Month: November 2018

After a semester full of a highs and lows with Penn State football, the last game of the regular season and the last home game of the 2018 season is finally here.  We endured many stressful GameDays in Beaver Stadium, but overall, I can honestly say that the 2018 season has been a good one for the Nittany Lions and a great one for me as a freshman PSU student.  In the Maryland game, the team plays really well and I am impressed and happy with Penn State’s performance in every position.  More importantly, it’s finally a game where I don’t have to hold my breath with every play, waiting for either disaster or exhilaration in Happy Valley.

Fig. 1. Connors, Ryan. “Maryland Football vs. Penn State Preview.” Testudo Times, Testudo Times, 7 Oct. 2016, www.testudotimes.com/maryland-terps-football/2016/10/7/13155416/penn-state-preview-stats-game.

(one final time for the Seniors to run out of the tunnel onto the field in Happy Valley)

Some things to take away from the last regular season game in Happy Valley before our well-deserved post-season bowl bid, hopefully in one of the “NY6” bowl games:

It’s the end of an era in Nittany Lion football with the conclusion of quarterback Trace McSorley’s college football career.  With his starting role as Penn State’s quarterback and team leader for three years straight, his substantial impact on every game he plays is undeniable.  His final pass thrown in Beaver Stadium is a touchdown pass, which I think is a fitting way for Trace to finish his legacy at PSU.  31 wins and Penn State’s all-time leader in career wins  – what an incredible legacy.

Fig. 2. Bannister , Derek. “Trace McSorley Is A Winner.” Onward State, Onward State, 25 Nov. 2018, onwardstate.com/2018/11/24/trace-mcsorley-is-a-winner/.

(Trace leaves the Beaver Stadium field for the last time as Nittany Lion, with a thank you to the fans for the great memories)

With the game well in hand, I love that Coach Franklin takes the infamous Number Nine out of the game for the last five minutes.  It’s so wonderful that Trace gets to just enjoy those last moments in Beaver Stadium as a player, to truly soak up the Nittany Lion atmosphere that will never be replicated by anything else.  It’s special for him and special for the fans, and it’s something that I will always remember.  Thanks, Trace, for the memories and the thrills!

As for the rest of the game, Penn State plays well on both sides of the ball.  The defense looks awesome and is the most aggressive and determined to stop the ball since that dreadful Ohio State game.

Micah Parsons plays amazing, with a couple of impressive sacks and great plays.

Fig. 3. Burns, Patrick. “How Yetur Gross-Matos’ Monster Game Earned Him Koa Farmer’s Lei on Penn State Football’s Senior Day.” The Daily Collegian, 25 Nov. 2018, www.collegian.psu.edu/football/article_d03b1cc4-f060-11e8-b2ed-172ea4b94d4a.html.

(Yetur on one of his many sacks during Maryland)

After watching his performance in the Maryland game, I think Yetur Gross-Matos may now be one of my favorite defensive players.  He is fast, aggressive, and reacts quicker than anyone on the field to get those turnovers.  It’s exhilarating and maybe a little scary to watch Yetur play.

Offensively, the Lions show that there are several weapons in the Penn State arsenal.  It’s nice to see the wide variety of offense options that we have to move the ball down the field to score.  When both the running game and the passing game are effective and all the pieces are clicking together, the team chemistry is really fun to watch.

Among the stellar performances for the Lions in the Maryland game is Juwan Johnson, last year’s star wide receiver who missed the past three games due to an injury.  Juwan makes the wait worth our while with a long reception to get the Nittany Lions a first down.

Another PSU star-in-the-making in the Maryland game is Ricky Slade, a true freshman who scores two of the five touchdowns and rushes for 64 yards.

Fig. 4. Tyler King | The Daily Collegian. “Penn State Football Moves up One Spot to No. 14 in Latest AP Poll.” The Daily Collegian, 25 Nov. 2018, www.collegian.psu.edu/football/article_e8a0af6c-f0e3-11e8-93e8-97b29ac44fe7.html.

(Ricky Slade and DeAndre Thompkins after Slade’s touchdown)

Miles Sanders, KJ Hamler, and DeAndre Thompkins also show their speed and agility, and continue the toughness and winning spirit that they have displayed since week one.  They refuse to go down without a fight and it shows on every play.

The most impressive aspect of this season for Penn State football is learning that this team does work. It may have taken the whole season for the predominantly young, mostly freshman team to get accustomed to BIG 10 football, but they definitely have it together now and I can’t wait to see where our Lions go from here.

Fig. 5. Difilippo, Bill. “And, Exhale: Penn State’s Win Over Maryland Is Just What the Nittany Lions Needed.” Roar Lions Roar, 9 Oct. 2016, www.roarlionsroar.com/penn-state-football/2016/10/648/and-exhale-penn-states-win-over-maryland-is-just-what-the-nittany-lions-needed.

