Anyone else starting to feel “apathetic” towards PSU Football?

[DELion]

This season was a turning point for me. Didn't even watch the bowl game because I was certain what the outcome would be and decided not to waste time watching another sloppy, disappointing effort.

For everyone condoning the opt outs: there are much higher values in life than money. Football is a team sport, not an individual sport. You quit on the team, you are a loser in my book.

Next season is looking bleak. Anyone expecting a 9 or 10 wins with Clifford at QB is delusional. I think we will struggle to get 7 wins.

 

[Nitt1300]

This season was a turning point for me. Didn't even watch the bowl game because I was certain what the outcome would be and decided not to waste time watching another sloppy, disappointing effort.

For everyone condoning the opt outs: there are much higher values in life than money. Football is a team sport, not an individual sport. You quit on the team, you are a loser in my book.

Next season is looking bleak. Anyone expecting a 9 or 10 wins with Clifford at QB is delusional. I think we will struggle to get 7 wins.

who is "we"?

 

[psupride1997]

Definitely apathetic. Not planning to watch next year if Clifford is behind center, I just have better things to do with my time than watch him haplessly fling the ball around in another Penn State loss.

 

[MrTailgate]

The apathy starts (I believe) with the nearly pre-ordained result that the CFP will include 2 SEC teams, Ohio State, and Clemson up until this year. Sure you had Oklahoma in that discussion and you will soon add USC when Riley dominates that conference. So, you start each year with the idea that Penn St has a minimal chance to be playing at the highest level of importance come January.

On top of that, you have a product that is seriously flawed from a team construct perspective. Sure the Nits have had double digit wins in Franklin years but the inability to develop an OL on a consistent basis is a stake through the heart. Then you throw in the sure coaching blunder or two each game and you know Penn St is swimming further upstream. Sitting in the stands watching that nonsense that took place at the end of the half was bad. Listening to the explanation or reasoning was even worse. Franklin’s explanation of PI or INT was comical in that he seemed to not consider the most likely outcome was a TO on downs with good field position going to ARK. Only ARK throwing an INT prevented PSU from gifting 3 points. Their product is stale. Who was the last player that showed real growth through development in their system? We know the flaws with them also not having a more tested backup QB.

I don’t like bashing kids, but every person in the stands and lots afterwards had the same opinion. They admire Clifford but think the program needs to grow by moving on. I really can’t think of many programs that would choose the path that PSU is about to choose.

I’m with everyone else. It’s a matter of habit over 50 years of watching so I don’t see it dropping off my radar. But walking in on Saturday, I wondered why I plunked down $200 bucks or whatever to watch what I knew was coming. I used to go to 4-5 home games, every Maryland away game, and any Temple game in Philly. I guess things have changed since I wouldn’t think about doing that again anytime soon. So, in that regard, I’m a yes.

 

[Omar81]

Obviously you have seen a Franklin press conference. Obviously.

Franklin's actions every two years is the root of what is wrong with college football. I hope the AD calls his bluff when he pulls this tired act again in two years.

We’d have to hire an “Assistant AD in Charge of Calling Bluffs.” Sandy will get right on it.

 

[Woodpecker]

You quit on the team, you are a loser in my book.

Didn't even watch the bowl game because I was certain what the outcome would be and decided not to waste time watching another sloppy, disappointing effort.

 

[PrtLng Lion]

I used to eat, breathe, sleep PSU football on Saturdays and Washington Redskins on Sundays. It took me awhile (a day or more) to put losses behind me. Over the last 20 years, my interest in Washington has diminished to the point I don't watch them nor really care if they win or lose. I root for PSU alum in the NFL to be successful more than I do any team.

I'm still die hard PSU fan, but the last couple years have taught me to not get as emotionally vested. My wife noticed I'd be "moody" when they'd lose. Maybe my wife would say their mediocrity is for the better (for her and for me). But I'd have a much harder time separating myself of interest the way I did with Washington. Hope springs eternal... I think in the back of my mind CJF will turn it around somehow. Maybe it'll take a couple years but I think we'll contend again.

