Which is worse: having your parachute fail to open while skydiving or losing to Appalachian State?
Losing to Appalachian State. At least if your parachute doesn’t open people will pity you, or at the very least their first response won’t be uncontrollable laughter (as mine was upon hearing the final score). Or in a worst case scenario you’re dead. Assuming you die on impact that has to be relatively painless. Losing this game will haunt Michigan fans for years, perhaps even decades. Maybe forever. There will be no relief from this one for a long time. I honestly don’t know how I could deal with myself after a loss like that. That is the kind of game that makes you question yourself as a fan.
Is it too early to worry about the running game?
Yes. Remember the pitiful run game against Akron last season. Tony Hunt only had 36 yards on 14 carries and everyone was ready to panic. And that was with a third-year starter. I think we need to be patient. Austin Scott hadn’t carried the ball in a real game in more than a year and a half. Rodney Kinlaw has never been anything more than a change of pace back. Evan Royster was playing in his first collegiate game. Considering Kinlaw and Royster nearly each outperformed the team’s rushing attack in last season’s opener I’d say there’s some hope. The first game where Penn State is going to have to establish a strong running game is against Michigan. That leaves Notre Dame and Buffalo to work on it. Those games can be easily won with Morelli just slinging it.
Is just a win enough to satisfy you this weekend against Notre Dame or are there qualifiers on a victory to make it acceptable?
Given the fact that Notre Dame looked flat out awful against Georgia Tech I think PSU needs to win by at least 14 to make it acceptable, although at the end of the day a win is a win and I'll take it any way we can get it. But more-a-less I just want to see the team play solid football. Mainly just cut down on the drops and hopefully start establishing a rushing attack. If Georgia Tech's passing game hadn't been so pedestrian they could've easily beaten Notre Dame a lot worse than they did. I think with the experience that Penn State has in the passing game and with it being a rough atmosphere for the Irish Penn State should have no problem hanging a lot of points on the board. A fast start is going to be crucial. Put this Notre Dame team away early, don't let them they they have any shot at winning.
Lightning Round
Got a ticket, praying for a ticket, or watching the game somewhere else this weekend?
I’ll be watching from the comfort of my own couch after having to listen to the FIU game on the radio while driving around aimlessly after the local Buffalo Wild Wings decided not to show the game.
What non-PSU game are you looking forward to this weekend?
LSU-Virginia Tech is too obvious. Miami-Oklahoma is intriguing but it’s hard to get excited about this one after imaging how big a match up this one would’ve been 4-5 years ago. Oregon-Michigan will be interesting just to see how the Wolverines bounce back. I don’t think that one will be close. Either Michigan is motivated and crushes the Ducks or the Wolverines get blown out as they wallow in their self-pity.
Losing to Appalachian State. At least if your parachute doesn’t open people will pity you, or at the very least their first response won’t be uncontrollable laughter (as mine was upon hearing the final score). Or in a worst case scenario you’re dead. Assuming you die on impact that has to be relatively painless. Losing this game will haunt Michigan fans for years, perhaps even decades. Maybe forever. There will be no relief from this one for a long time. I honestly don’t know how I could deal with myself after a loss like that. That is the kind of game that makes you question yourself as a fan.
Is it too early to worry about the running game?
Yes. Remember the pitiful run game against Akron last season. Tony Hunt only had 36 yards on 14 carries and everyone was ready to panic. And that was with a third-year starter. I think we need to be patient. Austin Scott hadn’t carried the ball in a real game in more than a year and a half. Rodney Kinlaw has never been anything more than a change of pace back. Evan Royster was playing in his first collegiate game. Considering Kinlaw and Royster nearly each outperformed the team’s rushing attack in last season’s opener I’d say there’s some hope. The first game where Penn State is going to have to establish a strong running game is against Michigan. That leaves Notre Dame and Buffalo to work on it. Those games can be easily won with Morelli just slinging it.
Is just a win enough to satisfy you this weekend against Notre Dame or are there qualifiers on a victory to make it acceptable?
Given the fact that Notre Dame looked flat out awful against Georgia Tech I think PSU needs to win by at least 14 to make it acceptable, although at the end of the day a win is a win and I'll take it any way we can get it. But more-a-less I just want to see the team play solid football. Mainly just cut down on the drops and hopefully start establishing a rushing attack. If Georgia Tech's passing game hadn't been so pedestrian they could've easily beaten Notre Dame a lot worse than they did. I think with the experience that Penn State has in the passing game and with it being a rough atmosphere for the Irish Penn State should have no problem hanging a lot of points on the board. A fast start is going to be crucial. Put this Notre Dame team away early, don't let them they they have any shot at winning.
Lightning Round
Got a ticket, praying for a ticket, or watching the game somewhere else this weekend?
I’ll be watching from the comfort of my own couch after having to listen to the FIU game on the radio while driving around aimlessly after the local Buffalo Wild Wings decided not to show the game.
What non-PSU game are you looking forward to this weekend?
LSU-Virginia Tech is too obvious. Miami-Oklahoma is intriguing but it’s hard to get excited about this one after imaging how big a match up this one would’ve been 4-5 years ago. Oregon-Michigan will be interesting just to see how the Wolverines bounce back. I don’t think that one will be close. Either Michigan is motivated and crushes the Ducks or the Wolverines get blown out as they wallow in their self-pity.