(The Nittany Lion Seniors sing the alma mater for the fans in Beaver Stadium one last time)

Watching the players’ confidence increase after every win this year makes me so excited for next season.  I’ll be looking forward to seeing our Nittany Lions, wearing the Blue and White and coming through the tunnel onto the field to the cheering fans in Beaver Stadium as we take on our next opponent.  After this year’s season of heart attacks and heartbreaks, I’m hopeful that next year will have less drama and more happiness and celebration!

If you aren’t in the mood to cry and/or get chills, DO NOT WATCH THIS VIDEO (especially the last two minutes)

On a cold, dreary, rainy (and eventually, snowy) Saturday in Pennsylvania, you wouldn’t think that many people would be heading to an outdoor football stadium for a 12 noon kickoff, right?  Well, if you think that, you clearly have never experienced the electric atmosphere on GameDay in State College.  Even a snowy-sleet blizzard can’t stop our Nittany Lion spirit!

Fig. 1. “Untitled.” Penn State University, news.psu.edu/photo/243853/2013/02/10/untitled.

(I assume the band was practicing this song and formation when they woke me in East Halls at 6:30 am?)

Living on campus in East Halls, the Blue Band determines what time I wake up on GameDays based on when they start playing in the freshman dorms.  After playing their traditional Blue Band music in the middle of East Halls, they yell “WAKE UP EAST!”.  By that time, everyone in East Halls is wide awake!  This Saturday, they choose the lovely time of 6:30 am.  I don’t even need to step outside to know it’s freezing because it’s already snowing when I glance out of the window of my dorm room.  Having spent my whole life in Florida, waking up to white-covered ground and snow coming down is thrilling and terrifying all at the same time:  it’s thrilling because it’s so cool and beautiful; but terrifying because it’s not something I am used to.  As a Florida girl, I’m not really sure how to dress correctly for this kind of cold weather.  Lucky for me, my Pennsylvania-native friends know exactly how to ‘tackle’ (pun intended) this for PSU GameDay in Beaver Stadium.  After tearing my closet apart for a couple of hours, I call my mom and some Northern friends in a panic for suggestions on how to layer up for the snowy, wet weather.  Trying to figure out how to look stylish while also staying warm is definitely a challenge, but with a little advice and help from friends, I am ready to walk over to Beaver Stadium and the excitement of Penn State football. (In case you were wondering, I ended up wearing 4 layers, a ski jacket, snow boots, 2 pairs of socks, a scarf, and a hat.  And yes, it’s still cold!).

Fig. 2. Lungaro, Vincent. “Penn State Football | Nittany Lions Grind out Win over Wisconsin.” The Tribune-Democrat, 11 Nov. 2018, www.tribdem.com/sports/penn-state-football-nittany-lions-grind-out-win-over-wisconsin/article_0d6a0708-e5ae-11e8-8936-dffe1103ca9f.html.

(Big sack for PSU defense by 99 Yetur Gross-Matos)

But even in freezing weather, the action on the gridiron is enough to keep every PSU fan warm.  I’m pleased to see a lot of players really step up to help get the win for Penn State. Our defense as a whole does a great job of actually stopping Wisconsin and creating turnovers and opportunities for the Penn State offense.

Fig. 3. Collins, Donnie. “COLLINS: Penn State’s Convincing Win over Wisconsin Starts up Front with Offensive Line.” York Dispatch, York Dispatch, 11 Nov. 2018, www.yorkdispatch.com/story/sports/college/psu/football/2018/11/11/collins-offensive-line-sparks-penn-states-triumph-over-wisconsin/1967106002/.

(The fans refer to Tommy’s plays as “Tommy Time”)

Tommy Stevens not only proves he is capable and ready for the job as the Lions quarterback, but in the Wisconsin game, he shows that he has mobility and can be a running quarterback like Trace McSorley.  As a passer, Tommy stands in the pocket until the play develops.  He knows the defense is coming, but he is not afraid to take a hit and on Saturday, he shows his mettle.

Miles Sanders continues to light up the field as he proves yet again that he is one of the best running backs in college football today. Not only is he ridiculously fast, but he can literally hurdle to the end zone as he jumps over not one, but two, Wisconsin players during the game.

Fig. 4. “Ryan Burrell of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust Prepares the… News Photo.” Plastic Waste Stock Photos and Pictures | Getty, www.gettyimages.co.nz/photos/burrell?sort=mostpopular&mediatype=photography&phrase=burrell.

(One of two of Sanders’ hurdles)

Lastly, Trace continues to show why he is and will always be a hero in Happy Valley.  With his injury in the previous game, everyone is excited to see him play strong . He is crushed on one of the plays and leaves the game limping, but re-enters later and leads the offense with his usual finesse.  When he returns to the game, the student section goes crazy.  Not only does he push through to the end of the game, but his leadership and skill helps Penn State add one to the “Win” column.

Fig. 5. Mast, AJ. “College Football Roundup: Penn State Upends Wisconsin for Big Ten Title – The Boston Globe.” BostonGlobe.com, The Boston Globe, 3 Dec. 2016, www.bostonglobe.com/sports/colleges/2016/12/03/oklahoma-tops-oklahoma-state/pcdQDQVjX88GEHY8glCdvO/story.html.

