I rarely admit this to anyone, but in 1977... I was a Penn State fan. I was 11 years old and I knew my Dad played football at Penn. I honestly did not know the difference between a Quaker and a Nittany Lion. Living in the state of Michigan, I was also a Wolverine fan (mostly because of Bob Ufer and Rich Leach).It wasn't until Penn State joined the Big Ten conference in the 1990's (after I had graduated from Michigan) that I was really forced to cut Penn State out of my heart.
I also always kinda liked Joe Paterno. He seems like an honest and steady dude. Personally, I think he has stuck around too long and hurt his program. But who am I to say what he should and should not do. In one of the less annoying Big Ten Network commercials he claims to a potential recruit: "We're Linebacker U...."
But one thing Joe can never say is "We're Quarterback U..." I decided to quick look at the quarterbacks that have played at Penn State over the last 30 years and how they did at the next level. It is an interesting, if not yawn inspiring list. Any top quarterback recruit (I am looking at you Kevin Newsome) that would ever consider going to Happy Valley needs to have their head examined.
1976-77-78 : Chuck Fusina. Drafted by the Tampa Bay Bucs. Played a couple of seasons in the NFL backing up Doug Williams. Made his real mark in the USFL where he won 2 championships with the Stars.
1979: Dayle Tate. Undrafted in professional football.
1980-81-82: Todd Blackledge. Guided Penn State to the 1982 National Championship. Was the #7 overall pick by Kansas City. Threw 29 touchdowns and 38 interceptions in 6 NFL seasons. Considered the biggest draft bust in Chiefs history.
1983-84: Doug Strong. Undrafted in professional football.
1985-86: John Shaffer. Undrafted in professional football.
1987: Matt Knizner. Undrafted in professional football.
1988-89-90-91: Tony Sacca. Drafted by the Arizona Cardinals. Threw 11 passes (completed 4) in a single NFL season.
1992: John Sacca. Quit Penn State football team after being benched for Kerry Collins early in the 1993 season.
1993-94: Kerry Collins. Led Penn State to an undefeated 1994 season. Was drafted #5 overall by Carolina and made the Pro Bowl in 1996. But the Panthers cut him after drunken and racist incidents in 1997. He eventually cleans up his act, made it to the Super Bowl with the Giants and is still playing in the NFL for the Titans.
1995-95: Wally Richardson. Drafted in the 7th round by Baltimore. Completed one NFL pass for one yard.
1997: Mike McQueary. Undrafted in professional football. Current Penn State assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.
1998-99: Kevin Thompson. Undrafted. Played a couple of seasons for the Browns. Completed his only career pass attempt against the Jacksonville Jags for 8 yards in December 2000.
2000: Rashard Casey. Undrafted in professional football.
2001-02-03-04: Zach Mills. Undrafted in professional football. Spent the 2005 preseason with the Redskins but was cut.
2005: Michael Robinson. Played both WR and QB at Penn State. Big Ten MVP. Drafted by the 49ers and converted to a semi-productive running back in San Francisco.
2006-07: Anthony Morelli. Won the National NFL punt pass and kick title as a 10 year old. Undrafted in professional football. Spent the 2008 preseason with the Cardinals, but was cut.
30+ years. 16 guys. 1 productive NFL career. 2 USFL titles. Solid.
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11 comments:
so, at first I thought you might be pandering to the PSU base--given yesterday's post. But then you pointed out the paucity of QBs coming out of Penn State.
Hmmm. We might be standing in a glass house on that one, unless of course you consider:
1) Tom Brady
2) Chad Henne
3) Todd Collins
4) Elvis Grbac
5) Brian Griese
6) Jim Harbaugh
and, the +/- list
7) Matt Guttierrez
8) Scott Driesbach
9) Drew Henson
actually...it seems to be (not so) tempered glass!!!!
GO BLUE
I think I've heard of that Brady guy, but that's it.
Who is Elvis Grbac? Is he the guy that keeps trying to by a vowel on Wheel of Fortune.
As for the Greasy dude, I think I may have heard of his dad.
Henson? Is he still doing that puppet gig?
