Name the most underrated/forgotten Penn State football starter you can think of.

Erial_Lion

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Nov 1, 2021
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I'll start. Bill Belton. I used to think he was just decent but he averaged 5.1 yards a carry in 2013. Wow.
Bill is rising up the coaching ranks in South Jersey. He's now the head coach at Winslow HS (his alma mater), and has them undefeated (12-0). I'm guessing he'll be coaching college football within the next few years.
 

MtNittany

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Oct 12, 2021
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Trey Bauer. He was an absolute beast on that 86 defense, but Conlan got all the pub, and people remember Gifto, because, well "Intercepted by Giftopoulos"
The whole story about Curt Warner facing all those redshirts (like Conlan and Bauer) in practice is one of my favorite PSU stories. "He took his tooth out!"
 
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psuro

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Oct 12, 2021
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Bill is rising up the coaching ranks in South Jersey. He's now the head coach at Winslow HS (his alma mater), and has them undefeated (12-0). I'm guessing he'll be coaching college football within the next few years.
I think Hackenberg is an assistant for him. (or was)
 

Taycro

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Joe Iorio. Walk-on 4 year starter, with a cup of coffee with the Colts.

Found this. Been a great read so far.
 

Taycro

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Bill is rising up the coaching ranks in South Jersey. He's now the head coach at Winslow HS (his alma mater), and has them undefeated (12-0). I'm guessing he'll be coaching college football within the next few years.
Potential Seider replacement if Seider ever takes a promotion somewhere?
 

LionJim

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Oct 12, 2021
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The whole story about Curt Warner facing all those redshirts (like Conlan and Bauer) in practice is one of my favorite PSU stories. "He took his tooth out!"
A similar story related to Steve Smith. He was the scout team’s Herschel Walker in the run up to the Sugar Bowl. Bauer: “Steve Smith was Herschel and he did it perfectly, had it all down. We nailed him and nailed him until he said ‘I’m tired of being Herschel Walker’ and wanted to quit.”
 

LionJim

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Richie Anderson Penn State running back 1990-1992.

- 363 carries for 1,756 yards
- 29 rushing touchdowns
- 37 receptions for 353 yards and 2 TDs

I remember Lou Holtz stating “this young man really impresses me”, after Anderson help defeat Notre Dame 35-13 in 1991.
Sherwood High School, my kids’ school.
 
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fairgambit

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Oct 12, 2021
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Chuck Burkhart. Penn State has had back to back unbeaten seasons only once, 1968 and 1969, and Chuck was the starting quarterback both seasons. He never lost a game he started in high school or college. His numbers were laughable by today's standards. In 1969 he threw one (1) TD pass. That is not a misprint. One TD! But....as was said about a college QB named Paterno, "He can't run and he can't pass. All he can do is think and win". And so it was with Chuck.
 
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MtNittany

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Skeeter Nichols - loved the name.
I lived next to Skeeter and Jon my freshman year in Hamilton. Smokey down in that end of the hallway. Thu night 1/2 keg parties. Guy on the team worked at Centre Bev. $26 Old Milwaukee half kegs. If the RA said anything about the party or the smoke, Jon would take his shirt off and he'd go away.

AD JVP thought it a good idea to mix the FB team and the Golf team every other room at that T in Hamilton for some reason - the golf team ended up corrupting the FB team in the end.
 
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84lion

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He's back working for the program.
That's good to hear! What is he doing?

I remember Zemaitis mainly because my first name is Alan - but my recollection is that he was a ferocious hitter. I remember one game where he laid the wood to some player (might have been an OSU guy), and I was duly impressed. He was also a good ball hawk if memory serves.
 

Erial_Lion

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Nov 1, 2021
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That's good to hear! What is he doing?

I remember Zemaitis mainly because my first name is Alan - but my recollection is that he was a ferocious hitter. I remember one game where he laid the wood to some player (might have been an OSU guy), and I was duly impressed. He was also a good ball hawk if memory serves.
He's got an administrative role with Recruiting.
 
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