 

[FrontierLion]

Apathy is found across the college football landscape, not just at Penn State. I spoke over Christmas with an old friend and long time WVU season ticket holder. He said "college football just isn't fun anymore". I heard a similar remark from a BC grad not long ago. I agree.
The game has changed in ways I never could have imagined. When I was at Penn State it was a big deal to be on TV. There were far fewer bowls and getting to one meant you had a special season. There was a purity about the game (real or imagined) and we had a coach who stood for all that was good about the sport. Maybe it was all smoke and mirrors but I loved it. Now I watch the game dispassionately and find little joy in any of it. It saddens me but those golden days are gone forever.

I'm in my mid-30's. I always say that I was born in the wrong era.

I think what you're describing, Fair, is bigger than just college football. A lot of things in life have changed dramatically, and sometimes not for the better. My wife and I were discussing Christmases from our childhood and realized that what we once looked forward to year-round no longer exist for our kids. And we're not even "old" by any measure! For example...

- Going to church on Christmas Eve, then having a family reunion Christmas party immediately after. There must have been what felt like 100 people there, with my dad's cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. Extended family that all loved being together. Now? My family is spread out all over the country and it's just too difficult for everyone to come back home at the same time. Those memories are my favorite, but unfortunately, my kids won't have those memories. Luckily our immediate family still lives in the same area as us, so they certainly still have grandparents to enjoy.

- Waiting for the JCPenney (or other) toy catalog to come out. I remember sitting with my sister circling a few things we thought Santa might bring. We couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Now my kids look on Amazon. In recent years, Amazon has mailed a hard copy book with their popular toys, but it seems my kids are so bombarded with that stuff year-round, that the excitement just isn't there.

- Watching Christmas specials on TV. I remember circling Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in the TV guide and waiting anxiously until it aired on TV. Or waiting until Christmas Eve for "A Christmas Story" marathon to come on. They were once-a-year events. Now? My kids pull up any show they want on demand in one of the 50 different streaming services we have. My son must have watched Ralphie once a day for the past month.

- Writing a letter to Santa instead of "facetiming" him on grandma's iphone.

These are just a few examples. Does it mean things are worse? Maybe not to some. But to me? I'd take my experiences of long anticipation over the instant gratification we now have difficulty avoiding.

It seems to me that there is a lot of "apathy" towards a lot of things in life.

How this relates to college football? I don't know. Things change but I find myself longing for the days of my childhood - not for myself - but for my own kids. I hope my young son gets to experience the Penn State football that I did growing up.

I'll get off my soap box now! I know I sound like an old man.

 

[Yogiman71]

Becoming apathetic to all of college football. SEC wins it every year and the rich get richer and everyone else is becoming less relevant. BIG10 and other power 5 simply can't get all 5 star players through recruiting or the portal like Bama. Less and less 5 stars coming out of the part of the country where migration to southern states is taking its toll.

 

[ODShowtime]

I figured this out a year or two ago. You can be apathetic or you can be salty. It's one or the other, and I mix the two. But we're not going to happy any time soon.

Hope is the source of pain.

 

[FTLPSU]

Its a combination of many factors that have caused this "Apathy" and not just for PSU alums but others as well.

But first it was the "PSU-Hook" that was set in our mouths to be such ardent PSU Football fans. That feeling of pride and celebration "We" all had was from the 94' Season, those 97' OSU games, the 06' Orange Bowl, the Big10 championship comeback win etc. A legendary coach that didn't create a sense of instability or concern, Players who didnt Opt-out or Transfer like you and I change our socks and underwear. Assistant coaches who had loyalty to the man and program who hired them and didnt think they were the next genius Head Coach bolting for money after telling the kid they recruited "Your my guy, we are going to win together etc"

The game has changed and has evolved and for many reasons. Besides it changing from an X's & O's standpoint not seeing that classic Fullback anymore in I-formations, it has changed culturally in so many ways, coaches, players, look at the influence from the University presidents, the Conferences, the Media networks. Social media, the trophy generation, the instant gratification, easy path seems to be the regular norm now--no integrity, what is that? Its over as you know it and it will never return to what football used to be. Football was more than just guys tackling each other on the field, it was so much more.

