COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : USC : Kopp, Gelzheiser Rank Among Best

USC-Penn State Saturday matches two players nominated for the Butkus Award, given to the nation’s best linebacker.

USC senior Jeff Kopp of Danville, Calif., starts at inside linebacker and had five unassisted tackles last Saturday against Washington. Last season, he led USC with 83.

Penn State senior Brian Gelzheiser of Pittsburgh is the latest in a long line of standout Nittany Lion linebackers, nine of whom were first-team All-Americans. He made 113 tackles last year.

Gelzheiser sat out Penn State’s opener at Minnesota because of a sprained knee but is expected to play Saturday.

A year ago, in Penn State’s 21-20 victory, Kopp and Gelzheiser were in on eight tackles each, and Gelzheiser forced a fumble.

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John Robinson’s team leaves today on a charter flight from Burbank and arrives in Harrisburg, Pa., 85 miles from State College, at about 10 p.m. From there, the team will ride two buses to State College, arriving at about midnight.

“Penn State is what it’s all about,” Robinson said. “The great crowd, the great fans, that setting. The bad part is you have to ride a wagon to get there.”