BWI Live: A Penn State football podcast from Blue White Illustrated

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Hoops Show: Micah Shrewsberry calls out his "soft" team after loss to Rutgers Jan 25, 2023

Show notes

On Tuesday night, Penn State basketball dropped a rough game on the road, losing to Rutgers 65-45. So how did the Nittany Lions, who have been competitive in nearly every game this season, lose by 20 points? Today on the Blue White Illustrated Hoops Show, insider Nate Bauer discusses that with host Thomas Frank Carr. On today's show, you'll also hear from Penn State basketball head coach Micah Shrewsberry from his comments after the game.

Make sure you catch the full show by subscribing to Blue White Illustrated on YouTube and turning on notifications.

T-Frank and Bauer start the conversation by discussing the most crucial parts of the game. According to Bauer, Penn State fell on its face in the final 11 minutes or so of game action. To make his point, he reads off the shot sequence for Penn State to end the game. Next, he and T-Frank discuss how much of an anomaly the Lion's shooting percentage was last night and why they bottomed out offensively.

Next, they discuss why Micah Shrewsberry thinks that the defense played poorly on Tuesday night and how that's a departure from what he wants his team to be. Then, t-Frank and Bauer play clips from a pointed postgame press conference that Shrewsberry held after the game to underscore different aspects of the game. First, they evaluate a season-low offensive output before shifting to how that affected the defensive performance.

One of the emerging issues for Penn State is the lack of depth in participation outside of star Jalen Pickett and a handful of other players. Shrewsberry didn't have a problem with how his star guard played on Tuesday night, but he does have a continuing issue with the ecosystem in which he operates. Bauer and T-Frank discuss not only how Pickett needs to get calls from officials but the potential reasons why.

Next, they discuss the lack of support Pickett is getting from his teammates. The Nittany Lions role players came up small on Tuesday night, a growing problem in big games for Penn State. Shrewsberry called out his team in a very pointed way. Check out the show to hear his fiery comments.

They discuss other elements of the game, including the officiating and the style of play for Penn State, which is an ongoing discussion this year. Finally, they take these topics and project them to the next game. The team hosts Michigan at the BJC on Sunday and hopes for a great atmosphere to help the team overcome a quality opponent. Bauer and T-Frank end the show treading over familiar territory when analyzing the big-game atmosphere at home for the team.

BWI Daily: Hunter Nourzad at center? | Penn State vs Iowa showdown preview with Greg Pickel Jan 25, 2023

Show notes

Each week the BWI Daily edition goes live to discuss the important topics of the week with fans of the show live on YouTube. This week, reporter Greg Pickel joins the show to discuss the Penn State football team's march toward spring football, the outlook for the roster, and Penn State wrestling. The Nittany Lion wrestling team has another big-time showdown at the Bryce Jordan Center this Friday when they welcome second-ranked Iowa to Happy Valley. So, Blue White Illustrated's wrestling reporter will dish on what he thinks of the upcoming match and update T-Frank on the team's outlook.

As always, the star of the show is your questions and comments. Got a thought about Penn State football you'd like to share? Join the show live at 7 pm to discuss what's on your mind with T-Frank and Pickell. The best way to never miss an episode is to subscribe to Blue White Illustrated on YouTube.

Also, if you'd like to get your questions on this week's mailbag episode, submit a five-star review on Apple Podcasts with your question.

Penn State football is a darling dark horse for the upcoming 2023 season. With a five-star quarterback presumably stepping under center to start his career, to go with a loaded defense and running game, there's plenty of excitement about Penn State locally and nationally. But what about that center Drew Allar will line up behind? One of the key losses for the team this offseason was former starter Juice Scruggs, who moved on to the NFL.

Can Cornell transfer Hunter Nourzad fill in for Scruggs? It's a critical position and one that Pickel spent time examining this week. He and T-Frank will discuss the situation and the internal view of Nourzad. Then the duo will discuss the external view of the second-year Nittany Lion to see how fans view the 6-3 lineman.

Next, they'll preview the spring transfer portal window. Penn State has unfinished business after missing out on a defensive tackle in this past cycle. Can they make something happen in May? They'll discuss that, and review the team's work in the transfer portal this winter.

Finally, they'll dive into Penn State's top-ranked showdown with Iowa on Friday night. The Nittany Lions steamrolled Michigan and Michigan State this past weekend, setting up a one-versus-two showdown at the BJC. Can the Nittany Lions get the win? What are the key weight classes that will decide the dual? They'll dive into that, head coach Cael Sanderson's handling of the 157-pound spot on his lineup, and much more.

Penn State's offensive line plans hinge on Hunter Nourzad adjusting to center. We'll discuss Penn State wrestling's showdown against Iowa, and your questions live at 7!

BWI Daily: How Marques Hagans can boost Penn State recruiting Jan 23, 2023

Show notes

Blue White Illustrated broke news Monday morning that Penn State has found its next receivers coach. Head coach James Franklin tagged Virginia assistant head coach and receivers coach Marques “Biscuit” Hagans to fill the same position with the Nittany Lions. Hagans survived two coaching changes at Virginia and had been in his current position since 2011. Today on the BWI Daily recruiting show, insiders Ryan Snyder and Sean Fitz discuss the recruiting implications of hiring Hagans. They’ll also highlight the notable players that attended Penn State’s junior day on Saturday.

