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Game 8: Ohio State, Oct. 29, 12:00 pm (noon) EDT, Fox

Tom McAndrew

Tom McAndrew

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Oct 27, 2021
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Please use this thread for all discussions about the upcoming game against Ohio State
 
Calabrin

Calabrin

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Oct 16, 2022
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Expectations for Saturday:

Let me preface this by saying that the result of the Michigan game is totally unacceptable.

We, as fans, do not expect to win every game — no one should — but what we do rightfully expect is that we will be competitive in every game. We expect Penn State to be an elite football program and year in year out, to be able to go toe-to-toe with tough opponents.

If this isn’t a rebuilding year, then we shouldn’t be getting rolled by Michigan the way we did. And if it IS a rebuilding year… why are we continuing to play a 6th year QB?

So, heading into Saturday, we can win or we can lose. And losing is a very realistic possibility and acceptable outcome because Ohio State is very good this year. What isn’t acceptable is for Ohio State, or any team, to muscle us. To bully us. To knock us aside like we’re no better than the program in East Lansing.

What I expect and demand is that We Are Penn State, and we should be a roadblock for any team with title aspirations. People should look at us on their schedule and say, “Ah, jeez. That’s gonna be a tough one,” the same way that we look at Michigan and Ohio State each and every year.

I can handle not winning on Saturday as long as the coaches go out there and coach to win, as they did last weekend against Minnesota.

What I can’t handle is a repeat of Michigan, and Northwestern, and basically every other game this season where we’re handing off up the middle for no gain, and then throwing a 2-yard pass on 3rd-and-9.

If we can’t do better against elite programs than we did against Michigan, then it’s time to seriously consider some personnel changes.
 
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R

Ram20

Well-known member
Oct 25, 2021
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Calabrin said:
Expectations for Saturday:

Let me preface this by saying that the result of the Michigan game is totally unacceptable.

We, as fans, do not expect to win every game — no one should — but what we do rightfully expect is that we will be competitive in every game. We expect Penn State to be an elite football program and year in year out, to be able to go toe-to-toe with tough opponents.

If this isn’t a rebuilding year, then we shouldn’t be getting rolled by Michigan the way we did. And if it IS a rebuilding year… why are we continuing to play a 6th year QB?

So, heading into Saturday, we can win or we can lose. And losing is a very realistic possibility and acceptable outcome because Ohio State is very good this year. What isn’t acceptable is for Ohio State, or any team, to muscle us. To bully us. To knock us aside like we’re no better than the program in East Lansing.

What I expect and demand is that We Are Penn State, and we should be a roadblock for any team with title aspirations. People should look at us on their schedule and say, “Ah, jeez. That’s gonna be a tough one,” the same way that we look at Michigan and Ohio State each and every year.

I can handle not winning on Saturday as long as the coaches go out there and coach to win, as they did last weekend against Minnesota.

What I can’t handle is a repeat of Michigan, and Northwestern, and basically every other game this season where we’re handing off up the middle for no gain, and then throwing a 2-yard pass on 3rd-and-9.

If we can’t do better against elite programs than we did against Michigan, then it’s time to seriously consider some personnel changes.
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I don't have a problem with anything you wrote minus the shot at Michigan State. I hate to admit it, but that is the team we need to beat and surpass before all this talk about Michigan/OSU. We are 3-5 over the last eight games against MSU as our fans walk around talking about how we are 3rd in the east and trying to break through to elite. If we don't start beating MSU with any consistency, we are pretenders.
 
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BrucePa

BrucePa

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Oct 12, 2021
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The reason Penn State loses to Ohio State every year is because Ohio State has better players, all of whom are well paid, and they have superior coaching and preparation.

For Penn State to reverse that reality, then Penn State must recruit better players, pay them handsomely, and then coach them and prepare them better.

That is all.
 
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Calabrin

Calabrin

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Oct 16, 2022
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Ram20 said:
I don't have a problem with anything you wrote minus the shot at Michigan State. I hate to admit it, but that is the team we need to beat and surpass before all this talk about Michigan/OSU. We are 3-5 over the last eight games against MSU as our fans walk around talking about how we are 3rd in the east and trying to break through to elite. If we don't start beating MSU with any consistency, we are pretenders.
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Fair, but it actually speaks more to my point. I’m willing to give Michigan State the honor of “4th best in the BTE” and they can even be in the discussion for “4th best in the BT” with Iowa and Wisconsin. But for us to be no better than at their level where they have one great year per decade— that’s not acceptable.

I expect us to be a perennial Top-15 finisher, and if anyone wants to make the argument that we don’t field enough talent to be doing that, then let’s hear it. Because all I ever hear about is how we had another great recruiting class.

Cool. That needs to start translating to us being closer to winning 50% of our games against tough opponents, instead of “0-10 since 2016.”
 
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