Andy, this article was a serious beat down. To top this you will have to go after their women folk.
Don't do it! It can't end well.
Andy is doing some tough investigative work. What's next....a list of the 30+ tUOS players that have been arrested during the Jim Tressel era?
Phil:
Been there, done that
i'm man enough to admit that i cried during "Something for Joey".
my emotional connection w/ PSU ends there.
LOL at SiC, "something for joey"
Classic!!!
fwiw,
Kerry Collins has more career passing yards in the NFL than ANY former Michigan QB.
Also has more passing TD's than any former UM QB besides Brady.
As for your list...
1. Great
2. way way too early but i'd put money on a todd collins type career
3. started for one season in his entire career - 10-10 record in games he started - bust
4. 3 good years, 70 starts in 8 years - 40-30 record
5. 78 starts in 11 years 42-36 record
6. 140 starts in 14 years - team record in games he started 66-74
7. no starts - 1 pass ever
8. umm yeah
9. one career start (he won it)
10. john navarre - one career start (he lost it)
so without Tom Brady's stats, Michigan QB's are a lofty 159-151
not exactly Miami FL or BYU
you basically have one great one, an ok one, some below averages, and then crap
better than PSU? yep
better than OSU? oh yeah
QB U? hell no
Sru,
Hell no?? really? then who is?
Miami- you certainly can't mean Brock Berlin & Ken Dorsey & ??? Vinny came into the league about the same time as Harbaugh. since then??? honestly, Miami of Ohio (Ben Rothsleoverated) has a more impressive contribution to the position than any of the Canes in the last two decades.
BYU- hell, i'd have to strain threw the NFL rosters to find an active Cougar- and go back to Jim McMahon to find won that ever won anything.
seriously- hell no? i'd readily agree that prior to Bo retiring and Moeller inventing the forward pass (he didn't invent it? really? i wonder why we never did that before he became coach then?), Rick Leach was hands down the most successful Michigan QB to ever play pro ball.
however, over the last 20 years if Michigan hasn't been QB U, who has?
no offense, but i think sometimes in your blind envy you go off the deep end w/ out looking.
over the last 20 years?
Miami
Kelly (played til 96)
Kosar (ditto)
Vinny (played last year)
Steve Walsh (played to 99)
Craig Erickson (ditto)
you picked the time frame
"BYU- hell, i'd have to strain threw the NFL rosters to find an active Cougar- and go back to Jim McMahon to find won that ever won anything."
SiC,
I'm not a BYU fan, but give the devil his due. Steve Young was post McMahon. There's two BYU QBs for you. I'll give you Brady, but you need to slow down and do your research. See below.
"Young would spend the final 13 years of his career with the 49ers, a stint which would help him become one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history, and secure a spot in the Pro Football Hall Of Fame in 2005." - Wikipedia
gee. this is it?
Kelly (played til 96)
Kosar (ditto)
Vinny (played last year)
Steve Walsh (played to 99)
Craig Erickson (ditto)
that's your idea of QB U over the last 20? really? the only 3 players who anyone would think was even "good" entered the league before 1990. and none of these guys have done squat since about '95. why not throw in Gino Torretta???
i know we BS about a lot of things , but i gotta ask- do you seriously, right hand to god, think that someone looking at THAT line up (who wasn't already predisposed to hate all things michigan) would think that's a more impressive set of pros than Brady & Co., as listed by T9? Harbaugh a former AFC O Player of the Year? Grbac & Griese both former QBs for playoff teams?
i mean i loved Bernie, back in the day (though he is TOUGH to listen to when he's in the booth now) but he never won anymore than Harbaugh. his most famous games are both losses to Elway. and Vinny? he's a rich man's Brian Griese- hold the clip board- no Heisman/half the price.
no sense in arguing it anymore, but i think you're way out on a limb w/ this one.
and whets, you're right. steve young won a super bowl. i should have really not gotten so far out ahead of myself. so i'll sit admonished and rephrase:
"and BYU? you'd have to go back to Steve Young and 1994 to find a QB that's won something."
i don't see where that improves BYU's standing all that much, but it is now at least accurate.
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