For the players, its not good enough to get a Free education, free meals, room and board and a Degree that could get you a job that leads to a career. They dont realize its north of a $250K investment they are getting for free. No, I want to get PAID. I want what I see from all those famous rich people on social media and TV. So I will take the riskier easier path and see what happens. Most dont make it and if they do its short lived...
The coaches, climb that ladder as quick as I can no matter the casualties I create on the way up and examples I don't set. Not good enough to make $400K a year coaching a kids game.

The fan---us fans are much smarter and more critical than we used to be, hell everyone judges now, even the players-that was never so greater than it is today, we witness this everywhere and we are also part of the problem. With a more educated fan base can you blame us when we see a multi-million dollar decision maker not make the best choice right in front of our eyes? I mean you loose football games, player fumbles, a defender makes a great play, the opposing team adjusts and has a game winning drive-we all understand that and accept it as best we can. Its hard to accept blatantly dumb decisions made by a coaching staff right in front of our eyes. We weren't used to this, remember that PSU-Hook?

CFB is a Full business now (I know it always has been) its perceived purity is not as well hidden anymore like it once was. This is what we get now.

The last time I felt this way was early 2000's when we were so close and flirting with signing the Vidal Hazelton's, Shariff Floyds, others etc...I kind of checked out till we became relevant again in 05'. Moving forward, oh well....love to get back to the magical season of 2016 not seeing that happen anytime soon though.

Best of luck to all of us in 2022! Life is about health, happiness, and your loved family members!

 

[PSU1993]

Lost total interest for last 3 regular season games. The offense, or lack thereof, got to me. Just couldn't watch it anymore. Already apathetic for next year given that Dotson, the only guy that kept me watching, is gone and Cliff is back. Singleton may spark my interest if he gets carries from day one.

 

[fairgambit]

I'm in my mid-30's. I always say that I was born in the wrong era.

I think what you're describing, Fair, is bigger than just college football. A lot of things in life have changed dramatically, and sometimes not for the better. My wife and I were discussing Christmases from our childhood and realized that what we once looked forward to year-round no longer exist for our kids. And we're not even "old" by any measure! For example...

- Going to church on Christmas Eve, then having a family reunion Christmas party immediately after. There must have been what felt like 100 people there, with my dad's cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. Extended family that all loved being together. Now? My family is spread out all over the country and it's just too difficult for everyone to come back home at the same time. Those memories are my favorite, but unfortunately, my kids won't have those memories. Luckily our immediate family still lives in the same area as us, so they certainly still have grandparents to enjoy.

- Waiting for the JCPenney (or other) toy catalog to come out. I remember sitting with my sister circling a few things we thought Santa might bring. We couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Now my kids look on Amazon. In recent years, Amazon has mailed a hard copy book with their popular toys, but it seems my kids are so bombarded with that stuff year-round, that the excitement just isn't there.

- Watching Christmas specials on TV. I remember circling Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in the TV guide and waiting anxiously until it aired on TV. Or waiting until Christmas Eve for "A Christmas Story" marathon to come on. They were once-a-year events. Now? My kids pull up any show they want on demand in one of the 50 different streaming services we have. My son must have watched Ralphie once a day for the past month.

- Writing a letter to Santa instead of "facetiming" him on grandma's iphone.

These are just a few examples. Does it mean things are worse? Maybe not to some. But to me? I'd take my experiences of long anticipation over the instant gratification we now have difficulty avoiding.

It seems to me that there is a lot of "apathy" towards a lot of things in life.

How this relates to college football? I don't know. Things change but I find myself longing for the days of my childhood - not for myself - but for my own kids. I hope my young son gets to experience the Penn State football that I did growing up.

I'll get off my soap box now! I know I sound like an old man.

You sound like the son I never had.

 

[Alphalion75]

I've become callous to the losses. They don't sting nearly as much as they did years ago. And I don't get as pumped up for the games. Simply because I'm not very confident that we will win. What drives me crazy are the games that I think we will lose, they are close in the 4th quarter, getting my hopes up only to let me down and lose....Ala Iowa and Michigan this year.

