Game Five: Penn State 17, Ohio State 10 (Final)

[BB73]

Second team DE lost to academics

post-gazette.com

Chisley doesn't make the grade
Ruled academically ineligible; career is over

Tuesday, August 23, 2005
By Chico Harlan, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A little more than a week ago, Lavon Chisley, a Penn State fifth-year senior defensive lineman, stood near the edge of the football team's practice field -- his massive, tattooed arms almost as long as the crutches underneath them -- and promised he would be OK.


And in a sense, Chisley was correct. The injury he had was minor, just a strained tendon in his right knee. Not the kind of thing that could knock him out long term.

But at the same time, as Chisley reassured all questioners about his health, his career already was unraveling because of an entirely different factor: his grades. Penn State announced yesterday that Chisley, because of poor performance during his summer classes, has been ruled academically ineligible for the fall semester, effectively ending his Penn State career.

"As far as his Penn State career, yes, it's over," Penn State athletic department spokesman Jeff Nelson said.

Though not expected to start in 2005 -- Matt Rice and Tamba Hali anchor the two starting defensive end spots -- Chisley would have played extensively as part of a three-player rotation. Last season, he saw most action on passing downs, finishing with 14 tackles and one sack. The previous year, he had 41 tackles and four sacks. Chisley could not be reached yesterday for comment.

Chisley's academic problems intensified the misfortune gripping the Penn State football team. On Friday, starting linebacker Dan Connor was suspended indefinitely for his alleged role in a series of prank calls. Punishment for two others to admit involvement, safety Nolan McCready and receiver Jim Kanuch, has yet to be determined. Yesterday, Penn State also confirmed that starting wideout Mark Rubin had surgery for a serious ankle injury and will miss the season.

Penn State, though, had been bracing for Chisley's departure, with the first hint of it coming one week ago. At the team's media day on Aug. 13, head coach Joe Paterno, asked about Chisley's injury, added that "I'm also a little worried about [him] academic-wise." Chisley, a recreation, park and tourism management major, will remain enrolled at Penn State.

[jwinslow]

http://the-ozone.net/football/2005/g...npreview-1.htm

7. Penn State 7-4 (4-4)

Two Cent Overview
Penn State has talent on offense and defense and even the special teams will be better. But right now, the stink of mediocrity permeates them. Michael Robinson is not a quarterback, but he'll be starting there for JoePa. The defense will be outstanding again. The kicking game and return game will be better than it was last year thanks to the loss of "kicker" Robbie Gould and the additions of freshmen returners Derrick Williams and Justin King.

Schedule
Sept. 3 South Florida (W)
Sept. 10 Cincinnati (W)
Sept. 17 Central Michigan (W)
Sept. 24 at Northwestern (W)
Oct. 1 Minnesota (L)
Oct. 8 Ohio State (L)
Oct. 15 at Michigan (L)
Oct. 22 at Illinois (W)
Oct. 29 Purdue (W)
Nov. 5 Wisconsin (W)
Nov. 19 at Michigan State (L)

Something To Look For
Low scoring games. It will be tough for opponents to get more than three or four touchdowns on Penn State's defense. Unfortunately for Penn State, that might be two or three too many.

Returning Starters
Eight on offense, nine on defense and the punter.

Best Player
Cornerback Alan Zemaitis. Perhaps the top cornerback in the league. He only had two interceptions last year, but you can't catch what isn't thrown your way.

Best Game To Pack Up The Family Truckster And Travel To
at Michigan State. C'mon, it's your Big Ten-mandated rival, get off your butt and support you team. Sheesh.

Best Reason They Will Be Undefeated
The Defense. They are tremendous, but a shield doesn't win a battle, it just prolongs the onslaught.

Player People Are Expecting Too Much From
Wide receiver Derrick Williams. He's a freshman and the fans are already touting him as their Ted Ginn. That's a tough comparison. I liken Williams this way: Imagine if The Flash moved to the east side of Metropolis. Knowing that Superman really never comes over to the east side, they are excited that they now have their own superhero. So the people glom onto The Flash. They ask him questions like, "Can you fly?"; "Do you have super strength?"; "Do you have heat vision?" And of course, to each question, he answers "No." Then somebody asks him what his super power is. He answers "I run fast!" The crowd replies, "That's it?" (In this analogy, the role of Superman was played by Ted Ginn Jr.)

Something They Do Well
Defend the pass. The Nittany Lions gave up five touchdown passes and intercepted sixteen last season. They return four starters in the secondary and pretty much everybody up front, so the seemingly improved pass rush should only help the pass defense.

What's Improved?
Everything. Seriously. The offense is better. If Austin Scott is healthy, he and Tony Hunt (and Michael Robinson) provide three legitimate running threats. And of course, they also have The Flash running fast routes. The defense is a year older and at least a year better. But still, they have to show it on the field.

Player Most Likely To Own A Restaurant
Michael Robinson. He could open some type of faux-classy joint. You know, the kind that looks fancy on the outside, but just isn't that good?

Tomorrow: Sixth through three.

[RCollett]

Does anyone know if ESPiN is going to broadcast this game is High Def. I would think its a gimmie because of the large viewing audience and it is one of a very few late games that day. The only thing that makes me question it is the fact that they don't know weather it will be on espn or espn2.

[JXC]

What is the quickest way to get to State College, PA from Columbus? I'm planning on driving there for the game.

[jimotis4heisman]

up 71 north, 76east, 80east. it is exit 156 i think the road is pa 220. there are a few otherways in but its a nightmare come gameday to get over/around the mountains no matter how you go.

[Bucklion]

Better go the night before or something...most of the roads in are one lane.