The Lions' Pride

You should check out the psu board on espn. I'm not even sure those people are penn state fans with the way they talk. Although I just started posting here this week, ive been lurking here for a while and I'd say most of the criticism is warranted and logical. I'm glad to be away from espn.

I'll try to answer.

Everyone predicted 2-4 losses, yes. I think that is the actual problem. PSU used to expect to go 12-0 every year. Now we entered this year hoping for only 2 losses. People hate this, and it's certainly a fair opinion.

Not only did we lose 4 games and a bowl, but the 4 reglar season losses were not even close. We got the doors blown off of us, including by Illinois. Nobody predicted that. That should not happen by any means.

A lot of the staff dislike is also about the recruiting situation. The amount of recruits who have been quoted saying something to the effect of "I don't hear much from Penn State anymore" has annoyed many. Also a very fair emotion to have. It's one thing to have recruits enjoy other schools more, but it's another to seemingly be out-hustled for every single recruit.

Also, about kids wanting to start early, it doesn't seem to impact schools that routinely bring in top classes (OSU, Bama, Florida, USC, Texas, Oklahoma).

About Bolden, I don't know enough of the situation to talk about it. My opinion in general though is that Newsome and Mcgloin don't seem to be talented enough to lead this team. I just hope one of the four qb's makes great strides and can lead this team, and I expect that there is enough talent, that if there's a fair competition, one qb will emerge and lead us for a few years.

I agree that we should expect to be 12-0 every year and win the B10 title. I cannot argue against that. Realistically schools go through cycles. Some schools may continue to land blue chip recruits on a yearly basis but that means they are also recruiting and admitting kids with bad character, etc. Remember the backlash on PSU when we had some bad eggs? That happens when you get commits from kids that you bring in for football only. Fact of the matter is, that is not Penn State's style. Never has been and never will be. We should be proud of that. Suspensions and clouds are constantly hanging over the schools that do: USC, OSU, etc. Do you really want to become that??

psuproud: I was refering to Bolden's posture for the entire season after the concussion. He had a poor attitude on the sideline for the remainder of the season. I agree he has more talent but the facts are there, the offense performed better when McGloin was the QB. It was very apparent. I wish he would have manned up used his sideline time effectively. By standing near Big Red and watching the game with more interest he could have learned a ton. Having the game experience that he had and then having the time to stand on the sidelines and watch, he had a great opportunity to really develop. I hope that Jones or Bolden starts next year. I just think that Bolden hurt his chances.

The kid is a freshmen in college, there are not a lot of freshmen together enough to handle a benching.

psuproud: I agree there are not alot of college freshman that can handle that type of benching. However, seeing the calm and coolness that Bolden displayed during his play, it was a disappointment to see him act differently in regards to this. Hopefully he rebounds because we need him and Jones to push each other (and push McGloin back to third where he belongs).

shavisimo2: you hit the nail on the head - we have some coaches who do a terrible job in getting kids to play up to their talent. I do not believe the recruiting is the issue (although I would like to see PSU go a little more national than they do). The issue is our inability to develop O lineman and QBs. We have landed some highly regarded O lineman over the last few years and so far very little production. Although you cannot put too much into Rivals and Scout's star system. I think Posluszny was only a three-star recruit.

Penn State does it right. You graduate nearly 90% of your players. When a university dedicates itself to the student athlete, the student athlete is a winner for life. If any of you bother to check the latest Grad rates you will be shocked.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/2010-10-27-ncaa-graduation-rates-study_N.htm

The schools graduating only 2/3 of their athletes is a crock. Yet most have been using these young men for only the athlete in student athlete, yet most have always done it, and continue to do so.

Very seldom do we see Universities that do honor an education, do well consistently these days. I am not saying it is not possible, just much harder. I hope you fare well in the years to come, it is good for college football when "True" student athletes win it all.

I'd say JC from LP summarized it very well. DB recruiting in particular has been a sore spot with such a huge need in our secondary, and it seems like those guys are all the ones who frustratingly were ignored early in the process.

Also, just look at the record. 7-6. No way do I see 5 legitimate losses on our schedule with the talent we should have. We consistently have talented recruits on both the OL and DL, but they aren't developing into stars like we expect (maybe Larry Johnson has created an aura of invincibility at this point, who knows). We get thrown around and destroyed consistently by good programs. It's not just the losses - it's also how we lose. If we have lost to Iowa and Alabama by 1 point each, people might be a little more optimistic. But we looked completely outclassed by 4-5 teams who we should, without a doubt, be competing with.

Delete

Right. Chris Bell, LaVon Chisley, Tony "DUI" Johnson , Anthony Scirrotto and his breaking in entry/assault. Bowman , etc etc.

Leave Bolden alone. He was a true freshman. Any "insight" anyone has is based on casual observation and has as much a chance of being correct as incorrect.

IMO, the die hard PSU football fan is fatigued right now.

We have not been in the hunt for a national championship since 1994. We have had little turnover in the coaching staff .... and watched those coaches age (some past retirement age). The annual JoePa saga is tiring and many believe he should retire.

We are a program in transition right now where the change is being held back from happening.

I won't address the remainder of this thread as posters have eloquently done that themselves but my the short memories about QB's reactions to being taken out of games.

I purchased the 2008 OSU game to verify what I saw that night. Clark was removed due to the same reason Bolden was, concussion symptoms. Clark ranted and raved all over the sidelines for quite a while he stomped and freaked out. Devlin (not starting a Clark/Devlin argument here) entered and got the team down the field albeit by the running game and either in the TD or the FG drive a time out was taken. Clark walks on the field and what do you think he does, walks over to Devlin and counsels him? NO, he immediately turns his back on Delvin and ignores him the entire time out, speaking to other team mates and then waltzes off to the sideline, NEVER speaking to the QB in the game to impart his encouragement or knowledge.

So........maybe Bolden pouted or whatever but he did not pull a Clark in the biggest game of the year. I was so amazed at what Clark pulled that I had to review it, and yes, he does it each time in video. Not a team player in my book. So now my star rating will go down but the truth is out. I've sat on this observation for two years now and wondered why no one else commented. There is no defense or excuse for what Clark did in this instance other than pure jealousy. Someone may note he had a concussion and yes he did but that doesn't render your mind to totally change personality to my knowledge. The reason Clark played the entire Iowa game and Devlin didn't see the field.......Clark's ego wouldn't permit it and Joe caved. Now we hear that Bolden pouted......he may have, I dont' know but I have video evidence that Clark did some of his own selfish promotion.

"Not a team player"is a pretty bold statement to make over what you think you saw on a 3 second clip of video. Not only was DC the leader of his team and possibly the best qb we've had in 15 years but he was in happy valley over the weekend and will be there this spring working out with the team, continuing to support the program.