 

[nl4ever]

I consider myself a diehard. I don’t like any other sports. Other than my family, following Penn State football and College Football are my only hobbies/interests. I’m 46 years old so I’ve lived through the horror of the early 2000’s. After the past couple of seasons, the stubbornness of Franklin, the 10 year contract, the inability to get thing’s fixed in the trenches, among other thing’s I’m worried that I’m finding myself not caring that much after losses or wins for that matter. That’s a good thing for my wife and kids but for me I don’t know any other way. Anyone else starting to get this feeling towards PSU Football?

I used to be a big NFL fan. Ran fantasy league for a number of years. But somewhere along the last 2 decades, my interest in the NFL has waned. Too much individualism crept into the league. Teams losing their identities. Social Justice rants by players and sponsors. Money, money, money, mooonnneeey, mooonneeey!! Too many things taking away from the game itself. Today I'll watch the Eagles play, but that's about it. And I don't plan my day around them, either. If I'm home, I'll watch. If my company has extra tickets to a game, I'll attend. But my interest has really fallen off substantially.

College football is starting to feel a lot like the NFL to me. And my attitude toward college football is starting to show a similar trajectory.

 

[Nittany1865Farmer]

I majored in chemistry at PSU. I didn’t opt out of a chemistry lab course due to the risk of injury that could have jeopardized my future.

We could have "opted" out of Physical Chemistry, but we would have never received our diplomas in Chemistry without. You walked into the fire, took your lumps and came out the other side, burnt to a crisp from the hard exams and quizzes and continued onward in your career.

 

[WillyMO]

I forgot the bowl game was on until mid way through the first quarter. This has never happened before and I've never missed a game so I guess I'm there too.

 

[ODShowtime]

I forgot the bowl game was on until mid way through the first quarter. This has never happened before and I've never missed a game so I guess I'm there too.

That happened to me when the Steelers played jax in the playoffs a few years ago. I wish I hadn't remembered.

This bowl game was played 10 minutes from my house and I skipped it. And I'm glad I did.

 

[DELion]

There's a big difference between being a team member and a fan. I've been a fan of PSU football since the late 1970's - stood by them through the Dark Years, the Sandusky mess, and a lot of bad losses. But this attitude that players can thumb their noses at teammates, the University and fans is beyond the pale. People try to justify it by saying bowl games don't matter. Tell that to the fans who shell out hard-earned bucks to travel to the games or the teammate who busts his butt for the good of the team. As a fan, I get to choose whether a team is worth supporting or not. When it comes to PSU football, I'm seeing a lot of things that give me concern.

 

[Player2BNamedL8r]

We need a splash hire…someone to breath some life / momentum back into the program. We need this guy…..

 

[AvgUser]

I think you mean ‘apathetic’.

Or did he mean "apoplectic"?

 

[Woodpecker]

There's a big difference between being a team member and a fan. I've been a fan of PSU football since the late 1970's - stood by them through the Dark Years, the Sandusky mess, and a lot of bad losses. But this attitude that players can thumb their noses at teammates, the University and fans is beyond the pale. People try to justify it by saying bowl games don't matter. Tell that to the fans who shell out hard-earned bucks to travel to the games or the teammate who busts his butt for the good of the team. As a fan, I get to choose whether a team is worth supporting or not. When it comes to PSU football, I'm seeing a lot of things that give me concern.

So several players opt out of a bowl game and you choose not to support the hundred plus who didn't because watching that team represents support for those who are not playing? OK, as you said, you get to do that.

 

[JoeBot409]

I consider myself a diehard. I don’t like any other sports. Other than my family, following Penn State football and College Football are my only hobbies/interests. I’m 46 years old so I’ve lived through the horror of the early 2000’s. After the past couple of seasons, the stubbornness of Franklin, the 10 year contract, the inability to get thing’s fixed in the trenches, among other thing’s I’m worried that I’m finding myself not caring that much after losses or wins for that matter. That’s a good thing for my wife and kids but for me I don’t know any other way. Anyone else starting to get this feeling towards PSU Football?

Yes, I have that same feeling. I do have other interests with golf and biking which help. I don’t watch much NFL, got down to just local team but I even turn games off when they get sh*tty (and they usually get sh*tty fast). I’m losing interest in CFB, because of the PSU issues and I hate the CFB Playoff. You know the teams in the south and OSU are pretty much unbeatable, especially Alabama. You pretty much know the end result before the season starts.

