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The pride of Penn State football wasn’t built on the arms of future first-round NFL draft picks like Kerry Collins or Todd Blackledge playing quarterback.
It was never caught up with game-breaking wide receivers like Kenny Jackson, Bobby Engram, O.J. McDuffie or Allen Robinson.
It never rode on the legs of the long and storied stable of running backs that came through the doors and revved up Beaver Stadium, from Charlie Pittman and Franco Harris in the early 1970s to Ki-Jana Carter and Larry Johnson in the ’90s.
And it didn’t earn the nickname of ‘Linebacker U’ because Irv Pankey and Scranton’s Mike Munchak once anchored an intimidating offensive line, or because Mickey Shuler and Kyle Brady were catching passes at tight end.
Through the years, the Lions have made their most noise with a dominating defense.
So if Penn State really plans to get back into a national title picture, it has to start smacking people in the mouth again.
Saturday’s season opener was a pretty good start.
The Lions not only ambushed Akron in a 52-0 victory, they took the zip right out of the Zips.
“Everyone is pursuing the ball, everyone is tackling the ball,” said Penn State defensive end Ryan Buchholz, who recorded the first of the team’s three sacks. “I think the shutout does help us show what we can do during the season. We got a shutout. It wasn’t a surprise.”
Maybe not, since the Lions had at least one shutout in three of the last four seasons, including the previous two.
But they way they accomplished it was almost shocking.
The Lions limited Akron to a mere 73 rushing yards, 86 passing yards and surrendered just one rush that topped 12 yards (Kato Nelson’s 13-yard run) and no passes completed for more than 15 yards. Penn State uses those numbers to gauge explosive plays.
“We were pretty dominant in that area,” Penn State coach James Franklin said. “That’s probably the thing I’m most proud of with out defense, giving up one explosive play.”
How about implosive plays?
Penn State crashed the line to cause 34 yards worth of losses in the running game. And when Akron did try to sneak in a couple long bombs, cornerback Amani Oruwariye showed up to bat the ball away. Or just keep it for himself.
Oruwariye’s twisting, lunging interception in the first quarter not only kept Akron from answering Penn State’s first touchdown, it gave the ball the Lions to start a 75-yard scoring drive.
“He tempo’d me a little bit, then sped up,” Oruwariye said of Akron’s receiver. “I got in position to make a play. I just had to make sure I came down with it. The sideline gave me a ‘Good ball,’ call. I’m a big believer in making the most of your opportunities.”
The significance of that early opportunity wasn’t lost on Penn State.
“The interception that Amani had was really good,” Franklin said, “Turning and locating the ball in the air that’s thrown over your shoulder is very difficult to learn. That was very impressive.”
So were the five tackles by linebacker Manny Bowen, the hustle of linebacker Cam Brown, and the way Buchholz and the rest of the defensive line made the Zips look more like the yips up front.
“I thought our defensive line was disruptive all day long,” Franklin said. “I’d like to see a little more of a pass rush. (But) we were dominant up front, especially on the interior.
“I think our defense is in a good place.”
At least, it was a good place to start.
The Lions know they weren’t up against a real good team from a major college football conference, and that they’ll face a much more difficult test when in-state rival Pitt comes to town next weekend.
But after nine straight years without an opening-day shutout, and losing two of the past five season openers, keeping an opponent from scoring to start a season felt pretty special.
“I think it helps us get prepared for the rest of the season,” Buchholz said. “Doesn’t really matter who we were playing. After hitting each other all through training camp, it felt good to hit someone else.”
They vow to make sure those hits keep coming.
Because as Saquon Barkley bursts out of the backfield this year and tries to chase down John Cappelletti as a Heisman Trophy winner from Penn State, the school’s current game-breaking running back shares even bigger goals with his teammates.
“We talk about national championship,” Buchholz said.
At Penn State, those hopes always live and die with defense.