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Pitt and Penn State will renew their men’s basketball rivalry next season as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

The Nittany Lions will visit the Petersen Events Center in December, and the game could be a lot more interesting than in 2005 when Pitt blew out Penn State, 91-54.

Penn State is coming off a 10-21 season but the Nittany Lions finished strong upsetting Michigan, the runner up in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, near the end of the season.

They return top scorers Jermaine Marshall and D.J. Newbill as well as forward Ross Travis, their best rebounder last season. Penn State also welcomes back Tim Frazier, after the do-everthing point guard missed almost all of last season with an Achilles injury and received a medical redshirt.

Frazier, Marshall and Newbill will at least make Penn State interesting next season. Pitt, meanwhile lost four of its top 10 players from last season, including 7-0 center Steven Adams, who entered the NBA Draft.

– Scott Brown

In the strongest indictment of a group that has been widely criticized in the aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky scandal, Penn Staters overwhelmingly voted for change on the school” Board of Trustees.

Barbara Doran, William Oldsey and Ted Brown won the three open spots after results from the vote were released Friday afternoon.

The three were endorsed by Penn Staters 4 Responsible Stewardship, a watchdog group that has relentlessly hammered the Board of Trustees for everything from its firing of former coach Joe Paterno to its blind acceptance of the Freeh Report.

Doran, Oldsey and Brown all ran on the platform of reform and each received over 11,000 votes with Doran garnering 15,085 votes. Board incumbents Paul Suhey and Stephanie Deviney received roughly 6.500 votes between the two of them.

Brown said the night before the Blue-White game that he supports board member Anthony Lubrano’s bid to gain access to all of the files that Louis Freeh turned over to Penn State following his investigation of the school after Sandusky was indicted for sexually abusing young boys in November of 2011.

The Freeh Report was used by the NCAA to hammer the football program with sanctions even though there were as many questions raised about the NCAA’s jurisdiction as there were Freeh’s conclusions when he alleged a cover-up at the school’s highest levels to protect Sandusky.

The BOT vote validated Franco Harris’ claim a couple of weeks ago when he told the Trib, “We’re getting stronger as they’re getting weaker.”

Harris, the Pro Football Hall of Famer, has called out the Board of Trustees from the early days of the Sandusky scandal, and he has shown no signs of giving up what he sees as a fight for transparency and due process.

“I don’t think the Board of Trustees saw this coming,” Harris said. “I always felt that they made that decision, and thinking that decision was made and nothing was going to happen. Boom and it’s over.”

Lubrano, a key Harris ally, has also vowed that won’t happen.

But he is also realistic since most members of the Board of Trustees are not voted on by Penn State students and alumni, making it harder to enact sweeping changes.

“I am confident that if three more members are elected our voice will be louder,” Lubrano said recently. “In the end the truth prevails. It may just take time.”

– Scott Brown

Gerald Hodges is a textbook case as to why it is so hard for forecast the NFL Draft.  The former Penn State outside linebacker visited a handful of teams before the draft. The Minnesota Vikings, who took Hodges in the fourth round Saturday, were not one of those teams.

Hodges met with the Vikings at the NFL Scouting Combine and Penn State’s Pro Day so imagine his surprise when he received the call from Minnesota that finally ended his wait.

“I didn’t even know they were that interested in me,” Hodges said on a conference call.

Hodges was Minnesota’s first pick since the Vikings took defensive Sharrif Floyd, cornerback Xavier Rhodes and wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson Thursday night, all in the first round.

He joins an organization that made the playoffs last year, has the best running back on the planet in Adrian Peterson and counts Mike Singletary among its coaches.

Singletary, one of the greatest linebackers in NFL history, coaches the same position in Minnesota while also serving as the assistant head coach to Leslie Frazier. Hodges said he cannot wait to learn from Singletary.

“I believe I’m going to do nothing but get even better,” he said.

Hodges said he expected to get drafted earlier than the 120^th overall pick, but he was elated when the Vikings took him.

“Big weight off my shoulders and my family’s shoulders,” Hodges said.

Hodges was asked by Minnesota reporters about the tumult he experienced during his time at Penn State. When asked what it was like to play for the late Joe Paterno, Hodges said, “He was more of a father figure than I would say coach. He coached a lot of football but at the same time he taught you a lot how to be a man so it was a blessing being able to play for him.”

– Scott Brown

UNIVERSITY PARK — Adrian Amos, an honorable mention all-Big Ten cornerback in 2012, spent most of this spring practicing at safety.

And the junior will start at one of the safety spots in the Aug. 31 opener against Syracuse unless an injury forces the coaching staff to move Amos back to cornerback.

“Systematically you’ve got to have at least one impact player at corner and one impact player at safety,” first-year defensive coordinator John Butler said.

Penn State defensive backs had only three interceptions last year. Amos, who had two of those picks, would give the Nittany Lions more of a big-play presence on the back end of the secondary not to mention a big-time hitter.

