Penn State Preview: Rd. 1

Some things never change. This season will be the 43rd season that Joe Paterno will run out onto the field, leading a brigade of blue and white men to the fevered scream of 100,000+ white-clad, Happy-Vally, Nittany-Lion, white-and-blue-through-and-through fans. This blog has, in the past, been critical of Penn State, and Joe Paterno: saying in no uncertain terms that it is time for the old man to move on. However, the day the old man actually does hang 'em up is the day that all college football fans shed a tear, for it is not fall until the man who has coached nearly twice as long as I've lived takes that run, even if it is evolved to more of a trot.

Paterno's age serves as a stark contrast to his beliefs, and irony that is all too delightful. The oldest, stodgiest coach in the Big Ten is actually the one who is most progressive, and most willing to tell you about it. He's like the grandfather who has long since lost his social filter, and just says whatever comes to mind. Instead of toeing the company line on playoffs, he calls out those who are opposed. When his personnel fit a new fangled spread offense, he adapted and gave the Penn State faithful their best season in years (2005):


(Oddly, there are no highlights from the Michigan game that year...also check out "glimce" at 1:16)

For as old and stodgy of a guy as Paterno's made out to be, he has certainly been willing to roll with the tide of change when the opportunity presents itself. He may forget to drink water from time to time, but he's still got a passion for the game.

2007 Season in One Word: Disappointing. The Nittany Lions, led by Senior Quarterback Anthony Morelli, started strong, breezing through three non-conference wins. Then, with all the momentum built, they came to the Big House for that payoff/payback win. The fans could taste it - this was the year they'd get that Maize and Blue Gorilla off their back. Here comes the payoff pitch! And they whiffed.

After a hangover loss to Illinois, they built momentum back up with 3 straight conference wins including a drubbing of a very good Wisconsin team. They had OSU at home with a chance to ruin a perfect season, and inch closer to a Big Ten title. Here comes the payoff pitch! Whiff. Again. It put the Big Ten title firmly out of reach. After one more loss to Michigan State, the Nittany Lions finished with a nice bowl victory that left the fans wondering what could have been had they connected on just one of their payoff pitches.

2008 Tangibles:

Schedule
8/30 Coastal Carolina
9/06 Oregon State
9/13 @ Syracuse
9/20 Temple
9/27 Illinois
10/04 @ Purdue
10/11 @ Wisconsin
10/18 Michigan
10/25 @ Ohio State
11/08 @ Iowa
11/15 Indiana
11/22 Michigan State

These non-conference opponents are laughable. The "make or break" stretch from Wisconsin to Ohio State is formidable, and will determine Penn State's season.

Coach


Joe Paterno enters his 43rd season as Penn State's Head Coach.

Returning Playmakers

Offensively, Penn State returns nearly their entire line, which should help ease the transition at Quarterback now that Morelli has departed. You will see a lot of blogs make snarky "PSU will be better now that Morelli is gone" statements, but this will not be one of them. The kid had some tough-luck losses, but was by no means an incompetent Quarterback. Penn State will miss his expereince.

Defensively, Penn State is loaded. Not quite "Ohio State" loaded, but close. They return two players in particular who should anchor their line and secondary: Maurice Evans (DE) and Anthony Scirrotto (S). Scirrotto was first team all conference last year.


That is a well-timed hit. That is Anthony Scirrotto.

Work beckons, and I will be traveling for the remainder of the week. We'll see if Champ can fit in a Penn State preview, and I've got an interview in the works that will (hopefully!) go up sometime soon. I think Penn Staters will be most pleased.

Content may be light for the rest of the week - but it will at least be existent.