LB Brandon Bell makes a Solo Sack Photo by: Michael Corsey @ Michael Corsey Photography

By Tim Blasco

I have noticed a lot of Penn State fans in the misstate with one of two attitudes on their minds. Some are eternal optimists, one fan went to great lengths to show me before the Michigan loss how Penn State could possibly make the National Championship in the next two games. Others are not so cheery. One fan told me tonight that between the Eagles and the Nittany Lions he just hopes its a White Christmas. I sat back and just sort of chuckled. Does anybody truly remember four years ago?

Four years ago — and to beat a dead Sandusky horse — not just Penn State but the entire State of Pennsylvania had a bone crushingly sad experience. I recall the jokes, press and stories wouldn’t stop. There was a time when I looked at my old Penn State Jersey and hat and wondered if I would someday explain to my children how those relics came to be. Penn State Football’s total existence hung in the balance. Then there was the NCAA fines and the loss of scholarships, the players exodus due to scholarships and so on.

No friends, Penn State has come a long way. For starters lets mention that we have a team, its nice to have a football team in State College. I for one am very thankful for that. Second lets mention bowl games, we get to go to a lot of them. Last year’s Pinstripe Bowl victory over Boston College and this year’s undoubted Whatever.com bowl is better than nothing. If you want true disappointment the Big Ten Conference has it. Has anyone been dying to watch Maryland (2-9 7th in the Big Ten East), or Kansas (0-11). Here’s a great victory cry “At least we’re not terrible.”

Ok so there’s nothing awesome about mediocrity but you gotta love the one you got. Hackenberg has shown some promise this year, despite another crushing season. He became the first Nittany Lion Quarterback to pass for over 8,000 yards, he has 663 completions and over 40 touchdowns in his career. The line could use work allowing Hackenberg to be sacked 36 times this year a meager improvement from 2014, 44 times. I get chills just thinking about that. You could blame the Offensive Line and I wouldn’t say you were wrong but knowing your weakness at some point has to become a routine. If something is consistently bad you plan for it, that may be hard to do with a Pro style quarterback but its not impossible. Coach Franklin has admitted that it’s not always the Offensive Line’s fault, sometimes they took to long to find a proper balance, or make the right calls. All the while Hackenberg begins to look more and more like a Hackensack. You can’t win a National Championship and see your QB take the beatings that Penn State has, it’s just not possible.

The most disappointing portion of the season has been the defense. Was anyone else looking for a punishing defensive year from Penn State? When Nyeem Whartman-White went down against Temple the season didn’t look pretty. Among Zettel, Johnson, and Nassib some improvements have been made but the defense just looked far better in 2014. To say the least the balance needs struck between Offense and Defense. You can’t expect even the best defense in College Football (Michigan (2894 yds allowed), to post up time and again when the number one move for offense is a quick three and out. The balance needs struck or the defense is on the field way to long. This wears down players and puts great players in terrible spots. Lastly the clock management by the coaching staff when the offense does have the ball is atrocious.

The point is though that Penn State has a lot to be thankful for Carl Nassib a walk on is on the short list for the Badnarik and Burlsworth Trophies. Nassib has proved that top recruits don’t matter, coaching and heart is what matters. Coach Franklin mentioned what it takes to create a culture of winning at Penn State “It’s all those things because you can’t be successful in one area and not the others. You’ve got to do it in every area, and I think that’s my focus right now is that we are doing it in a number of areas, but we have to make sure that we’re doing it in every area, every area.” What Coach Franklin was referencing, you can use the above issue with Offense and Defensive field time during games as a microcosm.

Penn State is a team that has talent, grit, and tradition. Right now its missing one thing, balance. If the Lions had found their balance this year they could easily be an AP Top 25 team. Instead they are headed most likely for either the Tax Slayer Bowl vs. Georgia, or the Foster Farms Bowl vs. Utah. Both games would be big hurdles for them but hey that’s still pretty awesome. The team gets some cool trinkets, and Penn State fans have something to watch in December, even if its most likely a loss. There’s still a lot to be thankful for in Happy Valley.
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