Butler sidestepped a question about whether Malcolm Willis or Stephen Obeng-Agyapong will be the odd man out at safety in the fall though both figure to play extensively this fall. Moving the 6-foot, 209-pound Amos isn’t an indictment of Penn State’s starting safeties last season as much as it is a testament to the faith the coaching staff has in some of the team’s young cornerbacks.

Sophomores Da’Quan Davis, Jordan Lucas and Trevor Williams appear to be the three players battling for the two openings at cornerback. Williams, a converted wideout, was one of a handful of players who stood out in the Blue-White game.

“We have some depth and that’s going to allow us to do some things,” said Butler, adding that Amos is so versatile he could easily move back to cornerback if Penn State needs him there. “Our job is to put the 11 best on defense out there.”

– Scott Brown

One position battle that appears to be wide open is for the cornerback spot opposite Adrian Amos.

Da’Quan Davis, Jordan Lucas and converted wideout Trevor Williams have all been getting snaps with the first-team defense, Penn State strong safety Malcolm Willis said.

The three are vying to replace Stephon Morris, and all figure to play prominent roles in the fall with Penn State expected to employ more nickel and dime defenses in 2013.

“We’re able to do some different things on defense because we have more numbers,” said Willis, who has emerged as one of the team leaders. “That allows us to match up with teams that go spread. The numbers we had last year weren’t allowing us to do that as effectively as we needed to do.”

Malik Golden joined Williams in moving from wide receiver to the defensive backfield, and he is expected to provide depth at safety. Penn State fans will get a look at Golden and Williams at their new positions Saturday when the Nittany Lions conclude spring practice with the annual Blue-White game.

Willis said defensive backs have been working on been becoming more opportunistic this spring. Penn State forced 10 interceptions last season but only three of the picks were made by defensive backs (Amos two and departed safety Jacob Fagnano one).

“We need to make more plays on the ball,” Willis said. “We’ve been making that a point of emphasis this spring, myself included. I need to make plays when the opportunity presents itself and that’s going to help the team win more games this fall.”

– Scott Brown

Penn State’s early recruiting efforts have received a solid review from national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming.

Lemming is especially high on Delaware linebacker Troy Reeder and Mount Lebanon wide receiver Troy Apke, who gave a verbal commitment to Penn State coach Bill O’Brien last Saturday.

Apke had a breakout junior season in 20123 – the 6-1, 175-pounder caught 54 passes for 1,048 yards and 13 touchdowns – and Penn State made him a top priority even though he only has a handful of scholarship offers.

Lemming said Apke has the look of a four-star recruit.

“I think he’s got big-time ability,” said Lemming, who has a TV show on CBS Sports.

The veteran recruiting analyst said the same of Reeder, who verbally committed to Penn State in February and is also a Division I-caliber player in lacrosse.

“He could be a national name if he wasn’t from Delaware,” Lemming said.

Lemming also had good things to say about Maryland running back Mark Allen and Virginia running back Nick Scott.

Allen isn’t the biggest back but Lemming likes the DeMatha product’s combination of strength and speed. Scott’s athleticism and versatility make the Fairfax star a candidate to play several different positions – and increase his value to a recruiting class that can’t exceed 15 players and will probably number less than that.

If Scott does not play running back in college, Lemming said, he could end up at cornerback.

“So far, so good,” Lemming said of the four verbal commitments Penn State has secured.

– Scott Brown

Malik Hooker is the latest Western Pennsylvania football player to receive a scholarship offer from Penn State.

The New Castle junior wide receiver/defensive back may also be the most intriguing prospect out of a group that includes Aliquippa defensive back Dravon Henry, Washington running back Shai McKenzie, Mount Lebanon wide receiver Troy Apke and Gateway defensive backs Anthony Davis and Montae Nicholson.

Hooker had not played football until eighth grade before coaches and a couple of his basketball teammates talked him into going out for New Castle’s team last fall. The 6-2, 165-pounder caught 13 passes for 324 yards and five touchdowns and scored 11 times while also playing cornerback and “wildcat” quarterback.

Penn State coach Bill O’Brien visited New Castle High School over the winter. The second-year coach extended Hooker an offer Wednesday while the latter was visiting Penn State for the first time.

Penn State joins Buffalo, Pitt and Arizona in offering Hooker. More offers are certain to come given Hooker’s blend of size and athletic ability.

“I think (schools) are intrigued by his upside and potential,” New Castle coach Joe Cowart said.

Hooker is also a talented basketball player and a Division I prospect in that sport. He will probably draw more high Division I interest in football, but Hooker isn’t expected to make a decision on his future – school and sport – until summer at the earliest.

He took an unofficial visit to Penn State with Cowart and New Castle assistant Nick Marmo, a former Nittany Lions offensive lineman.

Cowart said Hooker “loved” his visit and added that his athletic skills are not the only reason why schools like Penn State covet him.

“He’s just a really good kid,” Cowart said.

– Scott Brown

Penn State is loaded at tight end, and Kyle Carter gave Nittany Lions fans one more reason to be excited about the position for 2013.

