Saw my fair share of PSU losses last 48 years…..

[CJFisJoePaII]

That is exactly what I was going to say. We were the better team. Not buy a ton, like SMU and Boise, but better. We snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

The reality is that it was just a very painful time for Drew to have one of his worst, if not the worst, games this year. The OL played great - running game was there (Singleton ran for 13 yards on first play of our last possession before Drew's INT)... OL provided Drew great protection all night (in fact, Drew was not even under pressure on his last pass - the INT). Drew missed a ton of wide-open receivers in 1st Half - a couple down the sidelines that likely go for 6 with accurate passes... Just a really bad time for him to have a really bad day, but it happens. Gonna leave a sour taste which may be a motivator for improvement and hard work for next season.

PSU had a great season - made it to National Semifinals in the first REAL National Playoff. People trying to declare the season a failure are clear poser-trolls. I congratulate the players on a really good season and they take some valuable experience and motivation into next year for the returning players.

 

[The Spin Meister]

The reality is that it was just a very painful time for Drew to have one of his worst, if not the worst, games this year. The OL played great - running game was there (Singleton ran for 13 yards on first play of our last possession before Drew's INT)... OL provided Drew great protection all night (in fact, Drew was not even under pressure on his last pass - the INT). Drew missed a ton of wide-open receivers in 1st Half - a couple down the sidelines that likely go for 6 with accurate passes... Just a really bad time for him to have a really bad day, but it happens. Gonna leave a sour taste which may be a motivator for improvement and hard work for next season.

PSU had a great season - made it to National Semifinals in the first REAL National Playoff. People trying to declare the season a failure are clear poser-trolls. I congratulate the players on a really good season and they take some valuable experience and motivation into next year for the returning players.

All true. Except he was pressured. He had time, couldn’t find anyone , drifted left snc then the middle linebacker came rushing in.

Drew got hit as he released it. Shoulda just thrown it away as it was first down.

 

[MacNit2.0]

The reality is that it was just a very painful time for Drew to have one of his worst, if not the worst, games this year. The OL played great - running game was there (Singleton ran for 13 yards on first play of our last possession before Drew's INT)... OL provided Drew great protection all night (in fact, Drew was not even under pressure on his last pass - the INT). Drew missed a ton of wide-open receivers in 1st Half - a couple down the sidelines that likely go for 6 with accurate passes... Just a really bad time for him to have a really bad day, but it happens. Gonna leave a sour taste which may be a motivator for improvement and hard work for next season.

PSU had a great season - made it to National Semifinals in the first REAL National Playoff. People trying to declare the season a failure are clear poser-trolls. I congratulate the players on a really good season and they take some valuable experience and motivation into next year for the returning players.

It was a failure. Signature win? None. (Illinois?)

They got in on rule changes and got a draw of probably the two weakest of the 12.

The whole college football world got to see the “can’t win the big one” brand of James Franklin reinforced - in all of it glory.

Against a highly injured team that lost a game in its home field to Northern Illinois (only reason ND got in was a super weak schedule, not being in a conference, and being overrated).

Failure.

 

[scrivener]

It was a failure. Signature win? None. (Illinois?)

They got in on rule changes and got a draw of probably the two weakest of the 12.

The whole college football world got to see the “can’t win the big one” brand of James Franklin reinforced - in all of it glory.

Against a highly injured team that lost a game in its home field to Northern Illinois (only reason ND got in was a super weak schedule, not being in a conference, and being overrated).

Failure.

Agreed 💯. It was a good season....not a great one when u lose all 3 biggies. That poster is an apologist.

 

[PSUCYCLING]

It was a failure. Signature win? None. (Illinois?)

They got in on rule changes and got a draw of probably the two weakest of the 12.

The whole college football world got to see the “can’t win the big one” brand of James Franklin reinforced - in all of it glory.

Against a highly injured team that lost a game in its home field to Northern Illinois (only reason ND got in was a super weak schedule, not being in a conference, and being overrated).

Failure.

Good lord. Get a grip and see a therapist.

 

[KnightWhoSaysNit]

Herbstreit said the route on the INT was poorly run. Bad fundamentals.

Fundamentals are instilled by the position coach. Can't run a route then you see the bench. Can't get any of your players to develop then you get your walking papers.

This is why it is totally unacceptable to watch yet another blue chip Penn State QB develop happy feet. Absolutely mind-numbing that this stuff goes on year after year.

 

[CJFisJoePaII]

All true. Except he was pressured. He had time, couldn’t find anyone , drifted left snc then the middle linebacker came rushing in.

Drew got hit as he released it. Shoulda just thrown it away as it was first down.

He had nothing but green to the right - he should have already been rolling to the right away from pressure if he wanted to extend the play - instead, he sat there forever making no decision, you just cannot do that. After several seconds in the pocket with nothing, he should have already been on the move to the right where all the space was... which would have set him up to just run right OB or just throw it away outside the Tackle Box.

 

[jjw165]

The best coach won but the best team lost.

 

[Waltwam]

ND had a passing attack, maybe not a great one, but something that bailed them out when they needed it. We didn't have a passing attack.

