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September 10, 2003

by Jared Bean

From the Field:

The Penn State Nittany Lions stink! That’s right, I’m saying they stink. They couldn’t do anything right. They couldn’t stop my grandmother (5’3” 94 lbs.) if she were at running back. BUT. They can get better. There’s no where to go but up. And this team can do it. Here’s my six part not-so-secret, not guaranteed plan to fix us:

1, 2, and 3. Better coaching. Joe, Fran, and Tom have been flat-out out coached. There is an air of complacence, sloppiness, and overall lack of heart to this football team. Unfortunately, these are the things that PSU has relied on for many years to remain competitive. Joe needs to stop whining, stop complaining, and stop being defensive. He needs to take this team over and prove that he can still coach. He needs to develop better offensive game plans and he needs to get more involved in the defense. And if it doesn’t happen soon, I will be joining the bandwagon calling for change.

4. An offensive line

This could be the worst line we have seen at State in many years. And the thing is, we have recruited some great talent. The breakdowns at the line of scrimmage are the catalyst for all of the problems this offense has faced. No time to throw equals bad decisions by Mills. Defenders in the backfield equal no time to run. There are other kids (read Tyler Reed) who can step in (no matter what they weigh) and try and turn this around. Joe needs to practice hard, find a better combination and get them the will and desire to win. This will get Zach back into his form and make the offense more productive. It sounds really simple when you put it that way.

5. Run Austin Scott

I am officially a fan of this true freshman. I think this kid can make numbers 1-4 irrelevant by making them look all look good. I don’t care how old this kid is. Let him run until he can’t run anymore. We have nothing to lose. Unless he starts fumbling consistently he deserves a chance to redeem himself. We have won with true freshman before and this kid looks like he can do it for us again.

6. Fans keep the faith

I’m not saying we can’t complain and give suggestions. By the amount of money we pay for tickets we deserve to be able to voice opinions. But secretly, in the comfort of your own home, late at night, keep thinking that this team can and will win. Keep remembering the love you have for Penn State, and transfer it to the players and coaches. Our pride may be what brings us back.

From the Parking Lot:

As the field goes, so goes the Parking Lot. Even with the best fans in the nation the Lion Faithful expressed their disappointment after the game. The walk back from the stadium was somber. Lots of shaking heads, and hands to the side, palms up, and head cocked, as if to say “what happened?” Starting with the parking situation early in the year, this season just hasn’t progressed the way many of us planned. But remember there is always a bright spot in the NittanyNation; the tailgating.

The tailgating is the one thing about Penn State Football that you the fan can control. You can invite whoever you want. You can cook the food you want. You can eat as much or as little as you want. You can control how happy you are when you are in the Parking Lot. It is the reason many make the trip to the games, and it may be a lesson for those of us who show our ugly side after a loss. The question is, would you rather be at home alone with a victory or with your friends and family enjoying the thrill of the tailgate? It is a question that I’m not sure I can answer, but if I at least think about it I can cheer myself up. Of course there’s always beer.

We’ve seemed to conquer the parking lot, and now we need to turn our attention to helping our team conquer the field. As I said in “From the Field” we need to support this team and not turn on them. We need to band together. We need to take the enthusiasm we have for tailgating and transfer it to the field. It really can help provide this team with emotion they seem to lack.

This week our team hits the road. Someone of else will take the traveling tailgate to show our support. The road, without the distractions of home, may be just what this Nittany Lion squad needs. A “Road Tailgate” may just be what we need to realize how good we have it at home. I hope both are true.

Stay tuned for next week’s column, filed from Lincoln, NE.

Until next time…GO STATE!

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