With only two starters running out of eligibility following this season, it was thought that Penn State's offensive line would return a handful of veterans for the 2007 campaign.
A.Q. Shipley, John Shaw, Rich Ohrnberger, Gerald Cadogan and Chris Auletta each logged significant playing time this year, and could have potentially formed a significantly more experienced line than what was in place in 2006.
Auletta, however, feels it is time to move on, and will not return to Penn State next season.
"It's time to go," Auletta explained. "I've been here as long as everyone like Levi [Brown] and them, and I'm already going to graduate with two degrees. It's just time to go."
The Massapequa, N.Y., native said he'd been wrestling with the decision all season, and it was made all but official when his name was released on the list of seniors to be announced before Saturday's game. Auletta is a senior academically, but has junior eligibility.
A member of the 2002 recruiting class, the St. Anthony's High School product did not enroll as a full-time student until the spring semester of 2003. A knee injury and a redshirt later, Auletta went nearly three years between his final high school game and his first collegiate appearance in 2004.
Auletta started at left tackle this season against Northwestern and Minnesota as Brown sat out with a knee injury. He then started the final two games at right tackle in place of the injured Shaw. Auletta certainly would have challenged for a starting tackle spot next season in Brown's absence.
"I expected to start this year, so it's not always guaranteed," Auletta said. "Sometimes you've just got to make that decision."
He and Shaw fought for the starting job at right tackle throughout the offseason, but Auletta came up short.
A high school teammate of junior fullback Matt Hahn, Auletta -- two years older -- would have left Penn State at the same time had he stuck around another season.
Day to remember
Offense: Andrew Quarless. The true freshman tight end led the Lions in receiving yardage for the fourth game in a row, recording 87 yards on four catches. He also had the first touchdown of his career on a 17-yard reception in the second quarter.
Defense: Nolan McCready and Tim Shaw. A former walk-on, McCready had a career high in tackles (7) in his Senior Day performance.
First a running back and then a middle linebacker, Shaw recorded two timely sacks on Michigan State's final drive, making perhaps his most noticeable contributions all year from his temporary perch at defensive end.
Day to forget:
Offense: Rich Ohrnberger. Penn State's right guard looked lost on a few plays, sometimes missing pass rushers altogether as they ran at Anthony Morelli unimpeded.
Quotable:
"We're weathered. We've been through so much here. We were here for Larry Johnson's 2,000-yard season. Then we were here for 3-9 seasons and 4-7 seasons. We've seen the highs and the lows. I've been on the worst team in the history of the school and I've also been on one of the best in the history of the school. We've been through everything.
"I've got 22 other brothers out there that anytime in my life, I can call them and sleep on their couch and they can do the same. I think we're really close and the fact that we've been through so much solidifies this class."
-- Jeremy Kapinos, fifth-year senior punter
Did you notice?
Despite the reported attendance of 108,607 (which is highly questionable), the student section was never completely filled ... Anthony Scirrotto's punt block was Penn State's third against the Spartans in as many years ... The Man Law-inspired signs urging the Lions offensive front to block by holding up a "B" and then a cutout of a lock.
Extra point
The four teams Penn State lost to this year -- Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin -- are currently 44-3. The only losses for these squads have come at the hands of each other.