As always, subscribe to Blue White Illustrated on YouTube, so you don’t miss the show. If you want to get your questions on the BWI Mailbag Show, submit a five-star review with your question on Apple Podcasts.

In the show’s first half, Snyder and Fitz take a deep dive into Hagans fit with the Nittany Lions as a recruiter and developer. Then, they draw some parallels between his best players at UVA and how he was able to help them, highlighted by Olamide Zaccheaus, now a starter for the Atlanta Falcons.

But because it’s a recruiting show, they dive deeper into that element of his hiring. Penn State has done very well in Virginia over the last several cycles. Yet there’s one talent-rich area they haven’t been able to mine successfully, and it’s one that Hagans knows well. So they discuss which recruits in the upcoming class he could help Penn State land from the region and what other players outside of receiver he could sway.

Finally, they dive into the latest junior day for Penn State football. The list surprised both Fitz and Snyder, who expected a lower turnout for the second of the team’s three junior day events. Instead, several high-level athletes, including a top-25 player in the upcoming class, made the trip to Happy Valley. Find out which 2024 and 2025 players stood out to BWI’s recruiting experts.

BWI Daily: Five most interesting players attending Penn State's junior day Jan 20, 2023

Show notes

Penn State football has been out on the road recruiting this week and, coming up this weekend, is hosting another junior day to set the table for the spring recruiting cycle. To get fans updated on what and who to expect, recruiting insider Ryan Snyder joins the BWI Daily edition to discuss.

Subscribe to Blue White Illustrated on YouTube, so you don't miss the show, and submit a five-star comment on Apple podcasts to get your thoughts heard on the weekly BWI Mailbag show.

They start the show by discussing the flurry of offers that Penn State has sent out this past week. While they don't run down all the names, Snyder explains why there are so many names that come out this time of year and how the process works. From there, he and T-Frank discuss what these offers mean and how things have changed over the years. But T-Frank wants to know more and asks why things have changed to the point that they have. Is social media driving the need to offer kids? Is it the competition? Snyder explains what he's seen in the evolution of Penn State's offers not just in the last 20 years but since the pandemic.

Finally, they discuss the junior day list for Saturday. Penn State is hosting roughly 40 prospects this weekend and Snyder has picked out the five most intriguing names that fans should know. He and T-Frank discuss each player and what they're so interesting to Snyder.

One of the players, Wyomissing prospect Caleb Brewer, sparks a conversation about where Penn State focuses its best commits each cycle. Is the reason that the team can't find a steady supply of defensive tackle prospects because they put those players on the offensive side of the ball? T-Frank and Snyder disagree and discuss the topic at length.

Check out the show for the full top five list.

BWI Daily: Was this transfer portal cycle a success? Jan 19, 2023

Show notes

Insiders Sean Fitz and Nate Bauer discuss the recent news for Penn State football and discuss whether or not the recent transfer portal window was a success.

BWI Daily: Mailbag show focuses on transfer portal receivers, NIL Jan 18, 2023

Show notes

There's been a barrage of news and commitments for Penn State football this week. With that comes plenty of thoughts, comments, questions, and opinions from Penn State football fans. So to give them a chance to be heard, the BWI Daily Edition is opening up the mailbag and getting to what you want to know. To get your question on the show, subscribe to Blue White Illustrated and leave your question on the BWI Daily Mailbag submission thread or leave a five-star review on Apple podcasts with your question.

As always, subscribe to Blue White Illustrated on YouTube, so you never miss the show.

Today's show primarily focuses on the wide receiver position for Penn State football. The team picked up two commitments this week. The first was Sunday when former Kent State wideout Dante Cephas announced he was joining the program. Next, former Florida State pass-catcher Malik McClain made the decision to join the Nittany Lions.

What do the two bring to the table? And what will their presence do to the roster, with five receivers in the Class of 2022 vying for playing time? Bauer and T-Frank will discuss those questions, and T-Frank will go into detail about where he thinks they fit positionally. He'll also give his thoughts on their skills and how Penn State can best use each player.

Penn State also got a commitment from three-star linebacker Anthony Speca on Tuesday. According to recruiting insider Ryan Snyder, Speca is close friends with four-star athlete from Pittsburgh, Quinton Martin. Can Penn State land Martin?

With such a high-profile player, will NIL be a factor with Martin? One viewer wants to know if Penn State should prioritize him despite Martin not playing a high-value position. This topic leads to a lengthy conversation about NIL and how the system is different at Penn State than in other places.

But what about those other systems of NIL that guarantee money to recruits? Is that system going to work? Bauer and T-Frank debate the current state of NIL, how things are changing in the marketplace, and where they are going.

Lastly, they discuss a range of topics, including more portal pursuits, mike linebacker, and more.

