Blue White Illustrated

LAST WORD N A T E B A U E R | N B A U E R @ B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M rudging toward the visitors' locker room at Ryan Field, Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg was stopped abruptly. With his team having fallen moments earlier to Northwestern, 23-21, the Nit- tany Lion junior appeared ready to shake off the pads from the dispiriting result. He had completed 21 of 40 passes for 205 yards, a performance that was neither his best nor his worst of another trying sea- son at Penn State. He had thrown a key interception late in the fourth quarter, Penn State had failed to convert a critical third down that could have iced the game, and those shortcomings had al- lowed the Wildcats to win on a 35-yard field goal with just 9 seconds remaining. For Hackenberg, a fierce competitor, this was hard to swallow. On the other sideline – and opposite end of the emotional spectrum – Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald was enjoying a crucial win in his program's quest for a bounce-back season. The late-game heroics had given the Wild- cats a much-needed home victory, lift- ing them to 7-2. But Fitzgerald didn't head straight to the locker room to cele- brate. Having unsuccessfully sought out Hackenberg on the field as players and coaches briefly milled around exchang- ing handshakes, the veteran coach made a beeline toward the Nittany Lions as they filed out of the stadium. Jostling Hackenberg's shoulder, Fitzgerald ex- tended his right hand for a firm hand- shake and hug with the bruised, grass- stained quarterback. The ultimate display of respect, Fitzgerald's gesture lifted Hackenberg's spirits enough to elicit a smile. With a quick pat on the butt, the coach was off again, back to his team and the thou- sands of fans at the lakefront stadium who were still celebrating the win. In what might end up being Hacken- berg's final season playing collegiate football, opponents have given him his props. If one were to look only at his numbers, that love might seem unwar- ranted. Heading into the Michigan game, he was completing under 55 per- cent of his passes and was far short of the nation's leaders in passing yards and touchdowns. By any objective standard, his statistics were pedestrian. His aver- age of 199.2 passing yards per game put him 69th in the country, and his pass- efficiency rating wasn't any better, checking in at No. 74. And yet, here's Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer commenting on the rival player: "Hackenberg, I just have a lot of respect for him as a quarterback." From Kevin Wilson to Matt Rhule, opposing coaches have expressed similar senti- ments. All of which speaks to the evolution of Hackenberg this season, understated and under-appreciated by many of the Penn State faithful. Because he's not among those hoping to be considered for the Heisman, Davey O'Brien or Maxwell awards, Hacken- berg's postseason won't include trips to New York, cocktail receptions or the fan- fare that peers such as Jared Goff, Con- nor Cook and Trevone Boykin will re- ceive. Nonetheless, Hackenberg's subtle evolution into a more mature, savvy vet- eran has been essential to the program's success this year. His efficiency is up, as he has already thrown more touchdown passes than he did in 2014, and his inter- ceptions are way down, totaling only three heading into the Michigan game. Hackenberg has also made the type of improvements that won't immediately jump out on a stat sheet. Areas like his movement in the pocket, taking sacks when appropriate, throwing the ball away and finding check downs, he said, all were priorities in the off-season and implemented this year. "I was just trying to make a play [last year]," said Hackenberg, reflecting on the changes. "Oftentimes, we find our- selves in lulls offensively. Sometimes you try to play outside of yourself. I think that's definitely something matu- rity has played a big role in. I learned a lot last year and that was great for me in terms of my development as a player." Asked to perform a different role this season for the betterment of the team, often to his personal statistical detri- ment, Hackenberg has shifted his mind- set. Rather than forcing the issue and trying to fit ill-advised passes into tight windows simply to give his team a chance, he has taken what's been given, an approach that has helped minimize the offense's deficiencies. With the offensive line still develop- ing, less-sexy notions like ball control, field position and mistake-free football have become essential components of the team's game plans. Learning to adapt his game, Hackenberg has em- braced risk-reward, situational football and establishing the highest level of ef- ficiency that circumstances would al- low. Having already equaled their win total from a year ago with more games left to play, the Nittany Lions have followed Hackenberg's lead. Searching for and finding trust among teammates and coaches, with the junior quarterback at the helm, the Lions have gained an understanding of how to win games while ignoring what it looks like. Simply wanting the op- portunity to win, Hackenberg has un- dergone a quiet evolution that has helped put the Nittany Lions into a po- sition to do exactly that. ■ Growing pains T

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