Tag: Mike Yurich

Penn State fires offensive coordinator Mike Yurich ahead of matchup with Rutgers

Penn State fires their offensive coordinator ahead of Rutgers game on Saturday.

When Penn State takes on Rutgers this Saturday, the coaching staff will look slightly different from 24 hours ago. Following Penn State’s loss to Michigan over the weekend, the Nittany Lions removed offensive coach Mike Yurcich from the staff.

Jon Sauber of the Centre Daily Times was the first to report the news.

Against Michigan, Penn State’s offense could not get much going, recording only 238 yards of total offense. They also struggled to move the chains, as Yurich’s offense went 4-14 on third downs. Penn State’s only other loss this season came against Ohio State.

 

As the Nittany Lions turn their focus to their matchup with Rutgers, Ja’Juan Seider is expected to take over the offensive playcalling, according to Football Scoop. He will keep the role for the remainder of the season and will be assisted by Ty Howle.

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Yurcich joined the Penn State coaching staff in 2021 after one season with Texas. His coaching career includes stops at Shippensburg, Edinboro, Oklahoma State and Ohio State. While Penn State is off to an 8-2 start, they have struggled against top-ranked teams over the past three years.

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After week 11, Penn State is ranked 74th in the nation in total offense and 46th in rushing offense. However, Saturday could offer a chance at redemption. Through 10 games, Rutgers has allowed nearly 300 yards per game, including 128.2 rushing yards.

Three offensive key players for the Texas Longhorns on Saturday

For the Texas Longhorns to stay on track to challenge for a Big 12 Championship, they will need these three players to guide them Saturday.

The Texas Longhorns offense has quite the test after facing the No. 1 scoring defense in the conference last Saturday. They were able to put up 41 points against that defense with a little help from their own defense. This week it doesn’t get much better against the No. 1 total defense in the conference in the West Virginia Mountaineers.

That same defense held the high powered Oklahoma State offense to 20 first downs, 342 yards of offense and 27 points. You can make the argument that they had an easier task than Texas did since they didn’t face the starting quarterback in Spencer Sanders who was out with the high ankle sprain. Can they rise to the challenge of the Texas offense after they completely shut down Kansas State at home?

The road hasn’t been kind to the Mountaineers this year going 0-2. They have been outscored 61-40 in those two games. At home it is a much different story where they have outscored opponents 158-58. You can make the case that it is a bit of fools gold with a game against Kansas, Eastern Kentucky and Baylor mixed in there. So how can Texas prove their worth against a defense that has looked good?

We take a look at three key offensive players in this game.

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Tom Herman Expected To Meet With Brian Kelly

Tom Herman was in South Bend to meet with Brian Kelly. They were meeting about how to turn programs around after hiring a new coaching staff.

According to 247Sports, Tom Herman was in South Bend on Thursday to meet with Notre Dame Head Coach Brian Kelly. They were meeting about how to have a successful season after rehauling their coaching staff.

In 2016, the Fighting Irish went 4-8 and Kelly hired new offensive and defensive coordinators. The following three seasons, Notre Dame has gone 10-3 in 2017, 12-1 including a College Football Playoff appearance in 2018, and 11-2 this past season.

The initial season was not as bad for the Longhorns, going 7-5 last season. Now, with Mike Yurich taking over as the offensive coordinator and Chris Ash as the defensive coordinator, Texas will be looking for similar success as Brian Kelly’s squad throughout the next three seasons.

For Yurich on the offensive end, he has stepped into a dream situation, inheriting the best returning quarterback in the conference. With Sam Ehlinger being a senior, the new offensive coordinator will be hoping that the veteran leader can lead the Longhorns to a new level.

As for Ash, he will have a more difficult time, with the defense needing a lot of work. Changing a few key player’s positions like Joseph Ossai will help, but the place that needs to be improved is the secondary. The leader should be junior safety Caden Sterns, but Ash will need to get the group as a whole playing better.

If throughout the next three seasons Texas can replicate what Notre Dame has done, it would be considered a success. Three straight 10 wins seasons mixed with a College Football Playoff appearance would be the best stretch for the Longhorns since the Colt McCoy days.

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