Nitlion1986 said:

Chris is older. I am a little older than Rob but interacted with him through different wrestling events through his HS wrestling. Then a friend of mine had a kid wrestle for him at Cornell.

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GregInPitt said:

Nope. Going into 1986, the previous 8+ years PSU football had shown a pretty consistent ability to compete with top 5-10 teams, with many signature wins. Nebraska, ND, Alabama, ....... The current team will have a chance to do the same, but really for the first time since 2016 which also included a blowout loss to UM and a pathetic loss to pitt. And then pretty much losses to the top 10 teams Franklin's teams faced right through today. Sure, the USC game was a nice win against a talented team, but which alredy had 2 losses. PSU in the late 70's and into the 80's had played for MNC's multiple times, whereas the current team and CJF's teams haven't even made the 4 team playoff yet going into the expanded playoff this season. Just not a great deal similar to me.

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87 Penn St8 said:

As a now "Old Head" who was a senior with you and also at that game- remember that it was Blair Thomas' coming out party of sorts as he had a big kick return. I think that there are many solid posts about similarities to other top teams like 82/94/05/16. Here are my memories of the 86 team that do and don't apply now:

Do:
*Stud running backs: Dozier/Thomas then: Nick/Kaytron now
*Solid- if not publicly recognized O Lines
*Finding ways to Win- including some games that maybe we didn't "deserve" to: Cincinnati/Maryland then and USC/ possibly a Wisky or Minny down the road
*Both WR Rooms were generally average- no Kenny Jacksons or Bobby Engrams on either 86 or now. Ray Roundtree was very good and an NFL player in 86- likely better than anyone on current depth chart
*There was a solid win on the road against a Traditional Power who was in a down cycle where maybe we didn't play our best but won: @ Notre Dame then (I was there too) and @ USC last week

Don't:
*John Shaffer today would be called a "Game Manager" who was a leader and winner but doesn't compare athletically to Drew in any way
*Missing are the true blockers and power backs that 86 had: Steve Smith and Tim Manoa- but that is sort of the H Back role now (and #71 in motion : )
*Tyler Warren is at a completely other level than our 86 guys. Brian Siverling- who dominated me in IM Basketball- was solid and more old school- it is a different position now but there is no comparison re: productivity
*Overall maturity on D- The 5th year senior comment is dead on- but we also had guys who knew and understood their roles. With a new DC and a few transfers/young players there could be some "learning curves" that kill us down the line. Like many- I watched Tony Rojas get lost and overrun plays multiple times last week that Shane Conlan would not do
*Our interior D line with Bob White and Pete Curkendall just felt tougher than where we are today. Durant is fantastic- but when we get into some of the other guys the trust factor isn't yet there. BTW I can still see Pete running away from our North Endzone seats where I sat with my Dad with his fumble (weird interception?) recovery sprint to help turn around the Terps game- which nonetheless went to the last possession/4th down play by Maryland which fell incomplete in our near endzone

STILL TBD:
*The "Signature Win"- Then @ Bama 23-3. Great afternoon spent watching on the old "projection" TV in The Lions Den.

Hopefully 11/2 will be this teams' version of that W vs OSU to push us into the upper echelon!

Go State!

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