Congratulations to LB Josh Hull

It really was great to see linebacker Josh Hull have a terrific game against Purdue, finishing with 11 unassisted tackles and two tackles for losses. Given the criticism the kid endured this past week, it was outstanding to see him come through in the face of adversity.

I know I was critical of him, and I have to admit it's not a comfortable feeling criticizing a college kid who is an excellent student and all-around person. The toughest part about being a columnist is separating the person from the performance on the field. Sports columnists generally don't want to see a player struggle, so when we criticize an athlete, hopefully readers understand it's based on athletic performance and is not personal.

Some people don't think a college kid should be criticized -- ever. Those people are entitled to that opinion, and I respect it. But at this level of college football, criticism is just part of the territory, and the players know that when they come to Penn State.

Again, congratulations to Hull for his work Saturday. He's not the kind of kid who would say I told you so, but his performance against Purdue earned him the right to this week.