Official CFB Semifinal, PSU - Notre Dame, Orange Bowl, game thread

[BiochemPSU]

I understand that. But why is that always the case in these games against evenly matched opponents?

What is it about the program that leads to all of these tough luck mistakes? over the span of a decade?

Honestly, it’s a lot of little things that add up. Nonexistent WRs, a punt return game that was terrible, the offense just disappearing in the third quarter for no reason, no holding calls on Carter that would have helped take some pressure off. When your QB has the worst game of his career, it’s just too much to overcome.

would I fire James over this one? No. But it’s got to be hard to come back year after year in that locker room and know that you just can’t beat the big guys when the chips are down. Sometimes a cleaning of house fixes it, sometimes it doesn’t.

 

[ILLINOISLION]

Reminds me of blowing the Rose Bowl game with USC!

 

[Nits74]

Allar was terrible. This loss is on him

One wonders if Pribula could have made a difference with his

Glad we made it this far. Glad we played Notre Dame tough tonight. I think we can finally say, we are back and we are relevant. We will be back in the race for a Natty next year. Drew will learn from this.

Would like to think so, but don't count on it. This was the best chance we'll see for awhile. Still can't win the big ones.

 

[Phlebitis]

Has PSU ever had a history of developing QBs?

Trace.

 

[Player2BNamedL8r]

It’s a cultural issue. And that goes back to the head coach. This program is a front runner who beats the crap out of outmatched teams. Methodically. But systematically fails in big moments against evenly matched opponents. Always.

James doesn’t make Allar miss an easy TD or throw an awful int with 40 secs left. But it’s the culture and long time trend that rests with him.

Not a single reception from a WR tonight that I can recall. Hard to win in modern football without any help on the outside. They badly need WRs, to open up the O

 

[Meats Lab]

Only blame on James for this one is the malpractice that is the state of the WRs. They are absolutely horrible. But that’s about it for this one.

This.

 

[Paws057]

Time to pony up a lot more cash money to buy quality athletes’ loyalty.

It’s always about the $$$$$$$

 

[wbcbus]

Can't put this one on James. I didn't have a significant problem with any of the coaching/play calling. Hate to put it on one guy, but Allar just failed. I would not want to be the team drafting him in the first round next year, because someone will. I've felt for years that he has every physical tool, but not the head for it. I don't mean intelligence, I mean confidence, moxie, calm under fire, etc.

 

[ILLINOISLION]

ND’s sub QB getting the 3 pts before the half was huge too.

 

[Shadow99]

It’s a cultural issue. And that goes back to the head coach. This program is a front runner who beats the crap out of outmatched teams. Methodically. But systematically fails in big moments against evenly matched opponents. Always.

James doesn’t make Allar miss an easy TD or throw an awful int with 40 secs left. But it’s the culture and long time trend that rests with him.

ND is an evenly matched opponent, which as acknowledged was heavily influenced by Allar (and Miller) as opposed to coaching.

But Ohio State hasn't been an "evenly matched opponent" for a long, long time...even when PSU has starters like Barkley and Parsons, they have never had the same quality of roster depth (especially line play).

So it turns out that those missed 4 points in Q1 did matter. So frustrating given how PSU was pounding the ball at will on the ground.

True, but in fairness that would read "those missed 4 OR ZERO points"

I did not feel very good about the one minute offense going down field. I get that the aggression does make sense because you want to set yourself up for a potential game-winning field goal. However, the inconsistency of Drew’s accuracy throughout the night had me wondering (even prior to the interception) if this is what we want to do in this moment. The way we were running the ball would give us a shot in OT. I get being aggressive to go out and win the game, but I was nervous with how Drew was tonight. Unfortunately, I was well within reason feeling that way.

An understandable perspective based solely on Allar's game up to that point, but he is considered an NFL prospect for a reason, and showed flashes in close games against USC and Oregon...so the interception still seemed to be an unlikely outcome...

 

[WestSideLion]

I’m one to typically point the finger at our coach, but not tonight. Hard to blame this one on Franklin. Yes, he was slow to make adjustments after halftime, but players were the ones who let down in key moments.

Oh, I think tonight was on a few key player mistakes. Allar had two awful throws that lost the game and two others that were saved by ND penalties.