(One more time seeing Trace in Beaver…)

With Trace’s last official game as a Nittany Lion in two weeks, I can’t wait to see what he and the rest of PSU football bring to the game and the Senior Day celebrations!

Here is the link to Franklin’s postgame reaction. He is in a way better mood then postgame Michigan…

PS, KJ Hamler is up for the Paul Hornung Award, something Saquon Barkley won last year. Here is the link to vote for KJ, literally takes five seconds to vote!

Well, after two consecutive weeks of losing in Beaver Stadium to football teams that we should have easily beaten, the Nittany Lions finally have a win and hopefully, the start of a new winning streak! (This game was still WAY too close for comfort, but we won, and a win is A WIN!)

For one, I have never before seen Happy Valley so, well… not “Happy” on a football Saturday. The general atmosphere on GameDay in State College this week is not as exuberant as it usually is, and the Stadium is not nearly as packed as normal – only 90,000 in attendance rather than the usual 110,000 screaming fans.  The weather is freezing, rainy, and gloomy in general.  I am a little nervous about how our Nittany Lions will handle the weather and whether they will be able to turn around their recent losses.

Fig. 1. Grovich, Chris. “Post-Spring Preview: Iowa.” Roar Lions Roar, 17 May 2017, www.roarlionsroar.com/college-football/2017/05/2250/2017-penn-state-football-schedule-iowa.

At first, the team seems to stumble and they don’t look good.  Frankly, Penn State’s playing performance is analogous to the weather:  pretty sloppy at times and a bit gloomy.  But just like the weather, it isn’t unbearable – just not all that pleasant.  The fact that we give up four points early in the game through two safeties by Iowa’s defense is honestly ridiculous.  For a Big 10 football program with the athletic tradition and talent that Penn State has, these mistakes should not happen.  In fact, for most of the first half of the game, we have negative yardage gains.

Meanwhile, Iowa is looking pretty strong offensively, and Penn State’s offense isn’t able to capitalize during their time on the field. Luckily, after the second quarter and through the end of the game, we finally see the Nittany Lion team that we want to see.

Fig. 2. Sedor, Michael. “Penn State Football Links: Urban Meyer Talks Coaching Speculation; PSU Trails West Virginia as Beast of the East.” PennLive.com, PennLive.com, 13 Oct. 2011, blog.pennlive.com/pasports/2011/10/penn_state_football_meyer_urban.html.

In the Iowa game, Penn State shows that it can be a great second-half team.  After halftime, the defense seems more aggressive and consistent.  Trace, who left with an injury, returns to lead the team on several drives.  That said, Tommy Stevens also has some great plays.  For me as a fan, it’s really amazing to see how quickly the PSU offense is able to adapt to each quarterback, substituting in for each other on different plays. Yes, both Tommy and Trace are incredible quarterbacks, but they have different styles and adjusting to those differences must take some incredible focus and skill by our offensive line.

One thing I still don’t understand is why Penn State did not make more plays to run down the clock in the fourth quarter.  In a close game, you never want to leave your opponent with time to score.

Fig. 3. Schlarp, Thomas. “Penn State Hangs on to Beat Iowa on a Sloppy Day in Happy Valley | Instant Reaction.” The Daily Collegian, 27 Oct. 2018, www.collegian.psu.edu/football/article_e283b416-da3c-11e8-9fd4-4b4600a4aee1.html.

Some things to take away from Penn State’s performance in the Iowa game:

Tommy Stevens is a very good football player and a good leader for our team. It’s hard to fathom, but there will be a day when we won’t have Trace McSorley behind the ball. Thankfully, after Tommy’s performance on Saturday, I feel a lot better about PSU’s quarterback situation for next season.

Jahan Dotson, a first-year wide receiver, can make some pretty impactful offensive moves, just as he did in the Kent State game.  He is there to make a big first down play when we need it the most.  Another big first-year player is freshman linebacker Micah Parsons, who has steadily improved on Penn State’s defense and is the reason for a lot of the stops on Saturday.

Safety Nick Scott also plays beautifully. His interception late in the fourth quarter is one of the reasons that Penn State won the game.  Because of the early safeties that added four points for Iowa, if Iowa had scored on that drive, Penn State would have faced its third straight loss at home.

DeAndre Thompkins and KJ Hamler continue to be Nittiany Lion powerhouses on the field.  They are consistently fast and aggressive, and they will not go down without a fight.

Fig. 4. Sokoloski, Paul. “PSU Report Card: Big Plays Help Nittany Lions Smash Iowa.” Times Leader, Times Leader, 6 Nov. 2016, www.timesleader.com/sports/penn-state/604161/big-plays-help-penn-state-break-away.

In the end, I am so glad that Penn State pulls out a win this week.  Even with the gloomy weather and the less-than-usual exuberance in the pre-game atmosphere, a lot of players step up in a big way to turn the game to our favor.  I continue to believe that the Nittany Lions have a lot of potential this year and for years to come.  In truth, it’s a young team.  Whether they achieve their potential to become the great team that they can be this season and in the seasons to come is the real question.

Here is a video of some highlights of the game!