Return to Glory?

Penn State’s record as of today: 4-0. It has been a long five years for Joe Paterno and the Penn State Nittany Lions. Ever since the great graduating class of 1999, which saw two Nittany Lions, Courtney Brown and LaVar Arrington, go one and two of the NFL draft, things have been anything and everything but happy in Happy Valley.Since the 1999 season, in which Penn State went 10-3, fans have suffered through 5-7, 5-6, 9-4, 3-9, and 4-7 seasons. Probably the only bright moment through this recent run of losing seasons was seeing Joe Paterno eclipse Bear Bryant with the most wins at the Division 1-A College Football level. Since then, the media has been all over Paterno, who turns 79 this December, throughout this stretch of bad luck in State College. Paterno ever so quickly has gone from a once legendary coach, to an old man trying to prove he can still win at the College Football level.

Throughout this stretch in the Paterno era, he has endured the most young, inexperienced, and untalented players, something no Penn State fan thought they would ever see. But for the start of the 2005 season, Paterno was finally able to snag two of the best High School recruits in the country, Derrick Williams and Justin King. The moves have paid off earlier than expected and for the first time in five years, the Nittany Lions have a threat on offense to compliment their already powerful defense.

Paterno’s defense, which ranks in the top 20 in the country, has been stellar the past season and into this week. Last year, it was the only defense in the country to not allow more the 21 points in a single game. Although slow to start in last weeks contest vs. Northwestern, the “D” pulled it together and was able to hold Northwestern from scoring again until late in the fourth quarter after the Wild Cats jumped to an early 21-7 lead. Calvin Lowry, Alan Zemaitis, Paul Posluszny, and Tamba Hali anchor the defense for Penn State, which once again is proving to be as good as advertised.

There are still many lingering questions for this young Penn State squad, like that of senior and team leader quarterback, Michael Robinson. Robinson over the past 4 seasons has split time with starting quarterback Zach Mills. Now that Mills has graduated, Robinson is the only one left to lead the sputtering offense. Although he went into last Saturday’s game in the top 10 in pass completion efficiency, he has problems holding on to the football and is throwing too many interceptions. Throughout Penn States surprising start it always seems as if Robinson keeps other teams in the game with all his turnovers and he cannot be that sloppy at quarterback if Penn State wishes to continue winning now that they head into tougher Big Ten play. Lingering in his shadows is red-shirt sophmore Anthony Morelli, who almost saw action last week vs. Northwestern when the Wild Cats took a commanding 21-7 lead late into the second quarter. But just when it seemed Robinson and Paterno’s luck had run out, Robinson stepped it up and led the Nittany Lions to a thrilling come from behind victory. The poise and leadership Robinson showed during the second half of last weeks game is just what the young Nittany Lions team will need when it meets foes such as Ohio State and Michigan.

If Robinson continues to play like he did vs. Northwestern in the second half of last week’s game, the doors will open up wide for true freshmen Williams and King to step up. Tony Hunt and Austin Scott both have the ability to become forces as running backs and wide reciever Deon Butler has been a pleasant surprise for Paterno. For the first time in five years Paterno has versitily on offense. Speed at the wide reciever positions and a quarterback, Robinson, who can throw and run (the only Penn State quarterback to run and throw for 1,000 yards in his career). Mix in two potentionally dangerous running backs, in Hunt and Scott,and that in the long run could be the difference in a 9-3 Penn State season instead of a 5-6 season.

They are a young team. Full of excitement and energy, looking to give their storied coach one more run towards a National Championship. Although it’s unlikely Penn State will win a National Championship this season, don’t be surprised to see Penn State’s name on the national charts again soon. This young team only gets older, stronger, and better with age. If Paterno can piece together a few more pieces to that puzzle he’s been working on for so long, who knows how far the Nittany Lions could go?

Copyright ©2005 Colin Cerniglia. All Rights Reserved.