But the trend of this always happening in these situations is obvious. I am sure Franklin is as frustrated as anyone.

How do you change it? They’ve charged players, coaches, schemes and here we are.

 

[SleepyLion]

Has PSU ever had a history of developing QBs?

Back in the 80s and 90s they developed them into linebackers.

 

[CDLionFL]

Honestly, it’s a lot of little things that add up. Nonexistent WRs, a punt return game that was terrible, the offense just disappearing in the third quarter for no reason, no holding calls on Carter that would have helped take some pressure off. When your QB has the worst game of his career, it’s just too much to overcome.

would I fire James over this one? No. But it’s got to be hard to come back year after year in that locker room and know that you just can’t beat the big guys when the chips are down. Sometimes a cleaning of house fixes it, sometimes it doesn’t.

Fire him? WHO THE **** ARE YOU BRINGING IN HERE THAT WOULD BE BETTER, ROCKET SCIENTIST?

 

[Nittering Nabob]

How old are you?

I'm guessing you're around 72. (2025 - 1975) = 50 + 22 = 72.

 

[SouthHalls410]

Trace wins a game like this. Kid was just tough and mentally prepared.

 

[CDLionFL]

ND’s sub QB getting the 3 pts before the half was huge too.

Carter not being able to squeeze that fumble was monstrously huge.

 

[Alphalion75]

Would like to think so, but don't count on it. This was the best chance we'll see for awhile. Still can't win the big ones.

Have faith. It's a process. Who really thought we could make it this far this year. I think we have taken another step in forward in that process.

 

[Phlebitis]

He's not going to get any smarter.

I had thought of that but with experience things slow down which helps reduce rushing throws. Now, if you mean his pocket awareness, that can be embarrassingly bad sometimes.

 

[Player2BNamedL8r]

Oh, I think tonight was on a few key player mistakes. Allar had two awful throws that lost the game and two others that were saved by ND penalties.

But the trend of this always happening in these situations is obvious. I am sure Franklin is as frustrated as anyone.

How do you change it? They’ve charged players, coaches, schemes and here we are.

Not sure if they’re getting closer. This new playoff format proved that they probably deserved a shot several times over the past decade or so. Still, they’re not ready for a seat at the biggest table. Not sure they will ever get back to that level considering ND just did it with smoke and mirrors.

 

[SleepyLion]

Have faith. It's a process. Who really thought we could make it this far this year. I think we have taken another step in forward in that process.

pretty sure @laKavosiey-st lion thought this is where we would be.

 

[Phlebitis]

ND’s sub QB getting the 3 pts before the half was huge too.

Sure was. I honestly don’t think they were a better team in any way than Penn State but they just did everything right to win. They will not steal one from Buckeyes like that.

 

[psu31trap]

Listen, Penn State was the better team in that first half and they took control at one point in the 2nd half (17-24). Notre Dame had the better QB play and their backup QB was key at the end of the first half. This leads me to Beau Pribula, he would have been a great change of pace guy by keeping the Irish off balance, putting all your eggs in one basket with a kid like Allar was way too risky. JMHO

 

[Player2BNamedL8r]

Not saying Allar wasn’t awful, but it’s got to be tough to play within yourself when they have nobody on the roster outside of your all-world TE who is capable of getting consistent separation.

 

[SleepyLion]

Sure was. I honestly don’t think they were a better team in any way than Penn State but they just did everything right to win. That will not steal one from Buckeyes like that.

If/when O$U beats TX can the game be moved to the Rose Bowl so I have something to root for?

 

[BiochemPSU]

Fire him? WHO THE **** ARE YOU BRINGING IN HERE THAT WOULD BE BETTER, ROCKET SCIENTIST?

Dude, I said I wouldn’t fire him. Put the bottle down. The only issue if you want to take the 5,000 foot view of this is that the locker room just cannot beat these types of teams. I don’t know if it is mental or not. I don’t know what else changes this unless you think cleaning house would give everyone some sort of renewed hope or a fresh perspective. I don’t know what else you do.

 

[Nits74]

At my age, I now feel like just giving up on this. I've been a poster for the definition of insanity. Just no longer seems worth it. I really don't enjoy it anymore.

 

[Phlebitis]

Not saying Allar wasn’t awful, but it’s got to be tough to play within yourself when they have nobody on the roster outside of your all-world TE who is capable of getting consistent separation.

