Sometimes it takes a game like we saw against USC to reveal the character of a team. I was a Senior at Penn State in 1986 and I remember Penn State needing a big 4th down conversion against Cincinnati to win that game at home. We know what happened with that 1986 team, which later went on the road and beat #2 Alabama and ND in a close game later in the season before beating Miami in the Fiesta Bowl.
The USC win was one of the best wins in the CJF era, and arguably the best true road win CJF has had since he has been at Penn State. I couldn't believe that he went for those 4th downs. I'm glad they worked out, and I'm very happy for him and for the team. Here are just a couple of other observations:
Drew Allar, regarding his interview after the game. My impression is that Allar is right in the midst of rapidly maturing as a person and a leader, and he seems like a great kid. He took a big leap in so many ways in that USC game. We may find that Allar plays at a different level for the remainder of his college career as a result of this game.
Coach AK: Enjoy this guy now, because he is going to be a very successful head coach somewhere soon. His creativity is off the charts, and he really seems to figure out ways to tailor his gameplan to the specific talents of his players. The drive early in the game reminded me of when Penn State overwhelmed Arizona in the opening game of 1999. That early USC drive only ended in a FG, but you could see the team feeding off of AK's playcalling. I expect this team to continue to get better on offense over the final few weeks of the season.
I don't expect this team to win a championship this year, but Penn State has something special going on right now. I'm going to sit back and enjoy the rest of this season unfold.
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!
