web1_TTL101117BSOC-WS-LL_5.jpg

Defense key to Wyoming Seminary boys soccer team’s success

web1_Botzman-Color.jpg

Thomas Botzman, Misericordia president: 10 things you might not know about me

<p>Despite not playing this weekend, Penn State has reached its highest spot in the polls in the 21st century.</p><p>Thanks to Clemson&#8217;s stunning loss at Syracuse on Friday, the Nittany Lions moved up one spot to No. 2 in both the Associated Press and coaches&#8217; top 25 polls on Sunday. They are behind only fellow unbeaten Alabama, with the Crimson Tide receiving every first-place vote in both sets of rankings.</p><p>Penn State had not reached No. 2 since Nov. 6, 1999, prior to a loss to Minnesota that unraveled the Lions&#8217; shot at a national title.</p><p>They will take that lofty ranking into Saturday&#8217;s 7:30 p.m. game against No. 19 Michigan at Beaver Stadium. ESPN has announced that it will bring its traveling &#8220;College GameDay&#8221; show to town for the Lions&#8217; annual White Out game.</p><p>It will be the sixth time GameDay has visited Happy Valley and the first since a September 2009 game against Iowa. The show airs from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday on ESPN with the game being broadcast that night on ABC with Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit on the call.</p><p>The Wolverines survived a fourth-quarter rally by Indiana on Saturday in Bloomington, needing overtime to earn a 27-20 win over the Hoosiers.</p><p>Michigan boasts one of the top defenses in the nation but has struggled on offense, even before backup quarterback John O&#8217;Korn replaced injured starter Wilton Speight.</p><p><strong>Monk dismissed</strong></p><p>Dallas grad Ryan Monk is no longer with the program because of a violation of team rules, a team spokesperson confirmed on Sunday.</p><p>According to court documents, Monk was cited for public drunkenness and disorderly conduct, both summary offenses, on Oct. 11 in State College.</p><p>A walk-on defensive tackle, Monk had appeared in two games in this, his redshirt sophomore season, seeing the field against Akron and Georgia State, recording his first career tackle against the Panthers. He played in five games during the Lions&#8217; 2016 Big Ten championship run.</p><p>Monk had previously drawn praise from Lions coach James Franklin during the summer before that 2016 season for his work ethic.</p><p>With Penn State&#8217;s depth improved this summer, however, Monk was not on the team&#8217;s training camp roster, which NCAA rules cap at 105 players. He and the rest of the players not on the 105-man list rejoined the team at the start of classes.</p><p>Monk had been one of three Wyoming Valley Conference alums on the Lions roster along with Lake-Lehman&#8217;s Connor McGovern and Nick Eury.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1__PSU-logo2017101513572261-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption"></div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1__PSU-logo2017101513572261-2.jpg</photo0><caption0></caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Dallas&#8217; Monk no longer with program</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Derek Levarse</p><p>dlevarse@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

PSU notes: Lions reach No. 2 in the polls; Dallas’ Monk dismissed