Hoops Show: Penn State falls on the road at Wisconsin...again Jan 18, 2023

Show notes

Penn State basketball insider Nate Bauer discusses the loss to Wisconsin with host Thomas Frank Carr. They discuss the growing trend of a different outcome each game between the first and second half for Penn State, the role of the referees in that phenomenon, and what the team needs to do next.

BWI Live: Previewing the 2024 recruiting class with insider Ryan Snyder Jan 18, 2023

Show notes

Penn State football has had a busy week already, so there’s plenty to discuss on the BWI Daily Edition. Host Thomas Frank Carr and recruiting insider Ryan Snyder to discuss the commitment of Anthony Speca. Snyder will also answer your questions live on the show, so join us at 7 pm to ask the expert!

Don’t forget to subscribe to Blue White Illustrated on YouTube, so you don’t miss a live show!

While T-Frank and Snyder will mostly answer your questions, they will have plenty to talk about. The final On300 rankings for the Class of 2023 came out Tuesday afternoon, with a significant jump for several players. Find out where tight end Andrew Rappleyea landed in the update and find out which players moved the most up or down.

They’ll also begin a more detailed look at the Class of 2024. T-Frank will ask Snyder to give his thoughts about the strengths and weaknesses of the upcoming class. What stands out to him about the prospects in the region? And which players will stand out from the rest? They’ll also talk about positional needs on the roster and what he thinks the Nittany Lions need to address.

Penn State has added its second verbal commitment in the Class of 2024. Fresh off an unofficial visit to see the Lions in State College, four-star Pittsburgh linebacker Anthony Speca picked head coach James Franklin’s team on Tuesday over multiple other Power 5 options.

Get to know the 6-foot-1, 215-pound junior and the rest of the Lions’ Class of 2024 below.

Recruiting Show: Recapping a wild weekend of Penn State portal, junior day and coaching change news Jan 16, 2023

Show notes

It was an eventful weekend for Penn State football, with several big-time stories coming out of Sunday. Today, on the BWI Daily Recruiting Show, insiders Ryan Snyder and Sean Fitz discuss those topics. They'll cover the firing of Taylor Stubblefield, the move to get Dante Cephas in the transfer portal, junior day recap, and more.

Subscribe to the Blue White Illustrated Daily Edition on YouTube and leave a five-star comment on Apple podcasts to get your question on the mailbag show coming up later in the week.

The week's biggest news broke Sunday evening when assistant coach Taylor Stubblefield announced via social media that he was being let go from the program. Shortly after, Penn State followed up with an official statement. So what led to the departure? Fitz and Snyder discuss the variables that led to his termination and look at recent news, but also the big picture of his time at Penn State.

Next, they transition into top portal target Dante Cephas' commitment shortly after Stubblefield's firing. Are the two related? And how long has Cephas been in the works? The duo take you through the somewhat complicated recruiting process of getting Cephas to Penn State and explain what's next for the former Akron Zip. They also update fans on the latest portal visitor, 6-4 Florida State receiver Malik McClain.

After working through the transfer portal news, they focus on 2023 tackle Chimdy Onoh's official visit to the program. The lone 2023 target seems like a great fit for Penn State and vice versa but how did his visit go? Snyder discusses what he knows and cautions fans from getting too excited about a potential commitment in the near future.

Lastly, they focus on junior day, which tooks place on Saturday. The Nittany Lions hosted over 40 prospects with some high-profile names. Snyder and Fitz feature linebacker Anthony Speca in this week's player spotlight. Next, they discuss receiver Keylen Adams, linemen Blake Frazier, Ethan Calloway, Speca, and more.

Breaking news recap: Penn State fires Taylor Stubblefield, lands Dante Cephas Jan 16, 2023

Show notes

Penn State football had a major shakeup at receiver on Sunday night when the team parted ways with coach Taylor Stubblefield. Hours later, the team landed one of its top portal targets, Kent State wide receiver Dante Cephas. To make sense of all that information, host Thomas Frank Carr and senior Editor Nate Bauer discuss the events and how it affects the team. Subscribe to Blue White Illustrated on YouTube so you never miss any breaking news. https://bit.ly/3KzEcqK

First, they start with the news that Penn State landed Cephas. The team had been hotly after receivers in the transfer portal but had yet to find success despite those efforts. That changed on Sunday night when Cephas committed to the Nittany Lions despite some enrollment challenges that will cause him to enroll this spring.

https://www.on3.com/teams/penn-state-nittany-lions/news/penn-state-adds-top-transfer-portal-target-in-wr-dante-cephas/

Bauer and T-Frank discuss Cephas's impact on the roster and how important it was for Penn State to get on the board at that position.

So is Cephas' commitment linked to Stubblefield's firing? Bauer and T-Frank discuss the larger picture at the receiver position and how the short-term situation has less to do with his departure than the problems on the roster and recruiting trail. Bauer and T-Frank discuss what those issues were.

Finally, they round back to Cephas, and T-Frank gives some more observations on the former Zips final season in Akron to give fans an idea about what he brings to the roster.

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