 

[JoeBot409]

Apathy is found across the college football landscape, not just at Penn State. I spoke over Christmas with an old friend and long time WVU season ticket holder. He said "college football just isn't fun anymore". I heard a similar remark from a BC grad not long ago. I agree.
The game has changed in ways I never could have imagined. When I was at Penn State it was a big deal to be on TV. There were far fewer bowls and getting to one meant you had a special season. There was a purity about the game (real or imagined) and we had a coach who stood for all that was good about the sport. Maybe it was all smoke and mirrors but I loved it. Now I watch the game dispassionately and find little joy in any of it. It saddens me but those golden days are gone forever.

The money and the constant need for “content” have a tendency to ruin things.

 

[JoeBot409]

Obviously you have seen a Franklin press conference. Obviously.

Franklin's actions every two years is the root of what is wrong with college football. I hope the AD calls his bluff when he pulls this tired act again in two years.

He does it next year too. Especially if he looks like he will have 8+ wins.

 

[Nits74]

Take a step back in history to November, 1968. Penn State football as it entered its golden era. (At the link, scroll down just a bit to the article.)
https://www.google.com/amp/s/vault....a-is-to-have-some-funand-who-needs-to-be-no-1

Thanks for refreshing my memory of this great article. Little would we have known at the time that the author's publicity seeking, bandwagon daughter would be one of the many to stab Joe in the back.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

I had 7 years to enjoy State football while my sons attended. The best football times were blue white games tailgating with the club lax bros and girls. Once my boys graduated I became yeah whatever. I’m sure it’s untrue but the football program is giving off a vibe of ZFG. Too buttoned up, too resigned to their station in life (east division)
Harry and I were at school for the two championships. Carried goalposts up college Avenue, felt truly badass. Sad it is over.

 

[OptionBob]

Thanks for refreshing my memory of this great article. Little would we have known at the time that the author's publicity seeking, bandwagon daughter would be one of the many to stab Joe in the back.

Dan Jenkins. I think he was a TCU grad, huge SWC guy. But he certainly did not respect Joe Paterno/Penn State. His daughter didn't fall far from that tree.

Following the 1970 loss to Colorado out in Boulder, Jenkins wrote a scathing article in SI claiming that Penn State's winning streak was a fraud, that because of the easy Eastern opponents, the streak was really only about 8 games. He mocked the 1969 controversy with Texas, as well.

I remember that episode because I was at Ft. Sill, OK in the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course prepping for a tour in VN. Fellow 2nd Lts. in my section hailed from such schools as Iowa, Rutgers, Ohio State, Kansas, LSU, Purdue, Missouri, and Colorado. We often talked about CFB, and I surely annoyed them often with my Nittany Lion fervor following btb 11-0 seasons. We even persuaded the training instructor to end his session early that Saturday so we could watch the game on TV.

Well, I certainly deserved the gift of 4 or 5 issues of SI when it came out that week as well as the of mock that accompanied it. Only the Rutgers guy and a West Pointer (a fellow Italian from Brooklyn who loved JoePa) were somewhat sympathetic. It was brutal (albeit in a friendly manner).

But, in true Sicilian style, I have not forgotten nor forgiven Dan Jenkins for writing that article.

 

[saturdaysarebetter]

Never apathetic. This was my first year as a PSU season ticket holder (well the Covid year also).

Apathetic? I was asked what's the difference between ignorance and apathy. I said I don't know and I don't care.

 

[Nohow]

This thread can be summed up as follows: Wahhhhhh! And by the way, get off my lawn!

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

This thread can be summed up as follows: Wahhhhhh! And by the way, get off my lawn!

Head in the sand blue lenses scratched in the move into the sand

 

[kgilbert78]

I majored in chemistry at PSU. I didn’t opt out of a chemistry lab course due to the risk of injury that could have jeopardized my future.

*chuckle*. Chem major here too. And I did get hurt once or twice in the lab. Still have the scar on one finger... Maybe that's why I don't work in a lab (I'm a technical editor).

I was *meh* on the game. Had it on--but mostly just listened to it while doing other things. That's been happening more and more, lately. But some of that is no longer having season tickets (it's been 8 or 9 years) so I am not immersed it it during the fall.

