Editor’s note: I was at the same game that Troutman visited, and was in the arena milling around (along with Chevy, apparently) when the lights went out. Our interest in Chevy was at best tepid, as it appeared he would not qualify academically. He did not. It is a testament to Howland’s judgment and Chevy’s perseverance that he earned back his fourth year of eligibility by graduating from Pitt in four years. – Ed.
STATE COLLEGE — Chevon Troutman never really liked Penn State.
It’s not because then-coach Jerry Dunn left him alone in the Bryce Jordan Center with the lights off during a recruiting visit.
It’s because when he grew up in Williamsport, it was Penn State-this, Penn State-that, and he wanted to get away from anything blue and white.
So he went to the perfect place to be anti-Penn State — Pitt.
And just like a Pitt player should, he’s always geared up to play the Nittany Lions. Saturday, he scored 18 points in the Panthers’ 84-71 win over an outmatched Penn State team playing about as well and as hard as it could.
“It felt like a home game to me. I always like to come out to Penn State and beat them,” said Troutman. “It’s home, I told my teammates it’s home, and we played like it’s home.”
Pitt guard Carl Krauser said Troutman talked on the bus about how important the game was for that and other reasons. Penn State was the first power-conference opponent this season for the Panthers (7-0).
“We wanted to come out and play together and show the younger guys this is how we lead,” said Krauser.