IT’S ON YOU NOW

September 4, 2012

It started as shock. That shock soon turned into despair and finally to anger. 

Penn State supporters were on an emotional roller coaster for months. The ride seems to be slowing down. Now it appears to be mostly anger at the NCAA, the Big Ten, the Board of Trustees and anyone else they feel has mislabeled or misrepresented who they are and what they stand for. 

They are tired of having to apologize for their diplomas. Their blood boils at the suggestion that they were partially to blame for what had led to the downfall of one of the nation’s most respected programs.

After the NCAA dropped the hammer on Nittany Lion football, the program was written off by the rest of the nation. “It will take at least a decade before they can even think about being competitive again,” some said. Others thought the penalties weren’t harsh enough. “Beaver Stadium will soon be a ghost town,” pundits proclaimed.

That was the first rallying point. Over three thousand fans gathered in the early morning hours of a late July morning to cheer on players arriving for workouts. The message was clear. No matter how horrible the previous nine months had been, no matter how heavy the sanctions were from the NCAA and the Big Ten, the Nittany Lion faithful were going to proudly support this team. It was an impressive showing. The players were blown away by the number of fans that greeted them.

Saturday’s season opener brought a new era. It was time to come together as family again. It was time to show the players that stayed you had their back. Was it a sellout? No. However, the announced crowd was larger than the season opener in 2011 against Indiana State.

The atmosphere at Beaver Stadium had transformed in recent years into one of the loudest and most intimidating venues in the country. The fans impacted the game. Now, those same fans will impact the program itself.

There is a distinct possibility this program will not have a winning season for a while. Losing to Ohio last week, makes a 4-8 year (or worse) a strong possibility considering the lack of depth on the 2012 team. The immediate future of Penn State football lies as much in the stands as it does on the field, if not more.

As of this moment, Coach Bill O’Brien has been able to keep some key members of the next recruiting class committed to the program. A few have changed their mind in the wake of the sanctions, but not all. I do not believe a couple more losses than originally expected are going to scare them away. They have spoken of restoring the program. They expect to play and contribute. Losing to Ohio or Navy or even Indiana doesn’t change that... I don’t think.

Bill O’Brien says the coaching staff will be the same. The education will be the same. The facilities will be the same. The biggest change that could occur over the next few seasons that would alter the perception of what Penn State football is now would be the support. If those same recruits that today are saying all the right things about looking forward to playing in front of the best fans in the nation start seeing more and more empty seats in Beaver Stadium, how committed will they be?

It is on the fans. The same ones who have said, “we are a family.” They’ve filled Beaver Stadium as the Lions finished off their fourth losing season in five years earlier this decade. With no championship to play for, no bowl game to look forward to and the potential for dwindling talent and mounting losses, will Penn State still draw 100,000 fans? 

I have said on the air that I think the PSU fans get too much credit for the Beaver Stadium atmosphere. They garnered that reputation after big games on national TV. For a noon game against someone other than Ohio State or Michigan, the student section is half filled at kickoff, and that doesn’t even change for senior days. 

There was great support at the Ohio game as fans stood by the players that remained at Penn State. That same support is needed for every home game for the next four years plus. If that happens, the “best fans in the nation” title will be deserved. Not even the Voice of Reason will debate it.

Games of the Week:

Florida @ Texas A&M - SEC football officially comes to College Station, TX. The Gators struggled in week one with a 27-14 win over Bowling Green. Florida managed just 14 first downs and was awful in short yardage situations. The Aggies will be playing their first game. The opener with Louisiana Tech was postponed due to Isaac. Kyle Field will be rocking. Even without Ryan Tannehill, I think the Aggies get off to a great start in their new league. I like Texas A&M 21-17.

Georgia @ Missouri - I still find it odd that Missouri is in the SEC East, but there they are. This divisional game is also the league debut for the Tigers. Unlike Florida, the Bulldogs are set at QB with Aaron Murray leading the charge. Georgia was my pre-season pick to win the SEC East. They have the experience they need to win a road game like this in a hostile environment. I like Georgia in a close one 31-27.

Nebraska @ UCLA - The ground games here are what to watch, and both QBs can score from anywhere. The Bruins scored on their first snap last week when Brett Hundley went 72 yards for a score. He also threw for 202 yards, and Johnathan Franklin rushed for 214 yards. The Huskers are led by Taylor Martinez at QB. Martinez is a threat to run, but last week against Southern Miss proved he was dangerous through the air compiling 354 yards and 5 TDs. I think Nebraska is more physical. I will take Big Red 30-24.