Penn State reaps fruits of recruiting, schedule
Nathan Hemerly
Issue date: 10/7/05 Section: Sports
This time last year, Penn State fans throughout Pennsylvania were calling for the crucifixion of the man they once worshipped - Joe Paterno. Get the old man off our sidelines and into a nursing home, they cried, before he runs our football program completely into the ground. The anger was understandable because a football program that was once mentioned with the likes of Notre Dame, Tennessee, and Southern California was losing home games to Big Ten door mats like Northwestern. Paterno's offense, co-authored by offensive coordinator Galen Hall and Paterno's son, Jay Paterno, struck such little fear into Iowa last season that the Hawkeyes intentionally took two safeties in a 6-4 victory at Beaver Stadium.
Now, the Penn State faithful are poised to watch their program regain its place among the nation's elite. On Oct. 7 at 7:45 pm, sixteenth ranked Penn State will play its biggest game since 2002 when the sixth ranked Ohio State Buckeyes visit Happy Valley.
Just the thought of such a game has Penn State students and fans in euphoria. It's the kind of game that makes you want to thank god for the sport of football. For women, imagine your wedding day and you'll know how a man feels the week before a big game. The excitement is amplified at Penn State because some thought they would never again see their beloved Lions in such an anticipated contest. I have friends at Penn State who thought they'd graduate without experiencing more than one night of glory in their four years as undergraduates - a 2002 blowout victory over Nebraska.
So how has Paterno been able to circle the wagons and get his team to 5-0? Amidst all the criticism and all the questions about whether he's lost his grip on the game of football - and life for that matter after he made a habit of chasing down and screaming at officials after games - Joe Pa has guided his program back into the Top 25.
Paterno's most obvious piece of brilliance this season is his schedule. How much of a hand he actually has in scheduling teams, I don't know, but it was exactly what Penn State needed, and Joe Pa has expertly guided his club through the first five games. When you can't beat anybody, you have to start beating somebody even if they're Tastycakes like South Florida (who inexplicably blew out Louisville two weeks ago), Central Michigan and Cincinnati. Penn State needed to rack up wins so they could feel like winners again. Momentum gained from their three non-conference wins carried them through Northwestern, and at 4-0 they were brimming with confidence when they took the field against Minnesota.
Now, the Penn State faithful are poised to watch their program regain its place among the nation's elite. On Oct. 7 at 7:45 pm, sixteenth ranked Penn State will play its biggest game since 2002 when the sixth ranked Ohio State Buckeyes visit Happy Valley.
Just the thought of such a game has Penn State students and fans in euphoria. It's the kind of game that makes you want to thank god for the sport of football. For women, imagine your wedding day and you'll know how a man feels the week before a big game. The excitement is amplified at Penn State because some thought they would never again see their beloved Lions in such an anticipated contest. I have friends at Penn State who thought they'd graduate without experiencing more than one night of glory in their four years as undergraduates - a 2002 blowout victory over Nebraska.
So how has Paterno been able to circle the wagons and get his team to 5-0? Amidst all the criticism and all the questions about whether he's lost his grip on the game of football - and life for that matter after he made a habit of chasing down and screaming at officials after games - Joe Pa has guided his program back into the Top 25.
Paterno's most obvious piece of brilliance this season is his schedule. How much of a hand he actually has in scheduling teams, I don't know, but it was exactly what Penn State needed, and Joe Pa has expertly guided his club through the first five games. When you can't beat anybody, you have to start beating somebody even if they're Tastycakes like South Florida (who inexplicably blew out Louisville two weeks ago), Central Michigan and Cincinnati. Penn State needed to rack up wins so they could feel like winners again. Momentum gained from their three non-conference wins carried them through Northwestern, and at 4-0 they were brimming with confidence when they took the field against Minnesota.
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