This was my first Bowl game experience. Here are some of my personal thoughts...
1. I'm making the 12 hour drive back to the DC area today feeling kinda good about the game. I'm not sure if that's because PSU got down so big (24-3), and I'm just happy we made the score respectable, or if I saw a QB in McSorley that has the potential under Moorehead's system, to possibly thrive. Maybe it was somewhat of both.
2. Penn State's intro, alma mater, band, and traditions are better than UGA's. Yes, I know I'm biased but in seeing other schools compared to PSU, we are really spoiled. Our "Unrivaled" pump up videos are awesome! Compared to UGA's "Saturday nights alright" pump up pre-game video, it's no contest. PSU wins in every aspect except on the field performance.
3. Two great fan bases. I'm always so proud that Penn Stater's are such class acts. UGA fans were classy as well.
4. Jacksonville is a sh*thole. I've never been so unimpressed with a city in my entire life. Social scene is terrible, the restaurants are mediocre at best, and I found the locals somewhat trashy. I started talking to the locals as to why this city is so dilapidated. Sounds like there are multiple contributing factors, but we were told that the "First Baptist Church" bought the downtown area and then controlled the development of it (or lack thereof). Sounds like the city is trying to get its act together, but it has a long way to go. I highly suggest not visiting Jacksonville unless you must. You'll be disappointed.
5. EverBank Field - Largest scoreboards I've ever seen. The stadium itself I thought was nice. The concessions however were a joke. They ran out of food and beer before the 3rd quarter started, where I was located in the Club level. Another piece of evidence that Jacksonville itself just can't seem to get its act together as a city. Pretty stadium though. Not much around it, so unless you want to go to a shacky looking tiki type of bar by the stadium, be prepared to walk 30-45 minutes to downtown or cab it to another bar.
In closing, it was my first Bowl game. I had a lot of fun at the game and interacting with other Penn Stater's. I would definitely do a bowl game again. It has more of a laid back feel than a regular season game against our BigTen foes. I need laid back, so Bowl games are probably a better option for me and my mental health in watching Penn State football nowadays.
I'm interested to see the future of Penn State football. Franklin is on a brink where I think it can go either way. We could be like Iowa next year and make the Rose Bowl, or like Nebraska where we'll be playing next year's Bowl game in Idaho (which I'm willing to bet will be a nicer venue than Jacksonville), but my sights and expectations for PSU are a little higher. I'm hoping Moorehead is part of the answer and that we can keep guys like Bob Shoop happy and on the staff. I think we have enough deadweight with the staff, I'm not particularly fond of losing a guy that is actually one of the best on the staff..especially to a lateral position at another university that I think PSU is historically better than. Lots of questions and not many answers. These are precarious days being a PSU fan. I'm cautiously optimistic.
1. I'm making the 12 hour drive back to the DC area today feeling kinda good about the game. I'm not sure if that's because PSU got down so big (24-3), and I'm just happy we made the score respectable, or if I saw a QB in McSorley that has the potential under Moorehead's system, to possibly thrive. Maybe it was somewhat of both.
2. Penn State's intro, alma mater, band, and traditions are better than UGA's. Yes, I know I'm biased but in seeing other schools compared to PSU, we are really spoiled. Our "Unrivaled" pump up videos are awesome! Compared to UGA's "Saturday nights alright" pump up pre-game video, it's no contest. PSU wins in every aspect except on the field performance.
3. Two great fan bases. I'm always so proud that Penn Stater's are such class acts. UGA fans were classy as well.
4. Jacksonville is a sh*thole. I've never been so unimpressed with a city in my entire life. Social scene is terrible, the restaurants are mediocre at best, and I found the locals somewhat trashy. I started talking to the locals as to why this city is so dilapidated. Sounds like there are multiple contributing factors, but we were told that the "First Baptist Church" bought the downtown area and then controlled the development of it (or lack thereof). Sounds like the city is trying to get its act together, but it has a long way to go. I highly suggest not visiting Jacksonville unless you must. You'll be disappointed.
5. EverBank Field - Largest scoreboards I've ever seen. The stadium itself I thought was nice. The concessions however were a joke. They ran out of food and beer before the 3rd quarter started, where I was located in the Club level. Another piece of evidence that Jacksonville itself just can't seem to get its act together as a city. Pretty stadium though. Not much around it, so unless you want to go to a shacky looking tiki type of bar by the stadium, be prepared to walk 30-45 minutes to downtown or cab it to another bar.
In closing, it was my first Bowl game. I had a lot of fun at the game and interacting with other Penn Stater's. I would definitely do a bowl game again. It has more of a laid back feel than a regular season game against our BigTen foes. I need laid back, so Bowl games are probably a better option for me and my mental health in watching Penn State football nowadays.
I'm interested to see the future of Penn State football. Franklin is on a brink where I think it can go either way. We could be like Iowa next year and make the Rose Bowl, or like Nebraska where we'll be playing next year's Bowl game in Idaho (which I'm willing to bet will be a nicer venue than Jacksonville), but my sights and expectations for PSU are a little higher. I'm hoping Moorehead is part of the answer and that we can keep guys like Bob Shoop happy and on the staff. I think we have enough deadweight with the staff, I'm not particularly fond of losing a guy that is actually one of the best on the staff..especially to a lateral position at another university that I think PSU is historically better than. Lots of questions and not many answers. These are precarious days being a PSU fan. I'm cautiously optimistic.
