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Have your expectations for this year changed after seeing Penn State's path to the National Championship?

Midnighter

Midnighter

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Oct 7, 2021
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Or is everything gravy at this point? My hope was to make the playoff - mission accomplished. I didn't think we would make it to the B1G Championship but we did and that was a nice surprise results notwithstanding (good to see Penn State go toe to toe with an 'elite' program in a game we very much could have won). But, listening to a Penn State podcast yesterday, one of the hosts said Penn State should make it to the Semi-Finals and not doing so would be a disappointment. I would be disappointed too, but for me, it's mostly gravy at this point. Anyone going to burn down Beaver Stadium if we lose to SMU?
 
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PSUFBFAN

PSUFBFAN

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Midnighter said:
Or is everything gravy at this point? My hope was to make the playoff - mission accomplished. I didn't think we would make it to the B1G Championship but we did and that was a nice surprise results notwithstanding (good to see Penn State go toe to toe with an 'elite' program in a game we very much could have won). But, listening to a Penn State podcast yesterday, one of the hosts said Penn State should make it to the Semi-Finals and not doing so would be a disappointment. I would be disappointed too, but for me, it's mostly gravy at this point. Anyone going to burn down Beaver Stadium if we lose to SMU?
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I'm with you. We went 11-1 regular season which is very, very difficult to do for any team. We are without a doubt a top 5 team this year. As far as the playoffs are concerned, I think I am reasonable enough to recognize that any one of the 12 teams can win or lose on any given game. I wouldn't be surprised to see Penn State win the whole thing nor will I be surprised if we lose game 1 or any game in between.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the entire season.
 
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BobPSU92

BobPSU92

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Oct 12, 2021
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My expectations are lower than ever. I expect our team will forget about the smu game and will therefore lose in a forfeit. They will parlay that finish into 4-8 next year.
 
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Erial_Lion

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Nov 1, 2021
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We have a great path to the semi, but we still only have about a 50/50 chance of making it there (SP+ gives us a 47.2% chance for example). I'd say I'm at the point where losing in either of the first two rounds makes this season "pretty good", making the semi makes it "excellent", and anything beyond that and it's a great year. Failing to make the playoff would have been very disappointing, and starting with a road playoff game would have been "ok".

I can assure you though that if we lose either of the two, many will use it as proof that Franklin can't win a big game. We win them, and those were nothing more than games we were supposed to win...and if he wins them both and loses to ND/Georgia, it's proof again that he can't win a big game, and takes a loss to a top 5 team.
 
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nittanymoops

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Oct 31, 2021
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Making to Miami is what I need to consider this a great (elite?!?) season. But if we get there and it’s the Domers or Indy waiting, we’d better make it back to Atlanta.

But I also subscribe to the Jake Taylor way of thinking: “Let’s win the whole effin’ thing.”
 
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Alphalion75

Alphalion75

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Oct 21, 2021
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My expectations are high. However.......

This is now the CFP. This is not just a regular season game against an outmatched opponent where we can overcome a few offsides penalties or commit a 3rd and long personal foul on defense for taunting or miss a block on an extra point or trying some cute trick play that blows up for a 10 yard loss after running the ball down the opponents throat for the previous 5 plays or spot the other team 7 to 10 points in the 1st quarter because we haven't got our heads in the game yet etc. etc. It's time to grow up and play some mistake free big boy football for all 4 quarters. It won't matter how the officials call the game. If we play poised, play disciplined mistake free football, we can beat anyone in the country. Physically we are ready. We have the talent. But will we want this bad enough to take our mental game to the next level. We've talked about how close we have been in the past. Our coaching staff has recruited their tails off to raise the the talent bar to a point where on paper, we have few weaknesses. We have a great quarterback and leader, we have big talented running backs, we have the best O line we've had in recent memory. We have the best tight end in the country. We have the talent on defense with 3 potential All Americans. WE ARE a championship caliber team. Again, will we want it bad enough and play up to the level that we know we can play? Will this coach and this team make up their minds to take their game to the next level, the elite level? We will get our answers starting December 21st.
 