Carter, one of Penn State’s breakout stars before dislocating his wrist last November, said he is well on his way to making a full recovery.

Coach Bill O’Brien is holding Carter out of spring practice as a precaution, and the latter expects to be at full strength by the start of preseason practice in early August — if not earlier.

“If I had to play a game now, I would be able to,” Carter said on a conference call Wednesday morning.

The rising redshirt sophomore was Penn State’s second-leading receiver in 2012 despite missing three games with ankle and wrist injuries. Carter, a first-team all-Big Ten selection by the media, caught 36 passes for 453 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

He leads a tight end group that includes Jesse James, who was the look of a future star, Matt Lehman, rising redshirt freshman Brent Wilkerson and freshman Adam Breneman.

O’Brien has raved about Wilkerson and Breneman was one of the top tight end recruits in the country who enrolled at Penn State in January.

Breneman has taken part in spring drills despite missing his senior season at Cedar Cliff outside of Harrisburg because of a torn ACL.

– Scott Brown

Penn State has yet to make a decision on the future of highly regarded recruit Zayd Issah, a source told the Tribune-Review Monday.

Issah, who signed with the Nittany Lions in February, was charged last week with using counterfeit money at a McDonald’s in Harrisburg. A cryptic message Issah wrote on his Twitter account Sunday — “a minor setback for a major comeback” — did not to address the questions that have swirled around the Central Dauphin linebacker’s future since his arrest.

The one that isn’t in question when it comes to Issah is his importance to coach Bill O’Brien’s second recruiting class. Issah was one of the highest-rated recruits in the 17-player class, and he projects as an outside linebacker in college.

Penn State is thin at linebacker, and O’Brien said before the start of spring practice that Issah and incoming recruit Brandon Bell could provide depth in 2013.

– Scott Brown

UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State opened spring practice, ironically enough, on a day when a storm socked Happy Valley with snow. Reporters were allowed to watch the first half of practice, and here are some observations followed by Bill O’Brien answers to three questions at a news conference that preceded practice.

– Nothing will be decided during spring practice as far as who replaces Matt McGloin at quarterback, but both Steven Bench and Tyler Ferguson looked pretty sharp in the drills we were allowed to watch. Both have good zip on the ball, and Ferguson showed nice touch during a one-on-one drill that pitted a wideout or tight end against a defensive back or linebacker. Ferguson hit Jesse James in stride with a deep ball after the tight end got behind outside linebacker Mike Hull.

– Freshman Richy Anderson looked smooth in the wide receiver drills run during the open part of practice. O’Brien said Anderson, the son of former Penn State tailback Richie Anderson, will be used as a slot receiver and situational tailback this season. Anderson will be needed to provide depth with Zach Zwinak, Bill Belton and Akeel Lynch the only scholarship players practicing exclusively at tailback.

– Christian Hackenberg is the true freshman that garners that generates the most speculation given the fact that the five-star recruit will arrive at Penn State when the quarterback job is open. But O’Brien indicated that a number of true freshman could play next season due to depth issues, which are most severe at defensive line, linebacker and running back. Linebackers Zayd Issah and Brandon Bell will be given long looks during preseason practice. O’Brien also said incoming freshmen could provide depth on both lines.

O’Brien on…

How he is looking forward to seeing how the quarterback competition plays out

“It’s fun when you’re working with the type of guys that you’re working with right now.  We have a very smart room; a hungry room. They are young, they listen, they ask great questions. They really want to be coached, so it’s going to be really fun to go out on the field and watch these guys practice. We are going to let it play out, and at the end of the day, we are going to have to obviously name a starter. I’m not into alternating quarterbacks. I’m not saying that we’ll never do that but I’m not really a big believer in that right now. But we’ll let this thing play out and go into training camp and see what happens. But these are young guys that are very talented guys and it will be fun to coach them and watch them progress.”

The competition at running back even though Zach Zwinak opens spring practice as the No. 1 tailback

“Starting with me, we are going to do a better job of putting those guys in spots that take advantage of their skill set a little bit more. I think that comes down to coaching. So it is somewhat of a clean slate. That’s a very competitive position. As long as I’m the head coach football here, that running back position will always be a competitive position. That’s a day‑to‑day, who practices the best is the starter the next day, really. That’s how it evolves because that’s a tough position; that’s a competitive deal. There’s a lot of good players there. So that’s how we’ll do it. But Zach will go in as the starter.”

Replacing the leadership lost from the 2012 team

“I wouldn’t say it’s a concern. I think it’s more that every year’s different. And so there’s definitely a group of guys from last year’s team that played a lot of football for us, John Urschel, Glenn Carson, Adrian Amos, that certainly have leadership ability and were part of that leadership team last year. So now it’s time for some of those younger guys to have a good spring practice and work hard and help us in that role, too. So we’ll see how that develops. But this year is a different year, and I think we’ve got some good guys coming back that played a lot for us last year that will be good for us.”

– Scott Brown