Posts tagged ‘Michael Robinson’
A Look Back At Our March/April 2006 Issue
A decade ago, Penn State fielded one of the best football teams in the nation. The 2005 Nittany Lions went 11-1, locked up the program’s first Big Ten title since 1994, won the Orange Bowl, and finished as the No. 3 team in America. Our March/April 2006 issue looked back on some of the defining moments from that team, which included a few lows (namely a controversial loss to Michigan and losing its best player, Paul Posluszny ’06, to a knee injury), but had exponentially higher highs, like the bowl win or taking down sixth-ranked Ohio State in what is considered one of the best games in Beaver Stadium history.
This issue also featured a story on Steve Jabo ’84, a vertebrate paleontologist at the National Museum of Natural History. Jabo mainly works with fossils and once was a member of a team that excavated a Tyrannosaurus rex. There’s also a story on Penn State’s gross anatomy lab, which is unique in that it let students at the College of Medicine work on whole cadavers.
Do you have a copy of the issue? If so, we’d love to see it. Feel free to post it on our Facebook wall, or send a tweet to @PennStaterMag.
Bill DiFilippo, online editor
The Penn Stater Daily — April 28, 2014
Cute alert: Here’s your annual, adorable reminder that springtime has returned to Happy Valley.
These recently hatched ducklings are four of a few dozen who are stumbling about and charming visitors outside the Hintz Family Alumni Center. If you have a chance to swing by the duck pond before they get too big, we highly recommend it. Just don’t feed them any bread — it’s bad for the little guys — and keep an eye out for stragglers who might have fallen down grates, as seems to happen a few times every year. Thankfully, our friends from OPP — or, as I saw this weekend, a group of students who took it upon themselves to lift off grate covers and rescue one duckling themselves — are generally around to save the day.
Big man on campus(es): President Eric Barron spent part of his Saturday speaking to the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments, where he revealed he’s already traveled to about half of Penn State’s campuses as he works to familiarize himself with issues across the university system. Onward State has more.
Calling different signals: Over at StateCollege.com, Mike Poorman ’82 writes about two former Nittany Lion quarterbacks at very different points in their NFL careers. There’s Michael Robinson ’04, ’06, a Super Bowl winner this year with the Seattle Seahawks, who is moving into broadcasting (and even occasional soap opera cameos) as his playing career appears likely to be over. And there’s Matt McGloin ’12, the former walk-on who emerged as an unlikely NFL starter last season, and who believes his NFL career is just beginning.
Sunday on the sidewalk with Herb: The State College weather Sunday afternoon was perfect for all sorts of things, among them: wandering around State College for a few hours eating pizza with assistant football coach Herb Hand. That’s just what about 180 folks did on the inaugural Herb Hand Pizza Crawl, organized by Onward State and benefiting Uplifting Athletes and Bands4RAINN. The Daily Collegian has the coverage, presumably because all the OS staffers (as well as yours truly) were too busy walking and eating pizza.
Ryan Jones, senior editor
The Penn Stater Daily — Feb. 21, 2014
Jay-running: His political aspirations were long-rumored, and on Thursday, Jay Paterno ’91 confirmed them: he’s running for the Democratic nomination for Pennsylvania lieutenant governor. In launching his candidacy (and his website), Paterno wrote, “I am not a politician, but someone from a family dedicated to hard work, public service, and charity to all.” The Democratic primary is set for May 20.
K-9s on campus: University Police this week hosted a training exercise for K-9 units, which gives us an excuse to post this great shot of Rudie, a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois who helps keep campus safe. Thanks to our buddy Bill Zimmerman for the shot.
Exit interview: With just a few months left in his presidency, Rodney Erickson sat with Daily Collegian reporter Katie Murt earlier this week to talk about his tenure and offer thoughts on incoming president Eric Barron. It’s worth a read.
Restless Robinson: So: Michael Robinson ’04 on The Young & The Restless? Michael Robinson on The Young & The Restless.
Happy THON: With the latest edition of the world’s largest student-run philanthropy kicking off later today, here’s a cool feature on the Penn State Schuylkill students who are among the thousands who will cram into the BJC this weekend. Best of luck to everyone involved.
Ryan Jones, senior editor
The Penn Stater Daily — Feb. 3, 2014
A couple of ringers: Congrats to Michael Robinson ’04 (above) and Jordan Hill ’13, Super Bowl champions after the Seattle Seahawks’ 43-8 demolition of the Denver Broncos. As usual, Robinson—a veteran fullback and special teams standout—played a vital role in the outcome without making much of an impact on the stat sheet. He had one reception for seven yards, a tackle on special teams, and threw the lead block when all-pro running back Marshawn Lynch scored his only touchdown of the game. Hill, a rookie defensive lineman, was inactive for the game—but I doubt his ring will shine any less brightly when he puts it on.