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Bwifan

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Oct 12, 2021
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Midnighter said:
Or is everything gravy at this point? My hope was to make the playoff - mission accomplished. I didn't think we would make it to the B1G Championship but we did and that was a nice surprise results notwithstanding (good to see Penn State go toe to toe with an 'elite' program in a game we very much could have won). But, listening to a Penn State podcast yesterday, one of the hosts said Penn State should make it to the Semi-Finals and not doing so would be a disappointment. I would be disappointed too, but for me, it's mostly gravy at this point. Anyone going to burn down Beaver Stadium if we lose to SMU?
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I am on board with you. Mission accomplished with a bonus Big 10 Championship Game. Now for the playoffs IMHO it will be much like March Madness in hoops. Whatever team gets hot and goes on a run will win the National Championship, not necessarily the best team (#1 ranked) all season. Why PSU has a legit chance to win it all as do all the teams in the playoffs. Oregon is #1 but beatable. So its gravy for me with PSU and watch whatever team gets hot and makes the least amount of mistakes. There is no clear "best" team in college football this year.
 
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Skeller

Skeller

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Sep 1, 2022
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Midnighter said:
Or is everything gravy at this point? My hope was to make the playoff - mission accomplished. I didn't think we would make it to the B1G Championship but we did and that was a nice surprise results notwithstanding (good to see Penn State go toe to toe with an 'elite' program in a game we very much could have won). But, listening to a Penn State podcast yesterday, one of the hosts said Penn State should make it to the Semi-Finals and not doing so would be a disappointment. I would be disappointed too, but for me, it's mostly gravy at this point. Anyone going to burn down Beaver Stadium if we lose to SMU?
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Well, I think most expected a playoff appearance and a win to get to the Qs. Now, based on the draw and health issues for UGA and even if that's ultimately ND.... we need to get to the Semis. Really no excuse and unfortunately for James if he doesn't get by SMU and Boise we are going to get scorched.
 
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Corner Room Breakfast

Corner Room Breakfast

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A lot better. In the past decade or so It's been Alabama, Georgia, OSU or UM, and
either ND or some conference champ. The fourth spot was a position that several
teams had to make a plea for.

Now, win your games, which PS has done, but lost to two schools that mind you,
loaded their rosters with blue chip transfers, and would not be in a position to be where
they are at without those players. It seems PS is developing talent more than portaling it in.
Andy K, sticking around is also a promising sign.

This team is playing almost two months since their bye with some physical games sandwiched
between Wisconsin and Oregon.kudos to them, hopefully the much needed rest will get them
deeper into the playoffs.
 
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WVilleLion23

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Oct 27, 2022
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Honestly, I don’t create expectations as it relates to Penn State Football. Rather I have hopes. Hope we can compete for B1G title. Hope we make CFP. Hope we advance a few rounds. Hope we win it all.

I don’t have expectations for my favorite NFL or NHL team either.

Things I create expectations for are things I have a decent amount of control and impact over.

All that being said, given our path, not making at least the semis would be disappointing, but I am not setting the expectation for it.
 
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Blair10

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Nov 14, 2021
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Midnighter said:
Or is everything gravy at this point? My hope was to make the playoff - mission accomplished. I didn't think we would make it to the B1G Championship but we did and that was a nice surprise results notwithstanding (good to see Penn State go toe to toe with an 'elite' program in a game we very much could have won). But, listening to a Penn State podcast yesterday, one of the hosts said Penn State should make it to the Semi-Finals and not doing so would be a disappointment. I would be disappointed too, but for me, it's mostly gravy at this point. Anyone going to burn down Beaver Stadium if we lose to SMU?
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Mission accomplished must be applied to making the B1G championship which was huge for Franklin to do. It was a major check-list item and I commend Franklin, the coaching staff, and all the players for making this happen.