I thought the ND back up was a better passer!

 

[SEPATOPTEN]

I agree. I have followed PSU faithfully since 1962. I have seen the best and the worst. I have tolerated the 1994 team not given the national championship because some felt bad for poor Tom Osborne. But for the first time in quite some time, I felt we had the better team in a big game. I thought we would win and win by 10 points or more. What a fool. I do not understand that last series of plays. Just run the ball and go to OT. Let's face it, Allar had a bad game. And I question if we should have gotten as far as we did without a homerun WR. Carter and Warren are gone. Next year does not look so bright. Feeling sad, depleted.

Penn State or Paterno gave Osbourne the title by playing backups and letting Indiana score two meaningless tds that made it look like a close game. Nebraska assumed the #1 ranking and never gave it up. That really pissed me off and thought Paterno just handed it to em. There were tons of blowouts where guys got time that year. Not smart.

 

[MacNit2.0]

Good lord. Get a grip and see a therapist.

Keep on pedaling Handleman.

 

[MacNit2.0]

Penn State or Paterno gave Osbourne the title by playing backups and letting Indiana score two meaningless tds that made it look like a close game. Nebraska assumed the #1 ranking and never gave it up. That really pissed me off and thought Paterno just handed it to em. There were tons of blowouts where guys got time that year. Not smart.

Big10 bias gave Nebraska the mythical championship.

Penn State won mythical NYTimes poll and was a champion.

If they played an actual game, I think PSU wins. They had greatest offense in history of college football.

 

[ryoder1]

That second half was surprising. All season long the defense would be incredibly good opening the second half and was often the game winning moment.

This time they came out flat and got handled.

The biggest question I have is why in the hell did we have 250 lb middle linebacker line up tight on a wide receiver and attempt to cover him man on man?

Yeah I had that question too. Why is our middle LB against a WR? Defense was on its heels most of the 2nd half. Really hurt us.

ND did to us what they did to Georgia. Late 2nd quarter score then open up the 3rd quarter scoring.

 

[ryoder1]

It's lingering, I agree. As others have said, perhaps because we were the better team and proved it through our domination of most of the first half. I'm sorry, there's no excuse for losing that game last night.

Still, we did make it to the initial Final-4 in the era of the expanded playoff and that's no small thing. That factor helps a little.

Beyond that, there've been losses that were more bitter for me going back to Paterno's day. The inability to get the TD on the Alabama 1-yard line in 1979. The loss to Oklahoma in the national championship game of 1985. The backbreaker against Minnesota that blew up our shot at a Natty in 1999. The loss on the last play of the game against Michigan in 2005 after the refs put extra time on the clock during the decisive Wolverine drive. Post-Paterno, the consecutive 2-point losses to Ohio State in 2017-18 when we blew solid leads in the 4th quarter. The Rose Bowl loss to USC after the 2016 season when we also blew a late lead.

All of those hit me harder than last night. But yes, last night definitely ranks in the top-10 ever for most painful.

At least this was not the NC game vs OSU and we blew it like we did vs ND.

 

[87 Penn St8]

I agree. But that is probably the most difficult thing to learn for a young QB. Clock management is tough. hell, I am not sure CJF has mastered it and that is from the sideline when he doesn't have ten guys screaming at him and 250 lb linemen chasing him. The other is making your progressions quickly, which he has greatly improved in.

Again, he's only 20 and he's playing against QBs who are 22 (Leonard, Ewers) and 23 (Howard and Gabriel).

Which is a HUGE DEAL and also relevant in terms of how 5 Star guys "develop."

At least Drew is still at PSU and playing. So many of his peers have jumped around and a guy like Malachi Nelson hasn't seen a meaningful snap.

BUT- that is also the risk of sticking with homegrown talent at the most important position. ND (Hartman/Leonard), Miami (Ward/Beck) OSU with Howard and technically Texas with Ewers. All hired guns....

We are not Dabo Swinney playing ostrich as it relates to Portal, but also aren't doing what others are- even Michigan going back a decade or more bringing in transfer qbs.

It is not realistic to expect even the top 5 star qbs to be ready Day 1. I'm hoping Mr. Underwood's learning curve is similar to Drew's or more like Jaden Rasada.

I'll still support Allar- eventhough many friends are "done." Hopefully we see the fruits of his development next year and he becomes a Top 5 NFL pick which leads to us getting more like him into the pipeline....

 

[87 Penn St8]

Or from 93/94 to 94/95 where Kerry Collins went from boy to man.

No volleyball at family picnics! 😕

 

[The Spin Meister]

I thought the ND back up was a better passer!

Yeah, the way he sparked a lifeless team I expected him at the helm in the second half.

 

[91Joe95]

Fundamentals are instilled by the position coach. Can't run a route then you see the bench. Can't get any of your players to develop then you get your walking papers.

This is why it is totally unacceptable to watch yet another blue chip Penn State QB develop happy feet. Absolutely mind-numbing that this stuff goes on year after year.

And fundamentals are hammered in by the head coach. How many times did we hear of other head coaches stopping a drill over incorrect technique while watching a different one?