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October 29, 2003

by Jared Bean

From the Field:

"I didn't have any idea what I was going to do," Paterno said. "And if you ask me what I'm going to do next week, I don't have the slightest idea, so don't even bother asking me the question."
This is Joe Paterno speaking on the quarterback situation for his football team. The quote however, might better describe the season for his football team.

Penn State went into Iowa City on Saturday coming off a bye week. A week perfectly timed to stop the bleeding. It was supposed to be a week to regroup, refocus, and reenergize. It turned out to be a week of more disappointment, off the field problems, and calls for change at the top.
Penn State had everything going for them early in the game. Two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, provided what should have been a spark to a team in desperate need of a victory. Yaacov Yisreal set the stage for the upset, but the team, especially the offense just didn’t respond.

Michael Robinson came out looking frustrated early. But he only threw two passes. Zach Mills, returning from a knee injury, took over early in the game, and looked slow and uncomfortable. The offense line was once again overmanned and overmatched and the offense found no rhythm. Zach was running the option with a fullback which seemed horridly appropriate with the speed of both in question. The play calling was erratic, and Austin Scott didn’t see the field until the second half, providing the offense with the only ray of optimism of the day. Joe’s reasoning on his delayed appearance was that Austin Scott wasn’t familiar with the blocking schemes used early, so therefore he couldn’t possibly play.

Throughout the game, the defense played fine. Being forced to stay on the field because of the offensive problems, this defense, despite its lack of killer instinct, plays well enough to keep the Lions in the game. Gino Capone continues to make tackles but they always seem to be after three or four yards. The secondary still excites me and has a ton of potential.

The bottom line is that this is a college football team, comprised of student-athletes who are coached by a staff led by a legend. They attend Penn State to win football games. Their coaches have left them down. In this day and age it is about the excitement of seeing the best players on the field, showing constant fire and emotion, and winning football games. The Penn State team is stuck in the shadow of a legend. A shadow cast so big that it may be difficult to escape. Penn State has talent. But they also have a coach who seems to want to talk not about winning, but about defending his coaches. Penn State also has serious off the field problems. Off the field, they have a coach who once preached about his Grand Experiment for the true student athlete, but now retreats to a bunker to defend players’ mistakes; a coach who at one point you knew would be talking to these young men and teaching them while defending them, rather than defending them with excuses that sound like the babbling of a 76 year man, not a man credited with carrying the moral mantle of College Football.

To quote Joe Paterno, “I don’t have the slightest idea.” I think this also sums up what the loyal Penn State fans are feeling. Perhaps it’s time to get an idea, and get this team on track.

From the Parking Lot:

It has been what seems like eternity since we have stood in the glow of Beaver Stadium, but Saturday…we return. The parking lot will once again be our home, and it’s about time. Despite the embarrassing performance of our team the tailgating rolls on, and the PennStateTailgate.com folks remained undefeated. This week is the second to last of the year, so it’s time to pull out all of the stops. This week will also be highly attended, as we try our second game at our new location by the Blue Band Field. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate and the canopies will remain staked. This week we also welcome a friend who has never seen the lions lose in person. Perhaps he will prove to be this team’s Messiah, salvaging a virtually unsalvageable season. The excitement for Penn State fans, as you can see, is not easily lost. We will discuss our team, ad-nauseam, but when it comes down to it, we’ll still have fun.

As for the football team, through the eyes of the fans in the parking lot, this is Penn State’s bowl game. This is this team’s chance to prove its critics wrong, and to go out and win a game that counts. Joe seemed to finally be opening up and questioning this team and his coaches. He also seems to be regaining control. Let’s hope that proves true. In the meantime, however, the tailgate must go on. And this week’s will be one of the best of the year.

From the Road:

On another note, we will also have a report from last week’s road game to Iowa. Check back again in this space to read of the atmosphere that surrounded last week’s devastating loss in Iowa City, from Dr. Matty Frank, Penn State Alum, and current Iowa State Assistant Professor. Stay tuned…

Until next time…GO STATE!

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