Neil Ahmed

Following the worst start in Football Program history, The Penn State Nittany Lion’s have turned it around. They have ultimately let the critics do their job, critique, and prove them wrong.

Their 0-5 start was terrible, with many to blame. Upon winning three straight games against Michigan, Michigan State and Rutgers, the Nittany Lions are now 3-5 and are undefeated since Thanksgiving.

Though their Bowl Game hopes have gone from being crushed to being somewhat feasible if they win their final regular season game against the University of Illinois. There are no regulations on Bowl Games this year.

Earlier this season, I wrote a feature article criticizing Head Coach, James Franklin. I not only argued that Coach Franklin should be fired but also questioned his leadership, and his new, multimillion dollar contract that accompanied him. It all seemed like a waste. But now, I take it all back. Seriously, what’s more difficult that turning a team around that’s 0-5 and facing their worst start in program history?

Getting them to believe in themselves as a team, when nobody else did, was the answer. Through their losses, the team developed a brotherhood. A  brotherhood that allowed them to win three straight games. A brotherhood that was strong enough to turn an 0-5 start into possibly a 5-5 season. A brotherhood that allowed them to pursue a Bowl Game, which is not only great for the team, but brings in positive exposure as well.

Junior, Jahan Dotson said that he “wouldn’t want any other thing than to play with [his] brothers [and] at the end of the day, you only get so many opportunities to suit up in the blue and white.”

Furthermore, though Penn State Football’s season began as a failure, there recent games have proven otherwise. In their last three games, they beat Michigan by ten points, and they beat Michigan State and Rutgers, both by fifteen points. With a strong win against Illinois this weekend, their likelihood of being a solid candidate for a Bowl Game went from nothing, to a strong possibility.

The good news is that many project Penn State Football to qualify for a Bowl Game. Multiple sources project them to  either compete in Duke’s Mayo Bowl Dec. 30, or Arizona’s Guarenteed Rate Bowl on Dec. 26.

Though they have their sights set forward, they need to remember the cruciality of their last game of the regular season, Saturday, Dec. 19 at State College. This matchup versus the visiting Illini is a must win in order to be in Bowl Game contention.

Photo Credit: ESPN