Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/433715
mechanics – this is admittedly a bit of a stretch – to show that he's still got a year of eligibility le:. Suddenly, two of the Lions' biggest weaknesses are transformed into strengths. Do they still lose by 7ve to Michigan? By one to Maryland? By two to Illinois? Only three of PSU's losses this sea- son were by a touchdown or more, and one of those losses – the 31-24 double-overtime defeat vs. Ohio State – was largely due to o9ciating blunders that led directly to 10 Buck- eyes points. Had Penn State equaled or im- proved upon last year's 7-5 regular- season record while 7elding a team with fewer than 50 active scholar- ship players, it would have been viewed as one of the better coach- ing accomplishments in the na- tion. Given the headwinds the Li- ons were facing, the six wins that they did earn this season consti- tute achievements in themselves. But this past season was not the real test of Franklin and his sta8, nor is the Pinstripe Bowl; a lot of the problems that plagued Penn State's o8ense throughout the year are likely to persist against Boston College. The real test will come in the seasons ahead as the scholar- ship numbers and expectations steadily ratchet up. You would expect to see some im- provement next season with 36 members of the current two-deep returning, but a lot of patience is going to be required of Penn State fans as they await the program's re- turn to championship contention. With Ohio State getting set to face Alabama in the College Football Playo8 even a:er losing its top two quarterbacks to injury, it's clear just how big the challenge will be. Patience doesn't come easy to fans of traditional college football powers like Penn State. That's the nature of fandom. But this rebuild- ing project is going to take more than a New York minute. ■ > >