Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/399784
ollowing Penn State's loss to Michigan, an ugly 18-13 contest between two offenses lost in the wilderness, the questions began again in earnest. "What can be done to get Christian Hackenberg to play better?" reporters and fans asked, some more angrily than others. Finishing with only 160 yards and a touchdown through the air against the Wolverines, the Nittany Lions' sopho- more signal-caller completed 21 of 32 passes and threw another backbreaking second-half interception. It was not unlike his homecoming performance against Northwestern, a 29-6 loss at Beaver Stadium in which his stat line, and a particularly dispiriting intercep- tion, raised eyebrows. Hackenberg is mature beyond his years, already poised and unflappable at age 19. But his body language in the loss to the Wolverines seemed to indicate that the struggles were affecting his de- meanor. Like a golfer coming off three consecutive balls in the water, Hacken- berg seemed to have difficulty main- taining the facade of perfection. "I think he's frustrated," coach James Franklin said after the game. "Obvious- ly, he's had some success since he's been here at Penn State." Could he be regressing? The very no- tion was practically unthinkable in the preseason, when Hackenberg was being touted as a No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick, regardless of which year he chose to leave Penn State. And yet, following a 4-0 start to the season that included two dramatic comeback drives, both engineered by Hackenberg, panic has set in, faith has been lost, patience has worn thin. It shouldn't, though. No doubt, Hackenberg is frustrated. J U D G M E N T C A L L Feeling the heat Christian Hackenberg is taking some unwarranted flak HIGH PRESSURE Penn State has given up 20 sacks this season, the most in the Big Ten. Photo by Steve Manuel F