Lawnmower Kings: Terry Smith’s Pinstripe Bowl Bonus
Terry Smith, Penn State’s interim head coach in 2025, led the Nittany Lions to a surprising 22-10 Pinstripe Bowl victory over Clemson at Yankee Stadium. His emotional postgame tears and “greatest moment” proclamation resonated with fans and players alike, sparking a groundswell of support for his permanent gig. In honor of his triumph, the Pinstripe Bowl and sponsor Bad Boy Mowers gifted him a custom Penn State–branded riding mower emblazoned with his season motto, “Write The Script.” Smith, now assistant head coach under Matt Campbell, has embraced the new role and remains a cornerstone of the program’s culture.
If only every Power Five bowl came with a custom lawn tractor—imagine Ohio State’s Ryan Day cruising the scarlet grass after beating the Buckeyes in the Citrus Bowl. It’s reassuring that college football is still motivated by the five fundamentals: recruiting, X’s and O’s, branding your riding mower, plotting seating charts for media events and mastering the perfect emotional breakdown on live TV. Surely this is the pinnacle of athletic achievement—who needs national championships when you can have a “Bad Boy Mower” sponsorship etched on your ride-on?
NCAA’s Five-Year Play Pass: The Gift That Keeps on Giving
The NCAA Division I Cabinet approved an age-based eligibility model allowing athletes who enroll by the academic year after turning 19 to compete for five seasons—no redshirts, no waivers. This rule benefits many Penn State players entering their fourth season in 2026, such as tight end Ben Brahmer and cornerback Zion Tracy, who could return in 2027 after standout campaigns. Others like safety Jamison Patton, running back Carson Hansen and linebacker Kooper Ebel also gain an extra season of play. The change simplifies roster planning and promises to reshape college football career arcs.
Because college football clearly needed more seasoned gridders, the NCAA blesses us with perpetual five-year seniors. Soon, your recruitment brochures will feature 28-year-old defensive tackles recounting their academic regrets from the Great Recession era. Penn State’s tight ends might actually earn degrees in medieval literature before thinking about the NFL. It’s like the world’s longest community college reunion—turn on the stadium lights, pass the diplomas, water the turf, rinse and repeat. What’s next, lifetime eligibility for quarterbacks who can recite all 50 state capitals?
Media Day Dream Team: Penn State’s Trio Takes Chicago
Penn State will send linebacker Tony Rojas, offensive lineman Anthony Donkoh and transfer quarterback Rocco Becht to the Big Ten Football Media Days in July at the Hilton Chicago. Rojas, fresh off ACL recovery, and Donkoh, coming back from an undisclosed injury, represent the team’s defensive and offensive line leadership. Becht, the portal transfer from Iowa State, brings veteran experience as one of FBS’s most experienced passers. Head coach Matt Campbell will unveil his revamped roster—including 55 new players—on Day 1 of the conference’s three-day media spectacle.
Ah, the glamorous world of media days: three athletes, one hotel ballroom, endless photo ops, and enough scripted slogans to fuel a semester’s worth of marketing classes. Nothing screams “elite football program” like carting your ACL-comeback linebacker through a sausage-and-pretzel reception. And who doesn’t love watching a smirking transfer QB dodge questions about his former team’s playbook? If you’re looking for genuine insight, bring earplugs; if you want PR gold, grab popcorn and watch Penn State’s new roster shuffle like it’s the NFL draft’s opening night.
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