Shawn Carter drops by: Hip-hop icon Jay-Z ended his “Magna Carter” world tour on Friday at the Bryce Jordan Center, and it was a pretty big deal. The buzz built up before the show with social media rumors that the rapper’s insanely famous wife, Beyonce, was spotted downtown (alas, she was not), and Nittany Lion football players—and at least one coach—joined in the fun by tweeting their excitement at having Jay-Z drop in on their workouts Friday afternoon. Turns out that was a prank. The concert itself was real enough: You can find some great photos here, and check out reviews from the Daily Collegian and Onward State.
Winners all around: After a string of tough losses that marked a frustrating 0-6 start in Big Ten play, the Nittany Lion basketball team has now won three straight after knocking off Purdue Sunday at the BJC. That gives Penn State the longest current winning streak in what is generally regarded as the toughest conference in the nation. The Lady Lions, meanwhile, climbed closer to a return to the national top 10 with a close win at Northwestern. Penn State came into the game ranked 12th and 13th in the media and coaches polls. And the top-ranked wrestling team continued its season-long dominance Sunday with a blowout of No. 11 Michigan.
What a collection: One more for a sports-heavy Monday: From the Scranton Times-Tribune comes a feature Ken Gentilezza ’80, a doctor and—by the looks of it—one of the more committed Penn State football fans you’ll find. Seriously, how cool is this guy’s basement?
Ryan Jones, senior editor
The Penn Stater Daily — Jan. 28, 2014
Be my guest: Coach James Franklin is heading to Washington tonight for President Obama’s State of the Union Address. Franklin will attend as the guest of U.S. Representative Glenn Thompson ’81, who represents Pennsylvania’s 5th Congressional District. Said Franklin in a release: “I look forward to hearing the President’s vision for 2014 and beyond and what we, as citizens of the greatest union in the world, can do to help move our nation forward.”
Robinson at yesterday’s press conference in Jersey City. Photo: Jim O’Connor, USA TODAY
Bowled over: It was a rough 2013 for Michael Robinson ’04, whose health struggles postponed his career with the Seattle Seahawks last summer. Now, a healthy Robinson is headed to the Super Bowl. The Morning Call talked to Robinson, his teammates, and Coach Pete Carroll about the running back’s recovery — and his emotional reaction to the Seahawks’ victory at the NFC Championship Game. Says Carroll: “You can see the emotion come out of Michael. He’s the guy that never thought, ‘maybe I’ll never get this chance again.’ Then he comes back to play and he gets to play in the Super Bowl.”
Mary Murphy, associate editor
The Penn Stater Daily — Jan. 20, 2014
A leader lost: A bit of news we missed last week, but which seems appropriate to share on the day we observe the life and work of Martin Luther King: A memorial service was held Saturday for Thelma Price, a longtime Penn State administrator and civil rights activist who died on Jan. 8. She was 88. She came to the university in 1964 to serve as assistant dean of students at New Kensington, and later served as assistant VP of student affairs at University Park. The first charter president of the State College chapter of the NAACP, she was also a vocal advocate for minority students, earning the nickname “Mom” for her tireless work on their behalf.
Happiness and heartbreak: Sunday night was a memorable one for three former Nittany Lions, although one that NaVorro Bowman ’09 no doubt wishes he could forget. Bowman, the San Francisco 49ers linebacker whom NFL.com calls “arguably the best defensive player in the league this season,” went down in gruesome fashion in the fourth quarter of the Niners’ eventual 23-17 loss to Seattle. Afterward, his all-pro teammate, Patrick Willis, told reporters, “If he doesn’t get defensive player of the year, I don’t know what they go by. Most important, I just pray he’s all right.”
On the much brighter side, the Seahawks duo of Michael Robinson ’04 and Jordan Hill ’13 are going to the Super Bowl, marking the 43rd time in 48 years that at least one Penn Stater is on a roster for the big game.
BOT wrap: Our Lori Shontz ’91, ’13g has everything you need to know from last week’s Board of Trustees meetings. You can read her last two posts from the sessions here and here.
Times up: Sunday’s New York Times carried a couple of pieces of note for Penn Staters. Michael Mann, distinguished professor of meteorology and arguably the world’s most famous climate scientist, wrote an oped for the Sunday Review in which he talks about embracing his role as a public advocate for awareness and action on climate change. On a very different topic, over in the Business section, there’s a profile of Ross Ulbricht ’09g, who is facing federal charges of computer hacking, drug trafficking, and money laundering as the alleged mastermind behind the online black market Silk Road. It’s disturbing, fascinating stuff.
Ryan Jones, senior editor