Given the playoff bracket for Penn State, at least 2 more wins should be expected.

If Franklin loses to SMU there will be a board meltdown of epic proportions.
 
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CDLionFL

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Oct 25, 2021
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Interesting question. Coming into the season, I thought playoffs and a win there was a very reasonable expectation. That word is the dirtiest one in the sports dictionary so I try not to use it when it comes to my teams but as a fan, it's difficult not to have some sort of thought in that direction. Now that we see who is in our path, it's difficult to not think, 'we're Penn State, we should roll over these teams'. In reality, though, that's just not going to happen. Both SMU and Boise are extremely talented teams or else they wouldn't be in these positions. As stated above, it's going to take an extra effort both mentally and physically to get past both of them. But I'd be lying if I said I haven't been clearing my schedule for January 9 to make the drive to Miami if it comes to that.
 
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Midnighter

Midnighter

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Penn State has the second best chance to win the NC per one of the sports betting sites (think Texas is #1).

 
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1995PSUGrad

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Oct 30, 2021
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I don't want to get my hopes up; however . . . you have to like our path to the championship. Everyone outside of Dallas is assuming we beat SMU. Boise St. looked really good in their conference championship game, not to mention they played Oregon closer than we did. But they are still Boise St., so again a lot of people think we will beat them, too. Georgia may be without their quarterback and their punter (who is probably the best punter in the country). Given all that, how can you not get excited?

Yes, we could lose to SMU but we could beat Oregon or OSU in the final!
 
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Bones80

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I love the comments about playing mistake free football with no penalties, missed tackles, players being out of position, or (in hindsight) no coaching mistakes. This is college football. Every team (including those in the NFL ) have those things happen every game. The best we can hope for is to minimize those things and learn to overcome them. The team that hurts itself less wins. To expect perfection is unrealistic and living in fantasy land.
 
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laKavosiey-st lion

laKavosiey-st lion

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Bones80 said:
I love the comments about playing mistake free football with no penalties, missed tackles, players being out of position, or (in hindsight) no coaching mistakes. This is college football. Every team (including those in the NFL ) have those things happen every game. The best we can hope for is to minimize those things and learn to overcome them. The team that hurts itself less wins. To expect perfection is unrealistic and living in fantasy land.
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So every team consistently commits yo yo yo RESPECT ME personal fouls? didn’t know that
 
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BiochemPSU

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EXPECTATION: They need to at least get out of the first round. Can't lose at home to a non-BIG or SEC team. Just can't. Just can't.

Assuming they move on to Boise, this PSU squad should beat them. We are pretty good at stopping your run unless you have an elite O-Line or some kind of elite WR threat like OSU or Oregon. I don't think Boise has either of those. Depth and recruiting should carry the day.

Assuming you win two in a row, all eyes on that ND/Georgia winner. That's the game that matters. Win and you shake off the can't get it done in a big game image. Lose and you beat two little brother programs, so same as usual for PSU.
 
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psu31trap

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Oct 29, 2021
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This Penn State team has the horses to win a NC. The pathway to the semi’s looks favorable but I hope coach Franklin and his assistants do not underestimate Boise State, a team I consider to be a legit threat.
 
laKavosiey-st lion

laKavosiey-st lion

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WVilleLion23 said:
Rumor is your mama likes to blow things as well.
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I think this ranks high on the “things I wouldn’t say to this person on a Friday nite in the moose parking lot on dollar pony draft nite” list

im amazed at the personal attacks and shocked no one gets knocked the F out
 
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WVilleLion23

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laKavosiey-st lion said:
I think this ranks high on the “things I wouldn’t say to this person on a Friday nite in the moose parking lot on dollar pony draft nite” list

im amazed at the personal attacks and shocked no one gets knocked the F out
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Well considering that poster is a complete troll…

Otherwise I would not make a comment like that to a normal poster.
 
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