| 58th Hula Bowl Hula Bowl The Hula Bowl was an independently administered post-season invitational college football game held each year in Hawaii from 1947 to 2008. The game was last played at Aloha Stadium in the Hālawa district of Honolulu, Hawaii. At one point the longest-running sporting event in Hawaii, it had been... |
January 17, 2004 | War Memorial Stadium War Memorial Stadium (Hawaii) War Memorial Stadium is a stadium located in Wailuku, Hawaii. It is primarily used for American football, and until January 2006, the venue for the College Football All-Star game known as the Hula Bowl. It opened in 1969 and holds 23,000 people.... , Wailuku, Hawaii Wailuku, Hawaii Wailuku is a census-designated place in Maui County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 12,296 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Maui County.Wailuku is located just west of Kahului, at the mouth of the Īao Valley... |
Gino Capone, Yaacov Yisrael |
| 1st Las Vegas All-American Classic Las Vegas All-American Classic The North-South All-American Game is an annual post-season college football all-star game that was played each January or February from 2002 to 2006 , and then took 2 years off due to lack of sponsorship... |
January 17, 2004 | Sam Boyd Stadium Sam Boyd Stadium Sam Boyd Stadium is a football stadium located in Whitney, Nevada, an unincorporated community in the Las Vegas metropolitan area; the mailing address of the stadium is "Las Vegas". The stadium is named after Sam Boyd, a major figure in the hotel/casino industry in Las Vegas. The stadium consists... , Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous... |
Dave Costlow, Sean McHugh |
| 55th Senior Bowl Senior Bowl The Senior Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played in Mobile, Alabama which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd Peebles Stadium... |
January 24, 2004 | Ladd Peebles Stadium Ladd Peebles Stadium Ladd Peebles Stadium is a stadium in Mobile, Alabama. It is primarily used for American football, and is the home field for the Senior Bowl, the GoDaddy.com Bowl, the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic, and the University of South Alabama Jaguars... , Mobile, Alabama Mobile, Alabama Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest... |
Rich Gardner |
| 6th Gridiron Classic Gridiron Classic The Gridiron Classic was the name given to a college football game played between teams from the Pioneer Football League and Northeast Conference at the end of the 2006-2009 seasons... |
January 31, 2004 | The Villages Polo Stadium, The Villages, Florida The Villages, Florida The Villages is a master-planned age-restricted retirement community located mainly in Sumter County, Florida, United States, but also includes portions of Lake and Marion counties. The community is controlled by several Community Development Districts , most of which are controlled by H. Gary... |
Deryck Toles |