I agree but it was the terrible throws he made that cost them any chance to win this game.

 

[SouthHalls410]

Sure was. I honestly don’t think they were a better team in any way than Penn State but they just did everything right to win. That will not steal one from Buckeyes like that.

Bingo. Because OSU teams seem to be better prepared. We had little if any answers in the 3 rd qtr. thie missed opportunities in the first half. We lost this game by letting them stay in it.

 

[WestSideLion]

You're wrong. Penn State has a great culture. We have a great history of winning. How old are you?

I’ve been around for both of PSU’s national championships and their two losses.

You’re confusing heritage with culture. What you describe makes Penn State a college football blue blood.

Culture is how the staff and players function and show up right now. There’s way more good than bad, but they lose every time they play an evenly matched opponent.

They beat the crap out of outmatched opponents. Take from that what you will.

 

[Alphalion75]

I'm guessing you're around 72. (2025 - 1975) = 50 + 22 = 72.

Close...will be 72 in May.

 

[PSUAXE70]

ND is an evenly matched opponent, which as acknowledged was heavily influenced by Allar as opposed to coaching.

But Ohio State hasn't been an "evenly matched opponent" for a long, long time...even when PSU has starters like Barkley and Parsons, they have never had the same quality of roster depth (especially line play).

True, but in fairness that would read "those missed 4 OR ZERO points"

An understandable perspective based solely on Allar's game up to that point, but he is considered an NFL prospect for a reason, and showed flashes in close games against USC and Oregon...so the interception still seemed to be an unlikely outcome...

in that last possession when the first running play went well, I thought we could run down the field and try a field goal. When Allar went back to pass the outcome really was likely. Put him under pressure against a good defense and he will make a mistake. Still, this was quite a season. 13 wins. Made the playoffs and won two games. A season the team should be proud of.

 

[Player2BNamedL8r]

I agree but it was the terrible throws he made that cost them any chance to win this game.

Yep. No excuses.

 

[NoSoup4U]

Trace.

Kerry Collins

 

[wbcbus]

At my age, I now feel like just giving up on this. I've been a poster for the definition of insanity. Just no longer seems worth it all. I really don't enjoy it anymore.

That's a shame, and if you can't put it into different perspective and it causes you more anguish than joy, you should stop. But I think the right answer is proper perspective. Tonight I yelled, I cheered, I was thrilled and furious. And 5 minutes after the game I'm over it. If I couldn't do that last part, and these things ruined weeks for me like they once did, I'd probably stop.

 

[NewEra 2014]

When Drew had good footwork tonight, he was playing just fine. But he reverted to throwing off his back foot about 75% of the time tonight, including the last throw.

 

[WestSideLion]

Honestly, it’s a lot of little things that add up. Nonexistent WRs, a punt return game that was terrible, the offense just disappearing in the third quarter for no reason, no holding calls on Carter that would have helped take some pressure off. When your QB has the worst game of his career, it’s just too much to overcome.

would I fire James over this one? No. But it’s got to be hard to come back year after year in that locker room and know that you just can’t beat the big guys when the chips are down. Sometimes a cleaning of house fixes it, sometimes it doesn’t.

That’s exactly my point. Well said. It isn’t about tonight. It’s about the longtime trajectory and giving the program a jolt to try and get over this hump.

James had brought a ton of good. But it has to be hard for him to get out of bed each day and have another go at a problem he’s been unable to solve for 10 years.

He’s making too much to walk away and PSU can’t afford to change coaches. So here we are. Good but not great.

 

[Nittering Nabob]

I’ve been around for both of PSU’s national championships and their two losses.

You’re confusing heritage with culture. What you describe makes Penn State a college football blue blood.

You'll never get through to a Blue Band member from 1975. They're delusional.

 

[Alphalion75]

I'm getting the sense that there is automatic tension between Franklin and whoever is the WR coach. Is it time to move Terry Smith?

I believe Terry Smith is the DB coach.

 

[Lionville]

I agree but it was the terrible throws he made that cost them any chance to win this game.

He threw 3 picks and only by the generosity of this officiating crew did he get charged with 1.

 

[ILLINOISLION]

Carter not being able to squeeze that fumble was monstrously huge.

Yep!