There aren't a ton of observations because so much has already been written and said. I, in fact, didn't see the game live. I was at a fashion show where my daughter participated. Me, a fashion show. Jeezuz. I believe I was the only straight guy there. Certainly the only older, white, straight guy. (I am still struggling with pronouns so when with "bob's" 'I/Me' I DVRed it, saw that PSU was up 28-20 with six minutes to go then stayed up until 2:00 AM watching it (then, couldn't sleep).
So here is my shortened version:
Good stuff. PSU now has two wins in three games against ranked opponents. MSU and Iowa look really good but with similar teams: physical, hard running, good defenses. Add in UM and tOSU and we have a really tough schedule this year. We'll see what Indy is like as they kind of imploded Saturday.
So here is my shortened version:
- So great for SC and the offense. Really one of the all-time best QB performances in PSU history. 28 of 32 is amazing. It was great to see him take a tour of the stadium, high fiving fans, after the alma mater. Nobody wanted to leave!
- Pass blocking was really good against a really good front seven. SC was great. Nothing against him but you don't have that kind of day without good protection (against a very good front seven).
- Hats off to Auburn...a tough team, fun to root for, wasn't intimidated at all. Future is really bright with two of the best RB's I've seen this year.
- I watched some of the MSU game and they are a tough team. I love their HC. After they beat Miami, he was asked how they did it and he gave one of the best upper midwest answers ever. It went something like this "we wanted to drag them into the 'deep water'. We wanted them to feel where we live. We wanted them to experience the hard work, the dirt, the sweat, the early mornings in the weight room. We wanted them to feel Spartan football." Embrace the suck and a great attitude against a glam school like Miami. I feel like Auburn brought that.
- Aside from all of the other observations about bad refing, they also missed an illegal motion later in the 3rd quarter. Auburn's RT got into pass position before the ball was snapped. It was not egregious but it was pretty obvious. Auburn gained ~ 11 yards and an important first down.
- The team and game showed really great on TV. A HUGE boost for PSU, HV and one of the biggest recruiting weekends in the history of the school. I am hoping this pays future dividends for everyone involved.
- CJF gave one of the best answers to a post game question ever when he just looked at Holly after she asked about the missed down.
- Lee put the ball on the ground and was never seen or heard from again. Cain played well and pass blocked as good as any RB I've seen. Lovett ran well and had a big gainer on a screen. He looks like a keeper. I didn't see Ford play.
- Mustipher needs to get behind the pads and GO! He isn't the next coming of Barry Sanders. And why aren't we teaching our players to push? I liked Warren at wildcat and you can see his athleticism. But when the pass was covered, he also needs to GO!
- Lots being said and written about the Auburn Turnover. Well, while the kid made a mistake, it happened because a) PSU stayed home and defended the pass well and b) they put a lot of pressure on the kid to make a play. Mistakes happen under pressure. His drop wasn't a stand-alone incident. It happened because of what PSU did.
- Dotson had a very good catch for a TD and an amazing one-handed catch. If he doesn't make the one-handed catch, that ball is intercepted. The CB, or S, was right there. Huge play. I loved the announcer saying the ball was overthrown only to have Dotson catch it. That is how superstars are made. Dotson, if he wasn't already, bought a ticket to the first round of the draft.
- Smith and Luketa had monster games against a quality opponent.
- OC brought his A game. In addition to Warren and Mustipher, we had a Dotson pass (a lousy pass because the TE was WIDE open but I'll take it) and the TE's were open all day. I am sure Auburn wasn't anticipating that.
- Looking at the team stats, a really close game. If you had to say there was one differentiator, you'd have to point to the fact that their turnover was huge and ours was minimal. it was with 15 seconds to go and from the Auburn 47.
- I thought taunting was going to be enforced this year. Smoke Monday, who had a great game, stood over a WR and yelled at him for a bit. I was surprised that didn't get flagged.
- Obviously, the missed downs was an egregious offense. Fireable, IMHO. One of the worst operational screw ups I've ever seen and it was across the board (all refs and booth). Also, the roughing call was ticky tack if not outright bad. The refs kind of let both teams play on holding by the OL. The PI against them late was HUGE but was a good call. Again, great call by our OC on second down. Honestly, that non-call on the potential Safety was also HUGE. The no-call on their TD try was also a good call. However, I would not have been surprised to see either or both go the other way. Joey Porter's long arms and a big weapon. He and TCF had good games. We don't win without that PI call.
- The worst call of the game was the intentional grounding against PSU. A horrible call. I recall that happening against PSU several years ago. Hack? McSorley? McGloin? I can't recall. But that is twice on PSU and I've never seen that called when there was clearly a communication screw up between R and QB. SC was clearly NOT under duress.
Good stuff. PSU now has two wins in three games against ranked opponents. MSU and Iowa look really good but with similar teams: physical, hard running, good defenses. Add in UM and tOSU and we have a really tough schedule this year. We'll see what Indy is like as they kind of imploded Saturday.
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