 

[Keyser Soze 16802]

Seinfeld did a bit on his show about how pro sports had turned into rooting for the uniform rather than the players due to free agency. College football is moving in that direction. To some degree it is already there.

Every change can be viewed as an opportunity or a threat. I'm taking my decreased interest in college football as an opportunity to spend time and energy on more productive pursuits.

 

[PSUJam]

Seinfeld did a bit on his show about how pro sports had turned into rooting for the uniform rather than the players due to free agency. College football is moving in that direction. To some degree it is already there

Funny how it turned out quite the opposite. Kids these days root for the individual players rather than their teams.

 

[lions1995]

Wins still feel good, especially the big ones but losses don’t sting as much anymore. I guess that means I’ve lowered my standards. I just feel like 9-3 is generally our high water mark for a season. More than that is ‘special’. Less than 7 wins is a disappointment. I truly feel resigned to the fact we will not regularly compete with Bama, Georgia, LSU, OSU, etc. Hoping to be in Tier 2 with the ability to sneak into the playoffs once in a while.

I think I have been this way for a while now. About 15 years ago, I realized that life was more than wins and losses in sports and with my 12 year old playing travel soccer the past 5 years, I have even gotten to the point where I find it hard to even watch games because it conflicts with his schedule. I follow it, but I don't obsess anymore over it.

 

[BobPSU92]

*chuckle*. Chem major here too. And I did get hurt once or twice in the lab. Still have the scar on one finger... Maybe that's why I don't work in a lab (I'm a technical editor).

I was *meh* on the game. Had it on--but mostly just listened to it while doing other things. That's been happening more and more, lately. But some of that is no longer having season tickets (it's been 8 or 9 years) so I am not immersed it it during the fall.

I got out of the lab early in my career and went into management.

Same here with respect to the game. I don’t get as emotional as I used to. That said, I did scream at the TV when Clifford threw the interception in the end zone.

 

[PAgeologist]

Funny how it turned out quite the opposite. Kids these days root for the individual players rather than their teams.

I blame that mostly on fantasy football. I quit fantasy football (and mostly the NFL) the day I had to root for Tom Brady. He is the GOAT and I respect that, but just can't root for him.

 

[Woodpecker]

I blame that mostly on fantasy football. I quit fantasy football (and mostly the NFL) the day I had to root for Tom Brady. He is the GOAT and I respect that, but just can't root for him.

I never draft players that I don't like (e.g., Stefon Diggs) or those on rival teams for that very reason. My teams don't excel but I'm happy to root for my players.

 

[Joof]

Once this expanded playoff starts we’ll be invested. It’s hard when OSU wins basically ever year. I feel like the bowl playoff is what made Clemson become the random 4th powerhouse. It’s so much easier to be the 2nd best team in the B10. That one year we beat OSU and won the B10 but was left out sucked.

 

[CDLionFL]

I have friends who know my PSU fandom and were surprised when I said I wasn't making the hour trip to Tampa for the game, especially after having gone all the way to Madison for the first game of the year. There's a big difference between the hope springs eternal feeling of the first game of the season and the lack of desire of watching a 7-5 team with 6 of their best players absent in a meaningless game. I still watched the game as I do with every PSU football game and even though I had a pretty good feeling that they were going to lose, that didn't change my rooting level when things went right and my complaint level when the same stupid things happened over and over again. I certainly don't think I've reached the apathetic level by any stretch. I also think that I've adjusted to the times in college athletics more than I thought I would. Do I like the opt-outs in the sense of not finishing out the season? No. But do I understand why they're doing it? Definitely. They've got a finite amount of time to make their earnings in their chosen field. The vast majority of these opt-outs will probably be out of football before they're 27. And why should there be a double standard when you have coaches like Riley and Cristobal and Kelly chasing their millions and bailing out on their teams? I wish there was a way that there could be legislation (except the NCAA is toothless when it comes to football) that coaches have a negotiating period similar to NBA/NFL free agency and that window doesn't begin until after the CFP championship game. The coaches can have their careers until they're in their 70s if they choose so their earning period is a hell of a lot longer than the players who have to get theirs ASAP.