Fordham: Nittany Lion Lands in the Bronx

Nittany Lion Lands in the Bronx: Former Penn State guard Marlon Smith has transferred to Fordham, near his home in the Bronx, N.Y. Smith did not offer a reason for leaving the Nittany Lions, but he could use better luck at a new school. After finishing the 2003-04 season with honors as one of the best freshmen in the Big 10 and leading the team with 13.4 points per game, Smith suffered a partially blocked artery in his brain last season and spent nearly a week in the hospital. He missed the last 18 games of the season. Smith said he wanted to attend a school that would give him a better chance to contribute to an NCAA-bound squad. Although mentioning Fordham and NCAA Tournament in the same sentence would have been laughable in recent years, the Rams are improving under new coach Derreck Whittenburg. The team finished 13-16 last season and 8-8 in the Atlantic 10. [8/24/05]