Die Macht » Its been a tough start to the season for Texas

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Saquon Barkley doesnt care about statistics, except one he focused on in the days following Penn States loss to Pitt.The fumble.I am tough on myself. Its just how I am, Barkley said. I hold myself to a standard. This team holds itself to a standard and that fumble, I watched it a lot of times.It occurred in the third quarter and stalled Penn States comeback in Week 2. Now, after watching it more than 10 times, Barkleys ready to face a Temple defense with an added focus on ball security. Hes also taking a more patient approach heading into a matchup that favors the Nittany Lions (1-1) at Beaver Stadium.The Owls (1-1) are not the same defensive group that notched 10 sacks and held a Penn State running game -- yet to deploy Barkley -- to under 150 yards last season. They lost seven starters from that team and were shaky in their season opener allowing 329 rushing yards at nearly five yards per carry in a 28-13 loss to Army.Although Barkleys two-game rushing totals dont seem befitting for a player with his ability to bounce outside and gain yards after contact, hes picked up valuable yardage between the tackles. All four of his rushing touchdowns against Pitt were of the tough, grinding type and all were less than three yards.I feel like Ive matured in that area too, taking what the defense gives you, not trying to make too much, Barkley said. If its two, just stick your head in there and drive to get the two. Im not really concerned on the yards I get. I know I havent put up crazy stat numbers but I really dont care because were still putting up 30-some points per game.PATERNO COMMEMORATIONPenn State plans to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Joe Paternos first game, festivities that have touched sensitive nerves to supporters of the late coach and those offended by honoring him given his role in the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal. Penn State says the commemoration will highlight the players more than Paterno himself.THOMAS TO RETURN?Although it appeared running back Jahad Thomas was on the mend from a dislocated left thumb suffered in training camp, the Owls could be without their best player for a third-straight game. Thomas returned to practice earlier this week but left Tuesdays session favoring his thumb after making a catch.Thomas rushed for 1,262 yards and 17 touchdowns last season.BANGED UP DEFENSEPenn State is dealing with injuries on defense.Starting middle linebacker Jason Cabinda will likely miss his second-straight game with a right hand injury. He was not suited up during the portion of the teams Wednesday practice and coach James Franklin was non-committal when asked if Cabinda could play with a club on his injured hand/wrist.Defensive tackle Kevin Givens is also questionable after leaving the Pitt game with a head injury and wide receiver Saeed Blacknall (hand/wrist) could also miss the game.LINE ROTATIONSThe Nittany Lions havent been nearly as bad up front as the previous two seasons but tackles Brendan Mahon and Andrew Nelson both struggled at times against Pitt pass-rusher Ejuan Price. Mahon was beaten cleanly on plays that turned into strip-sacks and Franklin said junior college transfer Paris Palmer has been pushing him in practice.BOUNCING BACKPhillip Walker already leads the Owls in nearly every major passing category but hes struggled with accuracy so far this season completing just 46.9 percent of his passes. Franklin doesnt expect him to stay down for long.So is DaeSean Hamilton for Penn State. Hamilton was distraught after dropping the potential go-ahead touchdown late against Pitt but his teammates sense hes due for a breakout game. Hamilton has 10 catches out of the slot and has been an early go-to for Trace McSorley.He can flip the switch immediately and get back to what he has to do to better himself and eliminate those plays the next week, receiver DeAndre Thompkins said. Ahkello Witherspoon Super Bowl Jersey . The judges scored it 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 for Jones (19-1). It was the champions closest call. Despite the loss, it was a remarkable show by the confident Swedish challenger, who had the best of the early rounds and then hung on in the fourth and fifth. Tevin Coleman Super Bowl Jersey . LOUIS -- Alexander Steen scored a power-play goal with 59. http://www.thesf49ersshoponline.com/Youth-jalen-hurd-49ers-jersey/ . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. Laken Tomlinson Super Bowl Jersey . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. Kwon Alexander Super Bowl Jersey . Three came down to the fourth quarter while quarterbacks continued to shine in all four games; so important to the overall quality of the game. STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi State stars Victoria Vivians and Morgan William were at their best during the 10th-ranked Bulldogs 79-68 victory over No. 8 Texas on Sunday.That wasnt a surprise. Its what the Bulldogs did without those two on the floor that turned some heads.William scored 23 points and Vivians added 19, but it was a second-quarter run largely led by the teams reserves that helped put the Longhorns away.Our kids, that second quarter, really answered the bell and got after it, Mississippi State coach Vic Schaefer said. We got some real critical stops and then we really were attacking the rim.Mississippi State (4-0) pulled away in the second quarter thanks to some valuable minutes from the bench -- especially backup guards Roshunda Johnson and Jazzmun Holmes -- and a suffocating defense that held the Longhorns without a field goal for the final 9:40 of the half.The Bulldogs had a 26-9 advantage in the second quarter to turn a tie game into a 42-25 halftime lead. Johnson had seven points and Holmes added three during the run while Vivians and William were their biggest cheerleaders on the sideline.Everybodys stepped their game up, Vivians said. Everybody can go to the basket. Everyone can score.Texas (1-2) had 15 turnovers in the first half and 24 in the game.We got a little frantic in some situations, Texas coach Karen Aston said.Brooke McCarty led Texas with 19 points, and Ariel Atkins added 18. Texas lost despite shooting a respectable 27 of 56 from the field (48.2 percent) and outrebounded the Bulldogs 36-26.The Longhorns pulled within 48-40 in the third quarter, but couldnt get any closer.There were a whole lot of positives, Aston said. Even the turnovers, most of them were in the first half. We pulled within in eight points, but then we forced some things. Young kids trying to make something happen every possession.William shhot 5 of 11 from the field and 13 of 14 from the free-throw line while also adding six rebounds and three steals.ddddddddddddDominique Dillingham added 10 points for the Bulldogs.INSTANT OFFENSEMississippi State played 10 players on Sunday, including nine who were on the roster last season. The only new player was Johnson, a 5-foot-7 junior guard who transferred from Oklahoma State and sat out last season.Shes been excellent so far this season, averaging nearly 12 points per game as a consistent scoring option with the second team off the bench.BIG PICTURETexas: Its been a tough start to the season for Texas, which has now lost two of its first three games. Both of those losses -- against Stanford and Mississippi State -- came against good teams, but they provide ample evidence that the Longhorns have some work to do to be among the nations elite.Mississippi State: The Bulldogs lost to Texas in Austin last season, but won against the Longhorns with relative ease on their home court. Vivians -- who is inarguably the teams best scorer -- had a solid game, but it was the consistent production from others like William, Dillingham, Chinwe Okorie and the bench that was most important for Mississippi State.LIMPING SCHAEFERSchaefer was noticeably limping during the second half of the game, and the coach said he believed it was his due to a case of gout in his feet. Vivians and William had to nearly carry Schaefer into the postgame press conference.UP NEXTTexas: The Longhorns return home to face Northwestern State on Wednesday.Mississippi State: The Bulldogs face Oregon on Friday in the opening round of the Waikiki Beach Marriott Tournament in Honolulu on Friday.----Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP ' ' '