'10 GA DT Michael Thornton (Verbal Offer)

[Hayride]

That tOSU game was not the game to have recruits at. Ouch. Thankfully our class is pretty much full already cuz today's game wasn't a great sales pitch.

[joeyc32lp]

Hopefully any recruits present noticed the atmosphere BEFORE we fell apart at the seams.

[AustinScottistheone]

OLine got mauled (got some bigger kids in the wings, specifically OTs....hurting at both tackle spots this year), DLine with the replacement DEs caught up with us, and STs sucked. Too bad. I'm pretty disappointed, I'd be even more disappointed if I didn't go out and buy an atv (new toy to screw around with during the winter.

[FrankBooth]

Originally Posted by Hayride

That tOSU game was not the game to have recruits at. Ouch. Thankfully our class is pretty much full already cuz today's game wasn't a great sales pitch.

That's a foolish way to look at it -- these kids play in games like that and know sometimes the other guy has more success. Sure, everyone would have a warm and fuzzy feeling if PSU came out ahead, but losing the game isn't as big a deal to recruits as fans imagine -- if you were right, then guys like DWill and King would have gone elsewhere.

I'd worry if PSU played sloppy like they did against Iowa, but I didn't see that. tOSU just made some plays tonight, so props to them.

[Hayride]

Originally Posted by FrankBooth

That's a foolish way to look at it -- these kids play in games like that and know sometimes the other guy has more success. Sure, everyone would have a warm and fuzzy feeling if PSU came out ahead, but losing the game isn't as big a deal to recruits as fans imagine -- if you were right, then guys like DWill and King would have gone elsewhere.

I'd worry if PSU played sloppy like they did against Iowa, but I didn't see that. tOSU just made some plays tonight, so props to them.

The way I look at it is we're probably not out front for the remaining top tier recruits so basically we're in the position of having to wow them. The atmosphere and support is top shelf but when you're bested in every facet of the game at home in your marquee game of the year, well, that's not helping things.

As for DWill and King, I will always have a soft spot for them and be grateful for what they meant to Penn State. That was a rare situation where they decided they were going to come in and help turn a program around.

Obviously you don't have to win all the time to lure really good recruits but without the success PSU had last year, I doubt we have the great class we do this year.

[HailToTheLion]

Hayride is right for the most part.

DWill will be a legend not necessarily for what he did on the field (which was sometimes spectacular don't get me wrong) but because he took a shot at a failing program, and once again put us in a position to recruit, because we had nothing at the time. Our own fan base was turning against JoePa, one of the greatest coaches ever seen in the game. I don't think anybody in the Nittany Nation would disagree that we owe a little debt of gratitude for the attention that he gave back to Penn States football team.

I do agree that it isn't that detrimental to the recruiting game this year that we lost last night. After the Iowa loss things have turned a bit sour football wise, I am slightly disappointed in my student section this year. But as for the recruits we are still running on 2 highly successful seasons in a short span of time, and despite the fact that we lost both of our marquis games this year at home we still could end up with double digit wins in back to back years something that hasn't been done in some outrageous amount of time that I can't remember the exact value of. Which is something that will definitely look good to the high school kids.

I don't believe we reloaded this year, I am fully on the rebuilding bandwagon now after last night. But going 10-2 in a rebuilding season is spectacular especially in the Big 10 despite the image concerns of the conference.

Our program I feel is still in transition. I have a feeling that the teams of 2011 and 2012 are going to be very interesting, assuming Galen Hall can learn how to take a chance every once and a while (which he won't)

[AustinScottistheone]

Scout.com: Thornton was blown away

11/9/09

By Chad Simmons. Michael took his first official visit this past weekend to PSU....the atmosphere was great, the fans were crazy, and he had a great experience from the start of his visit to the end....learned a lot about PSU, connected with the coaches and players, and said PSU really blew him away. Michaels talks extensively about his time with player host/PSU DT Ollie Ogbu, coach Larry Johnson, and coach Joe Paterno.

[Jake Gittes]

Apparently, both Lattimore and Thornton LOVED their visit. Couldn't ask for better interviews than they have given around the Net in the aftermath. Looks like we could get two nice consolation prizes after that disappointing game on Saturday.

[joeyc32lp]

that would be astounding... for all the positive feedback I've read regarding Thornton... i've always thought that latimore was too vanilla about us all this time... just goes to show how much being at penn state on gameday can change anything...

[AustinScottistheone]

http://bwi.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1013824

11/10/09

By Sean Fitz. Michael says it was a great visit, but he has nothing to compare it to since it was his first official visit....says it seemed like no one person was above the team or stuck out, that PSU was like one team with the whole tradition of no names on the jerseys. Feels he could thrive at PSU and with that being the case, coupled with what he feels is a strong family, location wouldn't be a factor at all....spent almost all of the time with PSU coach Larry Johnson and got to meet with coaches and players.